Chapter 1521: Bloodline Pressure

Chapter 1521: Bloodline Pressure

Jiang Yingluo cast a cold glance at the young master and said, "Then why don't you go kill him?"

The young master's gaze darkened, and he remained silent.

Only then did Jiang Yingluo speak in a calm tone, "Those who cultivate must be cautious in words and deeds, and must not be arrogant."

"This Junior Brother Mo has extraordinary talent. Your grudge with him is your own affair, but you must not let personal matters interfere with public duty and disrupt the greater plan."

If Mo Hua were present, he would recognize this young master—clad in an ochre-yellow flood dragon robe with a dignified bearing—as the Eldest Young Master of the Earth Sect, the very one he had crossed paths with at the Flower Queen Banquet that day. At this moment, upon hearing these words, the young master seemed reluctant to defy this "elder cousin," and only shook his head, saying:

"You call him Junior Brother Mo, but he may not truly regard you as 'Senior Sister.' This brat doesn't know what's good for him, and his schemes run deep..."

Jiang Yingluo said, "That's not your concern."

The Eldest Young Master sneered instead, "But I can't just let it go... after all, this brat has thoroughly humiliated me."

The Eldest Young Master's gaze turned icy. "Elder Cousin, you may not know this, but after that incident, the other young masters of noble families have all been whispering behind my back, saying that this Eldest Young Master of the Earth Sect's Heavenly Crystal is worth less than this Taixu Young Master Mo's single Spirit Stone."

"For that one remark alone, this brat deserves to die ten thousand times..."

The Eldest Young Master's tone was sinister.

Jiang Yingluo frowned, displeased. "All because of these petty jealousies and sordid affairs? In the future, visit those places of ill repute less often."

The Eldest Young Master, though scolded by Jiang Yingluo, was not angered. Instead, he shook his head and said:

"Elder Cousin, I must go to the Jade Fragrance Pavilion. That girl Yu Nujiao—I must have her."

"Without her body, the fire in my blood cannot be vented, and my Cultivation Method will have problems. I have no choice..."

"Enough—" Jiang Yingluo chided lightly, a flicker of disgust passing through her eyes. "What you cultivate is none of my business, but don't bring up such matters in front of me."

The Eldest Young Master's eyelid twitched slightly, but he only smiled and dared not talk back.

Then, with a helpless expression, he continued, "So, it's truly not that I'm picking a fight with this surnamed Mo out of petty jealousy."

"If he monopolizes the Flower Queen and takes Yu Nujiao's body, leaving me no way to vent my fire, wouldn't that be equivalent to ruining my Dao Lineage?"

"How then am I to cultivate to the Late Golden Core Stage, how am I to ascend to Feathered Ascension?"

Jiang Yingluo asked calmly, "What do you intend to do?"

The Eldest Young Master chuckled lightly, then his gaze turned cold and sharp:

"In my view, first cut off his source of wealth, then sever his connections, leaving him isolated and without support."

"If he knows what's good for him, he'll leave on his own, stop touching Yu Nujiao, depart from Houtu City, and never return. After some time passes, once I've forgotten him, this matter might be settled, and I won't hold his offenses against him..."

"That would be best for everyone."

The Eldest Young Master glanced at Jiang Yingluo again, offering a half-smiling flattery:

"Of course, Elder Cousin, your methods are far more refined."

"First cut off his wealth, make him taste hardship. Then tempt him with prospects, status, and a beautiful Dao Companion, taking him in as a dog."

"Once the marriage is settled, this Mo Hua—he eats ours, drinks ours, uses our Spirit Stones, the woman he marries is one we gave him, he relies on the Earth Sect's power, and the children he sires will be entered into the Earth Sect's family registry..."

"Food, drink, clothing, wealth, fame, power, wife, and children—all of it belongs to the Earth Sect."

"He'll be bound tightly to the Earth Sect, able only to live at the Earth Sect's mercy, working like an ox or horse for the sect for the rest of his life, never able to stir up trouble again..."

"This is the art of turning a man into a dog, refining a proud prodigy from a humble family into a consumable resource for a noble house—killing and breaking the spirit without lifting a blade... Elder Cousin, your methods are truly superior."

The Eldest Young Master laughed.

Jiang Yingluo frowned but did not explain herself.

The Eldest Young Master added, "I know, Elder Cousin, you mean well. You also cherish talent, which is why you're giving him this opportunity."

"But, Elder Cousin—"

The Eldest Young Master's gaze flickered as he said in a low voice, "What if this surnamed Mo refuses to take the bait? If he truly doesn't appreciate the Earth Sect's goodwill, then what?"

"When that time comes, I'm afraid we'll have no choice but to kill him..."

Jiang Yingluo pondered for a moment, then looked at the Eldest Young Master and asked, "Are you so eager to kill him?"

The Eldest Young Master smiled. "I told you, it's not that I want to kill him—it's that he doesn't know his place and stands in my way..."

The moment the Eldest Young Master thought of Yu Nujiao—that beauty he regarded as his private treasure—being "intimate" with this Mo Hua, sharing tender moments together, a murderous intent welled up uncontrollably from the depths of his heart.

Jiang Yingluo glanced at the Eldest Young Master, and a thought suddenly stirred within her.

"No, this isn't like you."

The Eldest Young Master was taken aback.

Jiang Yingluo mused, "In the past, if you wanted someone dead, you would have killed them already. You wouldn't be prattling on about it. The very fact that you're prattling on about it means... you can't kill Mo Hua for now..."

The Eldest Young Master's expression instantly turned ugly.

Jiang Yingluo realized she had guessed correctly. Somewhat surprised, she then found it curious: "You can't kill Mo Hua? Could it be... you're no match for him?"

The Eldest Young Master's expression darkened, then he sneered coldly, "That's because True Person Rong was blocking me. It wasn't convenient for me to make a move."

"True Person Rong?" Jiang Yingluo's raised her eyebrow slightly.

The Eldest Young Master nodded. "True Person Rong's face must be respected. As for this brat himself—"

His gaze narrowed slightly, and he let out a cold laugh. "That day I crossed hands with him, I got a taste of his methods. Going back and forth, all he had were some Movement Techniques and concealment tricks—nothing more. He didn't dare take a single blow from me head-on."

"His foundation isn't solid, his Dao Arts are sloppy, and he only knows how to flee. That does fit the style of a pretty-faced good-for-nothing like him."

Jiang Yingluo looked at the Eldest Young Master, listening to his words, her dignified and beautiful eyes narrowing as she shook her head. "Still, something isn't right."

"A True-Person is a True-Person. A Golden Core is a Golden Core."

"According to the usual rules of the great clans, if a Golden Core doesn't give offense, a True-Person cannot strike against a Golden Core."

"Other True-Persons might disregard the rules, but True Person Rong would not. True Person Rong is the one who upholds rules and propriety the most."

"True Person Rong only concerns herself with matters between True-Persons."

"And you are a Golden Core. If you wanted to kill that Mo Hua, True Person Rong couldn't possibly interfere, nor would she protect Mo Hua."

"Yet even so, you still couldn't kill that Mo Hua, and you didn't make a move against him afterward. Instead, you come here to me, spouting these useless threats."

Jiang Yingluo's gaze was somewhat sharp.

The Eldest Young Master's face turned ugly, and he said coldly, "This Mo Hua only knows how to hide in that minor blessed land—"

"And just now?" Jiang Yingluo said. "He was right here on this high platform, on my Earth Sect's territory. Why didn't you kill him?"

The Eldest Young Master fell silent.

"Tell me the truth," Jiang Yingluo said, her gaze piercing. "What exactly are you worried about?"

"Or rather... what exactly is it about this Mo Hua that's worth your concern?"

Pressed so relentlessly by Jiang Yingluo, the Eldest Young Master's expression turned gloomy, his face shifting through several changes. But before this sharp-witted Eldest Senior Sister of the Earth Sect—the "eldest cousin" he had feared most since childhood—there was much he simply couldn't conceal.

The Eldest Young Master's face was cold and grim, but he still slowly spoke. "Bloodline Intuition."

Jiang Yingluo frowned slightly. "Bloodline Intuition?"

"Mm," the Eldest Young Master said. "The instinct in my blood tells me... I cannot kill him."

Jiang Yingluo thought for a moment, even more puzzled. "Why?"

In terms of cultivation, Cultivation Method, Dao Arts, Golden Core pill grade, and bloodline power—an ordinary Mo Hua could never be a match for his cousin, who had been gifted and had profound bloodline since childhood. Comparing the two, aside from Formations, Mo Hua's only advantages were probably that handsome face of his and his skill at seducing courtesan beauties.

For a moment, Jiang Yingluo could think of no reason whatsoever that Mo Hua could surpass her cousin.

The Eldest Young Master was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I've thought carefully about Mo Hua's background. The only possibility is that... there's something off about his Magical Treasure."

Jiang Yingluo's gaze shifted slightly. "Mo Hua's... Magical Treasure?"

The Eldest Young Master nodded and said slowly, "That day at the courtesan banquet, the fighting was fierce, but this Mo fellow, from start to finish, never once revealed his Magical Treasure."

"When others tried to kill him, he didn't use his Magical Treasure to protect himself. When he attacked others, he didn't activate his Magical Treasure either—just tossed out a few Fireball Techniques to fool fools."

"I sent people to investigate. Since this Mo Hua arrived in Houtu City, whether in sparring or in any public fight, he has never shown the slightest trace of a Magical Treasure."

"Either he uses Formations, or he uses Spells and Movement Techniques."

"It's as if... he isn't a Golden Core Cultivator at all, but merely an oversized Foundation Establishment."

Jiang Yingluo frowned slightly. "How is that possible?"

How could a Golden Core not have a Magical Treasure? Without a Magical Treasure, how did he break through to Golden Core? And on what basis could he engage in Spell Duels with other Golden Cores?

The Eldest Young Master nodded. "So, the warning in my blood has two possibilities."

"Either this Mo Hua's foundation is lacking and his Magical Treasure is too poor—useless even if revealed—so he keeps it hidden, too ashamed to show it."

"Or it's the other extreme: his Magical Treasure is too powerful—so powerful that even he himself doesn't dare use it lightly. Once he activates it, it's death or injury for someone, and he himself would have to pay an enormous price..."

The Eldest Young Master's tone was icy.

These were almost the two most extreme cases. Either Mo Hua was too weak—so weak as to be beneath notice. Or Mo Hua was too strong—so strong as to be world-shattering. Both extremes of utter weakness and utter strength converged on Mo Hua alone. The Eldest Young Master, recalling some vague rumors, was filled with suspicion and unease.

Jiang Yingluo's expression also turned serious. "Does Tàixū Gate... have such a legacy? Or does he have some other master?"

The Eldest Young Master shook his head. "Hard to say."

Jiang Yingluo pondered for a moment, then understood. "So, unless you force out his Magical Treasure and see through his trump card, you don't dare kill him casually?"

The Eldest Young Master was unwilling to admit that he dared not kill Mo Hua, as that would seem like a sign of weakness. He only said, "A man of worth does not sit where danger lurks. I am different—I have a bright future ahead. A mere Mo Hua, with his worthless life, is not worth the risk."

"But if one day—"

The Eldest Young Master's gaze turned icy cold. "If he truly reveals his Magical Treasure, exposes his trump card, and lets me know of it, then his life will end by my hand..."

Jiang Yingluo frowned upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, then shook her head with a sigh. "He is, after all, Zixi's junior martial brother, and he has ties to the Bai Clan. You had best be cautious. The current situation is delicate—don't drag the Bai Clan into this as well."

The Eldest Young Master sneered coldly. "Cousin, you don't truly believe that a brat surnamed Mo could have any real connection to the Bai Clan, do you?"

"Whether he and that... unmentionable Direct Line Daughter of the Bai Clan are actually senior-sister and junior-brother... that's hard to say..."

Jiang Yingluo was momentarily stunned, her brow gradually knitting together as a vague sense of irritation and unease stirred in her heart.

The Eldest Young Master paused here, then suddenly thought of something. Desire welled up within him, and he asked Jiang Yingluo:

"Cousin, you are familiar with that Direct Line Daughter of the Bai Clan. Is she..."

His nature getting the better of him, his gaze trembled involuntarily, and his voice grew slightly hoarse: "Truly as beautiful as the rumors say—stealing the very creation of heaven and earth, like an immortal descending to the mortal realm, beyond all comparison?"

"I have wandered among flowers all my life, and the peerless beauties I have seen are beyond counting, yet never—"

The Eldest Young Master rambled on, when suddenly he felt a chill envelop his entire body, the flow of blood in his veins slowing. He looked up, and his pupils constricted in shock.

The Jiang Yingluo across from him seemed to have become a different person. Her bearing was icy and savage, her pupils turned a golden-brown—those were not human eyes, filled with a contemptuous killing intent. Upon her fair skin, ancient rune-patterns resembling both phoenix and dragon emerged, and as her blood flowed, they emanated a terrifying pressure.

Below the high platform, all the Direct Line disciples of the Earth Sect sensed this violent aura and realized their Eldest Senior Sister seemed to be angered. Their expressions changed drastically, faces turning pale. And the Eldest Young Master, standing closest, felt the blood in his own veins suppressed. His heart shook with alarm, and the color gradually drained from his face as well.

He hastily held his breath and shut his mouth, not daring to utter another word, fearing he might provoke his elder cousin's wrath.

The atmosphere throughout Kunhua Courtyard became stiflingly oppressive. Beneath the pressure, everyone's blood trembled, none daring the slightest defiance, not even daring to breathe aloud. In the silence, who knew how long passed before the pressure gradually faded.

The atmosphere in the courtyard slowly returned to normal.

The rune-patterns on Jiang Yingluo's fair skin gradually receded, and her golden-brown eyes slowly returned to normal. But her face still bore an indescribable coldness, and her voice was as low as the nine netherworlds:

"Some thoughts—do not entertain them. Otherwise, I will kill even you..."

The Eldest Young Master's heart shook violently, his expression shifting several times before he gritted his teeth and whispered, "Yes, cousin."

Seeing the Eldest Young Master reply thus, Jiang Yingluo's expression softened somewhat, the strange light in her eyes completely vanishing, her bearing returning to normal. She once again became that somewhat domineering, somewhat overbearing, yet dignified and composed Eldest Senior Sister.

Beyond the high platform, all the Direct Line disciples of the Earth Sect breathed sighs of relief.

Even the Eldest Young Master stood with a wooden expression, head slightly bowed in place.

Jiang Yingluo glanced at him and spoke flatly:

"In daily matters, think more of the Sect, resolve the Sect's worries. The grand plan for a thousand years rests on this. We are all disciples of the Earth Sect—when one prospers, all prosper; when one falls, all fall."

"Go less to those places of pleasure. Indulging in carnal desires rots the mind and makes one speak foolish words."

The Eldest Young Master's face twitched. He nodded and said, "Yes, cousin."

Jiang Yingluo gave a slight nod and added, "I am somewhat weary and will go into secluded cultivation. You and the inner disciples may stay here—appreciate the flowers and drink wine, or socialize and discuss the Dao, as you please."

The Eldest Young Master clasped his hands and said in a low voice, "Yes."

Jiang Yingluo said no more. Draped in a palace gown of agarwood gold-threaded treasure-flower patterns, she rose gracefully and departed from the high platform of Kunhua Courtyard. All the Direct Line disciples of the Earth Sect rose and bowed their heads in salute, saying, "We respectfully see off the Eldest Senior Sister."

Jiang Yingluo gave a slight nod. Her dignified and resplendent figure passed through the crowd, walking step by step into the distance, vanishing deep into the moonlight.

Only after Jiang Yingluo's figure had completely disappeared into the distance did the assembled Direct Line disciples dare to raise their heads. They breathed sighs of relief and continued their banquet. Only the Eldest Young Master, in his ochre-yellow flood-dragon robe atop the high platform, stared blankly at the spot where Jiang Yingluo had vanished, lost in thought, unable to calm himself for a long time.

He knew that his cousin, holding the position of Eldest Senior Sister of the Earth Sect, could suppress disciples from all directions. Both in strength and bloodline, she was extremely powerful. There had always been a gap between his own bloodline and hers. He had known this since childhood, and he also knew the gap was not actually that large.

But... why...

The Eldest Young Master's pupils trembled slightly.

"How could cousin's bloodline have suddenly matured to... this degree..."

"This... is wrong..."

"What exactly... happened?"

(End of Chapter)