Chapter Ten: The Cursed Ring

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There was no doubt that Zhao Zijin would not let Xu Ze off easily. He had already noticed two of his retainers quietly slipping away from the crowd, likely to take action.

He had no intention of intervening; he merely planned to be a bystander, watching the spectacle unfold.

Xu Ze was not related to him in any way—why should he get involved? Such injustices were all too common and, in his eyes, simply personal disputes.

Besides, this was at the foot of the Xianxia Sect’s mountain. The cultivators above surely witnessed everything that happened. It was their territory; even their own people hadn’t intervened. What reason did he have to interfere?

He was here on a mission, not to draw his sword over every injustice. His task was to focus on his own affairs.

Now, having disguised himself and changed his appearance to a common face—one easily lost in a crowd—he intended to keep a low profile throughout this trip. His true identity must remain absolutely secret.

Just as he was settling on this plan, a beep sounded from the system.

“Encountered a special event. Hidden task activated.”

“Side Quest: Child of Destiny.”

[The child of destiny, Xu Ze, is currently in dire straits, about to face misfortune. Before he matures, the host may choose to intervene and offer assistance.]

[Objective: Rescue the child of destiny, Xu Ze, from the retainers and establish a good bond with him.]

[Difficulty: Two stars (easy)]

[Rewards: 50 points, 200 low-grade spirit stones, and a certain increase in luck.]

[Side quests can be abandoned without penalty or reward.]

A mission?

Su Yi’s eyes lit up, retracting his earlier decision.

Since it was a task, there was no reason not to save him.

And with such an easy difficulty, it was practically effortless.

Such rewards should never be passed up!

.....

Meanwhile, within the Xianxia Sect.

In the grand hall of Xianxia, a massive luminous pearl stood at the center, its surface displaying the events unfolding at the mountain gate.

Beneath the screen, several men and women in Daoist robes watched intently.

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One of them could not help but speak up.

“Everyone who comes here seeks to join our sect and pursue the Dao. If something happens to him on the way, it could damage our sect’s reputation. Should we not send someone to protect him?”

Unexpectedly, a voice of dissent immediately rose.

“Elder Qi, your words are misguided! The path of cultivation is harsh and unforgiving—survival of the fittest. Only those with great perseverance and endurance succeed. The others have not interfered; this boy is merely involved in a personal dispute. If he abandons his chance to become an immortal, then he is unworthy. Everyone has their fate; there is no need for unnecessary conflict!”

Elder Qi Yongnian, having been challenged, fired back.

“Hmph, Elder Chi naturally says that. Zhao Zijin, who is causing trouble, is your nephew, isn’t he? He’s just arrived and already stirring up trouble; I fear he won’t be a peaceful presence in the future.”

Elder Chi, embarrassed at being exposed, quickly regained his composure.

“Hmph, if he weren’t my nephew, he might not have come to our Xianxia Sect at all! You heard it yourself—he possesses the rare double spiritual roots, wind and thunder attributes. Even entering a holy land would be easy for him!”

“The path of cultivation depends not only on perseverance but also on innate talent and ability. The road is one of natural selection! The fierce waves sift the sand. Though Zijin is not yet admitted, his sharpness is merely excessive. Once admitted and honed, he will surely become a treasured sword!”

“As for his temperament, once he is admitted, we can properly refine it. In any case, it is better than nurturing mediocre individuals!”

Others nodded in agreement. Zhao Zijin’s talent was undeniable—truly one in a million.

Elder Qi flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly.

“So what! The prosperity of a sect depends on unity. Even in cultivation, temperament matters! This Zhao Zijin dares to intimidate others at the foot of the immortal mountain and frighten his peers. His ruthlessness is clear. We examine not only talent but also character. If his character fails, I will not let him pass!”

“You...”

“Two elders, please do not rush to conclusions.”

Just as the situation seemed about to spiral out of control, a gentle voice came from behind, prompting both to turn.

The speaker was a graceful woman among them. She exuded the aura of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, dressed in purple cedar robes, her brows curved like a crescent moon, her figure slender and elegant, her waist as supple as a willow branch.

“What the two elders say is all for the future of our sect. There is no need for such fruitless arguments.”

She was the daughter of the Xianxia Sect’s leader, Zi Ling. Her words carried great weight throughout the sect. The two elders exchanged glances and then looked away, remaining silent.

Zi Ling’s beautiful eyes fixed on the crystal orb.

“Zhao Zijin’s talent is excellent, and I fear his achievements will not be low. That black-clad youth, though ordinary, has done nothing wrong. After all, he came to our Xianxia Sect seeking the Dao. I cannot watch him die here.”

“I will entrust this matter to the elders for now. I will go rescue him once. Beyond the sect’s boundaries, whether he lives or dies will depend on his own fate.”

With that, Zi Ling gracefully stepped out of the hall.

......

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On a small path outside the Xianxia Sect, Xu Ze wandered aimlessly.

“Xiao Jia, why... why are you doing this to me...”

“So what if he’s rich or has double spiritual roots? We grew up together... Xiao Jia, how could you...”

Xu Ze’s mind was filled with the scenes from just now. Compared to Zhao Zijin’s humiliation, what suffocated him more was Xiao Jia’s betrayal.

He could not understand why!

Bang!

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Xu Ze felt a sharp pain underfoot and instantly fell to the ground. Turning his head, he saw a fist-sized stone had been flipped up on the path.

He had been tripped by it.

Suddenly, he noticed something shiny next to the stone and instinctively moved closer.

Upon closer inspection, where the stone had been, there lay an ancient, gleaming ring.

Xu Ze picked it up without thinking and examined it in his hand. But as he did, his mind grew dizzy, and a swirling sensation overwhelmed him.

He immediately snapped out of it, no longer daring to look at it. Holding the ring far away, he panted heavily.

This ring was somewhat sinister!

He wanted to throw it away immediately but stopped the impulse.

He hadn’t studied it yet—what if it was a treasure? He would lose out big if he discarded it.

So he decided to keep it. However, the ring was ancient and small, easy to lose if carried loosely. After some thought, he simply slipped it onto his finger.

The next moment, he suddenly sensed a commotion nearby. Instinctively, he turned to see two figures rapidly approaching.

In the next moment, two shadows leapt out from the bushes.

They were the retainers beside Zhao Zijin!

“What do you want?”

Xu Ze sensed danger. Looking around, he found no one else nearby—if anything happened, no one would know.