Chapter 137: The Schemes of the Purple Mansion Holy Land, Su Tian and Ye Hensheng’s Crisis
Chapter 137 – The Schemes of the Purple Mansion Holy Land, Su Tian and Ye Hensheng’s Crisis
Watching the swarm of challengers closing in, a spark of predatory excitement ignited within the eyes of Su Tian and Ye Hensheng.
Finally, they stood alone, facing the world on their own terms!
From the moment they were branded as Chosen, every triumph they achieved had been dismissed as inevitable by the masses.
In the eyes of others, they were merely the fortunate recipients of the finest resources and the most legendary tutors.
To reach the summit from such a privileged height was seen as common—nothing more than the expected result of their station.
None saw the rivers of blood they had shed or the bone-breaking labor hidden behind the veil of their success.
But here, amidst the ancient foundations of the Purple Mansion Holy Land, that perception died.
……
“Boom!”
A thunderous roar erupted as Su Tian and the others clashed with their challengers.
The battle instantly escalated into a white-hot struggle for dominance.
Sipping from a cup of steaming tea, Chen Changsheng watched the distant carnage with a detached, leisurely gaze.
Gongsun Huaiyu and Zi Ning faced no true peril.
Though the inner disciples were formidable, they lacked the foundation to overcome top-tier Chosen in a direct confrontation.
However, the situation for Su Tian and Ye Hensheng was far more precarious.
Their prowess was formidable, yet they had not reached the level of absolute crushing dominance.
It was only natural that these inner disciples would seek to use their heads as stepping stones to elevate their own status.
Thinking of this, Chen Changsheng murmured under his breath:
“The Heavenly Constellation Body Tempering Art and the fist techniques of the Hundred Defeats Immortal Venerable are among the most peerless arts in existence.”
“If, after all this time, you still cannot grasp their true essence, then perhaps you are truly unfit to conquer the heavens.”
Having spoken his piece, Chen Changsheng produced an ancient tome and began to read, his movements slow and methodical.
The challenge would endure for two hours; the trial for Su Tian and the others had only just begun.
……
Deep within the back mountains of the Purple Mansion Holy Land.
A shimmering curtain of light hung suspended before a gathering of Elders, projecting the visceral images of Gongsun Huaiyu and the others in combat.
“True genius!”
“To deduce the laws of such a peerless and unparalleled cultivation path… he is destined to hold a seat in the struggle for the Heaven’s Mandate.”
Watching Gongsun Huaiyu’s movements, the Grand Elder nodded, his expression one of profound satisfaction.
Simultaneously, a flicker of suppressed desire kindled in the eyes of the other Elders.
A cultivation framework with such immense potential—if they could but grasp a portion of its secrets, they might transcend their current limitations.
To advance one’s strength at their level meant more than power; it meant the miraculous extension of their waning lifespans.
Driven by this realization, one Elder spoke up, his voice hushed with greed.
“Grand Elder, the path of cultivation forged by the Holy Son is truly transcendent.”
“Perhaps we should offer our assistance to help the Holy Son perfect the laws of this system?”
The Grand Elder’s face instantly frosted over, a bone-chilling coldness radiating from his form.
“Curb your petty, wretched thoughts!”
“If I discover that anyone has allowed such short-sighted greed to pollute Chen Changsheng’s perception of our Purple Mansion Holy Land…”
“I shall personally harvest his head from his shoulders!”
Cowering under the Grand Elder’s sudden fury, the speaker sheepishly retreated into silence.
“Listen well. I am fully aware that many of you—myself, Gou Liu, included—are haunted by the stench of approaching death and dwindling longevity.”
“But craving a longer life is no excuse for idiocy.”
“Given Chen Changsheng’s trajectory, he is bound to cast his shadow over the struggle for the Heaven’s Mandate. When that war begins, he will require a legion of allies.”
“In that hour, our Purple Mansion Holy Land will naturally step forward to claim that role.”
“Do you truly believe that once the struggle begins, Chen Changsheng will sit idly by and watch his primary support fall behind because of inferior techniques?”
“Furthermore, once a Chosen seizes the Heaven’s Mandate, the laws they practice will inevitably be etched into the fabric of the world for all to see.”
“Would Chen Changsheng risk putting his own blades at a disadvantage over secrets that are destined to be revealed?”
“Discard these foolish notions before they consume you.”
Hearing this, several Elders shifted their gazes, their eyes turning shifty and evasive.
They had indeed been plotting how to corner Chen Changsheng into surrendering the secrets of his new cultivation path.
At that moment, the Second Elder, who had remained a silent observer, finally spoke.
“My brothers, perhaps some of you still look upon Chen Changsheng as a mere youth.”
“I strongly advise you to shatter that illusion immediately.”
“Observe the interactions of these past days. Gongsun Huaiyu and the others follow Chen Changsheng as if he were their sovereign.”
“To be blunt: their entire cultivation is being guided by his hand.”
“You consider yourselves Seniors of the cultivation world, and you have seen the strength of these three disciples.”
“Ask yourselves honestly—do any of you possess the absolute certainty required to guide such monsters?”
“Chen Changsheng has achieved what you cannot. This alone proves his depth already exceeds many in this room.”
“In our world, the strong are revered. If you attempt to leverage your age against him, Chen Changsheng is not the type to grant you face.”
“Think carefully before you act.”
The combined weight of the Grand and Second Elders’ warnings finally quelled the rising tide of ambition in the room.
“Second Elder, your words carry weight. But what of the Third and Fifth Elders?”
“They have always been the most hawkish faction, and their stance toward the Seventy-Two Wolf Smokes is uncompromising.”
“Once this matter of the Undying Bone is settled, a collision between them and Chen Changsheng seems inevitable!”
The Second Elder stroked his beard, a sharp, knowing smile playing on his lips.
“Conflict is a natural law. It is the crucible of the strong.”
“Mad Dragon Fort is Chen Changsheng’s trial for the Purple Mansion disciples, while the Third and Fifth Elders are the Purple Mansion Holy Land’s trial for Chen Changsheng.”
“If he cannot even handle two stubborn old bones, then he has no right to demand the full, unyielding support of our Holy Land.”
“I have always been fond of the saying: ‘A wolf travels a thousand miles to gorge on meat; a dog travels a thousand miles to feast on filth.’ We shall soon see which one he is.”
“The stagnant rules of this world have persisted for far too long. I am curious to see what chaos these youths will stir.”
“Or rather, I wish to see if Chen Changsheng truly has the strength to flip the very heavens of the Middle Heavens upside down!”
The Second Elder turned his gaze back to the projection, smiling at the image of the composed, tea-drinking youth.
It seemed the Holy Lord had truly brought back a piece of peerless jade this time.
……
Outside the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
Gongsun Huaiyu and Zi Ning had already stood triumphant over their challengers, but Su Tian and Ye Hensheng remained locked in a brutal war of attrition.
The sheer volume of challengers seeking to prove themselves against the two men was overwhelming.
Watching the carnage, Gongsun Huaiyu leaned toward her companion. “Evil woman, do you think Su Tian and the other will actually fall?”
Zi Ning rolled her eyes at the familiar insult.
“Thieving girl, you’d best mind your tongue. Or perhaps I’ll imprison you and see to it you bear ten or eight children to keep you busy.”
“Though I respect Ye Hensheng and Su Tian, their defeat is a foregone conclusion.”
“The inner disciples of the Purple Mansion Holy Land are not the hollow husks of the outside world.”
“In a fair duel, those two might struggle to win. Against a relentless tide of challengers? It is impossible.”
“The only reason they still stand is that the true masters among the inner disciples have yet to reveal their hands.”
“They know that if they crush those two too quickly, it would be a direct insult to Chen Changsheng’s face.”