Eternal Heavenly Emperor-Chapter 284 - 274: Choosing a Sect
The Skyship of Yue State finally ascended and soon left.
The arena suddenly became lively.
Anyone who made it onto the Fledgling Dragon List and originated from below a Third Rank Sect was pursued by the big families of the Upper Three Counties, hoping to recruit them under their banners. Given the remarkable talents on this iteration of the Fledgling Dragon List, as long as the Cultivation Techniques were adequate, each individual had at least the potential to become a War King.
Top experts were few, and reaching the level of a War King was already tremendously strong, enough to establish the strongest force in the Middle Nine Counties.
Moreover, Chu Hao, Yuan Tiangang, and the Barbaric Girl, who were ranked in the top three, even had the potential to become War Emperors or War Gods. Who would want to miss out on such fine jade? Of course, nobody would invite Yuan Tiangang because his Haiyuan Sect was already a First Grade Sect of Luoshui Prefecture, so naturally, no one would try to poach him.
The focus of the contest was on Chu Hao and the Barbaric Girl.
The Barbaric Girl, overwhelmed by the attention, simply clung to Chu Hao’s side, making it clear wherever he would go, she would follow. This made the major powers even more eager, because if Chu Hao nodded in agreement, they could obtain two peerless geniuses at once.
In fact, what made the factions even more eager was the Barbaric Girl.
Because the world had seen too many unsurpassed talents who ultimately faded away like shooting stars, leaving behind only a brief brilliance. But it was different for innate body cultivators; they had no cultivation bottlenecks. As long as they lived and had sufficient cultivation resources, they could definitely grow to their limits.
Not to mention becoming War Emperors, even being a War Venerate was impressive enough.
"Little Friend Chu, if you join our Haiyuan Sect, I assure you, you will have access to all the cultivation resources you need, various high-tier techniques, martial skills for you to choose from, and even ancient secret techniques handed down from Ancient Times," major figures began to disclose their terms.
"Old Zhu, your Haiyuan Sect already has Yuan Tiangang, and yet you still aim to sweep the top three of the Fledgling Dragon List. Aren’t you being too greedy? Chu Hao, come to our Nanyun Sect instead. We offer a variety of Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills for you to choose from too."
"No, no, no, come to our Sishui Sect, our terms are no worse than theirs. Plus, our Sishui Sect has a Divine Pond that can temper your physique, and although it’s not as good as the Dragon Pool, you can use it often."
"Come to our Jade Brocade Sect, we assure an infinite supply of Spiritual Medicine, ensuring you have enough guarantee to rise to the level of Warrior and even reach War Venerate!"
"..."
All the Imperial-level Powers extended invitations to Chu Hao, trying to offer favorable conditions without forcing their hand.
This was natural, as Cang State was not limited to a single Imperial-level Power. Being too aggressive might push Chu Hao to join another force, potentially with an even more promising innate body cultivator.
Chu Hao remained calm and decisively ignored the invitations from the Imperial-level families, because no matter what, he was merely an outsider.
Since no one was in a hurry, they could afford to wait.
Two days later, Chu Hao finally negotiated terms with an Imperial-level Sect.
This Sect was called the Spirit Spring Sect, which had a Spirit Spring within. Drinking from it daily had immense benefits. The Spirit Spring Sect was formerly a Third Rank Sect and a Venerable Power in the Upper Three Counties, not very strong. However, seven thousand years ago, a genius emerged from within the sect, experienced numerous fortuitous encounters, and ultimately became an Emperor-level powerhouse.
In his later years, he stationed himself at the Spirit Spring Sect, diligently tutored four outstanding students, two of whom even advanced to Emperor-level after his death.
From then on, the Spirit Spring Sect always had Emperor-level powers stationed there, securing the position of a First Rank Sect.
The reasons that made Chu Hao choose this were twofold.
First, there wasn’t a strong family influence within the Spirit Spring Sect, the highest being the Venerable Level, meaning the sect’s true power was still held by the sect itself. It was like a school where, although there might be children from wealthy, noble families, the school was still operated by the state, and the wealthy and nobility had to abide by the school’s rules.
Unlike Yunliu Sect, which was founded by many families pooling resources together, naturally, they set the rules.
Relatively speaking, the Spirit Spring Sect was much fairer.
Second, only the Spirit Spring Sect agreed to his conditions.
— He wanted to bring Fu Xue, Luo Ping, and Tang Xin with him into the Spirit Spring Sect.
Fu Xue was manageable, being a talent on the Fledgling Dragon List, but Luo Ping was quite below average, and Tang Xin didn’t even qualify to participate, making most Imperial-level Sects unwilling to agree.
Because what Chu Hao requested was not merely to admit these three as disciples, but also to ensure they enjoyed the treatment of core disciples.
Core disciples in a First Rank Sect and a Sixth Grade Sect had different standards of treatment, right?
Fu Xue and Tang Xin, of course, there was no need to mention; they had come with him from the Lower World. Luo Ping was one of the few in Yunliu Sect who had been friendly to him, owing him many favors. In fact, Chu Hao wished he could have the Spirit Spring Sect recruit all disciples from the Lower World, but he really couldn’t muster the effrontery.
Three would have to suffice for now, since he was just a Martial Sect himself; the sect wouldn’t likely invest too much in him. But as he continued to grow, the sect would surely begin to change their minds.
When Fu Xue and Luo Ping heard Chu Hao had secured them spots in the Spirit Spring Sect, they were quite surprised. However, Fu Xue and Chu Hao had been old friends for a long time and quickly accepted the outcome. With her talent, she could have entered the Spirit Spring Sect on her own merit, but the treatment might have been somewhat inferior.
But Luo Ping was overjoyed.
That was a First Grade Sect, an Imperial-level Power, with the War Emperor himself stationed there.
The War Emperor, just thinking about this title made one’s heart tremble and legs go weak.
Having the chance to be initiated into a First Grade Sect and even possibly receiving personal instruction in the True Martial Arts Explanation from the War Emperor himself, how could he not be thrilled to the point of almost fainting on the spot?
Luo Ping was aware of his own limitations; although he was the second genius of the Yunliu Sect, he was far behind Cao Jingwen, not to mention comparable to Chu Hao or Fu Xue. His highest achievement would have been a War General, and that too would require acquiring an Earth-Level Intermediate Technique.
But now, he saw a bright, expansive road ahead of him, with a great chance to become a War King in the future.
A War King, the most powerful being in the entire Middle Nine Counties.
He was happy, and Luo Baojun was even happier. As an elder of the Luo Family, he naturally wanted the younger generation of his family to be as strong as possible, ideally producing a War God to elevate their family to the top echelons of Sky Martial Star.
Once initiated into a First Grade Sect, his future achievements would surely be boundless.
But soon, Luo Baojun became worried.
Because Chu Hao’s body contained Ten Insect Powder, and if he did not take the antidote during the New Year, he was bound to die. If Chu Hao died, would Luo Ping be thrown out? This was highly likely, as this quota was originally fought for by Chu Hao.
This thought gave Luo Baojun a huge scare, but the disciples from the Lower World all had Ten Insect Powder, albeit each with different compositions. Even if he went back to his clan to take the antidote, it could only cure those of the Luo Family in the Lower World, and it was completely ineffective for the people of the Ling Family.
Now, Chu Hao could not die.
Luo Baojun thought inwardly that they must strike a deal with the Ling Family to send Chu Hao the antidote, and they mustn’t let Chu Hao know the reason, otherwise... who knows what he might do in a fit of anger.
Unfortunately, Luo Baojun did not know that Chu Hao had already been aware of the Ten Insect Powder and had even neutralized the potent poison inside his body. Otherwise, he would have been even more surprised, wondering why Chu Hao would repay evil with kindness.
In fact, Chu Hao was merely returning a favor to Luo Ping, not that he had any deep connection with him.
Luo Baojun quietly pulled Ling Yangshan aside and spoke with him about demanding the antidote.
Ling Yangshan was initially taken aback. Why would Luo Baojun ask for an antidote for Chu Hao? But upon reflection, he understood; it was all for Luo Ping. He immediately scoffed internally, wondering how he could agree.
The Yunliu Sect was currently ranked alongside the nine great families, but if Luo Ping were to enter the Spirit Spring Sect for cultivation for decades, and then return to the Yunliu Sect, he could potentially be a War General-level expert.
By then, the Luo Family would overwhelmingly dominate, and the other eight families would only be able to look up to them.
So, no matter what benefits the Luo Family offered, why would Ling Yangshan agree?
But the issue with Ling Yangshan was here: outwardly, he agreed.
Because he feared that Luo Baojun would expose the matter of the Ten Insect Powder. If that happened, he would definitely face pressure from the Spirit Spring Sect. With his meager strength, could he withstand it?
So he pretended to agree with Ling Yangshan, knowing that no one could carry the antidote for Ten Insect Powder all the time. Once back at the Yunliu Sect, he could simply deny everything. As long as he could drag it past the New Year, Chu Hao would surely die, and Luo Ping would naturally be expelled from the Spirit Spring Sect.
By then, he wouldn’t be afraid of the Luo Family going to report him, because the Luo Family also couldn’t dissociate itself from the relationship and would have to swallow the bitter pill.
By the third day, the "scramble for people" finally came to an end, and everyone returned one by one.
Chu Hao allowed Luo Ping to leave with the bigwigs of Spirit Spring Sect, while he took Fu Xue to find Xiaocao, asking Xiaocao to cure Fu Xue of the Ten Insect Powder. The Barbaric Girl naturally did not want to part with Chu Hao, so the bigwig of Spirit Spring Sect gave Chu Hao two months. By then, the three of them had to return to the Spirit Spring Sect.
Chu Hao agreed, but for safety, he first left together with the bigwig of Spirit Spring Sect. After traveling a long distance, they then split up, making others believe he had gone to Spirit Spring Sect so no one would get the idea to ambush him along the way.
This precaution was necessary. Although most people would prioritize the greater good, there were always despicable characters in the world.
Unfortunately, Nangong Rou was also initiated under a First Grade Sect. Although her status definitely could not compare to Chu Hao’s, Chu Hao couldn’t confront and wipe her out in front of the experts of her sect.
After all, he was still just a minor figure in the Martial Sect.
Chu Hao, with Fu Xue and the Barbaric Girl, changed course towards Shangfang Mountain.
On their way, Chu Hao took out Dragon Tooth Rice, immediately delighting the Barbaric Girl to the point her eyes squinted into slits, and it also amazed Fu Xue. After the Ancient Training Ground concluded, she had heard that the underground area had been opened, and many obtained Dragon Tooth Rice, but none could match what Chu Hao had taken out—each grain was equivalent to a corn cob.
The Barbaric Girl, with a pure heart but an innate clarity about the nature of good and evil, quickly became good friends with Fu Xue, the two women chattering non-stop.
A few days later, they arrived at Shangfang Mountain. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and provide monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
