Kill stealing
After Second Senior Sister finished handing over her gifts, Wen Zhi quietly asked Qiaoqiao, "Have you memorized the entire Compendium of Spirit Herbs?"
"Yes!" Qiaoqiao smiled sweetly. "The pill you gave me worked so well, Senior Sister!"
After asking again and again, Qiaoqiao had finally learned what her master meant by the secret to passing every exam-it was Third Senior Sister's pill.
That day on Hidden Plum Peak, Third Senior Sister had secretly given her a pill, saying it could improve her memory for a short time. Only after taking it had Qiaoqiao realized that it was practically a divine pill!
For the past month, that divine pill had given her a photographic memory. She had held that brick of a book, done a round of quantum speed-reading, and memorized everything in it.
Third Senior Sister, the god of alchemy!
Just then, a circular vortex of clouds appeared at the trial entrance ahead. The secret realm had officially opened.
Everyone accompanied Qiaoqiao to the entrance along with the immortal crane. A Xue said, "Qiaoqiao, you can definitely take first place. I believe in you!"
A scoff came from beside them.
Qiaoqiao turned her head and saw Yue Liuqin and Xuan Sheng, who had made the bet with her. Yue Liuqin was covered in so many magic treasures that the sight was dazzling.
At her age, she should have reached Foundation Establishment long ago, especially since she possessed a one-in-ten-thousand Heaven Spirit Root. But this young lady had previously fallen ill, delaying her until this year.
She was determined to take first place in this trial and prove her talent.
A group of Moonlight Peak disciples clustered around Yue Liuqin, jeering at Qiaoqiao. "Isn't that the trash from Ethereal Peak? Did I hear that right? She actually wants first place? What a joke!"
"She should burn incense in gratitude if she even passes. Isn't taking first place just a pipe dream?"
"If I were her, I'd pack up and get my ass to the outer sect. Why come here and embarrass herself?"
Pleased by the disciples' comments, Yue Liuqin walked up to Qiaoqiao and raised her chin. "First place in this trial is mine. No one can take it from me."
"As for you, you'd better think about how to keep yourself from looking too ugly when you're kneeling before this young lady and crying!"
As she stepped into the secret realm, the Moonlight Peak disciples following her exchanged knowing looks, and a meaningful smile curled Yue Liuqin's lips.
Xuan Sheng gave Qiaoqiao a cold glance and followed them inside.
"Qiaoqiao, why did you stop me?" A Xue was furious.
Qiaoqiao said, "Let her off for now. Once we're inside the secret realm, I'll defeat her myself!"
"All right!"
She just loved Qiaoqiao's confidence.
"Qiaoqiao, hurry inside. Don't miss the time," the immortal crane urged.
"Okay."
Qiaoqiao answered, but looked back again, as though searching for someone.
The understanding immortal crane said, "The sect master and the Peak Masters can all observe what happens inside the secret realm through water mirrors. Bai Fu must be watching you too."
A smile appeared on Qiaoqiao's face. Holding the bunch of white plum branches, she stepped into the secret realm.
White mist obscured her vision, and wind brushed past her ears.
When the mist dispersed, the scene before her had changed.
She stood in a deep-green jungle, with towering ancient trees and lush vegetation. It seemed to have just rained inside the secret realm. The fresh scent of plants wafted toward her, carrying the smell of damp earth.
This secret realm, reserved for the disciples' trials, was a natural secret realm that had existed within the Flowing Cloud Sect for a long time. Its outskirts were filled with low-grade spirit herbs and Demon Beasts. The farther inward one went, the higher the Demon Beasts' tiers became, though none exceeded the fourth tier.
Disciples had to work together to deal with fourth-tier Demon Beasts, but the points for hunting a Demon Beast belonged only to the person who dealt the killing blow.
Any stronger Demon Beasts were beyond the abilities of Qi Refining disciples. The elders had sealed them all in the center of the secret realm, leaving them unable to roam during the trial.
Qiaoqiao was on the western outskirts of the secret realm. She first observed her surroundings for a while, then ducked into the undergrowth. Before long, she picked a stalk of glowing grass.
The Jade Slip she carried lit up with a notification: [Second-tier spirit herb, points +2]
"So stingy. Only two points for a second-tier spirit herb."
She tossed the spirit herb into her Storage Bag and looked up. Something seemed to be moving in the grass ahead. A hint of white showed through the gaps between the blades, looking like a rabbit.
A second-tier rabbit demon. I need to use the Chrysanthemum Sword against it!
Recalling Eldest Senior Brother's teachings, Qiaoqiao raised the flowering branches in her hand.
Meanwhile, dozens of water mirrors hung high inside the spacious Flowing Cloud Hall, displaying scenes from every part of the secret realm. Every year during the trial, the elders and True Persons of the various peaks gathered here to observe the disciples' performance through the water mirrors. This, too, was a tradition of the Flowing Cloud Sect.
This year, however, seemed somewhat different.
Before the western water mirror stood an ethereal immortal figure in white, his broad sleeves hanging like clouds, his bearing that of a pine and his frame that of a crane. He stood out in the crowd.
Immortal Venerable Wanghan's appearance here had truly taken everyone by surprise. Everyone knew that the Immortal Venerable was cold by nature. He had never attended any of the previous disciple trials.
Everyone speculated: perhaps his little disciple's ten failed trials had cost him face and angered him, so he had come to watch in person?
The weapon this disciple held was all flash, too. Why was a Qi Refining disciple using branches instead of properly wielding a sword? She ought to take stock of her own abilities.
As Qiaoqiao raised the flowering branches, several elders stole glances from behind. Wouldn't those slender branches snap with this strike? Surely the Immortal Venerable would fly into a rage?
The elders all wore the expressions of melon-eating spectators watching a show. They could hardly wait to see the Immortal Venerable's expression.
Among the crowd, the Moonlight Peak Master even let out a scoff.
Chapter 13: Kill stealing
The Moonlight Peak Master's contemptuous laugh drew the others' attention.
Who in the Flowing Cloud Sect did not know that Bai Fu had originally been the old sect master's preferred choice for Peak Master of the foremost peak? But the Immortal Venerable had chosen to go to Ethereal Peak instead, and only then had Yue Su become the Moonlight Peak Master.
The name "Immortal Venerable Wanghan" was the greatest taboo in his presence.
Recently, they had also heard that his junior sister Fairy Peilan had made a terrible spectacle of herself on the sect forum, and that Yue Liuqin had clashed with Qiaoqiao. It would have been strange if he had shown the Immortal Venerable's disciple a pleasant face.
That laugh of his was clearly meant to mock Qiaoqiao.
Yet Qiaoqiao gathered momentum for her sword strike, and a flash of sword light thrust out!