Xu Sheng was stunned, her ink-colored pupils fixated on Shangguan Lin's eyes that sparkled with light, "Shangguan, what do you need to ask this question for..."
Being watched with such a deadly gaze, Shangguan Lin subconsciously lowered her head, her voice weak as she said, "I... I was just asking, if... if you don't want to say... then... then forget it."
Xu Sheng swallowed, this scene reminded him of Gu Linruo back in the Xuantian Sect! And the child in her belly, for a moment he felt a mix of emotions...
He sighed and then calmly said, "I already have a partner."
The light dimmed slightly in Shangguan Lin's beautiful eyes as she forced a smile, "Is... is that so? Then... that's very good, having Xu Sheng as a partner must be..."
Xu Sheng interrupted her, teasingly saying, "What, could it be that you've fallen for me?"
This remark seemed like a sting to Shangguan Lin as she vehemently denied, "You... what are you talking about! How could I possibly like you, if my life and death weren't in your hands, I'd find even glancing at you annoying!"
Xu Sheng spread his hands out and said indifferently, "That's good! I was worried for a second there that a slave had taken a liking to me, that would be beneath me!"
Before she could even harbor the thought, it was best to nip it in the bud...
He didn't want to become too entangled with this plane of existence...
Shangguan Lin pouted, no longer speaking...
But the feeling of regret emerged from the bottom of her heart, how could she have spoken so definitively!
Although it wasn't quite liking him, she couldn't deny the fondness she felt for Xu Sheng!
Seeing her like this, Xu Sheng changed the subject, "Alright, let's talk about something else. Tonight, we're going to watch over the Xieling Sect Disciples as they undergo the ritual."
Shangguan Lin's eyes immediately brightened, and she asked urgently, "Can I go too?"
Xu Sheng shook his head, "You cannot!"
Shangguan Lin bit her lip, resentfully saying, "Then why bring it up at all?"
Xu Sheng replied leisurely, "Nothing much, just wanted to show off a little!"
...
Dusk fell quietly!
Xu Sheng also headed to the site of the baptism for the Xieling Sect Disciples…
At this moment, the other Elders seated saw Xu Sheng approaching and began to speak, "I remember Elder Xu should have undergone the ritual not long ago, right?"
"Hmm! I remember very clearly, it seemed that he joined forces with a female disciple to slaughter the others."
"Joined forces? Elder Xu's cultivation level is of the Mahayana Realm; even without practicing he should be able to kill at will, right?"
Xu Sheng glanced at them and said indifferently, "You Elders flatter me too much!"
It wasn't long before nearly twenty Xieling Sect Disciples started to arrive in the area not far ahead...
As they stood before this massive pit, each disciple's face was different. Those who had participated in the ritual before were filled with unease, while the rest were mostly curious...
The somewhat aged Elder seeing this, spoke out, "Everyone has arrived, let us begin then!"
As he spoke, he slowly stood up, his voice sounding sinister, "Among you, only the last two disciples who survive can receive the rewards of the ritual. So, once you enter this pit, everyone is your enemy!"
With these words, the previously unaware Xieling Sect Disciples' faces now showed expressions of horror...
This was no ritual; it was a life-and-death battle! Only the ones who win are eligible to survive!!
Instantly, the atmosphere became extremely heavy, and every Xieling Sect Disciple started to be wary of the others...
This Elder spoke again, "Now all disciples, quickly enter! The ritual will officially begin after ten seconds."
After he spoke, these dozens of disciples solemnly walked inside…
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
...
"Two!"
"One! Begin!"
At the moment the Elder took his seat, the disciples from the Evil Spirit Sect in the pit all revealed a fierce light in their eyes and began to slaughter each other...
Various martial techniques as well as life-saving measures were endlessly emerging...
Before long, this evolved into a series of bloody scenes, which just floated before the eyes of Xu Sheng and the others!
This bloody massacre lasted for several moments, and the pit filled with the scent of blood was left with only two panting Xieling Sect Disciples, their bodies covered in wounds.
One of them said with a face full of joy, "I won, I survived!"
The other also showed a post-escape expression, continuously gasping for breath...
Xu Sheng glanced at the two of them, expressionless...
The other Elders also seemed to have become accustomed to the sight...
The Elder from before said coldly, "Congratulations on being the ones to survive. Now you will be given the rewards of the baptism!"
He rapidly chanted something, and from below in the pit, a faint blood light soared into the sky, washing over their bodies...
After the blood light disappeared, the two Xieling Sect Disciples exclaimed in surprise, "My cultivation level has reached the Golden Core Stage... eight... eight layers now!"
"I've also reached the Golden Core Stage ninth layer! Is this the reward after the baptism?"
Having said this, they left the pit of their own accord, even a sense of infatuation emerging from the bottom of their hearts...
If they could always participate in the baptism, how quickly would their cultivation levels rise?!
Xu Sheng stood up without a change in expression...
The other Elders didn't say much either and also stood up one after another...
The aged Elder said coldly, "Now it's our turn! How much energy the Elders can absorb depends on their own ability."
After these words fell, an even more intense blood light burst forth from the pit...
It directly enveloped Xu Sheng and the others, "Hummm~~"
Their bodies exploded with terrifying power, and they began to frantically absorb this energy...
But in the few seconds that followed, every Elder's face was filled with astonishment as they almost simultaneously turned to look at Xu Sheng...
Somewhat speechless they said, "What?? Elder Xu actually... absorbed most of the power!"
"I... I didn't absorb anything at all! This is... too terrifying."
"Is this the horror of the Mahayana Realm? Even in such circumstances, there is an advantage"
"I wonder, Elder Xu, with so much energy absorbed, have you managed a breakthrough?"
After the blood light disappeared, Xu Sheng sensed the situation within his body and found that there were no changes...
It was like a few drops of water merging into an immense sea, causing no ripples at all...
Then he shook his head, "No, not even a slight change occurred."
This statement made the faces of the other Elders turn unsightly...
Having absorbed so much yet with no change, wasn't this a waste?
But they couldn't say much, since they had already agreed that it depended on one's own ability!
Xu Sheng glanced at them, naturally knowing what they were thinking...
He said indifferently, "I won't participate in this kind of event anymore, the Elders can absorb it themselves."
The idea of using this power to break through the seal had failed...
There was no significant benefit for him to continue participating...
Immediately, Xu Sheng's figure vanished from the spot...
Hearing this response, the faces of the Elders relaxed a lot...
If Xu Sheng really continued to participate, they wouldn't have been able to get any benefits...
…