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Xiao Qing Tuyen…
Once a dreamy maiden, brimming with joy like her peers.
Born to the Xiao Clan, a Fifth-Grade family, not mighty enough to dominate the heavens but co-ruling a grand city alongside the Na Clan.
The Na and Xiao Clans shared deep bonds. Their patriarchs vowed that, should they bear a son and daughter, the two would wed.
Xiao Qing Tuyen was the Xiao patriarch's daughter.
The Na patriarch's son was Na Ran.
Raised together, bound by their parents' betrothal, Xiao Qing Tuyen and Na Ran were childhood sweethearts.
Yet fate defied their plans. At ten, Na Ran was taken as a disciple by a Blood Spirit Sect elder.
The Blood Spirit Sect, an Eighth-Grade titan, wielded fearsome power.
For reasons unknown, Xiao Qing Tuyen's cultivation lagged behind her peers.
On her fifteenth birthday, Na Ran and his master stormed the Xiao Clan, arrogantly annulling their engagement, branding her a talentless waste unworthy of him.
The Xiao Clan suffered crushing humiliation; her father spat blood in rage.
In her fury, Xiao Qing Tuyen pointed at Na Ran, sneering, "Listen well! I, Xiao Qing Tuyen, reject you! You, Na Ran, dare abandon me? You're the unworthy one!"
In that darkest hour, a mysterious soul slumbering within her awoke.
"For years, your cultivation faltered because I absorbed your Spiritual Energy to restore my consciousness. As recompense, will you take me as your master?"
This question reshaped Xiao Qing Tuyen's destiny.
Accepting the enigmatic soul as her master, their bond grew beyond teacher and disciple, rivaling mother and daughter.
Guided by a former Tribulation Stage powerhouse—also an Eighth-Grade Alchemist—Xiao Qing Tuyen honed alchemy and cultivation. Her diligence propelled her beyond her generation, forging a true genius.
That day arrived.
At eighteen, under her master's devoted tutelage, Xiao Qing Tuyen reached Mid Nascent Soul Stage and Fourth-Grade Alchemist status.
She challenged Na Ran at the Blood Spirit Sect, reclaiming her pride.
The outcome was clear Na Ran fell easily. Xiao Qing Tuyen publicly dissolved their betrothal, severing all ties.
She thought it ended there… but no.
The Blood Spirit Sect revealed its baseness, ambushing her to silence her.
A disciple of an elder losing to a Fifth-Grade clan's girl was intolerable.
Had she not escaped using her master's artifact, Xiao Qing Tuyen would have perished.
Horror followed. Returning to her clan…
She found ruin—blood's stench thick, the Xiao Clan's thousand souls, young and old, slaughtered mercilessly by the Blood Spirit Sect's wrath.
This became her life's worst nightmare. Without her master's constant solace, madness would have claimed her.
Xiao Qing Tuyen became a hunted fugitive. Unlike Lan An, she lacked a system, disguises, or masks.
She hid like a bereaved dog, evading the Blood Spirit Sect's relentless pursuit.
Countless brushes with death, narrow escapes until Sacred Lotus Academy's recruitment arrived.
Xiao Qing Tuyen knew this was her final path.
Only by joining the Academy could she cultivate safely, biding time for vengeance.
A twenty-year-old bearing blood debts, enduring tragedies most never face, forged her iron will and steely spirit.
This trial proved it though her body shattered, Tuyen Nhi crawled, slithered.
Yet… every soul has limits.
Hers arrived.
Crack…
Bones shattered, her delicate hands buckled, legs pulverized, her body collapsing onto the step.
Tribulation Stage pressure crushed her frail back like a mountain.
Endless pain and exhaustion stilled even her fingertips.
Step ninety-six…
Blood tears streamed from her beautiful eyes, despair cloaking her fragile spirit.
The world seemed to still.
Suddenly…
Xiao Qing Tuyen felt her body blaze, lifted gently.
Strong, tender arms cradled her, cautious not to worsen her pain, handling her like the world's priceless treasure.
A hoarse, weary yet warm voice whispered by her ear:
"The path ahead… seems short but storms rage. I hope… to conquer it hand-in-hand with you…!"
Xiao Qing Tuyen's heart trembled, her soul's softest corner struck. She strained to lift her head.
In her gaze, a blood-smeared face, fierce yet softened by a silver-white eye, eerie yet tender, gleaming like a moonlit night, fixed on her.
She shut her eyes swiftly, fearing her soul's capture.
She dared not meet those affectionate eyes… she feared… it had been so long since anyone, save her master, treated her with sincerity.
Fleeing the Blood Spirit Sect, she'd made friends, only for them to betray her for rewards upon learning of her bounty.
Thus, she dreaded deception… feared it deeply.
"Hrgh!"
Lan An spat blood, his face contorted, bones cracking.
Carrying her doubled his burden, yet Xiao Qing Tuyen felt weightless, her pressure vanishing.
"Carrying another on Heavenly Weight Mountain bears their pressure!" Liu Qi warned gravely, implying Lan An's superior talent shouldn't soften now.
The cultivation world demanded self-interest else heaven and earth would smite.
Yet Lan An acted for himself.
To him, aiding this girl was for his own heart—she would be his woman.
Ignoring searing pain, paltry compared to fusing Variant Flames, he pressed on.
Thud…
Carrying her, Lan An reached step ninety-seven.
Another blood spurt, his muscles shredded.
"This damned fool… still playing the romantic at such a time utterly infuriating!" Ruo Xue laughed through tears, her eyes brimming with boundless pride.
Seeing countless women's envious gazes on Tuyen Nhi, Ruo Xue felt no jealousy, only pride in her man.
She believed, in Tuyen Nhi's place, he'd do the same for her.
Her man cherished every woman by his side.
Unnoticed, Su Mei and Hua Yu Feng's eyes glazed over.
A hero sacrificing himself for a beauty in peril—how many women could resist?
"Hehe, worthy of my man! But if you fall, don't expect to see me again!" Yan Hong Lian wiped a stray tear, feigning a laugh, her heart softened, wishing she were Tuyen Nhi.
"I want to be her… sob!" Yan Die Qing, less composed than her sister, wept like rain, her feet stamping petulantly, glaring enviously at the girl in his arms.
Nangong Wan Rong's heart raced, watching the blood-soaked, stalwart man so unlike her clan's youths.
In shadows, a peerless silhouette flickered, murmuring to herself:
"Hmph, this scoundrel's skill at wooing girls has grown in my absence!"
Her sultry voice, bone-melting, went unheard.
Unseen, a noble youth with radiant eyes stood at the plaza's edge, his face dark, muttering murderously:
"My brother! I know not if it's truly you, nor how you survived, but such folly for a woman disqualifies you as my rival, Luo Yu!"
This youth was Luo Yu. To him, Lan An's sacrifice for a girl over a Tribulation Stage legacy marked him as a fool unworthy of rivalry.
Behind Luo Yu, three Luo Clan geniuses glared at Lan An, killing intent surging.
Step ninety-eight…
"What are you doing? What's your scheme?" Tuyen Nhi's wide eyes questioned the man holding her, her eased burden granting her voice.
To her, his aid was suspect.
"Huff… huff… I… just feel… you… deserve it… more!" Lan An gasped, grinning haltingly.
Her heart quivered, suppressing strange feelings, her lips snapping, "I'm not a child—state your motive!"
"If… you… think so… huff… then after this… visit… me!" Lan An panted, smiling.
"As expected!" Tuyen Nhi glared. He had an agenda.
"Fine… the… huff… Tribulation… legacy… seize it! Haha!" Lan An laughed hoarsely.
Before the crowd's stunned, regretful eyes, he leaned down, kissing her forehead lightly.
Before she could react, he placed her on the final step ninety-nine.
A phenomenon erupted.
Heavenly Weight Mountain quaked, radiant light engulfing step ninety-nine, shrouding Tuyen Nhi.
Before vanishing, she glared at the man's resolute back…
He descended, step by step, toward his four beauties.
To him, they remained paramount.
His wives gazed at him, eyes brimming with love and pride.
Their man was magnificent.
They admired Tuyen Nhi's superhuman effort, knowing their man, guided by a formidable "master," needed no Tribulation legacy.
Ascending was arduous, but descending swift, pressure easing.
In moments, Lan An reached Mu Zi Yin and her sisters.
"My four treasures! I've let you down!" Lan An opened his arms, heedless of his bloodied state, embracing each.
Ding, Youth Overlord Quest failed, deducting ten million Prestige Points… Jin Ni's voice echoed.
Lan An smirked. Ten million Prestige Points weren't worth regret, and he trusted the upgraded Lucky Shop would compensate for lost rewards.
The quest aimed to cement his youthful legend as an overlord.
He believed today's act outshone mere victory, though Jin Ni's rigid metrics deemed him a failure—so be it.
As Lan An foresaw, eons later, tales of a mighty, amorous overlord sacrificing for a beauty's dream inspired countless poets and writers, birthing timeless works.
For ages, this overlord remained women's dream lover, his portrait "Overlord Carrying Beauty Atop Weight Mountain" adorned their bedsides, each hoping to be the beauty in his arms.
He became an idol for fiery youths, a model for growth.
But that's a tale for another time…
"I'm proud of you!" Mu Zi Yin buried herself in his chest, heedless of blood.
"We are too!" Bai Su Mei and Li Zhu Luan smiled through tears.
Liu Shi Qin said nothing, her joyful eyes unconcealed.
This man, so devoted to another woman, how much more to them?
"Well done, lad!" The Chief Elder, ever more pleased, couldn't resist praising.
The enforcers nodded approvingly, especially the First and Third, two elderly women, lauding Lan An endlessly.
"My thanks, seniors!" Lan An cupped his hands, grinning.
The Fifth Elder's heart sank, wondering if he should urge his disciple to resolve their feud.
Lan An's favor with these old monsters made killing him daunting.
"The legacy transfer will take time. Most candidates are injured. The third trial begins in ten days!" The Chief Elder declared, vanishing.
Liu Qi resumed his duties, proclaiming, "Each generation's trials evolve, especially the final one. This change is unique!"
Before questions arose, he continued:
"The third trial tests Combat Strength. All candidates' cultivation remains balanced at Early Nascent Soul Stage. It serves two purposes: eliminating weak fighters and selecting fifty top prodigies for the Sacred Lotus Ranking!"
"This trial includes all who passed the second trial, plus quota-admitted geniuses wishing to etch their names on the Sacred Lotus Ranking…"
"Quota-admitted geniuses aren't forced to join, but those seeking a Sacred Lotus Ranking spot may register!"
In the plaza, quota-admitted prodigies' eyes blazed. Regretting missing earlier trials, they seized this chance.
"Enforcer, what if our performance lags behind candidates?" Le Kang shouted via the Thousand-Mile Mirror.
The Thousand-Mile Mirror, a Spirit-Grade treasure, broadcast his voice to all.
"You'll be eliminated! Quota-admitted but weak? Go home and cultivate another decade!" Liu Qi replied coolly.
His words paled quota-admitted prodigies' faces.
Some, like Lin Tai, reliant on backing, opted out, knowing they couldn't claim a Sacred Lotus Ranking spot.
Better to live humbly in the Academy than risk expulsion.
In contrast, the Yan Clan's princesses and Hundred Flowers Sect's Three Saintesses burned with zeal, eager to join.
"The chance is here! Prepare we'll uproot them!" Luo Yu sneered, instructing his three Luo Clan prodigies.
"By your command, Young Master!" They exchanged glances, murder in their eyes.
This time, they'd erase their clan's shame.
The crowd dispersed, each preparing.
Ten days a calm before the storm.
Lan An's eyes gleamed, smiling confidently at his wives, "The Academy's fair, not favoring quota prodigies!"
"Of course, but don't be complacent. The Sacred Lotus Ranking's fifty spots will draw monsters!" Mu Zi Yin warned gravely.
Lan An nodded, his battle intent soaring, whispering, "I'm eager to 'exchange pointers' with them especially Ninth-Grade power prodigies…"