Chương 144: Chapter33: Shut Up

Yang Dawei's eyes narrowed into thin slits, his handsome brow furrowing as a sinister shadow flickered within his gaze. He withdrew his smile, his voice dropping to a flat, chilling tone.

"Daoist Xing Tianxie, I suggest you mind your words." Beside him, two cultivators from the Purple Mist Sect wore grim expressions, their bodies erupting with a formidable pressure that surged like a rising tide. The three cultivators from the Pomie Sect were naturally unwilling to yield, their own auras clashing in defiance. Though no physical blows were struck, the air between them hummed and screeched under the weight of their colliding spiritual intents.

"Haha, a slip of the tongue on my part. Do not take it to heart, Daoist Yang." Xing Tianxie's eyes flashed with calculation before he let out a boisterous laugh. He knew all too well that forcing a total rupture with the Purple Mist Sect right now offered no benefit; it would only allow the other sects to play the role of the fisherman reaping the rewards of their conflict. He was far too shrewd to commit such a blunder. Yang Dawei snorted inwardly. He also understood that this was no time for impulsive grudges.

With a slight wave of his hand, the needle-sharp tension between the two groups began to dissipate, if only slightly. Yet, even then, the atmosphere within the grand hall remained strained to the breaking point. Had glares been capable of slaughter, both sides would have long since seen their physical forms shattered and their Primordial Souls riddled with holes, dead beyond any hope of reincarnation.

Amidst this deadlock, the numerous cultivators gathered in the hall remained expressionless, their true thoughts veiled behind masks of indifference.

"Heh, I wonder if any of you have heard the news? For this opening of the Holy Land, a sect from the North Yue State called the Xuanxiao Sect has actually received an invitation." Speaking from below the Pomie Sect's position was a cultivator from the Luoyang Sect of the Great South Province. The Luoyang Sect was no minor power. Their Sect Leader was a Late-stage Golden Core expert, and beneath him were four martial uncles, all of whom had attained the Golden Core realm.

Rumor had it that an elder of the Great Circle Golden Core stage was hidden within their ranks, focused entirely on breaking through to the Nascent Soul Dao. In the Great South Province, they were second only to the Pomie Sect. The speaker was the leader of the Luoyang Sect's younger generation, Jun Wuqing. Not yet twenty-three, he had already achieved the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage. His exceptional talent was evident to all.

"I have heard some whispers of this as well," a handsome cultivator behind Jun Wuqing added, his eyes flashing with understanding as he picked up the thread.

"The cultivation level of the North Yue State has always been abysmal. In previous years, no sect from that region was ever granted an Invitation Jade Slip. However, from what I know, this Xuanxiao Sect has decent strength. They possess two Golden Core cultivators and recently annihilated a rival sect of equal standing, effectively becoming the hegemon of the North Yue cultivation world." As the two spoke, the atmosphere thawed slightly. Xing Tianxie nodded, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Brother Jun is correct. I have heard my master mention the Xuanxiao Sect's reputation. Apparently, they have a Golden Core cultivator named Dan Chenzi, whose alchemy skills are extraordinary—at least a Grade 3 High-rank Alchemist Master."

"Hmph! A mere two Golden Core cultivators? Their strongest is only at the Mid-Golden Core stage. Such a sect wouldn't even be worth mentioning in our Quanzhou!" Following Xing Tianxie's words, a dainty young woman behind Yang Dawei sneered.

"When the tiger is away, the monkey reigns as king. This Xuanxiao Sect simply got lucky. They have no right to hold an invitation to the Holy Land!" Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Though the woman was pretty, her lips were thin, and her chin was sharp, marked by a small black mole that gave her an air of cold indifference and shallow sentiment.

"Perhaps in the eyes of Daoist Li Zhupu, the Xuanxiao Sect's power is negligible." Xing Tianxie's eyes chilled as he rubbed his stubbled chin, letting out a mocking chuckle.

"But every time the Holy Land opens, the quotas for each province are strictly limited. According to the tradition of previous years, your Purple Mist Sect should have five slots. This year, however, you have one less. Heh, perhaps that missing slot was handed over to this disciple of the Xuanxiao Sect."

"Senior Brother Xing is right. As far as I know, the quotas for all other sects except those in Quanzhou remain unchanged. This must be the case."

"Tsk, tsk. The Purple Mist Sect has always enjoyed a surplus of quotas compared to our Pomie Sect, trailing only behind the Three Thousand Dao Sect of Huizhou and that Supreme Demon Sect. However, I suspect this privilege is nearing its end." The speaker was a girl standing behind Xing Tianxie, perhaps seventeen or eighteen years of age. She possessed large, luminous eyes and a pert, upturned nose.

As her full lips moved, a torrent of words spilled out in a sharp, staccato rhythm, marking her as a spirited and likely troublesome individual.

"Indeed, it is for the best," chimed in another Pomie Sect disciple. He appeared to be in his early twenties, his features set in a mask of cold indifference beneath thick, dark brows. He frowned, his voice dripping with a continuous, mocking sneer.

"It spares us the sight of certain cultivators who perpetually deem themselves superior. Frankly, it is nauseating to behold." Yang Dawei's expression stiffened at the jab, his gaze darkening with a mounting, somber intensity. He could not refrain from letting out a sharp, frigid snort of derision.

"Whether our quotas are reduced is a matter of internal concern for the Purple Mist Sect. It has absolutely nothing to do with any of you. I suggest you attend to your own affairs and refrain from wasting your precious concern on matters that do not involve you." Xing Tianxie merely offered a faint, enigmatic smile, seemingly unbothered by the tension. With a casual wave of his hand, he signaled his companions to cease their provocations.

He lifted his teacup, taking a slow, appreciative sip before sighing in genuine admiration.

"Exquisite tea! Truly, this is a marvelous brew."

"Senior Brother speaks the truth; it is indeed a fine tea," the quirky girl giggled. She mimicked his refined movements, lifting her own cup and swaying her head with mock gravity as she spoke.

"North Yue State is nothing but a desolate, barren wasteland," Li Zhupu interjected, her eyes flashing with a mixture of humiliation and suppressed fury.

"Their level of cultivation is laughably primitive. Any cultivator crawling out from such a place is inevitably destined to be nothing more than trash." She continued, her voice sharpening with spite.

"Even if they managed to wrest a Holy Land quota away from our Quanzhou, they must still possess the fortune to actually enjoy it. If they cannot even survive the first trial tomorrow, I fail to see how North Yue State will ever have the audacity to demand a quota again."

"Junior Sister's reasoning is impeccable. That cultivator from the Xuanxiao Sect is certain to fail tomorrow's test," Qing Huo added from his position behind Li Zhupu. His lips curled into a chilling, predatory smirk.

"Once this individual arrives, should the opportunity present itself, I shall ensure we become quite 'intimate.' I want to make certain he understands exactly how the word 'trash' is written." A smile bloomed on Li Zhupu's face at his words. She cast a sidelong, disdainful glance toward Xing Tianxie, her voice heavy with contempt.

"A tiny, insignificant sect from the barbaric fringes of North Yue State... what manner of remarkable figure could they possibly harbor?"

"A Grade 3 High-rank Alchemist Master is a rarity even within the entirety of the Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world. How could a mere Xuanxiao Sect lay claim to such a talent? In my estimation, they have simply plucked a random nobody and spun a web of lies. It is truly difficult to believe that even Venerable Pozhu of the Pomie Sect would take such a farce seriously." Xing Tianxie's brow furrowed slightly as a cold, sharp glint flickered within his eyes.

However, before he could offer a retort, a frigid, cutting voice echoed from the entrance of the great hall.

"Shut your mouth!" As the command fell, a young cultivator clad in azure robes appeared at the threshold. His face was a mask of grim shadows, and his pitch-black eyes were entirely devoid of human warmth or emotion as they locked onto Li Zhupu. The moment she met that gaze, Li Zhupu felt her heart plummet into an icy abyss. A paralyzing chill surged through her marrow, causing her complexion to turn a sickly, ashen hue.

Involuntarily, her feet shuffled backward, retreating from the sheer intensity of the newcomer's presence.