Xu Yuehuai did the same. She killed all the shadowy figures in her sea of consciousness, including Ji Yuanchi. Just before she disappeared, Ji Yuanchi left a message: "Don't be afraid, I will protect you."
Xu Yuehuai's body swayed twice in the void. She steadied herself and continued walking forward. Although she was using a void technique, the distance was far and it would take some time to get back.
...
"Why hasn't Senior Sister arrived yet! The competition is about to start, and if we don't enter soon, the entrance will be closed." Shangguan Xi looked anxiously towards the entrance, constantly peering around, hoping to spot Xu Yuehuai among the people coming.
No matter how you look at them, Xu Yuehuai is nowhere to be seen. Zisangyi is also standing here, waiting for his disciple to arrive.
"I guess something happened on the way that delayed her. Senior Sister takes this competition very seriously. If something hadn't happened, she definitely wouldn't have been late!" Nangong Yu said worriedly from the side. This was the only explanation they could come up with.
"Hey, who are these people? Let me take a good look. Aren't they from Qingtao Valley?" An annoying voice came from not far away. Behind the man was a group of disciples. Nangong Yu and the others looked over and immediately recognized him as Zhan Qi from Wanzhang Sect.
Zhan Qi didn't see Zi Sangyi and assumed that only the few of them were standing there. Shangguan Xi was in a bad mood because she hadn't seen Xu Yuehuai, and she said to Zhan Qi with an even more unfriendly expression, "I could smell a foul odor from far away. I wondered where it was coming from, but it turns out it's you spewing filth from your mouth!"
These words were extremely insulting. Zhan Qi clenched his fists, his face contorted with anger, but he quickly calmed down and sneered, "I see you're all just good at talking. I wonder if you'll still be able to laugh on the field later!"
Zhan Qi is the eldest disciple of Wanzhang Sect. He was the same person he met during the competition in Duancheng. So they are probably old acquaintances.
Neither Shangguan Xi nor Nangong Yu, who were both impulsive, uttered a word.
Zhan Qi glanced at them and noticed that the rumored seven-person team had now become six, with Xu Yuehuai not among them. He instantly understood why the group looked so anxious. "Hey, where's your senior sister? Isn't she here? I was just thinking of having a good chat with that beauty, but I didn't expect her to be absent."
Zhan Qi shook his head regretfully, clicking his tongue. Every word he spoke was like a knife piercing their hearts, showing no regard for their lives.
Shangguan Xi stepped forward, glaring fiercely at Zhan Qi. "Let me tell you, don't spout nonsense here. Have you forgotten how you were utterly thrashed and forced to flee in disarray back in Duancheng? Who was that person? Oh, it's you standing right in front of me!"
Shangguan Xi's merciless mockery made Zhan Qi's face darken a shade, but he still had to maintain his composure. "The past is like smoke, I can hardly remember it anymore. But I'd like to kindly remind you that there's still an incense stick's time before the gate closes. Once the gate closes, no one can get in. Don't miss the time at the gate, or I'll miss out on a lot of fun. Don't you think so?"
He yelled at his team, and the others chimed in with a playful smirk, "Yeah! You guys better not miss the time!"
After Zhan Qi and his group left, Shangguan Xi and the others became even more anxious. Zhan Qi was right; the gate would close in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If Xu Yuehuai hadn't returned before the gate closed, she wouldn't be able to participate in the competition.
Zi Sangyi walked over from the side. He had obviously heard everything that had just been said. These things were a struggle between the younger generation, and he couldn't say anything at the time. "You guys go in first. Although what the people from Wanzhang Sect said was unpleasant, it doesn't change the fact that it was true. They're right. If you miss the chance to go in, then our Qingtao Valley will be defeated without a fight. I'll wait for her here. You guys go in first."
Nangong Yu hesitated, "But..."
He had barely uttered a word when Shangguan Xi grabbed his arm and pulled him away. "No buts, let's go inside and wait. Senior Sister certainly doesn't want us to miss this match because of her. Let's keep quiet."
Shangguan Xi pulled him inside without a second thought, and the others followed suit, leaving the entrance area suddenly much emptier.
Zisangyi appeared calm on the surface, but his mind was in turmoil. As the sect leader, if he panicked first in this situation, what would happen to the others?
Inside, the place was bustling with noise and excitement, as everyone discussed who would win the first place in the next round.
"There are a lot of dark horses this year. In the past, the Zhentian Clan was always number one, but this year it's hard to say. The Zhentian Clan has declined now. I think Xu Yuehuai will definitely be number one this year!"
“That makes sense. We all saw the huge commotion Xu Yuehuai caused in Duancheng this year. Among these younger people, who can compare to her?”
"That's true, but why hasn't Xu Yuehuai come in yet?"
"Tch, I'm telling you, stop daydreaming. Xu Yuehuai has been gone for ages. As far as I know, she didn't want to stay in the sect a few days before the competition. Apparently, she went to that godforsaken place at the very bottom and hasn't come back yet. I don't know what she was doing in that kind of place at this critical juncture."
Everyone was shocked. "It would take at least a month to go from the second floor to the third floor and back. If she went to the third floor during this time, she definitely wouldn't be able to come back! Why is Sect Master Zisang Yi letting her act so recklessly!"
"Who knows? Maybe they don't even care about such an opportunity. Being able to enter the ruins sounds great, but in reality, it's a question whether you can even get to the first floor, or even whether you can survive. This competition isn't about which sect is stronger, but about selecting the most powerful young people from the second floor to go into the ruins."
"Perhaps Xu Yuehuai knows how dangerous the ruins are, so he doesn't want to go at all. It's best to leave such an opportunity to those clueless and naive young people."
These people are commenting on this matter, making all sorts of remarks, and thinking they know the most about it.
Shangguan Xi looked at the incense stick on the highest platform, which was almost burned to the bottom, but still did not see Xu Yuehuai. The gate began to slowly close, and even as it closed, Xu Yuehuai was still nowhere to be seen.
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