Good

Jiang Tian gulped in great breaths, his chest heaving violently, his face turning pale, then green.

What were those eyes?

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

"Hmm?"

Daoist Qingchen narrowed his eyes, confusion filling his cloudy old gaze.

He looked at the stone pillars, then at Jiang Tian, surprise coloring his voice.

"Not a single one lit up?"

That couldn't be right!

The boy's aptitude looked pretty good!

But if not a single one had lit up, then he hadn't earned that person's approval.

Mu Sining was just as puzzled, her brows drawing together slightly.

Jiang Tian had managed to gather qi at his age; his talent and aptitude had to be far beyond ordinary. How could not a single stone pillar have lit up?

These pillars had been built by the Heavenly Fire Sect's founder. They could test a person's talent and origins, then render a judgment... If not a single one lit up, they couldn't join the Heavenly Fire Sect.

"Boy." Daoist Qingchen's gaze flickered, and his voice carried a trace of regret. "I'm afraid you and my Heavenly Fire Sect are not fated to cross paths."

Jiang Tian's expression turned blank, his pupils widening slightly.

What the hell? Not a single one lighting up meant he couldn't join the Heavenly Fire Sect?

That couldn't be right!

Even Yuan Manzhi, with a single red trait, had lit up three and a half pillars. There was no way not one would light up for him!

This had to have something to do with those golden eyes.

Forget it.

If this place wouldn't have him, there'd be somewhere that would.

Jiang Tian took a deep breath. The shock quickly faded from his face, and he returned to his usual calm.

He stepped out of the formation, his stride steady.

But the instant he crossed the formation's boundary—

The stone pillars lit up.

"Bzzzz—!"

The first pillar blazed from bottom to top in an instant, milky-white light surging skyward and illuminating the entire great hall.

Then came the second.

The third.

The fourth.

The fifth.

One after another, without the slightest pause.

The eleventh.

The twelfth!

All twelve stone pillars were alight!

Daoist Qingchen's expression changed at once. His cloudy old eyes were full of shock, and his mouth hung slightly open, staying that way for a long moment.

He could more or less sense the boy's aptitude. There was no way not a single pillar would light up; he'd probably expected seven or eight.

But all twelve?

Just as he was bewildered, a voice entered his heart.

"..."

Only a few short words.

He let out a long breath, his eyes flickering a few times. Then he reached into his robe, took out a jade token, lightly tapped it with a finger, and tossed it to Jiang Tian.

"Twelve thousand contribution points."

Jiang Tian caught the token. It felt smooth and warm in his hand, like a piece of warm jade.

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

But inside, he was overjoyed. Twelve thousand contribution points—equivalent to twenty-four thousand taels of silver!

"All right. If there's nothing else, leave. Don't disturb my cultivation." Daoist Qingchen waved his sleeve, lay back down in his chair, and closed his eyes.

"Let's go." Mu Sining schooled her shocked expression, returning to her usual cool demeanor as she looked at Jiang Tian. "I'll take you to collect your clothes and choose a place to stay."

"Okay."

The group cupped their hands in farewell and headed for the hall's exit.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw a tall man with strikingly delicate features approaching from straight ahead.

He wore the Heavenly Fire Sect uniform, but somehow gave it the air of a dandy's finery. His collar hung open, his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and an exquisite jade pendant dangled from his waist. He swayed with every step.

More eye-catching still, he had an arm around each of two strikingly beautiful, statuesque women.

The women clung to his sides, one on either side.

The moment Mu Sining saw him, her brows knitted together, undisguised disgust in her eyes.

She moved a few steps to the side, deliberately putting some distance between them, as if she didn't want to get too close to him.

A glint flickered in Jiang Tian's eyes.

[Name: Song Yongheng]

[Realm: Qi Gathering]

[Traits: Evil Yang Body (Red)]

The two women were both at the Transformation Energy realm. One had a purple trait, and the other did too.

Their names were interesting as well: Mao Qinglan and Mao Qingyi, differing by just one character.

And they really did look alike. Their features shared six or seven similarities; standing together, they resembled a pair of twin lotus blossoms.

Jiang Tian's expression remained unchanged, though he felt a little odd inside.

Sisters, huh?

He really knew how to enjoy himself.

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

He sniffed, his gaze locking straight onto Yuan Manzhi. It roamed over her from head to toe, then back again.

"Wait."

Song Yongheng turned around to face them, his gaze shamelessly lingering on Yuan Manzhi, a leering smile on his lips. "So that's where that intense scent of Primordial Yin is coming from. You're a Mystic Ice Body?"

He drew in a deep breath, his face taking on an intoxicated expression.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

"I thought finding two fine Cauldrons on this mission was already a blessing. I never expected an even greater blessing to be waiting for me!"

Song Yongheng's eyes burned with desire as he strode up to the three of them, blocking their way.

He stared unblinkingly at Yuan Manzhi, his gaze greasy and clinging.

"Get lost!" A cold glint flashed in Mu Sining's eyes. Blue-white chill appeared around her, and the air temperature dropped in an instant. A thin layer of frost formed over the ground.

But Song Yongheng acted as if he hadn't heard her. He even reached out to touch Yuan Manzhi's face.

Just as his fingers were about to brush her cheek—

A streak of golden light flashed.

Fast as lightning.

"Drip."

A drop of bright red blood fell onto the stone pavement.

A long gash had appeared across Song Yongheng's palm. The flesh gaped open, and blood trickled between his fingers.

"Reach that dog paw out again, and next time it'll be your neck that bleeds."

A cold light shone in Jiang Tian's eyes. The golden glow in his hand had yet to fade completely.

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

It was the same as always: the Yuan father and daughter had done him a kindness, and he had already promised Yuan Long he'd look after Yuan Manzhi.

Whoever laid a hand on her, he'd lay a hand on them.

"Hmm?"

Song Yongheng stared blankly at the long gash in his palm, then looked up at Jiang Tian.

His expression shifted from bewilderment to disbelief, then from disbelief to fury.

"Are all new disciples this clueless?"

"You dare attack me? Do you not want to stay in the Heavenly Fire Sect?!"

His voice shot up sharply on the final words, the sound echoing across the empty plaza.

He glared at Jiang Tian, his expression icy.

Jiang Tian said nothing.

The golden light in his hand shone brighter, like a short sword forged from sunlight.

He stood there, unafraid, meeting Song Yongheng's gaze. There was no retreat, no hesitation in his eyes—only a kind of unnerving calm.

"Fine, fine, fine!" Song Yongheng repeated, his voice full of suppressed fury. "Now even a Qi Gathering ant who just joined the sect dares to challenge me!"

Before the words had faded, the temperature around him suddenly soared.

Dark-red flames sprang from his body. Their color was nearly black, as if something had tainted them, and they gave off a nauseating aura of evil.

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

"Song Yongheng."

Just then, a drawn-out voice came from inside the hall behind them.

The flames around Song Yongheng instantly withdrew into his body and vanished without a trace.

A fawning smile appeared on his face. He cupped his hands toward the hall, his voice dripping with obsequiousness. "Daoist Qingchen, this new junior brother and I were just joking around."

No answer came from the hall.

Song Yongheng straightened and turned back to Jiang Tian. The smile on his face slowly faded away.

"Kid, how about this?"

His tone suddenly softened.

"I won't bully you. I'll give you ten days. You and I will have a match then. If you win, I'll give you fifty thousand contribution points. If I win, you'll hand that woman beside you over to me."

"Don't think you can refuse."

He paused, lowering his voice. "I've already shown you plenty of consideration. If you refuse, I can guarantee your days in the Heavenly Fire Sect will be anything but easy."

Jiang Tian's face darkened to the extreme.

Regardless of whether he could win, how could he make Yuan Manzhi a wager?

At that moment, a warm little hand wrapped around his.

It was soft and small, its fingers slender as jade, curling gently into his palm.

Jiang Tian stiffened and turned to look.

Yuan Manzhi stared straight at him. There was no fear or hesitation in her peach-blossom eyes, only a steadfastness that put his heart at ease.

Her cheeks were still faintly flushed.

She looked at him and gave a firm nod.

The gesture was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

As if she had placed everything she had in his hands.

Jiang Tian fell silent for a moment, then tightened his grip around her hand.

He turned and looked at Song Yongheng.

"Fine."