Chapter 371: Pearl of Same Origin

Immortal Sect Grand Competition?

Yuan Yao quickly came to her senses.

The so-called Immortal Sect Grand Competition is the largest-scale competition in the cultivation world.

It is called the largest-scale because forces from the Three Islands and Nine Provinces will send their outstanding youth to participate.

In other words, regardless of which island or province, they must select exactly two hundred promising disciples to go to the competition site.

If a young disciple wishes to represent their province or island in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition, they must pass multiple rounds of screening and assessment, standing out from the many applicants.

In the cultivation world as a whole, holding the Immortal Sect Grand Competition every ten years is of great significance.

On one hand, it can comprehensively assess the true abilities of the new generation of cultivators from all continents and islands; on the other hand, the rankings based on the competition results will directly determine the overall standing between provinces and islands.

Thus, it can clearly show the development level of different regions in the cultivation field and the gaps and advantages between them.

As for the previous Immortal Sect Grand Competition, the rankings were:

First place: First Province.

Second place: Flying Cloud Island.

Third place: Second Province.

Fourth place: Third Province.

Fifth place: Fifth Province.

Sixth to twelfth places are, respectively: Boundless Island, Fourth Province, Seventh Province, Fusang Island, Sixth Province, Eighth Province, Ninth Province.

Yuan Yao gathered her thoughts and gave Nie Bai a slight nod: 'Good.'

Nie Bai left with his few family disciples.

And passing by them was Hua Chengyan's group.

Nie Bai glanced at Hua Chengyan and sneered, 'Young Master Hua, don't raise the price so high in the future.'

Hua Chengyan smiled calmly.

'Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Nie.'

Nie Bai gave a cold chuckle, 'Let's go.'

And Hua Chengyan's group came before Yuan Yao and her five companions.

Hua Chengyan looked at Yuan Yao, smiling like a spring breeze, and asked, 'Fellow Daoist Yuan, can our previous agreement still be fulfilled?'

'Of course.' Yuan Yao nodded and smiled, 'Do you have that many top-grade spirit stones on you?'

Hua Chengyan didn't expect her to be so straightforward; he said, 'Yes.'

Yuan Yao exchanged glances with her senior brothers and sisters, then cheerfully took out a golden Heavenly Pride Token from her storage space and threw it to Hua Chengyan.

Hua Chengyan hastily caught it, protecting it carefully, his breathing becoming a little heavier.

And the Flower Sect members present also stared intently at the Heavenly Pride Token in Hua Chengyan's hand.

After checking it, Hua Chengyan quickly put away the Heavenly Pride Token.

Then he stepped toward Yuan Yao and transferred 250,000 top-grade spirit stones to her.

With a pleased smile on his delicate face, Hua Chengyan said gently, 'Fellow Daoist Yuan, and fellow Daoists, it is an honor for me to travel with you on this journey; I hope we can become friends in the future.'

'I... I... want to apologize to all of you.'

At this moment, Uncle Nine stepped forward and spoke somewhat hesitantly.

'It's my bias toward you. Here, I apologize for my previous improper remarks.'

After saying that, Uncle Nine actually bowed deeply toward Yuan Yao and her five companions.

Song Yan stepped forward and helped Uncle Nine up.

'We...' Song Yan was about to speak, but he swallowed his words and turned his head to look at his junior brothers and sisters.

'We accept your apology.' Xiao Lingwei said, her face as still as water, 'But this must not happen again, or we will certainly not let it go.'

Uncle Nine lightly pressed his lips and nodded, 'Good.'

Hua Chengyan spoke at the right moment, 'Fellow Daoist Yuan, I previously did not know today was your birthday, so I did not prepare a gift for you. If you don't mind, please accept this treasure.'

He took out a peach-wood-colored box from his storage space, slowly opened it, and displayed the treasure before Yuan Yao's eyes.

Inside lay a multicolored pearl, like a brilliant star in the night sky, flashing with extremely gorgeous and dazzling light.

Yuan Yao's eyes instantly lit up.

Hua Chengyan smiled at the corners of his mouth, like a peach blossom blooming in spring, and said, 'Fellow Daoist Yuan, do you still like it? This is something I obtained at an auction two years ago; its color and luster are excellent. However, these past two years I have never been able to determine its origin. Perhaps it is merely a bead decorated with various colors.'

'I believe Fellow Daoist Yuan will surely love this bead, so I give it to you. I hope Fellow Daoist Yuan will not disdain it.'

Yuan Yao happily raised her head to look at him.

'I really like it, thank you.'

She reached out and took the box.

But just then, she suddenly felt the Phantom Spirit's agitation.

Phantom Spirit: 'This bead seems to share the same origin as me.'

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao lowered her gaze to stare at the colorful bead in the box.

'So it's related to you?' Yuan Yao asked the Phantom Spirit via thought.

Phantom Spirit: 'Eight or nine out of ten.'

Hearing that, for some reason Yuan Yao actually thought of her parents.

Her chest felt a slight tightness.

Soon, she adjusted her emotions and put the box into her storage space.

She once again smiled and thanked Hua Chengyan.

'Actually, it's I who should thank you.' Hua Chengyan let out a light sigh, then laughed and said, 'We need to leave the Heaven Snow Mountain Range first.'

Yuan Yao said: "Good."

In the black night, Yuan Yao watched their figures gradually fade away; finally they disappeared into the vast white space.

And she raised her head to look at the sky.

Yuan Yao's smile faded a bit; she turned around, squatted on the ground, propping her cheeks with both hands, looking puzzled, she said to her fellow senior brothers and sisters: "Why hasn't the master returned yet after so long?"

Xiao Lingwei noticed her mood and spoke to soothe her: "Don't worry. The master will surely return safely."

"Exactly, how could you not believe the master?" Cang Li shrank under the blanket, shivering, his voice trembling, "I'm still waiting to eat the spirit peach from the Heaven One Sect."

Song Yan couldn't bear it any longer; he went to Cang Li's side and transferred his own true qi to him.

Cang Li had originally wanted to refuse, but in the next instant he suddenly sneezed.

Yuan Yao asked doubtfully: "Third Senior Brother, how do you know the Heaven One Sect has spirit peaches?"

With the true qi transmitted by Song Yan, Cang Li felt warm all over; moreover, the flames of the Great Sun Burning Heaven Mirror that were burning made him instantly feel not cold.

He glanced at Yuan Yao casually, then spoke openly: "I ate them when I was a child."

Upon hearing that, Yuan Yao let out a meaningful "Oh" and said: "Third Senior Brother, did you sneak into the Heaven One Sect as a child to steal spirit peaches?!"

Xiao Lingwei, Ying Wuji, and Xue Jin heard this and also looked at Cang Li, their eyes showing a bit of curiosity.

"Who went to the Heaven One Sect to steal?!" Cang Li replied angrily, paused, then added: "I stole someone else's."

Xue Jin raised an eyebrow: "Whose?"

Cang Li: "..."