Good

Jiang Tian gasped for air, his chest heaving violently as his face cycled between shades of pale and green.

What on earth was that pair of eyes?

Under the gaze of those golden pupils, he hadn't even been able to muster the slightest thought of resistance.

"Hmm?"

Daoist Qingchen narrowed his eyes, his cloudy, aged gaze filled with confusion.

He looked at the stone pillars, then back at Jiang Tian, his voice tinged with surprise.

"Not a single one lit up?"

That shouldn't be!

The boy's aptitude looked quite decent!

But since none of them lit up, it meant he hadn't received the recognition of that entity.

Mu Sining was also deeply puzzled, her brows knitting together slightly.

For Jiang Tian to have succeeded in Qi Gathering at his age, his natural talent must be far superior to the average person; how could it be that not a single stone pillar lit up?

These stone pillars were built by the founder of the Heavenly Fire Sect to test a person's talent and foundation, and to pass judgment... if none of them lit up, one could not join the Heavenly Fire Sect.

"Kid." Daoist Qingchen's eyes flickered, his tone carrying a hint of regret. "I am sorry, but you are not fated to be with my Heavenly Fire Sect."

Jiang Tian's expression turned to one of astonishment, his pupils dilating slightly.

What the hell? Not a single one lit up, and he couldn't join the Heavenly Fire Sect because of it?

That shouldn't be!

If Yuan Manzhi could light up three and a half pillars with only a red-tier trait, there was no reason he shouldn't be able to light up even one!

All of this definitely had something to do with those golden eyes.

Forget it.

If this place won't keep me, there are plenty of other places that will.

Jiang Tian took a deep breath, the shock on his face quickly fading as he regained his usual composure.

He stepped out of the formation with steady, measured strides.

However, the moment he stepped out of the formation.

The stone pillars lit up.

"Hum--!"

The first stone pillar was instantly illuminated from base to top, a milky-white light shooting into the sky and bathing the entire hall in brilliance.

Immediately following it was the second.

The third.

The fourth.

The fifth.

One after another, without the slightest pause.

The eleventh.

The twelfth!

All twelve stone pillars were fully illuminated!

Daoist Qingchen's expression changed instantly. His cloudy, aged eyes were filled with shock, his mouth hanging slightly open, unable to close for a long time.

He had a rough sense of the boy's aptitude; it certainly shouldn't have been zero, and he had expected maybe seven or eight to light up.

But all twelve?

Just as he was feeling deeply confused, a voice echoed in his heart.

"..."

It was only a few short words.

He let out a long sigh, his eyes flickering a few times before he pulled a jade token from his robes. He tapped his finger lightly against it and tossed it to Jiang Tian.

"Twelve thousand contribution points."

Jiang Tian caught the jade token; it felt warm and smooth in his hand, like holding a piece of heated jade.

He cupped his hands in a salute, neither servile nor overbearing: "Thank you, Daoist Qingchen."

Inside, however, he was overjoyed. Twelve thousand contribution points were equivalent to twenty-four thousand taels of silver!

"Alright, if there is nothing else, you may withdraw. Do not disturb my cultivation." Daoist Qingchen waved his sleeve, lay back down on his recliner, and closed his eyes.

"Let's go." Mu Sining wiped away the shock on her face, returning to her cold, detached expression as she looked at Jiang Tian. "I will take you to collect your robes and choose your living quarters."

"Very well."

The group cupped their hands in farewell and walked out of the hall.

As soon as they exited the main hall, they saw a tall, exceptionally effeminate man walking towards them from the front.

He wore a Heavenly Fire Sect uniform, yet carried himself with the air of a spoiled rich kid. His collar was open, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a high-quality jade pendant hung from his waist. He walked with a swagger.

Even more eye-catching, he had a woman on each arm, both of them beautiful and tall.

The two women stuck close to his sides, one on the left and one on the right.

The moment she saw this man, Mu Sining's brow furrowed, her eyes showing undisguised disgust.

She took a few steps to the side, as if intentionally creating distance, unwilling to get too close to him.

Jiang Tian's eyes flickered slightly.

[Name: Song Yongheng]

[Realm: Qi Gathering]

[Trait: Evil Yang Body (Red)]

The two women were both at Transformation Energy cultivation. One had a purple trait, and the other also had a purple trait.

Their names were also interesting: Mao Qinglan and Mao Qingyi, differing by only one character.

Looking at their appearances, the two were indeed very similar, sharing about sixty to seventy percent resemblance in their features. Standing together, they looked like a pair of twin lotuses.

Jiang Tian's expression remained unchanged, but he felt a strange sensation internally.

Sisters?

They really know how to have fun.

Just as the two groups were about to pass each other, Song Yongheng suddenly stopped.

He sniffed the air, his gaze locking directly onto Yuan Manzhi, scanning her from head to toe, then back again.

"Wait."

Song Yongheng turned around, looking at the group. His eyes roamed unscrupulously over Yuan Manzhi, a smirk playing on his lips. "I was wondering why there was such a strong Primordial Yin scent. Turns out you're a Mystic Ice Body?"

He took a deep breath, a look of intoxication on his face.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

"I thought it was already my good fortune to find two excellent cauldrons on this mission, but I didn't expect even greater fortune to be waiting!"

Song Yongheng's eyes burned with desire as he strode quickly in front of the three, blocking their path.

His eyes were fixed on Yuan Manzhi, his gaze sticky and lecherous.

"Scram!" Mu Sining's eyes flashed with cold light. Chilling energy, pale blue and white, emanated from her, instantly lowering the temperature of the air. A thin layer of frost formed on the ground.

But Song Yongheng acted as if he hadn't heard. He reached out, intending to touch Yuan Manzhi's cheek.

Just as his fingers were about to brush against Yuan Manzhi's cheek.

A golden light flashed.

It was as fast as lightning.

Drip.

A drop of bright red blood landed on the bluestone slab.

On Song Yongheng's palm, a long gash had appeared. Flesh was torn open, and blood flowed down his fingers.

"If you dare to extend that dog paw any further, your neck will be the next to bleed."

Jiang Tian's eyes were filled with cold light. The golden glow in his hand had not yet completely dissipated.

He stood in front of Yuan Manzhi, separating her from Song Yongheng. The killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible.

As he had said, the Yuan family father and daughter had shown him kindness, and he had promised Yuan Long that he would take good care of Yuan Manzhi.

Anyone who touched her, he would deal with.

"Huh?"

Song Yongheng looked at his palm, which had been cut open with a large gash, in stunned disbelief. Then he looked up at Jiang Tian standing before him.

His expression shifted from astonishment to disbelief, and from disbelief to rage.

"Are all newly initiated disciples this blind?"

"You dare to lay hands on me, don't you want to stay in the Heavenly Fire Sect anymore?!"

In his last sentence, his volume suddenly increased, the sound wave echoing across the empty square.

His gaze was icy as he stared at Jiang Tian.

Jiang Tian remained silent.

The golden light in his hand grew brighter, as if he were holding a short sword forged from sunlight.

He stood there, meeting Song Yongheng's gaze without fear. There was no retreat, no hesitation in his eyes, only a disturbing calm.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!" Song Yongheng said "excellent" three times, his voice laced with suppressed fury. "Now even a Qi Gathering ant who just joined dares to challenge me!"

Before he finished speaking, the temperature around him suddenly rose.

A dark red flame erupted from his body, the color so deep it appeared black, as if tainted by something foul, radiating a nauseating, evil aura.

The flames flickered around him, undulating like venomous snakes flicking their tongues.

"Song Yongheng."

Just then, a long, drawn-out voice echoed from the main hall behind them.

The flames on Song Yongheng's body instantly retracted into his core, vanishing without a trace.

He wore a fawning smile as he cupped his hands toward the hall, his voice dripping with sycophancy: "Daoist Qingchen, I was just playing around with this new junior brother."

No further sound came from the hall.

Song Yongheng straightened up and turned back to look at Jiang Tian, the smile on his face fading bit by bit.

"Kid, how about this."

His tone suddenly turned mild.

"I won't bully you. I'll give you ten days, and in ten days, the two of us will have a match. If you win, I'll give you fifty thousand contribution points. If I win, you hand over the woman beside you to me."

"Don't even think about refusing."

He paused, his voice dropping even lower: "I've already given you plenty of face. If you refuse, I guarantee that your days in the Heavenly Fire Sect will be absolutely miserable."

Jiang Tian's expression turned dark to the extreme.

Setting aside whether he could win or not, how could he ever treat Yuan Manzhi as a wager?

Just then, a small, warm hand gripped his palm.

The hand was soft and petite, with fingers as slender as jade, gently locking into his palm.

Jiang Tian was startled and turned his head to look.

Yuan Manzhi stared straight at him, her peach-blossom eyes devoid of fear or hesitation, holding only a reassuring sense of resolve.

Her cheeks were still slightly flushed.

She nodded firmly at him.

That nod was crisp and decisive, without a shred of doubt.

It was as if she had placed everything she was into his hands.

Jiang Tian remained silent for a moment, then tightened his grip on the hand in his palm.

He turned his head to look at Song Yongheng.

"Fine."