Main Chapter: First.
The last person to come before Xuan Yu was the old man. He went down on his knees and waited.
"Speak."
"Great Ancestor, I have spoken to those of the district since you left and gathered all I could."
"Since each district can hold up to 2,000 people. I assume there's a bit under 1,000 remaining."
"Yes, Great Ancestor, 863 still foolishly cling to a doomed existence."
"Who were you?"
A dry tired chuckle came from the old man.
"I saw my first Spring, 70 years ago in a small village owned by the Radiant Fisher Sect. I was an ambitious youth and after learning I could not be a Cultivator. I traveled to the Ning Empire and worked hard to become a scholar and then a minister. At my prime, I served in the House of Works.
However, after a plan, I proposed failed I was quickly brought down by my rivals. In the end, I was almost sold as a slave, but a few loyal friends helped me, and I escaped.
I traveled from place to place but I was unable to settle down. Revenge was in my heart and I was ambitious, but I never found my footing. Eventually, I came to Qing Ruo and served as a merchant. The desire for revenge had cooled but I was lost. By then I was into my 60s and I had no wife or children. So, I took refuge in drink and my business with no one to care for it fell apart.
Unable to support myself I was charged with the crime of theft. Though I have never stolen anything in my life and then thrown into these slums."
Looking up at the rising sun with long dead eyes. The old man continued.
"I was known as Chu Rong Lo Fan, today is my 71st Spring."
Placing a hand on the old man's head. Xuan Yu dragged his jagged knife across his throat. Allowing the rising sun to be the last thing he saw.
'Prince Rong of Ning became a scholar at the age of 15 and headed the Ministry of Works at the age of 20. Served for over 30 years and oversaw all construction throughout Ning. Being held up as a 1,000-year genius his position seemed unshakeable.
Until he argued with the Grand Chancellor over the construction of a frontier fort. The fort was built without his go ahead and when the fort collapsed under an attack from the Meng Dynasty. Killing over 200,000 soldiers who lied within in a pathetic showing. All the blame was laid on Prince Rong's feet.
Stripped of his assets and sentence for execution. Prince Rong disappeared on the day of his execution. Only to die here. Ning truly engineered its own destruction.'
Xuan Yu's eyes flickered, and the corpse of the old man was drained to a withered corpse. Baskerville who was now the same height as Xuan Yu stepped forward and ate up the old man.
"Have the others eat up the rest in the district. I'll come and collect later."
The massive dog nodded and went off to hunt.
Rising up from the throne Xuan Yu outstretched his finger and Qi flickered.
"1,098."
'I was right wasn't I.'
"Like you always are."
Despite not having cultivated a single day. Xuan Yu could now not only fully sense Qi, but he was now in the entry level of the 1st Stage.
All thanks to the Unholy Ascendance technique. A technique that placed a value to the lives of others. A technique that took the life essence of others to empower the user.
Costing 10 mortal lives, to sense Qi. 100 to interact with it. 1,000 to enter the entry level of the 1st Stage. At 10,000 he would reach the mid-level and at 100,000 he would reach the peak. Then with a 1,000,000, he would advance to the 2nd Stage.
Well, that's if one only used mortals. Since to the technique, 1st Stage Cultivators were worth 100 mortals. At least when the user was a mortal or in the 1st Stage. Upon advancing to higher stages the technique would change as well.
This bloodthirsty method was Xuan Yu's preferred method of cultivation. And in his mind the superior method after all as long as one met the required number. They would be able to advance regardless of their talent.
As the Qi spark disappeared from his fingertip. Xuan Yu's hand came together forming 5 different signs. Then a bolt of purple fire flew from his fingertips to the wagon.
The flames spread quickly, and the wagon was set ablaze. The tamed horse it was tied to had been rendered so dumb that even though what it was tied to was on fire it wouldn't move.
Xuan Yi ignored it, even though it was made retarded. It was still an authentic Demonic Beast. That particular spell fire wouldn't affect it, much. Instead, he was frowning as he tried to come to a decision.
The Qi in the surrounding area was too small to facilitate even the most basic spells. So, he was forced to make a choice. Leave all this behind for now or use up his just attained reserve of Inner Qi.
Thinking for a bit he decided to empty his reserves. As the entry-level of the 1st Stage had no alterations. With completely empty reserve he would be no different from someone who had yet to enter the 1st Stage.
His decision set Xuan Yu went around and burnt away all the items in the square.
Untying the slightly burnt horse, Xuan Yu hopped on and began to make his way back home.
On his way he took out the communication scroll, Mou Lin had given him and left a message.
In a few seconds, Xuan Yu immediately stopped. The scroll was vibrating and emitting a soft yellow glow. Furrowing his brow, he took out the ornate scroll and unrolled its white paper.
'I won't be attending today.'
'I trust your intelligence.'
Looking at the words, Xuan Yu's frown deepened. Taking out a pen from his effects. Xuan Yu wrote the word blood red near the edge of the scroll.
The yellow glow reappeared and then it turned into a blood red glow before fading. Satisfied Xuan Yu put away the scroll and rode home.
***
"Big Brother, why didn't you come back home last night?"
Outside the Xuan Estate, Xuan Yu met Xuan Yi who was on his way to the Academy. One sat in a white carriage with, raised the amethyst curtain and the other sat on a black horse.
Xuan Yu attempted to ignore him and move on, but Xuan Yi yelled.
"I asked Aunt and Uncle and they said that they wouldn't bother you with trivialities! Big Brother, where have you been?"
Hearing the usually timid Xuan Yi raise his voice Xuan Yu looked at him. Staring at his big brother, Xuan Yi retreated but realizing he did subconsciously he grew angry.
"Is it true, that you've been in the Lower Mortal Ring drinking? Is the smell on you, alcohol?"
Xuan Yu's expression grew serious for a moment and then he smiled.
'You really are a genius if you can notice that.'
Seeing Xuan Yu smile, Xuan Yi thought he wasn't taking him seriously and grew even angrier.
"Foolish little brother." 'You're mistaking the scent of death.'
Reaching over Xuan Yu flicked Xuan Yi's forehead and then rode away. Frustrated Xuan Yi lowered the curtain and held his forehead.
"Drive."
That never before heard cold voice gave the coachman chills and he could barely control the carriage as he trembled the whole way to the academy.
***
Xuan Yu was reclining by the pond in his Court. While the fishes played and interacted within the pond. Xuan Yu watched them with half-closed eyes. The warm sunlight was comfortably warming him against the Spring chill and his loose black robes held that heat to him.
Though they were no servants nearby the lawn was trimmed, the garden tended, and the pathway cleaned. Even the table by his side had a warm meal. Except for the lack of servants, none would think the Xuan 1st Young Master lacked anything even the lack of servants can easily be explained off as Xuan Yu's preference.
And that was all that Ong Zhou cared about and his servants were willing to do the bare minimum. So, even though it didn't seem like it. Xuan Yu was well aware that Ong Zhou had already begun to move resources attributed to him elsewhere.
'Soon, he will try to push Li Zi onto Xuan Yi and start laying out plot after plot to defame me and ultimately exile me. It should all start about… the end of the week. Let's change that.'
Reaching into his robes he took out the communication scroll and opened it. The previous words were gone but could be recalled with a single inscribed word.
'I've fulfilled the aforementioned expectation.'
'Mind if I verify?'
'No, I'm in my courtyard.'
The scroll began to glow blood red. And Xuan Yu carelessly threw it near the pond's edge. Soon the glow flashed over and over and the Qi in the air stirred.
In a few seconds, the glow stopped and an image of Mou Lin appeared.
"3 days, not bad, your first place."
It seemed to take only a glance for Mou Lin to tell.
"It seems Instructor Lin truly has the Conqueror's Perception."
The moment Mou Lin heard the "Conqueror's Perception" his easy-going expression cramped up.
"So, you knew about that, huh? Well, it's nowhere near as impressive as that title makes it sound."
"Is it good enough to tell who will be second?"
"Based on their current speed Fan Hua, she's one step away."
"Do you want to make a bet?"
Mou Lin's image laughed.
"What kind of teacher makes bets with his students? Just tell me what you want and if you are right I will give it to you."
"Xuan Yi."
"Oh, your little brother he just started sensing Qi, you know. Though, he did look pretty serious when he came in today. Still, he would have to pass Dai Tian, Tan Cui and Fan Hua to be second. Well, it is up to family to have faith in each other."
Xuan Yu shrugged, in the past Fan Hua was indeed first. Even though she was Third Class then. Her innate ability gave her that much of a head start.
"If I win, a second communication scroll."
"Sure."
With that, the image of Mou Lin disappeared and Xuan Yu waited till Li Zhi came to have her pick up the scroll.