It would have been fine if Bai Suhuan was asking for Shen Lian to emerge as a victor in the battle. However, he only wanted Shen Lian to withstand three of his moves. How should Shen Lian face Bai Suhuan in the future then?
Regardless, Shen Lian would be inferior to Bai Suhuan.
This was different from Zhang Ruoxu being respectful to Bai Suhuan. Both of them had attained the state of Powang, and Zhang Ruoxu was a well-loved figure in the sect. In Qing Xuan, he was looked up by everyone, and not even Bai Suhuan could impose his views on him.
Shen Lian was young, to begin with. If he were to take up the position as the chief only after he had received Bai Suhuan’s validation, would that not mean that Bai Suhuan was the High Chief?
Some were confused; Bai Suhuan had always been a loner, and he did not have much time left seeing how he could not break through the Absurd State. Why would he pull such a stunt now?
Moreover, everyone was a cultivator. Being a chief came with both power and responsibilities. In the eyes of those who did not stand a chance at immortality, it was as good as gold and jade. However, in the eyes of the cultivators who were committed to attaining Dao, it was disposable.
Bai Suhuan still had hoped to attain Dao. Even if he could not do so in this life, with his level of cultivation and the aid of certain occult techniques or set-up, there was a high chance that he could reincarnate and try again. Why would he try to make Shen Lian’s life difficult now?
Moreover, judging by Shen Lian’s progress, he would enter the Absurd State, Powang, sooner or later. It was just a matter of time. If by then Bai Suhuan still failed to cultivate his Primordial Spirit, he would be passing on soon. Like cause and effect, his act today would bring forth some sort of consequences in the future. To both Shen Lian and him, this move was not a wise move.
This was what most of the elders were thinking when they agreed with Zhang Ruoxu. Moreover, Qing Xuan was no longer the Qing Xuan from hundred over years ago. It was not easy to be the chief. Besides Shen Lian and Chen Jianmei, it would be difficult to look for another candidate who was more suitable.
What Bai Suhuan did was merely a formality, so that outsiders would not think that Shen Lian got the position as Qing Xuan’s chief so easily.
Zhang Ruoxu understood all of these, which was why he could not meddle in this. Moreover, he might not even see the sunset today or the sunrise tomorrow. He remained silent and stared at Shen Lian.
There was a creepy moment of silence in Qing Xuan Hall. Shen Lian was the only one who was still calm and collected after hearing his words. His sea-blue Daoist robe was reflected on the shiny floor in the hall, and he seemed dreamy.
Shen Lian finally spoke. His brows moved, and his gaze was stern. Yet, he spoke gently, “There is no first or last in terms of achieving something. If you were to limit the moves to three moves and test me on that basis, you probably are thinking too lowly of me. Why don’t we see who would emerge as the victor?”
As his spoke, the cultivators in the hall were taken by surprise. What kind of confidence and bravery did Shen Lian have, to think that he was challenging Bai Suhuan when he was merely at the state of Huandan.
Shen Lian spoke calmly without any change in his tone. He seemed to be confident and yet no one felt that he was arrogant.
Shen Lian’s gaze was calm as a still lake, and there were no ripples in it.
He was like the clouds under the moonlight; he seemed to be both static and dynamic, and there was nothing that could mask his pride.
“You are quite fearless, just don’t regret it,” Bai Suhuan said as he directed his cold gaze at Shen Lian.
“Since it is my own decision, naturally I am ready to face any consequences. However, before we start, can I have some time for preparation?” Shen Lian said as he lowered his head and smiled.
Shen Lian looked carefree, as though he was confident in winning.
Bai Suhuan knew that Shen Lian was the fourth person in Qing Xuan who attained the state of Huandan through the cultivation of Taixu Strategy. He did not understand what kind of basis was Shen Lian relying on to think that he could defeat a great cultivator like himself, who had accumulated mana over hundreds of years and was merely a step away from successfully cultivating the Primordial Spirit.
He only attained the Eight Transformations of Huandan, and there might be some difference in the quality of Qi of cinnabar field, which was the Qi of Dan when compared to Shen Lian who had attained the Nine Transformations of Huandan.
However, this difference in quality could never make up for the difference in quantity between them.
If Bai Suhuan was still at the state of Buxu, Shen Lian might have a chance at winning. However, right now Shen Lian might be able to withstand three of his moves, but there was no way that he could defeat him.
“You can take as long as you want, so long as Ruoxi kiddo still can wait,” Bai Suhuan replied.
Shen Lian smiled, and there was a roar. A green ray swept into the hall. It was so fast that none of the cultivators in the hall managed to make out what it was before it entered.
It was only until the light stopped in front of Shen Lian that the cultivators in the hall noticed that it was a bird with green feathers. Despite their calm nature, they could not help but be in awe of its beauty.
Qianmo looked at the cultivators proudly. Shen Lian tapped on its head lightly, and it was not pleased. Gu Caiwei thought Qianmo was very arrogant and proud.
She was wondering when Shen Lian found such a bird that could rival the mythical bird like the phoenix that was recorded in Huang Scripture. In fact, it might even be better. After all, she was a female, she did not have much immunity against beautiful birds.
Qianmo was slightly annoyed. Through telepathy, Shen Lian told it to transfer all of the strange Qi within it to him, and he promised to make it up to it later.
Qianmo twisted its head, as though it was gloating about the fact that Shen Lian was asking for help from it. It pecked at Shen Lian, and the mysterious strange Qi flowed into Shen Lian.
Since he had attained the state of Huandan, all of the acupoints within him were clear and unblocked. The Qi dynamic of the countless mana from Taixu Divine Qi focused at one spot, and the eight-colored Mana swirled around, turning into countless threads that intertwined with each other. They formed the source of mana. At the heart of it, the Qi of cinnabar field welled-up suddenly. Part of his Yin Spirit was carried by it and was continuously cultivated. The Yin Spirit and Qi of Dan were combining and solidifying.
The part of Yin Spirit within it was not completely static; it was flowing endlessly from a source to another. Just as how blood would flow through the heart and there were changes in the Yin and Yang, and as the divine Qi came a whole circle, it grew continuously too.
The flow of mana was never-ending and undeterred; it was like a rolling river. Occasionally, there were sounds of vibration, and it sent a vibration through the blood and flesh as it cleared up the hidden impurities. The body was purified.
Qianmo’s strange Qi was instilled into Shen Lian, and as it made contact with the mana within him, they were synchronized into the same type of mana. The strange Qi flew in and was turned into mana. It was like a flash flood that flew into a calm river, flooding the inside of Shen Lian’s body.
At the same time, the mana within Shen Lian hiked tremendously.
The cultivators in the hall were aware of the hike in Shen Lian’s spiritual pressure. Those with weaker cultivation had flashed their instruments to withstand the spiritual pressure.
The rate at which it was hiking was like an arrow that soared through the clouds, and with every blink of the eyes, it had reached a new height.
Within just ten breaths, Shen Lian’s spiritual pressure had reached its limit. The mana stopped growing anymore. Under the feedback from Tiandi Jian, there was still some difference from that of Bai Suhuan. He never felt this strong before, and for the first time, his spirit did not feel that it was easy to operate the mana.
However, he was clear that regardless of how strong the power was, it was merely an external aid. He was borrowing it, and would probably have to put in a lot effort to erase the complications that it brought forth.
Qianmo withered on the ground, and its green feathers lost its luster. Shen Lian carried it in his arms. The next moment, he was in front of Gu Caiwei. It was unbelievably fast. “Senior Apprentice-Sister, please help me to look after this little thing,” he spoke gently.