Chapter 25

"Master Wudao is wise, far beyond the reach of ordinary people! My intention is precisely to have Master compete with the young masters of the noble families in Yuecheng!"

Seeing Master Wudao's cold sneer, Beiting Wan'er ignored it: "Though I have my own selfish motives, I am also thinking about Master's future."

At this moment, Master Wudao did not want to speak to Beiting Wan'er at all. If it were under normal circumstances, with the Beiting family as his backing, he might have a chance to compete.

However, since it involves the inheritance of a Golden Core cultivator, it is likely that all the cultivation families in the entire Dongwu Kingdom will be stirred into action. If he rashly gets involved, he will only be crushed to death!

Is the identity of an inner disciple of the Lichen Sect so easy to obtain? Even with the fair and impartial inspector supervising the competition, there are still various means that can be used. Assassinations in secret, threatening family and friends, anything can be done.

The Beiting family, though notorious in Yuecheng, was known for its ruthless methods six years ago. In short, none of these noble families are good people.

However, he could not avoid dealing with her at this moment. He could only stammer: "Let me think about it. Can I give you an answer after some time?"

Beiting Wan'er's expression did not change, and she shook her head slightly: "Master's words do not seem very sincere!" Beiting Qin immediately sneered: "You don't know how to appreciate a favor!"

Master Wudao was instantly furious, a surge of anger rising in his chest. He had lived on the streets of Yuecheng for over a decade, been a beggar, stolen, and cheated, done all sorts of despicable things, been treated coldly by the world, and been humiliated by the powerful. Now, he could barely control his emotions.

However, there are limits to what one can endure! This is forcing him to his death, and even adding insults. He could not bear it any longer!

Whether he competes for the inner disciple position or tries to advance on the Daoist path, he might die. But the latter at least would not involve his family and friends.

Since it's a matter of life and death, why should he endure such humiliation? If he cannot compromise, why should he continue to endure? His eyes turned icy cold as he glared at Beiting Qin: "I don't know how to appreciate a favor. What are you going to do?"

In the past few years, he had taken dozens of lives on the streets. When his temper flared, he exuded a terrifying aura, the ferocity of a desperate man. Beiting Qin's breath caught, and she was momentarily speechless.

However, Beiting Cangjue's eyes showed a hint of approval. Beiting Wan'er was also slightly surprised, then she stopped the already flushed Beiting Qin, sternly scolding: "Aunt Qin, do not be impolite to our guest!"

Then she said softly to Master Wudao: "Master, please calm down. It's my fault for not explaining clearly. Since we are asking you to compete, the Beiting family will do our best to ensure your safety, with no worries."

Master Wudao's anger subsided slightly, and he fell silent. Given Beiting Wan'er's status, her words carried some weight. However, the promises of a noble family should not be trusted so easily.

His mind raced, and Master Wudao still spoke in a cold, distant tone: "Let me think about it."

"Is Master worried that the Beiting family will betray you after the competition?"

Beiting Wan'er, with her keen insight, seemed to guess Master Wudao's thoughts from his words and expressions: "Master is overthinking! Since we want you to squeeze out one of them, we naturally need to ensure your safe entry into the Lichen Sect's inner circle to achieve our goal. Isn't that right? I won't hide it from you, since the battle six years ago, the Beiting family and the Guyue family are now mortal enemies. Two tigers cannot coexist on the same mountain, and Yuecheng cannot accommodate two thousand-year-old noble families! So you don't need to worry about me betraying you. Once you enter the Lichen Sect, with the protection of your sect, why should you fear the Goyue family?"

Hearing this, Master Wudao finally began to understand. Beiting Wan'er did not want the Goyue family to have any connection with the Lichen Sect. However, there must be something else she was hiding.

But he was already somewhat moved. If so, he might not be without a chance.

But then he thought of Qin Feng, his brothers, and the Sword Robe Hall. He couldn't help but sigh, how did he get involved in such a storm?

If he wins the competition, can he really expect the Goyue family not to seek revenge?

Beiting Cangjue suddenly spoke: "If you can really secure a spot, the Beiting family will not hesitate to give your brothers a future! As long as the Beiting family remains prosperous, with my protection and your status as an inner disciple of the Lichen Sect, who in Yuecheng would dare to act rashly?"

He knew nothing about the Sword Robe Hall or Master Wudao's background, but he could see through Master Wudao's concerns at a glance.

Master Wudao laughed bitterly, almost forgetting that if he could enter the Lichen Sect, it would be like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, no longer at the mercy of these Yuecheng noble families.

However, he was a cautious person. Even if he was moved, he would not easily agree. His tone softened: "If it's as you say, I will not be ungrateful. However, this is not just about me, Master Wudao. I need to discuss it thoroughly with my brothers in the Sword Robe Hall before I can give you an answer!"

These words were sincere. He hated ungrateful people the most and would not abandon his brothers' safety for wealth and status.

The carriage gradually came to a stop, and looking out the window, he saw that it was the entrance to the Lichen Academy. Master Wudao got up: "Thank you for the ride, Miss and Mr. Cangjue. I'll take my leave now!"

If it weren't for his pride, he would have run off the carriage as fast as possible, wanting to get as far away from these three as he could.

Beiting Wan'er and Beiting Cangjue exchanged a smile, not pressing further, and did not stop Master Wudao from getting off. Beiting Wan'er casually took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve and threw it to Master Wudao: "I know you have concerns, but that's only natural. Fortunately, there are still three months until the competition, plenty of time for you to think it over. How about a month? Your boxing skills are already superb, but your cultivation is slightly lacking. To participate in the competition, you need to reach the Qi Cultivation stage. The Blood Essence Pills in this bottle are a token of the Beiting family's sincerity. If you succeed, there will be more rewards. Even if we don't reach an agreement, you don't need to repay us. I am willing to be friends with you!"

She added: "Today you are participating in the preliminary competition, so be careful. Your fellow disciple with the same surname has recently received great fortune, and he is already quite strong, with the support of a noble. Be cautious! However, if you want to achieve something in the Lichen Sect, you must secure the position of the chief disciple."

Master Wudao stared at the porcelain bottle in his hand, dumbfounded. These pills were Blood Essence Pills?

Legend has it that just one pill can help someone at the Qi Cultivation stage, the Qi Fusion stage, or even someone at the peak of the Bone Marrow stage, break through the barrier and generate true essence, entering the Qi Cultivation stage and becoming a true cultivator?

He remembered that not long ago, the Spirit Exchange Pavilion in the city had auctioned three such Blood Essence Pills, each starting at twenty taels of gold, which is two thousand taels of silver!

Master Wudao exhaled a deep breath and got off the carriage. He didn't ask Beiting Wan'er why she wasn't participating in the preliminary competition. Given the Beiting family's current influence, the only recommendation spot at the Lichen Academy was already in her grasp. She didn't need to go through the competition to enter.

As he stepped down from the carriage, he saw Ma Yuan and Lin Han running towards him from another carriage, their faces strange, wanting to speak but holding back, silent.

Not until the Beiting family's convoy turned and headed east, far away, did Ma Yuan urgently ask: "What did that girl say? This Beiting Wan'er, I think she will be a female demon in the future! At such a young age, her heart is too cruel!"

There was no longer the infatuation from before, only deep wariness.

Master Wudao, however, was still emotionally stirred, tightly gripping the porcelain bottle, almost crushing it. His heart felt like a pot of mixed flavors, complex and bitter.

Thinking about the conversation in the carriage, he felt both excited and bitter. He looked around at the passersby at the entrance to the Lichen Academy and shook his head.

"Here is not the place to talk. We can discuss it in detail when we get back."

As he spoke, he stepped into the academy gate. Ma Yuan and Lin Han looked at each other, puzzled.

Today, Beiting Wan'er's insistence on forcing Master Wudao to compete was already strange, and his expression just now was even more curious.

"Uncle, what do you think of Master Wudao?"

On the bustling street, the carriage still sped along without hesitation. Beiting Wan'er sat in the carriage, her eyes shining.

"This time is a pleasant surprise. I only thought he might have a basic understanding of the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Fist, which could slightly hinder the other in the competition. I didn't expect his boxing skills to be so advanced, even defeating me. He might even cause the other to stumble."

Beiting Qin, however, was dissatisfied and sneered: "Miss was injured and couldn't give it your all. The Armor Piercing Finger had an unnecessary flaw, giving him an opportunity!"

Beiting Cangjue ignored her and pondered: "This person is a true desperado! If someone is not afraid of death, how can you threaten them with death? Wan'er, don't underestimate him or push him too hard. He is a ruthless person. Did you notice that he always tries to stay within two steps of you, whether on the boat after defeating you or in the carriage? If you push him too hard, he might retaliate. He values righteousness and has a heroic spirit, a hero among the common people. If you want to use him, treat him with respect and bind him with kindness."

He then scolded Beiting Qin coldly: "Though Master Wudao has only a fifth-grade constitution, his martial talent is so strong that his Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Fist is already superb. He will definitely master his life-bound mystic technique. He has a future at least in the later stages of Qi Cultivation, and might even reach the Foundation Establishment stage, far beyond your reach! If you don't want to bring disaster upon yourself, be careful in your words and actions."