Chapter 113 - 58: Winter Solstice Advancement, The Wind of Harsh Winter That Breathes Vitality into All Things

Chapter 113: Chapter 58: Winter Solstice Advancement, The Wind of Harsh Winter That Breathes Vitality into All Things

Su Xingying knew the scenery of her family’s courtyard by heart. What made her raise an eyebrow, however, was the gentle figure that greeted her the moment she stepped through the gate—it was her mother, Ning Rong.

At first glance, Ning Rong appeared to be a very gentle-looking young woman. Seeing her daughter’s dazed expression, she hurried forward and pulled Su Xingying into her arms.

"Looking so dejected, Yingying... Did something happen at the Martial Arts Arena?" Ning Rong asked, her voice soft as she reached out to gently stroke her daughter’s hair.

"Yes." Su Xingying let her guard down completely around her mother. Pulled into Ning Rong’s embrace, she poured out everything that had happened at the Martial Arts Arena, her voice full of genuine feeling. "I ran into a powerful opponent. He’s in my year and comes from the Lower Classes, but he’s incredibly skilled."

"His overall strength isn’t as great as mine, but he used some kind of explosive Secret Technique to temporarily boost his power and beat me several times..."

Jiang Xuan had left such a profound impression on her that Su Xingying found herself chattering on and on to her mother about him.

Her words were a mix of frustration and bitterness over losing to Jiang Xuan, exasperation with his greed, and—more than anything—an undeniable curiosity and sincere respect for his strength.

As she spoke, she also revealed her plan: she would defeat Jiang Xuan, earn his respect with her strength, and then recruit this exceptionally talented son of the Lower Classes into her own Dharma Vein.

"I’ll definitely beat that miser and then invite him to our Dharma Vein!" Su Xingying declared, clenching her small fists with determination.

In truth, many who witnessed Jiang Xuan’s strength had also considered recruiting him. It wasn’t that Jiang Xuan possessed some special Charm; it was simply the way of the Cultivation Realm. Those with outstanding Talent had always been a hot commodity, fiercely sought after by all factions.

It was just that such matters typically unfolded around the prodigies themselves, unknown to outsiders.

Take Fang Xiao of the Chen Daoist School, for example. He also came from the Lower Classes, yet he opened thirty-six acupoints on his fourth day, earning an "excellent" rating. He was the first son of the Lower Classes to achieve such an honor.

If Dong Hao hadn’t mentioned it by chance at a gathering, Jiang Xuan would never have known that based on this Talent alone, Fang Xiao had already been scouted and invested in by three minor Cultivation Clans. Less than a month into his time at the Daoist School, he already had three marriage contracts arranged.

By comparison, Jiang Xuan was moving slowly.

This phenomenon of scrambling for geniuses was also inextricably linked to the internal system of the Shenxiao Sect.

To prevent the Sect’s decline and maintain its thriving Vitality and competitive edge, the Shenxiao Sect had deliberately established a harsh system of competition. This filled every corner of the Inner and Outer Sects with an air of rivalry—seats for Inner Sect Disciples were contested, the rankings of Dharma Veins were fought over, and shares of Cultivation resources were even more fiercely contended.

Ultimately, the burden of this competition fell upon the disciples, Elders, and Vessel Masters of every peak and vein.

And both Elders and Vessel Masters were promoted from the ranks of these prodigious disciples.

This, in turn, meant that every Dharma Vein within the Shenxiao Sect had a never-ending thirst for talent.

As a Vessel Master’s daughter, Su Xingying had possessed a strong sense of honor since childhood, and was determined to do her part to strengthen her family’s Dharma Vein.

Ning Rong saw right through her daughter’s intentions and, naturally, gave her full support.

Gently ruffling the top of Su Xingying’s hair, her gentle eyes filled with affection. "Mother believes in you. You can definitely defeat that boy, Jiang Xuan."

Her mother’s encouragement was like a spark igniting the fighting spirit in Su Xingying’s Heart. Her usual vigor returned in an instant. After bidding Ning Rong farewell, she rushed off to practice her swordsmanship.

As her daughter’s figure receded into the distance, her Guardian, Yu Dai, who watched over her from the shadows, did not follow. At that same moment, the gentle aura around Ning Rong vanished, replaced by a cold, aloof presence. The softness in her eyes hardened.

Looking up at Yu Dai, the dignified, cool-headed woman’s voice was flat and emotionless. "Have you finished investigating Jiang Xuan?"

"Yes, Matriarch. It’s all been investigated."

The moment Su Xingying had instructed her to deliver Spirit Stones to Jiang Xuan, Yu Dai had grown cautious and immediately ordered an investigation into him. In fact, this ’chance encounter’ between Ning Rong and Su Xingying was the result of a message she had sent ahead of time.

—A Guardian to a child of a great clan’s Direct Lineage was never tasked merely with protecting their charge’s safety; they also bore the responsibility of vetting and investigating everyone who came into contact with them.

Yu Dai reported respectfully, "The boy’s name is Jiang Xuan. He is a scion of the Lower Classes from Cui Bamboo Town, part of the Shenxiao Sect’s Outer Sect at Chen’s Residence. His father is long dead. His mother was a Maid who married out from the third branch of a local, mid-tier Cultivation Clan. His personal Spirit Root is rated Profound Middle. He barely passed the Daoist School’s first assessment and only managed to open his thirty-six acupoints on the seventh day. He has now entered the Four Seasons Valley for his Cultivation..."

After detailing Jiang Xuan’s family background, Cultivation, and current situation, Yu Dai looked up slightly. "Matriarch," she asked, seeking instructions, "is there anything you need me to do?"

"There’s no need," Ning Rong said coolly.

"Huh?" The command stunned Yu Dai. She never expected her matriarch to make such a decision.

Having protected Su Xingying for years and come to see her as her own child, Yu Dai instinctively tried to persuade her. "Matriarch, aren’t you worried something might happen between them? The Young Miss is far too invested in Jiang Xuan..."

"Those aren’t romantic feelings. Yingying simply sees him as a rival—a nemesis worthy of her full effort to surpass." Ning Rong’s attitude toward Yu Dai was kind and even respectful, so she patiently explained her reasoning. "Having such a formidable opponent is a good thing for Yingying. It will give her more motivation on her path of Cultivation and prevent her from growing complacent."