Chapter 297 - 277: Pitiable Mortals

Chapter 297: Chapter 277: Pitiable Mortals

He had even made it to the final four in the island-wide Qi Cultivation Cultivator tournament held by the Greed Wolf Arena.

This tournament wasn’t some ordinary clan-internal sparring session; it was a showdown of all the top Qi Cultivation Cultivators on the island.

Whether it was the Sun Clan, the other major Cultivation Clans, or even the Seven Stars Association that controlled everything from behind the scenes, they would all send their best Qi Cultivation Stage disciples to compete.

Most of the participants were at the Qi Cultivation Great Perfection Cultivation level, and like Sun Long, had been stuck at this realm for who knows how many years.

Sun Long was actually still considered one of the younger ones.

For him to still secure a spot in the final four under these circumstances was truly unimaginable.

Moreover, half the reason he stopped at the final four was because he ran into the eventual champion prematurely.

That champion...

His grandfather was the Island Master, that Golden Core Zhenren from the Seven Stars Association.

Not only were his Cultivation Technique and Magic complementary, but he had also received specialized guidance.

He was also given a huge pile of Top Grade Spiritual Artifacts and Top Grade Talismans, and the life-saving treasures he possessed were simply countless.

Sun Long stood no chance against him and could only accept defeat.

In truth, even if Sun Long could have won, he probably wouldn’t have dared to.

’That’s the Island Master’s grandson, after all.’

After hearing about Sun Long’s achievements, Jiang Xu could understand why the other cultivators reacted the way they did upon learning Sun Long was participating.

It was as good as him having already won the Qi Cultivation Late Stage matches in advance.

It didn’t matter who the other two participants were.

Jiang Xu now understood the trick that middle-aged man had pulled.

’So he wants to get rid of me through a gladiatorial match.’

Jiang Xu just didn’t know how the man had managed to get the Sun Family to add his name to the combat roster.

Besides, it was possible to surrender in these matches.

If Jiang Xu surrendered the moment he got on stage, wouldn’t all this have been for nothing?

’Perhaps... the middle-aged man has a way to prevent me from surrendering?’

...

Afterward, Jiang Xu walked around a bit more.

He wanted to see if there was any information on the other contestants.

Unfortunately, he didn’t find anything significant, just some scattered bits of information.

「The next morning.」

As the sun began to rise, Jiang Xu was already waiting quietly at the location indicated by the Sound Transmission Talisman.

Jiang Xu was among the last to be informed about the gladiatorial matches.

To be notified at the very last moment despite being a participant showed just how low his status was.

The day after he was notified, the clan began to assemble all the contestants to head to the Gladiatorial Arena.

The one leading the group was the Third Elder, whose cultivation had already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

The Third Elder had silver hair as bright as the moon. Though she appeared to be in her forties, the years had not etched weariness onto her face, but rather added a mature and graceful beauty.

Traces of her youthful elegance were still faintly visible. Time seemed to have been especially kind to her, allowing her to retain her charm amidst her dignified and steady demeanor.

But the person beside the Third Elder gave Jiang Xu a start—it was actually Sun Zixuan, the very person he had been looking for these past few days!

With a light flick of her wrist, a soft, bright light bloomed from the Third Elder’s hand and transformed into an auspicious, colorful cloud.

A hazy mist swirled above the cloud, which was embedded with specks of starlight, as if it were connected to the firmament itself.

As the Third Elder channeled her Magical Power, the cloud slowly rose into the air, steadily carrying the group toward the Gladiatorial Arena.

Atop the auspicious cloud, Jiang Xu sized up the other cultivators heading to the competition.

There were two Qi Cultivation Late Stage Cultivators, three at Great Perfection, three at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, and one at Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

And then there was Jiang Xu.

Including the leader and the participants, there wasn’t a single extra person.

With that, Jiang Xu’s gaze shifted to Sun Zixuan.

She wore a pale blue dress today, its hem dancing lightly in the wind like flowing water, accentuating her graceful figure and gentle temperament.

At that moment, Sun Zixuan was chatting happily with the Third Elder beside her, her smile bright and her words revealing a playful and spirited nature.

However, in the lulls of their conversation, her gaze would drift unintentionally toward the distance, a flicker of some complex, hard-to-read emotion passing through her bright eyes.

’Sun Zixuan is the Third Elder’s granddaughter. Is she actually competing in this tournament too?’

Jiang Xu mused, the corners of his mouth lifting into an unconscious smile.

’Perhaps I can carry out my plan during this competition.’

Perhaps because Jiang Xu had been staring for too long, Sun Zixuan suddenly glanced back over her shoulder.

Jiang Xu quickly lowered his head and feigned a meditative calm, assuming the very picture of an honest and simple man.

Sun Zixuan swept a suspicious gaze over the people behind her before turning back around.

Seeing her granddaughter’s reaction, the Third Elder glanced back herself before giving Sun Zixuan a teasing smile.

"What is it? Did someone catch your eye?"

Sun Zixuan shook the Third Elder’s arm, whining playfully.

"Grandmother, didn’t we agree not to talk about this sort of thing before I reach Foundation Establishment?"

The Third Elder said dotingly,

"Alright, alright. We won’t talk about it."

Then, her tone shifted.

"But really, you shouldn’t be so shy. For our Sun Clan, or rather, for all Cultivation Clans, carrying on the family line and ensuring the continuation of our legacy is a matter of utmost importance. It’s a responsibility you can’t shirk."

Sun Zixuan let out a barely audible sigh. Knowing the topic had been brought up, she could only brace herself and keep listening.

"If it weren’t for the fact that you can’t lose your virginity before breaking through to Foundation Establishment, especially with the Ice Heart Jade Maiden Spell you’re cultivating, I would have started picking out husbands for you long ago."

"The other female cultivators with little hope of reaching Foundation Establishment naturally marry and have children as soon as they come of age."

"By the time they’re your age, they’re already mothers to several children."

"Once you reach Foundation Establishment, Grandmother will help you carefully select a few candidates for a husband."

"I’ve seen a few suitable ones from the Clan Leader’s branch. When that time comes, our two branches will form a powerful union, and we’ll surely be able to..."

Sun Zixuan let the rest of the words go in one ear and out the other.

Though she nodded along on the surface, her mind was already elsewhere.

She was thinking, for instance, about that incredibly brazen outsider she had met last time, who had dared to sneak into the Immortal City.

Ever since returning from the private room, Sun Zixuan had been lost in that conversation.

She didn’t want to be a baby-making machine. More than once, she had fantasized about escaping this place.

Sun Zixuan wanted to see the outside world, the world beyond the Immortal City and Greed Wolf Island.

But for Sun Zixuan, this was an impossible task.

As the possessor of an Ice Spirit Root and the Third Elder’s granddaughter, not only did she have high status within the clan, but she was also under extremely strict protection.

Within Sun’s Immortal City, she could go wherever she pleased.

But if she dared to take a single step out of the Immortal City without an Elder accompanying her,

at least one of them, either the Clan Leader or the Grand Elder, would appear within three breaths’ time.

Before she reached Foundation Establishment, her protection was just that intense.

And as for Foundation Establishment, Sun Zixuan was actually eighty to ninety percent confident she could succeed.

But once she did succeed, she would have no reason to refuse her grandmother’s arranged marriage.

This left her trapped in a dilemma.

Jiang Xu’s expression turned strange as he overheard their conversation.

’The Cultivation Clans on this Greed Wolf Island are too abnormal.’

’They’re obsessed with having children.’

’Even if both parents have a Spirit Root, their children are still highly likely to be mortals.’

’If all the Cultivation Clans on Greed Wolf Island reproduced like this, how many mortals would be born each year?’

’It wouldn’t take many years for Greed Wolf Island to be completely overrun.’

Thinking of this, Jiang Xu frowned unconsciously.

’That’s not right.’

’There don’t seem to be that many mortals on Greed Wolf Island... Wait!’

A sudden realization struck Jiang Xu.

He had learned before that there were countless islands, large and small, surrounding Greed Wolf Island.

Some of these islands were ruled by mortals, others by cultivators.

But without exception, all of them had large populations of mortals being exploited by those in power.

These mortals did the dirtiest, most tiring, and most dangerous jobs, and their mortality rate was naturally quite high.

But Jiang Xu had never considered why the supply of mortals on those islands was always sufficient for the rulers’ use, and why they weren’t worried about the mortal population dwindling from their brutal treatment.

It now seemed likely that the mortals from Greed Wolf Island were being sent to the surrounding islands through some special means, to be used by the rulers there.