The newcomer possessed a celestial appearance in white, handsome beyond compare. But his brows were like frost, and his aura was icy.
Parting the ethereal mist and clouds, nestled among lush green peaks, the greatest sect of the Central Continent stood tall, soaring into the heavens alongside the mountains.
The Immortal Sect Grand Competition was only ten days away. After successfully passing the inner sect trials, Jiang Xue had been seizing every moment to cultivate to prepare for the event. Though he maintained a mindset of “participation over winning,” he ultimately didn’t want to lose too embarrassingly.
Because of the massive influx of outsiders during the Grand Competition, the Qingyun Sect had canceled all morning and evening lessons a month in advance. Not only outer disciples but even inner disciples had to take turns assisting with guest receptions and patrols.
After meeting up with Shen Congshen and the other two at the junction of the inner and outer sects, Jiang Xue and his group walked toward the mountain gate.
Today was the day the Pavilion Master of the Morning Mist Pavilion would lead his disciples to the competition. Besides joining the spectacle, they were there because the Morning Mist Pavilion was accompanied by their great benefactor, Shi Qing. They were going to welcome him.
Upon arriving at the mountain gate, the group was startled by the sheer scale of the gathering.
Standing at the very front outside the gate was Sect Leader Bai Ye. Beside him stood the leaders of other sects who had brought their teams. Arranged neatly behind them were the Qingyun Sect’s inner disciples of the Golden Core stage and above.
Beyond them, in the remaining space, disciples from various sects were crowded together. Everyone gazed toward the distant sky, waiting with bated breath.
No one noticed Jiang Xue and his friends, who quickly squeezed into the crowd. Caught up in the atmosphere, they felt a surge of excitement. Jiang Xue asked the person next to him, “Are you all here to welcome the Morning Mist Pavilion?”
“It is not our turn to welcome them; we are just here for the show! Word is that Immortal Venerable Ciyou has returned to the world! That is the legendary Xie Ciyou. Who wouldn’t want to catch a glimpse of his celestial face?”
“Exactly! Aside from Old Ancestor Wuxu and the old Pavilion Master, who have long been in secluded meditation, the highest cultivation in this world belongs to Immortal Venerable Zhanyue and Immortal Venerable Ciyou.”
“And I heard his beauty is enough to shock the entire immortal path,” a voice whispered. Though hushed, the excitement was palpable. Jiang Xue looked over and saw the remark came from a shy youth with a flushed face.
Meanwhile, Gu Yan, as the Qingyun Sect’s Immortal Venerable Zhanyue, sat quietly within the Qingyun Hall. He was surrounded by many sect leaders who had also chosen not to go to the gate. Among them were Sect Leader Xiao of the Dragon-Elephant Sect and Island Master Nangong, both of whom had expressed slight disapproval of Xie Ciyou during the previous meeting.
Nangong Wangyue had originally intended to go to the gate. After the last discussion, she had privately asked Elder Changmei about the events of the past, and her curiosity toward Xie Ciyou had only grown since.
However, seeing that Gu Yan stayed behind, she ultimately chose to remain in the hall. The entire immortal world knew that Immortal Venerable Zhanyue and Immortal Venerable Ciyou were at odds. Xie Ciyou had been in seclusion for thirty years; the cultivation world was currently led by Gu Yan.
The Morning Mist Pavilion traditionally stayed out of the affairs of the hundred sects. Xie Ciyou’s return this time was solely for the Demon God’s consciousness. Once the matter was settled, he would likely vanish back into seclusion with a flick of his sleeves.
Since they would be dealing with Immortal Venerable Zhanyue in the future, she tactfully chose to stay.
At the mountain gate, Chen Ji waited alongside Sect Leader Bai Ye. Since his narrow defeat to Xia Chan, he had been looking for a chance to spar again, but Xia Chan had been avoiding him. He knew Xia Chan was participating. As the 98th-generation head disciple of the Qingyun Sect, Chen Ji carried high expectations and was a favorite to win the title.
“Aren’t you your cousin’s favorite disciple? How do you dare come to welcome your master’s thorn in the side?” A crisp, pleasant voice rang out. It came from the woman standing beside Sect Leader Bai Ye. She wore a pink-purple gauze dress and was as beautiful as a hibiscus, lovely and spirited.
Chen Ji recognized her as Fairy Huilan of the Qingyan Sect. She was his master’s cousin, the pearl of the Wenren family, a willful and arrogant young lady with a domineering personality.
Chen Ji had heard the rumors. It was said Fairy Huilan had been infatuated with his master years ago. Even knowing he was betrothed to Immortal Venerable Shuangyu, she had publicly declared her feelings, putting Shuangyu in a difficult position.
Though Chen Ji occasionally cultivated at the Qingyan Sect, he didn’t have much contact with her.
Sect Leader Bai Ye spoke up to ease the tension. “Chen Ji is a disciple of Immortal Venerable Zhanyue of the Qingyun Sect, not a disciple of the Qingyan Sect Leader. It is only logical for him to welcome Immortal Venerable Ciyou with us.”
“Hmph. The Immortal Alliance was disbanded long ago. Currently, my cousin is the head of the hundred sects. Does Xie Ciyou’s arrival at Qingyun Sect really warrant such a grand display?” Fairy Huilan raised an eyebrow disdainfully. “Back during the last Grand Competition, if Shi Shuangyu hadn’t unexpectedly entered seclusion and missed it, it wouldn’t be certain who between him and Xie Ciyou was number one.”
Sect Leader Bai Ye cleared his throat awkwardly, hearing Wenren Lan speak so carelessly and refer to the two Immortal Venerables by their names.
Finally, a point of deep blue light appeared amidst the distant clouds. Everyone’s eyes lit up.
A distant sound echoed, like the soft shaking of wind chimes or the tinkling of a cold spring.
As the blue light drew closer, several figures in white swordsmen broke through the clouds to lead the way, their sword tails glowing blue. Following them, numerous disciples in white flew on their swords, the tinkling sound becoming clearer. Everyone craned their necks to see a magnificent carriage passing through the sea of clouds, riding the wind.
The carriage was exquisite, shimmering with radiant colors, draped in light gauze that looked like a blend of clouds and evening mist. Through the fluttering gauze, two figures could be seen leaning inside. The one by the window wore robes as white as snow, yet seemingly tinged with the glow of the sunset.
“When did Xie Ciyou become so ostentatious?” Fairy Huilan remarked.
As she spoke, the lead disciples landed and bowed to the crowd. They moved to either side as the exquisite carriage approached, hovering in mid-air.
The onlookers began to whisper. “He’s here, he’s here! Immortal Venerable Ciyou is here!”
A slender finger pulled back the gauze. Jiang Xue, pushed forward by the crowd, leaned in and stared intently.
As the curtain was pulled open, the first thing that caught the crowd’s eye was a wrist as white as jade, with delicate fingers like frozen ice. Following this was a sleeve of deep blue silk. The curtain was opened fully, and a clean, handsome youth in a wide-sleeved deep blue robe stepped out. He stood before the carriage, tall and upright, like an orchid or fine jade.
Sect Leader Bai Ye blinked in surprise. Wasn’t this the young disciple who had been recovering at the Morning Mist Pavilion?
Jiang Xue and the others looked on with bright eyes. Gongsun Yu shouted, “It’s Little Fang!”
“Is that Immortal Venerable Ciyou?”
“Probably not. He is not wearing the Morning Mist Pavilion’s ritual robes, and he looks like a green youth.”
Shi Qing had already formed his Core, so the murmurs of the crowd reached his ears clearly. He rubbed his nose, turned back to the carriage, and gave a helpless smile. “Immortal Venerable, aren’t you coming out yet?”
Xie Ciyou looked up. “Remember what you promised me.”
“I know, I know. Just come out! There are so many people! I feel like a monkey on display,” Shi Qing urged.
朝霧閣 position was remote. Since he had just formed his Core and his body was still recovering, Xie Ciyou had prepared this carriage for him. Shi Qing found it too ostentatious and refused to sit in it.
Ultimately, Xie Ciyou had calmly entered the carriage first. Since Xie Ciyou wasn’t afraid of being ostentatious, Shi Qing couldn’t be stubborn and sat with him. After living at the Morning Mist Pavilion for nearly a month, Shi Qing and Xie Ciyou had surprisingly coexisted in peace. As for Xie Ciyou, as long as he didn’t expose the truth, Shi Qing didn’t intend to mention it either, focusing instead on playing the role of a diligent sycophant.
Xie Ciyou stepped out from behind him. Shi Qing was already tall for his age, but Xie Ciyou was significantly taller. As his white robes fluttered, he stood as straight as a pine or bamboo.
Gasps rose from the crowd. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was focused on Xie Ciyou, Shi Qing bolted and ran to Sect Leader Bai Ye, bowing obediently. “Disciple greets the Sect Leader.”
Sect Leader Bai Ye was busy welcoming Xie Ciyou and had no time for him. He only noted Shi Qing’s expensive attire and ordered, “Go back and change into your Qingyun Sect robes.”
“Yes.” Shi Qing ignored Wenren Lan’s piercing gaze and turned to leave.
“Is he the successor of Shuangyu?” Wenren Lan blocked his path, scrutinizing him with a slight frown. “Isn’t he going with the rest of you?”
Sect Leader Bai Ye answered dismissively, “If needed, he will be summoned.”
He then signaled for Shi Qing to withdraw.
Shi Qing followed the order and retreated respectfully. Even as he vanished into the crowd, he could feel Wenren Lan’s scrutinizing gaze still pinned to his back.
The Qingyun Hall was currently filled with the leaders of the hundred sects waiting to discuss the Demon God’s consciousness. There was no place for someone like him there.
“Over here! Over here!” Jiang Xue and the others shouted and waved at him. Shi Qing squeezed through to join them.
“So impressive, riding in Immortal Venerable Ciyou’s carriage!” Gongsun Yu said with envy. Many people around them cast envious glances as well, but only for a moment, as they were all eager to catch another look at the Immortal Venerable in white who had descended from the carriage.
Shi Qing followed their gaze. Xie Ciyou stood before Sect Leader Bai Ye, tall and elegant. The slanting sunlight seemed to cast a hazy halo around him, highlighting his picturesque features.
As if sensing something, Xie Ciyou glanced toward Shi Qing. In the evening glow, his cold eyes seemed to take on a warm tint. His gaze met Shi Qing’s for just a fraction of a second before moving away.
“Ah! The Immortal Venerable looked at me!” a sharp, hushed voice cried out from the youth in front of Shi Qing.
“He was clearly looking at me!” another voice rang out. “Me! Me!” Suddenly, both male and female voices rose, not in an argument, but as if they were sharing a moment of joy.
A smile Shi Qing didn’t even notice himself flickered on his lips as he gestured for Jiang Xue and the others to leave first.
Inside the Qingyun Hall, Gu Yan sat in the seat of honor. He remained silent, but his aura was sharp and domineering as he turned the ring on his finger.
“Sect Leader Bai Ye should have welcomed the Immortal Venerable by now. Today we must ask properly about the Demon God’s consciousness and see what instructions the Morning Mist Pavilion has,” someone said from below.
“The Immortal Alliance has disbanded. This Xie Ciyou is no longer the leader of the Alliance. Why should we still follow his instructions?” It was Sect Leader Xiao speaking.
“Watch your words, Sect Leader Xiao,” Elder Changmei warned. “Though the Alliance has disbanded, the Morning Mist Pavilion has always received instructions from the Heavenly Dao since ancient times.”
“That was then. Now that Xie Ciyou has inherited the position of Pavilion Master, I doubt he can still be impartial.” He gave a heavy huff and added, “Currently, it’s just one Dongfang Yuqing who fell into the demonic path, and the man is dead. There is no sign of other demonic activity. Besides, the affairs of the hundred sects are for Immortal Venerable Zhanyue and everyone here to decide together. Why does he suddenly show up talking about the Demon God’s consciousness? I suspect Xie Ciyou is using the name of the Heavenly Dao to bully others for his own gain.”
“Oh? Do I still need to use prestige to bully others?” a cold voice rang out, devoid of emotion.
Everyone’s expression changed as they turned toward the hall entrance. Sect Leader Bai Ye looked embarrassed, while the figure behind him, tall and upright, stepped into the hall against the light, as silent as falling snow.
The newcomer possessed a celestial appearance in white, handsome beyond compare. But his brows were like frost, and his aura was icy. It was indeed Xie Ciyou!