Chapter Fourteen: You Simply Rub Me the Wrong Way
Echoes rolled forth, empowered by the force of the Heavenly Dao, shaking the summit of the firmament.
Across Great Xia, one hundred and twenty Dragon Gates resonated together, all reverberating with Lin Hao’s voice.
Wild and unyielding, overwhelming and supreme—everyone could feel Lin Hao’s indomitable will. A surge of fiery blood seemed to flow out from within the Dragon Gate, wielding the might of the Heavenly Dao to challenge the great era itself.
“Abandoned scion of a marquis house”—at this moment, those words became a piercing note.
The world regarded him as a forsaken child, but what did that matter?
A single leap could shatter all doubt.
Great Xia trembled in all directions, every power throughout the Five Provinces fixated on the Dragon Gate.
Even other regions sensed the anomaly of Great Xia’s Dragon Gate and grew uneasy.
The commotion stirred by the ten-zhang Dragon Gate was unprecedented. Whether the One Hundred and Eight Sects, the Great Xia Academy, the Marquis Protector’s Residence, or the Great Xia Imperial House—all turned pale. Some ancient masters who had been secluded in meditation opened their eyes and stepped out.
This was a momentous event, destined to be recorded in history.
At the Tai Xuan Sect, burning gazes converged on the youth in flowing purple robes, his black hair wildly dancing. He stood like a celestial dragon at the pinnacle.
Those words, “abandoned scion of a marquis house,” shattered the face of convention, causing all who once sneered at those four characters to suffer a burning shame.
Many bowed their heads in disgrace; who were they to mock the one who caused the Dragon Gate to grow by ten zhang?
“From this day forth, anyone in Tai Xuan Sect who speaks of ‘abandoned scion of a marquis house’ shall be put to death!”
Yi Fuyao’s tone was cold, her icy beautiful eyes sweeping across the entire sect.
“Damn, how could this happen?”
Among the crowd, Li Qingchuan’s face was pale and ugly, his body trembling.
Li Kaixian stood among the elders, teeth clenched tightly.
Both father and son sensed strange gazes cast their way. This time, they had truly gone too far.
“Good.”
A loud commendation rang out as an elder in flowing robes strode forward through the air. He wore a loose yellow robe, his face kind and smiling, one hand behind his back. His eyes shone brighter than golden lamps, unblinking as they fixed on Lin Hao atop the Dragon Gate.
“Greetings, Elder Ximen.”
At his arrival, everyone bowed hurriedly, including Yi Fuyao, who displayed deep respect.
Elder Ximen was a Tianyuan Realm powerhouse.
The path of cultivation has clear boundaries.
The Opening Meridian Stage and Qi Sea Stage were the true foundations—opening the nine meridians within the body to connect with the primal energies of heaven and earth, converting them into inner true qi. The nine meridians then converged into the Qi Sea within the dantian.
Beyond the foundation was the Elemental Transformation Stage, where true qi refined into higher-level elemental power, enabling control over the primal energies to soar through the sky.
Above that, the Tianyuan Realm cultivators were true masters. Beyond Tianyuan was the Divine Origin Realm, where elemental power reached divine communion.
Elder Ximen, as a Tianyuan Realm powerhouse, rarely appeared within the sect.
In truth, at his level, even if the sect were to vanish, he would find respect and refuge wherever he went.
Yet it was precisely men like Elder Ximen who held the deepest devotion to the sect, often willing to lay down their lives to protect it.
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“Fuyao, the Tai Xuan Sect seems to lack a Sacred Son, doesn’t it?” Elder Ximen said softly.
Though his voice was low, everyone present heard it clearly.
Yi Fuyao was momentarily stunned, then smiled gently. “Yes.”
“You are the sect’s Sacred Maiden. With your father gone, you act as the interim sect leader. Then you shall make the announcement.”
Elder Ximen said.
“Wha... What the—”
Suddenly, Huang Liang jumped three feet high in the square, pounding his chest and swearing loudly.
All eyes turned sharply to him—was this man mad?
“Ahem, sorry, lost my composure!” Huang Liang awkwardly waved his hands, though inside he was thrilled.
“Senior Brother Huang, please take good care of us in the future.”
“Yes, Senior Brother Huang, let’s interact and communicate more.”
“Brother Huang, I have several jars of fine wine stored away. Let’s taste them together sometime.”
A crowd surrounded him, some beginning to offer gifts.
“No need, no need!” Huang Liang smiled foolishly, feeling truly blessed. A trip to Tianbao City had brought him immense fortune.
Choosing sides truly mattered.
In this great gamble, Huang Liang had won!
Lin Hao stood atop the Dragon Gate, feeling the boundless passion of the moment. Naturally, he was aware of what was unfolding within Tai Xuan Sect.
Elder Ximen chuckled and waved his hand toward Lin Hao, “Enough pretending. Come down quickly.”
Lin Hao leapt down from the Dragon Gate. Before he touched the ground, Elder Ximen waved, sending a gust of wind that gently carried him forward.
“Greetings, Elder Ximen.”
Lin Hao cupped his fists.
“Hm, not bad at all,” Elder Ximen appraised Lin Hao closely, growing more pleased by the moment. If he had a daughter, he thought, she would have to marry Lin Hao on the spot.
“Lin Hao, from now on, you are the Sacred Son of Tai Xuan Sect,” Yi Fuyao declared.
“Does being Sacred Son come with great power?” Lin Hao asked, looking at Yi Fuyao and Elder Ximen.
“Of course. The Sacred Son has privileges and can oversee most sect affairs.”
Elder Ximen replied.
“Does the Sacred Son have the authority to enforce the law?”
Lin Hao inquired.
“Except for elders at the Elemental Transformation Stage, the Sacred Son can punish disciples alone.”
Yi Fuyao answered.
“Good, that’s enough.”
Lin Hao grinned. “So I’m the Sacred Son now?”
“Yes. I’ll formally announce it again to add some ceremony.”
Yi Fuyao smiled, then faced all Tai Xuan Sect disciples gathered in the square, as well as the many Elemental Transformation Stage elders hovering in midair, and loudly proclaimed:
“Today, in my capacity as interim sect leader, I hereby confer upon Lin Hao the title of Sacred Son of Tai Xuan Sect.”
The matter was settled. The Sacred Son of Tai Xuan Sect was born.
Li Qingchuan staggered beneath his feet, nearly collapsing.
For a moment, the whole world seemed dark to him. He had just held a sword, ready to strike Lin Hao down, and now this same man was the Sacred Son.
To kill the Sacred Son—could there be any good days after that?
“Sacred Maiden, may I ask, if a sect disciple commits an atrocious crime, what is the harshest punishment?”
Lin Hao asked.
“There is a dungeon in the sect, bone-chillingly cold, where even those at the Qi Sea Stage struggle to endure three days.”
Ren Baichuan said, “But normally, only those who commit grave crimes are sent there for punishment.”
“Very well.”
Lin Hao stretched his arms and pointed downward.
“Put Li Qingchuan in the dungeon for me.”
The entire square erupted in shock.
All eyes fixed on Li Qingchuan.
No one expected Lin Hao’s first act as Sacred Son to be settling a personal score.
“Why? I won’t accept this!”
Li Qingchuan roared.
“Why? Because I don’t like you.”
Lin Hao shouted, “Where are the enforcers? Seize Li Qingchuan for this Sacred Son—immediately, right now!”