Chapter 76
The atmosphere of the Ziyang Prefecture was unmistakably dominated by the presence of the three sects, with the Qingyuan Sect at the forefront.
“Is it really this lively?”
Li Mo lifted the curtain of the carriage, surveying the bustling scene outside.
He had only descended the mountain once for a mission, which hardly counted as a true venture into the martial world.
Old Ba, who was driving the carriage, chuckled, “The Jiufeng Martial Meet of our Qingyuan Sect is a stage for the next generation to showcase their strength. Naturally, the surrounding smaller sects and the other two major sects will send representatives to witness it.”
“I see,” Li Mo nodded, beginning to understand the excitement surrounding the Jiufeng Martial Meet.
With new blood replacing the old, the younger generation would eventually become the backbone of the sect, representing its future strength.
Strength equated to status, which determined how other sects would position themselves in the future.
Moreover, not long ago, the Qingyuan Sect had experienced a remarkable phenomenon, a celestial event that had drawn many curious onlookers.
As Old Ba spoke, he pointed ahead, “Over there is the group from the Fenyulin, led by one of their six chief disciples.”
Li Mo turned to look in the direction indicated.
The Fenyulin’s contingent was not large, just over ten people, but they made a significant impression. Their disciples were dressed in fine attire, wielding renowned weapons, clearly distinguishing themselves from the smaller sects around them.
A young man in white stood at the front, hands clasped behind his back, exuding a subtle air of arrogance.
“The Fenyulin is located to the west of Ziyang Prefecture, with some of its members hailing from regions bordering the Central Divine Continent, which explains the noble backgrounds of some disciples,” Old Ba explained.
“And over there?” Li Mo inquired again.
Old Ba glanced over and replied with a smile, “That’s the Chijing Gang.”
“They are the largest gang in Ziyang Prefecture and rank among the top in the Eastern Wilderness. On the surface, they may seem to be at the bottom of the three sects, but the reality is far more complex; it’s a murky pool of intrigue.”
The Chijing Gang was indeed much livelier.
They had connections with various smaller sects, leading to a flurry of greetings and mingling.
Li Mo nodded slightly, narrowing his eyes.
Leading the group was a master of the Chijing Gang, but what caught Li Mo’s attention was the young man in blood-red attire beside him.
This youth gave off an odd vibe.
Before he could activate his Tianming Divine Eye, however, a familiar figure blocked his view.
The Lord of Ziyang Prefecture.
The man he had met once before was now engaged in conversation with the leading master of the Chijing Gang.
The carriage moved on.
Before long, they had reached the halfway point of the Qingyuan Sect’s main peak.
“Go for it, my precious disciple!”
Shang Wu yawned and gracefully leaped onto the high platform.
There, the elders of the sect had already taken their seats, with a few extra spots reserved for guests from outside sects.
Shangguan Wencang sat at the center, casting a glance toward Ying Bing.
Upon seeing her, his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
It wasn’t just the sect leader who was watching.
Many pairs of eyes in the crowd turned toward her at that moment.
Shangguan Wencang’s only disciple, widely recognized as the next leader of the Qingyuan Sect, was a standout among her peers.
With numerous enviable accolades and the aura of a rare snow lotus, it was hard for anyone to overlook her.
“?”
Little Li furrowed his brow.
His keen senses picked up on the many unfriendly gazes directed at him, as if he were a thorn in their side.
After all, he was the only one standing beside Ying Bing.
And he had also received the Chixiao sword, a perfect match for Tian Shuang.
In the face of those stares, Little Li forced a smile, “Ying Bing, I brought some tea. Want to have a sip?”
“Sure,” Ying Bing replied, her love for tea evident, regardless of its quality.
With delicate hands, she took the tea set and began brewing with practiced ease, her movements swift and pleasing to the eye, creating a scene that captivated many.
“Ah,” Li Mo picked up a small cup of Longjing tea.
The unfriendly gazes intensified, and if looks could kill, he would have been pierced a thousand times over.
He savored a sip and praised, “You really brew it the best.”
At that moment, the voice of the Qingyuan Sect leader rang out:
“Today’s Jiufeng Martial Meet, I’ll keep it brief.”
“Esteemed colleagues and heroes, the purpose of our Qingyuan Sect holding this martial meet is primarily to highlight a few key points…”
...
An hour later.
The elder’s voice on the high platform finally began to wind down, though he seemed reluctant to stop.
The usually taciturn sect leader had clearly saved all his words for this occasion.
“Alright, that’s enough for now,” Shangguan Wencang nodded lightly, signaling the start of the next segment.
After all, if he continued, most of the audience would likely doze off.
The next segment was the drawing of lots.
Qian Bufan instructed the steward to collect all the competition tokens from the participating disciples and placed them into a bronze bull in the center of the arena. Then, he channeled his energy and struck the bull’s back.
A sound of metal clashing echoed, and the bronze beast spat out two tokens.
He looked at them and announced loudly, “Xiao Qin versus Xie Lan’ai.”
The first match was Brother Xiao?
Li Mo looked up at the platform.
Old Xiao’s aura was stronger than when Li had seen him a few days ago, clearly indicating a breakthrough in his martial arts. He now carried a broken sword, his expression resolute, exuding a fierce and determined presence.
His opponent was no simple foe either.
The young woman had striking features, with high cheekbones that added a sharpness to her already cold demeanor.
Li Mo activated his Tianming Divine Eye to take a closer look.
**Name:** Xie Lan’ai
**Age:** 23
**Root Bone:** Zhe Mei Shou (Breaking Plum Hand)
**Realm:** Inner Breath Jade Liquid Realm
**Destiny:** Grayish Blue
**Evaluation:** True disciple of the Luoxia Peak, likely to take over a peak in the future. She has a fateful entanglement with love, and her character makes her prone to extreme emotions.
**Recent Encounter:** Learned that her crush, Yin Huacheng, desires the Chixiao sword and is plotting against Tian Shuang.
Old Xiao was not having the best luck.
“Yin Huacheng wants my Chixiao?”
Li Mo raised an eyebrow.
He remembered that the chief elder of the Rare Beast Peak had the surname Yin Hua.
With a shout of “Begin,” the battle commenced.
Xiao Qin clearly understood that against an opponent a whole realm above him, he shouldn’t prolong the fight.
Whoosh—
As he grasped the giant sword, his strike seemed to mend the broken parts of the sword, amplifying its blade light several folds.
With his first move, he seized the initiative.
The surging sword light pressed down.
Xie Lan’ai’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise, yet she did not flinch or evade.
The soft sword at her waist coiled around her arm like a silver snake.
She neither retreated nor struck back; instead, she closed in.
Xiao Qin’s pupils constricted.
He couldn’t comprehend her approach.
Even with a higher realm, it was reckless to take a sword strike head-on with one’s body, wasn’t it?
But in the next moment.
Xie Lan’ai’s form suddenly became fluid, like leaves drifting in the wind, impossible to grasp.
Xiao Qin’s giant sword struck as if it were cutting through a mass of cotton, failing to find any resistance.
Then, a cold glint flashed before him.
In the blink of an eye, the seemingly serpentine soft sword had somehow shifted to a bizarre trajectory, appearing right in front of him!
Under her control, the soft sword seemed to come alive.
Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd.
This was clearly the renowned “Spirit Snake Sword Technique” from Luoxia Peak, a superior martial art.
Moreover, Xie Lan’ai had already mastered it to perfection.
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