Chapter 122
Months later…
Elder Xu Qingyao and several personal disciples returned one after another.
Each of them had left their mark across the Great Xia Dynasty, slaying demons and amassing renown. The Qinglian Sect’s prestige soared in a short time, nearly surpassing even the Yuantan Academy.
With the Three Thousand Sects Grand Competition just three years away, both factions were scrambling to prepare.
The Yuantan Academy’s urgency stemmed from genuine fear of a humiliating defeat.
The Qinglian Sect’s urgency, however, was only concerning their lower-tier disciples.
This time, none of the Nascent Soul-level personal disciples would participate.
Well—except for Li Yiya, who had broken through to Nascent Soul and been accepted as a personal disciple.
Now, the Qinglian Sect had five personal disciples in total.
Among them, only Duanmu Yao—who was still publicly at the Golden Core realm—had signed up to lead the team.
For this competition, Sect Master Liu Ruyan had established a series of rules:
Only Golden Core Realm (first layer or above) disciples could register.
Any disciple ranking within the top 100 would receive rewards.
Even the lowest-ranked qualifier would earn better prizes than a top-ten finisher in the sect’s biannual internal competition.
Rewards:
Top 50: Four hours of training in the Demon-Suppressing Tower’s sacred grounds.
Top 30: Eight hours.
Top 10: A full day.
Third Place: Three days!
Second Place: Five days!
First Place: A full seven days!
To motivate everyone, the sect had gone all out.
Once these rules were announced, every Golden Core disciple—and even inner disciples on the verge of breaking through—was sent into a frenzy. A new wave of cultivation fervor swept through the sect.
The demand for Qinglian Chongyang Pills immediately doubled.
Ji Zhiqing, unable to justify making three or four trips a day, reluctantly reduced her usual 90% profit share to a mere 70%, settling for just one trip daily.
Though still frequent, it was at least less conspicuous.
If the rumors about the Demon-Suppressing Tower’s ability to accelerate cultivation had once been met with skepticism, they were now undeniable.
After two consecutive internal competitions, the six female disciples who had earned the right to train there had all seen their cultivation soar by several layers.
Li Yiya had even broken through to Nascent Soul, becoming a personal disciple of the sect master.
From then on, no one doubted the Demon-Suppressing Tower’s worth.
With such precedents, who wouldn’t fight tooth and nail for a chance?
Even Duanmu Yao was no exception.
That’s right—she had her eyes set on the ultimate prize: seven days in the tower.
And she intended to exploit a loophole in the rules.
After all, wasn’t she still publicly a Golden Core cultivator?
Faced with such a blatant scheme, Liu Ruyan found it hard to outright forbid her.
She initially considered having Duanmu Yao’s mother—Inner Elder Dantai Yuruo—discipline her.
But after hearing them arguing in private about “50-50 splits,” “60-40 splits,” and “70-30 splits,” Duanmu Yao emerged even more determined to participate.
Since it wasn’t a major issue, Liu Ruyan eventually agreed—if only as an extra safeguard.
Of course, the matter of the Demon-Suppressing Tower’s training had been approved by Ning Chen.
While he kept the highest-quality “Star Slaves” by his side for long-term use, those slightly less exceptional could serve as occasional diversions.
Though each of these blessed realms was extraordinary, he always followed the same routine—switching the “soup” but never the “ingredients.”
Seizing this opportunity, Ning Chen thought it wouldn’t hurt to broaden his horizons.
Normally, even someone with an iron constitution would grow weary after a century of such relentless activity.
But the “Supreme Chongyang Divine Body” had a unique trait—its “Chongyang” aspect.
At midnight, his condition would reset, erasing all physical and mental fatigue.
He would always remain at peak performance, never wearing down, never dulling.
Time only added to his experience and composure—never diminishing his combat prowess.
Nowadays, Liu Ruyan handled the Qinglian Sect’s daily affairs.
But when it came to major developmental decisions or matters concerning the Demon-Suppressing Tower, all plans had to be reviewed by Ning Chen first.
Though he had stopped expanding the “marks” to avoid further erosion—preserving Liu Ruyan’s original personality—
This sect master, who held immense authority, had long since come to regard Ning Chen as the sect’s true master in her heart.
If forced to describe it—
Ning Chen had only one concise evaluation:
A very obedient bitch with personality.
A century of grudges had long since faded beneath their current roles.
Now, Ning Chen actually quite enjoyed Liu Ruyan’s domineering exterior and her utterly submissive demeanor in private.
When in a good mood, he would bestow his favor.
When displeased, he would send her to the punishment chamber.
However, Ning Chen did keep a rough tally of his “output.”
Liu Ruyan’s position was crucial, and her strength had to keep pace—otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to maintain order.
So even if her visits had decreased, the “resources” he allocated to her were always the most substantial.
“Eldest Senior Sister, where are we going?”
Walking along the back mountain path, Chu Ning glanced around nervously. The gloomy sky gave her an inexplicable sense of unease.
Today, she had finally changed into proper attire, the folds at her collar finally allowing some breathing room. Her tall frame carried a scorching aura with every step.
Nan Gongling replied curtly as they walked, “The Demon-Suppressing Tower.”
“Ah?” Chu Ning was stunned. “Eldest Senior Sister, isn’t that the sect’s sacred ground? Ordinary people aren’t allowed to enter!”
Having been in the sect for nearly three months, she was well aware of the tower’s reputation.
Nan Gongling’s tone remained indifferent.
“I’m not an ordinary person.”
You’re not, but I am!
Chu Ning silently added in her mind, but she didn’t voice it aloud.
At least she could gain some early experience.
“Eldest Senior Sister, what are we going there for?” Chu Ning couldn’t suppress her curiosity.
“Your condition is too unusual—even Elder Ji doesn’t understand it. I’m taking you to the Demon-Suppressing Tower to ask someone.”
Nan Gongling didn’t hide the truth.
Neither the sect master nor Elder Ji had answers.
At first, she had assumed Chu Ning’s fiery nature would grant her talent in alchemy.
But before any herbs could even be placed into the cauldron, several batches had already been scorched to ashes.
In the end, Elder Ji outright declared her completely inept at pill refining.
How could she process delicate ingredients without mistakes if she couldn’t even control her own instability?
Chu Ning frowned. “If even the sect master and elders don’t know… who could?”
“No more questions. Just trust me—he will have the answer.”
Nan Gongling’s eyes, hidden behind black silk, burned with conviction.
He?
Chu Ning blinked, her thick lashes casting faint shadows over jade-green eyes that flickered with thought.
Does an ancestor of the Qinglian Sect live inside the tower?
Still, solving her problem sooner was better.
Back when she was just an ordinary villager, it hadn’t mattered much.
But after three months of proper cultivation—plus the time spent hunting demons with her senior sister—she’d already reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.
And as her power grew, so did her ability to radiate heat… and its unpredictability.
Even heat-resistant robes couldn’t withstand her emotional spikes—they’d disintegrate instantly.
This was already her fifth uniform request.
Three times, she’d suffered public wardrobe incinerations—something that never happened before joining the sect.
Despite being a newcomer, Chu Ning had somehow become infamous among the outer disciples.
Thankfully, the Qinglian Sect was women-only.
Otherwise, she might’ve just thrown herself off a cliff.
Soon, the two arrived at the sacred Demon-Suppressing Tower.
“So… big! So… tall!”
Chu Ning gaped at the structure towering into the clouds, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.
From a distance, it had been impressive—but standing beneath it, she truly felt like an ant.
“Keep up. What you see and hear today stays here.” Nan Gongling snapped, striding inside without hesitation.
“Understood.”
Inside, Chu Ning—the wide-eyed village girl—was utterly overwhelmed.
Yet no matter how curious, she dared not touch anything. One accidental flare-up, and she’d owe the sect a fortune.
She followed Nan Gongling onto a jade platform, ascending floor after floor.
Counting carefully, she realized they’d climbed a hundred and eight levels before stopping.
As they entered the final chamber—
Squelch. Squelch. Slurp.
The obscenely loud, wet noises made Chu Ning pause.
…Is someone eating?
An ancestral figure should’ve long surpassed mortal hunger. Why would they crave worldly flavors?
And with that much gusto—you’d think they were devouring some divine delicacy!
Baffled, she turned the corner, and froze.
A silver-haired woman in half-discarded black robes knelt rigidly at the bedside, rocking back and forth with mechanical precision.
Chu Ning’s brain short-circuited.
That’s… the… the…
SECT MASTER?!