Chapter 156 The Noisy Entrance
On the day of the grand competition, the morning bells rang throughout the peaks, announcing the imminent start of the once-in-a-century ceremony. A spring breeze swept across, stirring the new buds, leading everyone towards the Four Spirit Peaks in the soft morning light.
Even the birds and beasts that usually hibernate in the forest or live deep in the valleys are startled by the sound of the bell, and they flutter their wings or poke their heads out, soaring between the sky and the earth. Among them, the older ones have already developed intelligence and have lived in the sect for more than a hundred years, knowing that this unique grand event in the human world has begun again.
It had been such a long, long wait. A few birds landed on a tree and began to sing; if anyone could understand their conversation, they would know they were talking about the last great competition—
The winner was a young man with black hair and bloodshot eyes. Overjoyed, he leaped onto the back of a spirit beast, ordering it to carry him throughout the entire Taihui territory, picking all the most beautiful, the finest, and the most vibrant flowers. There were so many that one hand couldn't hold them all; even with the young man's broad shoulders and strong arms, it was difficult to steadily gather them all into his arms.
Yet she possessed none of the air of otherworldly immortals; despite being the most outstanding cultivator, she habitually carried a basket on her back. The beautiful, vibrant flowers, offering their most magnificent blooms, would throw a tantrum when the young man tossed them into the basket. Perhaps due to the haste, or perhaps driven by another emotion, the young man did not comfort them, hurrying from one mountain to another until he had seen all the spring flowers in the sect, and the spirit beasts, weary, licked their salty frost.
—The boy's final journey was to the desolate winter mountain, located on the very edge of the sect and the most fortified defensive line in the north. The mountain was steep and precipitous, like a sword pointing straight to the sky, and was named Frostblade Peak.
The birds, intoxicated by the fragrance of flowers, were gently lifted from her basket and carefully sent into the sky.
The little bird chirped a few times, and, not knowing she couldn't understand the languages of other creatures, asked, "Young man, to whom do you intend to give these flowers?"
The boy seemed to understand its question. He patted his clothes, rubbed his reddened ears, and smiled, saying:
"Give this to my master!"
She turned around and muttered to herself before stepping into the barrier, "I don't know what her favorite flower is... but since I picked them all, there must be one that she likes, right?"
Years later, the birds understood that the boy had picked flowers to give to his beloved. But she was so adorably naive; while others would give a single flower as a subtle expression of affection, she, not knowing what flower her beloved liked, wandered across the entire mountainside, picking a petal from each.
They also learned that the boy's beloved was not someone else, but the one known as the God of Slaughter, Mingji Zhenjun, who lived on Frostblade Peak.
"She picked such vibrant and beautiful flowers back then! I wonder what it would look like if True Lord Mingji wore them on her head!"
"There's also a crabapple blossom the size of a bowl, as bright as rouge!"
The birds were chatting happily, clucking and cawing. Just then, a melodious voice came from under the tree:
"Oh, you're talking about my master!"
Could someone understand their language? The sound of flapping wings arose, and the birds quickly fell silent. Only one of them peeked out and saw a brown-haired boy in white standing under the tree, looking up at them with a pair of bright golden eyes. He always had a smug smile on his face, and two shawls on his shoulders fluttered in the wind. His lips were a fuller color than hers, as if surging with blood.
It tentatively asked, "Little Sun, who is your master?"
Birds are drawn to appearances, and seeing the child's unusual eye color, it thought of the sun and simply called her that.
The boy spread his arms wide, gathered his energy in his dantian, and answered loudly, "Of course it's the peak master of Frostblade Peak, True Monarch Mingji! You gossipy little birds, are you talking badly about her? -- Watch out or I'll pluck your feathers!"
When a bird transforms into a spirit beast, the first thing to change is the feathers on its head. The color gradually becomes purer, shedding impurities and becoming increasingly vibrant—the most beautiful part. Upon hearing her intention to do so, several birds chirped incessantly, "No, don't pluck them! We didn't say anything bad about her! You're her apprentice? Strange, what about her previous apprentice? I heard from the tree spirit that they made a vow under the oldest tree in the sect, promising to be together for life!"
Clearly, these little birds had confused teacher-student relationships with romantic relationships. Shen Lixia found it amusing and patiently explained to them that there was a difference between teacher-student and romantic relationship; the two of them simply happened to have both identities simultaneously.
After saying that, she asked with a smile, "So Master and that disciple are lovers? She was the champion of the last competition? Don't talk nonsense."
"Of course, we're lovers and leaders! We never lie, and we're not as cunning as you little devils!" A magpie puffed out its chest. "So why didn't she come this time?"
Shen Lixia's face darkened slightly as she pondered how to talk to the little creatures. Just then, she heard another crow cawing in response: "Are you stupid? Didn't a lot of people crawl out after it ended? This competition must have been exhausting."
It shook its feathers and concluded with a smug look, "So, she must have gone to slack off. That clever little fellow!—Isn't that right?"
Upon hearing its words, Shen Lixia was slightly taken aback, unsure of how to respond. Her bitter smile turned into a wry smile.
Only when the crow asked again did she cheerfully reply, "Yes, she's very clever. She said the competition is too tiring, and she'll never come again."
Thinking about it this way, the last three-race war was just over a hundred years ago. If this competition was counted from the end of the war, then that senior sister must have died shortly after winning the championship.
Before they could even enjoy the scenery for a few days, the rising sun of the Nine Realms vanished amidst the blood-red light and black mist that filled the Demon Realm.
Heaven is jealous of talented people.
Shen Lixia glanced at the sky and called out to them, "I'm off! I'm going to participate in the competition too, and I'm going to be the champion this time!" With that, she clenched her fist and repeated the gesture—
"I want to be the champion!"
The birds chirped in response to her, "Good luck, young man!" The title "young man" belonged to her senior sister, so Shen Lixia was the young man.
As the voice faded, Shen Lixia felt someone put their arm around her shoulder, and a young man's gentle voice sounded in her ear: "Why are you lingering here, junior sister?"
To onlookers, the girl appeared to be responding to the birds' melodious chirping, as if harmonizing with them. Qiao Yan knew perfectly well that she understood bird language and was talking to the birds.
Among the diverse sounds and colors of feathers, she compared them briefly and still felt that her junior sister's voice was the most beautiful and her feathers the most lovely.
It is a voice perfectly suited for singing, a clear and beautiful voice, as gentle as flowing water and as melodious as the harmonious sound of a zither, melodious yet seemingly capturing the brilliance of the sun, possessing a penetrating power that shines directly into people's hearts.
As for feathers, who in this world can rival the Vermilion Bird, the king of birds?
Shen Lixia turned her head, smiled sweetly, and affectionately took Qiao Yanshen's arm. "The spring scenery here is so beautiful. The flowers are blooming all over the mountains and fields, and there are many birds. I want to bring my senior sister to see it too."
Qiao Yanshen might not come himself, but if he did, he could bring her over. The eldest sister's mind was pure and clear, seeing all things as one; while Shen Lixia was happy to immerse herself in the myriad changes of the world, experiencing the joys and sorrows of all beings. She wanted to share the beautiful scenery with her beloved and invited her to see it.
Like a bird that always brings pearls, gems, fine wood, and fresh flowers to its admirers.
Upon hearing her words, Qiao Yanshen raised his eyes and looked around, only then realizing that this place indeed bore the most vibrant spring colors of Taihui. The barrier on Guyu Peak maintained the spring scenery, but the natural spring scenery had undergone cycles, and traces of the bitter winter could still be seen. The fruits that grew were also particularly green and small, not plump, let alone perfect, yet they possessed a unique vitality.
Wildflowers bloom after the snow melts, and grass stalks sprout new roots from the ground, unfurling their delicate leaves. The morning sun shines brightly on all living things, turning deep green into lush green, and grayish-white into pale gold, washing away all decadence and bringing a gentle warmth.
It also fell into her eyes, turning the dark color into a crystal-clear blue, pure as a vast expanse of blue waves, brighter than the sky.
"It's beautiful," Qiao Yanshen blinked and said softly.
The next moment, she was taken by the hand by Shen Lixia and turned to run in the other direction. The second chime of the bell came late, echoing in her ears.
Like a nimble little deer, Shen Lixia ran down the mountain path, so fast it looked like she was about to do two somersaults. She was already quite strong, so she no longer panted as she spoke while running: "Let's go back to the group and get to the teleportation array!"
The wind howled, lifting Qiao Yan's long, dark hair. She smiled and followed Shen Lixia to the teleportation array, where she and Tang Huairou, who was walking slowly towards them, stepped into the complex array.
A flash of golden light engulfed numerous nascent figures in the blink of an eye, then vanished. The runes gradually faded, leaving only a gentle spring breeze that stirred up fallen leaves and dust.
Meanwhile, on the Four Spirit Peaks, the disciples who had been teleported there lined up in the arena. It was a vast arena, surrounded by tiered steps, allowing onlookers to easily observe the central spectacle. The four tall, square pillars were intricately decorated with carvings of the four mythical beasts, their expressions—joy, anger, sorrow, and even their fierce, menacing poses—were vividly depicted. In the southeast corner of the arena stood a high platform, reserved exclusively for the celestial beings, as the disciples had entered from the northwest, providing the best vantage point to view the entire competition.
However, there have been slight changes to this competition.
Noticing Taihui's disciple enter, Yan Xueya lightly tapped the table. Even among the ethereal cultivators, her appearance was quite extraordinary; her eyelashes were snow-white, and her silver eyes were cold and deep, almost transparent in the gradually brightening sunlight. Cultivators' appearances are usually fixed at the time of their Foundation Establishment, and most retain youthful vitality and beauty. Even those who achieve enlightenment later in life will deliberately adjust their appearance after reaching a higher level of cultivation to conceal their lack of natural talent.
But Yan Xueya did not do that. The wrinkles under her eyes became more pronounced when she lowered her gaze slightly, and her cheekbones receded, as if etched by time, making her appear even more sharp and exuding an aura of authority without anger.
Her temples were streaked with white, which no longer seemed out of place, but rather complemented her features.
"This tea is really good."
"It seems to be even better than the last time it was from the Wuji Sword Sect."
Upon hearing this, one of the cultivators sitting at the table raised her eyes, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I've never heard of anyone being so picky. Are you deliberately looking for trouble, huh?" After saying that, she flicked her finger, and a flash of green light appeared, causing the person who had just spoken to turn pale and hurriedly raise his hand to block it.
The bloodstains appeared between her fingers in the blink of an eye, only to be wiped away by her spiritual power.
It was actually a faint blue sword aura.
The man angrily retorted, "You think you can't say that? Your tea is so crude it's just bitter, and your pastries are bland too."
“That’s why they say sword cultivators are all poor,” another person chimed in, adding with a smile, “especially in places where sword cultivators congregate, they’re even poorer…”
"...Quiet." Yan Xueya raised her hand and rubbed her temples. "Tu Sheng is all here."
From here, you can hear the discussions and cheers of the students sitting on the steps below. Every time a renowned student approaches, you can hear their excited whispers. These whispers, when combined, become a wave that shakes the entire venue.
"Look, that's Yue Qifeng from the Wuji Sword Sect! I've heard she matured at a young age, opening the door to swordsmanship in her teens, and comprehending the Gale Sword Intent just two years later! Truly a prodigy among sword cultivators!"
Behind Yue Qifeng, who was dressed in a blue robe, several sword-wielding youths smiled. They were also dressed in plain, unadorned clothes, with a light blue short jacket over a long white robe, their wrist guards tightly bound for easy gripping of their swords.
On this rare day when they can show themselves off, they will also take out their natal swords and wear them on their waists or backs, so that everyone can see what their companions look like.
On the other side, someone was staring intently at Yun Zhixiao, who was dressed in flowing red, unable to look away: "That's Senior Sister Yun... I heard that her zither was personally engraved by the Palace Master of Xihe Palace, with patterns bearing the divine power of the Vermilion Bird, adorned with feathers from the descendants of the Luan bird, and the strings are also forged from the essence of dragon blood..."
Yun Zhixiao doesn't use just one instrument; she's trained in music theory, and can use any instrument, whether it's the flute, the qin, or the ruan. However, she personally prefers the former two.
"The clothes worn by the students at Xihe Palace are so beautiful!"
The Xihe Palace is symbolized by birds, and its founder came from the southern lands, hence the love of beauty. However, its beauty is not reflected in wearing clothes that are inconvenient for movement, but rather in the design and modification of clothing that is convenient for movement, combat, and sturdiness, achieving a harmony between strength and beauty.
There were other students leading groups, some in groups and some alone. Among them, a young man dressed in black was particularly eye-catching.
It wasn't her cold, indifferent eyes or the golden eye-like mark on her forehead—though those were quite striking—that was what was most astonishing: the ferocious-looking creature beneath her.
It has four claws, black scales, eyes like golden lamps, and a pure white mane growing on its back. Two protrusions, each about the height of a finger joint, have already appeared on its forehead, as if something is about to break through the flesh and grow out.
This is a dragon.
After the ancient era, the main force of the dragon race was wiped out, and the remnants disappeared over thousands of years, following the Taiyin Lord. From then on, there were no more true dragons in the world. The dragon bloodline thus became extremely precious; even a mere wisp of its aura was enough to intimidate most living beings. Dragon descendants, including the Garan people and hybrid spirit beasts and demon beasts, were even rarer.
But this young man brought with him a legendary dragon that could potentially be purified of its impurities and transformed into a dragon.
Ignoring the gasps of the crowd, she jumped off the dragon's back, gently patted its long snout, and whispered, "Mother... I want to go back."
The dragon's eyebrows furrowed, steam rising from its scales in anger. It said in a deep voice, "You are not allowed to go back! Cheer up! You represent the Taiyin Temple. It is still springtime. You cannot let the Taiyin Lord lose face!"
"The Moon Goddess has no idea what we humans have done. Who knows, if she spits water, we'll all be drowned..." the boy said aggrievedly.
"You, you, you...you unfilial son! Shut up!"
Compared to the many talented young people who received a lot of attention, Qiao Yanshen and Shen Lixia, who had always stayed in the sect and were mostly in seclusion when they went on missions, did not receive much attention. On the contrary, Tang Huairou received many gifts from her students.
Shen Lixia walked slowly behind Qiao Yanshen, her hands behind her back, until they stopped below the stage. At this moment, Tu Sheng had all arrived, and only Yan Xueya's steady voice could be heard from the stage:
"It is an honor for our sect to have so many talented young people gathered here today. On behalf of the sect leader, I extend my sincere welcome to you."
metropolitan?
Shen Lixia looked up and saw Yi Xiaohan and Chi Yueying sitting on the high platform, one on each side of Yan Xueya. They looked down at the crowd with smiles on their faces and anticipation in their eyes.
In that case, it is indeed fitting that Master is the sect leader. Today, Yan Xueya changed her robes, which were embroidered with lifelike patterns from the shoulders to the hem—a white tiger treading on clouds with its tail raised. The snow-white cat's body flowed with dazzling silver light, like the sharp engravings on a precious sword, exuding a fierce aura. For the first time, she wore a shawl, two thin, soft silver ribbons fluttering lightly in the wind, perfectly complementing her long hair, which was simply tied up with a jade hairpin.
—In other words, it's probably a formal dress, right? But Shen Lixia knew that under this magnificent robe, her master was definitely still wearing those sturdy riding boots.
Yan Xueya remained as taciturn as ever, but her voice boomed like a bell, and her words carried power: "The competition is about to begin, and I will now read out the rules."
The Grand Competition is a arena where talents from seven regions gather to compete, and therefore has many rules. In short, the bottom line is to be upright and honorable, and not to engage in despicable acts. Furthermore, justice and equality must be upheld. The first round is a team battle, with the goal of surviving to the end. The competition will cease when a certain number of teams are eliminated, determining the winner.
The second round consisted of individual duels on the arena, just like the previous mini-competitions. However, the opponents were no longer disciples from within the sect, but rather young geniuses from various states across the Nine Regions, each possessing unique skills.
After reading out the rules, Yan Xueya bowed slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "After a hundred years of honing our skills, we have finally arrived at this day. May you all break through the winds and waves and display your brilliance."
After speaking, she reached out her hand to the side, but received no response for a moment. She then lowered her head slightly and looked at Yi Xiaohan.
Yi Xiaohan opened his eyes wide in horror, hearing her icy voice echo in his mind: "Give it to me."
"No, no, we haven't even figured out its specific purpose yet, and you're already giving it to these little guys?" She was on the verge of tears. "Yan Xueya, you killed me, and now you want to kill them too?!"
Yan Xueya seemed determined, and whispered, "One, two..."—a typical countdown to three.
Yi Xiaohan sighed and had no choice but to obediently turn the item over and hand it to her. Yan Xueya glanced at the arena below, then reached out and tossed the item down.
It was a bright yet blurry radiance, almost blinding from the outside, but upon closer inspection, one could observe countless runes within it, constantly changing.
The ball of light landed on the arena, suddenly like a drop of water hitting the ground—but the sound was not subtle; instead, it rippled through the consciousnesses of the other beings. Then, it merged into the center of the arena, slowly dissolving a piece of pure white, hard jade into a dark abyss like a silent sea, or a mirror reflecting a dark sky.
"Go in when you're ready."
Everyone had been waiting for her to say those words, and before she could finish speaking, they all leaped up and jumped into the water mirror.
Someone in the audience peered out curiously and asked, "What's this?"
Yi Xiaohan shook Yan Xueya's shoulder, repeatedly saying, "You know what this is, right? -- You know! We've only gone in and seen a little bit!"
Prying her hand away, Yan Xueya remained calm and said, "This was arranged by the sect leader long ago."
A relic from the ancient times, a small space imbued with divine aura.
Hearing her say that, Yi Xiaohan breathed a slight sigh of relief, then seemed to remember something and said with a start, "Wait a minute, didn't you forget to mention one of the most important rules?"
Before Yan Xueya could reply, she continued to ask:
"You mustn't kill... Did you forget to say that?"
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