The cultivation world exploded with news.
Once the incident at the Pei Manor spread, the Four Seas and Eight Continents turned into a massive field of gossip ripe for the picking. Cultivators reveled in the drama, and anyone who heard the full story could not help but exclaim in shock at its sheer audacity.
Long ago, some suspected that the anomaly at the Ghost Tomb was inextricably linked to Bai Wan. Unfortunately, with absolutely no clues at the time, even those with lingering suspicions had to let the matter drop.
Now, not only had the truth of that matter been brought to light, but it also dragged out even more unexpected old grudges and new resentments. Like deafening thunderclaps, the revelations struck one after another with world-shaking booms.
Thought the fact that Bai Wan intentionally approached Pei Fengnan just to use him as a cash cow wasn't thrilling enough? Then take a look at the recorded images of her brutally framing a fellow disciple just so she could scheme her way into becoming Perfected Lord Liuyun's direct disciple.
If that still wasn't satisfying enough, one only had to look at the brilliant shade of green crowning Pei Fengnan's cuckolded head. It was truly a case of a garden full of spring that cannot be contained, as a green branch reaches over the wall.
Bai Wan was completely ruined. Upon learning the truth of what happened back then, Perfected Lord Liuyun was furious. Following the sect's rules, he would personally strip her of her immortal bones to give justice to the girl who had died unjustly all those years ago.
Afterward, she would be sent to the Immortal Alliance to await further punishment.
In any case, the mother and son duo, Bai Wan and Pei Yu, would finally be able to reunite in the Immortal Alliance's prison.
Compared to Bai Wan, Pei Fengnan's situation was slightly better, but only by a very small margin.
In just a few short days, the once lofty and unapproachable God of War was reduced to a broken man whose family had fallen apart. Everyone in the cultivation world mocked his hypocrisy and cold-heartedness, treating him as nothing more than a laughingstock.
Consequently, the spiritual energy within the Moon Viewing Pavilion fell into chaos. Pei Fengnan's Dao heart was damaged, and his cultivation suffered a massive blow. Fortunately, a group of elders closely guarded him, preventing him from being consumed by inner demons. Ever since then, he announced he was going into secluded cultivation and never showed his face again.
The once grand Pei Manor was now left with only the cowardly, weak-cultivated Pei Mingchuan. He never had much capability to begin with, accustomed to a young master's life where clothes were handed to him and food was served to his mouth. Caught off guard and pushed into the position of acting family head, he was completely bewildered.
Although no one pointed it out directly, everyone knew it in their hearts: placed in the hands of such a prodigal son, the originally arrogant and unparalleled Pei family was completely finished.
What would become of the Pei Manor in the future was of no concern to Xie Jingci. For her, the most pressing matter at hand was the once-in-a-decade Immortal Seeking Summit.
The Immortal Seeking Summit was divided into a Flower Gathering, a Poetry Gathering, and a Martial Tournament. Among them, the most highly anticipated, yet also the most troublesome, was the final event: the Martial Tournament.
The cultivation world revered the strong, and most cultivators worshipped martial prowess and loved to fight. A chance to spar with experts from all corners of the world was something they could only dream of. However, it was one thing if it were Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting; if it were Nascent Soul or Deity Transformation cultivators taking the stage, their vast and mighty spiritual energy could easily destroy half of Yunjing City with the slightest misstep.
In the past, the competing cultivators were usually sent into a small pocket dimension, completely isolated from Yunjing City. But the pressure emitted by mighty figures was terrifyingly immense. Sometimes, after a single day of arena battles, over a dozen pocket dimensions would be shattered.
Furthermore, although the purpose of the Immortal Seeking Summit was to stop before fatal injury and make friends through martial arts, there were often people who saw red and couldn't stay their hands. As a result, instances of fatal incidents and severe injuries were a common occurrence.
Thus, the rules for this year's Immortal Seeking Summit were changed. Like the Dao Inquiry Conference, it would utilize the Black Tortoise Realm.
The Black Tortoise Realm did not involve actual life or death, allowing cultivators to engage in true deathmatches. In addition, the illusionary realm was incredibly sturdy and could not be easily destroyed. Everyone could go all out without any worries, making the battles much more exhilarating and entertaining to watch.
The Immortal Seeking Summit adopted a one-on-one elimination format, with the first-round opponents decided by drawing lots. Holding the wooden slip in her hand, Xie Jingci briefly fell into silence.
"My opponent is... Shi Yi? Who is that?"
Mo Xiaoyang knew absolutely nothing about the young talents in the cultivation world. He scratched his head and looked at her, "Miss Xie, who did you draw?"
Beside them, Meng Xiaoting was equally curious and cast her gaze over. Xie Jingci paused silently, then raised her hand to reveal the writing on the wooden slip.
Meng Xiaoting's eyes widened. Just as she was about to read the name aloud word by word, an overjoyed voice rang out: "Miss Xie! The slip says we will meet in the first round!"
There was only one person who could get this excited.
Even in the Black Tortoise Realm, Long Xiao was accompanied by a large group of friends. He had a tall, muscular build, and his facial features were deep, sharp, and striking. With a bright gleam in his dark eyes, he stood out prominently amidst the dense crowd.
This man was an absolute battle maniac who loved nothing more than dueling the strong. Among the disciples of the noble families in Yunjing, his cultivation ranked at the very top.
Xie Jingci was his most satisfying opponent. Since she had been unconscious for a whole year, the two had not formally clashed in a long time.
But that was only one of the reasons he felt so happy.
The most important reason was that if it was Xie Jingci's match, Miss Meng would definitely be watching from the sidelines from beginning to end!
Long Xiao pumped his fists in the air twice, pursing his lips to hide the uncontrollable curve of his smile.
If he were fighting anyone else, Miss Meng definitely wouldn't even spare him a glance. Only by facing Xie Jingci could he pique her interest.
Even though she would definitely be hoping for him to lose.
But that didn't matter! If he won, Miss Meng's opinion of him would change, and perhaps she would even develop a little bit of admiration and worship for him. If he lost, he would still have brought happiness to Miss Meng through his own efforts.
Long Xiao had no interest in the empty fame of winning or losing. The only thing he enjoyed was the exhilarating thrill of a life-and-death struggle. After thinking it over, only one thought remained in his mind:
Hell yeah! This was a massive win! A guaranteed profit, double the happiness! Long live the Immortal Seeking Summit!
Just the thought of being able to show off in front of his sweetheart made his heart feel as if it were being bitten by ants. Beneath the anticipation lay a tart, overwhelming sense of nervousness.
The little Nascent Soul figure in his sea of consciousness was ascending to heaven in peace, wandering freely with a face full of spring breezes. Long Xiao tried hard to suppress his smile and said solemnly, "I will go all out."
Xie Jingci: ...
Please, brother, before you say something so serious, wipe that massive grin off your face!
She knew this guy's petty thoughts like the back of her hand and couldn't help but inwardly shake her head.
Young Master Long Xiao was the premier body cultivator in Yunjing City. When it came to fighting and adventuring, he was always the first to charge in. He feared neither death nor pain, yet whenever he faced Meng Xiaoting, he became as timid as a newly hatched chick, terrified of disturbing her in the slightest.
...Pei Du seemed to be the same way.
These so-called young geniuses were truly foolish when it came to romance.
She chuckled at the thought and poked Pei Du's arm with her finger. "Who is your opponent?"
"Xia Tanchen from the Sword Sect."
He replied slowly, and finally looked up to answer Mo Xiaoyang's earlier question: "Shi Yi is a disciple of the Lingering Note Sect. She cultivates the konghou."
They had all entered the Nascent Soul realm, and the opponents they encountered this time were, without exception, quite famous experts.
There were thousands of factions in the cultivation world. Sword cultivators, saber cultivators, spell cultivators, music cultivators, body cultivators, and even the puppeteers and Gu masters they had seen before—all were part of the hundred schools of thought contending for supremacy. No single method could outshine all the rest. As their cultivation advanced, the world they witnessed would only grow larger and more vast.
As for this Immortal Seeking Gathering, thousands of sects and factions had converged in the single city of Yunjing. Just as endless rivers and lakes inevitably flowed into the same ocean, they all gathered here.
Xie Jingci pursed her lips, tightly gripping the cold wooden slip in her hand.
She could hardly wait to brave this vast and boundless sea.
Within the Black Tortoise Realm, Path Two.
"Second match, Long Xiao versus Xie Jingci—"
A bell tolled loudly, its rich echoes lingering endlessly in the air. Inside the illusionary realm, rain began to fall gently, accompanied by a deep, resonant male voice: "Begin."
Xie Jingci's eyes flickered.
This was an arena set up exclusively for her and Long Xiao.
The Black Tortoise Realm was free from many of reality's restrictions. All scenes and weather conditions were completely random. Right now, she was standing in a solemn bamboo forest, greeted by a serene and secluded view as far as the eye could see.
A drop of spring rain slid down silently, reflecting the winding veins of a bamboo leaf. The vibrant, almost dripping green hue swayed gently. Suddenly, the raindrop trembled and fell into the soil.
Drip.
Not far away, Long Xiao stood facing her. His brows were sharp, hiding a subtle intent to battle.
Neither of them made a move, yet their spiritual energy naturally stirred a gentle breeze, causing the bamboo branches to rustle softly.
"Miss Xie."
Long Xiao curled his lips into a smile. "Please enlighten me."
Before his voice even faded, a fierce gale suddenly erupted in the next instant!
Body cultivators were an extremely unique type of cultivator. They did not rely on external objects like swords or musical instruments; instead, they forged their bodies into weapons. Their very bones and blood could become arms, possessing an invincible might of their own.
Since they tempered their bodies, their speed naturally far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Xie Jingci had sparred with Long Xiao many times and was very familiar with his movement techniques. However, having not seen him for many days, she found herself somewhat unable to track his erratic trajectory through the bamboo forest.
Surging spiritual energy acted like a blade. Just by brushing past the forest leaves, it snapped branches and devastated the woods. The slanting curtain of rain was also violently shattered, bursting into a mist of watery powder.
"So fast!"
Meng Xiaoting, who was in the spectator seats, could not help but exclaim. "Is that spiritual energy? It's practically like a fast blade!"
Just like Long Xiao, Mo Xiaoyang was an absolute battle maniac. He watched with his mouth wide open. "Amazing, amazing! I really want to have a match with him!"
They watched with rapt attention, while the spectators behind them also discussed continuously. "Who do you think will win this battle?"
Both of them were young talents renowned across the four seas. A match between evenly matched opponents was the most thrilling. Someone chimed in, "Although Xie Jingci is incredibly strong, after what happened a year ago, her cultivation base was likely severely damaged. Running into Long Xiao, she probably won't have much of an advantage."
"That's not necessarily true."
Another person chuckled abruptly. "For Xie Jingci to take first place at the Dao Inquiry Assembly, she is certainly no weakling. What's more, she also obtained the secret treasure in the Guiyuan Immortal Estate, greatly advancing her cultivation. As for what level she is actually at right now, no one can say for sure."
Back when it was rumored that her sea of consciousness was damaged and she had fallen into a coma, almost everyone subconsciously assumed that Xie Jingci was finished.
But not only was she not finished, she won the Dao Inquiry Grand Competition shortly after waking up. Following that, she conquered her inner demons in the Guiyuan Immortal Estate, uncovered the mystery of the disappearances in Yunjing City, and resolved the disaster of the Gu Masters in the Eastern Sea. Any single one of these deeds, taken on its own, was a massive achievement that ordinary people could only dream of.
"The Long family has practiced body arts for generations, and Long Xiao is a rare genius," Pei Du said. "However... if Miss Xie wants to beat him, it shouldn't be a problem."
Mo Xiaoyang was curious. "Why?"
He originally thought he would hear a lengthy analysis, but he did not expect the young cultivator beside him to simply purse his lips into a smile and say concisely, "Miss Xie is very strong."
Mo Xiaoyang was speechless.
He never expected to be force-fed a mouthful of public affection at a time like this.
"But hey, if it's this kind of one-on-one elimination rule where you fight your way to the top—"
Meng Xiaoting chuckled, "Young Master Pei and Chichi will probably run into each other, right?"
Ever since their days at the academy, Xie Jingci had been evenly matched with him and paid special attention to Pei Du. Clashing at such a highly anticipated grand event, both of them would definitely go all out and treat it seriously.
She could hardly wait to see what that scene would look like.
Up on the arena, the fierce gale still had not subsided.
Long Xiao's palm wind was like a blade, sweeping over with the speed and momentum of rushing thunder. Since his figure was so fast that only afterimages remained, she would use her divine sense to feel his aura.
Her Nascent Soul stage divine sense suddenly unfurled. Every corner slowly laid out like a scroll painting; the raindrops, the leaves, and the muddy ground all gained distinct outlines at this moment. Xie Jingci felt the howling wind, and the long saber in her hand abruptly trembled—
Right here!
Ghost Weep swung upward. The moment it was unsheathed, it erupted with an unstoppable, chilling killing intent. A faint, dark red light resembling fresh blood severed the overlapping curtains of rain and palm wind, slashing fiercely by her side!
Instantly, golden light flared up. The afterimages merged into a tall, slender figure. The rustling wind brought Long Xiao's soft chuckle.
"A hit!"
Meng Xiaoting held her breath. "But... Long Xiao used the Golden Body Incantation?!"
Xie Jingci's reaction was fast, but so was Long Xiao's.
Although his offense was swift and fierce, he did not dare to underestimate his opponent. Always leaving a fallback plan, he silently chanted an incantation the moment Ghost Weep struck, condensing a barrier in front of him.
A faint smile spilled from the depths of Xie Jingci's eyes.
When it came to dueling, Long Xiao was always an opponent who would never leave you bored.
Thus, the saber light rose again, and the palm wind moved swiftly.
Long Xiao's entire body was surrounded by a fiercely overwhelming spiritual energy. The closer one got to him, the more one would be suppressed by the heaven-blotting immense force. Xie Jingci did not retreat; instead, she kept her saber wind close to her body. The two forces collided, shattering the scattered rain and wind, producing a continuous series of sharp metallic clangs.
The two exchanged moves faster and faster.
At first, it was merely a dazzling blur to the eyes, but soon they turned into elusive phantoms. One could only see the sky full of rain gathering and dispersing, bamboo leaves flying wildly, and golden and crimson lights rippling out like sunset clouds.
"Incredible."
A cultivator behind them stroked his beard and sighed softly. "Xie Jingci was delayed by her injuries for a whole year, yet she still possesses such a level of cultivation. If she had remained safe and sound back then, I'm afraid her killing moves would be even more ferocious."
"Thank goodness this is in the Black Tortoise Realm," Mo Xiaoyang marveled blankly. "If they were outside, the bamboo forests in all directions would probably be shaved bald—no, uprooted completely."
"Long Xiao usually looks like he doesn't have a serious bone in his body. I never expected him to be so fierce in a fight."
Meng Xiaoting rested her chin on her hands, then suddenly her eyes went wide. "Look quickly, he's planning to use a killing move!"
Others might not be able to tell, but as a fellow body cultivator, she had also pondered over some dueling routines.
Long Xiao had actually thought of the exact same tactic as her.
First, use a surprise attack to catch the enemy off guard. Once the opponent got used to this rhythm, follow up with a feint to one spot, and then immediately gather all power to strike—
The golden light grew even denser, resembling the autumn moon hanging in the sky or snow reflecting off the Moon Palace. A tremendous, crushing force gathered into a single palm and struck straight toward Xie Jingci!
One's own body would always be handier to use than external objects.
Long Xiao was certain that when it came to shifting an offensive, no one could be faster than him.
Xie Jingci could not dodge.
In fact, she had no intention of dodging.
Ghost Weep rose again, its crimson light flowing ceaselessly. Before he could even realize it, Xie Jingci had already accumulated her spiritual energy, concentrating it entirely on the blade's edge—
It turned out she had been prepared all along. What he thought was an element of surprise... was actually her waiting patiently for the prey to fall into her trap!
The spiritual energy in the entire forest flowed like a swirling whirlpool, and the threads of rain blasted apart from the force of their collision.
The palm wind came fiercely and without warning. Long Xiao struck heavily, not expecting her to take the blow as if her life meant nothing. Suddenly anxious, he condensed a golden light shield, trying to block the heavy blade shadows.
While he intended to defend, Xie Jingci focused all her body's strength onto the tip of her blade, her dark eyes reflecting blood-red amidst the ghostly wails.
Like the clear radiance of the bright moon, like the blazing morning sun.
The scattered blade intent disrupted the clear breeze, yet perfectly coalesced due to this single strike. The golden light brought by the palm wind was indeed as clear as the moon, but how could the cold moonlight repel the imposing morning glow?
Victory and defeat were decided in an instant.
The spectator seats were dead silent; everything around was still.
A wisp of green bamboo fell. Amidst the sky full of rain, the blazing sun seemed to hang high.
Immediately after, a loud boom resonated. The bright moon in the vast sky was nowhere to be seen, leaving only the chilling aura of the blade. Looking up again, the entire forest of bamboo branches had snapped, the clouds dispersed, and the rain cleared.
The rain had stopped.
Xie Jingci won the first match.
Her blade intent shattered the golden light shield to pieces, striking Long Xiao squarely in the chest. Even a body cultivator could not withstand such an offensive. Amidst the rustling, falling bamboo leaves, his strength abruptly dissipated.
Miss Xie's blade skills are exquisite. I am thoroughly ashamed of my inferiority.
As the duel concluded, Long Xiao, knowing his skills were lacking, accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. He was wiping a bloody nose in a sorry state when he suddenly caught sight of a handkerchief being offered to him.
The hand holding the handkerchief clearly belonged to a woman. He initially wanted to refuse out of habit, but upon taking a glance, he could not help but freeze.
You should not have used that Golden Body incantation.
Meng Xiaoting's expression was as usual, her tone lazy. The Golden Body incantation scattered your spiritual energy, making you unable to resist her. If you had gone all out and fought recklessly, you might have had a chance.
He almost touched her hand.
Long Xiao's nosebleed flowed even more fiercely. Panicking for a moment, he simply covered the lower half of his face. Yes, yes, yes! I think so too! Miss Meng spoke so well! Listening to your words is better than studying for ten years!
Meng Xiaoting was amused by him and waved the cotton handkerchief in her hand. Hurry up and wipe it.
She smiled.
She even handed him a handkerchief.
Long Xiao was completely dumbfounded, unsure if he was dazed from the beating or entranced by her smile. His expression was blank. ...Cute.
Xie Jingci, who was drinking the water Pei Du had handed her, choked on a mouthful.
Are you crazy! Who says things like cute right to someone's face!
Meng Xiaoting blanked for a moment, not hearing him clearly. Hmm? What did you say?
I-I-I, I said—
Knowing he had made a slip of the tongue, he hastily took the handkerchief and wiped his face. Cu... curses, it is sad to lose.
Long Xiao's heart was bleeding.
He had actually recklessly wasted a treasure, using such a precious handkerchief to wipe away blood. It was dirty now.
He would have to wash it clean with his own hands when he got home, and then carefully hide it in his personal storage bag.
With this match over, the next to take the stage was Pei Du.
The two arena stages were not in the same place. The group tidied up a bit and headed to the next venue together.
Speaking of which, Xie Jingci said, secretly transmitting her voice to him as they walked, the system task changed right when the duel ended.
Pei Du's movements paused, his tone revealing a barely noticeable stiffness. What is it?
He was nervous, as expected.
Xie Jingci pursed her lips into a smile, lifting her divine sense to look at the text floating in her sea of consciousness.
Current Persona: For the final surprise, why not be a little wild cat!
After hearing various domineering CEOs and princes say "you little wild cat" so many times, a real one had finally arrived.
This persona was a cat demon taken in by the male lead, who fell in love with him at first sight. Compared to the previously ignorant and innocent rabbit spirit, the cat demon was as proactive as a ball of fire; her words and actions were entirely flirtatious, completely lacking any bottom line.
Xie Jingci coughed lightly, noticing the youth's stiffened back.
This time, she took a step closer to his side, her thin lips gradually nearing Pei Du's ear, her smile unending, I am Brother Pei Du's cat.
Even knowing that Miss Xie was just teasing and joking, his ears still burned hot at that title, and he heard her smile grow even more joyful. Cats, like rabbits, also need to be petted, right?
This place was a solemn and majestic immortal gathering. Amidst the coming and going crowds, they were doing such a thing.
Pei Du's profile grew even hotter as he answered her in a low voice, ...Miss Xie.
Anywhere is fine, you know. Like the ears, the top of the head—
Xie Jingci paused as she spoke, her enunciation suddenly becoming much clearer, carrying an indescribable ambiguity as the end of her sentence hooked upwards. Or... the tail.
The tail.
Where would she have a tail? The place where a tail would be...
Improper thoughts surged in his mind. Just because of her single sentence, Pei Du's face instantly flushed red.
He was currently walking on a long flight of stairs. Upon hearing this, his mind went blank, and unexpectedly, his foot stepped into empty air as well.
It was the time of the grand immortal gathering. Looking up, one could see the hundred-step long stairs connecting the various arenas, surrounded by steaming clouds and soaring cranes.
Besides that, there was also a silhouette falling straight down from the top of the mountain, looking both rigid and bewildered.
Amidst the endless long stairs, Mo Xiaoyang's heart-wrenching, agonizing cry rang out: Pei Du—!
