The next morning.
In the quiet bamboo courtyard, a crisp knock on the door rang out once again.
Hearing the sound, Ye Ling sheathed her sword, pushed open the bamboo door, and immediately saw Nalan Yanli, who had returned after a long absence.
Nalan Yanli's eyes were bright and beautiful, and though she looked slightly weary from her travels, she could not hide her joy.
The moment she saw Ye Ling, she stepped forward quickly, her tone full of excitement.
“Ye Ling, I'm back! I never break a promise I made to you.”
Ye Ling looked at her sincere and enthusiastic senior sister, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
“Senior Sister always keeps her word.”
She stepped aside to welcome Nalan Yanli into the courtyard.
As Nalan Yanli walked inside, she grumbled indignantly.
“I've been away for several months, and the moment I returned to the sect today, I heard that those five Xiantian Realm geniuses are exceptionally participating in the new disciple tournament.
“This is really too much! They are clearly bullying the weak! How could Master agree to such a request? He's such an annoying Master!”
Ye Ling quickly interrupted her. “Senior Sister, don't blame the Sect Master. I agreed to this myself.”
Nalan Yanli's footsteps came to a sudden halt. She turned around and scrutinized her with suspicion.
“You agreed to it yourself? Why? A Houtian against Xiantian—this isn't even in the same league!”
Ye Ling's expression was calm, her gaze clear.
“Don't worry, Senior Sister. I have absolute confidence that I won't lose.”
The moment the words fell, Nalan Yanli finally noticed something unusual.
Ye Ling's aura was completely different now.
Her previously light and reserved aura had fully settled, replaced by a deep and condensed foundation. Her spiritual energy was as stable as a mountain.
It was several times stronger than it had been a few months ago.
Nalan Yanli was slightly startled and instantly understood.
It seemed that in just a few short months, Ye Ling had undergone a complete transformation.
Looking at the calm and confident girl before her, she swallowed her worries and stopped trying to persuade her otherwise.
The two of them rested and relaxed in the bamboo courtyard for the morning.
Nalan Yanli enthusiastically shared her experiences from her months of traveling and training.
She spoke in detail about the beautiful mountains and rivers, local customs, and the martial cultivators she had run into.
Ye Ling sat quietly to the side, listening patiently and chiming in occasionally. The atmosphere was relaxed and cozy.
It wasn't until noon approached and the sun grew hot that the start of the new disciple tournament drew near.
Only then did they tidy up and leave the small bamboo courtyard together, walking toward the outer sect's largest martial arts grounds.
Along the way, the mountain paths were bustling with a continuous stream of people.
Although Nalan Yanli had been away for several months, her popularity in the Qinglan Sword Sect had not waned in the slightest.
The inner sect disciples and personal disciple seniors they met along the way all lit up upon seeing her, stopping to cup their hands and greet her.
While exchanging pleasantries, their gazes would inevitably land on Ye Ling beside her, and they would politely greet her as well.
After all, this was the peerless genius who had climbed nine thousand steps of the Heavenly Spirit Stairs, was personally favored by the Sect Master, and enjoyed the sole support of the sect.
Every disciple knew in their heart that her future was limitless.
It certainly wouldn't hurt to make a good impression now.
In the face of the endless stream of greetings, Ye Ling remained calm throughout.
She merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment without saying much. Her demeanor was cold yet polite, carrying an innate sense of aloofness.
Seeing this, the disciples secretly thought to themselves that the rumors were indeed true.
This genius who had caused a sensation throughout the sect was indeed cold, taciturn, and disliked noise.
Walking beside her, Nalan Yanli looked at the restrained yet curious expressions of the crowd and couldn't help but peek at Ye Ling.
With a faint smile hidden in her eyes, she didn't expose her. She accompanied the silent and calm Ye Ling through the crowd, walking steadily toward the martial arts grounds.
In the crowd surrounding the martial arts grounds, Su Qinghan and Su Qinghe had been quietly watching and waiting.
They immediately spotted Ye Ling walking over slowly. Overjoyed, the two of them squeezed through the crowd and quickly went up to greet her.
After a brief chat, they walked together toward the waiting area reserved for new disciples.
Nalan Yanli accompanied them into the waiting room, but not long after they sat down, she stood up to take her leave.
As a personal disciple, it was not appropriate for her to stay in the new disciple waiting area for long.
She looked at Ye Ling, gave her a few soft words of advice, then waved with a smile and left for the elevated spectator platform reserved for elders and personal disciples.
Inside the waiting room, only Ye Ling, Su Qinghan, and Su Qinghe remained.
Avoiding the noisy crowd, they found a quiet corner and sat down side by side.
All around them were nervous and anxious new disciples. Some were repeatedly regulating their breathing, while others clenched their fists. Everyone's emotions were tightly wound by the atmosphere of the upcoming tournament.
However, Su Qinghan and Su Qinghe were exceptionally calm.
In this tournament, Ye Ling crushed her peers from the front, while five Xiantian Realm geniuses anchored the back. With their cultivation, they were destined to just be background players.
From the very beginning, neither of them had any illusions about competing for a top rank. Participating this time was merely going through the motions.
Thus, facing the upcoming competition, they felt none of the anxiety and urgency of the other disciples, sitting leisurely in the corner with calm composure.
Before long, the new disciples around the waiting area began whispering to one another, and the noisy chatter grew louder and louder.
Suddenly, someone cried out in alarm.
“Look at the sky, everyone!”
Hearing this, Ye Ling, Su Qinghan, and Su Qinghe raised their eyes to look at the horizon.
They saw five figures stepping on the void, standing in midair, leisurely hovering in the sky.
They deliberately paused for a moment, waiting until the entire crowd's gaze had gathered on them, before gracefully and slowly descending toward the elevated martial arts stage.
The arena instantly erupted into a clamor, and someone exclaimed in sudden realization.
“To be able to hover in midair—that is an ability only those in the Xiantian Realm possess!”
“There are exactly five of them, and it's today's new disciple tournament. They must be those five Xiantian geniuses!”
Many new disciples harbored resentment in their hearts and grumbled indignantly on the spot.
“Hmph, they're way too flashy! It's one thing for Xiantian Realm cultivators to participate in a new disciple tournament, but they even have to make such a dramatic entrance.”
“Exactly. These five are really putting on too much of a show.”
Disgruntled murmurs rose and fell, and everyone's eyes were firmly locked on the five figures on the stage.
There was defiance, wariness, and a strong desire to watch the spectacle unfold.
The five who landed from midair were indeed the five Xiantian Realm geniuses who were exceptionally participating this time.
The five stood tall in the center of the martial arts stage, their expressions indifferent and calm, looking entirely relaxed.
Yet, no one knew that their hearts were far from as peaceful as they appeared on the surface.
This high-profile, midair entrance was something the five of them had agreed upon beforehand.
Beside them, Zhou Ruoyao lowered her voice and spoke with a hint of hesitation.
“Sister Xuerou, is our entrance a bit too high-profile? Won't it invite criticism?”
Wang Jingyuan also nodded in agreement, feeling slightly puzzled in his heart.
Before the leading Leng Xuerou could speak, the steady Zhou Ming beside her took the lead to explain.
“This doesn't count as high-profile. We are Xiantian Realm cultivators to begin with. Walking on air is a genuine skill, so why shouldn't we use it?”
His gaze swept over the crowd below, his tone carrying a trace of stubbornness.
“Moreover, only by doing this can we leave a deep impression on everyone.
“The five of us are all top geniuses among our peers in the Qingyun Kingdom, yet since entering the sect, everyone's praise has landed solely on Ye Ling.
“Our reputation has been completely overshadowed by her alone.”
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