Seeing her emerge listlessly from the corridor, Shen Ji and Fu Fengyuan somewhat surprised. Could it be that their junior sister hadn't grasped the comprehension?
Just as I was thinking about how to comfort her, she cheered herself up first.
[It's alright, this must be a test from Heavenly Dao for me!]
[It's just a minor setback, I won't let it bother me!]
The two exchanged a glance and smiled simultaneously; it seemed their junior sister didn't need comforting.
Qiaoqiao's dejection didn't even last half an incense stick's time. She was thinking about going to Flying Kite City to see the lantern festival, but Shen Ji stopped her, saying, "Junior Sister, the Sect Master just gave us another instruction."
"What's up?"
"One month from now is the grand competition of the four major immortal sects. As is customary, each peak of the Flowing Cloud Sect will send disciples to participate—"
[Got it!]
[The sect leader must have high hopes for me, wanting me to win first place in the competition!]
"... During this invasion by the Demonic Sect, many disciples were injured. As the substitutes, our Ethereal Peak will likely have to participate entirely."
"Substitute?"
Qiaoqiao's eyes widened. "Are we just substitutes?"
To be precise, only Qiaoqiao is.
Shen Ji's strength goes without saying, Xiao Tingyu has money, Wen Zhi can refine pills, and the competition can't do without pill Alchemist. Even Fu Fengyuan, with the identity of the young master, was arranged to lead the team in this sect competition, hoping that he would take on the responsibility of the young sect leader.
Only Qiaoqiao, although a successor of the Sword Immortal, has only just reached the Foundation Establishment. If it weren't for the injuries of the other peak disciples, she wouldn't even be on the substitute list.
Shen Ji couldn't bear to tell her the truth, so he had no choice but to say it this way.
[Damn it, how dare they look down on our Ethereal Peak!]
[I'm going to win first place in this sect competition and show everyone!]
Seeing her so full of fighting spirit, Shen Ji decided not to tell her that there had never been Foundation Establishment disciple who won first place in the sect's annual competition.
After bidding farewell to her two senior brothers, Qiaoqiao put the matters of the Divine Lamp and the sect competition out of her mind and excitedly rushed to the mountain gate, ready to go to the lantern festival with her two beautiful senior sisters.
However, after waiting for a while, only the mountain wind rustled.
The Jade Slip lit up.
Xiao Tingyu: Qiaoqiao, Second Senior Sister has something come up and can't make it. I'll make it up to you with lots of Spirit Stone later!
Wen Zhi: Junior sister, an old friend invited me, and I have to go. I'm sorry I can't accompany you to the lantern festival.
Qiaoqiao looked at the Jade Slip, her wonderful mood plummeted to rock bottom.
how so?
But since the senior female students had something to do, we can't blame them.
She'll be happy even if she goes to the lantern festival alone!
" Qiaoqiao."
"Um?"
Who called her?
She looked up blankly, and on the mountain path, a white-clad figure stood against the wind, his cloud-like sleeves fluttering gently. She didn't know when he had arrived, as if he had been waiting there for a long time, so long that he had turned into the morning breeze and night mist, blending into the surrounding scenery.
"Master!"
Qiaoqiao walked over quickly and saw that there was dew on his shoulder, and it was slightly damp.
"Aren't we going down the mountain?" he asked.
"My senior classmates are all busy and can't go, so no one will go to the lantern festival with me."
"I'll go with you, how about it?" Bai Fu asked calmly.
Qiaoqiao was surprised at first, then a smile appeared on her face.
[Yay! Enjoying the lantern festival with my beautiful master!]
A subtle smile played on Bai Fu's lips as he leaped onto the spirit sword and reached out his hand to her.
The hand that emerged from beneath the cloud-like sleeve was long and strong, with distinct knuckles, as if carved from jade. Qiaoqiao placed her hand on it, and it was effortlessly enveloped by that long, broad palm.
Unlike his icy aura, his palms were warm. This warmth dispelled the bone-chilling cold she had felt in front of the Divine Lamp, making her feel warm all over.
Holding his hand, an indescribable sense of security welled up inside me.
My heart rippled with tiny waves. It feels so good to have my master here.
She couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.
Immortal Venerable Wanghan's spirit sword moved with incredible speed, arriving at Flying Kite City in the blink of an eye.
Flying Kite City is the largest city at the foot of the Flowing Cloud Sect Mountain. Every year in March or April, it holds a lantern festival. At that time, the city is ablaze with lights, making it incredibly beautiful.
Qiaoqiao saw it once when she was little and has kept it in her heart ever since.
At this moment, the flying sword hovered above Flying Kite City. A bright crimson light shone from the city, like a fire phoenix descending to earth, turning half the sky red.
Qiaoqiao became increasingly uneasy, and her tone grew urgent, "Master, is the city on fire?!"
Amidst the raging flames, she seemed to see a familiar figure. Who was that person?!
Chapter 26 Guessing the Heart
A bright red light shone brightly in Flying Kite City. Bai Fu flew into the city on his sword and saw a tall, slender figure in scarlet robes standing proudly on the highest Stargazing Platform in the city. His black hair flew in the wind, and the night breeze fluttered his robes, making him look like a red phoenix about to take flight.
He made hand Hand Seals with his hands, his movements so fast that they were almost blurry.
As he Hand Seals, a clear phoenix cry rang out, and a huge fire phoenix descended from the crimson sky, soaring around the high platform, dazzling and radiant, its tail shimmering, scattering specks of spiritual light as it danced.
The firelight we saw earlier was actually the light that attracted the phoenix, not a sign that the city was on fire.
The city's thousands of residents looked up at the scene and roared in deafening cheers.
"Look, it's a phoenix!"
"What phoenix? It's a miracle!"
"As expected of the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, he has actually managed to attract a phoenix to Flying Kite City! Our Flying Kite City will surely have favorable weather and abundant harvests next year, bringing great fortune!"
Many people bowed and kowtowed, seemingly regarding this Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion as a true deity.
However, he truly does deserve it.
In the Cultivation World, the four major immortal sects are the strongest: Tianji Pavilion, Xuantian Sect, Glazed Sea, and Flowing Cloud Sect. Among them, Tianji Pavilion is the most powerful, while Flowing Cloud Sect is the weakest.