Chapter 58 Turbulence - I don't know what to say.

On the day of the Immortal Sect Grand Competition team event, the Jiuyang Sect Martial Arts Arena was as lively and bustling as ever.

Disciples from various sects, dressed in uniform attire, lined up in their respective areas to wait. Although Qingyuan Sect's white Daoist robes were not particularly eye-catching among the colorful robes, they still attracted the attention of many cultivators.

Nothing more than its overwhelming presence.

"Li Sheng, over here!" Yan Shuangwan waved her sword and beckoned to Yin Li Sheng. Today, she had specially changed into a neat and tidy outfit, her hair tied up high, exuding a heroic aura.

Yin Lisheng strode forward and saw Yin Simiao leaning lazily on Yu Jiangheng's shoulder. The latter's face was ashen and expressionless as he let Yin Lisheng lean on him, but his tightly clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Your great-uncle is here?" Yin Simiao smiled and straightened up, teasingly saying, "I haven't congratulated you on successfully breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm yet, but I heard you chopped down the ancient tree in the courtyard a few days ago?"

Upon hearing this, Yin Lisheng's ears instantly turned red, and he explained, "I couldn't control my strength while practicing swordsmanship."

"Tsk tsk," Yin Simiao shook her head, feigning admiration, "The power of the Nascent Soul stage is truly extraordinary; their temper is really something else."

Yu Jiangheng handed him the water pouch and said in a deep voice, "Say less and drink some water."

Yan Shuangwan and Qiu Nan couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle, while Yang Huaimu stood quietly to the side with his sword in his arms, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the direction of Miaoyin Palace.

A female cultivator in the Miaoyin Palace group seemed to sense something, turned around, and winked playfully at him, causing Yang Huaimu to look away in a fluster, a blush rising on his face.

Qiu Nan leaned closer and whispered gossipily, "Senior Brother Yin, does Senior Brother Yang have someone he likes?"

Yin Simiao raised an eyebrow and said with great interest, "You don't know yet, do you? That's Senior Brother Yang's betrothed since childhood. She comes from the Xie family in the Eastern Territory and is now studying under a master at Miaoyin Palace. Her name is Xie Hua."

"Oh oh oh oh—"

Qiu Nan and Yan Shuangwan exchanged a smile, their eyes full of mockery, while Yang Huaimu's face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

Yin Lisheng couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Brother Huaimu, how long have you known that Miss Xie?"

"Grand Uncle, you're teasing me too!" Yang Huaimu's ears turned even redder, but he still patiently explained, "We've known each other since we were children, which means it's been several decades now."

"You two are at Qingyuan Sect and Miaoyin Palace respectively, so it must be difficult for you to meet on a regular basis. Senior Brother Yang, aren't you afraid that Miss Xie will be abducted by someone else?" Qiu Nan continued to press.

“She does have quite a few suitors,” Yang Huaimu said with a gentle look in his eyes, “but I’m not worried.”

"Although we are thousands of miles apart, as long as we understand each other, what does it matter how many admirers she has? I firmly believe that the deep affection we have cultivated over the years is something that others can't achieve overnight."

"Good, good, good—" A burst of crisp applause suddenly rang out, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound, only to see that Duan Xuan had arrived at the front of them at some point.

"Fellow Daoist Yang has such deep affection for Senior Sister Xie, I will certainly convey this sentiment to her truthfully."

Yang Huaimu instantly blushed with embarrassment, and said anxiously, "Fellow Daoist Duan!"

Chu Yu quickly stepped forward and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Junior Sister, you acted rashly."

After everyone shook their heads to indicate that they were alright, Chu Yu pulled Duan Xuan away.

Only Yin Lisheng remained silent after hearing Yang Huaimu's words.

Even if there are other suitors around, can the feelings cultivated over many years be incomparable to those of others? What about Master and Lu Yanci? Is it the same?

“You guys,” Yu Jiangheng suddenly said seriously, “team competitions are not like individual competitions. They emphasize cooperation. It’s okay to fool around now, but you can’t do that during the actual competition.”

"yes--"

On the other side of the high platform, Fu Yunshu stood side by side with the leaders of various sects. Today he was dressed in a moon-white robe, and his black hair was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin, making him look like a banished immortal, aloof and otherworldly.

Lu Yanci appeared beside Fu Yunshu at some point, his snow-white silk ribbons fluttering in the wind: "Immortal Venerable seems to be in a bad mood?"

"Pavilion Master Lu is overthinking it," Fu Yunshu said calmly, but his gaze unconsciously fell on Yin Lisheng in the room.

Lu Yanci followed his gaze and smiled slightly: "Your disciple is exceptionally talented and will surely achieve great things in time."

Fu Yunshu didn't reply, but her fingertips unconsciously rubbed something in her sleeve.

It's okay if you don't achieve great things.

"Thump—"

The bell rang, and the team competition officially began. The first match was between Qingyuan Sect and Jiuyang Sect.

"Please give me your guidance." Yin Lisheng clasped his hands in a salute, but the Nine Yang Sect disciple opposite him snorted coldly, his eyes full of hostility.

At the referee's command, the battle erupted instantly. The five members of the Nine Yang Sect formed a battle formation, unleashing a barrage of attacks. Yin Lisheng, instead of retreating, advanced, his Broken Abyss Sword drawing a sharp arc of light, cleaving the attack in two.

"Beautiful!" Yan Shuangwan seized the opportunity to throw out several talismans, the spiritual energy condensing into ice that spread across the ground, instantly freezing her opponent's ankles.

Yin Simiao moved like a ghost, her longsword aimed straight for the opponent's core formation. Just as she was about to succeed, a dark shadow suddenly attacked from the side—

"Watch out!" Yu Jiangheng shouted, his long sword flying from his hand to precisely block the sneak attack.

Yang Huaimu's eyes sharpened, and he summoned his natal magical weapon with a spell. The sudden pressure caused the Nine Yang Sect disciple to pause in his movements. Qiu Nan seized the opportunity and knocked the magical weapon out of the opponent's hand with a sword.

"Qingyuan Zongsheng!"

Amid cheers, Yin Lisheng sheathed his sword. He subconsciously looked up at the platform and met Fu Yunshu's approving gaze. In that instant, all his fatigue vanished.

"Well played." Yu Jiangheng patted him on the shoulder.

Yin Simiao leaned closer, winking and saying, "Junior Uncle's move just now had quite the flair of Immortal Venerable Huaiwei."

Yin Lisheng's ears turned slightly red: "Master gave me a few pointers."

"Tsk tsk," Yin Simiao shook her head, "Some people, even though they're already at the Nascent Soul stage, still act like little rabbits when they see their master."

"Si Miao," Yu Jiangheng covered his mouth, "say less."

Yan Shuangwan and Qiu Nan couldn't help but laugh, while Yin Lisheng pretended not to hear and quickly walked towards the rest area.

No one noticed that his hand, hidden in his sleeve, was trembling slightly—not from fatigue in battle, but because just a moment ago, he had seen Lu Yanci leaning down and whispering in Fu Yunshu's ear from the high platform.

"Grand Uncle," Yu Jiangheng caught up, "what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Yin Lisheng forced a smile. "Who are we facing next?"

"Miaoyin Palace," Yang Huaimu suddenly spoke, his voice slightly strained.

Yin Simiao nudged him with a mischievous grin: "Oh, isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

Yang Huaimu pushed him away expressionlessly: "Focus on the game."

Before the second match began, Yin Lisheng couldn't help but glance at the platform again. Fu Yunshu seemed to notice his gaze and nodded slightly.

But this simple action miraculously calmed the turbulent emotions in Yin Lisheng's heart.

"Qingyuan Sect versus Miaoyin Palace, begin!"

Holding a jade flute, Duan Xuan smiled and bowed, saying, "Please, fellow disciples, show mercy!"

Before the words were even finished, the flute music began. The sound waves materialized, striking like sharp blades. Yin Lisheng turned his sword, and the sword energy collided with the sound waves, producing a piercing explosion.

"Beware of illusions!" Yu Jiangheng warned. "The 'Bewitching Melody' of Miaoyin Palace can disturb the mind."

Yan Shuangwan quickly formed a hand seal, and a calming talisman was placed on the back of each person: "This can only last for half a quarter of an hour, so finish this quickly!"

Yin Lisheng nodded, his figure flashing like lightning as he charged straight at Chu Yu. However, just as the sword was about to touch him, Chu Yu's figure suddenly blurred, transforming into dozens of clones that surrounded him.

"An illusion?" Yin Lisheng frowned, suddenly feeling dizzy. The flute music had changed its tune at some point, sounding plaintive and stirring up the most hidden emotions in his heart.

In a daze, he seemed to see Fu Yunshu standing in the distance, reaching out his hand to him: "Lisheng, come here."

"Master." Yin Lisheng rubbed his eyes, still half asleep, and prepared to walk over.

But he quickly realized something was wrong, and bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain instantly bringing him to his senses: "Break!"

The Broken Abyss Sword erupted with blinding golden light, shattering all the illusions. The disciples of the Myriad Sound Palace who were controlling the illusions all groaned, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of their mouths. Upon seeing this, Yang Huaimu hesitated noticeably for a moment.

Yin Simiao suddenly appeared from the side and knocked the musical instruments out of the hands of the Miaoyin Palace members with a single sword strike.

"Qingyuan Zongsheng!"

Yang Huaimu glanced cautiously at Xie Hua, but Xie Hua left without turning her head.

"Hua'er..."

Yin Simiao laughed heartily and put her arm around Yang Huaimu's shoulder. "Let's go, you idiot."

Watching his teammates playfully bickering, Yin Lisheng felt inexplicably relieved. He looked up at the platform again, only to find that Fu Yunshu and Lu Yanci were nowhere to be seen.

"Looking for Immortal Venerable Huaiwei?" Yan Shuangwan leaned closer. "A disciple from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion just came to report that something seems to have happened, and the two seniors left together."

Yin Lisheng's heart tightened: "What happened?"

"I don't know," Yan Shuangwan shook her head, "but since Sect Leader Song went along, it shouldn't be a big problem."

Yu Jiangheng walked over and said, "Don't overthink it. Focus on preparing for the next match. Our next opponent is the Yu family."

Yin Lisheng's eyes narrowed: "The Yu family of the Southern Border?"

Yin Simiao turned around and leaned closer, saying, "How does it feel to be facing your own brothers again soon?"

Yu Jiangheng said helplessly, "It's not good."

“From the moment I decided to stay, I was just the senior disciple of Qingyuan Sect,” he lowered his eyes to meet Yin Simiao’s gaze, “Miaomiao, do you want to give up on me?”

…………

Inside the room, Fu Yunshu, Ji Yuanbai, Lu Yanci, and Song Wenzhu sat around a jade table.

Lu Yanci unfolded a parchment scroll. "I have indeed deduced some things."

"The Netherworld Ruins are the remains of an ancient battlefield, appearing only once every thousand years, with its entrance being elusive." Lu Yanci's slender fingers traced the parchment scroll.

Fu Yunshu stared at the blurry map on the page, his brows furrowing slightly: "Where will it be this time, and when will it open?"

“I don’t know,” Lu Yanci shook his head, “I can only guess that it will happen in the next day or two.”

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Author's note: These chapters were very difficult and painful to write [cheek resting on hand]. I hope we can get to the Netherworld dungeon soon, I can't hold on much longer.

Just a heads-up: the relationship between Master and Xiao Yin in the Youxu dungeon is about to take a major turn, Gu Song is going to be cremated, and Yan Nanqiu is making his official appearance.

Write it quickly!