Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament

Naturally, Su Changqing had no idea what Dao Xuan Zhenren was thinking as he set out on the road back to the sect. Relaxed, he stood behind Shuiyue and told her what had happened at Nine Yin Mountain.

He glossed over certain matters.

"Master, I found the Desolate Orchid Water Lily in the marshlands of Nine Yin Mountain's inner region. I also encountered a flood dragon snake that was shedding its skin to break through to a new realm. It was quite peculiar."

"Not only did it have feathered wings, but it also had a spiritual horn growing from its head. Its entire body was covered in multicolored black scales. Master, do you know what kind of demon beast it was?"

Su Changqing asked Shuiyue curiously.

Shuiyue frowned slightly and thought carefully, but she could not recall any records of such a peculiar demon beast, nor had she ever heard of one like it.

"I have never heard of it, nor do I know."

After pondering for a while, Shuiyue shook her head and answered Su Changqing.

Su Changqing was not surprised that Shuiyue did not know. After all, he had read the records on demon beasts in Qingyun Sect's library, yet there had not been a single mention of this kind of flood dragon snake.

It seemed he would need to find a professional to verify the flood dragon snake's identity.

After returning to the sect, Shuiyue went back to her residence to treat her injuries. Su Changqing had nothing else to do, so he returned to his own quarters to consolidate his foundation establishment.

The Little Flood Dragon Snake also crawled down from his arm. One man and one snake began cultivating inside the room.

Another half year passed.

Su Changqing sat meditating in his room, his mind steady. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy around him flowed toward him like a surging spring. The Little Flood Dragon Snake stared at the phenomenon with its large, exquisite eyes, seemingly full of curiosity.

Then, after an hour, the spiritual energy suddenly surged in agitation, forming a pillar of spiritual light that shot into the sky and vanished in an instant.

Only then did Su Changqing awaken from meditation, gold and violet light interweaving within his eyes.

"It worked!"

Su Changqing cried out in delight, then slowly exhaled a breath of pure air.

Half a year ago, he had already cultivated the Wuji Xuanqing Dao to the peak of the fourth level. However, the Wuji Xuanqing Dao was far more profound than the Taiji Xuanqing Dao. Breaking from the fourth level into the fifth was a tremendous barrier, and it had taken Su Changqing a full half year to achieve the breakthrough.

This also meant that he could now cultivate even more profound Daoist magic!

Having awakened, he had not only cultivated the Wuji Xuanqing Dao to the fifth level, but his Cultivation Level had also reached the fifth realm of foundation establishment. Among the younger generation of disciples, he had become someone beyond compare, even reaching the same Cultivation Level as Senior Sister Lu Xueqi.

Of course, Su Changqing was not the only one who had changed greatly. The Little Flood Dragon Snake had cultivated alongside him over the past half year and had already reached the third realm of foundation establishment.

Its wings had grown fuller, the spiritual horn on its head had become sturdier, and under the light, the black scales on its body had changed from five colors to seven.

The Little Flood Dragon Snake, which had once only been able to crawl along the ground, could now fly with the wings on its back.

A snake could actually fly through the air?

Watching this strange sight, Su Changqing smiled quietly.

Only in a fantastical world filled with such wonders could this happen. In his previous world, the Little Flood Dragon Snake would have long since been captured and dragged into a laboratory for ruthless research.

Of course, he had not forgotten to seek out the Little Flood Dragon Snake's true identity over the years. Yet the explanations were inconsistent. Some said it was a Tengjiao, while others called it an Xuanmo Snake. Su Changqing consulted the records and ruled out every speculation, but in the end, he still found no answer.

The mystery of the Little Flood Dragon Snake's origins thus became an unsolved case, and Su Changqing naturally did not care.

No matter what kind of demon beast the Little Flood Dragon Snake was, they had lived together for so long that they had long become friends who trusted each other completely.

"Now that I've broken through in Daoist magic, I have quite a bit of free time."

Su Changqing leaped up from the bed. When he extended his arm, the Little Flood Dragon Snake naturally coiled around it.

"Let's go. We'll head out and see whether anything interesting has happened lately."

Su Changqing lightly tapped the Little Flood Dragon Snake's head, and it happily hissed.

Then, man and snake left the room.

Su Changqing was preparing to visit Little Bamboo Peak's main hall first, but he found Little Bamboo Peak unusually quiet. The senior sisters who usually cultivated diligently on the peak were nowhere to be seen. Only one or two senior sisters hurried past, seemingly rushing off somewhere.

Puzzled, Su Changqing stepped forward and stopped one of them. When she saw that it was Su Changqing, she asked him with a delighted expression.

"Little Junior Brother! You've come out of seclusion?"

"Senior Sister He, I just came out."

Su Changqing answered truthfully. Then he looked at the quiet surroundings and asked her curiously, "Senior Sister He, why don't I see the other senior sisters or Master today?"

"Little Junior Brother, you don't know?"

Senior Sister He looked utterly surprised.

Know what?

Could something major have happened in the sect?

Seeing Su Changqing's blank expression, Senior Sister He smiled and explained, "Little Junior Brother, the sect is holding the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament. That's why Master and all the senior sisters are practicing martial arts on Sword Peak. I came back to get something and was just about to return."

"The Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament?"

Upon hearing that, Su Changqing immediately understood. He had heard about it before, but once he entered seclusion, he had forgotten all about it. He had not expected to encounter it just as he emerged.

"That's right. You've only been in the sect for a year, Little Junior Brother, so it's normal that you don't know much about it. The Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament is Qingyun Sect's grandest event. Every peak and every branch treats it as a matter of utmost importance."

"Each peak and branch sends disciples to compete, using the tournament to rank the strength of the various peaks. Those selected to represent their branches are all outstanding talents within the sect, so the spectacle is incredibly grand and exciting."

"Master is currently leading us in martial arts training on Sword Peak to improve our strength, and she'll also select the senior and junior sisters who will represent Little Bamboo Peak. I wonder whether I'll be chosen."

Senior Sister He explained everything to Su Changqing.

Su Changqing fell silent in thought. Of course he knew about the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament. It had been described over several chapters in the story. It was not only a major event for the sect, but also an important occasion for Zhang Xiaofan to show himself before everyone.

"Senior Sister He's Cultivation Level is profound, and your martial arts have advanced greatly. You'll definitely be selected."

Su Changqing replied with a faint smile.

"Such a sweet talker, Little Junior Brother!"

Senior Sister He rubbed Su Changqing's head.

Although Su Changqing had grown older, these senior sisters still treated him as their obedient little junior brother. They did not reject him because of his gender; instead, they adored him all the more. After being "tormented" many times, Su Changqing could only accept it helplessly.

"Little Junior Brother, do you want to come take a look with me? Perhaps you might be selected too."

Senior Sister He suddenly suggested.

Su Changqing thought that he had nothing else to do, so he nodded. Together with Senior Sister He, he headed toward Sword Peak on Little Bamboo Peak. Before they even arrived, they heard the clanging sounds of weapons colliding from above.