The Destined Rival
1679 Words
Chu Ran lightly lowered his eyes, his crow-feather-like lashes casting shadows on his fair skin.
His hand, hidden within the wide sleeve at his side, suddenly clenched tightly.
Influenced by the man's surging fighting spirit, Chu Ran had unknowingly become excited himself.
But...
Not now.
This was not the time yet.
Chu Ran told himself, *hold it in!*
He took a deep breath, and the fist hidden in his sleeve relaxed and unfolded.
The fighting spirit he had gathered dissipated into the air.
A gust of wind blew.
It stirred his black hair, made his sleeves dance, and set his robes fluttering.
His features were elegant yet cold and sharp, like distant mountains veiled in mist at dawn. His face was exquisitely handsome, as if nature itself had bestowed its finest essence upon him.
Coupled with his tall, jade-like yet slender and thin frame,
No matter how you looked, he was an elegant, seemingly harmless youth, like a slender bamboo in a forest.
In the distance, Yunhua, clad in his pale blue Daoist robe, frowned on his stern face, his deep gaze fixed on Chu Ran.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a bit displeased.
Someone who could cause his Changming Sword to hum incessantly and ignite his own fighting spirit... how could they be so... so fragile and frail-looking!
As if they might faint at any moment. Could that slender body even withstand a single strike from him?
The moment this thought arose, Yunhua swiftly extinguished it.
He remembered the scene just moments ago where this youth had sent the burly body cultivator vomiting blood with a single punch.
It was evident—
Within that seemingly beautiful, weak, and thin frame lay a power that could not be underestimated!
This youth was hiding his true strength!
Yunhua immediately made this judgment. His profound gaze locked onto Chu Ran as he thought, *He's a clever one.*
Strangely, a feeling akin to smugness rose in his heart?
Realizing this, Yunhua's expression darkened for an instant.
A moment later, with a deep look on his face, he thought, *This is the opponent (of my future) I've set my sights on. The smarter the opponent, the more it proves my sharp judgment, right?*
Therefore, this humble Daoist's feelings of pleasure and pride are perfectly normal.
Perfectly reasonable.
Utterly convincing!
Having figured it out (found an excuse), Elder Yunhua relaxed his brow, and the stern expression on his face softened somewhat.
But...
Elder Yunhua, no matter how you explain (or quibble), the other party is just a little cultivator at the third level of Qi Refinement!
Is there really no problem with considering a little third-level Qi Refinement cultivator as the destined rival of your entire life?
This was exactly what Chu Ran wanted to say...
*Are you out of your f*****g mind?*
*I'm currently at the third level of Qi Refinement, right?*
*You, a venerable late-stage Golden Core True Person, are releasing killing intent and fighting spirit towards a minor cultivator like me who hasn't even reached Foundation Establishment... Do you have a screw loose?*
**************************************Missing part added**************************************
For a moment, Chu Ran almost doubted reality.
The fighting spirit Yunhua True Person directed at him made him momentarily feel as if he weren't a minor cultivator with only Qi Refinement cultivation, but rather his former self, the Golden Core True Person.
He checked his internal cultivation level again and confirmed he truly was only at the third level of Qi Refinement.
So, it really was that guy who had a problem!
Chu Ran lifted his gaze, his dark, elegant eyes glancing at the stern-faced Elder Yunhua in his pale blue robe ahead.
He thought to himself, *Regardless, my current cultivation is only at the third level of Qi Refinement—a mere shrimp. Although I don't know what gave me away and caught that Golden Core True Person's attention, surely, no matter what, a True Person wouldn't be so shameless as to attack a young, ignorant, low-level Qi Refinement cultivator like me, right?*
*I'm just a child!*
Obviously—
Chu Ran overestimated human nature. If someone could already feel fighting spirit towards him, what was to stop them from actually taking a shot?
Yunhua was a very pragmatic man who believed in action.
He stood in the distance, a pair of dark, profound eyes fixed on Chu Ran ahead.
His handsome, stern face took on a resolute expression in an instant.
He had made a decision. Since his heart was stirred upon seeing a worthy quarry, why not follow his instincts?
Having thought this, Yunhua's eyes darkened as he took a step forward.
Right at that moment—
"Elder Yun." A faint voice sounded.
It was this voice that interrupted Yunhua's next action. He turned to look.
A Shangqing Sect disciple standing beside him met his dark gaze, shuddered all over, and then reminded in a trembling whisper, "The time has come."
Upon hearing this, Yunhua's expression instantly darkened.
The young Daoist behind him saw this and shivered violently, a flash of fear in his eyes.
*Oh heavens!*
*Elder Yun is terrifying! Master, save me!*
*I never want to work with Elder Yun again! QAQ*
Leaving aside how the young Daoist, scared stiff by the displeased Yunhua, nearly fell to his knees wailing "Senior Brother, spare me!"
With a darkened face, Yunhua looked up. The scorching sun had climbed directly overhead.
It was high noon.
The Ascending Immortal Stairs were opening; the disciple selection was about to begin.
The sect's disciple selection was the top priority, the most important matter. It absolutely could not be delayed due to his personal desires. It seemed the match with that youth would have to be postponed. Yunhua thought with regret, his handsome face growing even more displeased.
His entire aura became sharp and unhappy, scaring the poor young Daoist beside him so badly he almost didn't cry out for his master.
Yunhua lifted his head and said to the young Daoist beside him in a heavy voice, "The time has come. Go make the preparations."
It was like receiving a pardon. Upon hearing this, the young Daoist was so moved tears almost fell. He hurriedly said, "Alright, I'll go right away!"
With that, he turned and ran off.
He ran fast, like an agile rabbit.
A few breaths later.
"Dong——!"
A deep, resonant bell tolled.
Its sound reverberated in all directions.
At the foot of the Shangqing Sect mountain, the crowd gathered before the Ascending Immortal Stairs all raised their eyes, looking forward.
Chu Ran did the same. Dressed in dark robes with wide sleeves, his features elegant and cool, he gazed ahead.
Elder Yunhua, clad in his pale blue Daoist robe, his face handsome and expression stern, stood tall. His steady gaze swept over the crowd gathered from all directions, all hoping to become disciples of the Shangqing Sect. He said coldly, "The Shangqing Sect accepts disciples. Applicants must not be older than fifteen."
Hearing this, Chu Ran's gaze shifted. He glanced at the people around him. This crowd, every one of them, was tall and well-built, with the faces of mature young men.
Judging by face alone, they were clearly youths around twenty years old.
Not at all looking like... teenagers under fifteen.
*Good heavens! The cultivation world is terrifying.*
Chu Ran's mouth twitched involuntarily. He thought, *So this age restriction for Shangqing Sect disciples hasn't changed even ten thousand years ago.*
Simultaneously, he felt deeply wounded. Among everyone here, he was the only one... less than 1.7 meters tall.
He was the only one who looked like a normal fifteen-year-old.
*My heart aches so!*
Chu Ran thought expressionlessly, *This cruel, heartless world... it really would be better off destroyed!*
"Those without spiritual roots will not be accepted!"
"Those with existing masters will not be accepted!"
These were the Shangqing Sect's Three Non-Acceptance Principles, the same as ten thousand years later.
When Chu Ran heard the last one, he lifted his eyes and glanced subtly at Wu Zhen, who stood not far to his side.
He saw a calm, composed expression on that pale, thin face, without a trace of abnormality.
Chu Ran withdrew his gaze, thinking, *As expected of someone who managed to defect and escape the Wu Tribe entirely. His psychological fortitude is top-notch.*
Then, thinking of Wu Zhen's pale, handsome, adult male face... *So he's only fifteen too...*
For a moment, Chu Ran felt gloomy again. *Damn it!*
*I really want to get rid of all these guys. What's the point of growing so tall and mature-looking for no reason!*
After his words fell, Yunhua's stern gaze swept over the crowd once more.
The atmosphere around them suddenly became oppressive and tense.
A long time passed—
No one withdrew.
"Dong——!"
Another bell tolled.
Yunhua's voice rang out again, "Ten Thousand *Zhang* of Immortal Stairs rise from level ground; Vast Immortal Fate is born beneath your feet."
"Before you lies the Ascending Immortal Stairs of my Shangqing Sect. Created by Patriarch Shangqing Heavenly Venerable from Kunlun Immortal Stone since the sect's founding."
Having said this, his gaze once again swept across the faces of the young people before him.
He continued, "Before sunset, you must climb these Ascending Immortal Stairs and reach the Tai Chi Plaza."
"Those who fail have no immortal fate with the Shangqing Sect."
For a moment, the entire area fell silent.
Chu Ran raised his head, his gaze resting on the ten-thousand-*zhang* immortal stairs ahead. His elegant face held an emotion others couldn't comprehend.
*People of today never see the moon of ancient times, Yet this same moon once shone on people of the past.*
The stars shift, time and space transform.
All familiar people and events have vanished into that long, remote river of time.
Only these Ascending Immortal Stairs span the ages, linking past and present.
Ten thousand years ago, ten thousand years later.
It is still these same stairs.
Perhaps—
This is destiny!
Chu Ran lowered his eyes. *Destined... to climb these immortal stairs once again.*
- Writer
