Suddenly, the collective gaze of countless male disciples shifted toward the distant horizon, drawn by a grand spectacle. Rays of light seemed to converge as massive, billowing clouds of Qi from the Source descended upon a jagged, distant peak.
Above those swirling iridescent clouds, colorful dresses fluttered in the mountain breeze like the petals of exotic flowers caught in a gale. A legion of female disciples stood there in elegant formation, their silhouettes creating a scene of breathtaking beauty against the rugged terrain.
These were the disciples of Snow Peak, and their presence was a rare sight that immediately commanded the attention of everyone gathered.
Standing at the very front of the row was a woman draped in pristine, flowing white robes that seemed to shimmer with a light of their own. Her aura was one of cold, untouched elegance. In the center of her smooth, porcelain forehead, an illuminated lotus design glowed with a faint, rhythmic pulse, adding a touch of undeniable sacredness to her presence.
She stood like a goddess of ice, looking down upon the world with a calm, detached intensity.
"Senior Sister Xu Qing is here," one disciple whispered, his voice full of reverence.
"Of course she would be coming," another replied, nodding fervently. "She is currently ranked third in the Holy Son rankings. It looks like she intends to use this Marrow Baptism to further increase her strength and climb even higher in the ranks. She isn't the type to be satisfied with third place for long."
The surrounding disciples began to murmur excitedly as soon as Xu Qing was identified. Her reputation preceded her, and her appearance signalled that the upcoming baptism would be a gathering of the sect's true elite.
Immediately afterward, the atmosphere shifted again as another figure manifested. A young man dressed in sharp black attire appeared, emanating an indescribably keen and aggressive sword Qi. It was so intense that the literal clang of steel seemed to echo throughout the world with every step he took. He stood erect and unyielding, as if he were a divine sword that had been half-unsheathed, radiating a pressure that made the skin of nearby disciples crawl.
"Hey, look! Senior Brother Sun Hai is also here," a voice called out from the crowd.
"It looks like Senior Sister Xu Qing's primary rival has already arrived," a third disciple noted. "This is going to be interesting."
Sun Hai was a legendary figure within the sect, currently holding the second rank on the Holy Son list. His presence was a stark contrast to Xu Qing's cold grace; he was a blade of pure destruction.
Mu Chen and Shen Xi watched from a distance as these high-ranking disciples made their grand entrances.
Shen Xi studied the two Holy Sons for a moment, her eyes narrowed in appraisal. "They are not weak,"
Her voice was objective, lacking the awe that possessed the other disciples, but she acknowledged the depth of their foundations.
Holy Sons stood at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, possessing a density of spiritual energy that was far beyond that of an average cultivator. They were the apex of their generation.
Mu Chen felt a small, rhythmic tapping on his cheek. He reached up and gently removed Nibi's paw from his face. The golden cat was becoming increasingly restless, her tail flicking back and forth with a sharp, impatient energy. Her curiosity about the Source Pool was clearly piqued, and she was tired of waiting around for the elites to finish their posturing.
"They are formidable," Mu Chen agreed, glancing at the distant figures. He then looked at Shen Xi and added casually, "But they are still not as strong as you."
Though the Holy Sons were undeniably powerful, they typically followed a singular path. Shen Xi cultivated both Qi and soul simultaneously — combined with her mastery of formations, her knowledge of runes, and her status as the Life-Death Seal's owner, she was a nearly impossible opponent to read.
In a true one-on-one duel, her versatility and hidden depths made her nearly impossible to defeat.
Standing nearby, Zhou Li stared at Shen Xi in absolute astonishment. His mouth hung open slightly as he processed Mu Chen's words. Was this new sister truly capable of defeating a Holy Child? Or was Mu Chen simply hyping her up out of bias? The Holy Sons were the absolute elite, and the idea of a newcomer surpassing them was almost unthinkable.
"If what you say is true," Zhou Li said, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and amazement, "then this time, Sister Shen Xi is also qualified to compete for the Thousand-Zhang Aquatic Beast."
The disciples around them turned to stare at Shen Xi. The Thousand-Zhang Aquatic Beast was a legendary creature within the Source Pool, possessing a strength equal to a peak Nascent Soul expert.
Hunting such a beast was a feat of incredible difficulty, but it carried a guaranteed reward: the ability to trigger an eight- or nine-dragon baptism. Such beasts were exceptionally rare to come across, and only the strongest geniuses dared to target them.
A strange, resonant buzzing sound suddenly filled the air, vibrating between heaven and earth. The enormous, shimmering barrier that covered the Source Pool began to ripple and part.
An endless flow of pure, concentrated Source Qi gushed forth from the opening, saturating the atmosphere with an energy that felt as if the entire world had been purified. The air became fresh and bright, nearly liquid in its density.
Without wasting a second, countless purple-belt disciples hurried forward, transforming into streaks of light as they entered the Pool of the Source.
"Let us go," Mu Chen said to Shen Xi, noticing that Nibi was now becoming far too active to contain.
Mu Chen and Shen Xi stepped onto a soft, white cloud and flew toward the entrance with an unhurried, graceful pace.
Upon entering the Source Pool, they found themselves in a lush, verdant valley shrouded in a heavy, silver mist. The landscape was breathtaking, composed of numerous peaks. A short distance away, a rustic bamboo house stood nestled among the trees, and directly in front of Mu Chen was a natural, steaming hot spring.
The environment was serene, a far cry from the competitive chaos he had expected. Mu Chen looked at the clear, bubbling water and the tranquil scenery, and a look of deep satisfaction crossed his face.
"Shen Xi, the view here is incredibly pleasing," Mu Chen said, stretching his arms. "I think I am going to take my nap right here."
Without waiting for a response, Mu Chen took off his outer shirt and stepped into the warm, inviting waters of the hot spring. He leaned back against the smooth stone rim, letting out a long sigh as the heat began to seep into his muscles.
Shen Xi watched him with an amused smile. "Very well. You stay here and rest. Nibi and I are going out to hunt some water beasts. We won't be long."
Mu Chen did not cultivate, so there was no practical reason for him to hunt the beasts for their marrow. He had only entered the Source Pool to keep Shen Xi company.
Nibi, who had been quite energetic just moments ago, saw Mu Chen soaking in the water. As he closed his eyes, the cat's vibrant energy seemed to evaporate instantly.
She looked at the steam, then at the comfortable spot on Mu Chen's chest, and then back at Shen Xi. She let out a small, sheepish meow, her posture sagging. She was essentially saying that she, too, had changed her mind and would much rather take a nap than go hunting.
Shen Xi, who knew the personalities of Mu Chen and Nibi like the back of her hand, let out a soft chuckle.
"You both truly get along too well," she said, shaking her head. "Fine, stay here. I am going. I will be back shortly."
Space rippled around her feet, and Shen Xi disappeared into the mist. Nibi immediately jumped into the hot spring, landing squarely on Mu Chen's chest. She began to playfully bat at the surface of the water, sending small ripples across his skin.
...
On another side of the mountain range, the atmosphere was far less peaceful.
"Sun Hai... Ye Ge... I will settle accounts with you two later," Xu Qing muttered.
Her face was cold, her voice dripping with a lethal chill. She was clearly nursing the sting of a recent defeat she had suffered at the hands of those two particular Holy Children. Ye Ge was a Holy Son from the Spirit Rune Peak, known for his complex formations.
Sun Hai and Xu Qing were almost perfectly matched in terms of raw strength, but this time, Sun Hai had been clever. To ensure he could successfully hunt the Thousand-Foot Aquatic Beast, he had formed an alliance with Ye Ge.
Two Holy Sons working in tandem significantly increased their chances of success, and it also served a secondary purpose: if Xu Qing tried to interfere, the combined power of two equals would render her unable to do anything but watch.
Blinded by her simmering rage and focus on the political maneuvering of her rivals. She didn't notice the subtle presence of a stranger in her area.
As she had done a hundred times before, she reached up and untied the silk sash around her waist, laying it carefully upon a flat blue stone at the water's edge. Since this was her personal forbidden zone and no one was permitted to enter without her consent, she lowered her guard. She stepped toward the hot spring, her mind still occupied with thoughts of revenge.
"Who is there?" Mu Chen asked, his voice muffled by sleep.
He had been soaking in the spring for the past two or three hours, drifting in a peaceful slumber until he felt the sudden shift in the water's surface. Nibi was curled into a ball on his chest, having finally tired herself out from playing.
"Who are you?!" Xu Qing's head snapped toward the side, her voice a sharp crack of authority.
She froze as she saw a figure in the water, leaning casually against the very blue stone where she had placed her sash. Her jade-like foot, which had just touched the warm water, was immediately withdrawn.
The white dress she had been on the verge of removing was quickly pulled back into place in a flurry of movement. She took several frantic steps back, her gaze turning cold as ice as she fixed it on the hot spring.
A thick, palpable murderous intent began to emanate from her body, saturating the air with a deadly pressure.
"I am Mu Chen," he said, opening his sleepy eyes to look at her. "But what are you doing here?"
He recognized her immediately; she was the Holy Son he had seen earlier. But he was genuinely confused by her appearance. Weren't the disciples supposed to be out in the ocean sections hunting aquatic beasts?
He wondered if there was someone else in the sect who was as lazy as he and Nibi were.