BTTH: From Genius to Invincible-Chapter 325: Two Hearts Are Not Too Many

Word Count: 2,097 Words

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Within Lu Man's mountain cave dwelling, Bai Ya, who had just returned from the Sky Serpent Mansion's high-level meeting, sat alongside her.

"So most of the Dou Ancestor Protectors have agreed with She Tianhao's decision?" Lu Man asked solemnly.

Bai Ya sighed and nodded. "They have no intention of giving up the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."

A hint of disdain flashed across Lu Man's refined features. They had anticipated this long ago. The Half-Saint who founded the Sky Serpent Mansion, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint, had also possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Even if she were in the Mansion Lord's position, she wouldn't be willing to give it up either. One could say Qing Lin was at the very core of the Sky Serpent Mansion's future interests.

Once there was a clash of interests, whether human or magical beast, neither would relent. It was like how the Gu Clan would never let Xun Er leave the clan to marry Xiao Yan; it would be tantamount to challenging the entire younger generation of the Gu Clan, and the implications would be too great.

However, having accompanied Qing Lin for five years, the two of them understood perfectly that while Qing Lin usually remained silent and devoted herself to cultivating and unlocking the Snake Saint's inheritance, she actually had no interest in the Dou Saint inheritance. Her goal was to become stronger, open the inheritance, and then leave immediately.

Qing Lin simply did not want excessive entanglements with the Sky Serpent Mansion. Back then, she had proactively proposed coming to the Sky Serpent Mansion because she realized that if Xiao Yan wanted to save her, he would have to pay a heavy price. She did not want that to happen, so she took the initiative to propose it.

Consequently, Lu Man and Bai Ya had long understood that the Sky Serpent Mansion couldn't keep Qing Lin. She always harbored a longing in her heart. The 'White Moonlight' in her heart was too radiant; no matter what the Sky Serpent Mansion did, they couldn't win her over.

After some hesitation, Bai Ya finally asked, "Are we really not going to tell the Mansion Lord that Xiao Yan's backing is the Hall of Souls?"

Lu Man gave him a sidelong look and replied slowly, "What good would it do? You went to the Central Plains and investigated the Hall of Souls at the Pill Tower; you should be clear. Given the Hall of Souls' way of doing things, we would've been killed long ago if Xiao Yan were really a Protector of the Hall of Souls."

"Even if the Mansion Lord knows that Xiao Yan is from the Hall of Souls, it won't make him wary; it will only make things more troublesome. Not just humans—even magical beasts can harbor wishful thinking. We've long known that the Mansion Lord would never relinquish the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."

Bai Ya remained silent. It was true that Xiao Yan was from the Hall of Souls, but they didn't know his exact status. Most importantly, unless Xiao Yan was the son of a Dou Saint from the Hall of Souls, his background wouldn't make the Sky Serpent Mansion apprehensive.

It was similar to how ordinary disciples who joined the Sky Serpent Mansion would not make other factions wary unless they were the Mansion Lord's offspring.

Not to mention, the Sky Serpent Mansion had a conflict of interest with Xiao Yan. People die for wealth just as birds die for food. Back then, even when Xiao Yan revealed his identity from the Hall of Souls, Bai Ya and Lu Man hadn't given up because of the Sky Serpent Mansion's reward for bringing Qing Lin back. This showed that the Sky Serpent Mansion, whose interests clearly clash with his, was even less likely to relent.

The reason Lu Man and Bai Ya acted as they did was not Xiao Yan's Hall of Souls identity; it was because of Qing Lin.

There had always been two factions within the Sky Serpent Mansion. One faction was the old interest group led by Mansion Lord She Tianhao. They believed that Qing Lin should stay in the Sky Serpent Mansion, thinking it was the most suitable place for her and placing the Mansion's interests above all.

The other faction stood on Qing Lin's side, prioritizing her wishes. They were serpent clan members who believed in Qing Lin's future strength and planned to follow her. For example, the old woman who had just inquired about Qing Lin's intentions was one of them.

A subtle smile appeared on Lu Man's face as she slowly flicked her forked tongue, "Those foolish old fossils still think Qing Lin will definitely stay in the Sky Serpent Mansion. But Qing Lin will certainly leave, and when that happens, conflict will be inevitable."

"Our original plan was to assist Qing Lin in leaving the Sky Serpent Mansion and, after her cultivation grew, support her as the new Mansion Lord, expelling She Tianhao and his faction. But now, perhaps we should adjust our plan. It seems that Xiao Yan is a variable. If the Yan Alliance possesses strength comparable to She Tianhao's faction, we can help Qing Lin become the Mansion Lord sooner. At that time, we will naturally be the meritorious officials of the new Mansion Lord."

Bai Ya hesitated, "Is it really appropriate for us to do this?"

Lu Man stuck out her forked tongue and said with a smile, "Humans have a saying, 'It's not too much for one person to have two hearts.'"

Even Xiao Yan probably didn't expect that the small Sky Serpent Mansion would become turbulent because of Qing Lin. Many people were quietly observing this Great Meeting of Factions, as its outcome would influence many things.

...

Time passed quickly. Two days later, the Great Meeting of Factions began as scheduled.

The Great Meeting of Factions was naturally held within the Sky Serpent Mansion. As the sun rose in the eastern mountain range, the place was already filled with countless experts, and its defenses were as impregnable as iron. Throughout the hundreds and thousands of years since its establishment, the Sky Serpent Mansion has experienced many trials and tribulations. Its reputation gradually rose from successive battles among various forces, finally achieving its current status.

Although the Great Meeting of Factions in the North-Western Region couldn't compare with the Pill Gathering at the Pill Tower, it was still one of the few grand events.

This Great Meeting of Factions tested not only the older generation of experts but also the younger generation. Naturally, the young participants representing each major faction in the North-Western Region were the most outstanding among their peers. Every faction regarded these youths as its lifeblood, so they spared no effort in raising them.

Under such emphasis, numerous extraordinarily talented individuals naturally emerged among the younger generation. Not only Qing Lin from the Sky Serpent Mansion but also Ting Wanjun, the Young Sect Master of the Thunderbolt Sect; Li Shi from the Medicine Bone Sect; Shi Nian from the Profound Lion Sect; among others. Each had garnered quite a reputation throughout the North-Western Region.

Of course, the North-Western Region was vast, and hidden talents were everywhere. No one knew when a dark horse might suddenly appear. Hence, each Great Meeting of Factions attracted many factions and countless confident young experts.

Outside the Serpent Mountain Range, a streak of deep blue light flashed across the sky like a meteor before a huge, sky-blue flood dragon descended upon a mountain peak. Its imposing body and aura drew instant attention from onlookers.

Standing on the back of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, Xiao Yan and the others looked down at the crowds below, which appeared like ants, and were momentarily stunned.

"There are quite a lot of people—probably more than just a thousand."

Jia Xing Tian explained, "Not only have the hundreds of sects and empires from the North-Western Region come, but each Great Meeting also attracts factions from other regions to observe, and even people from the Central Plains, such as the Yellow Springs Pavilion and the Pill Tower. After all, the top alchemist from the factions participating in this Great Meeting is already at the pinnacle of alchemists in the North-Western Region, aside from the Alchemist Association."

It was not surprising, considering that the Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect was a 7th-tier alchemist. Even in the Pill Tower, 7th-tier alchemists were not common.

"Where is the Yan Alliance's preliminary competition being held?" Xiao Yan asked.

The Great Meeting of Factions had over a hundred factions participating, so it wasn't possible to have a random draw or a chaotic free-for-all. They divided the North-Western Region into east, south, west, and north areas for the preliminary rounds.

On the first day, the preliminary competitions for the younger generation were held. Factions from the four areas drew lots for elimination matches, and finally, the champions from the four areas would compete in one-on-one matches. The final winner would be the most talented young expert under thirty in the North-Western Region.

The competition among alchemists under thirty was even simpler. Similar to the previous Alchemist Grand Meeting, all alchemists would refine pills simultaneously, and the one who produced the highest-quality pill would win.

"The Yan Alliance belongs to the west area's factions, along with the Three Great Empires. However, I heard that the Chu Yun Empire didn't participate this time because their strongest factions, the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, had their leaders and elite members die miserably when they entered a secret realm." At that, Yun Yun gave Xiao Yan a subtle look as if to ask, 'Any idea how that might have happened?'

Xiao Yan merely shrugged and didn't say anything. It was expected that the Chu Yun Empire wouldn't participate, given that so many of their experts had perished in the Profound Nether Valley last time.

"Yanran, be careful. Don't push yourself too hard," Yun Yun gently stroked Nalan Yanran's silky hair. On the first day, it was undoubtedly Nalan Yanran and Princess Yue Er who would be competing.

Nalan Yanran's eyes revealed a strong fighting spirit. She had been anticipating the Great Meeting of Factions for a long time. After all, she had always been in the Jia Ma Empire, interacting with Dou King experts from the Jia Ma Empire and the Three Great Empires. She was eager to know how she would fare in the entire North-Western Region.

"Don't worry, Master. I will definitely not disgrace the Misty Cloud Sect," Nalan Yanran nodded firmly.

Then, she turned to look at Xiao Yan and said solemnly, "After I obtain the title of number one in the North-Western Region, I'll challenge you!"

Xiao Yan spread his hands helplessly and said, "It would be good if you could get first in the west area; getting the overall first place might be difficult."

He knew that Qing Lin was already a Dou Emperor. Given that Nalan Yanran was currently a 9-star Dou King, her chances of defeating Qing Lin were slim to none. Even if he gave her an Emperor Heaven Pill right now to help her break through to Dou Emperor, she wouldn't stand a chance.

The competition among young alchemists began almost simultaneously. After all, it was a trivial matter for alchemists to spend a day refining pills.

The Yan Alliance was still a newly emerging faction, so naturally, they didn't have their own camp. However, Xiao Yan and the others didn't care about such things. With the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's enormous body, standing in mid-air and overlooking the battle stage had its own unique charm.

"Is that the Yan Alliance?" She Tianhao looked toward the location of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast and asked.

In the VIP seating, top factions such as the Sky Serpent Mansion, Thunderbolt Sect, Medicine Bone Sect, and Profound Lion Sect, which were among the top ten in the North-Western Region, had their exclusive VIP seats. The leaders of these factions sat high up, watching the battles that had just started in the arena.

"Yes, Mansion Lord," Bai Ya nodded and replied.

"Yan Alliance? What kind of faction is that to make you pay so much attention?" Beside She Tianhao, an old man stroked his beard and glanced in the direction of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast.

This old man was Shi Ming, the Sect Leader of the Profound Lion Sect, which he had founded. His strength had reached 7-star Dou Ancestor, on par with She Tianhao.