Flower-Appreciation Gathering (10)

"Well, it wasn't impossible to understand. After all, ordinary weapons were of little use to cultivators with solid cultivation. As for magic artifacts, not even Profound Heaven Sect was wealthy enough to give everyone one, let alone those nouveau riche sects tucked away in some godforsaken corner.

"If their cultivation was inferior and not everyone had a protective magic artifact, getting beaten up was only natural," Shen Yuxi said with a sigh.

Hearing Shen Yuxi's analysis, the senior and junior disciples all nodded, deeply convinced.

In the cultivation world, resources had never been distributed equally. Gaps in strength were often reflected in such subtle details.

Heavenly Sword Sect's resources were far inferior to Azure Rock Sect's. If they still could not compare to them, they could only look for the reasons within themselves.

Yet just as everyone agreed with Shen Yuxi's view, he abruptly changed the subject and added, "After all, not everyone is Seventh Junior Brother."

Lin Huaixu immediately felt as though a cat were clawing at his heart. His instincts told him this was major gossip. Usually, Seventh Junior Brother Ye Jingxuan acted with quiet restraint; within the sect, he was like a single drop in the vast sea, utterly inconspicuous.

Had Shen Yuxi not mentioned it inadvertently, no one would have believed that this Seventh Junior Brother, who normally hid his light and concealed his talents, had silently made a fortune and possessed a Spirit Artifact.

But Lin Huaixu could not rashly speak up and arouse Shen Yuxi's suspicions. He could only force down his curiosity and watch this secret lie right before his eyes without any way to see the whole picture. The torment of it was beyond words.

True Person Yu Qing was likewise quite surprised.

He had known that Ye Jingxuan possessed a Spirit Artifact. Though it was usually hidden extremely well, the spiritual energy fluctuations it emitted during combat could not be disguised. Naturally, those could not escape the notice of True Person Yu Qing, who was in the Spirit Division stage.

Among Profound Heaven Sect's direct disciples of this generation, there were no late bloomers. The overwhelming majority had displayed outstanding talent at an early age and had thus been taken in by the elders for careful instruction.

Ye Jingxuan was different. He came from a remote place, and his dual Spirit Roots were truly nothing remarkable amid the wealth of talent at Profound Heaven Sect. When he first entered the sect, he had put on some impressive performances, but they were far from the sort Shen Yuxi had shown back then—unforgettable at a glance, so astonishing one could only marvel at heaven's handiwork.

When Ye Jingxuan first joined the sect, he entered the outer sect. During the Outer Sect Grand Competition, he stood out through his own strength and began to make a name for himself. He then cultivated diligently in the inner sect for four years, until, by a twist of fate, he caught the eye of Yu Xiao True Person, the Fourth Elder, who had rarely returned to the sect. Only then was he accepted as a direct disciple.

When Ye Jingxuan became a direct disciple, he had already possessed that wooden sword. No one truly knew where he had acquired it.

Within the Nine Domains, artifacts were divided into eight ranks: ordinary weapons, magic artifacts, treasure artifacts, Spirit Artifacts, Dharma treasures, Spirit Treasures, immortal artifacts, and divine artifacts. In the current Nine Domains, no immortal artifacts or divine artifacts had appeared for several thousand years.

Even a sect as ancient and vast as Profound Heaven Sect could not ensure that every elder possessed a Spirit Treasure. This showed just how rare they were.

Under normal circumstances, the things disciples could come into contact with were mostly magic artifacts.

Take Chu Shihan, for instance. In his early years, he had fortuitously obtained a mysterious stone within a secret realm. When forging his natal sword, he had drawn upon the mysterious stone's enhancement, allowing his natal sword, One-Inch Heart, to grow along with his cultivation.

Now, Chu Shihan had entered the Nascent Soul Realm, and his natal sword, One-Inch Heart, had accordingly grown into a top-grade treasure artifact.

Yet such opportunities could only be encountered, never sought. The several disciples who had now entered the Golden Core stage could still only rely on magic artifacts they had painstakingly nurtured to the highest grade.

Against such a comparison, one could deeply appreciate just how rare it was for Ye Jingxuan to possess a Spirit Artifact while still in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Fortunately, this Spirit Artifact's concealment was extraordinarily strong. Unless he fought someone, it basically would not emit the distinctive pressure of a Spirit Artifact. Moreover, even if it released spiritual energy fluctuations, they were exceedingly faint. Without cultivation above Spirit Transformation, they truly would be difficult to detect.

Otherwise, with Ye Jingxuan's background and strength, he would likely have been killed and robbed of his treasure thousands of times already, guilty only of possessing jade.

If someone from a great family like Chu Shihan or Shen Yuxi possessed a Spirit Artifact, it would not be particularly strange.

But Ye Jingxuan was clearly nothing more than a villager from distant mountains. Carrying such a valuable treasure inevitably made people suspicious.

Still, True Person Yu Qing ultimately chose to trust his own disciple.

Ye Jingxuan had grown up in Profound Heaven Sect since childhood. True Person Yu Qing had seen every aspect of his conduct and character. He firmly believed that Ye Jingxuan would never do anything detrimental to Profound Heaven Sect.

Furthermore, Qingming, who knew the reason behind it all, treated Qing Hui no differently than before. True Person Yu Qing might harbor doubts about the source of Ye Jingxuan's Spirit Artifact, but he trusted this direct disciple of his one hundred percent.

After thinking it over, True Person Yu Qing's worries gradually faded, and he finally set his mind at ease.

The scene did not freeze because of the thoughts of the Profound Heaven Sect group. Tan Yin knew there was no benefit in continuing to entangle himself with Wang Rong's group. Moreover, it was inappropriate to cause further trouble in Medicine King Valley. Thus, he had no desire to argue with them further; he only wanted to settle the matter quickly and leave with his junior brothers.

But Wang Rong's group was determined to latch on and refuse to let go. They insisted on getting an explanation and had no intention of allowing them to leave.

Gu Yueyao's attempts at mediation proved fruitless. As both sides argued noisily, they quickly attracted the attention of the other guests. People gathered around to watch, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Gu Yinchen had been speaking with several distinguished guests when he inadvertently noticed the conflict. His brows drew together slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed through his already intimidating gaze. He immediately strode over.

His eyes swept across everyone one by one. Under that imposing gaze, the troublemaking Azure Rock Sect disciples knew they were in the wrong. Somewhat guilty, they lowered their heads and did not dare meet the Valley Lord's eyes.

Wang Rong, however, kept his head high and chest out, looking composed as he faced the scrutiny of a valley master without fear.

Seeing the Valley Lord arrive in person, Tan Yin's heart tightened. He hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands respectfully, and apologized. "Valley Lord, we are truly sorry. We acted rashly and disrupted this rare gathering. We ask the Valley Lord to forgive our offense."

Gu Yinchen looked at Tan Yin without reproaching him too harshly. Keeping his tone as mild as possible, he said, "Young people are spirited and high-spirited, easily impulsive. Understandable, understandable."

He paused before continuing, "I see that both sides are sticking to their own words. As an outsider, it would not be easy for me to judge who is right or wrong. Since neither side is convinced by the other, how about this? There will be a small exchange meeting later, where you may spar as you please. For now, calm yourselves and wait a while. What do you say?"

Gu Yinchen spoke neither hurriedly nor slowly, yet his words carried an irresistible authority. It was as though they possessed some mystical power, easing the restless atmosphere somewhat.

As soon as the Valley Lord's words fell, the venue immediately fell silent. No one said anything more. Everyone was a guest, after all; no matter what, they could not deny their host face. Thus, they silently accepted the proposal.

Before turning to leave, Wang Rong did not forget to shoot Tan Yin a fierce glare. Complex emotions filled his eyes—not merely anger, but the moment was too brief to discern clearly.

After that farce, the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere that had pervaded the Flower-Appreciation Gathering dissipated like thin smoke, vanishing without a trace. Everyone's interest in admiring flowers disappeared along with it.

The guests tacitly gathered in twos and threes, lowering their voices as they whispered among themselves about what had just happened.

Among them, those who understood both sides well all felt that this so-called sparring match would most likely not turn into a truly fierce clash.

After all, this was Medicine King Valley. Everyone would be more or less wary, and no one would lightly fight until the fish died and the net tore.

Some also thought Azure Rock Sect was simply overestimating itself. The fame of sword cultivators had been deeply rooted in people's hearts since ancient times. Although most sword cultivators had limited financial resources and could not compete with wealthy sects in acquiring resources, no one had ever doubted their formidable combat power.

Among the many sword cultivation sects, Heavenly Sword Sect was not inferior in strength. It was merely classified as a third-rate sect because its scale was comparatively small.

Azure Rock Sect, on the other hand, held the advantage in numbers. But if they truly confronted Heavenly Sword Sect head-on in a sparring match, the final victor was genuinely difficult to predict.

As everyone murmured quietly, time slipped away unnoticed.

Gu Yinchen stepped onto the main seat and lightly clapped his hands. His resounding voice rang through the venue. "Everyone has come from afar, and such a gathering is rare. If we merely admire flowers, would that not disappoint this fine hour?

"Today, so many worthy talents have gathered here. In my view, why not make friends through martial arts? Let the younger generation spar a little and add some vigor to this spring day. What do you all think?"

At an occasion like this, all matters had always been decided by the host. It was an established custom. Now that the Valley Lord had made such arrangements, there was naturally no reason for the guests to object.

After all, guests followed their host's convenience. To rashly defy the host's wishes would be truly discourteous and indefensible by either sentiment or reason.

As his words drifted down, the center of the venue had already been swiftly cleared.

One after another, the blue-stone floor tiles seemed to suddenly come alive and began shifting slowly.

Dark runes flickered in and out of view between the cracks in the tiles. Then a faint hum resounded through the surroundings, and the entire ground seemed to be lifted by an invisible force as it slowly rose upward. At the same time, the faint glow of a barrier wrapped lightly around the raised ground like specks of drifting fireflies.

That was not all. The already formed arena suddenly split without warning into four sections, forming a grid like the character for "field."

Following the Bagua positions secretly carved into the ground, these four sections slid smoothly and steadily outward, each moving precisely the right distance before coming to a firm stop. Thus, four square and separate competition spaces were formed.

Gu Yinchen stroked his beard and smiled, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping toward Gu Yueyao below the stage. "These four arenas may be used for individual duels or two-on-two contests." He deliberately paused, lightly tapping the armrest with a fingertip. "Victory or defeat is not important. I only hope that you young friends can use this opportunity to form good ties and deepen your friendship."

This contest among the younger generation, which the Valley Lord had clearly planned in advance, appeared to be an exchange of skills between young cultivators. In truth, it carried the meaning of a martial contest to choose a son-in-law.

At first, perhaps some had yet to grasp the Valley Lord's true intent. But now, seeing this carefully arranged spectacle and following the direction of his gaze, then recalling his earlier words and Gu Yinchen's deliberate introduction of his daughter before the Flower-Appreciation Gathering began, everyone suddenly felt as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun. They more or less understood.

As a result, the atmosphere was not as tense as everyone had expected. After all, everyone knew perfectly well that this was both an opportunity for Azure Rock Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect to resolve their conflict and an excellent chance for young cultivators to display their abilities and win the beauty's heart.

Thus, Azure Rock Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect focused on resolving their own conflict, while everyone else turned their attention to their own matches, without interfering with one another.

With a solemn expression, the Valley Lord stood at the front of the venue, cleared his throat, and announced loudly, "If any of you wish to participate in this exchange meeting, feel free to register enthusiastically. Afterward, opponents will be matched by drawing lots. The matches will be one-on-one, and the winners will advance."

Having said that, his gaze slowly settled upon the Azure Rock Sect disciples below as he continued, "As for Azure Rock Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect, you may naturally take part as well. However, I must specifically remind you that matching opponents by lot depends entirely on luck. I cannot guarantee that your two sides will meet during the competition.

"If your luck is poor and you fail to encounter each other during these matches, then you can only wait until the Flower-Appreciation Gathering ends and discuss how to settle the matter privately."

His voice rose and fell unpredictably, which instead gave it a vaguely threatening quality that made people dare not entertain any thought of resistance.

Hearing the Valley Lord's words, the people of Azure Rock Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect were all stirred.

Tan Yin and Wang Rong instinctively looked at each other, and a flash of complex, indescribable emotion passed through both their eyes. This might be an opportunity to resolve their conflict openly and honorably. Yet luck had always been fickle and impossible to grasp.

The experienced, well-traveled seniors present, however, had already heard the implication hidden in the Valley Lord's words and could not help shaking their heads inwardly.

Young people were still too inexperienced in the ways of the world. How could the Valley Lord possibly let them run wild in his own valley? Though he claimed it depended on luck, the person in charge of drawing lots was the Valley Lord himself. Would it not be easy for him to manipulate it?

The other young cultivators below the stage had already been fired up by news of the martial contest to choose a son-in-law. Some cultivators who had long admired Gu Yueyao had excitement gleaming in their eyes. One after another, they were eager to try, ready to show off their skills.

If they could distinguish themselves in this contest, they could not only win the beauty's heart but also make a name for themselves before countless sects. It was killing two birds with one stone.

Naturally, some cultivators were not especially interested. Yet out of respect for the Valley Lord, they had to give him some face. They planned to go onstage, exchange a few symbolic moves, then cleverly find an excuse to concede and withdraw.

However, for those who rarely had the opportunity to spar with disciples from other sects, it was still an excellent chance.

Some cultivators looked confident, while others were somewhat nervous, but without exception, all of them carried anticipation in their hearts.

True Person Yu Qing turned to his disciples and asked, "Which of you wants to go up and test your skills?"

Yet as though they had made an agreement, everyone pretended to be intently admiring the flowers or leisurely drinking wine. Their gazes deliberately avoided True Person Yu Qing's. The meaning could not have been clearer: no one wanted to get mixed up in this troublesome affair.

Beside Chu Shihan, Lin Huaixu was enthusiastically egging him on. "Eldest Senior Brother, this is a great opportunity! Look at that Miss Gu Yueyao. Whether in appearance or temperament, she stands head and shoulders above the rest. How about we give it a try too?"

As he spoke, he winked at Chu Shihan. Chu Shihan gave him an indifferent glance. His lips moved slightly, but he ultimately did not answer. His expression remained calm as still water.

"Fifth Junior Brother, I'm sick of saying that you're my superhero. What an incredible assist!" Shen Yuxi fanned the flames from the side.

But how could Chu Shihan be so easily provoked into getting hot-blooded by a few words? Like a steady mountain, he sat there quietly, unmoving.

"Eldest Senior Brother, you really won't go? It would be good to establish the sect's prestige too, wouldn't it?"

"Since Junior Brother is so enthusiastic, I am deeply gratified. How about this senior brother registers you instead?"

Seeing this, Lin Huaixu felt helpless. He knew that it was all because Second Senior Brother Shen Yuxi had previously let slip that Eldest Senior Brother would act foolishly during the competition but ultimately win.

Eldest Senior Brother was probably still bothered by that possible "future," which was why he had simply decided not to participate.

Of everyone, Shen Yuxi was the most confused by this. "??? Why isn't Eldest Senior Brother moving? If you just sit there, your wife isn't going to fall into your arms!"

He had no idea that it was precisely because he had spoiled things in advance that the current situation had arisen.

Hearing him say that, Chu Shihan grew even angrier and refused to enter the competition even if beaten to death.