“Thank you for the warning, Miss Hong. We’ll be careful.”
Qin Xiang nodded slowly, unable to discern the other’s cultivation at all.
This person sat alone at the end of the hall, showing no fear whatsoever of the righteous Penglai Island or Tianyin Fang—clearly quite confident in his own abilities.
Hong Xiufang then glanced to the right side and mused, “Penglai Island and Tianyin Fang have little to do with us. All I know is that the most outstanding young disciples of the Heavenly Concord Alliance’s younger generation in the Chaotic Sea are Luo Xiu and Hua Li—one specializes in the alchemy cauldron, the other is devoted to music.”
“What a bunch of flashy nonsense.”
Ji Shiyu rubbed her temples. The cultivators out there really were a mixed bag.
The Great Dao has ten thousand paths. A down-and-out Sword Cultivator might have the Zhusheng Dynasty’s backing in the East Pole Province, but out in the Boundless Sea, that meant nothing special.
“The ones up front—even if I can’t beat them out in the open sea, I’m not afraid of them. But that last one, you absolutely must be careful. My Nascent Soul cultivation is a ten-zero split against his Golden Core.”
Hong Xiufang’s voice was grave. She had come specifically to warn Brother Ji—an Outsider could never know the local situation as well as a homegrown snake.
“Cold Chant Sect, Dongfang Shuo.”
Qin Xiang spoke softly, her pretty face calm, her gaze shifting to the seat between Penglai Island and Tianyin Fang.
“Miss Qin knows him too?”
Qin Xiang nodded and said, “Aunt Master mentioned it on the way here. In the Boundless Sea, only one Little Ghost amounts to anything—a Rogue Cultivator by origin who founded his own sect in the Boundless Sea: Dongfang Ye.”
“And Dongfang Shuo…”
“His only son. Inherited everything.”
“Oh-ho?”
Ji Shiyu perked up her ears. That really was something. After all, the Grandmaster’s Wife didn’t even rate the other Head Seats, and for the sharp-eyed Yan Bingling to mention him specifically meant he truly had something.
Hong Xiufang nodded, also admiring the Sect Leader of the Cold Song Sect. There were many legendary figures on this sea, and he was one of them.
A hundred years ago, Dongfang Ye had left Mirage City and ascended directly to Nascent Soul, obtaining some fortune or another. Afterward, he conquered the small and large sects of Hanya Harbor single-handedly and established the Cold Chant Sect as his own. Over the years, his influence had outright surpassed Evil Spirit Port, firmly securing the top spot among the Five Islands. Truly remarkable.
“Some say he found an Ancient Secret Manual, others say he received an Upper Realm Inheritance. Who knows.”
Qin Xiang smiled, noticing that the young man with the buzz cut was also observing her, and offered a friendly nod in return.
“As for those young people around Dongfang Shuo, I’ve never seen them before. They look like they’re not to be trifled with. Anyone who can run with him should be no pushover either.”
Hong Xiufang studied them with suspicion, drawing the two’s attention away.
At that glance, something surprising came to light—one of the beautiful women had slightly wavy long hair, and she was none other than Ruan Yu of the Radiant Light Sect.
Qin Xiang narrowed her eyes, her gaze passing through the merfolk maidens dancing gracefully in light veils within the Sea Abyss. As she looked at the others, she understood at once—they were all fellow cultivators from the East Pole Province, probing for Mirage Tower’s Blessed Fate.
“Huh? That kid looks so familiar. I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere.”
Ji Shiyu stared fixedly at a certain flamboyantly dressed young man, utterly absorbed. The more she looked, the more familiar he seemed.
The youth had straight black hair tied into a high ponytail, wore a form-fitting outfit, delicate features, and a handsome face rivaling Ji Shiyu’s own alias.
Qin Xiang’s lips twitched, her expression comical, as she struggled to hold back her laughter.
“Take a closer look?”
The two had just noticed him, but the youth had been watching them for quite a while. Arms crossed, his sarcastic red eyes held a hint of provocation.
“You know a Red Head when you see one.”
Ji Shiyu slapped her forehead in sudden realization.
“Ah, it’s Xiao Ran! What rotten luck—why is she here too?”
Ao Tian picked his nose and said bluntly, “Wait for her to lose her temper and she’ll burn to ash.”
“Ah, it’s Xiao Ran, what rotten luck—why is she…”
Different guides and different quest lines had led the two, who had gone their separate ways, to this same destination. Though the paths differed, the end was the same—neither had missed the Great Whirlpool.
Hong Xiufang asked in surprise, “You know each other?”
Ji Shiyu shot a glare back and said with irritation, “Know each other? We’re practically family!”
Enemies meeting—eyes burning with rage!
“Familiar enough that they’d set each other on fire the moment they met. But why are they with the Cold Chant Sect people?”
Qin Xiang giggled quietly. Since both were keeping a low profile, she’d skip the greeting for now. The old dream of the past could be handled by Mister himself.
Xiao Ran also traveled disguised as a man, her handsome face weathered by hardship. She seemed to have gone through many upheavals as well, with Pavilion Deacon Lin Shu watching over her side.
She, too, had instantly recognized the Huangmao beside Qin Sister. Unfortunately, she hadn’t spotted the neighbor’s older brother she’d been longing for.
This was an unexpected jackpot. Ji Shiyu lifted her rear end, ready to slip back and deliver the news.
Reporting to Master—caught a former wife alive!
But then, the young girl reconsidered and dismissed the absurd notion.
What benefit would telling Yun Liu do for her grand ascent? It would only cause trouble. What if Master’s old feelings resurfaced and he went soft?
Ji Shiyu obediently sat back down, a smug smile curling at the corner of her lips as she looked triumphantly at Xiao Ran.
This round was undoubtedly the Filial Daughter’s victory. She was the one who had found Yun Liu first, while that one still stumbled around like a headless fly chasing Heavenly Phenomena.
At that thought, even the diet seaweed tasted delicious.
Ji Shiyu chewed slowly and deliberately, wearing an adorable “I’m not telling you where Master is” expression. Her contemptuous look only made Xiao Ran’s eyes blaze with fire.
“I need to get some air.”
Xiao Ran took a deep breath and excused herself to Dongfang Shuo: “Dongfang, I…”
Dongfang Shuo looked confused. Was there a place to get air at the bottom of the sea?
“Huh? Cousin Xiao… Young Master?”
Before her companion could respond, Xiao Ran had already shot Ji Shiyu a look and gestured toward the Side Door behind her.
You. Get out here.
Ji Shiyu raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t scared of the Kuzhu. She headed out from the other side.
Fine then. Who’s afraid of who?
“No need to follow. Let her go.”
Ruan Yu witnessed the scene and smiled knowingly, stopping Lin Shu. She had already sensed the Heavenly Phenomenon anomaly at Shipwreck Bay earlier.
Now the truth came to light. Ji Shiyu, blessed with deep fortune, had already reached Dan Forming. As for the one who would condense a Nascent Soul, that must be the Qingxia Chief. How enviable.
Lin Shu scratched her head and had no choice but to let it go.
Before leaving, the Young Master had ordered her to take good care of Miss Xiao. This trip had been full of trouble, but fortunately, with Miss Ruan and Young Master Dongfang’s help, every obstacle had been overcome.
Meanwhile, that prickly young man stared at the direction the ponytailed youth had vanished, lost and restless.
The young master of the Cold Chant Sect seemed utterly uninterested in the protagonist of Qiongxiao Palace. He had no intention of participating in the Dragon Choosing Son-in-Law at all. Instead, he’d grown infatuated along the way with the fiery, vivacious Miss Xiao.
Ruan Yu took it all in, blew a whistle, and sighed with deep feeling.
Some people could beg for what others threw away like worn shoes. Dongfang Shuo was in for a rough time.
The world sure is funny~
Qin Xiang’s nose was even sharper. She keenly caught the oddity of it all and smiled, chin resting on her hand.
“Oh my, looks like there’s another Good Show coming. I can’t wait.”
Ao Tian hauled his bulky body upright and sat up. Shiyu was already gone.
“Huh? Where?”
Xinran was gone too. And looking again, even that small fry had vanished.
Qin Xiang patted Ao Tian’s bird head and said excitedly, “Things between girls—a Little Parrot wouldn’t understand.”
“Nonsense. Is there anything Aotian Daren doesn’t understand? I know plenty. I even know exactly what position your Master prefers!”
The Queen of the Sky let out a “hmmph.” Scrapping was one thing, but she just hoped those two idiots wouldn’t fight among themselves and hand the advantage to that other Ghost Axe.
The stars and the Supreme Way had descended once more. Add the Daughter of the Divine Tree’s Fortune from the Hazy Sakura Shrine’s Man-Made Divine Tree, and nearly half of the Nine Provinces’ fortune had gathered in this one place.
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