The pastries on the table were completely devoured. Lu Qiancha contentedly licked the corner of her mouth.
She nimbly hopped off the stool, her little legs pitter-pattering as she ran toward the bed, climbing up with both hands and feet.
She quickly found the most comfortable spot for herself among the soft quilts.
The Wolf Cub lay down contentedly, lifted a corner of the blanket, and whispered to Xun Xue, “Mother, come to bed with me.”
Gentleness overflowed in Xun Xue’s eyes. She nodded lightly and lay down beside Lu Qiancha as requested. Ling Wanbai, like a quiet shadow, silently lay on Xun Xue’s other side.
Next, Xun Xue waved her slender hand, a faint thread of Xianli sweeping by and extinguishing the last flickering flame of the Onesie Oil Lamp in the warm room.
“Good night.” Xun Xue’s voice was especially gentle in the darkness.
“Good night, Mother.” Lu Qiancha replied, reaching out her small hand to gently hug Xun Xue, soon sinking into a sweet dream.
“Good night.” Ling Wanbai whispered almost inaudibly, then closed her eyes as well.
***
Over the next week, Lu Qiancha focused on her cultivation by day, repeatedly honing the techniques taught by Xuanya.
When night fell, she would hold the Stuffed Lamb Gantang had given her and, like a little animal returning to its nest, sneak into Xun Xue’s room to fall asleep nestled by her side.
Such peaceful days flowed by slowly, until the day of the Nine Peaks Grand Tournament arrived.
On the morning of the tournament, before the thin mist had cleared, Xuanya was already up. She woke Lu Qiancha and Gantang early.
Without further delay, the three of them formed hand seals to ride the wind, transforming into three streams of light that broke through the morning fog, flying straight toward the Main Hall of Heavenly Pivot Peak.
Xuanya landed with her two disciples at the edge of the square, then led them into the grand Main Hall, taking their seats cross-legged in their viewing section.
Inside, the palace was resplendent and magnificent.
Lu Qiancha sat upright on a cushion, appearing to be resting with his eyes closed, but in truth he had split a thread of his mind to check over the Returning Essence Pills and various other medicine he’d stored in his bag.
Lu Qiancha’s main concern was making sure he had the Inducement Potion and enough Returning Essence Pills.
The Inducement Potion was primarily used to gather the surrounding Yaoshou, greatly reducing the time spent searching for them. The Returning Essence Pills ensured his own Xianli wouldn’t be depleted in case of any unexpected events.
They hadn’t been sitting for long before the sound of wind breaking came from outside the hall.
Eight teams, each with three disciples dressed in their own unique attire, filed into the Main Hall one after another, led by their respective Peak Lords or elders.
Unlike the solitary Tianquan Peak, all eight of these teams were at full strength.
A few of the teams’ disciples possessed auras deep and steady as the sea, which, without meaning to, exerted immense psychological pressure on Gantang, who was attending such a grand event for the first time. Instinctively, she straightened her back and clenched her hands.
As she swept her gaze over the crowd, Lu Qiancha’s eyes paused for a moment on one team—
He spotted a familiar face: Shangguan Yunzhu.
In just a few months, her demeanor had completely changed. Her steps were now steady as a mountain, her aura sharp but sheathed, and her eyes far more resolute and composed than before. Clearly, she had endured considerable tempering during this time.
Lu Qiancha hadn’t planned to get involved, but Shangguan Yunzhu turned her gaze and walked straight toward him.
“Lu Qiancha, how have you been?” Shangguan Yunzhu’s face bloomed with a proper, friendly smile as she greeted him.
Following the principle of harmony bringing fortune—and not hitting a smiling face—Lu Qiancha wore a polite smile in return, nodding slightly: “Shangguan Shimei, it’s been a while.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he calmly closed his eyes again, assuming a meditative posture, deftly cutting off anything else she might have wanted to say.
Shangguan Yunzhu’s smile froze for a brief moment, a trace of gloom flickering in her eyes. Yet she could only turn back, somewhat dejected, and return to the Zaohua Peak contingent.
***
As the atmosphere inside the hall grew tense with the gathering of all the Peaks, a deep, melodious chime suddenly rang out, its three peals echoing through the heavens and earth.
Immediately after, thirty-six figures streamed in from the side doors of the Main Hall.
Some were white-haired but youthful in appearance, others radiant with energy; all were dressed in the distinctive robes of elders, their expressions solemn as they stood with hands clasped behind their backs in two neat rows along the sides of the Main Hall.
This was the Elder Council, tasked with overseeing the entire tournament to ensure fairness.
Lu Qiancha’s gaze quickly found Xuan Ping Elder and another familiar face—Xuanmo Shigu. At this moment, both looked businesslike and unapproachable.
Suddenly, a clear crane’s cry echoed through the solemn Main Hall.
Everyone looked up to see a Ling He, its head capped in crimson, snow-white feathers flawless, wings spread wide as it descended gracefully from the clouds. On its back sat a thin, ethereal old man dressed in white.
“It’s Elder Heyu.” Many disciples whispered in their hearts.
This Vice Sect Leader of the Tianyuan Sect had his eyelids half closed, his bearing that of an immortal.
His lips moved slightly, and his calm yet powerful voice echoed clearly into every corner of the hall: “This session of the Nine Peaks Grand Tournament is meant to showcase the talents of disciples from each peak of our Tianyuan Sect, to temper your Dao hearts and skills, and to encourage you to press ever onward…”
Elder Heyu’s words were solemn and clear in their aim: friendly competition first, victory second; the real value was in exchange and honing one’s skills.
Lu Qiancha had already memorized these almost identical, formulaic opening remarks that came every five years. Gantang, experiencing all this for the first time, listened intently, holding her breath for fear of missing a single word.
When Elder Heyu finished, he swept his sleeve, and the Ling He carried him away in a stream of light.
All the disciples and elders stood and bowed to see him off.
Once the Vice Sect Leader had left, an old man with white hair, ruddy cheeks, and a long robe patterned with clouds drifted to the center of the Main Hall’s high platform.
“I am Hu Shi, honored to be the chief judge of this Nine Peaks Grand Tournament.” The old man’s voice boomed, full of vigor.
After a succinct introduction, he got right to the point: “This tournament will take place within the sect’s Secret Realm, and rankings will be determined by the total points each peak’s team accumulates.”
He then began to explain the tournament rules.
They were more or less as follows: Points are earned mainly by defeating Yaoshou. Defeating a Qi Refining Yaoshou yields one point, Foundation Establishment is worth three, Golden Core is nine, and for every stage higher, points are triple the previous stage.
Additionally, gathering Tiandi Xuanhuang Herbs also awards points: Heavenly Grade is one hundred, Earth Grade is thirty, while Xuan Grade and Huang Grade are five and one point respectively.
Hu Shi Elder emphasized, “While collecting spiritual herbs grants points, the risks are extremely high. Ordinary disciples should act within their means; this is only a supplement.”
He continued with the rules: All points are automatically recorded in each team member’s Ji Fen Pai by the laws of the Secret Realm.
If a contestant is rendered unable to fight by an opponent or a Yaoshou within the Secret Realm, the realm will immediately transport them to a designated location outside for treatment. Their Ji Fen Pai will drop and may be picked up by others, who will gain all the points contained within.
The tournament lasts three days. At the end of the third day, the exit of the Secret Realm will open at the Core Region for half an hour. All participating teams must withdraw within this window; failure to do so counts as forfeiture, and their results will be void.
Of course, there are always exceptions. Deep in the Core Region of the Secret Realm resides a Shouhu Dashou at the Heavenly Union Stage, guarding the Array Core. If any team manages to slay it, the exit will open early. The exit still only remains open for half an hour.
After the competition, rewards will be given based on the ranking of each peak.
Hu Shi Elder’s voice was sonorous and the rules clear as he swept a piercing gaze across the tense faces of the disciples below: “With the rules set, everyone, prepare yourselves. The entrance to the Secret Realm will open soon.”
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