Chapter 191: Tsk, Tsk, Tsk

“Eh? How could I possibly accept this!”

“Don’t mention it. If not for you and that miraculous little parrot, everyone wouldn’t have made it back safely. As your senior, I should be the one thanking you.”

“R-Really? Hehe, it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Ji Shiyu had changed into new clothes.

Strolling through the streets with the gentle Senior Sister Qin arm-in-arm felt as if her heart and soul were being purified.

She bit her lip, unsure how to bring up the topic.

‘Oh my god, forget Master, even I’m about to fall for her!’

Stare…

Ao Tian’s resentful gaze arrived right on time, as if reminding the silly girl to remember which side she was on.

A true rival in this Struggle for Supreme Fortune had appeared, and she was on a completely different level than Xiao Xinran or Jing Tan’er!

“Ahem, Senior Sister Qin.”

“Yes?”

“How do you… view the Oily Boy?”

“Who?”

“I mean Master.”

“Him?”

Qin Cha paused.

She didn’t know why the young girl was suddenly asking this.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and teased, “With my eyes, of course. Using Divine Sense to observe people is quite rude.”

Ji Shiyu whispered, “I don’t mean that. I mean… what do you think of him as a person?”

“He’s quite good.”

“R-Really? In what way specifically?”

Qin Cha tapped her chin as she pondered.

“In every way. He has a mature and reliable side, a cautious side, and of course, a blunt and cold side, and even a money-grubbing side. In short, everything about Junior Brother Yun is quite cute.”

“Ugh.”

Instead of gathering intel, Ji Shiyu was fed a mouthful of public affection.

In Senior Sister’s eyes, everyone was probably cute.

Qin Yao gave a mysterious smile, immediately understanding the reason for the girl’s unusual behavior.

She laughed and asked in return, “Then I’d like to ask you too. How do you view Yun Liu, setting aside his roles as your sworn father and teacher?”

“A friend!”

Ji Shiyu proudly added, “The best friend.”

He was also her first friend — the kind she would do anything for, sharing even the closest bonds!

Upon hearing this, Ao Tian rolled his eyes and collapsed straight back.

‘There’s no saving her. This child is a complete lost cause. Someone go to the Palace of the Heavenly Pivot Star and invite Old Mother Ji to come out.’

Qin Yao blinked, seemingly a bit disappointed by the answer.

It seemed there was more than one dense individual.

“I see. If you only have that level of resolve, you’ll lose to Tan’er and Xinran.”

“Eh?”

Ji Shiyu’s mouth hung open.

She still didn’t understand even as Qin Xing walked into the Rosy Fragrance Pavilion.

***

At that moment, a handsome young man walked by carrying a massive ox horn, attracting everyone’s attention.

He suppressed the urge to survey his territory, forcing himself not to look at the various “furnaces” walking about.

To him, a prestigious orthodox sect was simply a paradise for demonic cultivators.

Everywhere he looked, the streets were filled with “supplements.”

Plump Yin energy beckoned to him, causing his Sacred Fire radar to ping constantly.

The demonic energy had been drained, and while Aunt Master’s condition had improved, the rebellious disciple had suffered.

He was straying further and further down the path of a fake Holy Son.

No matter where she was, the blonde-haired girl was always dazzling.

Yun Liu happened to catch a glimpse of Ji Shiyu and Qin Yao strolling together, chatting and laughing intimately.

‘When did those two get so close?’

Ji Shiyu had seemed like a different person lately, losing all interest in Lin Shu and Xiao Xinran.

He worried she might be relapsing and had set her sights on Senior Sister Qin, which gave him a slight sense of crisis.

“It’s because Lady Qin is very good at looking after children,” Lin Shu whispered jokingly as she attended to the white-robed youth.

“True.”

Yun Liu patted the dust off his pants with a wry expression.

He was exhausted from heading deep into the Sea of Clouds Peaks Forest every day to find Demon Beasts to fight.

He had to release his unvented Sacred Fire somewhere, and his physique was becoming increasingly robust because of it.

“Resolve?”

Senior Sister Qin seemed to be talking about the Great Competition, yet it felt like something else.

Ji Shiyu crossed her arms, puzzled.

Ao Tian snickered and helped her imagine a drama of palace intrigue.

‘Let me translate for you. She means you aren’t even a match for a concubine, so how do you have the nerve to challenge the First Wife?’

“Pah! You’re just a vulgar bird with a foul mouth! Senior Sister Qin would never say something like that!”

A group of people brushed past them.

Their robes featured crimson auspicious clouds, the symbol of Sunset Peak.

They were also heading to the Rosy Fragrance Pavilion.

Among them, a vibrant and beautiful young girl’s eyes lit up when she saw Ji Shiyu.

Her way of greeting was full of hostility as she waved mockingly.

“Yo, look everyone, there’s a chicken! Here, chick-chick-chick, time to eat.”

“…”

Ji Shiyu acted as if she hadn’t heard anything, lowering her head as she continued to fret over her thoughts.

Xiao Xinran froze for a moment before trotting forward to continue her provocation.

“Hey! Don’t pretend you can’t see me! I heard you lost to Senior Brother Ding in less than ten moves this morning. Is that true?”

Bad news travels fast.

Having heard that the blonde girl had embarrassed herself, the newest victim had rushed over to celebrate.

“Huh? Oh, it’s you. Yeah, I lost. You… better watch yourself.”

Ji Shiyu sighed and patted Xiao Xinran on the shoulder with a meaningful look.

She actually felt a bit of pity for her.

At least she wasn’t alone.

“What’s with that? You’re so arrogant even after losing. Have you no shame!”

Xiao Xinran pursed her lips, feeling like her punch had landed on cotton.

She didn’t understand Ji Shiyu’s strange gaze and happily went to find Senior Sister Qin to get some medicine.

***

Time flies within the mountains.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye, and the Yanding Sword Contest arrived as scheduled.

As the time for the Great Competition approached, the atmosphere among the Inner Five Peaks grew increasingly tense.

The young and vigorous disciples practiced hard, not daring to relax, while those with established cultivations remained as calm as still water.

The elimination rules for the Yanding Sword Contest were simple.

All registered disciples were randomly assigned opponents.

They would start from the sword platforms of the Five Peaks and advance step-by-step until only one person remained at the summit of the Sea of Clouds.

This meant that if someone encountered a top-tier expert in the first round, they might be eliminated early.

It was somewhat unfair.

Whenever this was brought up, the Grand Elder would always offer a scolding.

Where was there absolute fairness in the Cultivation World?

He claimed that Blessed Fate and luck were also part of one’s strength!

Today, the Sword Posts for the first round of the preliminary matches were announced.

Dragon Subduing Hall was teeming with people as disciples from the Five Peaks gathered.

Some cheered while others wailed.

Amidst the mixed emotions, everyone was shocked when they saw the name of the East Pole Pavilion Master.

Wasn’t Celestial Phenomena Peak a deserted place?

Why hadn’t the lineage ended yet?

The Discipline Elder cleared his throat to quiet the heated discussion.

He explained, “The Chief Disciple of Celestial Phenomena Peak entered the sect through the recommendation of Falling Cloud Peak. Therefore, the matter of his withdrawal from the sect must be handled personally by Elder Yun. Since Yun Liu’s name has not been removed from the Sword Post, he is still a disciple of Divine Radiance and must obey the sect rules.”

He made it sound nice, but in reality, they were just trying to stall until Sworn Father Yun and Lady Liu returned to deal with Xiao Yun.

After all, the Aunt Master couldn’t keep him under control.

Xiao Xinran’s large, dark eyes darted around as she felt a secret joy.

‘Why didn’t he tell me sooner!’

During this time, the young master had been living in seclusion, and she had barely seen him.

They had returned to the distance they had at the very beginning, leaving the young girl feeling quite melancholy.

In the crowd, Ji Shiyu showed no interest.

She hadn’t even checked who her opponent was; she had only been dragged along by her senior sister to join the excitement.

Suddenly, her laziness vanished instantly as she squeezed through the crowd to examine the Sword Post.

“What! Master is competing too?”