Qing Ti looked at Xiao Man with an expression as if she had seen a ghost. This person, to climb higher, never forgot to recommend herself, her utilitarian heart written so clearly on her face. He was curious, how could the humans of Zhong Zhou Street obey her? Could they all be blind?
"Little friend, you are indeed interesting." The old man stood up with a tremor, leaning on his divine staff, and shuffled forward step by step. He would pause after every two steps, as if walking just two steps was extremely difficult for him.
"Great Priest..."
The Great Priest waved his hand, signaling Qing Ti not to worry, and shuffled to Xiao Man's front: "Little friend, how old are you this year?"
"Forty," Xiao Man said with a chuckle.
"Forty years old, very young. In the Divine race, forty is still a child." The old man extended his withered, claw-like hand and grasped Xiao Man's wrist. His cloudy eyes gleamed, "You want to be my successor?"
"Is that not allowed?"
The old man laughed, his smile eerie, making Qing Ti feel something was amiss, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
"Qing Ti, you may return. We'll keep this child here for now." The Great Priest's gaze remained fixed on Xiao Man, his hand not releasing her wrist. A lamb delivered to his doorstep was not to be refused.
"Great Priest, her cultivation is already at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, complete." Qing Ti reminded the old man. Xiao Man was not easy to deal with, and if the Great Priest did anything outrageous, it would be difficult to manage the aftermath.
The Great Priest looked at Qing Ti: "My eyes are not blind, I saw it. Go back. I have a connection with this child, and she is willing to be my successor. Naturally, I will fulfill her wish."
"Yes, Great Priest." Qing Ti turned to leave, a sense of unease lingering. The Great Priest's successors were always designated by the Divine Lord, not cultivated by the Great Priest himself. What did he mean by taking Xiao Man as his successor?
In the room, only Xiao Man and the old man remained.
The old man smiled at Xiao Man, even his wrinkles seemed to laugh, a smile that sent chills down one's spine.
"Child, do you truly wish to be my successor?"
Xiao Man simply looked at the old man and smiled, not answering. The old man's voice was gentle, yet it pierced directly into her mind. This was mental manipulation; she must not answer. This person was no simple character!
Indeed, to hold the position of Great Priest in the Divine race, one needed not only profound cultivation but also the full trust of the Divine Lord.
"Child, why don't you answer me? Do you wish to be my successor?" The old man tightened his grip on Xiao Man's wrist slightly. Xiao Man looked down at the old man's withered claw-like hand and a smile touched her lips.
"Great Priest, you are hurting me."
"Child, you no longer wish to be my successor?"
"What benefits are there in being your successor?" Xiao Man asked with a playful smile.
"By becoming my successor, you can directly communicate with the Divine Lord and receive his blessings," the old man said proudly. "You might even get an opportunity to become a god in one step."
"You have been by the Divine Lord's side for many years, haven't you?"
"Yes, many years."
"You have been by the Divine Lord's side for so many years and still haven't received an opportunity to become a god in one step. How could I, a newcomer, possibly get it? Are you tricking me?"
The old man chuckled: "To receive divine blessings, one needs not only opportunity but also courage. As for me, I was just a little short on luck."
"Luck is also very important," Xiao Man agreed, nodding.
"Indeed, luck is very important." The old man asked again, "Child, are you willing to become my successor?"
"I am not willing." Xiao Man smiled brightly. "I feel there are no benefits to being your successor. Since there are no benefits, I naturally am not willing."
Upon hearing this, a strange smile spread across the old man's lips: "Once you enter the Holy Temple, do you think you will still have the right to refuse?"
"Are you going to force me?" Xiao Man asked softly.
"I am here to fulfill you, to make you my successor!" As soon as he spoke, a powerful force surged from the old man's body into hers through her arm.
Xiao Man's expression changed drastically: "What do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do? Naturally, I want to make you the Great Priest of this Holy Temple," the old man sneered. "When I wanted you to come, you wouldn't. Now you want to leave? It's too late!"
Xiao Man resisted with her spiritual energy while cursing. The old man, seeing her spirited curses, smiled even more brightly: "Little child, don't blame me. Blame yourself for having excellent talent but no brains."
However, when the old man's primordial spirit entered Xiao Man's body, he discovered he was imprisoned. He could not possess Xiao Man's body, nor could he escape from it.
A smile played on Xiao Man's lips: "Great Priest, do you find my body satisfactory?"
"You... who are you?"
"I am me." Xiao Man pulled over a nearby chair and sat down. "Many people have tried to possess my body, and all have failed. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because this body of mine is not something anyone can touch," Xiao Man said slowly. "A body tempered with the divine essence of a celestial being, and a vast sea of soul. A mere demon like you cannot control it."
"Divine essence... you... you are of the Xuan race."
"Finally, you figured it out. It wasn't easy."
"No, release me quickly! I will tell the Divine Lord that you are a monstrous genius of the Xuan race."
Xiao Man let out a snort of laughter. Azure flames instantly engulfed her entire body. The primordial spirit of the Great Priest, imprisoned within, was consumed by the Nine Nether Flames, emitting a shrill scream.
Sensing that something was wrong, Qing Ti rushed back. He saw Xiao Man ablaze, while the Great Priest lay on the ground, unconscious.
"Great Priest, how are you?" Qing Ti helped the Great Priest up and checked his pulse. He found the Great Priest's breath had ceased, his primordial spirit nowhere to be found. Xiao Man, meanwhile, was enveloped in blue flames, her life or death uncertain.
"Nangong Yu, are you alright?" Qing Ti tentatively reached out to touch Xiao Man, but recoiled quickly as his fingers touched the flames. His fingertips were frostbitten, yet it was fire!
"Nine Nether Flames!" Qing Ti's expression was one of shock. "How can there be Nine Nether Flames here? Did you bring them in?"
As Qing Ti finished speaking, the Nine Nether Flames exploded outward, surging out of the room. In a moment, the vast Holy Temple was engulfed by the Nine Nether Flames.
Qing Ti, like a mad bull with its tail set alight, bolted out. The Nine Nether Flames pursued him, exploding throughout the inner city. The once peaceful and serene inner city of the holy land was instantly filled with screams and people fleeing in all directions.