Chapter 45: Persuading with All His Might

Qingxi looked up and saw a massive dark shadow on the surface of the water, estimating it to be a large ship.

At this moment, several disciples of the Euphoria Sect who were hauling the net approached and cupped their hands to Qingxi, saying, “Brother Li Ba, why not come aboard with us?”

Qingxi glanced at the immense shadow floating on the water. Knowing that elders of the Euphoria Sect were on board, he realized it would be extremely dangerous to go up. Yet, to take his leave so abruptly would hardly be the proper attitude for an ally meeting another; if the Euphoria Sect disciples grew suspicious in this desolate wilderness, he could find himself in peril.

Out of caution, he decided to go up and take a look, all the while searching for a chance to slip away.

“After all, my system’s space holds several thousand units of Five Elements Essence. Even if I encounter a master at the Innate level, I’ll have the power to protect myself. Let’s go up and see.” So Qingxi reasoned, surfacing with the disciples of the Euphoria Sect.

As they neared the large ship, he swept his gaze over the scene, discovering the vessel was thirty meters long, three decks high, with more than a dozen people standing on deck.

At their head stood a distinguished elder, whose presence, though not yet at the Innate realm, was deeper and more forceful than an ordinary cultivator at the peak of the Qi Refining stage—an outer elder of the Euphoria Sect.

Finding no Innate-level expert on board, a sly smile played at Qingxi’s lips as a bold idea began to form.

Upon boarding with the others, the disciples of the Euphoria Sect looked over with curiosity. Through the introductions of those who had been underwater, they soon learned Qingxi was a disciple of the Scarlet Flame Sect, and even a member of the same clan as the talented Li Xingyao.

A charming, seductive female disciple immediately sidled up, casting a flirtatious look at Qingxi, her voice coy and sweet: “So you’re a kinsman of the handsome and gifted Brother Li Xingyao. You must be quite a genius yourself. What do you think of me? Our Euphoria Sect is quite skilled in the dual cultivation arts, you know!”

She continued to flutter her eyes at Qingxi, making his skin crawl with discomfort.

Feigning composure, he stood on the deck, gazed out over the turbulent river, and said with affected melancholy, “I’m sorry, but I’ve already taken vows of self-castration.”

“Self... self-castration?!”

Everyone—including the outer elder—was stunned into silence, unable to fathom such a declaration.

Noticing their bewildered expressions, Qingxi chuckled inwardly and, maintaining a solemn facade, added, “Not only me—Li Xingyao has done the same.”

His words caused an uproar.

Among the female disciples who admired Li Xingyao, some faces turned decidedly odd.

Qingxi continued, “Truly, it’s nothing remarkable. As cultivators, in pursuit of the supreme path, we must relinquish the flesh, rid ourselves of distractions, and strive forward with undivided intent.”

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, too shocked to respond.

At this point, any doubts they might have harbored about Qingxi’s identity were swept away, replaced entirely by the astonishing topic of “self-castration.” No one would have imagined that Li Xingyao, one of the Scarlet Flame Sect’s top ten inner disciples and a genius with a spiritual-grade root, would do such a thing.

“Do not be surprised, my friends,” Qingxi intoned, his voice rising and falling with conviction. “The body is but a vessel to a cultivator. To ascend to the pinnacle, what matters most is unwavering, resolute will.”

The outer elder’s eyes suddenly shone. “No wonder I have never managed to break through to the Innate realm. Li Ba, your words have opened my eyes.”

Qingxi: “???”

He thought, Is this old man about to... do something drastic?

The Euphoria Sect elder announced, “I have decided. Upon my return to the sect, I shall dissolve my bond with my Dao companion. Thus may I sever my emotional attachments and focus my heart solely upon the path to the Innate realm!”

The remaining disciples: “...”

A female disciple hurried to dissuade him, “Elder Wu, if you do this, Elder Mu will be heartbroken.”

Elder Wu raised his hand. “No, she won’t. We’re both well past our passionate years. It’s time to take this gamble. Otherwise, I will never reach the Innate realm in this life.”

Hearing their exchange, Qingxi opened his mouth, at a loss for words.

He began to feel uneasy about how far his story had gone.

Nevertheless, the Euphoria Sect disciples were largely impressed by Qingxi’s apparent frankness, though their looks toward him now held a peculiar shade.

Seeing that none suspected his true identity, Qingxi breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Though the topic of “self-castration” was awkward, it had served its purpose—he had successfully blended in among the Euphoria Sect.

“Wait, if people in the future keep saying I... lack that, what am I to do?”

“No, wait, I am Li Ba of the Scarlet Flame Sect now. It’s Li Ba who lacks that, not Qingxi. What does it matter to me?”

With this, Qingxi’s lips curled in a satisfied smile.

“All right,” Elder Wu declared, waving his sleeve. “You continue your voyage. I feel a moment of insight approaching and will retire to meditate.” With that, he strode away, vanishing from sight.

The remaining disciples gathered around Qingxi, asking, “By the way, Brother Li Ba, are you here for the Heroes Gathering as well?”

Qingxi paused.

The Heroes Gathering... Could it really be such a coincidence? It seemed this was the very gathering of young cultivators his master had spoken of. He had worried he wouldn’t find the place, but now, following these Euphoria Sect disciples, he would surely reach his destination.

He nodded. “Yes, I was planning to go and broaden my horizons at the Heroes Gathering.”

“What a coincidence, then—it’s right on our way!” The other disciples brightened.

Qingxi expressed his gratitude, “Thank you all, truly, for letting me come along. By the way, who will be attending this Heroes Gathering?”

The seductive disciple named Mi Yu replied, “I know! First, our Euphoria Sect’s top ten inner disciple and dashing Brother Hua Rui will be there, as well as Senior Sister Ru Hong, also one of the top ten...”

From Mi Yu’s enthusiastic introduction, Qingxi gained a more complete understanding of the event.

This was a gathering for the younger generation of the Four Great Sects of the Eastern Region under the Yun Chuan Prefecture. However, since it was privately organized, the attendance would not be vast.

The four one-star powers of the Eastern Region—Spirit Source Sect, Scarlet Flame Sect, Euphoria Sect, and Water Immortal Sect—would send mostly inner disciples. The strongest among them would be figures like Li Xingyao, Hua Rui, and Ru Hong, all at the peak of the Qi Refining stage.

Prodigies like Qiu Yingying, who had already reached the Innate realm and held the status of true disciples, had long since set their sights beyond the Eastern Region and would scarcely appear at such a small-scale gathering.

Learning that no Innate-level experts would attend, Qingxi felt reassured.

With his current strength, he could even contend with those at the peak of Qi Refining. Perhaps he would reap unexpected rewards at the Heroes Gathering.

But now, having boarded the Euphoria Sect’s ship, he decided to use their resources to shore up his own shortcomings.

His gaze fell upon the deck, where a group of swordfish lay tangled together in the spiritual thread net.

“Since they are only half-allied sects, their possessions are as good as mine,” Qingxi thought gleefully as he walked toward a disciple who was preparing to slaughter the swordfish.