AGM 347 – Deliberate Hindrance
Qin Wentian’s will of Mandate was able to cause the flowing stream of water to turn into a pillar, before shooting up like a geyser. Mo Qingcheng naturally understood, Qin Wentian had broken through.
His Mandate of Force, had stepped into the second level.
A breakthrough in terms of his Mandate meant a lot to Qin Wentian. He understood quite clearly that in the ranking battle at the end of the year, other than their peak-level Yuanfu cultivation bases, all of his opponents would have their Mandates at the Perfection Boundary of the first level of insights. They had not yet stepped into Heavenly Dipper, but who can guarantee that those in the top few rankings weren’t the same as him, similarly comprehending the second level of insights in their respective Mandates.
Comprehending a Mandate to the second level was one of the most crucial prerequisites to stepping into Heavenly Dipper. There were too many Stellar Martial Cultivators stuck at this watershed, spending their lives forever in the Yuanfu Realm.
Hence, Qin Wentian could well imagine the importance and meaning of his breakthrough today. This gave himself a few more degrees of confidence to contend against the other monsters for the ranking battle at the end of the year.
“I’m leaving first.” Qin Wentian said in a low voice, Mo Qingcheng nodded with a sad smile on her face.
“During the ranking battle at the end of the year, I will tell the world that you are my woman.” Contained within Qin Wentian’s calm voice was a vow he made to her and to himself. His words caused Mo Qingcheng to tremble.
Qin Wentian stepped out, leaving the area. His heart had never been this determined before.
After he returned to the island, several flinty looks were directed at Qin Wentian. This fellow actually exceeded the time span of an hour, what kind of interaction did he have with Goddess Mo Qingcheng? But no matter, although Qin Wentian was outstanding, his current cultivation was too low. He had no background and no status. It was basically impossible for him to woo Mo Qingcheng. Just another fool thinking too much, losing himself in his fantasies.
They didn’t understand the feelings between Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng. Maybe only a small group from the Pill Emperor Hall knew of this.
Bai Fei gave a deep glance at Qin Wentian. Back then when she had met Qin Wentian in Chu, she would never have imagined such a day.
After the banquet ended, several cultivators departed from the Chen Estate. And as Qin Wentian and the rest were making their way out, they abruptly felt an eye-piercing blinding light, akin to the radiance of the sun being directed their way.
As their gaze shifted over, they saw a young man standing on the peak of a certain building, his arms crossed as he stared at them. His eyes gleamed with the light of the sun, as a huge flaming ball that resembled a miniature sun floated behind his back. The light it emitted was incomparably resplendent, causing the entire surroundings to be lit up with dazzling brilliance.
“Great Solar Universe Art, borrowing the power of the sun.” There were those who had expressions of shock on their faces as they stated in a low voice, “That’s the most talented member of the Great Solar Chen Clan in the younger generations, Chen Wang.”
“Ranked second on the Heavenly Fate Rankings, Chen Wang.”
Qin Wentian turned his gaze over, but suddenly, Chen Wang reacted as though he felt something. As his eyes slowly shifted to their direction, a surge of heat shot off.
The orbs in Chen Wang’s eyes were akin to blazing suns.
“What a fearsome temperature.” The crowd felt the temperature in the air rising, and quite a few Heavenly Dippers Sovereigns from the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan had expressions of surprise on their face.
Chen Wang of the Great Solar Clan truly lived up to his reputation indeed. A gaze capable of roasting the atmosphere, at least one of his Mandates should have already reached the second level.
As Hua Taixu would no longer compete at the ranking battle, this meant that Chen Wang of the Great Solar Chen Clan was the one placed with the highest hope and probability to be ranked first in the rankings this time around. He had stayed in the ninth level of Yuanfu for several years, and should have already completed his preparations to step into Heavenly Dipper. No one knew how many of his Mandates had already reached the second level.
“This Chen Wang is truly powerful.” Ouyang Kuangsheng’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint of light. “For the ranking battle that occurs every three years, all the monstrous geniuses would usually choose to wait until the very last moment before making their moves. Many choose to hide their own strengths before that defining moment, and somehow I can sense that the ranking battle this year will be many times more intense compared to the others before.”
“I wonder which members of the various transcendent powers would be able to rank first this time around, and in turn, steal and acquire the flow of luck and destiny in Grand Xia for their respective powers.”
“What? Are things like the luck and destiny of Grand Xia true?”
Qin Wentian didn’t really believe in these kinds of superstitions. Luck was somewhat important on the path of cultivation, because no matter how strong you are, there will always be someone stronger. It would be a person’s bad luck if they managed to offend someone more powerful than them, because after all, a dead genius is no longer a genius.
But to say that obtaining the first ranking would allow the respective transcendent power to steal away and acquire more luck, Qin Wentian thought this was just bullshit.
“I have no idea, concepts such as luck and destiny are too vague and ambiguous for me to fully believe in them. However, back then the Venerate Heavens Sect must have foreseen that the luck of ancient Grand Xia had been depleted. This must be the reason why they dared to support the rebels in overthrowing the ancient kingdom.” Ouyang Kuangsheng casually smiled, there were no guarantees about matters like this.
As they returned to the place they were staring at, Qin Wentian summoned Ouyang Kuangsheng, Fan Le, Chu Mang and Luo Huan to gather at his own courtyard.
“What’s wrong?” Chu Mang scratched his head and asked.
“I have something good for you guys.” Qin Wentian smiled as he took out the porcelain bottle. “These are third-ranked Limit-break pellets concocted by Qingcheng, able to aid those at Yuanfu in breaking through to the next level. Big Bro Chu Mang is already at the eighth level of Yuanfu, and I, Ouyang and Fan Le are at the seventh level, so as long as we can consolidate our foundations and then consume a pellet, we will definitely have sufficient strength to be ranked on the Heavenly Fate Rankings.”
“Mo Qingcheng could actually concoct the Limit-break pellets?” Ouyang Kuangsheng had a dumbfounded expression on his face. He naturally understood what those were. The medicinal ingredients needed to concoct such pellets were all exceedingly valuable, there were even some that were valued as priceless, unable to be bought even if one had the money. There usually weren’t many alchemists willing to waste their time, effort and money in concocting pills like this with a high failure rate.
“These pellets also require the heart’s blood of alchemists with a special constitution, and draining a person too much of their heart’s blood would undoubtedly wound their vital qi.” Ouyang Kuangsheng stared at Qin Wentian as he continued, “Wentian, Qingcheng is truly too good to you. You better not let her down.”
Qin Wentian froze as he drew in a deep breath. Qingcheng told him that she had succeeded by accident, but instead she’d had to pay such a high price before she could successfully concoct the Limit-break pellets for him.
“I won’t.” Qin Wentian regained his senses as he smiled. Ouyang Kuangsheng nodded. “You’re right, this is a lady with a peerless countenance and an unmatched talent. It would really be strange if you were willing to let her down.
“Senior Sis, there are only four pellets in this bottle…” Qin Wentian stared at Luo Huan, his actions causing Luo Huan to roll her eyes before glaring fiercely back at him. “What sort of person do you take your awesome Senior Sister as? You better put in more effort and be ranked first in the Heavenly Fate rankings. This way, as your Senior Sister, I can walk around in Grand Xia with my head held high.”
“How difficult it must be to obtain first.” Ouyang Kuangsheng laughed. Although he agreed that Qin Wentian was extraordinary, the difficulty of obtaining first was truly too immense.
Those that were currently ranked on the Heavenly Fate Rankings were all monsters of their generations, and for this ranking battle that only happened every three years, there were bound to be many unexpected dark horses. There may be some talents which the transcendent powers had intentionally hidden away, or there may be disciples of powerhouses that wanted to use the ranking battle as their one shot to fame.
The Heavenly Fate Rankings was an event that concerned all Yuanfu cultivators in Grand Xia. Merely being ranked within the three hundred and sixty rankings was already an extremely glorious thing.
And if one were able to step into the top thirty-six rankings, their titles would be known as ‘Heaven’s Chosen’ of the Nine Continents of Grand Xia.
For those in the top ten, their futures would definitely soar as high as the skies.
For those in the top three, as long as they didn’t die, when they stepped into Heavenly Dipper they would definitely become characters that could summon the wind and rain in Grand Xia.
And as for the top ranked, the number one. The entirety of the major powers of Grand Xia would be focused on that person. In the vastness of the nine continents, there was only one cultivator that could be ranked #1—just this alone was sufficient to indicate how shockingly powerful the top ranker was.
The top ranker of the Heavenly Fate Rankings would definitely have the qualifications of being conferred the title ‘King’ or ‘Emperor’ when they entered into the Heavenly Dipper Rankings in the future.
Each of the Heaven’s Chosen were all eyeing the precarious position of the #1. Yet if one really wanted to obtain that, it would be as difficult as ascending the Heavens.
This was the reason why Hua Taixu was so dazzling—his name was something that countless young men of Grand Xia idolised. Even the brazen and proud Ouyang Kuangsheng had always set Hua Taixu as his target.
Qin Wentian distributed the Limit-break pellets around and added, “Big Bro Chu Mang can use this to break through to the ninth level, and as for the three of us, it’s better for us to wait until we step into the eighth level of Yuanfu before consuming this.”
“Mhm, I can already feel that the eighth level of Yuanfu isn’t far away from me. For now, I don’t need the Limit-break pellet.” Ouyang Kuangsheng nodded in agreement. “Furthermore, we’ve withstood the baptism of the Heavenly Stele, so our Mandates and body have been further tempered to another level. It shouldn’t be a problem for us to withstand the tyrannical after-effects of the Limit-break pellets.”
“I will go and cultivate then,” Chu Mang stated. His combat prowess was extremely fearsome. If he could break through to the ninth level of Yuanfu, he had a decent chance of becoming a ranker on the Heavenly Fate Rankings.
“Right.”
Each of them departed, returning to their respective courtyards. The inn they were staying at had been fully booked by the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan for the members that had come to Ginkou for the ranking battle this time around.
This amount of money was nothing to a transcendent power.
It was then that a figure stopped outside the inn, glanced at the signboard to ensure that there was no mistake, before proceeding inside.
Those from the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan should be residing here. In that case, Qin Wentian should also be here as well.
“Excuse me, are you people from the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan?”
At this moment, three silhouettes walked out of the inn, the person in the lead was a beautiful young woman clad in a dress of fiery-red. This person was none other than Ouyang Ting.
Ouyang Ting cast a glance at the speaker. This person was a middle-aged man, with a few streaks of white mixed in his hair. He had a haggard appearance, and was breathing unsteadily. His cultivation base didn’t seem to be very powerful as well.
So it was just an extremely ordinary man. Ouyang Ting gazed at him with disdain as she asked, “What’s the matter?”
Despite seeing how rude the young lady was, Mustang wasn’t angered in the slightest. He had heard rumors about descendants from transcendent powers, and this young lady, with all the pride that she exuded, was most likely a young missus from the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan.
“Miss Ouyang, I wonder if you know of Qin Wentian? I heard that he’s here, hence I came to look for him.” Mustang’s tone of voice was properly apologetic, but when Ouyang Ting heard his words, her brows involuntarily furrowed.
Qin Wentian, it’s Qin Wentian again. She couldn’t help feeling frustrated every time this name was mentioned.
That young man had long snatched away all the glory that should have belonged to her. Almost everyone in the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan were extremely polite around him, treating him with reverence and respect.
“And who might you be? What’s your relationship with him?” Ouyang Ting icily inquired.
“I’m his teacher,” Mustang carefully replied, feeling that something was wrong.
“Teacher?” Ouyang Ting stared at Mustang with contempt. That fellow would have such a weak old man as his teacher?
“This place is the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan, how can someone like you have the qualifications to enter? Scram.” Traces of attempted humiliation could be heard in Ouyang Ting’s icy voice.
Mustang’s countenance stiffened. He drew in a deep breath before he continued, “Miss Ouyang, I really need to look for him urgently, would you allow me to pass, please?”
“Fine, if you’re so desperate. Beg for it then.” Ouyang Ting coldly laughed. “If you get down on your knees and plead for my help, I may be merciful and consider allowing you to enter.”
