“Junior Sister looks even more beautiful than before!”
“You’re right! Indeed, she looks even better today… How can I describe it…”
Just as the two were racking their brains to find the right words to describe her beauty.
A third voice drifted in, carrying three parts drunkenness and seven parts poetry:
“White clouds swirl around her knees, lotus steps trail light mist. Her jade-like face outshines frost and snow, spring breeze paints her portrait.”
Everyone turned to look at the newcomer. He wore a string of gourds around his waist, and even before he lifted his leg, the gourds had already infused him with a faint intoxication.
Within seven steps, he continued reciting:
“White silk wraps her jade steps, smoke rises with each move. Moonlight condenses into frost at her feet. Do not say there is no peerless beauty in this world, for clouds half conceal the face of a celestial being… Ha ha ha! Marvelous, marvelous!”
“Oh! It’s Senior Brother Xu An! No wonder, no wonder!”
“Senior Brother Xu An is composing poetry again, quickly tear his mouth!”
“Junior Brother Xu An, how dare you speak such nonsense about Junior Sister?” The direct disciple of Heartless Cliff, Duan Feng, said with his usual cold voice.
“Not at all!” Xu An held a gourd and swayed, laughing loudly. “Beauty blooms for herself, countless boats pass by a thousand streams. We are but spectators. If we are spectators, why can’t we appreciate?”
“Tsk, I don’t understand.” Duan Feng felt a headache coming on and stepped away from Xu An, closing his eyes.
He was just a swordsman, good at killing, but poetry and appreciating beauties were beyond him. A sword in his hand was enough.
“Junior Brother Xu An knows that beauty is for oneself—”
The voice came from within the azure brocade robe. The man hung a sword at his waist, his fingers lightly touching the dragon-patterned hilt. His appearance was ordinary, but his kind face and sharp eyes made him formidable, “I am dull, may I ask who has won Junior Sister’s favor?”
Xu An knew he was being set up but did not fall for it, only teasingly, “Senior Brother Zhen He, whoever tasted your hidden sword pill, it must be them.”
Everyone laughed.
All eyes turned to the front of the Nine-Dragon Imperial Holy Hall.
The man wore dark, tight-fitting armor, his body tall and strong. Sword qi burst forth, cutting through the clouds. White hair fluttered like a waterfall, his hands clasped behind his back. His back was as straight as a pine tree, exuding a piercing sword intent that could pierce the heavens.
Sword Pavilion Ancestor – Chen Huaian.
The Sword Pavilion disciples were quite familiar with him.
Not that any of the Sword Pavilion disciples hadn’t had thoughts about the beautiful Junior Sister.
But just looking at Li Qingran’s gaze towards the Ancestor told everything. Flowers have feelings, but water has none, especially when the water flows to the sea.
It’s best to silently bless them.
Back to practicing swords.
“What are you all babbling about? We’re almost at the Secret Realm, behave yourselves!” Su Qinian approached, frowning, and kicked one of the direct disciples from each peak.
The Sword Pavilion disciples immediately stopped gossiping and stood in their designated positions.
Only Senior Sister Yue Qianchi was fearless of Su Qinian and didn’t follow the rules. Relying on her close relationship with Li Qingran, she boldly discussed fashion issues with Li Qingran in the small room in front of the Holy Hall.
She also liked white silk.
But she preferred black.
…
In the Central Continent Secret Realm, surrounded by the Ten Thousand Mountains, two bronze gates stood across the sky.
On the floating peaks around were Inquiry Platforms built by past sects.
At noon, the sea of clouds suddenly churned like boiling water. Twelve floating peaks trembled simultaneously, and the green goldstone peeling off the mountains turned into golden dust.
The two huge bronze doors emitted a faint glow. Inside, a thin mist began to form, and the ancient runes on the doors floated like fish.
The lintel of the Secret Realm was adorned with a nine-headed black snake carving, its scales oozing spiritual energy that gathered in the clouds to form a tidal vortex extending for hundreds of miles.
“The Secret Realm gate is about to open!”
“This time, the Central Continent Secret Realm opens both the Small and Large Secret Realms every ten years. Truly grand!”
“Of course! Eighteen sects alone came, plus so many scattered cultivators. Among these scattered cultivators, there are many powerful ones… Competition is getting fiercer.”
A group of scattered cultivators watched as the flying boats of various sects landed on the Inquiry Platforms atop the floating peaks.
The flying boat of the Bluecloud Sect was the largest, rumored to be made from a segment of rainbow clouds captured by the Bluecloud Old Ancestor. From afar, it truly looked like a cloud hanging from the sky.
The Hundred Flowers Spirit Boat of the Spirit Intuition Valley was surrounded by bluebirds and colorful butterflies, leaving a trail of fragrance wherever it went, making it highly recognizable.
Danzong still used an old-fashioned medicine cauldron as its boat. It was so outdated that moss grew on it!
The Spirit Beast Sect used a white-scaled giant python this year — they changed drastically each year. Last year, they had a fire pig with lava mane that shook the ground with each step.
“That’s not the Sword Pavilion’s Inquiry Platform? Why is someone from the Shaoyang Sect up there?”
A cultivator pointed at the smallest floating peak in the distance, his expression astonished.
“The Shaoyang Sect has been impressive over the last two years. They produced a prodigy who entered the Golden Core stage before thirty. Their sect leader, Zhang Tinghai, also reached the late-stage Divine Transformation… This time, the opening of the Central Continent Large Secret Realm might provide opportunities for breaking through to the Combine stage?”
“By the way, the Sword Pavilion usually arrives first due to their fast flying swords and the need to secure a spot. Why are they so quiet this time?”
“Tsk, they must have fallen on hard times~”
“Fallen on hard times? But I heard that recently, the Sword Pavilion discovered a disciple practicing demonic arts and alerted other sects to self-inspect. Allegedly, they joined forces with several major sect leaders to slay a great demon…”
“That’s just hearsay, did you see it yourself?”
On the Inquiry Platform of the Bluecloud Sect.
Lu Changtian looked at the neighboring floating peak. Usually, the Sword Pavilion was there, but today it was occupied by the Shaoyang Sect.
This showed the true decline of the Sword Pavilion.
“Li Qingran, Li Qingran, see what you’ve chosen.”
“I told you, joining the Sword Pavilion from the Bluecloud Sect, you will regret it sooner or later.”
Thinking of the impoverished appearance of the Sword Pavilion disciples, he could almost imagine Li Qingran’s current plight.
But he was different.
Thanks to Junior Sister Mu Baishuang, he found the perfect cultivation technique for his physique.
Though his realm wasn’t as high as his peak, his combat power was comparable.
With sufficient resources, his cultivation speed would be rapid. Once his realm improved, those geniuses would be nothing to him.
This Secret Realm entrance was filled with countless resources, a perfect opportunity for him to rise.
He instinctively turned to look at Mu Baishuang, wanting to share a glance.
Recently, Mu Baishuang seemed unhappy and didn’t participate in the Secret Realm activities. She always looked absent-minded, no matter what she did.
As the senior disciple, he naturally needed to pay attention to her.
But when he turned, he couldn’t find her.
Where did this little girl go?
Before he could think further,
“Aroo—!”
A series of dragon roars echoed from the skies.
Lu Changtian instinctively turned back.
He saw the clouds at the horizon churning,
Among them, a flood dragon stretched its claws, tearing the sky into nine cracks.
