The Demon with Holy Radiance-Chapter 137 - 122: Secret Calamity Treasure Map, a Plea for Help from the New Junior Brother

"Spit it out. If you keep spouting this useless nonsense, I'm going to kick you out."

Yang An didn't bother being pleasant.

As a Senior Brother, he had to project an air of authority. They were both members of the same sect, which meant there was a high chance they would be enemies in the future.

Until he had a clear understanding of the other man, Yang An had no intention of being friendly.

Seeing that Yang An clearly wasn't falling for his act, Zhou Quan reined himself in.

"Senior Brother, every word I've said is true. I truly admire you, which is why I've come to pay my respects, hoping to receive your guidance."

'Guidance?'

"Why should I look out for you?"

Yang An didn't beat around the bush and asked directly.

'I already gave the Cultivation Technique to the old man, and the old man must have given it to Zhou Quan. This guy's current situation is infinitely better than mine was when I first joined the sect.'

'There's no one blocking his path, and for now, no one is chasing him from behind. As long as he keeps cultivating, his path to the Visceral Stone Realm should be completely unobstructed.'

'One person plants the tree, another rests in its shade. I've already cleared the obstacles on the path ahead, and I'm confident this guy won't be able to catch up to me anytime soon.'

'He's already benefiting from my hard work. What more guidance does he need?'

Hearing Yang An's words, Zhou Quan's expression became troubled, as if he found it difficult to speak his mind.

Seeing his expression, Yang An's eyes narrowed slightly as a thought occurred to him.

'Could it be...'

"Senior Brother, to be honest, Second Senior Brother only gave me the Cultivation Technique that goes up to the Late Stage Fake Food Realm."

Zhou Quan said slowly.

"Was that Second Senior Brother's decision, or the Master's?"

"The Master instructed Second Senior Brother to do so."

Zhou Quan answered honestly.

'Of course!'

Yang An knew the old man would never let his disciples have an easy time. If new disciples rose through the ranks so easily, it wouldn't fit the sect's character of Raising Gu.

He sensed Zhou Quan's Cultivation Level aura. He was merely at the Resonance Stage, still a mortal.

"So, what is it you want?"

Yang An asked with a hint of amusement.

'Right now, I'm the only one ahead of Zhou Quan as his Ninth Senior Brother, and there's basically no way he can surpass me in the short term. The old man has definitely prepared some special hurdles just for him.'

'Getting the subsequent Cultivation Technique won't be that easy for him.'

'Not to mention, the old man might recruit new disciples later. If Zhou Quan is too slow, he'll only end up being eliminated.'

The competition within the sect was ruthless. Falling behind didn't just mean getting beaten up; it meant utter annihilation, both in body and soul.

'If you have no value, you die.'

"I hope to receive your guidance, Ninth Senior Brother! If I face difficulties in the future, I hope you can lend me a hand! And if I manage to grow stronger, I will never make things difficult for you."

Zhou Quan kowtowed, his tone sincere.

He had chosen to visit Yang An not just because what he'd said was true—that he genuinely admired Yang An's exploits within the sect.

The main reason was that in his days since entering the Life Crane Sect, he had learned what he needed to know.

'All of my sect brothers are a bunch of freaks. Only this Ninth Senior Brother seems remotely normal, and he's the closest to me in rank.'

'The others are all too dangerous. Just getting close to them is a huge risk, let alone paying them a formal visit.'

He knew full well that he posed no threat to this Ninth Senior Brother right now. If he could just declare his future stance and show his sincerity, he might be able to find a backer within the sect.

"Why should I help you?"

Yang An shook his head coolly.

"You clearly don't understand your own situation. What can you possibly decide? Can you even control your own choices in the future?

"The Rules are made by those at the top. Those at the bottom are merely the ones who execute them."

Yang An had gone through the same thing. With the Cultivation Technique in the old man's hands—in someone else's hands—he had no right to choose.

The moment one stepped through the gates of the Life Crane Sect, one could only obey its rules of competition.

The strong get stronger, and the weak can only die.

Promising not to make enemies with others was just empty, unrealistic talk.

He had considered making a move like Zhou Quan's before, but after understanding the sect's rules, he knew it was pointless to even think about it.

As long as the old man was around, any such thoughts were useless, because the old man was the one above the Rules.

'If you can't surpass him, then for every day you're in the sect, you can only follow his rules.'

"I only hope to receive your help, Senior Brother. I will never take the initiative to become your enemy. If I am ever in peril, I hope you will help me. For this, I am willing to offer you a family heirloom. I hope you will accept."

Zhou Quan remained kowtowing on the ground, not getting up, his words earnest.

He gritted his teeth, then took an object from the Storage Magical Artifact at his waist and slowly pushed it in front of Yang An.

Yang An raised an eyebrow and sized up the object Zhou Quan had pushed forward.

It was a palm-sized, disc-shaped white stone. It was called a stone, but its texture suggested it was something more. Its surface was covered in many bizarre patterns that resembled neither objects nor people, looking more like random scribbles.

"What is this?"

"This is an heirloom that has been passed down in my family for generations. According to the last words of my ancestors, it's a secret map that leads to a treasure.

"Although it has been passed down through my family, we have been unable to decipher it with the naked eye. But I can guarantee that this object is genuine!"

Zhou Quan said with conviction.

Hearing Zhou Quan's words, Yang An found it somewhat amusing.

'Is he trying to trade a useless item for my help? What a clever scheme. Trying to get something for nothing, are we?'

'Just because you say it holds a secret treasure, that makes it so?'

An idea struck Yang An. He reached out to pick up the stone from the floor, planning to use his ability to verify it.

If the item wasn't mundane, he would be able to tell.

And just as Yang An picked up the stone and held it in his hand, a text box popped up before his eyes.

[**Secret Calamity Treasure Map**]: Created by the Cultivator Zhou Man and passed down through his descendants. It contains a treasure map, Sealed and cursed by a secret calamitous art, making it impossible to read. To break the Seal, one must sacrifice the entire Essence Blood of a direct descendant of the Cultivator Zhou Man within ten generations.

**Cost of Use**: This item contains a curse. With each passing generation, the curse upon the holder deepens, leading to the complete extinction of the bloodline by the tenth generation.

**Status**: Can be Purified!

'It really is a treasure map holding a secret treasure?' Yang An was slightly startled, but his expression remained impassive.

He pretended to study it for a moment without finding anything, then turned his gaze to Zhou Quan and asked casually.

"How many generations has this been passed down to reach you? Do you have any other family members?"

"Reporting to Senior Brother, I am the tenth generation to hold it. I am now all alone in this world."

Zhou Quan replied, a flash of sorrow crossing his face as if he had recalled something painful.

"Ten generations couldn't uncover this item's secret. Do you really think it has any value?"

Yang An said, finding it slightly funny.

Zhou Quan fell silent, unable to refute the point.

After a moment, seeing him like this, Yang An sighed.

"Fine. Your background is similar to mine—we're both orphans. Let's just say I can't bear to watch this. I'll accept this item.

"I can promise to help you once, within the scope of my abilities. But this alone isn't enough. If I do end up saving you, you must promise me one thing in return. How about it?"

Zhou Quan immediately looked hesitant.

"Senior Brother, may I ask what it is?"

"I haven't thought of it yet, but it definitely won't be your life. If you think that's acceptable, then agree. If not, take this thing back."

Yang An said slowly.

'This thing really is Zhou Quan's family heirloom. He wasn't lying.'

'If he had been lying, I would have already thrown him out.'

Because he understood Zhou Quan's purpose for visiting, Yang An's attitude softened slightly.

'As for this Secret Calamity Treasure Map...'

'It's just a map. No one knows what secrets it holds. If I can get it, great. If not, it doesn't matter.'

'It all just depends on whether this new junior brother accepts the deal.'

"I don't have much time. You'd better make a decision quickly."

He didn't know when the container's teleportation would activate, so seeing Zhou Quan's hesitation, Yang An urged him.

Zhou Quan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

He had no other choice. With Yang An, he might be able to trade a seemingly useless item for a chance at help.

But with any of his other sect brothers, he likely wouldn't even get a chance to speak...

Who could he blame? He was at the very bottom of the food chain in the entire Life Crane Sect.

Not everyone could be like Yang An, who had climbed from the position of the thirteenth disciple all the way to the ninth.

After leaving a Qi Seal on Zhou Quan, Yang An watched his departing figure as Zhou Quan took his leave. The large doors were slowly closed by a Corpse Slave.

"Bow Lady, do you think that guy is smart?"

Yang An suddenly asked in his mind. While waiting for the container's teleportation, he had already put on the Bow Lady.

"You little brat, you think I know everything?"

"..."

'Right! Asking was pointless.'

Yang An didn't know if Zhou Quan was smart, but he did think the guy knew how to assess a situation.

'If I were in Zhou Quan's position, without any special abilities and as the weakest in the sect, I would definitely try to secure a lifeline for myself first.'

'There's nothing wrong with that.'

As for why Zhou Quan chose him and sought his help, Yang An's thoughts turned to Second Senior Brother.

Both he and Zhou Quan had gotten their information from Second Senior Brother Fu Ming after joining the sect.

Moreover, Zhou Quan had just mentioned that he even knew about him killing his former senior brothers and clashing with You Hong'Er and the others—all information that came from Second Senior Brother.

'It's impossible that Second Senior Brother didn't have some influence in all this.'

He made a mental note of it but didn't dwell on it too much. At least for now, Second Senior Brother hadn't shown him a malicious side.

'One must always be wary of others.' Yang An always kept this principle in mind.

Storing the Secret Calamity Treasure Map he'd gotten from Zhou Quan into his Meat Burial Talisman, Yang An continued to wait for news from the Tree of Flesh and Blood.

It wasn't until half an hour later that the Tree of Flesh and Blood finally showed a sign of activity.