NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4:
Chapter 4: You Are Too Happy!:
A clear-faced young man stepped forward from the crowd, his expression stern as he locked eyes with Jiang Xuan. There was no trace of fear in his gaze. He deliberately emphasized the word “suitable” as if to make a point.
This young man was Wang Yuan, the top talent in the trial, and his success gave him a sense of pride. In his mind, as long as he had enough time, becoming a Saint Child was within his reach.
Jiang Xuan’s expression turned odd. He couldn’t fathom why someone at the mere Wheel Sea Realm dared to challenge him so openly.
“Is he serious?” Jiang Xuan thought. “Fifteen years old and at the Wheel Sea Realm? He calls himself a genius? I’ve mastered Dragon Transformation at this age, yet I wouldn’t dare boast. Is this… the fabled ‘halo of wisdom’ of a Destiny protagonist?”
With a slight shake of his sleeves, Jiang Xuan’s robes fluttered.
In the next moment, an overwhelming sword light erupted from him, its brilliance enveloping Wang Yuan entirely. The sword energy surged skyward, piercing the clouds like a blade opening the heavens. Wang Yuan’s pupils shrank in terror as the scent of death filled his heart, his body frozen in place.
“This is wrong!” he thought, panic gripping him. “Isn’t an elder supposed to step in right about now? Maybe negotiate a duel in a few years? How is he just going to kill me outright? This isn’t how it’s supposed to work!”
But no help came.
…
Wang Yuan’s thoughts were his last.
The crowd stared in shock at what remained—a pile of ash.
“You dare defy Lord Saint Child? How bold…”
“Doesn’t he know that the Ninth Saint Child is ranked among the top three in combat strength? His talent is number one, without question!”
“Yes, such bravery will be hard to see again…”
The disciples looked on with a mix of sympathy for Wang Yuan’s fate and newfound fear of Jiang Xuan. Duan Xuan, unperturbed, simply ordered for the ashes to be collected and disposed of outside the Sacred Land.
…
Xiao Qing’er watched the scene unfold with trembling eyes. She had once considered herself a genius, but this casual display of power from Jiang Xuan crushed her confidence. Just the aura from that sword made her feel despair. If he wanted to kill her, it would require nothing more than a thought.
“We’re the same age,” she thought, “but why is the gap between us so vast?”
A voice echoed in her mind, carrying the same tone as her own. “Don’t be so shocked. Once you master the Flame God Art, you can do the same, perhaps even surpass him.”
Xiao Qing’er’s fists clenched in excitement, her beautiful eyes shimmering. “I can do that too?” she whispered to herself.
…
“Come with me,” Jiang Xuan said suddenly. With a tap of his toes, he vanished.
“Congratulations, Lord Saint Child!” the disciples chorused as Xiao Qing’er hurried after him.
…
The Ninth Peak.
In an antique villa, Xiao Qing’er stood nervously beside a stone pier, her hands trembling. Even when she had ascended to the throne as empress at the age of thirteen, she had not been this tense. Her gaze remained fixed on the white-clad figure before her.
“I’m curious,” Jiang Xuan began, taking a sip of tea. “You have a Divine Body with fire attributes. Why didn’t you realize something was wrong after practicing water-attribute techniques for so many years?”
His words left Xiao Qing’er confused.
“When I awakened, you were already fleeing for your life. I didn’t have time to tell you,” a female voice echoed in her mind, “but how does he know about your Divine Body?”
“Divine Body?” Xiao Qing’er muttered. “I have one?”
“Of course you do!” the voice replied, pride evident. “You are my reincarnation, after all. Your natural talent makes having a special physique perfectly normal.”
Xiao Qing’er smiled bitterly, finally understanding why Jiang Xuan had looked at her with such disdain. The path of a prodigy had been entirely ruined.
“Senior Brother, if I switch to a fire-attribute technique, will my cultivation improve dramatically?” she asked cautiously.
“Relatively speaking,” Jiang Xuan replied with an air of indifference.
Hearing this, Xiao Qing’er’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Then I’m actually a genius?”
The thought filled her with renewed hope. Revenge, the three-year agreement—these no longer felt out of reach.
But Jiang Xuan’s calm gaze pierced through her excitement. “You’re too happy,” he said flatly.
“Huh?” Xiao Qing’er froze, unsure of what he meant.
“Do you know the name of this area?” Jiang Xuan asked.
She hesitated for a moment before replying, “Senior Brother, this is the Eastern Wilderness, right?”
“Partially correct,” Jiang Xuan said, setting his teacup down. “The Eastern Wilderness is just a small part of this region. The real name is the Extreme Profundities Divine Domain. Its size surpasses anything you can imagine. Countless sects and dynasties exist here, like ants beneath the heavens. Among them, there are so many extraordinary talents that you can’t even begin to count.”
He paused briefly before continuing. “Above all this, six Transcendent Level forces govern the Extreme Profundities Divine Domain. They are known as the Three Clans, One Palace, and Two Sacred Lands. Any Saint Child from these Sacred Lands would be far beyond your reach at this moment. Many of them possess Divine Bodies and have ventured beyond the domain to the Great Wall of Stars to battle extraterrestrial foes. Do you still think you’re a genius?”
Jiang Xuan’s words hit Xiao Qing’er like a hammer. A sense of loneliness flickered across her face, but a spark of determination lit up in her eyes as she looked at him.
“I am part of the Jiang Clan, one of the three clans,” Jiang Xuan said nonchalantly, taking another sip of tea. “And I am the young master.”
Xiao Qing’er was momentarily stunned. The weight of his identity as the Great Master and his noble lineage overwhelmed her.
“Don’t lose hope,” the voice in her mind encouraged her. “He’s right, but you’re different. With my help, surpassing those Sacred Land Saint Children is only a matter of time.”
“What about surpassing Senior Brother Jiang?” Xiao Qing’er asked aloud, almost without thinking.