(It’s the end of the month, with only two days left. To my esteemed readers, please don’t let your remaining monthly tickets go to waste.)

(Cyan Scroll checked, and there are currently 837 tickets. If we can break one thousand monthly tickets this month, I’ll release ten bonus Chapters in November. Esteemed readers, believe in Cyan Scroll!!!)

Qin Xuan’s heart tightened.

After a long moment of contemplation, he finally realized.

’That’s right, I still have the Blood Flood Dragon Pearl that senior gave me!’

Qin Xuan rummaged through the deepest corners of his Storage Pouch and finally found a dark red Dragon Pearl.

He had obtained this pearl back when he was at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Other than being able to unleash the Blood Flood Dragon Flame and the Flood Dragon’s Pressure, it didn’t seem to have many other miraculous properties.

Ever since Qin Xuan reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, he had hardly ever used it.

Ao Lie’s large, scale-covered hand waved gently at the Dragon Pearl from a distance.

HUMMM—!

The dark red Dragon Pearl suddenly erupted with an indescribably brilliant golden light.

It was as if an Ancient Fierce Beast was awakening.

A pure, vast, and terrifying Demon Power instantly filled the entire Cave Mansion!

"Th... This is...?!"

Qin Xuan was stunned and cried out in shock.

The immense power radiating from the Dragon Pearl made even him, with his Purple Mansion Cultivation, tremble.

This aura far surpassed Tier Three; it was clearly something only a Fourth-Tier Demon Pill could possess!

Seeing Qin Xuan’s shocked expression, Ao Lie stroked his curling beard in satisfaction. With a hint of emotion, he laughed heartily.

"Don’t be surprised. This item was originally an old Flood Dragon Pill that I shed in my early years. I used a Secret Technique to seal most of its power and its Position."

"Back then, if you had remained stuck at the Foundation Establishment Stage, unable to activate it, it would have just been an ordinary Tier-Two Foundation Establishment Demon Pill. It would have been decent for helping your cultivation, but of no great use."

"But now, you have reached the Late-stage Purple Mansion and have demonstrated sufficient temperament and potential in the Demon Child trials. Naturally, the seals have been released, layer by layer."

"Only now can this item be considered truly yours to wield."

With a wave of his large hand, Ao Lie sent the Dark Gold Dragon Pearl, now emanating a Fourth-Tier pressure, flying slowly back to Qin Xuan.

The Dragon Pearl’s color had shifted from dark red to a deep, dark gold, and its surface was now covered in incomparably profound draconic patterns.

Qin Xuan accepted the Dragon Pearl. It felt heavy and warm in his hand, and the vast Demon Essence contained within made his heart surge.

He was just about to express his thanks when Ao Lie spoke again: "Now, let’s talk about your Dao path. Don’t think this is useless. This Dragon Pearl is my way of helping you preserve your life, and... it’s the Outer Golden Core I’ve prepared for you in advance!"

"Outer Golden Core?"

Qin Xuan sharply caught those three words.

"That’s right."

Ao Lie’s eyes gleamed as he smiled. "You forcibly increased your combat power using three unrelated Positional Divine Techniques. Though it made you formidable for a time, it also sealed your path to the Nascent Soul Stage. I imagine all those short-sighted fools believe as much, don’t they?"

"But what they don’t know is that the world is vast, and opportunities are limitless."

"If the orthodox Golden Core Dao is impassable, you can use this Fourth-Tier Flood Dragon Pill as a foundation. By smelting your own Cultivation and those Positional Divine Techniques, it’s not impossible to forge a one-of-a-kind Outer Golden Core."

"Although the path ahead will be more difficult, and its potential may not match an orthodox Golden Core, you will have at least crossed the threshold into the Golden Core realm. You’ll have the qualification to continue climbing higher. You might even be fortunate enough to form an Outer Dao False Infant. That’s far better than being trapped before the Golden Core Stage and turning to a pile of dust after a hundred years!"

Holding the priceless Fourth-Tier Flood Dragon Pill in his hand, Qin Xuan felt a sudden enlightenment.

He took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Ao Lie.

"Senior’s generous gift... this junior... will never forget it!"

This Outer Golden Core was a heaven-sent opportunity, forcefully carving a new path on what had seemed like a dead-end cultivation journey.

Of course, Qin Xuan might not necessarily use it.

’Because Ao Lie didn’t know that he actually had two more Positional Divine Techniques!’

’What sealed path to the Nascent Soul Stage?’

’It wasn’t a problem for him at all.’

Ao Lie stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing slightly. He was very pleased with Qin Xuan’s attitude, calmly accepting his bow before waving a hand and saying.

"The workings of fate are truly profound and mysterious. You, my boy, possess the Dragon Lord Bloodline, which means you and I are bound by destiny."

"I will pass on the method for refining this Pill and forging the Outer Golden Core to you later."

Ao Lie’s voice was deep and resonant. "But let’s get back to the main topic. Do you know the rules for the final selection of the Demon Child trials?"

Qin Xuan’s focus sharpened. He cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and replied respectfully, "This junior is ignorant. I only know it is the final contest. As for the specific rules, I ask for Senior’s guidance."

Ao Lie was quite pleased by Qin Xuan’s respectful demeanor. He stroked his beard and smiled. "There’s no harm in telling you. The location for the final selection is not within the Holy Sect, but... in the outside world!"

"You, Wei Qingyi, and Liu Mobai will have to engage in a Great Dao contention with the current Daoist of the Cyan Cloud Sect!"

Hearing this, Qin Xuan’s eyes flew wide open.

"A Great Dao contention?"

"That’s right,"

Ao Lie’s tone grew heavy, and a cruel smile twisted his lips. "The rules are simple. Whichever of you three can personally kill the current Daoist of the Cyan Cloud Sect will become this generation’s Demon Child of our Holy Sect."

"During this time, the three of you can also attack one another to seize the Demon Orders from each other."

"For every Demon Order you seize, you can absorb a portion of its owner’s destiny and accumulated power to enhance your own strength!"

"Furthermore, the Demon Monarchs backing you will also exert some of their power to provide you with intelligence and resources, and even to tie down the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Nascent Soul Daoist Monarchs and Golden Core Cultivators at critical moments."

"This is a hunt to the death that concerns the destiny of both sects. Otherwise, why do you think our Holy Sect would expend so much effort to train you?"

Kill the Daoist of the Cyan Cloud Sect...

Support from Demon Monarchs, tying down the enemy!

The information contained in those few short sentences exploded in Qin Xuan’s mind like a clap of thunder!

His pupils contracted violently, and a tremor ran through his body, as if a bolt of lightning had split the fog.

In a flash of inspiration, he understood everything.

No wonder... No wonder Chen Xuanba fought to the death with Fang Lin of the Cyan Cloud Sect back then.