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Immortal Venerable Wanghan genuinely took a step back.

He made him back down—something even the Devil Master couldn't do, but Qiaoqiao did!

The immortal waved his sleeve and put the gaudy hat into his storage ring.

The gift was nice, but please don't send it again next time.

Seeing her master's expression, Qiaoqiao couldn't help but laugh.

The lights were soft and warm, and her smile reflected in the flickering flames, warming everyone's hearts.

--

"Junior Sister, what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing."

On the official road, the Yaoling carriage, powered by Spirit Stone, sped forward, leaving the Flowing Cloud Sect and heading towards the Central Plains.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Tingyu sat next to Qiaoqiao, while Wen Zhi, dressed in a white dress, sat opposite them, seemingly lost in thought, lost in her own world.

Qiaoqiao smiled slightly. A month had passed since the lantern festival, but she still couldn't help but smile when she thought of the gift she had given to her master.

A Xue has accumulated this hat over ten years; it's such a pity that her master isn't wearing it.

Xiao Tingyu looked at Qiaoqiao. They had come out to participate in the Four Immortal Sects Grand Competition. This competition was hosted by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, and each sect selected elite disciples to participate. It was a grand event held by the Four Immortal Sects every few years.

Their Flowing Cloud Sect has been at the bottom of the competition for three consecutive years. The sect's decline in recent years is obvious. There are even rumors in the Cultivation World that the four great immortal sects will soon become three.

However, this year's situation is somewhat different--

"I know, because I'm participating this year!"

"I will definitely sweep all the contestants and take first place!"

Xiao Tingyu, who was introducing the competition:...

Junior sister, you're so confident.

The Flowing Cloud Sect sent a total of one hundred disciples this time, led by Fu Fengyuan. He and his disciples took a flying boat ahead of them.

As for why they didn't travel together, it's because Xiao Tingyu, being a sword cultivator, was afraid of heights. Not only could she not fly on a sword, but she would also feel dizzy and nauseous whenever she boarded a flying boat, so she always traveled by the Xiao Household's Yaoling carriage.

Qiaoqiao was worried that her second senior sister would be bored riding in the carriage alone, so she suggested that everyone ride together.

The driver was none other than the eldest disciple, Shen Ji.

"Junior Sister, do you know who's participating in this year's sect competition?" Shen Ji's clear and pleasant voice came from behind the carriage curtain as he drove.

Who is it?

"The Holy Maiden of the Glazed Sea, Liuli; the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect, Chang Xuan; and the mysterious Daoist of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion who has never appeared before—all three are Golden Core cultivators, and they are all here to win the championship."

So what?

Qiaoqiao gave a soft snort.

She is the chosen messenger of justice by Heavenly Dao.

If the Divine Lamp hadn't let her down, she would at least be Golden Core cultivator by now!

A true master should fearlessly challenge opponents of higher levels!

[... Why won't it let me upgrade? Is the Flowing Cloud Divine Lamp really broken?]

"The three major immortal sects are currently powerful, while the Flowing Cloud Sect is weak. If you encounter these people, it's best not to provoke them," he cautioned worriedly.

"Um."

I definitely won't mess with them, but if they get involved in some drama, don't blame me!

Shen Ji:...

Do you really love gossiping that much?

But thinking about what kind of shady dealings the Daoist disciples and Holy Maidens of these three great immortal sects might have, why can't I help but feel a little expectant?

Just then, a hidden arrow suddenly shot from the side, and the array in front of the spirit horse lit up.

Shen Ji's expression suddenly changed. "Someone's robbing us!"

In the critical moment, he maneuvered the carriage to avoid the hidden arrow, but inevitably, the spirit horse stepped into the formation and let out a startled neigh.

This formation is a trap; once a spirit horse falls into it, it cannot move and can only be slaughtered. This is a common tactic used by Rogue Cultivator to rob others, but they never expected that the robbery would target them.

Because the Grand Sect Competition held by the Four Great Immortal Sects is a major event in the Cultivation World, many small and medium-sized sects have come back to join in the fun. This road is the only way to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion in the Central Continent. The major sects all have flying boats and cloud boats that travel by sky, but only some small sects will take the land route. These people are planning to rob the small sects.

As the spirit horse trod into the formation, a band of bandits emerged from the roadside. Their leader shouted, "This road is mine, these trees are mine—"

"Trees? Where are the trees?"

Before he could finish speaking, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a lovely-looking girl peeked out, her eyes filled with innocence.

"Hmph, enough nonsense!" the man said. "Those in the carriage, if you know what's good for you, hand over your Storage Bag, and I'll spare your lives. Otherwise—"

He brandished the dagger in his hand, "Don't blame me for being ruthless, one cut per person!"

Qiaoqiao examined his large sword and blinked.

Shen Ji suddenly had a bad feeling. Could it be that his junior sister was planning something...?

[That knife is so cool, I want one too!]

Shen Ji:

One minute she wants a white plum blossom branch, the next she wants a large cleaver; my junior sister's aesthetic sense is truly unpredictable.

"Little girl, what are you looking at? Do you know who I am?" Seeing that she was not cooperating, the bandit leader was about to reveal his name to scare her.

Qiaoqiao countered, "Then do you know who my senior brother is?"

The leader glanced at Shen Ji, who was driving the carriage, and thought to himself, "I wonder which small sect this guy comes from. He can't even afford a driver, and he has the nerve to ask me?"

He scoffed, "Ha, does your senior brother have some kind of prestigious reputation in the Cultivation World?"

Qiaoqiao turned around and asked, "Senior brother, do you have a name?"

Shen Ji:

As one of the most outstanding young disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect, he did have a reputation outside, but his intuition told him it was best not to say it at this time.