My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Thunder Beast Appears in the Thunder Pool

Qiu Lun and An Jing clashed with a palm strike, and Qi Mechanism immediately trembled within him, fresh blood trickling down the corner of his mouth.

But before he could revel in self-satisfaction, what occurred before him left him dumbstruck.

An Jing’s body was actually sent flying a dozen meters backward, followed by two rolls on the ground before he managed to get up with difficulty, shakily saying, “Young Marquis, your strength is profound, indeed you’re no ordinary man…”

The onlookers below the stage were all startled, their hearts shocked beyond measure.

“The Young Marquis truly deserves to be a high-level expert of the Human Flower Realm.”

“Just one palm strike, and he forced the mysterious expert back, he’s just too strong.”

“That palm strike was surging and turbulent with Inner Strength, perhaps not even weaker than an average Earth Flower Realm expert, right?”

……

Witnessing this scene, a tide of comments from the crowd below surged forth.

On hearing this, Qiu Lun’s face turned beet red, as if it was about to bleed.

I was just putting on a show with that palm strike!

Pretending!

That man in white was absolutely pretending!

An Jing sighed deeply, “Not only does the Young Marquis have the grace and vigor of a noble, your strength is profound and unfathomable, I….”

“Let’s go again.”

Fearing An Jing would continue, Qiu Lun let out a low roar and charged at An Jing.

God damn it!

In an instant, the two were clashing once again, appearing extremely fierce, yet both were holding back, fearing they’d inadvertently ‘hurt’ the other again.

To the onlookers, it seemed as though the two were cautiously feeling each other out, making feints, tranquil like the calm before a storm.

Perhaps this was the way high-level masters dueled.

An Jing sent a message with his inner Qi, “Young Marquis, the great beauty is right before your eyes, don’t you really feel moved?”

He truly couldn’t understand Qiu Lun’s way of thinking, to not want a beauty like Dai Ling.

“If you think she’s a great beauty, why don’t you take her!”

Qiu Lun raised an eyebrow, responding in a strange tone.

“I cannot take her.”

An Jing retorted irritably.

Let alone the fact that he already had a family, even without one, he couldn’t take her; at this moment, Dai Ling’s innermost feelings probably involved eating his flesh and drinking his blood, and bringing her home would be like living with a ticking time bomb.

“Why should I take something you don’t want?”

Qiu Lun glared at An Jing, furious, and then a ‘ferocious’ palm strike came hurtling towards him, “This beauty, you must take.”

“No, I don’t want her!”

“Bang!”

An Jing’s body stiffened as the palm strike hit him truly, obviously committed with great effort; blood trickled down the corner of his mouth as he shouted, “Young Marquis, your cultivation is just too high… I’m no match for you.”

With that said, An Jing moved swiftly to retreat, seemingly ready to concede and admit defeat.

“Crafty villain!”

Qiu Lun was furious inside, his steps nonetheless chasing after An Jing.

“Young Marquis, what are you trying to do?!”

An Jing asked, both shocked and scared, “Could it be you still want to put me to death?”

The crowd below was also greatly perplexed; it was clear that the man in white was about to admit defeat, so why was Qiu Lun still relentlessly pursuing him?

“Our competition isn’t over yet, where do you think you’re going?”

Qiu Lun sent the message with his inner Qi, then reached out to grab An Jing.

Then come on.

An Jing stood still as if petrified, waiting for Qiu Lun’s palm to ‘put him to death.’

It was time for a showdown of acting skills.

However, just as Qiu Lun was about to touch An Jing, it seemed like a tremendous force suddenly struck out.

“Not good!”

“Not good!”

Both shouted almost simultaneously.

Qiu Lun was hit by an incredibly mighty rebounding force, and like a kite with its string cut, he plummeted below the stage, making a tremendous noise.

“`

However, An Jing also rapidly retreated, but he had just reached the edge of the Thunder Cloud Platform when he realized he was one step too late.

Whoosh!

The audience watched this scene in stunned silence, their eyes wide and mouths agape.

No one had expected that Qiu Lun, who had until recently been firmly in the lead, would now be lying beneath the Thunder Cloud Platform.

The turn of events had been so swift that everyone had yet to react.

“What overbearing Protective Gang Qi.”

Covering his plump belly, Qiu Lun wailed, “Sir, what a clever scheme, Qiu Lun will remember this.”

“You… you!?”

An Jing pointed at the fatty below the Thunder Cloud Platform, stuttering and unable to utter another word.

A day spent hunting geese, and now the geese have pecked out his eyes.

The big fat man was cunning enough; An Jing hadn’t expected him to be so shameless, pretending to be blown away without a trace of Inner Strength leaking from his body.

He wasn’t even pretending anymore; he blatantly threw the blame onto An Jing.

It’s all rigged, damn it all to rigged machinations!

Qiu Lun got to his feet, cupped his hands towards An Jing on the platform, and righteously proclaimed, “Brother, I, Qiu Lun, am not a sore loser. I admit defeat today!”

“All I can do is wish brother a happy marriage and a speedy arrival of your firstborn child.”

Having said that, Qiu Lun quickly walked away, not giving An Jing a chance to speak.

He had to leave, for he feared he couldn’t hold back any longer.

“I!”

Watching the large man’s retreating figure, An Jing felt a mix of shock and rage, wishing he could call forth the Evil Suppressing Sword to pierce a few holes in him right then and there.

Today, it seemed he had truly been played by that fatty.

Ling Yuanjing, seeing this, couldn’t help but take a deep breath, saying, “Indeed, a scion of the Kuiyuan Sect.”

He had not sensed the slightest leakage of Inner Strength, yet Qiu Lun was sent flying; only the mental method of the Kuiyuan Sect could achieve such an effect.

Qiu Heng, upon witnessing this scene, furrowed his brows in thought; he had seen clearly that the man in white seemed ready to admit defeat… Could there be a hidden trick or profound secret?

“This is somewhat unexpected.”

The Five Poison Young Master glanced at An Jing on the platform and then asked, “Ling’er, what do you think?”

Dai Ling responded indifferently, “Let’s first see his true face.”

For some reason, she couldn’t help feeling an inexplicable aversion towards the man in white.

This feeling was different from her attitude towards Qiu Lun; at most, she was slightly repulsed by him.

Meanwhile, Lou Xiangzhen, standing afar, froze at the scene, then smiled after a thought, “This lad is also susceptible to schemes. It looks like there’s a feast I can enjoy.”

An Jing had always been sly despite his young age, and it was extremely difficult to gain an advantage over him. Lou Xiangzhen couldn’t contain his joy at seeing An Jing outmaneuvered by that fatty.

“So familiar, could it really be him?”

Tan Yun stared intently at the man in white, and upon seeing those familiar eyes, her heart shuddered.

The Ghost Swordsman!

She would never forget those eyes; the man in white was the Ghost Swordsman.

“Why is he here? Could he be aiming to become the son-in-law of the Five Poison Sect?”

Tan Yun became anxious; she even dropped her chicken leg without realizing it.

The Ghost Swordsman had come to take part in the Five Poison Sect’s son-in-law contest and had claimed the first place, about to become their son-in-law.

Clutching her lips tightly, Tan Yun felt disturbed, “No, I absolutely can’t let this happen, absolutely not.”

The miss had always said, one must fight for one’s own happiness.

On the Thunder Cloud Platform.

At this moment, An Jing was somewhat bewildered, everything was contrary to his initial intentions.

Just then, a deacon of the Five Poison Sect stepped forward and said, “This young hero, the Sect Leader requests your presence.”

“I understand,” An Jing replied, bracing himself.

Now, he could only pray that he wouldn’t expose himself, for as long as he entered the Thunder Pool, and the Thousand-year-old Black Boa fully transformed into the Black Flood Dragon, none of this would matter.

The Five Poison Sect deacon led the way, and soon they arrived at the high platform.

At that moment, the Five Poison Young Master, Pingyang Marquis Qiu Heng, Zhenyi Sect’s Ling Yuanjing, and many other experts stood to the side.

“Wu Qiren pays his respects to Sect Master Dai and the other esteemed seniors,” An Jing greeted with a bow.

“`

While on the stage, An Jing had already thought of a pseudonym. Since the Great Zhou Royal Family had the surname Wu, and he carried the royal bloodline, why not call himself Wu Qiren?

With a slight nod, Dai Danshu seemed quite satisfied as he nodded, “Not bad, a hero emerges from youth.”

“Hmm?!”

Ling Yuanjing raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at An Jing in front of him.

“Brother Ling, what’s wrong?”

Dai Danshu also noticed Ling Yuanjing’s small movement and couldn’t help but ask through a transmitted message.

Ling Yuanjing replied, “I feel that this person’s figure looks somewhat familiar, as if I’ve seen him somewhere before, but I have seldom left the mountain in recent years, so it might just be my imagination.”

“Don’t panic, let’s have him remove the mask later.”

Dai Danshu said with a faint smile.

An Jing’s expression remained unchanged, but he was observing secretly. He too had noticed Ling Yuanjing’s frown earlier. Could it be that the old fellow had recognized him?

Thinking of this, An Jing couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Now was the most agonizing moment. He didn’t know what Ling Yuanjing was thinking, whether he had spotted something amiss with him. If Ling Yuanjing had seen through him, this would be like walking into a trap. If he hadn’t been discovered, An Jing’s own anxiety might betray him.

Fortunately, An Jing’s Qi cultivation skills were substantial, and he quickly adjusted his state of mind.

The Five Poison Young Master smiled and said, “I have witnessed your strength, and it is quite impressive. Now that you have claimed the title, would you be willing to take off your mask for us to see?”

Dai Ling also looked over; she wanted to see the true face of this person as well.

“Yes.”

An Jing clasped his fists and then removed the mask from his face.

It was a rugged and resolute face, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, appearing neither old nor young, but very mature and steady.

Dai Ling glanced over a few times, and in her heart, she couldn’t quite say she was pleased, but nor could she say she was dissatisfied. At the very least, his appearance wasn’t odd, and he was passable to look at.

Upon seeing this, the Five Poison Young Master let out a sigh of relief and then transmitted a message, “Brother Ling, do you recognize him?”

After pondering for a moment, Ling Yuanjing shook his head and said, “No, it must have been my imagination.”

He always felt that this person’s silhouette was familiar… but the thought seemed absurd, and their Qi mechanisms were completely different. That person’s strength was even above his own.

Meanwhile, Qiu Heng couldn’t help asking, “Are you perhaps the successor of the Kuiyuan Sect?”

What he wanted to know now was whether the person in front of him was really the successor of the Kuiyuan Sect, and whether Qiu Lun had truly been defeated or if it was just a ruse.

“This…”

An Jing was suddenly at a loss for words, as he knew nothing about the Kuiyuan Sect.

But he knew that speaking too much under so many watchful eyes would surely lead to mistakes.

“Young Master Wu, you need not say more.”

Seeing An Jing appear to have difficulties expressing himself, Qiu Heng slightly raised his eyebrows but said no more.

“Overall, I am quite satisfied with you,” the Five Poison Young Master said slowly as he looked at An Jing. “But if you wish to become my son-in-law, you must still pass one final test.”

No, I don’t want to.

Naturally, An Jing could not voice his inner thoughts and instead clasped his fists, saying, “Wu would like to give it a try…”

But as he spoke, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

“If you have any concerns, feel free to speak up,” the Five Poison Young Marquis said indifferently.

An Jing asked straightforwardly, “If Wu fails this test, I wonder about the Thunder Pool…”

His main goal, after all, was the Thunder Pool; the rest were of no concern to him.

At this, the Five Poison Young Marquis replied, “Rest assured, whether or not you pass the test, you may enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation.”

An Jing smiled upon hearing this and said, “Then I thank Sect Leader Dai. May I know what the last test entails?”

The Five Poison Young Master narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, “The last test is to gain the approval of the Five Poison Sect’s protective exotic beast, the Thunder Beast.”

The Thunder Beast?!

Upon hearing this, An Jing’s eyebrows furrowed.

Lou Xiangzhen had told him yesterday that within the Five Poison Sect’s Thunder Pool, there resided an exotic beast that resembled a crocodile, with sharp claws, a forked tail, and blinding speed, appearing with the sound of thunder.

It seemed this beast had come into existence along with the Thunder Pool, and could live for a thousand years, though it certainly wasn’t as formidable as the Thousand-year-old Black Boa, an extremely fierce exotic beast.

An Jing remained silent, but Ling Yuanjing beside him chuckled lightly. “The Thunder Beast of the Five Poison Sect is also considered a rare treasure of the world. So far, I have not had the chance to see it; maybe today I will get the opportunity.”

Qiu Heng was also stirred, his eyes carrying a trace of curiosity. Although the Five Poison Sect’s exotic beast wasn’t as renowned as the Buddhist miraculous manifestations, it was still a rare beast in the world.

Dai Danshu shook his head upon hearing this, “You two may be disappointed. It’s not just you; even I have only seen the Thunder Beast once.”

“That beast resides in the depths of the Thunder Pool year-round, and ordinary people standing at a distance from the Thunder Pool are fortunate to even hear its calls, let alone see it in person. So far, only Elder Feng has been able to make it appear.”

The Thunder Beast of the Five Poison Sect is not as ferocious as the Thousand-year-old Black Python, an Exotic Beast of extraordinary viciousness; it is considerably more docile by nature and highly perceptive.

Unless it smells the aura of a person with Great Destiny, it generally lies submerged at the bottom of the Thunder Pool and doesn’t surface to the shore.

Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu, up until now, had only seen the creature once, and that was when the Five Poison Sect’s ancestor used the Thunder Pool to break through to the level of Second Qi Grandmaster.

Only then did the Thunder Beast emerge from the Thunder Pool, showing its head and taking a distant glance.

“That…”

Upon hearing this, Qiu Heng looked at Dai Danshu with some confusion.

Seeing the Thunder Beast was so difficult that gaining its acknowledgment seemed even more impossibly challenging.

Dai Danshu said, “As long as Junior Wu can make the Thunder Beast call out a few times with his aura, that would suffice.”

An Jing nodded, “Alright, I am willing to give it a try.”

Right now, he only wished to enter the Thunder Pool; he cared little for anything else.

“Good, then let Brother Ling and Brother Qiu come with me as well,” Dai Danshu ordered and then got up and walked toward the back of the square.

An Jing and the others followed suit.

Along the way, Dai Danshu kept probing An Jing with seemingly casual questions that were, in fact, designed to elicit information.

Fortunately, An Jing was no greenhorn and responded with great caution and care.

Generally, his answers implied he was the inheritor of a reclusive master, having started wandering Jianghu not long ago after the hidden master had barely passed on most of his Martial Arts knowledge before departing this world.

Generally, his story sounded flawless.

After communicating with each other through voice transmission, Dai Danshu and Qiu Heng were mostly convinced of An Jing’s identity.

He was very likely the inheritor of the Kuiyuan Sect.

Only Ling Yuanjing remained somewhat skeptical in his heart.

Knowing that the peerless master who taught An Jing had died, Dai Danshu felt a pang of regret in his heart, but upon reflection, if he could get this person to stay permanently at the Five Poison Sect, it would also be a beautiful affair.

Although Dai Ling did not speak, her beautiful and moving eyes occasionally swept toward An Jing, as if trying to discern something from him.

“Dai Ling’s gaze is also peculiar.”

An Jing felt his skin crawl upon noticing her eyes.

Shortly after, the group reached a platform in the heavens.

High above, the platform was surrounded by mountains, and looking down and ahead, there was a cloud of white smoke filled with a golden halo.

The Thunder Pool!?

Seeing that divine scenic halo brimming with Spiritual Energy, An Jing knew that what lay ahead must be the Thunder Pool of the Five Poison Sect.

Ling Yuanjing, beholding the drifting white smoke ahead, couldn’t help saying, “This Thunder Pool truly is a place of divine beauty, a rare find indeed.”

Qiu Heng nodded in agreement, his heart filled with emotion.

Initially, because the Five Poison Sect’s ancestor was highly skilled, and with both the Zhenyi Sect and the Human Emperor wanting to support the Five Poison Sect against the Demon Sect, they granted the Mountain Gate Order for this place to the Five Poison Sect.

Everyone knew that just with this uniquely favored Thunder Pool, one could build a major sect; in the end, the Five Poison Sect reaped the benefits.

“How should I proceed now?”

Asked An Jing.

He was eager to have the Thousand-year-old Black Python enter the Thunder Pool; once the Black Python underwent the Jiao Transformation, he could go anywhere under the heavens.

Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu said, “You just need to spread out your Inner Strength; if the Thunder Beast senses your Qi Mechanism, it might respond to you.”

Hearing this, An Jing gave a slight nod, “Alright, I understand.”

He then walked forward slowly, looking down at the vast white smoke below.

Right within this boundless smoke lay the Thunder Pool.

“Hoo…”

Exhaling gently, An Jing began to spread his Inner Strength slowly.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

A wave of Cultivation-based Inner Strength suddenly surged forth like a tide, quickly pouring into the white fog and blending within it.

“Hmm!?”

An Jing felt that the moment his Inner Strength entered the white smoke, it dissipated into nothingness, as if snow had met flame and melted away in an instant.

After that, the white smoke ahead turned deadly silent, without the slightest sound.

“That’s great.”

An Jing breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this and then turned to Dai Danshu with an ugly expression, “Sect Master Dai, this…?”

“Don’t be in a hurry, just wait a little longer.”

The Five Poison Young Master Dai Danshu looked ahead and said,

“All right.”

An Jing sighed with annoyance, then stood aside.

Ling Yuanjing and Qiu Heng kept their eyes on the billowing white smoke, while Dai Ling kept her gaze fixed on An Jing.

An Jing felt very uncomfortable being watched like this and couldn’t help but grin at her with a forced smile.

Dai Ling’s expression turned cold, and then she looked away.

Half a quarter of an hour went by without realizing it.

Dai Danshu, seeing that there was still no change, couldn’t help but shake his head and say, “It seems that young master Wu has not succeeded.”

Getting a response from the Thunder Beast was extremely difficult, so it was within his expectation that An Jing would fail, but he still felt somewhat regretful.

“Ah, that’s really a pity,” said An Jing with feigned regret on his face, but inside, he was overjoyed.

Qiu Heng looked at the smoke ahead and said, “It seems that obtaining the Thunder Beast’s approval isn’t an easy task.”

In his opinion, the cultivation of Wu Qiren in front of him was not bad, and being under thirty-five years old, he could be considered talented, but he had failed to get a response from the Thunder Beast, which showed its pride.

Ling Yuanjing commented quietly, “You needn’t be too upset; this might even turn out to be a good thing for you.”

Could it be that he had really guessed wrong?

An Jing felt disheartened and said, “Thank you for the guidance, senior. It’s just that my talents and learning are shallow, and I lack the capacity for such good fortune.”

“You seem quite pleased?”

Dai Ling suddenly said, staring into An Jing’s eyes.

“No… not at all.”

An Jing was startled by Dai Ling’s comment and replied with a calm facade, “Why would Miss Dai say such a thing?”

Ling Yuanjing and Qiu Heng also looked over.

“It’s nothing.”

Dai Ling shook her head and said no more.

Dai Danshu then instructed, “Ling’er, go and call Bai Zhi and the young marquis now. Let them enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation today.”

“Yes.”

Dai Ling responded and prepared to head towards the square.

Excellent!

An Jing was elated within, knowing he was about to enter the Thunder Pool.

“Chirp chirp!” “Chirp chirp!”

Just as Dai Ling had taken a few steps away, a sharp voice pierced through the white smoke like a pointed sword.

“The Thunder Beast! That’s the Thunder Beast’s cry!”

The Five Poison Young Master’s face changed, and he quickly looked down at the white smoke below.

“Oh!?”

Ling Yuanjing and Qiu Heng also looked over.

Dai Ling furrowed her brows, then glanced at the somewhat bewildered An Jing before turning her attention back to the white smoke.

“What!?”

At that moment, An Jing’s heart was filled with astonishment, but he had to maintain a look of utter surprise on his face.

“Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!”

The voice kept coming from within the white smoke.

The Five Poison Young Master couldn’t help but laugh and said, “That is the voice of the Thunder Beast, crisp as a bird’s song. I didn’t expect it to come so late, almost causing us to miss it.”

“Congratulations to you, Brother Dai,” said Qiu Heng, his expression complex and his heart slightly sour.

It seems that his own family’s pig failed to shine.

“Congratulations, congratulations!”

Ling Yuanjing continued to gesture respectfully, then turned to look at the ‘overjoyed’ An Jing, who was at a loss for words, “Young Master Wu, aren’t you going to meet your father-in-law!?”

“Oh… right.”

An Jing snapped out of it and quickly said to the Five Poison Young Master, “Greetings to my father-in-law!”

Dai Ling’s brows were tightly knit, as if contemplating something.

“Hahahaha, there’s no need for such formality.”

The Five Poison Young Master was all smiles, quite satisfied with this Wu Qiren. A successor of Kuiyuan Sect, with profound cultivation, excellent aptitude, and seemingly loyal and honest by nature, he had no other relatives at home, and could therefore remain at the Five Poison Sect permanently. Decades later, surrounded by children and grandchildren, he himself could enjoy his twilight years in comfort.

This thought was indeed quite pleasing.

“Hmm? What is that!?”

Just then, Ling Yuanjing pointed at the white smoke in shock.

Within the white smoke, a strange head seemed to emerge, cautiously peering over at them before it appeared to notice something frightening in its eyes.

“Splash!”

A sound of water splashing was heard, and the head vanished into the white smoke, as if it had never appeared.

“Thunder Beast!?”

The Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, exclaimed in disbelief: “That was a Thunder Beast!”

“That was a Thunder Beast?”

Ling Yuanjing also showed a surprised expression, “No wonder I felt the spiritual energy fluctuations from the white smoke. So that was the Thunder Beast.”

Dai Ling’s cold eyes were wide with disbelief.

Qiu Heng, with his hands behind his back, continued to look around as if searching for the fleeting shadow of the Thunder Beast, and couldn’t help saying, “Could the Thunder Beast have appeared because of Young Master Wu’s presence?”

With that, he turned to look at An Jing, who was ‘surprised’ into a stupor.

“I….”

An Jing stammered, but internally cursing, I don’t bloody know a thing.

The Five Poison Young Master patted An Jing’s shoulder and laughed heartily, “Son-in-law, it must be you. Just now, only you released your aura, and the Thunder Beast must have come in response to your breath. There is absolutely no mistake.”

Dai Danshu finally saw the Thunder Beast again, the last time he had seen it was when the old ancestor of the Five Poison Sect, Feng Lingyue, made a breakthrough in the Second Qi, which seemed to have disturbed the Thunder Beast, allowing him a fortunate glimpse.

The Thunder Beast must have come for Wu Qiren, which means that Wu Qiren is a person with great destiny.

Throughout history, those with great destiny invariably achieved greatness if they did not die young.

The Five Poison Young Master had never imagined that today’s marriage alliance would actually bring in someone with such a fate. His heart was already blossoming with joy.

Looking at An Jing’s simple and honest face, he grew even more satisfied.

“Hehehe…. is that so?”

An Jing chuckled dryly, awkwardly touching the back of his head.

Seeing this, Ling Yuanjing couldn’t help but ask, “It seems, Brother Dai, that you are quite pleased with him.”

“Pleased, very pleased indeed,” Dai Danshu said, his mood uplifted, his previously somber state completely dissipated.

Dai Ling looked at An Jing without saying a word.

Qiu Heng suggested, “Brother Dai, shouldn’t we prepare a feast now? This event deserves a celebration.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Dai Danshu nodded repeatedly, “This great news must be shared immediately with everyone; they are all waiting for updates.”

“But what about the Thunder Pool…”

An Jing pointed to the Thunder Pool below.

Dai Danshu smiled and said, “Son-in-law, no need to worry. I shall arrange for Bai Zhi and young nephew Qiu to come here. You all can cultivate in this Thunder Pool tonight. Today I have to make some arrangements at Five Poison Mountain. After you come out tomorrow, we can proceed with the wedding without any issue.”

Upon hearing Dai Danshu’s words, An Jing breathed a sigh of relief, “I’ll leave everything to my father-in-law’s arrangement.”

If the Five Poison Young Master had insisted on performing the marriage ceremony first before letting him enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation, things would have been much more complicated.

Tomorrow?

We’ll see if he would still be around to talk about it tomorrow.

“Son-in-law, please wait here for a moment, I’ll go make the arrangements now.”

Dai Danshu was very joyful inside, “Ling’er, later you arrange for them to enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation, I will go take care of other matters.”

After speaking, Dai Danshu walked towards the plaza.

“Tomorrow, we shall drink to the wedding of Young Master Wu and niece Dai,”

Qiu Heng smiled and then left.

Ling Yuanjing left without a word, looking preoccupied with his own thoughts.

“Phew……”

Watching the figures of the others disappear, An Jing’s heart eased slightly.

“You seem very nervous.”

Just then, a cold voice rang out.

“Not too bad.”

An Jing turned his head to look, and saw that Dai Ling was still staring at him.

“Let’s be honest, I don’t like you, but my father seems quite satisfied with you,”

Dai Ling said indifferently.

For some reason, looking at Wu Qiren in front of her made her feel uncomfortable.

It was a kind of instinctual intuition.

Thus, she did not want this marriage.

An Jing chuckled awkwardly, “Of course, that’s for the best, you think I like you?”

The fatso was right, nobody likes an ice mountain.

“Once you enter the Thunder Pool for cultivation, I will speak to my father and arrange for you to have an additional three days of training there to compensate you,” Dai Ling looked earnestly at An Jing: “If there is anything else you are not satisfied with, feel free to bring it up now. If possible, I will satisfy your demands.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing couldn’t help but sigh lightly, “Since that’s the case, I, An Jing, have nothing more to say.”

He was satisfied, indeed very satisfied with this outcome which alleviated much of An Jing’s guilt.

“Good, then let’s agree on this,”

Dai Ling said softly.

Neither of them spoke again. Although they stood close to each other, it felt like there was an insurmountable gulf between them.

Shortly after, two figures approached from not too far away; it was Bai Zhi and the fatso Qiu Lun.

“Congratulations, Brother Wu,”

Seeing An Jing, Qiu Lun greeted him with a big smile plastered on his face.

At this moment, An Jing wished he could give the fatso a couple of punches, but he still put on a smiling face.

Alas!

Bai Zhi glanced at Dai Ling, whose beauty was breathtaking, and felt a surge of envy. Why can’t that person be me?

“Follow me, all three of you,”

Dai Ling spoke softly, then walked towards a high platform and stopped in front of a stone door, pressing down a mechanism.

“Thump!” “Thump!”

As the mechanism was activated, the stone door also slowly opened, revealing a narrow flight of stone steps before the three men.

Pointing at the stone steps, Dai Ling said, “These steps lead to the Thunder Pool. The pool contains a great deal of essence, which makes it extremely hot, like being roasted by thunder flames. Even grandmasters who have tempered their Golden Bones wouldn’t dare to stay in the Pool for long, so you three must remember not to get too close.”

“Around ten yards from the Thunder Pool, there will be essence mist drifting about. All of you have First Grade cultivation. If it’s your first time entering the Pool, absorbing the mist will speed up your cultivation and bring you great benefits.”

An Jing gave a fist salute and said, “I understand.”

Bai Zhi and Qiu Lun also nodded.

“All right, you may go now,”

Continuing, Dai Ling looked at Qiu Lun and Bai Zhi, “Remember, you only have one day.”

Having spoken, Dai Ling walked off into the distance.

“Why do we only get to cultivate for one day, and so quickly the distinction between insiders and outsiders is made?”

Watching Dai Ling’s retreating figure, Qiu Lun snorted coldly, then turned to An Jing with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, “Brother, you’ve snagged yourself a valuable fiancée.”

An Jing brushed off Qiu Lun’s hand with irritation and turned to head towards the Thunder Pool; he was familiar with the terrain and still had to control the Thousand-year-old Black Boa to enter the Pool later. There would be time to deal with this pesky fatty afterward.

…..

Five Poison Sect, the square.

Many of the martial artists from Jianghu had already dispersed, but some had not yet left.

That’s when Dai Danshu stepped up to the front of the stage and announced loudly, “Valued friends from Jianghu who have come from afar, tomorrow is my daughter’s wedding day. I, Dai Danshu, will host a grand feast, and I hope you all will grace the occasion.”

“Congratulations to Sect Leader Dai!”

“Congratulations, Sect Leader Dai.”

“This is a joyous occasion. No matter what, we should all attend.”

……

Upon hearing this, the crowd began to offer their congratulations.

“What!?”

Tan Yun, who had been waiting for a long time, felt a sudden dizziness rush over her, nearly causing her to fall.

He was getting married!? How could this be possible!?

At that moment, several disciples of the Five Poison Sect came out, holding red silk streamers.

“What are you guys doing?” Tan Yun asked hastily as soon as she saw them.

“What else? Obviously, we are decorating for the festive occasion,” they replied.

The Five Poison Sect disciple glanced at Tan Yun and said irritably.

“Arranging a wedding celebration?”

Tan Yun blinked.

“Of course, Wu the Younger is about to become my Five Poison Sect’s son-in-law, remember to come and have a drink at the wedding feast tomorrow.”

The Five Poison Sect disciple said with a chuckle.

“No way!”

Upon hearing this, Tan Yun immediately wrinkled her nose in protest.

“What do you mean ‘no way’?”

The Five Poison Sect disciple suddenly became displeased, “Are you looking for trouble?”

“I can’t make you understand.”

Tan Yun waved her hand and hurriedly said, “I need to see your Sect Leader, Dai Danshu.”

She had been seeking the Ghost Swordsman for several months; how could he marry the daughter of Dai Danshu, the leader of the Five Poison Sect?

This was something that Tan Yun absolutely would not allow.

“Who do you think you are?”

The Five Poison Sect disciple snorted, “You think you can just see our Sect Leader whenever you wish?”

“If you won’t let me see him, I… I will…”

Tan Yun’s face turned red with anger, but for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

“Fine, now I see, you’re here to stir up trouble, aren’t you?”

The expression of the Five Poison Sect disciple turned icy as he spoke coldly.

To dare come to the mountain and cause trouble on the Five Poison Sect’s day of great joy, this person must be incredibly audacious.

“Hm!? Little girl?”

Just then, Lou Xiangzhen, who was about to leave, noticed Tan Yun.

He clearly remembered that kid, who, in order to save this girl, had even dared to confront the Heavenly Sword.

“You are…?”

Tan Yun also saw Lou Xiangzhen and then suddenly remembered, “You’re that old man who was with the Ghost Swordsman?”

“Old man!?”

Lou Xiangzhen raised an eyebrow.

This girl was as impolite as that boy.

Birds of a feather flock together, people are known by the company they keep.

…….

Inside the Five Poison Hall.

At this moment, Dai Danshu was brimming with joy. Thinking of Wu Qiren, who clearly possessed a great fortune and had a boundless future, how could he not be happy?

Furthermore, Wu Qiren was considered morally upright in his sect, and he appeared to be very honest; Dai Danshu thought it wouldn’t be too difficult to have him stay in the Five Poison Sect in the future.

Dai Danshu thought of something and called out sharply, “Third, go and tell the elder ancestor that Ling’er has found a good match, and ask him to come to the banquet tonight. He always loved Ling’er the most, and he will surely come.”

“Brother, I understand. I’ll go invite the elder ancestor right away.”

A middle-aged man, also smiling, quickly walked towards the inner hall.

Ling Yuanjing’s brows were tightly furrowed. He always felt that Wu Qiren looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere, but he couldn’t quite place where.

Qiu Huan laughed, “Brother Dai, we must have a good drink tomorrow.”

“Indeed, we shall drink until we’re thoroughly inebriated,” Dai Danshu replied, waving his hand, then turned to look at Ling Yuanjing, “Brother Ling, don’t think too much. Tomorrow we shall drink heartily.”

Ling Yuanjing chuckled dryly, “Alright.”

Just then, a Zhenyi Sect disciple hurried in, went up to Ling Yuanjing, and whispered, “Uncle Ling, there are secret reports from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and Wind and Rain Tower.”

Secret reports from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and Wind and Rain Tower naturally meant that they had found information about those two people.

Ling Yuanjing’s eyebrows lifted, and he quickly said, “Let me see them.”

“Yes.”

Hearing this, the Zhenyi Sect disciple quickly pulled out two secret reports from his bosom.

Ling Yuanjing immediately opened the reports and swiftly scanned them. When he clearly saw the contents of the reports, he ‘boom’ shot to his feet and his expression dramatically changed.

“So it’s him!”