Read The Almighty Dominance Novel (Alexander Leonhart and Sophia Lancaster) by Sunshine Updated 2025 -26 - The Almighty Dominance Chapter 589

Pure Snow Sword Maiden, Li Chingxue, ranked among the most important disciples in the entire sect. She was one of the five core disciples personally chosen by the Sect Master—a position far above the ordinary ranks.

Core disciples answered directly to the Sect Master himself. They handled matters that affected the entire sect—internal disputes, external threats, and the delicate balance of power within Wudang.

And from those five, one would eventually inherit the position of Sect Master. Their status within Wudang Sect wasn’t merely high.

It was decisive.

Li Chingxue stood calmly before the Sect Master and bowed with quiet respect.

“Master, is there something you need from me?”

The Sect Master looked at her, then suddenly laughed.

“The person you brought into the sect…” he said slowly, amusement flickering in his eyes. “That young man is extremely interesting. Ever since he showed up, life in this old sect has become far less boring.”

Li Chingxue’s brows drew together slightly.

“Master, if he has caused any trouble within the sect, I beg your forgiveness on his behalf.”

The Sect Master waved a dismissive hand.

“Trouble? No. On the contrary—he has brought tremendous benefits to Wudang.”

He leaned back in his seat, clearly entertained.

“Didn’t you know? Ever since he arrived at Thousand Herbs Peak, the total production of spirit herbs there has increased by nearly fifty percent in a single year.”

He chuckled.

“The highest increase in the peak’s entire recorded history.”

Li Chingxue blinked, clearly caught off guard.

“What does that have to do with that man… Jun Jiu?” she asked, confusion written plainly across her face. “Isn’t he just a new outer disciple?”

The Sect Master chuckled softly.

“Well…” he said, clearly amused. “The boy is unusually clever. He completely revolutionized how spirit herbs are cultivated on Thousand Herbs Peak. The method he designed increased the overall harvest significantly.”

Li Chingxue’s eyes widened slightly.

“He’s that capable?”

The Sect Master nodded calmly.

“Two years ago, he took the Medical Pavilion examination. And he finished in first place.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“A result that hasn’t happened in the past thousand years.”

For a moment, Li Chingxue simply stared.

“…Are we talking about the same disciple?” she finally asked. “The one who caused trouble in the kitchen?”

“Yes,” the Sect Master replied with a faint smile.

“The very same. In fact, the Lord of Thousand Herbs Peak has already come to see me.”

“He requested permission to take the boy as his direct disciple… and groom him as his successor.”

This time, Li Chingxue was genuinely shocked.

“What?”

Then her expression softened slightly.

“That should be good news for him.”

The Sect Master shook his head.

“No, not good news for him.”

Li Chingxue frowned.

“Why?”

“Because I refused. The Lord of Thousand Herbs Peak will not take Jun Jiu as his disciple.”

Li Chingxue stared at him in disbelief.

“…Why, Master?”

The Sect Master’s lips curved faintly.

“Because I am interested in him.”

Li Chingxue froze.

The Sect Master continued calmly, as if discussing something completely ordinary.

“Go find him.”

“Tell him to participate in the upcoming Outer Disciple Tournament.”

His gaze sharpened.

“That will give me a proper reason to take him as my disciple.”

Li Chingxue stared at him.

“Master… are you certain?”

The Sect Master leaned back slowly.

“No,” he said honestly.

“I haven’t made a final decision.”

His eyes gleamed faintly.

“But first… I want to see him fight.”

“I want to see what kind of person he truly is when he steps into the arena.”

Li Chingxue bowed deeply.

“I understand.”

She turned and walked out of the hall.

But her mind was far from calm.

If the Sect Master truly took Jun Jiu as a disciple…

Then the balance of power inside Wudang Sect—especially among the five core disciples competing to become the next Sect Master—would shift dramatically. And that change…

could bring both opportunity.

And danger.

At that moment, far from the main halls of the sect—

Alex was kneeling quietly in the courtyard outside his small residence, carefully planting a new batch of herbs into freshly turned soil.

Li Chingxue stopped the moment she stepped into the courtyard.

Shock flashed across her usually calm face.

When she had first assigned this place to Alex, it had been nothing more than a barren patch of land—one of the most remote corners of the Outer Disciple area. She had chosen it deliberately. The location was isolated, far from the main paths—a place where a troublesome disciple could stay out of sight and out of trouble.

At the time, she had thought it was the perfect solution.

But now…

The place had completely transformed.

What had once looked like neglected wasteland had turned into something close to a small paradise.

Rows of spirit herbs grew in neat patterns across the courtyard. Rare plants swayed gently in the wind, their leaves shimmering with faint spiritual light. The air itself felt different here—thicker, richer.

The surrounding spiritual energy was nearly ten times denser than in ordinary outer disciple areas.

And the reason was obvious.

The herbs themselves were releasing powerful spiritual energy into the air.

Li Chingxue stared for a long moment, genuinely stunned.

Then her voice cut sharply through the quiet courtyard.

“Jun Jiu!”

At that exact moment, Alex was crouched beside a patch of soil, carefully planting several rare herbs he had recently received as payment. The sudden shout nearly made him jump.

He spun around instantly.

The moment he recognized who stood there, he hurried to his feet and bowed deeply.

“Pure Snow Sword Maiden, Li Chingxue. This humble outer disciple, Jun Jiu, greets you.”

His tone was respectful and cautious.

After all, he was only an outer disciple, while she was one of the sect’s core disciples. The difference in status between them was enormous. Showing proper respect was the only sensible choice.

Li Chingxue said nothing at first.

She simply looked at him.

Her face was expressionless, but inside, her thoughts were far from calm.

She still couldn’t understand it.

How could both the Lord of Thousand Herbs Peak and the Sect Master himself show interest in this man?

What exactly made him so special?

Li Chingxue gave a faint, dismissive snort.

“You’ve been an outer disciple for two years,” she said coldly. “And yet your cultivation base…”

Her voice carried clear contempt, as if she were about to mock him for being weak.

But as she stepped closer and examined his cultivation more carefully—

Her words stopped.

For a split second, genuine shock flashed across her eyes.

Two years ago, when she had first brought him here, Alex had only been at the fifth level of Qi Condensation.

But now…

He had already reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

Only one step away from entering the Inner Sect.

Li Chingxue felt a chill run down her spine.

This was something that simply didn’t happen.

She tried to recall exactly when she had brought Alex here. At most, it had been three years.

Three years.

In just three years, this man had climbed from zero to the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

Countless cultivators spent thirty years and still failed to reach this level.

And as far as she could remember…

No one had ever achieved it in only three years.

Now she finally understood.

No wonder the Sect Master wanted him.

“Miss Pure Snow Sword Maiden, Li Chingxue,” Alex said humbly, still bowing slightly. “I know my cultivation progress has been slow. I’m rather stupid and dull. I’ll try to improve over the next few years.”

Li Chingxue nearly choked.

Slow?

Dull?

Her expression darkened immediately.

If three years was slow, then what did that make her?

It had taken her twenty years to enter the Inner Sect—and that achievement alone had already earned her the title of a genius within Wudang.

But this man…

Three years.

Only three years.

And he had the audacity to call himself slow and dull?

A flicker of irritation rose in her chest.

It seemed this man needed a proper lesson in humility.

“Considering how much time you seem to have for playing around,” Li Chingxue said coldly, her voice sharp as a blade, “it’s clear you’re not exactly busy.”

She crossed her arms and glanced around the courtyard filled with flourishing herbs.

“In that case, you will participate in the Ninth Level Qi Condensation Competition in three months.”

Her gaze locked onto him.

“It will be held right here on Thousand Herbs Peak.”

Alex’s heart immediately began to pound.

Of course he knew about the competition.

Every outer disciple in Wudang had heard about it.

The tournament offered generous rewards—rare pills, cultivation resources, and even opportunities to catch the attention of powerful elders.

But everyone also knew the darker truth behind it.

The fights were brutal.

Once inside the arena, no one held back.

Serious injuries were common.

And sometimes…

People died.

Alex frowned deeply.

“Pure Snow Sword Maiden, Li Chingxue,” he said cautiously, choosing his words with care. “I only reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation a few days ago. My cultivation was boosted by herbs and pills. My foundation isn’t stable yet.”

He shook his head.

“I’ll probably need another ten years to properly stabilize my energy.”

Then he looked at her seriously.

“If I join the competition now and someone beats me to death in the arena… what then?”

Alex gave a small shrug.

“So I must respectfully refuse.”

Li Chingxue didn’t even react to the question.

Her expression turned even colder.

“It’s not a request.”

Her tone left no room for discussion.

“You will participate. And if you fail to place within the top three…”

Alex suddenly broke into a wide smile.

“Will you expel me from the sect and send me back to Xia?”

Li Chingxue’s eyes instantly sharpened.

Every disciple she had ever met trembled at the mere possibility of being expelled from Wudang.

But this man?

He looked almost… hopeful.

As if he had been waiting for exactly that.

What made it even more infuriating was the fact that this same man possessed astonishing talent—talent so great that even the Sect Master himself had taken an interest in him.

And yet here he was.

Actively hoping to be thrown out.

For a moment, Li Chingxue felt a sudden urge to punch him in the face.

Alex sensed the killing intent rising from her and instinctively stepped back. His heart started pounding violently.

“If you fail to enter the top three,” Li Chingxue said slowly, her voice frighteningly calm, “I will personally send you back to Xia.”

Alex’s eyes lit up.

“Really?”

A wide grin spread across his face.

“Yes,” Li Chingxue said, staring at him with cold disdain. A faint scoff slipped from her lips as her eyes hardened.

“But only your corpse.”

A chill ran down Alex’s spine.

The way she said it…

There was absolutely no doubt she meant it.

If he failed to reach the top three…

She would kill him herself.

Alex swallowed.

Then another problem surfaced in his mind.

Wudang Sect had more than eight thousand outer disciples.

And among them, countless people had reached the ninth level of Qi Condensation long ago.

To reach the top three…

He would have to defeat an enormous number of opponents.

Alex felt a headache coming on.

This wasn’t just trouble.

This was going to be a complete nightmare.