The sound came suddenly, with a casual and nonchalant air about it.
Han Xuanji turned her head and saw a middle-aged man walking slowly down the stairs.
This man was of medium build, with an air of authority about him, but the strange lines around his eyes gave him a somewhat sinister look.
His pace was neither hurried nor slow, as if he had been traveling for a long time and had just sat down to rest when something pulled him up again.
Han Xuanji was slightly taken aback.
His senses had been constantly sharp since he entered the attic, but he hadn't detected any presence until the person spoke.
It wasn't that the other person was deliberately hiding, but rather that their presence was so natural that it made people subconsciously ignore it.
Like air, it's everywhere, yet nobody pays attention to it.
Moreover, although there are no guards here, Elder Meng, an Eternal Sage, is right in front of us.
Han Xuanji remained calm and quietly activated the system to investigate.
[ Mo Chenxiao: Eternal Holy Lord, Lord of the Nine Mysteries Prefecture, Deputy Hall Master of the Tenth Sacred Hall of the Sacred Court, specializing in the Dao of the Divine Soul, and also cultivating the Great Dao of Fate.]
Upon seeing this message, Han Xuanji's heart skipped a beat.
Nine Mysteries Holy Lord?
Han Xuanji thought to himself, "Good heavens," this was an unparalleled figure who held the power of life and death over this entire province.
However, he maintained a perfectly measured expression of surprise and bewilderment.
He turned to look at Elder Meng, his eyes questioning.
The meaning is clear: Who is this person? What's going on?
Elder Meng's expression was incredibly interesting at that moment.
The composure and calmness on his face were gone, replaced by a hint of helplessness.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again, giving the newcomer a wistful look, the resentment in his eyes almost tangible.
"Lord Jiuxuan,"
Elder Meng finally spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"Didn't you say you were fully in charge of this matter?"
Mo Chenxiao waved his hand, sat down at the low table, picked up the cup of tea originally prepared for Han Xuanji, took a sip, and then slowly said:
I said, "Go and keep an eye on things for me," not that I wasn't coming.
Upon hearing this, Elder Meng resigned himself to his bad luck.
A Holy Lord to play word games with him, and he could only tolerate it.
The Nine Mysteries Holy Lord coughed lightly, put down his teacup, and his gaze swept past Elder Meng, landing on Han Xuanji. He looked him up and down, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Excellent, as expected of the champion of this year's Principle Conference, Little Meng, thank you for your hard work."
Elder Meng's lips twitched, and he completely gave up struggling.
"It is my duty to select talented individuals for the great figures of the Jiuxuan Mysteries..."
After saying that, he muttered something under his breath:
"Well, you've arrived. Please come in."
As he spoke, he took half a step to the side, making room for Han Xuanji.
Seeing his expression, Mo Chenxiao stopped teasing him and turned his attention back to Han Xuanji.
This time, he looked at it even more carefully than before.
There was an indescribable meaning in those eyes, as if they were turning the pages of an interesting book, slowly and deliberately.
When Han Xuanji was being stared at by those eyes, she had an indescribable feeling.
That gaze seemed to pierce through his skin and flesh, landing directly on his soul.
A thoughtful look seemed to flash in Mo Chenxiao's eyes, but he quickly returned to his casual demeanor.
"You're Han Xuanji? The young man who defeated even the Saint King Bloodline?"
Mo Chenxiao smiled at Han Xuanji, his tone very gentle, showing no trace of the majesty of a ruler of a state.
Han Xuanji clasped her hands in a salute:
"Junior Han Xuanji greets the Nine Mysteries Holy Lord. I was fortunate enough to defeat Xiao Yan, but it was a narrow victory. If we were to have another match, the outcome would be uncertain."
His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, and he did not lose his composure even when facing an important person.
Mo Chenxiao waved his hand:
"Don't be so formal. I'm just here to see what's going on."
Upon hearing this, Elder Meng finally couldn't help but roll his eyes.
But Mo Chenxiao didn't seem to care at the moment. He simply picked up his teacup and took another sip, as if he hadn't seen anything.
The relationship between the two was clearly much closer than outsiders imagined; otherwise, Elder Meng wouldn't have been so casual, and Mo Chenxiao wouldn't have come uninvited and acted so unreasonably.
Mo Chenxiao put down his teacup, his gaze returning to Han Xuanji. After a moment, he suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with emotion:
" Little Meng, you just said you wanted to take him as your only personal disciple, and I can understand that."
Such talent is indeed rare.
Elder Meng stood to the side, his lips twitching slightly, but he did not respond.
He was thinking to himself: If you understand, then why did you come to steal it?
Mo Chenxiao seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled:
You don't need to look at me like that.
As for Xiao Yan's side, the head of the Seventh Sacred Hall has already spoken up personally, so I won't join in the fun.
Besides, as you know, those hall masters are fighting tooth and nail over it, and I can't be bothered to get involved with them."
Elder Meng remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
Xiao Yan's status and potential were undeniable, and many hall masters in the Sacred Court were tempted to take his place. In the end, the hall master of the Seventh Sacred Hall made the decision first, and the others could no longer compete.
For powerful individuals of their caliber, nurturing a Sage is not a difficult task.
With the right resources, Cultivation Method, and guidance, as long as one has decent talent, reaching the Sage Realm Stage is only a matter of time.
But to train a Holy Lord is a completely different level.
That requires not only resources, but also a profound understanding of the essence of the Great Dao, and the disciple's own enlightenment and character.
Xiao Yan possessed the qualities of Holy Lord; this was evident to everyone.
At this moment, Mo Chenxiao looked at Han Xuanji and had the same judgment in his heart.
This young man's solid foundation, strong will, and adaptability in battle, as demonstrated at the Principle Conference, far surpassed those of his peers.
He defeated Ling Cang, Song Tiancheng, and Xiao Yan not by luck, but by a complete and utter crushing victory.
Given enough time and resources, such a person also has the potential to challenge the Holy Lord.
"I have only ever had one direct disciple, and that was many years ago. Now he has already reached the Sage Realm Stage and no longer needs my help."
Mo Chenxiao withdrew his gaze, his voice neither hurried nor slow.
He said this casually, as if he were talking about something completely ordinary.
Elder Meng, who was standing to the side, completely fell down upon hearing these words.
He finally found a suitable apprentice, but before he could even formally appoint him, this guy who suddenly appeared out of nowhere snatched him away.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end it turned into a sigh.
Mo Chenxiao glanced at him and casually added:
"But don't worry, I won't let you work for nothing. I can do that thing you mentioned before."
Elder Meng's expression faltered slightly, then became complicated.
Mo Chenxiao smiled without saying a word.
Finally, Elder Meng nodded emphatically, closed his eyes, as if to say, "I don't exist."
Han Xuanji stood aside, taking in the entire conversation between the two.
Becoming Holy Lord seems like a better option.