Chapter 291: Xie Wanwan Is Chosen—Seventh Day of the Seventh Month!

Yu Ke found this somewhat strange.

The green-clad woman spoke with great respect:

"Second Miss instructed that she accidentally disturbed Master Yu just now; this Cold Jiao Jade Fungus Soup is her apology."

Saying this,

the green-clad woman drew from her sleeve a pale purple talon-shaped token and placed it gently before Yu Ke.

She used a soup spoon to divide the pot's contents into seven portions.

After bowing to Yu Ke and the others, she departed gracefully.

Leaving behind a group of stunned onlookers.

Yu Ke stared at the pale purple talon-token in his hand, his mind filled with deeper confusion.

As for "disturbance"!

Could it be that the jade pixiu on Second Miss's wrist had just cracked?

He was the closest to her!

The token's material was unique, like amber, emitting a faint glow that drew the eye to examine it closely.

Ren Xue saw Yu Ke's confusion and explained:

"Master Yu, this is a VIP Spirit Feather of Zuijiangyue. Simply input your spiritual power into it, and it will reveal its rank."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ke slowly infused his spiritual energy into it.

Suddenly,

a star pattern gradually emerged on the feather, shimmering with faint light.

This was the mark of a one-star VIP.

Beside the star was an unusual character "three," which deepened Yu Ke's bewilderment.

Ren Xue, also surprised, explained: "This 'three' means you may enjoy three free meals at Zuijiangyue, each time your consumption is under eight thousand spirit stones."

Yu Ke was stunned.

Three times eight thousand—that's twenty-four thousand spirit stones.

Even as she spoke, Ren Xue's face showed envy; though she herself possessed a two-star Zuijiangyue VIP token, she had no such three-free privilege as Yu Ke's.

This kind of gift was rare even among outer sect disciples.

Xie Wanwan's face showed envy:

"Master Yu, this was personally gifted by Second Miss—it's far more valuable than a standard one-star token!"

Beside him, Pang He stared at Yu Ke's token, his expression darkening.

Especially upon learning it was personally bestowed by Second Miss, he could no longer contain himself.

Pang He blurted out angrily:

"It's just Second Miss being generous—what's there to boast about?"

"You just got lucky with your seat!"

Hearing this, Yu Ke paid no heed to Pang He; his gaze shifted lightly to Lan Yu and he said naturally:

"Brother, let me treat everyone to this meal."

With this token, Yu Ke now had confidence—he'd gotten it for free anyway.

He couldn't let Xie Wanwan lose out; she'd kindly invited him, and he couldn't let her pay.

That would be shameful.

Xie Wanwan, startled, softly exclaimed: "Master Yu!"

But Lan Yu shook his head.

Seeing this, Pang He's heart eased slightly.

Clearly, Brother Lan still held resentment over the rejection; he hurried to say:

"Younger Brother Yu, your gesture is excessive—it's too…"

Lan Yu softly uttered two words: "No matter."

Pang He's face showed surprise, then fell silent.

Then,

Lan Yu casually lifted a bowl of Cold Jiao Jade Fungus Soup from the table; the soup was crystal-clear, wreathed in chilling mist, extraordinary—rarer than the Eagle-Cow Fish.

"I treat you to a meal; you treat me to this soup—we're even."

Lan Yu had barely touched any other dish, yet he savored the bowl of Cold Jiao Jade Fungus Soup slowly until the last drop.

Seeing that Lan Yu seemed unconcerned by Yu Ke's earlier act, the others relaxed.

After all,

this soup was a rare tonic for those on the Second Rung of cultivation—everyone had long coveted it.

They no longer held back and began tasting eagerly.

The Ruan brothers were the first to speak: "Thank you, Younger Brother Yu!"

Ren Xue smiled warmly: "Thank you, Master Yu!"

At this moment,

Lan Yu spoke again, shifting tone: "One spot remains unfilled. Younger Brother Yu, who do you think is more suitable?"

His words altered the atmosphere subtly.

Everyone knew Lan Yu's question was really testing Yu Ke's choice between Xie Wanwan and Pang He.

Hearing this, Xie Wanwan felt a flicker of nervous anticipation.

Yu Ke paused briefly, then said slowly: "Second Sister Xie is the best choice."

Lan Yu said: "Good. Then it shall be as Younger Brother Yu suggests."

With the four names settled, Pang He's face betrayed unhidden fury; though bitter inside, he knew he dared not defy a True Disciple's authority—he clenched his fists in his sleeves, swallowing his rage into resentment toward Yu Ke.

He seethed inwardly: had Yu Ke not interfered, he would have succeeded.

Xie Wanwan's face lit up with delight; she quickly bowed to Lan Yu and Yu Ke, her voice brimming with gratitude:

"Thank you, Master Lan! Thank you, Master Yu!"

Lan Yu merely nodded slightly.

Yu Ke gently pushed the precious bowl of Cold Jiao Jade Fungus Soup toward Xie Wanwan; this gesture stirred warmth in her heart, deeply moved.

As for Pang He, Yu Ke ignored him.

Pang He noticed Yu Ke's gaze—he hadn't even looked at him from start to finish.

His expression darkened further; he thought bitterly: Who do you think you are, Yu Ke, to treat me like this?

After deciding the selection, Lan Yu rose to leave.

Everyone naturally dared not delay!

Just as the group assumed the gathering was ending, Lan Yu turned and said something astonishing:

"Next month's seventh day, Xiang Zhang Peak will hold another trial. Younger Brother Yu, if you wish to join, present this jade token."

"All of you, this trial is set for three days from now—don't be late."

After Lan Yu left, the group's expressions grew noticeably lighter.

At this moment,

Yu Ke's palm held a jade token, its surface faintly glowing, as if infused with spiritual resonance.

Pang He's gaze fell on the faint spiritual light in Yu Ke's palm; his eyes turned cold, he snorted, and swept his sleeve away.

Xie Wanwan's face still glowed with unspent excitement; the Zangxian Ground trial was not merely training for her—it was a rare opportunity toward Foundation Establishment.

"Thank you, Master Yu!"

Ren Xue watched Pang He depart, then softly told Yu Ke:

"Master Yu, you must be wary of this man."

Her words carried goodwill; since Lan Yu had shown favor to Yu Ke, Ren Xue's attitude had subtly changed.

A disciple with such potential in the outer sect, compared to Pang He, was as heaven and earth apart.

Hearing this, Yu Ke smiled faintly and bowed in thanks.

This Ren Xue, dressed in palace robes and appearing like a child, moved with a composure starkly contrasting her delicate appearance!

As for Pang He!

Yu Ke felt no fear; since his reincarnation into this world, though he avoided unnecessary enemies, he had never feared challenge.

With the method of Celestial Rebirth, he held his greatest advantage—in time, he would surely rise to prominence in this world.

Yu Ke lowered his gaze to the jade token in his hand!

Inside his storage pouch lay another token, quietly resting—the token Li Qingshui had given him as a token.

The agreed date was also the seventh day of the seventh month—two identical dates.

He had a strong feeling things were not this simple.

After Lan Yu left, the Ruan brothers drained the bowl of Cold Jiao Jade Fungus Soup, their faces filled with satisfaction.

Ruan Zisheng, as the elder brother, laughed:

"We're lucky to have tasted this—thank you, Younger Brother Yu."

Their conversation grew livelier!

The Ruan brothers keenly noticed Yu Ke's thoughtful expression, especially the jade token tightly held in his hand.

Ruan Zisheng cleared his throat, his tone grave:

"Yu Brother, you may not yet realize the influence and status Brother Lan Yu holds within the Inner Sect."

"With this jade token granted by him, in past years you could have almost guaranteed a spot in the Xiangzhang Peak's Inner Sect. But this year's Outer Sect Grand Competition is unlike any before."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ke looked up, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Can a True Disciple really wield such influence?

Just a single waist token can decide an Outer Sect slot?

He recalled the jade token still in his storage pouch, given to him by Li Qingshui.

But more than that, he was focused on the changes to the Outer Sect Grand Competition. After a moment's thought, he asked:

"Different?"

Ren Xue nodded and explained patiently:

"After thorough inquiries, we received confirmed news from the Inner Sect: this year's Outer Sect assessment is unprecedented in difficulty and scale."

"In the past, such assessments were handled by top Inner Sect disciples and Elders. But this year, the Sect Master himself has personally taken charge, and even Elders from the Ancestral Hall—rarely seen by outsiders—are participating in the evaluation. This is an event unheard of in our sect's thousand-year history!"

"Moreover,"

Ren Xue shifted tone and continued:

"There's an even more astonishing development: the sect has decided to cancel this year's and next year's Outer Sect Grand Competitions, merging the promotion opportunities of three years into a single competition. This means this year's Outer Sect Grand Competition will draw an unprecedented number of disciples—the intensity of competition is unimaginable."

Hearing this, Yu Ke felt a pang of surprise—he had not expected the Shenxiao Sect to place such weight on this Outer Sect Grand Competition.

In the Outer Sect, a disciple had only one chance every six years to compete—whether early or late, it depended entirely on one's cultivation and courage.

Some disciples, confident in their strength, dared to enter the competition less than a year after joining.

Most, however, chose to prepare meticulously, waiting until the sixth year for a single decisive attempt.

Now, with this year's and next year's competitions canceled, an unprecedented phenomenon has emerged: disciples who have been in the Outer Sect for eight years. This had never happened before.

According to sect rules, Outer Sect disciples are limited to six years; if they fail to advance by then, they must leave the sect.

With the cancellation of two consecutive competitions, they are now forced to compete—this is their final chance.

Thus, it effectively compels these disciples to join this year's competition.

Yu Ke is in his fourth year; in two years, he will reach his sixth.

Ruan Zi Sheng said solemnly:

"The sect's decision seems aimed at preparing for Yunxiao Immortal's disciple selection."

Yunxiao Immortal's disciple selection!

Yu Ke remembered the "Yingzhao" across from him in the small courtyard—it seemed to have come for this very reason.

Feng Ping, the beautiful woman, had said that Yunxiao Immortal's disciple selection was a major event across the Three Provinces.

To become her disciple would be to ascend to heaven in a single step.

Ren Xue smiled:

"Of course, where there is pressure, there is also motivation!"

"It's said that the top one hundred in this year's Outer Sect Grand Competition will receive extraordinarily generous rewards."

Yu Ke nodded slightly—these rewards still felt too distant from him.

Not until two years from now!

The Ruan brothers and Ren Xue took their leave in turn.

Only Xie Wanwan and Yu Ke remained.

Today is Qixi. Wishing all our righteous fathers a happy Qixi!

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(End of Chapter)