Offer

---Heavenly Sword Villa---

"Eh?! This is my first time seeing a person of 1st Spirit Profound Realm injuring someone 3 stages higher without even moving." Ling Jie, the youngest son of Ling Yuefeng said in astonishment while looking at Meng's figure slowly walking away from the 21st arena.

"It is indeed very strange...It looks like this year's ranking tournament is full of strange individuals...Be it Yun Che or those 2 individuals from an unknown clan." Ling Yun, the oldest son of Ling Yuefeng added with closed eyes and a composed expression.

"..." Ling Yuefeng narrowed his eyes while watching Meng but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't detect any treasure on his body.

"Father?" Ling Jie questioned his overly quiet father.

"He already fought 2 matches and he has yet to bring out his weapon..." Ling Yuefeng said in low voice.

---Frozen Cloud Asgard---

"H-How did he come out of that exchange unscathed? As if it wasn't enough...he even crippled his opponent's arm just by standing still...Is his body one big mountain?!" Chu Yueli's emotions were currently in turmoil despite cultivating Frozen Heart Arts.

"Calm yourself!" Chu Yuechan said with a frowning face and stern voice when she noticed her sister's condition.

"...Is elder sister aware of what means he used to defeat his opponent?" Chu Yueli closed her eyes and calmed down before asking.

"...I am not." After a moment of silence, she replied shortly.

This caused Chu Yueli to truly look at Meng in a new light...thinking that her decision back then probably had some meaning. She started thinking about what her elder sister told her and she couldn't help a few thoughts of asking Meng to help her with her cultivation to surface.

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In the end, both Meng and Hengjun ended the day with 5 matches each, obviously all victories. Hengjun was quite lucky and was up against people not above 4th Spirit Profound Realm so he has yet to use Tempest in this tournament. And Meng's all opponents were those who somehow made fun of his clan which meant that he always defeated them with only 1 strike of his palm, not giving them any face. The strongest opponent he faced today was just of 6th Spirit Profound Realm.

By the end of the day, as the sun was setting down, people were already gossiping about 3 strange individuals or dark horses of this tournament. The first one was the 7th True Profound Realm who was decimating his opponents with his sheer might and power. The second one was even 1 stage lower, at 6th True Profound Realm, it was said that he was defeating his opponents relying solely on his speed. Some were saying that even the Elder overseeing his arena was surprised by his speed.

As for the third one...He was the least part of everyone's discussions, not because his achievements were worse than the other two but simply because no one had an idea about his prowess or profound techniques as he has yet to make any move other than striking with his palm before going into his original position of folded arms.

The tournament ended for the day and would resume the next day. Tomorrow, both Meng and Hengjun would fight much stronger opponents as they would advance deeper into their group.

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While Meng was resting in his room, practicing his newly founded spear intent...

"Does Iron Spear Clan's Su Meng have time to spare?" Meng heard a muffled cold voice calling out in front of his room. The entire Villa was so big that he had part of the building all for himself so he went outside without even using his Spiritual Sense, thinking that Chu Yuechan wants to talk to him about the so-called favor she owes him, however, he was a slightly surprised by who he saw standing in front of his doors.

"Fairy Chu Yueli...Might I inquire what are your intentions by visiting my clan's courtyard?" Meng asked with a slight bow.

"Can we talk somewhere private?" Chu Yueli asked and Meng just nodded his head.

Both of them left the Iron Spear Clan's courtyard under the bright moon.

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"This should be far enough..." Meng said in low voice but with his Spiritual Sense, he could feel someone observing them. They weren't within his range to completely see their face but that would also mean that they wouldn't be able to hear a single thing.

'Probably someone from Heavenly Sword Villa or Frozen Cloud Asgard...' Meng thought while observing Chu Yueli's expression and he discovered that she was probably aware of the uninvited guest.

"I will be completely frank with you...Were you the one who helped my elder sister, Su Meng?" Chu Yueli asked, perhaps hoping that he would deny it.

"Is that Fairy Chu Yueli's means of using her favor I owe her? Or is this just a question?" Meng asked and Chu Yueli chose the latter.

"Then in that case...I have no idea what is Fairy Chu Yueli talking about." Meng closed his eyes and replied with an apologetic tone.

His words alone were enough as an answer for her as she stared at Meng with wide-open eyes.

"..." There was just silence between them as they kept staring at each other without any emotions. She was hesitating whether to ask Meng to help her or not but...She couldn't help but feel a bit conflicted to ask someone weaker to help with her cultivation.

"Would it be possible to do the same for me?" She asked after a while of silence with quite a strange tone in her voice.

"...What is Fairy Chu Yueli's current profound strength?" Meng asked softly.

"7th stage of Sky Profound Realm" She replied with a low voice.

"I see...and by how much would Fairy Chu Yueli image herself improving?"

"Eh?" Chu Yueli at most imagined that Meng would agree to help her get to the 8th stage but when he asked her this with an amused tone, she couldn't help but look at him with her eyes in turmoil.

"...So?" Meng urged her to reply since she was quiet for more than a minute.

Meng obviously wouldn't even mention such a question if he didn't want to get something out of it himself.

"...If I-...I would want to catch up to my elder sister." Chu Yueli replied honestly.

"...I see, however, advancing the whole 3 stages and then breaking through to another realm is a completely different matter from helping someone already half-step in that realm to experience a breakthrough." Meng explained with a serious expression.

"*sigh* As I thought...Still, I would be extremely grateful if sir Su Meng could help me advance just 1 stage." Chu Yueli was slightly disappointed hearing his words but she already expected this. Advancing just 1 stage in Sky Profound Realm was extremely hard so even if she could advance just by 1 stage, she would still be very grateful.

"It seems that Fairy Chu Yueli misinterpreted my words. I have never said that it's impossible but such a feat will naturally take a long time and Fairy Chu Yueli still has no idea about the required process." Meng said which once again changed Chu Yueli's expression, with a bit of hope returning to her eyes.

'Is everyone really so desperate to grow stronger or is it her just wanting to catch up to her elder sister?' Meng thought, he discovered that in this world, people usually were distrustful but once you earn fame, you can start tricking people just by mentioning an increase in their profound strength.

"How long? And what is the process you are talking about? Is it the same process that helped my elder sister?"

"Hmm, that depends on how talented Fairy Chu Yueli truly is but I would say around 6 months, give and take. As for the process... physical contact is required, the most efficient way would be holding each other's hands. But..." Meng explained which made all the excitement in Chu Yueli quickly quiet down.

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---Frozen Cloud Asgard's courtyard---

"...What is it, you have been rather quiet and your emotions are unstable...Where did you go, younger sister?" Chu Yuechan asked, looking at absentminded Chu Yueli.

"That...I want to ask you something, elder sister." Chu Yueli hesitantly told her where she has gone after leaving their courtyard and explained Su Meng's offer.

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"I see...The mistress won't let you just leave for 6 months without a reason and if you were to mention that you are going to spend the whole 6 months around a young boy, she would probably kick you out or lock you up. I doubt she would even believe if you were to tell her that it was for the sake of getting stronger. As for Su Meng's explanation of the whole process, there was indeed physical contact between us but he just touched my lower back with my clothes on. But I am sure he must have a good reason for the process he explained to you." Chu Yuechan explained with a heavy sigh.

"..." Chu Yueli had various complicated emotions visible inside her eyes but one of the strongest ones was probably a disappointment. The price of advancing so much in just 6 months was extremely low and for some even laughable. Just for holding a boy's hands regularly for 6 months, one's strength could leap up by 3 stages and then breakthrough into a new realm and officially become one of the thrones. She was willing to accept the offer but her sect was in the way this time. Neither she could just explain to them the whole situation...

"I will see what I can do about it...Just don't tell anyone what you two have discussed tonight." Chu Yuechan said with a determined tone, earning a grateful look from her younger sister.