CHAPTER 53: ONE PHRASE TO MOVE THE MASSES

Seeing the sea of kneeling cultivators and the flickering hope rekindled in their eyes, a faint, mocking smile curled on Xiao Ning’s lips.

So easily swayed... The hearts of men are no different from candle flames—flickering at the slightest breath of promise.

A little benefit.

A well-crafted tale.

And the crowd would walk into fire for you.

But—there was one final step remaining.

Desire could stir hearts... but ambition moved the bones.

With a flick of his sleeve, two jade bottles emerged in mid-air, suspended above his palm.

"These are not ordinary items either."

He uncorked the first.

Inside, a pale silver pill pulsed softly with interwoven strands of Yin and Yang energy.

"This is the same as the five I just bestowed earlier," Xiao Ning said evenly. "Its name... is the Yin-Yang Soul Ascension Pill."

"I do not know its origin. I only know its name. Its refinement method is beyond me."

Even I do not know its origin? The phrase echoed within every cultivator’s mind like a hammer striking a bell.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Nearly every late-stage Core Formation cultivator had their gaze fixed on the pill, their hearts pounding wildly.

The first five had been given as a reward to long-standing elders. None would dare covet them.

But now—this sixth?

A free-for-all.

Xiao Ning smiled slightly. "This pill will be awarded to the Core Formation cultivator with the greatest contribution to the sect... over the next five years."

The words had scarcely left his mouth when a storm of qi erupted across the hall.

Even those at the peak of Foundation Establishment clenched their fists in determination. With five years, perhaps they too could rise in rank.

"Just one condition?"

"Five years? I still have time to rise..."

"The chance to enter the Nascent Soul Realm..."

The plaza erupted. Cultivators of the Core Formation Realm exchanged glances, their eyes burning with ambition.

To them, Nascent Soul Realm was like a heavenly wall—nearly insurmountable. If even the slightest chance to rise above that wall existed...

...how could they not scramble over one another to grasp it?

Some clenched their fists in determination. Others quietly activated their spiritual sense to memorize the pill’s aura—afraid they might never glimpse it again.

Before their thoughts could settle, Xiao Ning raised his hand once more. The second bottle opened.

This time, the pill inside radiated a warm golden hue, steady and serene. It did not possess the oppressive majesty of the Nascent Soul Realm, yet its Dao patterns were clear and complete—like a golden core birthed within the palm.

"This one does not allow for a Nascent Soul breakthrough," he said plainly. "However... any Foundation Establishment cultivator who consumes it will condense a Golden Core without failure."

An audible heartbeat pulsed through the crowd. Every Foundation Establishment disciple forgot their breath.

A sure path to the Golden Core Realm?

How many disciples had spent decades in bitter seclusion, only to fail at the threshold?

Xiao Ning’s voice deepened. "This pill shall be granted to the Foundation Establishment cultivator who achieves the greatest merit for the sect within the coming year."

He paused, scanning the vast assembly of disciples below.

"Strive. The future of the sect... rests on your shoulders."

With those final words, his figure blurred and vanished from the stage.

Only after his presence faded did the courtyard erupt. In just a few short breaths, the dying flame of sect morale had been reignited into an inferno.

Back atop the elder’s pavilion, silence hung for a long moment before Elder Zhou finally clapped his hands with admiration.

"To think the Sect Master could orchestrate such a revival single-handedly. His means are... admirable."

Wu Li nodded solemnly. "Indeed. He truly lives up to his title as the foremost Nascent Soul cultivator of the Shadowclaw Sect."

But Elder Qian furrowed his brow, his tone heavy with another thought.

"If he possesses Core Formation and Nascent Soul breakthrough pills... could it be he also has pills that aid in transcending the Heavenly Tribulation Realm?"

The moment he spoke, silence fell once again. Zhou Mu and Wu Li exchanged glances, uncertain how to respond.

But before either could speak—

"Hmph. And even if I did... are you three truly qualified to receive it?"

A cold voice, laced with faint amusement, descended like thunder from above.

A dark-robed figure emerged from the sky like a phantom wind and landed before them.

"—Sect Master!"

The three elders immediately straightened and bowed deeply, not daring to breathe too heavily.

Xiao Ning looked at them with a faint smile—playful, but with a hint of bite.

"None of you have even reached late-stage Nascent Soul, yet you dare think of the Heavenly Tribulation?"

The three flushed with embarrassment, but did not speak.

Xiao Ning chuckled.

"You need not worry. So long as you do not slack off... I promise, you will not be left behind."

The flicker of hope returned to their eyes. For cultivators who had long hit bottlenecks, these words were more valuable than any spirit stone.

He didn’t deny it... they all thought in unison. Could he really possess such a pill?

Watching the subtle transformation in their gazes, Xiao Ning sneered inwardly.

Still so easily led by a single phrase.

"Elder Qian," he suddenly asked, "what’s the current status of the matter regarding the evil gathering?"

Elder Qian straightened at once. "There’s a summit being held next week between sect representatives. They’ve requested each major sect send a delegate."

Xiao Ning nodded. "Then send Mei Lin."

"As a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, she will suffice."

Elder Qian hesitated slightly, then nodded in agreement. "As you command."

Then, after a moment, he looked up again.

"There’s... one more thing. Sect Master... news of your reappearance... has begun to spread."

"Oh?" Xiao Ning’s eyes narrowed with interest. "And what are they saying?"

"They... speculate you cultivated a second Nascent Soul. That the one who died before was... one of them."

At this, a rare flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Ning’s face.

Xiao Ning’s expression wavered for only the briefest of moments—but for Nascent Soul cultivators like Zhou Mu, Wu Li, and Qian Xu, that subtle change was more than enough.

Their suspicions—half-born from rumor, half-fed by instinct—were now all but confirmed.

They exchanged silent glances. So... it may be true.

After all... they had witnessed his death.

There was no mistaking that.

And yet, here he stood.

There could only be one explanation.

Wu Li couldn’t help but murmur, "Could it truly be... a second Nascent Soul?"