Early the next morning, as the first light of dawn broke, Su Yi was still lost in dreams when a pretty maid gently woke him. It was Qiu Yue from his mother’s courtyard, sent on orders to groom and dress him, preparing his attire for the Ascendance Gathering.
Su Yi obediently sat before the mirror, letting her fuss over him. The bronze mirror reflected an exceptionally striking face. Having been born transmigrated and pampered since childhood, his appearance was exquisitely maintained.
Ink-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, framing clear, open features, narrow eyes, and a high-bridged nose—a combination that created a handsome look bordering on arrogant.
Fastening the sash of his black robe embroidered with dark golden cloud patterns, Qiu Yue “accidentally” brushed her fingertips against his waist.
“Dressed like this today, the Young Manor Lord truly has… the grace of a dragon and the poise of a phoenix, like a celestial descending to the mortal realm… It leaves this servant utterly flustered, to the point I can barely resist throwing myself at you…”
“Then that really is a shame.”
“Huh???” The maid wore a look of utter confusion.
“A shame that despite this young master being so dashing, you still managed to hold back.”
“...”
A quarter of an hour later—
Creak...
Once Su Yi finished getting ready and pushed the door open, he saw Gongsun Lin already waiting in the courtyard. She stood with her back to him, turning slowly only when she heard the door open. Her arms were crossed, her chin slightly raised, though an irritable look lingered on her face.
Seeing him emerge so quickly, a flicker of undisguised surprise crossed her face, followed by an inexplicable flush. Her gaze drifted toward the door behind him, and she mumbled under her breath, almost inaudibly, “...How was he that fast? Did nothing happen?”
That expression lasted only a fleeting moment. She swiftly put on her usual look of mild annoyance, her willow brows slightly furrowing, her tone turning stiff. “You’re too slow, Senior Brother! Dilly-dallying like this—are you planning to show up after the Ascendance Gathering is already over?”
“Oh, I was just grabbing some—”
She cut Su Yi off, suddenly changing the subject. “Looks like I really need to get you a more efficient maid! This pace is simply ridiculous.”
Su Yi was momentarily stunned, suddenly marveling at her bizarre train of thought. He muttered under his breath, “Replace her again? How long has it even been since the last one...”
“If they’re incompetent, they get replaced!” Gongsun Lin waved her hand, her face practically spelling out: ‘I don't care what you think, I only care what I think.’
Just then, the maid stepped out of Su Yi’s room. Gongsun Lin locked eyes onto her, sweeping her gaze across the girl’s cheeks and neck. Her intense scrutiny made the maid’s skin prickle and her legs tremble as she scurried away with quick, tiny steps.
“Lady Gongsun, I-I shall take my leave.”
Seeing the maid leave, Gongsun Lin turned around and grabbed Su Yi by the shoulder, pulling him down and causing him to stumble.
“Let’s go.”
Tugging Su Yi by the sleeve, Gongsun Lin briskly marched out of the courtyard gate. Outside, attendants had already prepared the horses, and upon stepping out of the manor, they saw many female disciples holding gifts, seemingly waiting to see someone off.
“Tsk, why bother taking a carriage! Flying through the air will be much faster!” Gongsun Lin glanced disdainfully at the carriage, grabbing Su Yi to take off straight into the sky.
“Wait, girl, what’s the rush?” Before Su Yi could complain further, he and Gongsun Lin had already soared into the clouds, leaving the remaining disciples utterly dumbfounded.
“I’m so envious of Senior Sister Gongsun. Flying through the air at Foundation Establishment is amazing.” The disciples below exchanged glances. They were Outer Sect Disciples, still several Foundation Establishment Pills away from even a Mortal Foundation Establishment. Consequently, their desire to climb the social ladder through Su Yi only grew more intense.
Flying through the air was naturally swift. In the blink of an eye, an exquisite flying boat about ten zhang long came into view. Crafted entirely from azure jade spirit wood, its hull flowed with cloud-patterned talismans as it hovered quietly in the low sky.
Bringing Su Yi aboard the flying boat, Gongsun Lin smoothed her slightly ruffled hair, inserted spirit stones, and activated the formation. The Flowing Cloud Boat trembled softly, shrouded in swirling mist, before turning into an azure streak of light that silently tore through the clouds, speeding toward the distant Central Domain.
A protective barrier rose from the hull, completely shutting out the astral winds caused by high-speed flight, leaving the interior exceptionally smooth and stable.
Her movements were seamless and fluid—she was an absolute veteran driver of the cultivation world.
Looking down at the rolling mountains below, Su Yi opened his UI interface once more and navigated to the map. Sure enough, as the plot approached, the map that had been shrouded in black fog suddenly brightened, fully unveiling the entire map of the Central Domain, where the Ascendance Gathering was being held.
The Ascendance Gathering was a grand assembly jointly hosted by several major sects. Participants were judged without regard to birth or background, and rogue cultivators were also welcome to join. Su Yi’s Divine Might Manor happened to be one of the organizing sects.
“Once we arrive, put away that careless attitude of yours. We represent Divine Might Manor,” Gongsun Lin said while steering the flying boat.
Every Ascendance Gathering was led by a personal disciple, and this time, it happened to be Gongsun Lin’s turn.
This was her first time, and it was with this unreliable Senior Brother to boot. Her only hope now was that he would exercise some restraint and not do whatever he pleased, which would only make things difficult for her.
“Sigh, don’t worry. Who knows, we might just run into some old acquaintances,” Su Yi said, flashing an OK sign.
When he had first arrived in this game world, he had been thrilled out of his mind. Reaching Foundation Establishment in his early teens, he had ignored the system’s screen-filling prompts of “Explore the area ahead later” and headed straight for several of the most iconic locations.
Ancient Sword of the Western Mountains, Divine Might of the Eastern Manor, Return to Origin of the Northern Faction, and Perching Phoenix of the Southern Abode. Aside from his own Divine Might Manor, he had barged into the other three, stirring up quite a commotion.
“Let’s hope so. When the time comes, don’t wander off from me. You offended quite a few prodigies back then; right now, you probably wouldn’t last a single exchange against them.”
Gongsun Lin’s tone softened as her willow brows furrowed slightly. Accompanying Su Yi to the Ascendance Gathering was truly a hot potato. At the very least, Divine Might Manor’s other personal disciples were unwilling to go; even she had deliberated for a long time, only reluctantly agreeing after realizing that no one else was willing to wade into these murky waters with this bastard Senior Brother.
She could already guess that this time, Divine Might Manor would likely be the only sect showing up with a mere two disciples.
Putting aside whether he would spring any new “surprises,” the grudges he had formed with others in the past guaranteed that this journey was destined to be bumpy.
Although Su Yi held an esteemed status, the others were hardly ordinary either. In the cultivation world, nobody simply accepted being bullied on their home turf without seeking payback. At this Ascendance Gathering, prodigies were bound to demand justice.
Seeing Gongsun Lin’s worried expression, Su Yi leaned in closer, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Junior Sister, to think you worry so much about me—Senior Brother is truly touched.”
Warm breath brushed against her ear, instantly setting Gongsun Lin’s cheeks aflame. She turned her head away and retorted stubbornly, “I’m just afraid you’ll humiliate Divine Might Manor!”
“And yet, to my eyes, it clearly looks like you just can’t bear to let anything happen to me.”
“Don’t worry, Junior Sister. This time, Senior Brother will definitely stay right behind you and never step into the limelight.” As he spoke, Su Yi brazenly pressed a bit closer to Gongsun Lin.
“Nonsense!” Sensing Su Yi behind her and feeling his broad hand seemingly getting restless, the tips of her ears flushed crimson, and she could barely maintain control of the flying boat.
‘Could this bastard Senior Brother have feelings for...’
Just as Gongsun Lin’s imagination was running wild, she suddenly realized something was wrong.
“Senior Brother.”
“What is it?”
“If you inch that hand of yours any closer to the money pouch on my waist, the moment we step off this flying boat, I swear I’ll chop you into pieces.”
“...”
Rate on N.U.
