The Aloof Maiden Under the Moonlight? A Late-Night Chat!

"Splash—"

The Jade Purity Hall was packed with disciples of Qingyun.

Disciples from each peak gathered together, their clamor echoing endlessly in the air.

But even so, Wang Quan Yan remained unaffected.

He lifted his gaze slightly, looking ahead, locking eyes with the aloof maiden as if ignoring everything around them. No matter how loud the noise, it couldn't disturb them in the slightest...

Because.

In each other's eyes, there was only the other.

Lu Xueqi: "Are you alright?"

Wang Quan Yan: "I'm fine."

Were the young man and woman so in sync? With just a single glance, they understood each other's thoughts.

At that moment, Lu Xueqi lowered her gaze slightly.

She withdrew her eyes.

Truth be told, she didn't know why she felt the need to comfort Wang Quan Yan. Weren't they rivals? Why should she care about a competitor?

Lu Xueqi didn't know.

She only knew that after hearing that "gossip" at the entrance of the Jade Purity Hall, her heart inexplicably ached for Wang Quan Yan...

He was such a good person, wasn't he?

Why couldn't Tian Ling'er cherish him?

Instead, she went off to whisper sweet nothings with Qi Hao?

Pah!

How could she do such a thing?

What was so great about that Qi Hao? Second place in the last Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, cultivating for a hundred years just to reach the Ninth Layer of Jade Purity—how could Tian Ling'er fancy such a mediocre man?

Her taste was truly awful!

Thinking this, Lu Xueqi's gaze swept slightly.

Among the group from Grand Bamboo Peak, she found Tian Ling'er in her red robes. Unconsciously, a hint of disdain crept into her eyes, though she hid it well...

After all, Tian Ling'er was the daughter of Aunt-Master Su.

And Aunt-Master Su had married out from Small Bamboo Peak.

They were all somewhat connected by ties of kinship.

"Hm?"

At that moment, Tian Ling'er was still immersed in the joy of meeting Qi Hao.

Suddenly, she felt a cold gaze fixed on her.

Tian Ling'er looked up in confusion.

She immediately spotted Lu Xueqi standing beside Martial Aunt Shuiyue.

"Senior Sister Lu?"

Tian Ling'er blinked.

She thought Lu Xueqi was greeting her.

So she raised her hand and waved lightly.

But who would have thought?

Lu Xueqi completely ignored Tian Ling'er, simply withdrawing her indifferent gaze on her own.

Seeing this, Tian Ling'er frowned slightly.

Though puzzled, she didn't dwell on it too much. After all, she knew Lu Xueqi's temperament—this Senior Sister Lu had always been naturally aloof...

At that moment, the Jade Purity Hall was still noisy.

"Silence—"

Just then, Daoist Cangsong stepped forward and barked a reprimand.

The next moment.

The entire hall fell silent.

Daoist Cangsong stood on the high platform and spoke at length in True Person Dao Xuan's stead—mostly empty promises, along with a rundown of the rules for the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament.

As Daoist Cangsong spoke.

His gaze drifted, eventually settling on Wang Quan Yan. Watching the youth lean quietly in a corner, his face calm, Daoist Cangsong felt an inexplicable stillness in his heart...

For the past three months.

He had been pondering one question.

Perhaps.

He had truly been wrong.

Did he really understand the truth of three hundred years ago?

Daoist Cangsong asked himself.

He had spent three months alone in the secret chamber, thinking, and finally made a decision. He...

Would go seek the truth.

Daoist Cangsong suppressed the thoughts churning in his mind. He glanced at the many disciples inside Jade Purity Hall, concluded with a single sentence, then turned and stepped back, yielding the stage to True Person Dao Xuan...

True Person Dao Xuan silently watched Cangsong.

To be honest.

Cangsong was still quite sensible.

But unfortunately—

In certain matters.

He appeared so utterly ignorant.

True Person Dao Xuan shook his head.

He rose and stepped forward, then added a few points to the rules of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, and finally said, "The champion of this tournament will receive a special reward..."

As soon as these words were spoken.

The entire hall erupted in clamor.

To this.

Wang Quan Yan remained expressionless.

He silently hugged the Sovereign Sword in the corner, his blue Daoist robe unstained by dust, as if a banished immortal had descended to the mortal world.

"Shua!"

Just then.

A cool, aloof gaze fell upon him.

Wang Quan Yan, as if by telepathy, looked up.

He saw the aloof maiden holding Celestial Evil convey a look with her eyes.

Lu Xueqi: "The championship is mine!"

Wang Quan Yan: "We'll see at the edge of the sword!"

Next.

True Person Dao Xuan called the disciples forward one by one to draw lots.

This tournament used a lottery system.

Whoever you drew, that was your opponent.

Before long.

It was Wang Quan Yan's turn.

He stepped forward, met True Person Dao Xuan's faint smile, and reached in to draw a number.

Having done this.

Wang Quan Yan gave a slight bow.

Then.

Without hesitation, he turned and left.

There was no need to look at the number.

It had definitely been tampered with.

Wang Quan Yan and Lu Xueqi were destined to meet in the semifinals.

When all the disciples had finished drawing their lots.

The various peak masters then organized their disciples to head to the guest courtyards on Tongtian Peak to rest, quietly waiting for tomorrow's Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament...

Though Tongtian Peak was vast.

The number of disciples was also considerable, and now that all seven peaks' disciples had arrived, the guest courtyards seemed somewhat insufficient.

Basically, several people were crammed into each courtyard.

And at this moment—

All sorts of foot odor, sweat stench, and armpit smells gathered together.

In any case, Wang Quan Yan couldn't sleep.

He simply turned and left, giving up his spot to the other senior and junior brothers of Grand Bamboo Peak.

"Splash—"

Beneath the night sky, the sly moonlight scattered down.

Soft radiance filtered through the dreamlike mist and clouds, gently illuminating the entire Tongtian Peak, as if draping the mountain in a hazy veil of gauze.

"Shua!"

The young man strolled beneath the moonlight.

He cradled the Sovereign Sword in his arms, wandering aimlessly.

He passed the square before the Jade Purity Hall.

Crossed the magnificent and grand Rainbow Bridge.

Stepped through the dreamlike sea of clouds.

The young man stood quietly in place, his calm gaze fixed blankly ahead, as if something ahead was drawing him irresistibly?

"Shua!"

Beneath the moonlight.

The aloof maiden's white dress fluttered, her hair flying in the wind. Her figure was graceful and slender, tall and striking, her flawless face bearing not a single blemish. Beneath the dreamlike moonlight, she seemed like a celestial maiden from the Ninth Heaven—

Untouchable, out of reach.

"Hm?"

Lu Xueqi seemed to sense something by heart.

She turned her head slightly, looking at the young man, and a flicker of brightness suddenly lit up in her eyes, something even she herself hadn't noticed...

Why is he here?

The aloof maiden hesitated for a moment.

She stepped forward, walking toward the young man.

"Shua—"

At the same time, Wang Quan Yan also moved.

The two walked toward each other, as if drawn together in mutual approach, meeting amidst the dreamlike sea of clouds.

"You can't sleep either?" x2

Two identical words rang out at the same time.

The young man and maiden were both slightly startled.

Wang Quan Yan couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

He looked at the dazed maiden before him, inexplicably finding her incredibly adorable—despite her cold and aloof demeanor.

How could she be this cute?