Chapter 132
Ning Chen watched with amusement, sensing their hostility but remaining unperturbed.
This was routine by now.
Mei Shi’s gentle face turned cold—not because her authority was challenged, but because they had insulted her master.
Hmph. Acting righteous now? You’ve all been devouring Qinglian Sun Renewal Pills in secret!
But before she could reprimand them, others spoke up in Ning Chen’s defense.
“Hah! The Sect Master’s generosity is wasted on you ingrates!”
“Without this competition, you’d never have gotten this chance!”
“Frogs in a well—you know nothing of Senior Brother’s greatness!”
“The core ingredient of Qinglian Sun Renewal Pills comes from him! How dare you bite the hand that feeds you?!”
“Don’t want to dual cultivate? Fine! Hand over your time—we’ll put it to good use!”
**”Exactly!”
The six female cultivators unleashed a torrent of sharp words, ruthlessly berating the newcomers—completely forgetting how uneasy and terrified they themselves had been when they first learned the truth.
Their relentless rebuttals left the other women stunned.
Why are these senior sisters defending that man so fiercely?
Could it be… their rapid progress after the trial was due to dual cultivation with him?
Some of the newcomers caught a key detail in the argument.
The core ingredient of the Qinglian Sun Renewal Pills?
What ingredient?
Mei Shi cautiously glanced at Ning Chen’s expression, relieved to see him completely unbothered.
After receiving a subtle nod from him, she turned back to the twenty-eight hesitant women, her voice icy.
“Those unwilling may hand over their tokens and leave. You may exchange them for other sect rewards—but you will be permanently barred from future trials in the sacred grounds. The choice is yours.”
Her words precisely conveyed Ning Chen’s stance.
Force them?
Unnecessary.
It was entirely voluntary.
For those who mistook kindness for weakness, Ning Chen simply ignored them.
Not in a hurry now?
Heh.
Just wait until their cultivation progress starts lagging behind.
Yet, once Mei Shi laid out the terms, the newcomers fell silent.
Human nature is rebellious—the more something is forced, the more suspicious it seems.
But when given a free choice—with the caveat that refusal meant never getting another chance—they hesitated.
Despite their resistance… what if they were missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
Leaving now would permanently close this door.
Maybe… we should at least see what happens…
Seeing their indecision, Mei Shi suppressed a cold smirk. Before she could add more, Ning Chen spoke lightly.
“Begin the trial.”
His time was precious.
At his command, the six women who had “met” him before lit up with excitement, swaying forward with seductive grace.
This was the difference between the well-fed and the starved.
Even Duanmu Yao and Chu Ning, standing back, could feel their desperation.
Four words came to mind:
“Like wolves and tigers!”
Faced with their aggressive approach, Ning Chen merely smirked, utterly unfazed.
He spread his arms wide.
These were all his feathers.
Why feathers and not wings?
Because to soar, wings needed countless feathers—each one contributing to his rise.
“Eldest Senior Brother~!”
The first to throw herself into Ning Chen’s arms was a semi-familiar face—Lin Chun, the runner-up of the first post-reform sect competition.
Thanks to her early advantage, she had maintained top-tier cultivation. Over three years, aside from cooldown periods, she had maxed out her attendance.
Now, she was at Golden Core Perfection.
Her name meant “Pure,” and her face matched—but her motives were anything but.
Her hands immediately went for the Soul-Devouring Spear, gripping it tightly.
Her large, watery eyes reddened as she pouted.
“Eldest Senior Brother~, you’re so cruel! A whole year… you must’ve forgotten all about me!”
Ning Chen didn’t bother with empty comfort.
“With so many women to handle daily, I did forget how you tasted.”
He squeezed a plump peach in his palm.
“But don’t worry—today’s your chance to indulge.”
“Though you’ve been ‘relieving’ yourself while staring at the Demon Sealing Tower at night. Such loud moans… weren’t you afraid of being heard?”
“Ah!” Lin Chun’s face burned crimson.
She buried her face in his chest, rabbit-like, too embarrassed to speak.
“D-Don’t say anymore!”
Yet inwardly, she was thrilled.
He remembers me! He cares!
In reality, Ning Chen had only recalled her because he’d once randomly checked the surveillance array three years ago and found her solo performance… entertaining.
The other five women watched their interaction, green with envy.
This little vixen!
They thought in unison.
While the two personal disciples could visit the tower anytime, Lin Chun had no right to be remembered like this!
The five rushed forward, swarming Ning Chen—grabbing his arms, legs, even wrapping around his neck.
With Lin Chun at the center, he was completely surrounded.
“Eldest Senior Brother! Do you remember me?”
“I missed you so much~!”
“I’m He Xiaoxiao, from the same batch as Lin Chun! Look, I’m not ‘small’ at all!”
“Senior Brother, my heart—and my ‘core’—have been yearning for you! My cultivation stalled… I need your ‘injection’!”
Their coquettish pleas, laced with bold implications, overlapped chaotically.
Duanmu Yao and Chu Ning exchanged glances.
…Is there even room for us here?
As for the remaining twenty-eight spectators?
They were utterly dumbstruck.
*What the hell, sisters?!