Chapter 464: Selection Brought Forward

Xiahou Rui looked at Xiahou Zi with a detached expression.

"No need."

They were right; if a single life of one's own caused Fusang Island and even the entire cultivation world to fall into crisis, that would indeed be an unforgivable sin.

"But your condition…" Xiahou Zi furrowed his brows.

Xiahou Rui said calmly, "All people must eventually die."

Those words made the Third Elder Xiahou beside him feel deep sympathy.

…

For several consecutive days, Xiao Lingwei had been discussing with her parents how to handle the matter.

The final result was—

Xiao Ming's cultivation was stripped, and he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in a dungeon.

As for Xiao Fu, Qiao Ruoning and others, they too had their cultivation stripped, were expelled from Fusang Island, and will never set foot on Fusang Island again in this life.

But Xiao Ru disappeared without a trace.

Even searching the entire Fusang Island, no trace of Xiao Ru could be found.

She seemed to have evaporated from the world.

For her sake, Yuan Yao and the others stayed on Fusang Island for a few extra days.

And when Yuan Yao and the others finally left the island, Xiao Ru still hadn't been found.

They thought there were two possibilities for Xiao Ru's disappearance: either she had long known the affair was exposed and chose to leave Fusang Island on her own, or she was killed by a sea beast while diving beneath the sea during the Sea Hunt Event.

Xiao Qionghua looked a bit haggard; she took Yuan Yao's hand and carefully advised, "These days, many outsiders have entered Fusang Island, all coming for the ying dragon you contracted. So when you return to the Carefree Sect, you must be extra cautious."

"Aunt, don't worry," Yuan Yao said, taking a teleportation scroll from the storage space and smiling, "I have a teleportation scroll, so I can use it to go straight back to the Carefree Sect."

"I also want to go to the Carefree Sect!" Xiao Lingchao said with anticipation.

Xiao Qionghua gave him a glance and asked, "What are you going to the Carefree Sect for?"

"I... I just want to take a look," Xiao Lingchao said, glancing secretly at Xiao Lingwei and letting out an uneasy cough.

Xiao Lingwei reached out and ruffled his hair, "Do you want to visit the Carefree Sect?"

Xiao Lingchao, not caring that his hair was messed up, nodded eagerly, "I do!"

Xiao Lingwei, hearing that, turned her head toward Song Yan and the others, "What do you think?"

"Fine," Yuan Yao raised an eyebrow.

The others also had no objections.

Xiao Jun frowned and said, "Ling'er, are you really taking this kid to the Carefree Sect?"

Xiao Lingwei replied, "Father, mother, don't worry, I will watch over him."

"When you get to the Carefree Sect, listen carefully to your sister," Xiao Qionghua said earnestly to Xiao Lingchao, "Don't cause your sister any trouble."

Xiao Lingchao gave them a slightly resentful look and let out a soft "oh."

Xiao Jun shook his head helplessly, then turned to Song Yan and the others with a smile, "Remember to visit Fusang Island often in the future."

"We will, Uncle and aunt," the group replied.

Then Yuan Yao opened the teleportation scroll, enveloping Song Yan, Xiao Lingwei, Cang Li, Xue Jin, Ying Wuji, and Xiao Lingchao within it.

In that instant, all seven of them vanished from where they stood.

…

On the other side.

Outside the Carefree Sect, seven figures appeared.

Because Xiao Lingchao's cultivation was low and this was his first time undergoing such a long-distance teleport, he felt dizzy, his body went limp, his legs wobbled, and just as he was about to collapse, Xiao Lingwei and Song Yan grabbed him.

"So dizzy..." Xiao Lingchao saw stars before his eyes, and vaguely felt an urge to vomit.

"Let him rest a bit first," Song Yan said, "I'll go into the sect and consult the sect leader first."

They cannot casually bring non-sect disciples into the sect.

Therefore, to let Xiao Lingchao enter the Carefree Sect, they must first seek permission from the sect leader or the three elders residing within the sect.

Their master, Qian Jue Shan, who is the Carefree Sect Third Elder, is currently in seclusion training, so they cannot consult their own master.

Xiao Lingwei nodded, "Alright."

At the same time, the young disciples stationed outside the sect gate also noticed their presence, their expressions slightly startled, and they bowed and saluted them.

"Hello, senior brothers and sisters," Yuan Yao said with a smile, waving at them.

She then hurried to them and handed out the specialty foods and trinkets she had brought back from Fusang Island.

"Thank you, junior sister!" the senior brothers and sisters said with smiles.

"You're welcome."

A senior sister laughed and teased, "Junior sister, why didn't you bring us any roasted bird eggs?"

Yuan Yao whispered, "Because the roasted bird eggs on Fusang Island aren't very tasty."

The senior brothers and sisters showed a look of sudden realization.

While Yuan Yao chatted with them, Xiao Lingchao gradually recovered his breath.

Xiao Lingchao stood firm, looked up at the imposing sect gate, where a plaque boldly bore three soaring-dragon-and-flying-phoenix characters: Carefree Sect.

Excitement was hard to hide in Xiao Lingchao's heart.

"Sister, is this your sect?"

Xiao Lingwei nodded with a smile.

At that moment, Song Yan returned after consulting the sect leader, smiling gently, "You may enter now."

Along the way into the sect, Xiao Lingchao looked around with great curiosity.

He discovered that this place is very different from Fusang Island.

The air here is first of all markedly different from Fusang Island; it is no longer the fresh breeze carrying salty moisture, but a sweet, clear, and refreshing quality that penetrates the heart and spleen.

Looking up, the peak is perpetually wreathed in seven-colored clouds, sometimes gauzy and elusive, sometimes surging like a great dragon, ever-changing and unpredictable.

Occasionally a white-feathered immortal crane spreads its wings, lets out a clear, resonant cry, and glides past the clouds, adding a touch of carefree, transcendent aura.

Within sight, ancient yet elegant pavilions and halls are scattered about.

These structures are not ordinary brick-and-wood constructions; many buildings are built into the mountains, directly using massive spirit jade or thousand-year-old ancient wood as foundations, with flying eaves and bracketed arms, carved beams and painted pillars, all exuding the weight of ages and the ethereal, transcendent immortal qi.

The roofs of the pavilions are glazed with colored tiles that sparkle with seven‑hued light in the sun; wind chimes hang beneath the eaves, and when the wind blows they emit a clear, lingering tone that seems to contain some Dao rhyme, hearing which can calm one's mind and spirit.

Xiao Lingchao's eyes lit up, then lit up again.

Immediately afterward, his gaze fell upon the young disciples coming and going.

Their faces ranged from youthful to mature; they wore the sect's uniform white robes, appearing neat and capable yet also bearing the vigorous spirit of youth.

When they saw Song Yan and the others, they all came over to greet them.

When everyone's eyes fell on him, Xiao Lingwei would introduce: "This is my younger brother, Xiao Lingchao. You may call him Lingchao; he will stay at the Carefree Sect for a while."

Upon hearing this, everyone greeted him warmly and enthusiastically.

Xiao Lingchao sensed the atmosphere here, which made him feel very comfortable.

Because none of them showed any strange looks or released any subtle malice.

A boy as thin as a bamboo pole rushed toward them.

"You've finally come back!"

Ao Su stepped forward, let out a sudden sigh of relief, and exclaimed, "Do you know the selection for the Immortal Gate Grand Competition has started early?!"