Could It Really Be True?!

"Why did Little Junior Sister run off to the Welcoming Guest Hall? Didn't she say we were going to browse the gathering at the foot of the mountain together?"

Second Brother He Han asked, full of confusion.

Li Daoxuan did not know either.

"Probably out of curiosity. The Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering officially began today, and several senior Sect Leaders came here to take the opportunity to visit. They're speaking with Master in the Welcoming Guest Hall right now. When would Little Junior Sister normally get the chance to see figures like them? Of course she wants a good look," Li Daoxuan said with a smile.

He Han nodded in strong agreement.

After a while, the two finally arrived at the Welcoming Guest Hall. Sure enough, they saw Little Junior Sister squatting by the window, sneaking peeks inside.

The two exchanged smiles, then quietly walked over and lightly patted her shoulder.

"Little Junior Sister—"

The sudden voice gave Lu Yaoyao a fright. Only when she turned and saw that it was her two senior brothers did she secretly let out a breath of relief.

She quickly made a silencing gesture, then pulled them by the arms toward the window and had them look inside.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, who is that woman seated at the far left up front?" Lu Yaoyao asked curiously, pointing at her.

The two looked through the crack in the window and finally understood whom their little junior sister meant.

She was a middle-aged beauty with a graceful figure, a high nose bridge, red lips and white teeth, and skin as fair as snow, as though the years had never touched her.

Most striking of all was the vivid red mark between her brows, set against skin as smooth and delicate as mutton-fat jade. Like a red plum blossoming in the snow, it was eye-catching yet strangely bewitching.

Even more conspicuous was her beautiful silver hair tinged with hints of green, piled high atop her head. The jade hairpin tucked within added a note of solemn elegance.

Li Daoxuan whispered, "She is the Sect Leader of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, Immortal Xuan You."

"Xuan You?" Lu Yaoyao murmured softly, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes.

Beside her, Second Brother He Han's gaze fell upon the faint layer of silver hair visible beneath Lu Yaoyao's black locks. Then he looked toward Immortal Xuan You's silver-and-green hair within the hall, and his eyes suddenly widened, as though he had discovered some earth-shattering secret.

He immediately sent a sound transmission to Eldest Brother.

Eldest Brother Li Daoxuan looked them over from side to side, but quickly shook his head.

Perhaps it was merely a coincidence. Master had once said that when he was hunting sea beasts along the coast, the area had happened to be struck by a tornado.

And Little Junior Sister had fallen from the sky, seriously injured at the time. She had probably been swept into the air by a hurricane.

How could she possibly be connected to the Sect Leader of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect?

Yet when he saw Little Junior Sister's utterly conflicted expression, Li Daoxuan could not help but waver.

He could not resist asking, "Little Junior Sister, do you... know her?"

Lu Yaoyao gazed at the beautiful woman with a complicated expression, her eyes slightly unfocused. "I don't know. Perhaps she is merely a stranger to me, or perhaps... she truly is my family."

The moment those words came out, both men's eyes filled with shock.

This was a major discovery. They had to tell Master at once.

If the daughter of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect's Sect Leader was the treasured disciple of the Taiqing Sect's Sect Leader, then the relationship between the two sects would become the firmest alliance imaginable.

But they had never heard that this Profound Abyss Immortal had ever had a Dao Companion?

Soon, Lu Yaoyao pulled the two away from the Welcoming Guest Hall and said with a serious face, "Senior Brothers, I was just talking nonsense earlier. Don't take it to heart. Let's hurry down the mountain."

The two nodded, but with his hands clasped behind his back, Li Daoxuan formed a hand seal. A miniature paper crane silently flew from his sleeve and headed toward the hall behind them...

Inside the hall, everyone chatted and laughed, presenting a joyous scene of old friends reuniting after many years.

But in truth, although the five sects were allied, their competition in the shadows was exceptionally fierce.

"It has been a long time, Profound Abyss Immortal. You have only grown more radiant and beautiful," said Lei Wuji, Sect Leader of the Golden Thunder Sect. He had a face full of beard and a rugged appearance, and his booming voice carried throughout the hall.

Profound Abyss Immortal smiled and shook her head. "Radiant, indeed. The years spare no one. I am no longer as I was back then."

Lei Wuji burst into laughter. "I think you are exactly as you were. Xuanji Zi, isn't your Tianji Gate skilled in the arts of divination? Why not calculate for the Immortal and see where her destined husband is now? Could he perhaps be in this very hall?"

Lei Wuji turned his gaze toward the Tianji Gate's sect leader seated nearby and asked.

Xuanji Zi wore a white robe printed with a bagua diagram, his long beard drifting in the wind. He smiled wryly and waved his hand. "That is not something one should calculate, nor can it be calculated. If he truly is in this hall, then I fear it could only be Brother Si Kong."

Everyone looked toward Si Kong Yan, the Palace Master of the Azure Flame Dao Palace.

Si Kong Yan sat quietly. He was in the prime of middle age, and the years had settled upon him, lending him the charm of maturity and composure.

His sword-like brows slanted toward his temples, and his sharply defined face looked as though it had been carved by knife and axe. Every line was perfectly placed, flawlessly blending the weathered air of a middle-aged man with a man's heroic handsomeness.

His crimson robe was like a blazing flame, fervent and flamboyant.

Everyone knew that Si Kong Yan had pursued Profound Abyss Immortal for many years and had yet to give up. Alas, the falling flower had feelings, but the flowing water was indifferent.

At that moment, Si Kong Yan could not help looking at Profound Abyss Immortal. Yet she merely turned her head slightly aside, pretending not to see him, leaving him to smile helplessly.

Taiqing Sect Leader Cao Zhengyang, Azure Flame Dao Palace Master Si Kong Yan, Azure Feather Immortal Sect's Profound Abyss Immortal, Tianji Gate Sect Leader Tianji Zi, and Golden Thunder Sect Leader Lei Wuji.

These were the giants of the five great sects.

Seeing that the atmosphere had grown somewhat awkward, Cao Zhengyang hurriedly changed the subject and guided everyone toward other matters.

But just then, a little crane talisman flew over. Upon hearing the voice within it, Cao Zhengyang's expression changed slightly, and he instinctively looked toward Profound Abyss Immortal.

Profound Abyss Immortal noticed as well and asked doubtfully, "Brother Cao, is something the matter?"

Cao Zhengyang hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, no. It is getting late. Our sect has already prepared fine wines and delicacies. Please, everyone, move to the Jade Cuisine Hall. We can eat and talk at the same time."

"Then we shall trouble Brother Cao!"

"You are too polite. I only hope no one finds it lacking."

"Please!"

"Please!"

Zhou Qing rested his chin on his hand as he squatted beside Third Senior Brother's street stall, watching him argue with customers with spittle flying everywhere. He found it painfully boring.

In truth, just as Senior Sister Shi Zhen had said, it was hard to distinguish real goods from fake ones at the various stalls. The overwhelming majority were scams.

After Yan Xiaohu closed another sale, Zhou Qing clapped. "Third Senior Brother, you have to treat us after you close up."

Yan Xiaohu narrowed his small eyes, his face full of smug satisfaction. "Of course. Oh, I didn't get the chance to ask earlier. What good thing did you buy? Let your senior brother have a look."

Zhou Qing had no choice but to take out the half bone.

Seeing that broken bone, Yan Xiaohu froze, almost unable to believe it.

"Just this?"

"Just this!"

"How much did it cost?"

"Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"You, you, you... you really have money burning a hole in your pocket. Ten spirit stones for this broken bone? If you want to drink bone marrow, go to the Fire Kitchen's back kitchen. There's plenty there." Yan Xiaohu wore the expression of someone furious that iron had failed to become steel.

What a spendthrift. Even gaining experience was not supposed to be done like this.

"Forget it, forget it. As long as you are happy. It is your money anyway, but spend it sparingly!"

Seeing Zhou Qing scratch his head and grin foolishly, Yan Xiaohu could not bear to scold him further and tossed the bone back to him.

Zhou Qing did not explain anything. As for Second Uncle having successively taken on Third Senior Brother's appearance, he kept his mouth shut.

Saying more would only make his senior brother worry. In any case, he already had a way to appraise things.

"Senior Brother Yan, Senior Brother Zhou, you're running a street stall here!"

Just as Zhou Qing was beginning to doze off, a delighted voice rang out.