Yue Wen turned to look and found that many powerful figures with the bearing of immortals had appeared at the sidelines, though only a handful rushed in to meet their disciples as Perfected One Nagiko had.
The elders from the other four Great Immortal Sects mostly stood there with stern faces, watching their disciples return with shrinking expressions.
Of the Azurefall Profound Gate's other three teachers, two were smiling as well, but they maintained some reserve. Rather than rushing over impatiently, they walked slowly toward their disciples.
"Master." Shen Yaoguang and Meng Yuheng bowed in unison.
"Master!" Shi Miaozhen shouted, flinging her towering frame of over six feet into Perfected One Feiguang's arms with a thump. Had Perfected One Feiguang's cultivation not been so profound, she might have been knocked clean out of Boundary-Suppressing Mountain.
Although the Azurefall Profound Gate ranked among the upper three of the Five Great Immortal Sects, competition in the Ascendant Dragon Assembly was fierce, and it did not often take first place in the Secret Realm Tournament. For a team like this year's, which had taken first by an overwhelming margin, the sect elders would certainly have rewards to offer.
But things seemed somewhat different this time. There was something subtly odd about the way each of the teachers looked at their disciples.
Perfected One Qinghua, in particular, looked at Lin Youqing with a slightly gloomy expression, leaving her bewildered.
Only after a long while did he say gravely, "Copy out the Daoist scriptures a few times once we return, and properly cleanse your mind of distracting thoughts."
"Oh..." Lin Youqing's little face fell.
Perfected One Qinghua continued, "I have always taught you to conduct yourself uprightly and keep your integrity. Never mind poisoning people, imprisoning them, and forcing them to work in this secret