“So it really did happen.”
Watching the flying vessel draw closer, Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression peculiar.
Just like before, the script provided by the system was cliché and poorly written—the kind that would definitely flop if turned into a novel.
According to the system, after the intended host escaped with his sister from the Black Tiger Gang’s pursuit, they would encounter a Holy Maiden from the Exquisite Sanctuary.
Then, following the template of most trash-to-genius stories, the intended host’s sister would be revealed as a peerless talent with a hidden spiritual root. She would be spotted at a glance by the passing Holy Maiden and taken back to the Exquisite Sanctuary for careful nurturing.
As for the “trash” intended host, due to his terrible aptitude and unsuitable gender, he would be mercilessly rejected by the Exquisite Holy Maiden. Left behind to wallow in sorrow, he would eventually channel his grief and anger into motivation, vowing to prove wrong all those who looked down on him…
In Qi Yuan’s previous life, this would have been considered a thoroughly third-rate, melodramatic plot—one that had been out of fashion for over a decade.
Yet reality was always so bizarre. Ever since this brain-dead system appeared, even his own behavior as a genius Holy Scion had started to become strange.
Ah well. Considering the system had given him quite a few benefits, he might as well treat it as playing a little cultivation game. It beat being bored all day buried in secluded cultivation.
Just as Qi Yuan was trying to convince himself, the flying vessel arrived before them.
This spirit vessel was extravagantly luxurious, with carved beams and painted rafters. Its surface was densely covered in pale golden patterns that faintly connected to form a sturdy defensive array. It also had restrictions to block divine sense, making it difficult to peer inside.
The next moment, the door opened, and a group of men and women with extraordinary bearing stepped out.
Leading them was a young male cultivator with his hair tied in a high Daoist bun and an air of righteous integrity. He had a broad face with large ears, a full forehead, and thick, short, straight eyebrows, giving off an ancient and imposing impression.
In other words, he looked… distinctively “ugly.”
Beside him followed a woman of unparalleled beauty.
She wore a flowing water-blue dress with a jade-white silk sash around her waist. Her beauty was ethereal, her skin brighter than snow, and she carried herself with a clear, unearthly grace.
She seemed like a Moon Palace fairy descending from the Ninth Heaven into the mortal world—aloof, sacred, and untouched by worldly dust.
Beside her, the other female cultivators, striking beauties in their own right, faded into the background.
“Junior Brother Qi? What are you doing here?”
Upon seeing Qi Yuan, the only male cultivator among the newcomers spoke first, his expression puzzled.
The man was Qi Yuan’s senior fellow disciple, Lu Changfeng—the senior-most Legacy Disciple of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary’s Sect Master.
And beside him stood the peerless beauty—Xiao Yueni, the contemporary Holy Maiden of the Exquisite Sanctuary.
Xiao Yueni had come specifically as the Exquisite Sanctuary’s representative for the Holy Scion inauguration ceremony. Now that the ceremony was over, she was returning to her sect from the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary and happened to pass by Azure Cloud Town.
Unlike Lu Changfeng, Xiao Yueni’s attention at this moment fell on the mortal girl behind Qi Yuan. A flicker of interest appeared in her beautiful eyes.
Qi Yuan smiled slightly and explained, “So it’s Senior Brother Lu and Fairy Xiao. I also happened to be traveling here and discovered a group of wicked men committing grave sins and plaguing this area. I couldn’t help but eliminate this Black Tiger Gang and incidentally save this mortal girl.”
Faced with so many splendidly dressed cultivators for the first time, Qi Yao clutched the hem of her clothes when Qi Yuan mentioned her. She bowed her head, wishing she could hide her face against her chest.
“I see. Just a bunch of annoying ants. Killing them is no big deal.”
Hearing Qi Yuan’s explanation, Lu Changfeng nodded lightly and brushed past the matter casually. Then he turned his gaze back to Xiao Yueni and said softly:
“Fairy Xiao, since that earlier burst of spiritual power fluctuation came from Junior Brother Qi, let us continue our journey. I’ll accompany you for another stretch.”
His words carried an unmistakable tone of fawning.
Qi Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.
Seriously? This place is over a hundred thousand li from the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary’s mountain gate. The fact that you’ve escorted her this far is already absurd enough… and now you want to go even further?
But Lu Changfeng’s next words shocked him even more.
“Fairy Xiao, the journey back to the Exquisite Sanctuary is long and arduous. Some areas are still plagued by demonic cultivators. A group of women traveling alone might encounter danger. Why not let me accompany you as an escort to ensure your safe return to your sect? Would that be acceptable?”
Huh?
Qi Yuan was stunned.
Although he had heard rumors that Lu Changfeng admired the Exquisite Holy Maiden, he never imagined it had reached such depths of devotion.
What an absolute simp this guy is!
The Exquisite Holy Maiden was a late Nascent Soul expert with her sanctuary’s supreme inheritance. In combat, she was a match for anyone below Soul Formation! What did she need with a mid-Nascent Soul escort?
“Greetings to Holy Scion Qi.”
Xiao Yueni first gave Qi Yuan a slight nod in greeting. Then her jade-like face turned cold as she spoke indifferently to Lu Changfeng.
“Our Exquisite Sanctuary is not merely an empty name. We can take care of ourselves perfectly well. There is no need for Junior Brother Lu to trouble himself further with escorting us.”
This world was called the Realm of Cloud and Mist. Within it flourished billions upon billions of living beings from countless races; its area was vast beyond measure—boundless and endless. Humanity occupied only one corner of it.
Among humanity’s cultivator factions—aside from those demonic sects that were shunned by society and operated in secrecy—the other cultivation powers all revered the Seven Great Sanctuaries as supreme.
The Exquisite Sanctuary was one of these Seven Great Sanctuaries. Although its members were all female cultivators, it had been established for ages with profound heritage; moreover, it had more than one Great Ascension ancestor overseeing it—not inferior at all to the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary.
Lu Changfeng’s phrasing—”a group of women,” “need protection”—to describe the Exquisite Sanctuary… The fact that Xiao Yueni didn’t immediately turn hostile showed considerable restraint on her part; naturally, she wouldn’t give him any pleasant looks.
With that, Xiao Yueni paid him no further attention and walked gracefully up to Qi Yuan.
She said earnestly, “Holy Scion Qi, to be frank, this girl has an unusual constitution and an exceptionally rare hidden spiritual root. It happens to match one of our sanctuary’s inheritances. Would you allow her to join the Exquisite Sanctuary?”
“If you agree, I will owe you a favor, and I will repay it.”
Qi Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.
Sure enough! Just as described by the system! The Exquisite Holy Maiden had indeed discovered Qi Yao’s hidden aptitude and wanted to recruit her into the sanctuary!
It seemed that aside from the parts involving the intended host being completely off the mark, the information about others wasn’t false after all.
Seeing Qi Yuan remain silent, Lu Changfeng stood beside them, mouth agape, eyes bulging almost popping out of their sockets.
This is a favor owed by the Exquisite Holy Maiden?! And he’s actually hesitating?!
If it were me having such an opportunity, I’d probably wake up laughing even while dreaming about it!
Thinking this, his gaze toward Qi Yuan filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, wishing he could strangle the bastard and replace him.
Even when Qi Yuan previously snatched away the Holy Scion position, he hadn’t felt anger like he did now.
For a moment, Lu Changfeng was plunged into deep internal conflict.
He wanted Qi Yuan to refuse, thereby thoroughly offending the Holy Maiden and making her remember his own merits, yet he feared facing the disappointed expression of his beloved goddess…
While Lu Changfeng wrestled with indecision, Qi Yuan suddenly smiled faintly and spoke earnestly:
“I’m sorry, Fairy Xiao, but Little Yao is neither my slave nor my maid. I have no right to decide her future. She should make that choice herself.”
He turned to Qi Yao. “Little Yao, would you like to become a disciple of the Exquisite Sanctuary?”
Qi Yao trembled, tears filling her eyes. She looked up at the Holy Maiden standing nearby, then answered firmly, “Big Brother Qi, I… I would like to join the Exquisite Sanctuary. Only then will I have a chance to repay your kindness.”
Of course, she knew the sanctuary was a top-tier force in the cultivation world. An invitation personally issued by the Holy Maiden was an unimaginable opportunity for ordinary people.
Thus, although she felt reluctant to leave Qi Yuan, she was even more aware of the gap between them. Joining the sanctuary was currently the only path to change her fate.
“Good.”
Qi Yuan smiled gently at her, then turned to Xiao Yueni and cupped his hands. “Fairy Xiao, please take good care of Little Yao.”
Actually, even if Qi Yao disagreed, he would have found a way to persuade her to agree.
Qi Yuan had originally planned to take Qi Yao back to the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary and provide for her there, but the new mission had immediately changed his mind.
If fate deviated greatly later, and he received tasks regarding the intended host’s sister, wouldn’t he be clueless?
For safety’s sake, before fully understanding the system’s nature, it was better to let things follow their natural course.
Now that she made the correct choice, it saved him the trouble.
A man in this world actually respects women like this?!
Xiao Yueni paused, then gave Qi Yuan a long look, her opinion of him rising considerably. “Holy Scion Qi, I never expected someone so young and highly placed to be so upright and considerate of a mortal girl’s wishes. That is truly rare.”
“Rest assured. As long as I am there, she will never be treated poorly.”
Having finished speaking, she gave Qi Yuan a radiant smile, like a hundred flowers blooming in spring. Her eyes rippled like water—perfect and breathtaking.
Even though Qi Yuan was experienced, he couldn’t help but be momentarily dazed. He inwardly thought: No wonder many busybodies uphold her as the orthodox path’s number one beauty. You really need some composure to withstand this…
She smiled!
Watching Xiao Yueni smile so radiantly at Qi Yuan, Lu Changfeng froze completely.
Xiao Yueni was not alone in her admiration. The other female cultivators from the Exquisite Sanctuary also looked at Qi Yuan with undisguised respect.
“Thank you for making this possible, Holy Scion Qi. I will repay your kindness generously.”
After brief pleasantries, the sanctuary women departed, taking a somewhat reluctant Qi Yao with them, completely ignoring Lu Changfeng, who was frozen on the spot.
“Senior Brother Lu, if there is nothing else, I will return to the sect.”
Seeing Lu Changfeng in such a state, Qi Yuan shook his head and proactively bid farewell.
Only after a long pause did Lu Changfeng come to his senses. He slapped his forehead in dismay. “Of course! It is inappropriate for a man like me to stay aboard their Reed Flower Treasure Vessel. No wonder Fairy Xiao refused my offer.”
“In that case, I will follow them in secret and make certain Fairy Xiao is safe… Junior Brother, you can head back on your own.”
Muttering this, he immediately, and without hesitation, leapt up and soared using an escape technique, chasing after the vessel.
Holy crap!
Qi Yuan could only stare. His senior brother usually seemed perfectly normal, and his aptitude was certainly no worse than Qi Yuan’s. Who would have guessed he was such an oddball?
Now Qi Yuan finally understood why the Master skipped over Lu Changfeng and chose him to become the Holy Scion instead.
This damn simp incarnate!
If that bastard truly ascended to the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary’s Sect Master position, he would probably pack up the entire sanctuary, gift wrap it, and send it away.