Page 35

Qiaoqiao rolled up her sleeve and showed Bai Fu a cut on her forearm, which she had accidentally suffered while gathering spirit herbs.

In the sunlight, the girl's skin gleamed as white as jade. Her forearm was slender and smoothly contoured, with a long, thin cut across it, the skin around the wound slightly red and swollen. It was only a minor injury, but against her exceptionally delicate, fair skin, it stood out starkly.

"It hurts a little," she mumbled, sounding as though she were acting spoiled.

The Immortal Venerable's brows drew together slightly, and his eyes grew a shade deeper.

A jade-green porcelain bottle was held out to her. "Take this and apply it."

Qiaoqiao took the medicine bottle, and a refreshing fragrance wafted into her nose. [Wow, it's Nine Fragrance Jade Dew.]

[Master is so generous!]

Nine Fragrance Jade Dew was a supreme healing medicine, a single drop worth a thousand pieces of gold, capable of restoring flesh to bone. If a medical cultivator had been there to see it used on such a tiny cut, they would probably have cried out, "What a criminal waste!"

Bai Fu watched her. "Mu Liuyun's birthday banquet is in seven days. Your eldest senior brother was originally supposed to present Ethereal Peak's gift on our behalf, but since you took first place in the trial this time, you can go instead."

Qiaoqiao raised her head, her face full of delighted surprise. "Really?"

The Immortal Venerable nodded slightly.

[Representing the disciples to give the sect master a gift-doesn't that mean it'll be up to me to uphold Ethereal Peak's honor from now on?]

[But isn't it a little too soon to take over Eldest Senior Brother's position just like that?]

[Will everyone have to call me Eldest Senior Sister from now on? That wouldn't be right. How embarrassing.]

Bai Fu: ...

Her inner theatrics were as elaborate as ever.

Qiaoqiao rubbed the little mirror in her sleeve. She was still looking forward to the sect master telling her exactly what it was used for.

"Qiaoqiao, what reward would you like for taking first place in the trial?"

"Can I ask for anything?"

"Of course."

"After the sect master's birthday banquet, I'd like to go down the mountain to Flying Kite City to see the lantern festival. May I?" Qiaoqiao gazed at him eagerly.

Meeting those glistening eyes, Bai Fu fell into a momentary daze.

-"Master, for my birthday this year, I want to go down the mountain to see the lantern festival."

-"Once the demonic unrest has been quelled, I'll take you."

-"It's a promise. You can't go back on your word."

In the end, they had never made it to that lantern festival.

Demons had thrown the world into chaos, and the cultivators besieging Ethereal Peak had packed it so tightly that not even water could pass through. Former fellow Daoists had all become enemies. The world's strongest protective sword formation had guarded the peak for seven times seven days, but its strength had finally run dry, failing to protect what he had wished to protect.

His blood drained and his meridians exhausted, the white-robed Immortal Venerable had fallen to the ground, seeing only his little disciple's cold corpse being carried away by the crowd.

Even with his eyes closed, all he could see was blood.

Bai Fu's hand slowly clenched inside his sleeve.

This time, he finally had a chance to make up for that regret.

He looked at Qiaoqiao and nodded. "You may."

[Yay!]

[I'll invite Second Senior Sister and Third Senior Sister along. Going out with beautiful women will definitely make me look good!]

Bai Fu: ...

Watching her skip happily away, the Immortal Venerable lowered his eyes. His thick lashes fell like raven feathers, concealing the faint disappointment in his gaze.

Seven days flew by, and the Flowing Cloud Sect master's seven-hundredth birthday banquet officially began. The entire sect bustled with festive cheer.

Qiaoqiao stepped out of the Plucked Pear Courtyard. Its bell tinkling softly, the immortal crane pattered over. Qiaoqiao had finally come out of seclusion!

Over those seven days, Qiaoqiao had taken the Spirit Wind Immortal Dew and entered seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, while also comprehending the sword moves the sword immortal had taught her. She had progressed rapidly, and the immortal crane had kept watch outside the courtyard the entire time.

Now, seeing her emerge with her apricot-colored dress fluttering in the wind, looking refreshed, her dark eyes clear and her natural grace even greater than before, the crane could not help feeling happy for her. "Qiaoqiao, you've reached Foundation Establishment!"

"Mm."

"Clap, clap!" The immortal crane imitated applause with its wings. Who would dare call Qiaoqiao trash now?

[Haha! I successfully reached Foundation Establishment!]

[From now on, I'm Ethereal Peak's eldest senior sister!]

The immortal crane: Huh?

Wasn't that a bit too big a leap...?

The girl and the crane found Elder Ning and collected the birthday gift Ethereal Peak had prepared for the sect master, picking up Yue Tingxi along the way to attend the banquet with them. After spending some time on Ethereal Peak, much of the gloom in his eyes had dissipated, and he now looked like a handsome, refined young man.

He looked at Qiaoqiao, his eyes bright. "Qiaoqiao, congratulations on reaching Foundation Establishment."

Qiaoqiao beamed. "Thank you."

[Junior Brother Yue actually isn't calling me Senior Sister. I'll secretly tell on him to Elder Ning later.]

Yue Tingxi: ...

He lowered his eyes. His master, Ning Shuang, had told him not to find any voices he heard on Ethereal Peak strange.

Had she meant Qiaoqiao's thoughts?

He could actually hear Qiaoqiao's thoughts now. The corners of the boy's lips could not help lifting slightly.

Although the content was a little... he still felt happy.

The sect master's birthday banquet was held on the main peak, Flowing Cloud Peak. Shrouded in clouds and mist year-round and rich in Spiritual Qi, with cranes dancing, luan birds soaring, and magnificent jade palaces, Flowing Cloud Peak was a scene of immortal splendor.

Skirting the bustling crowd, the two had just reached the vicinity of Flowing Cloud Pavilion when they suddenly heard voices behind a bank of flowers. Listening closely, Qiaoqiao thought they seemed to mention her name.

Curious, Qiaoqiao moved closer.

Behind the dense flowers, a dozen or so disciples surrounded a gray-robed boy. He lay curled up on the ground, with numerous medicinal herb seeds scattered beside him.

Someone kicked him, the blow landing squarely beneath his ribs. Without making a sound, the boy curled up even tighter.

"I heard your junior sister Qiaoqiao took first place in the secret realm trial. She's been stealing the limelight lately. How come you're so useless when you're her senior brother?"

"Haha, how can they compare? Just look at him. So what if he's reached Foundation Establishment? He's not just trash-he's a mute too!"

"I heard his meridians have been blocked since birth. He's got Spiritual Qi but can't use it. How's he any different from a cripple?"

"So that junior sister of his was only fake trash. He's the real trash! Hahaha!"

The group burst into jeering laughter.

No matter how they mocked him, the boy on the ground made no sound. He merely curled up as tightly as he could, protecting his Dantian.