Chapter 1323: I Won't Lose Out Anyway

Regarding why Lu Ye was chosen over other foreign Star Constellations detained at Fangcun Mountain, he estimated it was related to his performance on the ghost ship. Haitang could not have concealed the events of the ghost ship from Su Yuqing, and Chen Xuanhai had probably heard about it too, which might have prompted this idea. After all, the ghost ship's trial was extremely demanding, and his success in it would undoubtedly suggest extraordinary abilities to outsiders. "No problem, I accept this matter!" Having understood the various aspects of the Black Abyss Martial Arts Competition, Lu Ye readily agreed. There was no reason not to accept; it was merely a competition under some complex rules, and only Star Constellation realm cultivators were participating, so there was no need to fear anything.

Haitang still kept her head lowered, softly saying, "There's one more thing I need to make clear to Junior Brother."

"What is it?"

Haitang's face suddenly flushed. After much hesitation, she said, "The Black Abyss is a special place. Our Little People can enter it freely, but if other races wish to enter, they must possess our Little People's aura; otherwise, they cannot enter and naturally cannot participate in the competition."

Lu Ye was puzzled: "Possess your Little People's aura? How is that done?"

While he was still wondering, Nian Yuexian, who had been silent, suddenly understood. She carefully observed Haitang's expression and calmly asked, "Dual cultivation?"

A woman's thoughts are always more nuanced than a man's, and coupled with Haitang's current state, Nian Yuexian immediately made an educated guess. Lu Ye turned to her, surprised by Nian Yuexian's bold statement.

To his surprise, Haitang actually nodded, her face so red it looked like it might bleed. "Exactly, it requires dual cultivation. So, Master's intention is... Junior Brother Lu can find a suitable partner on Immortal Spirit Peak to be your Dao companion, and then... and then engage in dual cultivation. That way... that way you can enter the Black Abyss."

She spoke haltingly, leaving Lu Ye dumbfounded, somewhat unable to comprehend how the topic had suddenly shifted. Beside him, Nian Yuexian's lips curved into a meaningful smile.

"Junior Brother Lu, please consider it carefully. Let me know when you've made a decision!" Haitang threw out the words and fled as if on wings. Lu Ye raised a hand, wanting to stop her and ask more questions, but thought better of it. He looked troubled, wondering why a discussion about the Black Abyss Martial Arts Competition had suddenly become about Dao companions.

Nian Yuexian glanced at him, "This truly calls for congratulations, Junior Brother; what good fortune you have." Lu Ye retorted, annoyed, "Sister, please don't tease me. How is this good fortune?"

"Gaining a Dao companion for free, isn't that good fortune?"

"I didn't say I'd agree!" Lu Ye protested.

Nian Yuexian seemed surprised, "But is Haitang's beauty not to Junior Brother's liking?"

Lu Ye rubbed his temples, "This has nothing to do with beauty, okay? Besides, they only said I could choose a Dao companion on Immortal Spirit Peak, not that I had to choose her!"

Nian Yuexian scoffed, "On this vast Immortal Spirit Peak, you only know Haitang. If you were truly to choose a Dao companion, who else could it be? Are you suggesting you choose Su Yuqing? If I'm not mistaken, Su Yuqing's original intention was certainly for you to become Dao companions with Haitang, but Haitang is shy, so she presented it differently to you."

Lu Ye naturally thought of this; otherwise, Haitang wouldn't have suddenly blushed when speaking. However, the idea of choosing a Dao companion here on Immortal Spirit Peak for dual cultivation was something Lu Ye had truly never considered. It wasn't that he had no interest in beautiful women; ever since his intimate encounter with Huaci, Lu Ye knew the joys of it. But what about the future if he truly made such a choice? As Dao companions, they should remain inseparable. Yet, he was destined to return to Kyushu. Could he bring Haitang back with him? Su Yuqing likely wouldn't agree, and Haitang herself might not be willing to leave her home. But staying here at Fangcun Mountain was equally unappealing to Lu Ye. So, this matter of a Dao companion was truly a difficult demand.

Frowning in thought, Lu Ye said, "Sister, don't you find this whole thing rather strange?"

Nian Yuexian snorted, "It's good you're not swayed by beauty. It seems you've noticed it too."

"So, Sister also thinks the same." Lu Ye had initially wondered if he was overthinking things, but now it seemed his suspicions were correct. The Black Abyss Martial Arts Competition for the Little People was long planned, and now, with less than two months until this major event, Su Yuqing's request for him to choose a Dao companion to participate seemed rushed.

"What do you find strange?" Nian Yuexian asked.

Lu Ye replied, "Previously, when I wanted to take Sister away, Chen Xuanhai's condition was for Sister to find a Dao companion here, so she wouldn't be considered an outsider and would be free from the ancestral precepts. We refused, and now they want me to choose a Dao companion. Given this, were the Little People originally hoping Sister would participate in the Black Abyss Martial Arts Competition? When that didn't work out, they set their sights on me."

Nian Yuexian slowly shook her head, "It shouldn't be like that. I've only just entered the Star Constellation realm, and my foundation isn't stable yet. Chen Xuanhai couldn't possibly be unaware of that. What good would come of me participating in the Black Abyss Martial Arts Competition? It's a major event for the Little People; they wouldn't choose participants so rashly."

Lu Ye reconsidered and thought she might be right. "Then was I overthinking it?"

Nian Yuexian said, "Have you considered that Chen Xuanhai asking me to choose a Dao companion was just a tactic?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's like when you go to buy something; the seller first offers a price you'll definitely refuse, then a price you might accept. You'll choose the latter."

Lu Ye understood. Asking Nian Yuexian to choose a Dao companion was the price he'd definitely refuse. Asking him to choose a Dao companion was a more acceptable price, as men and women are, after all, different. It must be said, such tactics were effective, because when Lu Ye heard Haitang mention it, he did seriously consider it, only to conclude it wasn't appropriate. Of course, it wasn't yet time to give Haitang a definitive answer. If so, then Chen Xuanhai wasn't serious about Nian Yuexian choosing a Dao companion among the Little People either, because he knew Nian Yuexian wouldn't agree. That was just a refusal price he put out. From that moment, he had already set his sights on Lu Ye.

Nian Yuexian's divine sense stirred, and she quietly transmitted, "Junior Brother, do you think Haitang's Master knows about these twists and turns?"

Lu Ye initially thought Su Yuqing wouldn't know, but then reconsidered. There were only three Sun-Lit cultivators in the main sect, and they had spent so many years together, knowing each other's every detail. Chen Xuanhai likely couldn't make a move without Su Yuqing knowing his intentions. If Chen Xuanhai had an ulterior motive, would Su Yuqing not know?

He suddenly recalled another matter. When he first arrived at the main sect's realm, Haitang led him to Immortal Spirit Peak to meet Su Yuqing. However, midway, Haitang suddenly disappeared, and a fat man appeared, blocking his way and fighting him. The opponent seemed to bear no ill will, merely testing him. It was clearly a test of his strength. Later, when he met Su Yuqing again, she also asked many fragmented questions, even including the matter of a Dao companion. Taken individually, these signs wouldn't reveal much, but when linked together, they opened up a lot of room for imagination. Lu Ye vividly remembered the clear look of appreciation in Su Yuqing's eyes when he met her. Looking back now, it didn't seem like simple appreciation for her disciple's savior; it was more like a mother-in-law evaluating a son-in-law!

"I've fallen into their trap!" Lu Ye slowly realized.

It wasn't just Chen Xuanhai who had set his sights on him, or rather, it was Su Yuqing who had first set her sights on him, not Chen Xuanhai! If so, then the fierce battle between Su Yuqing and Chen Xuanhai earlier was quite intriguing. These old characters truly cannot be judged by their surface actions. Lu Ye felt a faint regret. If he had known this, he would have performed poorly during his fight with the fat man halfway up Immortal Spirit Peak. That surely would have saved him a lot of trouble later. It was precisely because of his impressive performance that he was targeted. But in that situation, although he sensed the fat man blocking his way was a test, he mistakenly thought he needed to pass the test to continue ascending the peak. How could he hold back?

Overall, the main sect of the Little People bore him no ill will, which Lu Ye could feel. However, being manipulated like this was somewhat unpleasant.

"Sister, should I just casually find a woman from Immortal Spirit Peak? I won't be at a disadvantage anyway!" Lu Ye said.

"If you can get past your own conscience, then of course you can. I won't stop you," Nian Yuexian retorted with a smirk.

"What conscience barrier? I'll just have my fun, then deny it and act like a stranger," Lu Ye stubbornly argued.

Nian Yuexian looked at him with a knowing smile, encouraging him, "Then go ahead. I await your good news."

"I'll go!" Lu Ye huffed, flying up towards Immortal Spirit Peak.

However, after flying for a short distance, he turned back.

"Did you drop something? Did you leave your sense of shame behind?" Nian Yuexian teased him.

Lu Ye blushed. "I've thought it over carefully, and doing that really isn't right. Let me consider it more thoroughly." He then ducked into his room, activated the restrictions, and pondered.

Nian Yuexian glanced in his direction, mused for a moment, then took out her sound transmission talisman and sent a message. Lu Ye had crafted the talisman for her. Currently, she could only contact a limited number of people: Lu Ye and Haitang, as she had previously exchanged contact imprints with Haitang. She quickly received a reply and soared into the sky.

At the foot of Immortal Spirit Peak, Nian Yuexian met Haitang, who was waiting there, and nodded slightly, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" Haitang's expression was unnatural. Although she had told Lu Ye he could choose any woman on Immortal Spirit Peak as a Dao companion, the true meaning of her words was clear to both Nian Yuexian and Lu Ye, as none of them were fools.

***

Tang San's grasp of time, position, and distance was incredibly precise.

He knew clearly that even with his Tang Sect unique skills and third-tier Xuantian skill cultivation, the wolf demon, with its innate abilities and powerful physique, might be more than he could handle in a direct confrontation. Especially given his young age and insufficient vital energy, he certainly couldn't sustain a prolonged fight. If it weren't for the human transformation that killed one wolf demon, he might not have intervened against two third-tier wolf demons; his own life was paramount.

However, once he made a move, it had to be a hit.

The wolf demon was in an extreme rage, so it wasn't until Tang San's palm struck the side of its eye that it finally realized. It sharply twisted its head, its fangs aiming directly at Tang San. Tang San's other hand, however, grabbed its clothing. Using his small stature to his advantage, he tugged at the wolf's fur, changing his direction. He flipped around, almost brushing against the third-tier wolf demon's chest, to reach its other side. His right index and middle fingers formed a sword-finger. With Xuanyu Hand activated, his two fingers gleamed with a pure white, jade-like luster, stabbing like lightning towards the wolf demon's eye as it turned its head.

*Pfft!* His slender fingers instantly penetrated into something warm. In terms of physical strength, Tang San was certainly far inferior to this third-tier wolf demon, but once he struck a vital point, with energies of the same rank, there was no room for luck. The Xuantian Skill, injected through the Xuanyu Hand, twisted almost rotatively into the wolf demon's brain. As a result, the wolf demon's other eye burst open instantly, and its brain was churned into a paste. Its roar stopped abruptly as if its throat had been choked, and its strong body tumbled to the ground.

Tang San pushed off its body with his toes, flipping to land at a considerable distance. This successful attack was aided by his rich combat experience from his previous life. His small, child-like body and the darkness of night were the best cover, combined with the third-tier wolf demon's intense rage, which dulled its senses. In a direct confrontation, Tang San's Xuanyu Hand might not have been able to penetrate the wolf demon's thick hide. However, the eyes were the most vulnerable point. Piercing the eyes and injecting Xuantian Skill energy meant certain death.

Landing on his feet, the other third-tier wolf demon had also ceased movement. Tang San finally relaxed. He did not rush to check on the human, but quickly lay on the ground, pressing his ear close to the earth, listening for any surrounding movement, to see if there were more pursuers. With his current strength, a direct confrontation with a third-tier wolf demon was difficult; no matter how good his techniques were, his young body was too frail. Even a single hit from a wolf demon could be fatal. That seemingly simple attack earlier was actually his full effort, elevating his mental will to its highest degree.

There were no other movements around, indicating that only two third-tier wolf demons had been pursuing the human who could transform. This also relieved Tang San; otherwise, he would have had no choice but to flee. He then walked towards the human, maintaining vigilance. As he approached the person, he immediately noticed that the hair that had grown on the person's body earlier had disappeared. This made Tang San's heart beat a little faster.

Given his situation as a child and having no relation to the transforming human, the safest option earlier would have naturally been not to intervene and wait for the wolf demons to leave. Yet, he chose to act. One reason was that the person being pursued was human. Another important reason was the transformation he had just witnessed. In Tang San's original world, Douluo Continent, there were Soul Masters with beast martial souls who possessed similar abilities. They could also continuously grow and become powerful through cultivating their beast martial souls. If similar abilities existed in this world, learning them would naturally greatly benefit his own strength and make it easier for him to integrate into this world!