Just as the group arrived outside the mountain gate of the Wenjian Sect, three Wenjian Sect disciples stepped forward to block them.
Chu Xingzhi, who was leading them, slowly swept his gaze over the six of them and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, if it isn't the people from the Changming Sect?”
Ye Qiao sized up their sect uniforms, which looked like mourning clothes, and quietly leaned closer to Luo Qingyu, whispering, “Fourth Senior Brother, who is he? How does he look even more arrogant than Song Hansheng?”
Luo Qingyu replied in a low voice, “A Wenjian Sect Personal Disciple, Chu Xingzhi.”
Hearing the two whispering to each other, Chu Xingzhi's face darkened slightly, and he barked, “Hey! Whispering right in front of me, do you really think I can't hear you?”
Ye Qiao casually picked her ear and said in a lackadaisical manner, “So you heard us, big deal. Don't tell me we need your permission just to speak?”
Chu Xingzhi was momentarily at a loss for words, completely choked up by Ye Qiao's response.
His gaze shifted, landing on Ming Xuan, who was waving his Flowing Cloud Fan. His tone was full of sarcasm. “Ming Xuan, it's been a few years since we last met, and you still haven't broken through to the Golden Core Realm.”
“With this level of cultivation, you actually dare to participate in the tournament? I feel embarrassed for you.”
Ming Xuan paused his fanning. His expression remained completely unfazed as he adopted a lazy, defeatist attitude, casually replying, “Ah, yes, yes, yes. Everything you say is right. I'm just trash.”
Chu Xingzhi had a stomach full of anger, but with all his sarcasm falling flat, his face instantly turned black.
He turned his head to glare at Mu Zhongxi, his tone growing irritable. “Mu Zhongxi! If you have the guts, fight me!”
Mu Zhongxi raised an eyebrow. His tone was calm, but every word cut deep. “Why should I fight you? Because you think you have that much face?”
These words instantly enraged Chu Xingzhi!
In his fury, he flipped his wrist, and the longsword at his waist unsheathed half an inch. A cold, sharp sword light flashed, and he looked ready to strike on the spot.
At this critical juncture, Luo Qingyu's eyes flickered slightly, and she said calmly, “Ye Qinghan is here.”
Chu Xingzhi froze all over. Terrified, he immediately sheathed his longsword and whipped his head around to look behind him, terrified that his Senior Brother would catch him causing trouble.
Taking advantage of his distraction, Luo Qingyu acted swiftly. She grabbed Ye Qiao's arm and barked in a low voice, “Go!”
The others reacted incredibly fast. Ming Xuan, Xue Yu, Zhou Xingyun, and Mu Zhongxi followed close behind, sprinting down the path like a gust of wind, heading straight for the courtyard arranged by the Wenjian Sect for their rest.
Only Chu Xingzhi and his companions were left standing foolishly at the mountain gate.
Standing behind him, Zhu You spoke up helplessly, “Second Senior Brother, stop looking. Senior Brother didn't come at all. You were just played.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Xingzhi instantly turned to stone!
A wave of belated embarrassment and rage rushed to his head. Gritting his teeth, he placed his hand on his hilt again, preparing to draw his sword and chase after them to settle the score.
Beside him, his junior brothers Xia Qing and Zuo Yi hurriedly held him back from both sides, desperately trying to persuade him.
“Second Senior Brother, don't be impulsive! If word gets out that you fought here, you'll be locked in the forbidden grounds! The secret realm will open in just a few days. Once we're inside, there will be plenty of opportunities!”
Hearing their words, Chu Xingzhi could only force down his anger. He whipped his sleeve back violently and turned to leave, taking Zhu You, Xia Qing, and Zuo Yi with him.
...
Meanwhile, the group from the Changming Sect ran all the way to the courtyard arranged by the Wenjian Sect.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Ye Qiao caught her breath and looked at Luo Qingyu. “Fourth Senior Brother! Did Ye Qinghan really come just now?!”
Luo Qingyu caught her breath as well, a faint smile gracing her eyes as she said softly, “No, I lied to him.”
The moment she spoke, Mu Zhongxi couldn't help but burst into loud laughter. “Hahaha! I can't believe that idiot Chu Xingzhi actually fell for it!”
Ming Xuan gently waved the Flowing Cloud Fan in his hand and chimed in, “Serves him right for mocking us the moment he saw us.”
Xue Yu's expression turned slightly solemn as he spoke slowly, “After this incident, a grudge has probably been formed between our two sects. Once we enter the secret realm, we might have a hard time.”
Zhou Xingyun silently drew his sword and said in a deep voice, “Once we reach the secret realm, we will eliminate him first.”
Luo Qingyu waved her hand slightly and said calmly, “Alright, alright, don't think too much about it. Just rest well these next few days. The secret realm will open very soon.”
Ye Qiao nodded obediently. She planned to use this time to rest and build up her energy. After all, how could she perform well in the tournament if she didn't sleep well?
In the grand scheme of things, eating and sleeping were the most important.
With that, they all returned to their respective lodgings.
*
Inside the Wenjian Sect's courtyard.
Chu Xingzhi was currently complaining to Ye Qinghan, “Senior Brother, that's exactly what happened! Luo Qingyu actually dared to play me like a fool in public!”
“Once we enter the secret realm, we absolutely cannot make things easy for those people from the Changming Sect!”
Ye Qinghan frowned slowly and said calmly, “In this entire matter, you were the one who went up to provoke them first.”
Chu Xingzhi looked completely taken aback and asked in confusion, “When the major sects meet, isn't it completely normal to exchange verbal barbs and test each other?”
Standing behind him, Zhu You added a quiet jab, “Second Senior Brother, and you were also the first one to draw your sword and try to fight.”
Chu Xingzhi was instantly left speechless. He could only shut his mouth resentfully and stand there in silence.
...
Three days later.
Everyone set off for the secret realm's gathering grounds. Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, they ran straight into the group from the Yueqing Sect.
Song Hansheng locked his gaze onto Ye Qiao and spoke in a fierce tone, “Ye Qiao!”
Hearing him call her, Ye Qiao quickly took two steps back and feigned vigilance. “What? The tournament hasn't even started yet. You aren't trying to use this chance to cozy up to me, are you?”
Song Hansheng: ???! Are you out of your mind?! Who wants to cozy up to you?
Just then, a familiar voice rang out, “Second Senior Sister!”
Ming Xuan and Mu Zhongxi immediately stepped forward, shielding Ye Qiao on both sides, and confronted the Yueqing Sect group on the spot, nearly driving them mad with anger.
Luo Qingyu turned her head to look at Xue Yu and asked, “Aren't you going to help?”
Xue Yu shook his head. “No need. Junior Sister can handle it herself.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Qiao directly raised her hand and flipped them the middle finger.
Although Mu Zhongxi and Ming Xuan didn't understand what it meant, they followed her lead and did the same.
Luo Qingyu's lips twitched violently. Feeling somewhat helpless as she watched her fellow disciples join in, she simply raised her hand and made the gesture along with them.
Song Hansheng's face turned ash-pale as he shouted sharply, “What is the meaning of this? Are you mocking our Yueqing Sect?”
Ye Qiao smirked mischievously. “Not at all. This is just the Changming Sect's latest friendly gesture.”
Yueqing Sect: ...
Like hell we'd believe you. There is no way this is a friendly gesture.
...
The group boarded a flying boat, and before long, they arrived at the location where the secret realm was to open.
Mu Zhongxi suddenly proposed, “I heard that many people in Fusheng City are placing bets on which sect will take first place. Why don't we go join in the fun?”
Ye Qiao immediately agreed, “Sure!”
With that, she dragged the others along, and the group headed straight for the largest gambling house in Fusheng City.
Inside, many rogue cultivators were gathered around to watch the excitement. The gambling house owner came forward to greet them and asked with a smile, “Which sect do you honored guests plan to bet on?”
Ye Qiao pulled a bag of spirit stones directly from her storage ring and declared loudly, “Fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones on the Changming Sect!”
Xue Yu's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Ye Qiao. “Who did you rob?”
Ye Qiao turned her head to look at Luo Qingyu and teased, “I have to thank Fourth Senior Brother for this.”
Hearing Ye Qiao's teasing, the tips of Luo Qingyu's ears turned slightly red.
Mu Zhongxi also took out a bag of spirit stones and said, “On the Changming Sect, two hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones.”
Seeing both of them placing bets, Xue Yu shook his head helplessly and took out his spirit stones. “Three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones on the Changming Sect.”
Senior Brother Zhou Xingyun spoke calmly, “One hundred and fifty thousand on the Changming Sect.”
Ming Xuan waved his Flowing Cloud Fan, full of confidence. “Then I'll match that with three hundred thousand!”
Finally, it was Luo Qingyu's turn. Everyone whipped their heads around to look at her.
Luo Qingyu's expression remained calm as she retrieved a massive, heavy bag of spirit stones from her storage ring, saying softly, “One million high-grade spirit stones on the Changming Sect.”
As soon as she spoke, the surrounding rogue cultivators instantly gasped in unison.
Are these people fools? They actually bet two million!
The gambling house owner's pupils shrank, a sharp light flashing across his eyes.
Oh boy! To dump so many spirit stones at once on the Changming Sect, which was always at the bottom of the rankings—he was going to make a fortune!
A flattering smile plastered across his face, the gambling house owner quickly stepped forward to register each of their bets.
Xue Yu turned to look at everyone and joked, “If we win, we can take these spirit stones back to the sect and have a wonderful New Year. If we lose, we might as well find a cliff and jump off.”
Ye Qiao: “For the sake of two million.”
Xue Yu, Ming Xuan, and Mu Zhongxi said in unison, “We must win.”
Luo Qingyu: ...
Zhou Xingyun: ...
Silence is tonight's Cambridge.
Rate on N.U.
