The spacious hall was elegant and quiet. Heavy curtains and gauzy veils hung from the ceiling, swaying gently in the breeze like mist, creating a fairy-like atmosphere.
Several guests were seated on chairs, with maids behind them holding elixirs. The fragrance of hundred-flower wine filled the air.
In the center of the ornate hall, a man knelt, his ragged clothes revealing the stark white of his kneecaps. With each deep bow, his bloodied forehead struck the floor with a loud thud.
Chu Yue stepped into the hall, glanced at the man, and then looked at Li Lanxiu seated on a dais, his brow furrowing slightly.
Li Lanxiu was reclining on a soft couch, his head resting on the lap of a beautiful maid. A snow-white fox fur was draped over the couch, one corner trailing to the floor.
The maid lowered her head, whispering something into his ear. He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger, turning his face to listen intently to her words.
Whatever she said, the maid blushed and bit her lip, and Chu Yue, knowing it wasn't anything good, looked away.
Miaosu stepped onto the platform, carrying a wine jug. She came before him and was about to pour him a drink, but he grabbed her wrist and lifted the bottom of his mask with his other hand. Leaning over her hand, he tilted the jug and drank directly from it.
Wine dripped from his moist red lips, running down his delicate neck and splattering onto his mask. He didn't seem to care, and when he finished, he lazily leaned back onto the maid's lap.
Chu Yue watched him for a moment, thinking to himself, "What a debauched and shameless man." He turned away coldly.
The man in the hall, after countless kowtows, finally straightened up. Raising his hands high, he said, "Young Master Li, I have crawled all the way from the foot of the mountain, begging you to allow me to join the sect and give me the opportunity to cultivate!"
This man was a distant relative of the Li family, with an ancestor who had some connection with Li Yanbi generations ago. Hoping to use this connection to join the Conundrum Sect, he had come to beg Li Lanxiu, as Li Yanbi never paid any attention to such matters.
Li Lanxiu, slightly tipsy, glanced at him and said, "Are you even worthy?"
The man's face turned pale, but he did not give up. Bowing repeatedly, he pleaded, "I am willing to pay any price, just please grant my request."
Chu Yue's heart sank. A mortal was willing to debase himself like this, simply to beg Li Lanxiu for a chance to join the sect.
Li Lanxiu lazily sat up and listened to what Miaosu was saying. His gaze drifted over to Chu Yue.
The man crawled on the ground like a dog, making his way up the steps to kneel at his feet, his head banging against the floor with a loud thud. "Young Master Li, please, from now on, I'll be your—"
Before he could finish, Li Lanxiu kicked him in the chest, sending him tumbling down the steps. He landed on his back, his face a bloody mess.
Li Lanxiu squinted at the man, his amusement evident in his shaking shoulders. With a tipsy voice, he called out, "Xiao-Hei, come here."
He gestured with a downward flick of his wrist, as if summoning a dog.
Chu Yue stared fixedly at his hand and stepped up onto the platform.
Leaning against the soft, fragrant maid, Li Lanxiu beckoned with his finger. "Closer."
Chu Yue leaned closer, his dark eyes, shadowed by his prominent brow bones, resembling those of a wolf about to bare its teeth.
Li Lanxiu gently stroked Chu Yue's face, caressing the cold, handsome features.
Chu Yue could smell the strong scent of alcohol. The hand on his face was soft and cool, and the stroking motion felt like a reward.
Li Lanxiu moved his hand to Chu Yue's neck and pulled him closer.
Chu Yue, initially stiff, lowered his head involuntarily when he met Li Lanxiu's moist, hazy gaze, his lips almost touching the mask.
"Everyone," Li Lanxiu addressed the guests in the hall, "This is Xiao-Hei, my boy. I've only had him join the sect less than a month ago, and he's already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage."
He patted Chu Yue's face.
The hall erupted in an uproar. Everyone looked at Chu Yue in astonishment, but Chu Yue stared at Li Lanxiu with a grim expression.
Li Lanxiu stroked the slave mark on Chu Yue's neck. "He's a prodigy. Only someone like him is worthy of being my boy, understand?"
The man kneeling at the foot of the steps looked ashen, his eyes filled with despair as he stared at Chu Yue.
The muscles in Chu Yue's neck tensed, and his Adam's apple bobbed visibly beneath his thin skin, as if his throat were dry.
"Everyone, please leave," Li Lanxiu waved his hand, then glanced at Chu Yue and lifted his chin. "You stay."
Chu Yue stood up straight and exhaled a hot breath.
The man in the hall was dragged out by his attendants. Before he was completely out of sight, he let out a mournful cry of "Young Master Li..." but it was quickly muffled.
Miaosu carried a long, narrow box and placed it on the table. Li Lanxiu took out a knife from it. The sheath was as thin as two fingers. He casually tossed it to Chu Yue. "A gift for you. Try it out and see if you like it."
Chu Yue caught it, a little stunned. He drew the blade out an inch. It was narrow and long, and the blade was pitch black.
A faint red glow emanated from within, and he could feel a chill creep up his arm from the hilt.
It was a fine blade!
He caressed the blade lovingly. He had seen this strange black iron before. Li Lanxiu had bought it at the cultivation market for five thousand low-grade spirit stones, and he had been mocked by the disciples of Thousandchance Peak for it.
That had been half a month ago. So, Li Lanxiu had been forging this knife for him all this time. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Did you already know I would reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage within a month?"
Li Lanxiu nodded. "Of course. After all, you’re a legendary, unparalleled cultivation genius."
Chu Yue pressed on, not understanding. "Why?"
Li Lanxiu replied casually, "Because you're someone I've taken a liking to."
The heat that had filled Chu Yue cooled. He stared at Li Lanxiu with a deep, complex look, his gaze traveling from the mask to his neck. He gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, his knuckles white.
Li Lanxiu savored the look in Chu Yue's eyes—the determination, the hatred, the emotion, and something else he couldn't quite place.
This was the first time the chosen one had tasted such a feeling, wasn't it? Like a trapped beast, unable to kill, unable to hate, simply feeling stifled.
After a long moment, Chu Yue calmed down. "Thank you," he said.
Li Lanxiu sat up and looked at him with a smile. "I want you to sign up for the sect trial."
Chu Yue, who had been planning to do just that, replied, "Very well."
Li Lanxiu didn’t like looking up at people. He gestured with a delicate finger, beckoning Chu Yue closer. When Chu Yue leaned down, Li Lanxiu said, "Don't worry, you're mine, and I'll protect you."
Chu Yue felt a little overwhelmed by the other man's aura, and his breathing slightly quickened. Dazed, he asked, "What?"
"I'll protect you," Li Lanxiu repeated softly.
For this sect trial, each of the twelve inner sect peaks sent ten of their most elite disciples. Among them were two at the Nascent Soul initial stage: Lian-shixiong of Surfoot Peak, renowned for his exceptional swordsmanship, and Jiang Jiusi of Thousandchance Peak, a young prodigy who had risen rapidly. There were also dozens of Golden Core perfection stage cultivators, and countless others at the Golden Core stage.
The sect's disciples had placed bets on these two, and the odds were evenly matched. Who would have thought that the ultimate winner would be an outer sect disciple?
In the eyes of everyone, an outer sect disciple at the Foundation Establishment peak like Chu Yue would need a powerful patron to survive in the Azurerain realm.
A faint blush crept up Chu Yue's ears, but he remained calm. "No need. I can protect myself."
Li Lanxiu turned his head to meet his eyes and gently advised, "Don't be stubborn. In the outside world, strength is everything."
There was no mockery in his tone, only a gentle warmth, like a kind master. However, Chu Yue sensed an underlying mockery.
"You're weak now. Without my protection, you won't survive this trial."
Straightening up, Chu Yue stared at Li Lanxiu with cold determination, his voice clear and strong. "No need. I, Chu Yue, don't need it. I will rely on my own strength to stand out in this trial and become the strongest."
Truly, the confidence of a chosen one.
Li Lanxiu's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Very well, I'll be watching," he said dismissively.
On the day Conundrum Sect's trial began, a brilliant light illuminated the vast Daoist plaza, making it seem like a palace of jade and gold.
Floating above the plaza were thirteen unevenly spaced islands, each representing a peak within the sect. The islands were lush and green, adorned with ornate buildings, and exuded an air of opulence.
In the center of the plaza stood a massive mirror, dozens of zhang wide and long, its surface as clear as glass.
Inner sect disciples, dressed in the attire of their respective peaks, stood on their respective islands, chatting amongst themselves.
The elder in charge of Cloudwater Hall, who served as acting sect master in the sect master's absence, stood on the central island. His gaze swept across the plaza.
"Disciples," he began, his voice as resonant as a bell, echoing throughout the plaza, "Today marks the annual sect trial of Conundrum Sect. This trial is held to select the sect's elite. I hope that each of you will do your best and bring honor to our sect!"
As soon as his words fell, a chorus of responses rose from the disciples, their voices powerful and unified.
The elder from Cloudwater Hall flew on his sword to each of the islands, giving each disciple a palm-sized bronze mirror.
The function of the mirror was similar to a recording stone, but the protective mirror worn by the disciples was connected to the giant mirror in the plaza, allowing everyone in the sect to see everything within the mirror's range.
Li Lanxiu carried a few belongings: a sword and his Coldiron Fan. He tucked the dragon scale that Bai Ying had given him into his clothes, making sure it was completely hidden.
Li Yanbi stroked his hair affectionately. "Lanxiu, be careful. Your shixiong will look after you."
Chuxuan, standing beside him, smiled and replied, "Master, don't worry. I'll take good care of my shidi."
Li Yanbi patted his shoulder, his face full of worry. He didn't expect Li Lanxiu to perform exceptionally well; he would be satisfied as long as he returned alive.
The disciples of Violetstage Peak looked gloomy, as if shrouded in a dark cloud.
In contrast, Xue Wujiu and his disciples on Thousandchance Peak were beaming with confidence, as if victory was already theirs.
Jiang Jiusi, clad in white and wielding a sword, exuded an air of elegance. His gaze swept over the disciples of Violetstage Peak, finally settling on Li Lanxiu.
The grotesque ghost mask was in stark contrast to his clean, fair skin and tall, slender figure.
Sensing his gaze, Li Lanxiu lifted his eyes slightly, meeting Jiang Jiusi's. A slight smile curved at the corners of his eyes.
Jiang Jiusi's heart skipped a beat, and he unconsciously returned the smile.
Xue Wujiu looked at Jiang Jiusi with undisguised pride. "Jiusi, you are the hope of Thousandchance Peak. You must do your best to win this trial and not disappoint your master."
"Master, rest assured. I will not let you down," Jiang Jiusi replied firmly, his gaze returning to the task at hand.
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