Chapter 99: The Nine Nether Enchanting Body, Xiao Bingyu's Refusal

"Would you like to join my faction?"

As those words fell, Xiao Bingyu was dumbfounded. Yan Chen’s face darkened, his fists clenched in fury, yet he dared not strike. He knew well that he was no match for Ling Tian, which was the only reason he held back.

Truly, he was pushing his luck!

"Tell him!" Yan Chen shoved Xiao Bingyu, demanding she answer Ling Tian’s question.

*So, you want Xiao Bingyu to join your faction, do you?* Yan Chen thought. *Then I’ll have her reject you to your face. Let’s see if you get angry or frustrated. Heh, since you had the gall to ask, you deserve the consequences.*

"I cannot. I will continue to follow the Young Master’s path," Xiao Bingyu replied. She looked at Ling Tian before her; although she knew he was Yan Chen’s enemy, she found herself unable to hate him. In fact, she even felt a strange sense of fondness. Perhaps it was due to his appearance? Regardless, her inner resolve compelled her to refuse. The mocking words she had intended to say emerged instead as a simple, plain rejection. Was this a form of compromise?

Xiao Bingyu was not mistaken; Ling Tian possessed the Nine Nether Charm Body and had just activated it. He had hoped to use the affection generated by this constitution to lure her into agreeing. It was a simple enough method, yet she had a strong enough state of mind to avoid being swayed.

"Fellow Daoist Tian Ling, you heard her. Bingyu is not interested, so you should let go of that notion and be on your way," Yan Chen interjected, quite satisfied with her response. After all, watching Ling Tian get rebuffed was quite satisfying, even if he wasn't the one who had done it.

"Did I ask you to speak?" Ling Tian sneered at the interruption, his gaze shifting to Yan Chen.

Yan Chen shuddered instantly. The memory of his past subjugation, coupled with Ling Tian’s imposing presence, forced him to clamp his mouth shut. When he realized the gazes of others fixed upon him, he tried to regain his composure and act tough, but Ling Tian didn't even give him the chance, having already walked away. This scene sparked widespread speculation among the onlookers about Ling Tian's true background—how could someone like Yan Chen be so terrified of him?

"That look you gave him just now was so cool... no, wait, so domineering!" Xiao Yanying gushed as soon as Ling Tian returned to Xiao Jin’s side. She caught herself mid-sentence, but the spark in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

Ling Tian twitched his lips. It seemed he should use this constitution sparingly; if he encountered someone like Xiao Yanying, he might find himself in more trouble than it was worth.

Following this commotion, several neutral direct descendants made their choices. After some communication, the camps were set: excluding Xiao Ru, who chose not to participate, the remaining eight direct descendants were split evenly into two camps of four. One was led by Yan Chen, and the other by Xiao Jin.

However, if one thought it was that simple, they were mistaken. While they were divided into camps, the battlefield was a place where things changed in an instant. A single change in the wind could cause people to switch sides or adopt a wait-and-see approach. Such things happened all the time. There was a saying about "biding one's time"—it was a sound strategy. No one knew who the ultimate winner would be until the very end. For now, they were simply huddling together to develop their strength. The real struggle would come later.

Faced with such temptation, it was impossible for anyone not to have designs on the position. If you weren't going to compete, why even come? You might as well have stayed away.

After the pleasantries, the groups dispersed to prepare their forces in their respective areas. Yan Chen glanced at Ling Tian, hoping only that this fellow wouldn't cause any trouble. He was such a nuisance.

"Why don't we stay outside and refine pills for these two months? There's no need for us to intervene in their fight for the Young Patriarch position," Xiao Yanying suggested, looking at Ling Tian. If they stayed out, she could spend her free time showing him around. As for whether her brother could win, that would depend on his own preparations. She had already helped by having Ling Tian negate the advantage of Yan Chen’s status as an alchemist, which was a massive favor. If he still couldn't secure the support of the others, there was nothing more she could do. She couldn't control Ling Tian’s decisions, after all.

Xiao Jin opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words. He knew his limits; he understood that too much of a good thing could be harmful. He had no intention of asking Ling Tian to help him on the actual battlefield, though he felt it was a pity. *Tian Ling!* The top of the Heaven's Pride Ranking, a master of the sword. How could his help not be important? But the current dynamic made it difficult to ask for more.

"I’ll go inside. I’ve grown accustomed to peace, and I’m curious to see what their struggle looks like," Ling Tian said, shaking his head and rejecting Xiao Yanying's suggestion.

Both siblings stared at him, dazed. *Are you serious, brother? You actually enjoy looking for trouble?* They immediately suspected that Ling Tian had his own agenda for going in—likely to chase after that woman, Xiao Bingyu. While they didn't know why, this worried Xiao Jin. If Ling Tian tried to recruit Xiao Bingyu and she convinced him to turn against them, they would be in serious trouble. Even if Ling Tian and Yan Chen seemed at odds, the possibility remained.

Ling Tian saw through his concerns. "Don't worry, my business with that woman won't involve you. In fact, I might even be able to help you," he said meaningfully. It was best to be clear, lest Xiao Jin come up with some misguided plan. His task was to shatter Yan Chen’s Dao heart. If he could sabotage Yan Chen just as he was about to secure the title of Young Patriarch, wouldn't that be the ultimate blow to his state of mind?

Ling Tian nearly chuckled at the thought. *I really am a villain, aren't I?*

Seeing Ling Tian's confidence, Xiao Jin’s worries vanished. Having spent more than a day with him, he realized that Ling Tian was straightforward. He was so confident that he would tell you exactly what he intended to do, unafraid of any preparations you might make. And even if you did prepare, it wouldn't matter.

"Haha! We didn't drink enough yesterday. Let's go back and keep drinking!" Xiao Jin laughed, inviting Ling Tian to continue their feast. As for the rest, he would let his trusted aides handle it.

Xiao Yanying watched them walk away, feeling a headache coming on. She had no choice but to follow. It wasn't that she had other motives; she was simply afraid that if Ling Tian refined pills in private, she would miss out on learning his techniques.

The banquet began that night. Xiao Jin used it to rally his supporters, painting grand visions of the future to ensure they would serve him willingly. Xiao Jin could certainly hold his liquor. When he felt he had reached his limit, Ling Tian wandered up to the roof of the palace to enjoy the breeze.

Looking down at the revelers below, a strange thought crossed his mind: *If I stood here and relieved myself, I could probably hit them right on the head. If I were lucky, maybe even in their cups.*

"Heh, what a wicked sense of humor," he muttered to himself.

"By the way, do you have feelings for that woman?" A voice came from behind him. Xiao Yanying had climbed up and was now standing beside him.

"What if I do? What if I don't? Besides, she is quite pretty, isn't she?" Ling Tian smiled, looking at her with a knowing expression. The implication was clear: *What does it have to do with you?*

"Hmph! Fine, she's pretty!" Xiao Yanying huffed, stomped her foot, and left the roof. Talking to him was infuriating! She had wanted to probe him, but he had shut her down completely. *Fine,* she thought. *If he goes in, I’ll just stick to him like glue. I won't have to suffer through these indirect conversations.* If he really tried to interfere, she would just have to do her best to stop him. She wouldn't sacrifice herself for her brother, though... or would she?

If Ling Tian knew her thoughts, he would have told her she was dreaming.

A short while after Xiao Yanying left, a streak of light descended, leaving a figure standing before Ling Tian. She was dressed in white, naturally beautiful, with wide, watery eyes that betrayed a look of pure, innocent confusion. She stood there timidly and asked in a soft voice:

"Excuse me... do you happen to know where Yan Chen is staying?"