The Invincible Supreme Medical God-Chapter 1118 - 592: Competition (Part 2)

Yan Xiaobao was convinced that something major had happened. Watching the quiet scene outside, he finally dragged Hou Xiaomei into the courtyard.

To outsiders, Hou Xiaomei was fiery as a chili, but as soon as Yan Xiaobao touched her, her face turned bright red, and she felt dizzy. As Yan Xiaobao dragged her inside, her petite frame almost collapsed.

When she spoke, her voice was as soft as the drone of a mosquito. "Big... brother Xiao Chun, with so many people around, what do you plan to do to me?"

"Huh?" Yan Xiaobao said, stunned. Seeing Hou Xiaomei's strange expression, he could tell something was wrong, and quickly slapped her cheeks. When she didn't seem to recover, he slapped her again. Hou Xiaomei immediately regained her senses.

"What's wrong with you!?" she stomped her foot. However, realizing she was the one in the wrong, she tossed a piece of jade at him, then turned and ran away.

As he watched Hou Xiaomei run into the distance, Yan Xiaobao stood there, wondering what had happened. Finally, he looked down at the jade and scanned it with his spiritual power. As he did so, his eyes widened. After scanning it again, he stood in the courtyard, breathing heavily.

"Dignity Clan..."

Hou Yunfei had sent Bai Yuchun to Yan Xiaobao, with Hou Xiaomei as the envoy. The words contained therein were almost impossible to say out loud. They explained why all the cultivation families were so interested in Yan Xiaobao's status as a Reputation Disciple, and the outcome of what had happened. They also explained that the Hou Family strongly hoped Yan Xiaobao's descendants would also carry the Hou's blood in their veins.

Then Yan Xiaobao recalled Hou Xiaomei's earlier performance, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. He thought, eyes glistening, not about Hou Xiaomei, but about what had just been said. Something major indeed had occurred!

"How could I have imagined...? I thought my merit rewards were practically useless. I thought being a junior brother of the Sect Leader might make me a big hero in the sect, but I never thought that becoming a Reputation Disciple would make me so important outside!" He licked his lips, and soon, his heart began to beat faster.

"I can choose any Daoist partner I want! All their family resources are at my disposal... At last, I have some real hope of living forever!" Playfully smiling, his eyes began to shine. Previously, he was worried about how to continue producing second-level spiritual medicine. But now, people were essentially vying for the opportunity to give him gifts.

"It's a pity I can't accept everyone..." he murmured. But then, inspiration struck him.

"Wait a minute! Why can't I accept all of them?!" Clearing his throat, he returned to his little room to rest for the night, contemplating his next steps. The next morning at dawn, he leaped out of bed, trembling with excitement. Upon opening the courtyard gate, he discovered many cultivators waiting for him.

"Daoist Bai Clan..."

"Greetings, Bai Daoist. At the request of our Clan Leader, your humble servant has come to offer formal greetings..."

Everyone began speaking at once, the air filled with a noisy buzz. Yan Xiaobao raised his chin, flicking his sleeves.

"Alright, enough," he said, grinning so widely that his eyes became slits. "Everyone step closer. Whatever your requests may be, we can strive with full effort." With this, he casually nodded toward a clan's direction. The responsible member of that family rushed forward happily, dragging several young women along with him.

The women approached, looking a bit nervous. As for all the other observing tribes, they too seemed nervous, though for different reasons; they quickly began sending messages back home.

For the next team, it went like that, then the next team. All day one after another. Bai Xiaochun met with dozens.

He didn't choose any clan daughter, but he also didn't reject anyone. He simply told them that he needed some time to think, and the matter was too heavy to decide on a whim. As for all the "entrance gifts," he refused none.

"I, Yan Xiaobao, always handle matters in a just and fair manner. Considering I haven't yet chosen which honorable clan to align with in marriage, I really cannot accept your gifts." These were the words he would speak to each clan.

Of course, the more he spoke in this manner, the more persistent the cultivator tribes were about him accepting their gifts. In fact, they became even more polite. Many of them continued to say that even without marriage, they still hoped to become good friends. Only then did Yan Xiaobao reluctantly accept these gifts.

Though they might be silly, these cultivation family people were not stupid. They understood that when Yan Xiaobao said he needed to think about it, he was very likely just waiting to see which tribe would offer the best deal.

Of course, this was within expectations. Furthermore, everyone was worried that if they didn't offer gifts, Yan Xiaobao wouldn't even consider their clan daughters as his Daoist partners. As a result, the crowd didn't thin at all the next day, in fact, their numbers increased significantly. Additionally, some cultivators even said that even if their clan daughters couldn't become Yan Xiaobao's Daoist partners, they were still willing to let her be a maid to warm his bed at night. As long as she could pass on his bloodline, and he formally acknowledged it, that would be enough.

All the visiting tribes continued to offer more and more gifts. In fact, it got to the point where Yan Xiaobao was a bit nervous. Eventually, he genuinely wanted to refuse, but couldn't.

"Well, I guess I'll accept it... not accepting it isn't really an option, is it?" For seven or eight consecutive days, he continued to entertain the tribes and accept their gifts. Every morning at dawn, he would step out to find a large group of people waiting for him.

Another three days passed. At dawn, Yan Xiaobao pushed open the gate, and his jaw dropped. Shockingly... not a single person was in sight. Everything was calm and peaceful; as far as the eye could see, the area was empty.

The only things he could see were a few five-colored phoenixes, soaring high above. The phoenixes were Elder Zhou's favorites, often soaring over Xiangyun Peak at dawn. They usually gathered together, appearing particularly beautiful. Many disciples were envious of them.

Yan Xiaobao rubbed his eyes and looked around. Thinking perhaps he had opened the wrong door, he went back, closed it, and tried again. But the result was the same.

"What happened?" he thought in shock. He hurried to find Hou Yunfei to demand an explanation.

Hou Yunfei sighed, looking at Yan Xiaobao. "Last night, the Sect Leader issued a Dharma Decree. As your brother, he notified the cultivator tribes... according to sect regulations, you cannot accept a Daoist partner for the next hundred years. So... everyone had no choice but to leave."

Yan Xiaobao's jaw dropped. Feeling very wronged, he said, "No more income... no more marriage..."

Hou Yunfei was unsure whether to laugh or cry. After a while, he thought of something and then said, "My friend Xiao Chun, a friend from Green Crest Peak told me that you and Shangguan Tianyou have mutual issues. Is that right? Well, be mindful that Qian Dajin doesn't matter at all. Regardless of how you choose to deal with him, the sect will tacitly agree. But for Shangguan Tianyou, things are not that simple!"

"What do you mean 'not that simple'?" Yan Xiaobao asked. "Is he more important than me or something?" Bai Yuchun had been a member of the Spiritual Sect for years, and he was well aware of how the sect tried to train its disciples. They pushed them toward greatness, forbade deadly conflicts, and encouraged cooperation and rivalry. Sect rules governed basic behavior. The elders of various peaks, as well as the peak lords themselves, provided support and training. And the Judicial Hall was an ever-present threat to deter bad behavior. The sect essentially controlled all aspects.

Of course, considering the Spiritual Sect on the north and south shores had hundreds of thousands of disciples, micro-managing everything was obviously impossible. Disciples would have conflicts and fights, and certain inappropriate attitudes were uncontrollable. However, the existing rewards and punishments were clear, and anyone who violated them would be dealt with strictly!

...