Chapter 314: Mindset Explosion

Hearing Xu Chen express surprise at the mention of Yi Zhen's name, Lin Qiu Ya said, "Daoist Friend Xu is a cultivator from the Song Kingdom, so you should be very clear about the Yuqing Hall. They have a total of seven disciples on the ranking list this time, and I hear it is all thanks to the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill. Thus, the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill has also become a hot topic at this Immortal Alliance Assembly. I heard that this Spirit Pill originated from the Taiyuan Sect and is even related to you, Daoist Friend Xu. I thought it was just a rumor, but I didn't expect it to be true. I also heard that you went missing after falling into the Sealing Array at Black Wind Ridge, and rumors said you were already dead. I didn't expect you to actually come to the Immortal Alliance Assembly."

Xu Chen put down the Jade Slip of the Prodigy Ranking and sighed, "That is a long story. I will explain it to Daoist Friend Lin later. It seems this Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill is what brought trouble to my sect this time."

Lin Qiu Ya hesitated for a moment and said, "This matter is already the talk of the town at the Immortal Alliance Assembly and is known to everyone. However, if Daoist Friend Xu wants to rescue True Monarch Xuan Chen and your two fellow disciples, I fear the resistance will be significant, unless you are willing to hand over the formula for the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill."

Xu Chen sneered, "It won't be so easy for them to obtain the formula. Besides, even if I gave it to them, no one under heaven besides me can refine this kind of Spirit Pill. Therefore, to resolve this matter in the end, I must rely on my fists. If I don't beat everyone until they cry this time, they won't give up."

Lin Qiu Ya was stunned for a moment and said anxiously, "Daoist Friend Xu, please do not act recklessly. You have seen it yourself; our Ziyang Sect is merely an object that can be humiliated at any time and place at the Immortal Alliance Assembly. Even the two Immortal Alliance Elders, Chixia and Mingyi, are powerless. So, please do not be impulsive. Furthermore, I have heard that the Taiqing Palace will also be attending this Immortal Alliance Assembly, and perhaps three True Monarchs will descend. Perhaps there is still a turning point in this matter; there is no need to resort to force."

Xu Chen sneered again, "What of True Monarchs? The Immortal Alliance is so foul and corrupt; do you really expect a True Monarch to stand up for our mere Taiyuan Sect?"

"But..."

"Daoist Friend Lin, do not worry. I have my own plans for this matter. When the Immortal Alliance Assembly is officially convened, you will naturally understand. There is no point in saying more now!"

Xu Chen raised his hand to stop her.

Lin Qiu Ya was helpless and could only smile bitterly and nod, "I am only worried about your safety, Daoist Friend Xu. Since you have already made arrangements, then please be careful in everything. If there is any way I, Qiu Ya, can be of use, please do not hesitate to command me."

Xu Chen smiled and said, "Then I thank you in advance, Daoist Friend Lin. For now, let us first go to the Xuanhua Sect to inquire about the whereabouts of my two senior sisters. Also, since there is still some time, could you help me introduce some of the inside information about the Immortal Alliance Assembly? That way, I can be mentally prepared in advance."

Lin Qiu Ya nodded and said, "My cultivation is shallow, and the Ziyang Sect is merely a small Immortal Sect, so I do not know much. What I say may not be comprehensive or accurate, so you do not need to believe everything after hearing it, Daoist Friend Xu!"

Xu Chen shook his head dismissively, "No matter. Tell me as much as you know, Daoist Friend Lin. There are still two days left; I will naturally go and inquire about the important things later."

Thus, as the two walked toward the mountaintop, Lin Qiu Ya picked out and recounted many important pieces of news—both true and false, as well as hearsay—that she had heard at the Immortal Alliance Assembly over these past few days.

While listening, Xu Chen continued to study the Prodigy Ranking Jade Slip. By the time they reached the mountaintop, he had seen most of the information on the figures ranked on the Prodigy Ranking and had also gained a rough understanding of the causes, consequences, and some inside gossip regarding this Immortal Alliance Assembly.

"Daoist Friend Xu seems very interested in the Prodigy Ranking. Actually, there is a piece of gossip of completely unknown veracity that perhaps you might find interesting!"

Seeing that Xu Chen had been looking at the Jade Slip recording the Prodigy Ranking the entire way, Lin Qiu Ya said.

"Oh? Tell me about it, Daoist Friend Lin!" Xu Chen nodded.

"The Yuqing Hall has emerged as a dark horse this time, and surprisingly, a female disciple in the Zhenyuan Realm is ranked first. I imagine you are also surprised by this, right, Daoist Friend Xu?" Lin Qiu Ya said with a hint of strange emotion.

Xu Chen was stunned for a moment and nodded, "Indeed. Is there some inside story to this?"

Lin Qiu Ya looked left and right, and finding no one around, she whispered, "Lan You is ranked first by the Juntian Pavilion, and it is specifically noted that she has Heaven Grade aptitude. This situation has not been seen for hundreds of years. Although I have not met this Daoist Friend Lan, it is said that all the Elders of the Immortal Alliance hold her potential in high regard, stating that she has hope of reaching the Huashen Realm. Thus, she is the most popular figure at this Immortal Alliance Assembly. It is said that the reason this Immortal Alliance Assembly could be convened smoothly and the Thunder God Hall was willing to come forward to host it is also because of her."

Xu Chen could not help but be stunned and asked in surprise, "There is actually such a thing?"

Lin Qiu Ya nodded, "Originally, the two True Monarchs Chixia and Mingyi initiated a request to the Shenzhou Immortal Alliance to resist the Nether Beast Catastrophe. At first, the other sects of the Immortal Alliance were not proactive, and their attitudes were very perfunctory. However, after the Supreme Elder of the Thunder God Hall, True Monarch Qiyun, met Lan You, he suddenly changed his mind, stating that as long as the Yuqing Hall allowed Lan You to join the Thunder God Hall, they would come forward to help."

Xu Chen's expression changed instantly, and he asked urgently, "Is this true?"

Lin Qiu Ya nodded with slight surprise, "It is hard to say whether it is true or false. Even if the convening of the Immortal Alliance Assembly was not because of this, the news that Lan You will join the Thunder God Hall after the assembly should be correct. Many people know this news, even the Juntian Pavilion says so. Moreover, Lan You's aptitude is heaven-defying, and she has the potential for the Huashen Realm. The five super sects would certainly all have the desire to recruit such a young disciple with deep potential. Additionally, I have heard that after Lan You joins the Thunder God Hall, once she reaches the Golden Core stage, she will become the Daolu of the Thunder God Hall disciple Zhang Ting, who is ranked third on the Prodigy Ranking. I hear that Zhang Ting has invited Lan You to drink tea and discuss the Dao several times, but has been rejected by her each time, which made Zhang Ting throw several tantrums. I heard that a few days ago, he beat up several disciples from other sects who mocked him, including the Young Sect Master of the Junwang Hall's pill sect, Jun Shaowei, who is ranked ninth."

Xu Chen:...

This was truly a massive piece of gossip.

The dignified Shenzhou Immortal Alliance, for the sake of such a righteous cause as resisting the Nether Beast Catastrophe, actually had such dog-blooded and shameless inside dealings behind it. The five super sects were truly displaying their bullying behavior to the fullest.

This was the high and mighty Alliance of Justice.

The Thunder God Hall and the Junwang Hall looked to be birds of a feather; they seemed no different at all.

Regardless of whether this matter was true or false, he would naturally not stand idly by.

Whether Lan You was willing was another matter, but first and foremost, he was certainly unwilling.

He had not come into contact with many female cultivators, but regarding Lan You, he still retained a completely different set of emotions. He could not say he liked her, but after all, the two had experienced the ordeal of relying on each other for survival, and they had spent nearly a month in skin-to-skin contact, almost completely naked.

Moreover, the two had spent over half a month together at the Yuqing Hall later on, and their relationship was very harmonious.

He could feel Lan You's unique attitude toward him.

Therefore, even if they had no relationship, standing from the perspective of a friend, he still had to ask for Lan You's opinion. If she was willing, then so be it; if she was unwilling, then that bullshit Thunder God Hall and the third-ranked prodigy Zhang Ting would naturally be rubbed into the dirt by him until they were convinced.

His current cultivation strength might not be enough in the eyes of the Thunder God Hall, but he had a Huashen Great Cultivator like Guiling Shenjun as his backing. In the entire Shenzhou territory, no one could stop him if he wanted to walk sideways; at most, he would just make a few more enemies.

And as for enemies, although having too many is not good, having a few would also make his future cultivation life a bit more interesting.

As of today, Xu Chen's mindset was worlds apart from the small-time cultivator who had been cleaning up manure at the Taiyuan Sect a year ago.

The things he had experienced on this journey—killing from Black Wind Ridge to Minghuang, and then killing his way back from Minghuang to the Mortal World—would surprise even a True Immortal, let alone these so-called super sects in the Mortal World who had never seen the world.

Truly comparing them, the so-called Huashen Great Cultivators of these super sects could not even defeat the Old Witch Lord or Tu Jiu. If they really fought, they would definitely be beaten to a pulp.

After all, not everyone could easily kill a fifth or sixth-tier Nether Beast.

If such a terrifying Demon Beast were to appear in the Mortal World, I fear even the few True Monarchs would be scared out of their wits.

Therefore, one's horizon determines one's mindset.

Xu Chen's mindset was already so explosive that he could hardly suppress it himself, especially after witnessing the earth-shattering battle between the Demon Monarch Youtong, the Demon Monarch Heitian, and the Bone Demon Emperor. He was already starting to look down on ordinary Void Breaking True Immortals of the Yang Spirit realm.

It could be said that his eyes were higher than his hands.

But not all those whose eyes are higher than their hands have poor insight, because those without insight cannot have high horizons, and they don't even have the qualifications to brag.

Seeing Xu Chen's expression flickering, Lin Qiu Ya asked with some gossip, "You should be quite familiar with the Yuqing Hall, Daoist Friend Xu, but I wonder if you are well-acquainted with this Lan You?"

Xu Chen nodded slightly, "Not exactly familiar, we just met a few times while exterminating Soul Beasts at Black Wind Ridge."

Lin Qiu Ya nodded, "So that's how it is. I thought that with your aptitude, Daoist Friend Xu, you would be a match for this Lan You. It is just a pity that the Thunder God Hall is too strong and overbearing; I imagine there is no room for maneuver in this matter. This can be considered her taking a step to the heavens, right? Joining the Thunder God Hall, not to mention reaching the Golden Core or Spirit Transformation stages, I fear she could truly advance smoothly to the Huashen realm. She would be the first female True Monarch to be born in the Shenzhou territory in thousands of years, so it can be considered fulfilling her wish."

"Fulfilling her wish..."

Xu Chen muttered to himself, feeling a bit sour and unhappy in his heart.

The Thunder God Hall certainly had abundant resources that could make Lan You's future path smoother.

But the heaven-defying resources in his hands were even more terrifying. Just a pile of Blood God Grass was enough to force-ripen a cultivator with decent aptitude to at least the True Spirit Realm. Therefore, he could provide even more and even better things than the Thunder God Hall could give Lan You.

He believed that the Thunder God Hall definitely did not have a reserve of top-tier Spirit Medicine like Blood God Grass to assist in Spirit Transformation.

Therefore, even if Lan You joined the Thunder God Hall, her Spirit Transformation would not be all smooth sailing.

It was just that for this matter, he still had to look at Lan You's own attitude in the end.

Furthermore, if he offended the Thunder God Hall, the matter of suppressing the Nether Beast Catastrophe at this assembly might also suffer many twists and turns and experience great changes.

Therefore, even if Lan You was unwilling, the attitude of the Yuqing Hall was also very important.

After all, he was just an outsider and could not make decisions for Lan You, much less for the Yuqing Hall.

Of course, right now he still had someone who could make decisions for Yuqing Hall, and that was Guiling Shenjun.

When the time came to bring out this super hired gun, I fear it would not only shake Yuqing Hall, but the entire Divine Continent Immortal World would be rocked by an earthquake.

Thinking of this, Xu Chen's mood also slowly calmed down.

Lan You's matter could be temporarily set aside for now; he would talk about it after first resolving the trouble with Taiyuan Sect.

(End of this chapter)