absurd

Bai Chuan looked at the noisy crowd below the stage with a genuine sense of bewilderment. He had only been coughing badly for a moment, struggling to breathe, and almost unable to catch his breath. How... did he win just like that?

He subconsciously rubbed the smooth, jade-like stone surface under his feet with his toes, wondering why the Wuji Platform on Tianyan Mountain couldn't even be flat.

Which step went wrong?

How did that person just fall down on their own?

Bai Chuan's pale face was filled with genuine question marks; he was truly puzzled, not just putting on an act.

Yun Qian, sitting below the stage, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when she met her junior brother's innocent gaze. Then, the corners of her lips curved into a bright smile, like the first melting of snow and the blooming of spring flowers.

She never expected that Baichuan would win the competition so easily and dramatically, without breaking a sweat.

This Immortal Sect Competition, from Ji Yunxing's hidden strength to Qin Wu's ruthless destruction of women, and then to Bai Chuan's decisive "cough," seems a bit too absurd and interesting.

In mid-air, Sili's gaze lingered on the slender white figure on the Wuji Platform, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the ring. Such coincidences often indicate that there is more to it than just luck.

The three disciples sent down by Cangmin Mountain this time are truly unfathomable.

Qin Wu, a swordsman with exceptional talent and ruthless skills.

The depth of Yun Qian is unfathomable, seemingly lazy but actually possessing profound abilities.

Now, there's also Bai Chuan, a Nascent Soul stage medical cultivator who, despite appearing frail and sickly, easily won the competition in front of everyone.

Sili still wore his usual gentle and faint smile, but the depths of his eyes were dark and cold, like a bottomless sea.

Perhaps this sickly patient, who seems the easiest to control, will be a good starting point.

If he is truly as weak and helpless as he appears, then it wouldn't be difficult to find an opportunity to eliminate him quietly, which would be a good chance to test Cangmin Mountain's reaction.

If he is faking it, then we need to reassess and adjust our plans accordingly.

As the next group of disciples took the stage, the discussions below Wuji Stage gradually subsided, and everyone's attention was drawn to the new competition.

However, Baichuan's cough did not stop after the competition ended. Sitting beside Yun Qian, he continued to cough violently, his thin shoulders trembling uncontrollably, and his pale cheeks flushed an unnatural red from lack of oxygen, as if he were coughing up his lungs. Over the years, his cough seemed to have become increasingly severe, and even the slightest discomfort would cause him to suffer for quite some time.

Yun Qian gently patted his back, again and again, her movements gentle and patient, but her eyes were filled with deep worry and heartache.

She had examined Baichuan's pulse countless times; his spiritual energy flowed smoothly, and there was no obvious damage to his internal organs. Yet, this persistent cough lingered, its root cause elusive. Over the years, Baichuan had tried countless pills and prescriptions, and even Yun Qian had consulted every medical classic she could find, but the cough showed no improvement whatsoever; in fact, it seemed to be getting worse.

Even she was at a loss about this, and couldn't help feeling anxious.

Qin Wumo silently took out a familiar jade bottle from his Qiankun bag, poured out a brown pill, and handed it to Bai Chuan's lips. The action was so practiced that it seemed he had repeated it a thousand times.

Bai Chuan sighed helplessly, and taking advantage of a brief respite from coughing, he obediently put the pill in his mouth. A bitter taste instantly spread across his tongue.

The coughing finally subsided, and today's competition was drawing to a close.

Yun Qian was preoccupied with Bai Chuan's inexplicable cough, so she watched the rest of the competition somewhat absentmindedly.

The three of them got up together, left the bustling Wuji Terrace, and strolled leisurely along the winding mountain path towards the Sifang Courtyard.

It must be said that Tianyan Mountain has indeed spared no expense in its facade. Along the way, pavilions and towers are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, and exotic flowers and rare herbs vie for attention, creating a breathtaking scene at every turn, embodying extreme luxury and exquisite craftsmanship. It seems that in recent years, besides meticulously studying their own Cangmin Mountain, Tianyan Mountain has devoted most of its energy to making its own sect appear even more magnificent and splendid.

Yun Qian lowered her eyes, looking at the steps paved with spirit jade and even inlaid with gold thread patterns on the edges. She couldn't help but think to herself: If these people who went to great lengths to break into Cangmin Mountain knew that the immortal mountain, which was strictly protected by a powerful and ancient mountain-protecting spirit array, was actually a dilapidated and neglected place inside, she wondered what they would think.

In the original book, these people never actually set foot on Cangmin Mountain until the very end.

With the ancient protective array in place, unless a true immortal descends to earth, I'm afraid no one can force their way in.

These people schemed and plotted, causing the disciples of Cangmin Mountain to dwindle and the sect to be destroyed.

If they were to one day achieve their wish and step into the treasure trove they had imagined, only to find that it contained almost nothing but dusty ruins and empty halls that they couldn't take with them, that scene would surely be quite spectacular, wouldn't it?

Thinking of this, Yun Qian's lips couldn't help but curl upwards, forming a cold and mocking arc. She was genuinely looking forward to seeing what expressions those people would have when their dreams were shattered.

The three walked leisurely, as if they were truly distinguished guests who had come to enjoy the scenery, and occasionally they would comment on the landscape design of Tianyan Mountain.

That's right!

They are carefully studying the model rooms in preparation for future renovations of their own Cangmin Mountain property.

Bai Chuan pointed to an elegant octagonal pavilion built beside a waterfall not far away, his voice still hoarse from coughing: "It's so cold on our mountain. If the flowers, plants and trees are to survive, they need to be maintained by arrays all year round, which is quite costly. It would be better to build more pavilions like this, which would be both practical and worry-free."

Mount Cangmin is covered in snow all year round, and the extreme cold is unbearable. Ordinary plants cannot survive without the protection of the array.

"Okay." Qin Wuyan succinctly agreed, his gaze sweeping over the structure and materials of the pavilion, seemingly making a silent note.

Bai Chuan crossed his arms over his chest, the wide sleeves of his robes overlapping with his movements, making his slender figure appear even more prominent. He looked up at the clear blue sky above Tianyan Mountain, a hint of nostalgia in his voice: "I wonder when it will snow on Tianyan Mountain? I imagine the scenery here would have a unique charm once covered in a layer of white snow."

Qin Wu nodded, and unusually commented, "The disciples of Tianyan Mountain are not very skilled in cultivation, but they are quite adept at repairing and arranging the sect."

Having been down the mountain for so long, and not having seen the familiar snow falling all over Cangmin Mountain for so long, a faint sense of longing arose in the hearts of the group.