The Five Elements Sect Appears, and Their Grievances

"Lingyun Peak Master, what are you doing here? Could it be that the Heaven and Earth Divine Object has already been taken by you?" A sharp voice suddenly came from behind, its tone laced with disdain.

Hearing this voice, Lingyun's brow furrowed. He sneered coldly, "Ha, so it's Huang Se Peak Master. Do you actually think the 'waste' you're always blathering about could claim a Heaven and Earth Divine Object? Since when did you think so highly of me? This is truly a sight not seen in a hundred years."

"You..." Huang Se's face turned pale, his already sinister expression growing even darker. His triangular eyes sharpened further, and his few inches of yellow beard bristled with rage.

"Indeed, how could someone who hasn't even reached the Golden Core Realm possibly take it? Heaven and Earth Divine Objects all possess spiritual nature; they won't submit so easily." Another booming voice rang out as a burly, fierce-looking man landed beside Huang Se, shaking the ground with a tremor.

"Hmph, Xiong Xiong Peak Master isn't slow to arrive either." Huang Se's face was full of displeasure.

"It's not just Old Xiong. I, Yuan Ming, this old geezer, have come too, haha." A white-haired but spirited old man appeared silently, laughing heartily as he looked around. "It's been a long time since it's been this lively. Even people from Vajra Gate, Blazing Flame Valley, Ice River Palace, and Mysterious Yellow Tower are probably on their way. Those old bastards, hmph."

"With such a heavenly anomaly appearing, the other sects can hardly sit still. I never thought we Five Elements Sect masters from Tianmu Cultivation Star would gather like this before the Centennial Grand Competition. Whether this is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen." A man with a jade-like face, clad in a dark azure robe, spoke with an air of authority befitting a superior. No one knew when he had arrived among them.

The azure-robed man looked at Lingyun ahead, clasped his hands, and bowed slightly. "Benefactor is here too. Could the child in your arms be the source of that strange light?"

"Mm." Lingyun replied flatly, not even glancing at the man, instead focusing on amusing the child in his arms.

"Sect Master, he is far too rude." Huang Se bowed deeply to the azure-robed man, then glared at Lingyun.

So the azure-robed man was the Sect Master of Qingyun Sect, named Qingyun, said to be a Nascent Soul Late Stage expert, known across the Five Elements Domain as Green Cloud Master.

"Silence. Lingyun Peak Master is my benefactor. Disrespect toward him is disrespect toward me." Qingyun barked.

"Truly, the emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuchs are, heh." Lingyun's expression was full of disdainful mockery.

"You..." Huang Se was furious, his yellow face turning the color of pig liver. He was about to speak, but a glare from Qingyun silenced him. Clearly, he was very afraid of the Qingyun Sect Master.

"Benefactor, please don't mind. Peak Master Huang is just like that." Qingyun smoothed things over for Huang Se, though no one noticed the sharp glint that flashed through his eyes.

"Hmph." Lingyun flicked his long robe and snorted coldly. He then continued playing with the infant, saying nothing more. Qingyun, unbothered, looked around.

"Haha, Brother Qingyun, you arrived early. Truly, you have the advantage of location. Have you gained anything?" A hearty voice rang out, its nature like blazing fire—heard before the speaker was seen.

"Heh, so it's Brother Chi Yan. This is Qingyun Mountain; arriving early is hardly surprising. As for you, Valley Master of Blazing Flame Valley, coming so fast from such a distance shows you've made great strides in your cultivation." Qingyun smiled calmly, glancing at the middle-aged man in a fiery red robe who had appeared before him. "As for gains, nothing much—just an infant."

"An infant?" Chi Yan was taken aback, his fiery red hair casually draped over his robe. Chi Hongqiu, it was clear at a glance, was deeply immersed in Fire Attribute techniques. Every move he made seemed to set the surrounding air ablaze.

"Mm." Qingyun said no more, merely pointing behind him at the infant.

"Look at that infant, surrounded by immortal aura, full of spiritual nature. This is no ordinary child." A middle-aged man in a yellow robe stepped before the crowd. His face had a faint yellow tint, but not the sickly yellow of Huang Se Peak Master—rather, it was like bronze, exuding a steady, solid aura. He bowed slightly to Qingyun and Chi Yan, smiling. "Greetings, Brother Qingyun, Brother Chi Yan."

"Tower Master Huang Liang is too polite." Qingyun and Chi Yan bowed slightly in return.

So this man was the Tower Master of Mysterious Yellow Tower—Huang Liang. Neither in cultivation nor status was he inferior to Qingyun and Chi Yan, so they dared not slight him and quickly returned the courtesy.

"Swoosh!"

With a whistling sound, a woman like ice and snow descended gracefully from a sword radiating thick cold air. She appeared about twenty-four or twenty-five, with a slender, well-proportioned figure. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her teeth were white, her eyes bright, her skin like jade—she seemed a celestial maiden descending from the nine heavens, inspiring no hint of profane thought. Yet she exuded a dense chill that froze the very air around her. Even the grass and trees near her were coated in a thin layer of frost, making them sparkle.

"Heh, Palace Mistress of Ice Heart Palace grows ever more ethereal and otherworldly. But this chill is a bit too thick, as if to keep everyone at arm's length. Ah, the nickname 'Ice Beauty' is well deserved." Chi Yan's tone carried a hint of melancholy. His eyes burned with some heat as he gazed at her silhouette, but inwardly he sighed. The scene suggested unrequited love—the flower's passion met with the stream's indifference.

"Hmph!" At Chi Yan's words, Ice Heart let out a cold snort, so faint that only those with deep cultivation could hear it.

She walked straight to the infant, studied it for a long moment, then furrowed her distant-mountain brows slightly, a trace of disappointment flickering across her face. She lowered her head, lost in thought for a moment, then her eyes hardened with resolve, as if she had made a decision. Lifting her head, she gave a slight nod to Qingyun and the others, acknowledging them. Only when her gaze fell on Chi Yan did she glare slightly, with seven parts anger and three parts shyness—a charm that could overshadow the moon and shame the flowers.

"Heh heh..." Chi Yan scratched his head, laughing awkwardly. His face reddened slightly, though it was already as red as fire, so it wasn't too obvious.

The others bowed slightly in return, seemingly aware of Ice Heart's cold temperament and unbothered by her behavior.

"Judging by Fairy Ice's intent, could it be that she also wants to take this infant as a disciple? Doesn't the inner hall of Ice Heart Palace never accept male disciples?" Huang Liang asked with some surprise, and the others nodded in agreement.

"A thousand years rare to find such unpolished jade." Ice Heart was sparing with her words, still as cold as water, as indifferent as ice.

"Why hasn't that Jin Ming arrived yet? Even Old Huang, the farthest away, is here. That's not normal. Isn't he usually the most eager for this kind of thing? Has he changed his ways, heh?" Chi Yan spoke with seven parts doubt and three parts teasing. The others seemed to agree, nodding along.

"Haha, Old Chi, were you talking behind my back? When this is over, you and I need to have a proper get-together. I hear your Blazing Fire Art has improved. It's been a long time since we sparred, and my hands are itching!" Jin Ming arrived with a whoosh. He looked about forty, short and even somewhat gaunt, but he radiated a sharp metallic aura, making him seem exceptionally fierce and not to be underestimated.

"Uh, Old Jin, look, everyone's busy. Let's skip the get-together, alright? Heh heh." Chi Yan's face was full of awkwardness as he laughed sheepishly.

"Haha, you got put in your place, didn't you? Serves you right for showing off." Huang Liang laughed heartily. The others couldn't help but laugh too, and even Ice Heart, cold as a mountain, showed a faint smile, her dimples appearing briefly. Seeing that smile, Chi Yan was blissfully stunned, and his earlier embarrassment vanished in an instant.

"Alright, enough joking. Old Jin, why were you late? You're reeking of killing intent. Did you get into a fight again?" Qingyun asked, though his tone was more affirmative than questioning.

"Heh, I ran into a few clueless fellows blocking the way. I dealt with them casually, so I'm a bit late. My apologies, everyone." Jin Ming's face was calm and unconcerned, as if he had merely swatted a few ants. Human life seemed cheap and trivial to him.

"You, you—your killing intent is still so strong. It might weigh you down during your tribulation. You should focus on cultivating your heart and avoid fighting so much, heh." Qingyun smiled.