Chapter 420: The Eve of the Xian Sect Grand Competition

Holy shit!

Can you please not ask me such a difficult question?

Chi Jiuyu's expression froze.

From an emotional standpoint, she leans more toward Lingzu Senior, after all, Lingzu Senior treated her so well.

But clearly now isn't the time to go by emotion…

And honestly, as someone half-blind to faces, both of their looks were equally sky-high in her eyes—impossible to tell which was better…

She looked helplessly toward Zhao Ruohan beside her.

Yet Zhao Ruohan, sensing her gaze, immediately looked away.

Chi Jiuyu: "…"

Friendship's little boat really does capsize at the drop of a hat—this Xiao Zhao is so unfaithful!

Her mind spun rapidly, and she quickly thought of what to say.

"Emm… I still think my master is prettier."

First, whisper a shield—loyalty to one's master is always right.

"Besides, Senior Yuanjun, you've got a cloth tied over your face—you can't even see properly…"

A cloth tied over your face…

This thing really does describe things in a 'vivid' way.

Yuanjun wasn't bothered: "So, you think Lingzu is prettier?"

"No, no—it's just that under the circumstance of you having a cloth tied over your face, Lingzu Senior better matches my aesthetic," Chi Jiuyu looked at Yuanjun with an 'innocent' expression.

"And this is just my personal opinion—my uncle might not think the same way."

Her face seemed to bear the words 'innocent and pure' written across it.

Looking past appearances to the essence—does how I think matter?

It doesn't matter at all!

What matters is what my uncle thinks.

And after that last remark, she realized this Senior Yuanjun isn't some overly serious elder—being a little 'mischievous' is totally fine!

The boundless wisdom of Jiuyu Laozu had already seen through everything!

Xu Xing watched this creature gloating inside and couldn't help but feel speechless: "You've only been there a few times—already got bought off?"

"What do you mean 'bought off'? Lingzu Senior treats us so well—of course our impression of her is good!" Chi Jiuyu replied with righteous confidence.

She fed her, gave her drinks, even gifted her a branch from the Xuanzhu fruit tree, and even cooked for her personally…

Jiuyu Laozu simply couldn't do something so ungrateful and disloyal.

"Aren't you afraid I'll get angry?"

"I'm just speaking the truth—you're a cultivator on the same level as Lingzu Senior, how could you possibly be upset over what I said?"

Yuanjun looked at her for a moment, then let out a light laugh and said no more.

It was just a casual remark, but she hadn't expected this disciple of the Sword Sovereign to answer in such an interesting way.

How exactly did the Sword Sovereign raise such a disciple?

"You're quite good with words."

"Hehe, being articulate is my strength," Chi Jiuyu grinned.

"You do speak in an interesting way. Since that's the case, the two of you will come with me and your uncle for a walk."

Huh?!

Zhao Ruohan looked stunned.

She hadn't said a single word—why was she involved?

"Tell me some things about your master too," Yuanjun added.

"No way!" Chi Jiuyu flatly refused.

As she spoke, she had already circled the bench and grabbed Zhao Ruohan, who looked thoroughly unwilling, and caught up with the two.

"Oh?"

"As a disciple, how could I speak ill of my master behind his back?" She looked resolute—but quickly added, "Unless my master agrees!"

"I didn't realize you respected your master so much."

No wonder the Sword Sovereign often mentioned this disciple.

"Of course! Aside from unparalleled talent and extraordinary wisdom, respecting one's master is one of my fine virtues!"

This creature is getting increasingly shameless.

Xu Xing felt speechless inside but said nothing.

Sister wouldn't mention Chi Jiuyu's provocation in the group chat—after all, family shame shouldn't be aired publicly…

The four of them walked forward like this.

Throughout, it was only Yuanjun and Chi Jiuyu talking—even Xu Xing barely spoke.

Zhao Ruohan, witnessing this, admired her even more.

Though she was the daughter of Seeing Hong Zun, she still couldn't help feeling nervous when meeting other Xian Sect ancestors…

For example, when she visited Sword Sovereign Senior yesterday, she was terrified—let alone talk as calmly and naturally as Chi Jiuyu was doing now.

Such tremendous mental fortitude…

Indeed, Chi Jiuyu still had many things worth learning from.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ruohan observed Chi Jiuyu's every move more closely.

Xu Xing: "…"

Whatever, without this, we wouldn't have gathered together anyway.

……

……

By evening, the sun sank beyond the western horizon.

The sky was painted with crimson clouds like molten gold, and even the rolling auspicious red auroras were stained by its glow—yet the outer grounds of the Tai Shang Dao Sect remained bustling, thronged with people coming and going.

On a high viewing platform stood a massive Yin-Yang fish statue, with scattered tourists standing around it, some taking photos with their phones.

Several disciples in Tai Shang Dao Sect uniforms held professional recording artifacts, filming promotional footage.

If not for the new product launch event, even more people would have come here.

Chi Jiuyu and Zhao Ruohan stood on the statue's base, munching on roasted ears of corn.

The kernels were roasted a beautiful golden yellow, soft, sweet, and rich in Qi, and with a reasonable price, they were extremely popular.

After a brief hesitation, Zhao Ruohan looked at Chi Jiuyu seriously: "Next time we meet will be at the Xian Sect Grand Competition—I'll defeat you for sure."

"Huh?!" Chi Jiuyu chewed fiercely a few times, then swallowed and looked at Zhao Ruohan just as seriously, "You're dreaming!"

"……"

Thought she'd say something wise.

"Besides, we're both in the Soul Transformation group—we might get eliminated before we even face each other." She took another bite of corn.

"You… have moments like this, lacking confidence?"

"This isn't lacking confidence—it's clear self-awareness." She waved the corn cob in her hand. "I'm only twenty-three, and you're only twenty-five—what are you going to fight those fifty- or sixty-year-olds with?"

Even with compensation mechanisms, those elders' realms may be suppressed, but the gaps in their spiritual techniques and battle experience are still hard to make up.

"Actually, the compensation mechanism could be made more balanced…" Zhao Ruohan frowned.

Perfect balance isn't impossible.

"I heard my master say this—the true purpose of the Xian Sect Grand Competition is to hone disciples, so they only suppress realms and add minor restrictions, not suppress spiritual techniques too."

The younger the competitor, the more insights they gain.

After all, they face opponents of equal or even lower realm but far superior spiritual techniques—they can't help but gain insights.

As for the older competitors…

To put it bluntly, they serve more as "whetstones."

"Wait, you didn't know that?"

Zhao Ruohan shook her head: "I never asked."

"Now you know."

After saying it casually, Chi Jiuyu was about to toss away her corn cob—but then she seemed to remember something.

"By the way, do you know who named this 'corn'?"

"It was the Xiang Jianzong." Zhao Ruohan didn't let her keep showing off.

"Originally, it was just a weakly Qi-infused herb with low medicinal value. This richly Qi-laden, plump variety is the result of generations of cultivation and optimization by Ji Shi Valley. In the previous generation, they even bred a mutant variant whose fruit became completely fibrous—perfect material for the 'Scatter Beans to Create Soldiers' technique."

"The leaves are long and broad; with simple trimming, they can serve as talisman paper or material for the 'Cut Paper into People' technique."

"The stalk…"

Aba aba…

"Stop! Stop! I get it, I get it!"

She didn't want to hear Zhao Ruohan keep lecturing—corn had turned into a whole art form!

She casually tossed the corn cob into a nearby trash bin.

"But how do you know all this so well?"

"……I like growing special spirit plants."

Special spirit plants?

Chi Jiuyu suddenly thought of her own Xuan Zhu Fruit Tree.

"Then our hobbies are pretty similar, huh!"

She stood up from the statue's base and patted her pants.

!

Xu Xing and Xiang Yuanjun stood not far ahead, now turning to look at her.

"Finished chatting?" Xu Xing asked.

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Alright, let's head back." He glanced at Xiang Yuanjun. "Let's go."

"Mm." Xiang Yuanjun nodded slightly, then walked up to Chi Jiuyu. "Since this is our first meeting, I'll give you a small gift—so you won't think I'm stingier than Ling Zu."

"How could I ever think that?" She scratched her head. "You're overthinking, Elder."

Xiang Yuanjun smiled silently, opening her hand to offer a slip of paper-like object.

Oh?

On the slip were two elegant small characters—"Misfortune," "Fortune."

"Bring misfortune upon others, bestow fortune upon others—how you use it is entirely up to you."

Xu Xing stepped forward: "Giving her this… isn't that a bit dangerous?"

"I don't think so. Jiuyu may be a bit mischievous, but she still knows her limits."

I'm not mischievous.

Chi Jiuyu muttered inwardly.

"Thank you, Elder Xiang Yuanjun!"

To give others misfortune, and bestow fortune upon them—sounds so lofty and grand!

And even my uncle specifically warned me—it must be an top-tier treasure!

She solemnly took the note.

It landed in her hand, so light it felt almost weightless.

She had assumed it was paper, but the texture felt more like fabric…

She couldn't help but glance at the white gauze covering Xiang Yuanjun's eyes.

"Say, Elder, you're so beautiful—why cover your eyes with a piece of gauze?"

"Isn't it just a piece of cloth tied on?" Xiang Yuanjun replied.

Chi Jiuyu paused, then chuckled sheepishly.

As the saying goes: eat someone's food, and your tongue grows short; take someone's gift, and your hands grow weak.

"This is between me and your uncle—adult matters, children shouldn't ask."

"Oh."

Something between me and my uncle…?

Hss~!

Could it be…!?

Slap!

Chi Jiuyu jolted, then clutched the back of her head and shouted: "Uncle, you hit me again!"

Damn it!

You're standing right in front of me, yet you still hit the back of my head!

Just because you're higher in realm!

"Enough—these are not things you should know yet!"

Xiang Yuanjun used to be quite mischievous.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have learned his sword art during sparring, improved it, then beaten him soundly.

She's just mellowed out now.

"Let's go."

Without giving Chi Jiuyu another chance to speak, she vanished with her.

Zhao Ruohan was still sitting on the statue's pedestal.

After Xu Xing and Chi Jiuyu disappeared, she turned her gaze toward Xiang Yuanjun.

The evening glow fell on her profile, outlining her serene and beautiful face.

The sunset's afterglow draped her in a thin veil, making her seem even more otherworldly, tranquil, and lovely.

My little aunt is truly so beautiful…

The Sword Lord Elder is handsome too, but too cold and stern.

What about the Spirit Ancestor Elder?

Chi Jiuyu said she's prettier than my little aunt…

Probably not.

…………

After Chi Jiuyu returned with Xu Xing, she was called in by Bie Xuening for questioning.

She proudly recounted her performance—only to find…

Nothing happened.

Bie Xuening simply asked a few questions, then tested her progress on her Dharma Form, and went on to explain precautions regarding the "Misfortune and Fortune" note, warning her not to misuse it and cause trouble.

Involving cause and effect, that note was no simple thing.

Though not as supreme as the ultimate technique "Master, Save Me!", its rank was so high that even a Tongxuan or Dongzhen cultivator might stumble if careless, and a Hedao cultivator would shed a layer of skin.

As for those below Hedao…

It would trigger chain reactions, striking entire groups at once.

Xiang Yuanjun didn't mention it because she understood this—after all, the Sword Lord would explain it, so she didn't bother bringing it up again.

Several days passed after that.

The selection matches for the Xian Sect Grand Tournament were in full swing.

The broadcast of the Longxiang Qingtianzong selection matches was censored multiple times for indecency, and finally, the audio was muted entirely.

The viewing experience instantly improved by several levels!

The brutal, fist-to-flesh brawls between massive muscle-bound fighters—primitive, violent, and intensely thrilling!

Among the Qidaxian Sect selection matches…

The most intense was undoubtedly the Hehuan Sect.

Every move was lethal, leaving no mercy whatsoever—uninformed observers might think they were mortal enemies.

After all, the Xian Sect Grand Tournament's popularity was extremely high; though this year's matches weren't publicly broadcast, merely becoming a formal contestant meant explosive traffic.

Naturally, achieving a ranking in the Xian Sect Grand Tournament brought even greater heat.

But the difficulty was too high, so most just gave up.

Next came the Shenji Lianbao Pavilion.

Last time, their overall ranking was even lower than the medicine experts of Jishi Valley—they all held a grudge.

Then came the Xiang Jianzong.

As the perennial number one, the pressure was immense—everyone was straining to secure a spot.

After that came the Salvation Valley, Ling Yin Fang, and the like—rather laid-back factions.

Of course, if one were to ask which sect's selection tournament was the most harmonious, the most entertaining…

Then without a doubt, it was the Supreme Dao Sect, which even gave off an air of "joyful harmony."

And so, after several weeks of selection tournaments, the roster for the Xian Sect Grand Competition was finally set.

At the same time, there was a change in the Star Domain Garrison Commander: the Calamity Sword Master, who had been stationed at the Starry Front battlefield for many years, returned to the Xiang Jianzong, and the region he had been guarding was taken over by a Dongzhen from Ling Yin Fang. (End of chapter)