Chapter 162: The Bootlicking Immortal Lord Who Wants to Live Off a Woman (28)

Elder Su frowned in confusion. “Why do you say that?”

Sect Master Xia leaned in mysteriously. “You haven’t heard? The Cultivation World is about to hold the Grand Competition between all the sects. The top one thousand disciples will be allowed to enter the Ancient Secret Realm that appears only once every three hundred years. From what I know, that Secret Realm is no joke. If someone gets lucky in there, they might just soar to the heavens.”

Elder Su was shocked. “There’s something like that? How come I haven’t heard a word about it before?”

“Would I lie to you? That Secret Realm used to be too dangerous to let the young disciples enter—it was basically a death sentence. The Sect Leaders of the major sects had to go in and clear it out several times before they dared to offer it as a reward for this Grand Competition.”

“With this news, I need to hurry and refine a batch of medicinal pills. We have to make sure more of our sect’s disciples get selected. These pills will be their strongest support.”

“Indeed.” This was a matter of the sect’s honor. If too few disciples made it in, the Wu Nian Sect would lose face.

At that thought, Elder Su glanced over at Su Mingyue and Ning Cui, his mind clearly turning over something.

Sect Master Xia, having reaped some benefits, was now acting like he could read Elder Su’s mind. He nudged Elder Su’s shoulder lightly.

“Come on, we’re old friends. Don’t worry—I’ve got a few spots that can go directly into the Secret Realm. Even if Mingyue and Ning Cui don’t rank high enough, I can still get them in.”

Elder Su laughed heartily. “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Sect Master.”

“No need to be so polite. Just remember me when the next good thing comes around,” Sect Master Xia said as he patted the fruit he’d just received.

“Of course.”

The two old foxes chuckled with great satisfaction.

Su Mingyue, standing nearby, had heard everything. The Ancient Secret Realm—what an irresistible opportunity.

There must be countless treasures and fateful encounters waiting inside. But instead of thinking about herself, the first person who came to her mind was her poor, delicate little junior brother.

Such a great Secret Realm—she wanted him to go too.

But what was his current cultivation level? Could he stand out in the Grand Competition?

Should she go ask?

Su Mingyue knocked on Shen Xiuyan’s door. Far away on Heaven-Reaching Peak, Shen Xiuyan’s eyes snapped open.

As the next knock echoed, he returned to his room. Just as he was about to open the door, he sensed something off and quickly transformed back into that soft, adorable young boy.

When the door opened, Su Mingyue’s eyes lit up. “Little junior brother, I didn’t disturb you, did I?”

Shen Xiuyan shook his head. “Not at all. You’re welcome anytime, Senior Sister. Come in, have a seat.”

Seated on a stool, Su Mingyue said excitedly, “I just heard some big news. The Cultivation World is about to hold the Grand Competition. The top one thousand disciples will be allowed into the Ancient Secret Realm.”

“Wow, really?” Shen Xiuyan clapped along, playing along with enthusiasm.

Su Mingyue said, “Would I lie to you? I came today to ask what your current cultivation level is. Do you think you have a shot at making it into the rankings?”

If not, she was prepared to shamelessly ask for another fruit from the Ancestral Master. If she gave it to the Sect Leader, maybe she could trade it for another spot.

With the Grand Competition coming up, those in the Qi Refining Stage definitely wouldn’t qualify. Shen Xiuyan hesitated, then said, “I’ve already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.”

Su Mingyue’s eyes widened slightly. “Then why were you still in the Outer Sect before?”

Reaching Foundation Establishment marked the transition from the Outer Sect to the Inner Sect. If her little junior brother was already at that level, he shouldn’t have been in the Outer Sect at all.

Shen Xiuyan scratched his head awkwardly. “I just broke through in the last couple of days.”

Su Mingyue didn’t doubt him. Instead, she clapped her hands in delight. “Not bad, not bad! You really are gifted, little junior brother.”

She pulled a storage pouch from her robes and took out several bottles of medicinal pills and a few cultivation manuals.

“Take all of these. Time is short—you should stabilize your foundation first. Who knows, you might really make the list. I heard there’s an age limit too—anyone over a hundred years old can’t participate.”

Shen Xiuyan felt like he’d just been stabbed in the heart. This body was already over a thousand years old. If the limit was one hundred, what the hell was he supposed to do?

But if he didn’t go, who would protect his wife? This was truly a century-level dilemma.

Shen Xiuyan rubbed his bald metaphorical head in frustration. He picked up a jade bottle from the table and fiddled with it to ease the awkwardness.

“Thank you, Senior Sister. I’ll definitely do my best and won’t let you down.”

Su Mingyue couldn’t resist reaching out to pat the boy’s head. “No need to be nervous. If you make it into the Secret Realm, your Senior Sister will protect you.”

“Okay.” Shen Xiuyan rubbed his head against her hand.

The two exchanged a smile, and in that smile, something unspoken passed between them.

After Su Mingyue left, Shen Xiuyan held his face in his hands and sighed. Looks like Mingyue really prefers the younger version of him. Was he going to have to live the rest of his life in his “little account” form?

So tragic. Truly tragic.

What was wrong with his main form anyway? They had great conversations—why wasn’t that good enough?

Sigh.

Forget it. Protecting his wife during the Grand Competition was more important. Thinking about this nonsense wouldn’t help.

He looked at the table full of cultivation resources and gave a helpless smile.

His main form fed his wife, and his wife fed his alternate form. What a perfect loop.

They really were made for each other.

Sect Master Xia hadn’t been lying—the Grand Competition was a massive event in the Cultivation World. It was the ultimate showdown between sects, a way to determine who would lead the next generation of cultivators.

With something this important, Sect Master Xia naturally had to inform the Ancestral Master.

“I am already aware,” came a cold voice from above.

Sect Master Xia trembled. This was what Mingyue called “easy to talk to”?

Still as cold and distant as ever…

Sect Master Xia gave a slight bow. “May I ask if the Ancestral Master intends to descend the mountain? I can begin preparations in advance.”

There was no response from above for a long while. Sect Master Xia gave a bitter smile—just as he thought, there was nothing in this world that could truly compel the Ancestral Master to leave the mountain.

He had only asked on a whim, without much hope.

But he still wanted to try. After all, if the Ancestral Master descended the mountain, no matter how the younger generation of disciples performed, Wu Nian Sect would still stand above all others.

It was just that in recent years, the Ancestral Master had remained in seclusion for so long that the world had forgotten the fear they once held. Some upstart sects and minor clans had grown restless, stirring up trouble—but fortunately, all of it had been dealt with.

Just as he was about to give up, a voice came from above: “Very well.”

Sect Master Xia stared in disbelief, even suspecting his ears were playing tricks on him. But the Ancestral Master’s expression remained unreadable. Hastily, he bowed again. “This disciple will begin preparations at once. May I ask when the Ancestral Master intends to descend?”

Shen Xiuyan replied, “On the day of the competition.”

Sect Master Xia finally heard a clear confirmation. It wasn’t his imagination. Overjoyed, he said, “Understood. This disciple will take his leave.”

The day of the competition? That would be a grand show of face for Wu Nian Sect! Sect Master Xia’s eyes welled with tears. Mingyue had been right all along—the Ancestral Master really was easy to talk to.

That cool, detached voice came again. “Go.”

“Yes.”