Chapter 112 - 57: A Dragon Does Not Dwell with Snakes

Chapter 112: Chapter 57: A Dragon Does Not Dwell with Snakes

After a brief conversation with Jiang Xuan, Su Xingying, her competitive spirit thoroughly ignited and still having energy to spare, turned to find other Cultivators to fight.

Before she left, however, she went ahead and renewed Jiang Xuan’s fee for the Martial Arts Arena, allowing him to remain within the Illusion Realm.

He switched the Martial Arts Arena’s mode from "Challenge" to "Dharma Performance." Mentally exhausted, he closed his eyes and slowly lay down in a patch of reeds.

Then, he let the frigid energy in his body spread and overflow unchecked, feeling the chill slowly stiffen and freeze his body. He personally experienced his consciousness fade and sink into nothingness amidst the endless cold and thick darkness.

...

At a certain moment, amidst the terrifyingly cold aura, Jiang Xuan’s own aura suddenly fell silent—he had frozen to death.

He went through this extreme, face-to-face experience with death more than thirty consecutive times.

Only after his consciousness dissipated and reformed for the final time did he slowly shake his head. Mustering a sliver of strength, he withdrew from the Mirage Mirror: Three Thousand Realms.

’In the end, it’s just an Illusion Realm. I know deep down that I won’t really die, so it’s a world apart from a true life-or-death situation. Still, over thirty near-death experiences should be enough for my current Realm for now...’

With that thought, Jiang Xuan turned and left the Martial Arts Arena.

Because he emerged with a weary face and a solemn expression, completely lacking the radiant look of someone who had just won seven straight matches, Mo Yu saw this and immediately crossed Jiang Xuan off her list of potential prodigies.

However, the fact that she gave him a second glance earned a sneer from Bai Zhi beside her. "You’re still staring at that sickly person? Don’t tell me you actually think he’s some kind of prodigy?"

"Of course not." Mo Yu shook her head subconsciously and explained why she had noticed Jiang Xuan. "Most Cultivators who come to the Martial Arts Arena prepare themselves to be in perfect condition. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone drag a weak, sickly body here, so I took a longer look."

"People like that are indeed rare." Bai Zhi agreed casually, then turned her head to continue searching for the seven-win prodigy.

Mo Yu was about to do the same, but just as she turned her head, she suddenly noticed that Jiang Xuan hadn’t left after exiting the Mirage Mirror. Instead, he was looking around as if searching for something.

Seeing this, Mo Yu, in her role as a Maid, instinctively wanted to go over and help. But before she could take a step, an elderly figure suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Xuan.

’Oh, so he was waiting for someone?’ Mo Yu murmured to herself and paid him no more mind, turning her gaze elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the old woman who had appeared so abruptly sized Jiang Xuan up and down several times. Just as Jiang Xuan’s eyes narrowed and his guard went up...

With a swish, the old woman placed a small Brocade Bag into Jiang Xuan’s hand.

"This is from my Miss for you. It contains seven Middle Grade Spirit Stones." She paused, then added, "Also, my Miss asked me to pass on a message: three days from now, same place. She expects you."

Jiang Xuan instantly understood the meaning behind her words—Su Xingying was inviting him to a rematch in three days.

Since he was getting Spirit Stones and the other party paid without delay, Jiang Xuan naturally had no reason to refuse her challenge.

"I will await Miss Su here in three days."

With that, Jiang Xuan tucked the Brocade Bag away and, dragging his weary body, turned to leave.

Afterward, he didn’t return to the Four Seasons Valley to rest and recuperate. Instead, he went to the Chen Daoist School, found Nan Zhi who had just finished her Cultivation, and handed all seven Middle Grade Spirit Stones over to her.

"Miss Nan Zhi, please trouble yourself to give these Spirit Stones to Brother Dong. Have him continue collecting Dao Scriptures and Dao Scrolls for me."

"I will report this to the Young Master exactly as you’ve said." When she first took the Brocade Bag, Nan Zhi’s expression was untroubled. The bag was small, and it looked like it contained only seven Spirit Stones, hardly anything noteworthy. But after Jiang Xuan left, she opened the bag and saw that the Spirit Stones were actually Middle Grade. Her expression changed in an instant.

"Seven Middle Grade Spirit Stones! Where did he get these?!"

After her shock, Nan Zhi immediately stood up. "No, I must inform the Young Master of this at once."

While Nan Zhi was rushing off to report to Dong Hao, Jiang Xuan met with Cheng Cultivator. He raised a hand and blessed him with a Purifying Heart Spell to help him stabilize his Heart Spirit.

Afterward, he walked to a stream and gazed at his own reflection in the water. Seeing his bloodless, deathly ill appearance, he feared his mother would worry if she saw him. He didn’t dare return to his residence, heading straight back to the Four Seasons Valley instead.

The moment he stepped into the Four Seasons Valley’s grounds, a weight lifted from Jiang Xuan’s Heart. A sense of belonging and security washed over him.

’...This feeling... have I started to think of the Four Seasons Valley as my home? That’s not so bad. I can bring Mother here in the future.’

After this brief reflection, he didn’t return to his own quarters. Instead, he headed straight for the Valley of Spring, where he collapsed under an ancient tree in a courtyard and fell into a deep sleep.

As a blessed land, the Four Seasons Valley’s distinct seasonal landscapes were not merely for viewing; each of the four great valleys possessed its own divine wonders.

Among them, the Valley of Spring constantly thrummed with the rhythm of Spring Revival. Cultivators there could not only immerse themselves in comprehending the Spring Law, but their Divine Souls and Flesh Bodies would also recover several times faster than elsewhere.

With his Heart Spirit exhausted to its limit, Jiang Xuan quickly fell into a peaceful, deep sleep, enveloped by the gentle aura of the Valley of Spring.

But unbeknownst to the slumbering Jiang Xuan, Nan Zhi and Dong Hao weren’t the only ones discussing him again today because of the seven Middle Grade Spirit Stones.

Two other people were also pondering everything related to him.

One of them was Mo Yu.

She had already put Jiang Xuan out of her mind. But as she scanned the lakeside pavilion, continuing her search for prodigies, her gaze suddenly froze. She saw the old woman who had spoken to Jiang Xuan earlier, now standing respectfully beside a young lady of noble status.

The sight left Mo Yu stunned.

’A dragon doesn’t consort with a snake. Since that old woman serves this young lady, and Jiang Xuan has a connection to her... is he really just a frail, sickly person?’

With this thought, she began to search anxiously for Jiang Xuan.

Unfortunately, by this time, there was no trace of Jiang Xuan left in the Martial Arts Arena.

Besides her, the other person paying attention to Jiang Xuan was, naturally, Su Xingying.

For a heaven’s favored daughter like Su Xingying, the deliberate flattery and fawning of others might mean nothing to her. But if someone managed to defeat her—and as the underdog, no less—she would find it unforgettable, her mind singularly focused on how to beat them in return.

With Jiang Xuan on her mind, Su Xingying found her subsequent matches rather dull.

This was true even when she faced opponents who were stronger than Jiang Xuan.

From them, Su Xingying felt none of the suffocating pressure of being pushed to the brink, none of the thrill of dancing on a knife’s edge where death could come in the next second, that she had experienced when fighting Jiang Xuan.

No one else had Jiang Xuan’s restriction of burning through everything with only thirty breaths of time to live.

Because his final moments were so brief, Jiang Xuan’s explosive power and oppressive aura were exceptionally brilliant.

In contrast, the other people in the Martial Arts Arena, with ample time on their hands, fought with extreme caution.

This was especially true for the many Magic Cultivators. As everyone knew, most Magic Cultivators fought by first casting shields on themselves, then bombarding their enemies from a distance.

If they could blast their enemy to death from afar, it was a victory. If they couldn’t... they ran!

If they got away, they’d continue blasting. If they couldn’t, they’d die.

This style of combat completely lacked the exhilarating satisfaction of clashing blades.

After experiencing a thrilling, life-and-death duel on a razor’s edge with Jiang Xuan, nothing else could compare. Facing these conventional, by-the-book opponents, Su Xingying felt only boredom, unable to muster any enthusiasm.

Thus, not long after Jiang Xuan left, she also exited the Mirage Mirror and headed home.

Su Xingying lived at the peak of a mountain that pierced the clouds. It was covered in magnificent jade pavilions and palaces. If Jiang Xuan were here, he would have found the place... somewhat familiar.