Chapter 43 (1/2)

White clouds floated above the azure ocean.

Just like when they had been on the journey to the East Ocean, a huge white cloud floated towards the north-west gate while carrying 16 Perfected Immortals and 11 disciples, and a few Heaven Immortals protecting the order in all four directions above.

Those who left first dumped the huge white clouds behind. The cloud path was very wide and did not seem crowded.

This was the third day after Li Changshou’s insane battle with Ao Yi, and the Demon-Sweeping Meet had also ended successfully.

The fake leader, Li Changshou, sat at the corner and had retired from glory. Thus, n.o.body paid attention to him.

Since the true leader, Youqin Xuanya, had an outstanding performance at the Meet, her name had spread everywhere. She had beaten 36 cultivators and four dragon race disciples consecutively. As a result, she had risen to fame. She was now being surrounded in the middle of the white cloud.

Among Youqin Xuanya’s opponents on that day and those four dragon race disciples, seven to eight of them were at the First Stage or Second Stage of the Dao Requital Realm. On the other hand, given her cultivation at the Eight Stage of the Void Return Realm, she had relied on her firm mind and clever techniques acc.u.mulated with hard work.

Furthermore, the power and grade of her flying sword surpa.s.sed that of an ordinary immortal treasure. It had experienced many fierce battles and gnawed those bones in succession.

The power supporting her perseverance was not the four immortal treasures that the Dragon Palace had used.

Under everyone’s gaze, she put those four immortal treasures before her senior brother, who had previously been bullied and humiliated by the dragon race. Then, she returned to her own seat and meditated cross-legged, which was akin to giving everyone a clear answer.

She was not contending for the Dharma treasures but striving for determination!

‘I, a disciple of the Immortal Du Sect, am not easily dealt with by other people! The Senior Brother from my sect is not what anybody can bully either!’

At that time, the eyes of a few sentimental Martial Aunts had gone red.

If Li Changshou had not been the one being implicated, he would definitely have given Youqin Xuanya a thumbs-up and told her that she had been cool.

However, he had been bullied by the dragon race. After being protected by his junior sister, he was a lucky one who had obtained four immortal treasures for no reason—that was relatively awkward.

These four immortal treasures were like four hot potatoes. Fortunately, Li Changshou reacted in time and entrusted them to Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu, who was in the line of succession in the Heaven-Breaking Peak, for safekeeping. When they returned to the mountains, they would be given to Youqin Xuanya’s Master, Martial Uncle Jiang Jingshan.

This was proper handling that would not cause any more unnecessary trouble.

However, the feeling of being protected and receiving help to stand up for himself was slightly strange.

Li Changshou had gained some benefits on the journey to the East Ocean.

In the next two days, compet.i.tions between cultivators of the same seniority helped him broaden his combat methods.

These cultivators came from different immortal sects and had different main cultivation techniques. Although the Five-Element Yin-Yang Dao technique was their main one, it had many different kinds of styles and complicated combinations.

Li Changshou had been watching at the side for two days. He had learned some very useful little tricks, which supplemented the tactical setups for the paper dolls.

Broadening his horizons and raising his experiences were also a kind of cultivation.

Due to Youqin Xuanya’s blow, the Immortal Du Sect had been the biggest winner for the Meet this time. Not only had they taken away one-third of the Dharma treasures, but they had also boosted their sect’s reputation by a lot.

During the next ceremony to take in disciples, they might even be able to recruit a few immortal seedlings because of this.

After Youqin Xuanya left, although disciples of the same seniority as her, such as Li Changshou, had to enter the battle as well, their best record was only seven consecutive wins.

The senior brother, who had said he wanted to stand up for him, had won three out of four battles and had not been able to meet the remaining young dragons.

Just when she left the range of the East Ocean, Jiu Jiu returned to being an obedient fairy and suddenly heard a voice transmission from above.

She hurriedly flew into the sky on the cloud to the side of her Master, Exalted w.a.n.g Qing.

Soon, Jiu Jiu flew down from the sky and was full of smiles.

She landed back on the white cloud, where most of the teams were and took out a pill bottle before putting it beside Youqin Xuanya.

Previously, Youqin Xuanya had spent a lot of effort. Ever since the huge battle two days ago, she had been mediating and cultivating.

Then, Jiu Jiu walked to Li Changshou and sized him up as she cranked her head before she muttered, “That’s strange. How come Master has praised you more than Xuanya?”

Li Changshou had to worry about that.

Had Exalted w.a.n.g Qing seen through his true cultivation level?

No, that was not right. If that was the case, he should have reproached him for not winning the glory for their sect. He should not have been praising him for no reason instead.

“Here, this is for you. This is a reward from my master. This is not considered a reward within the sect.”

Jiu Jiu threw out a jade token before she sat cross-legged three feet from Li Changshou.

A few disciples perked their ears to hear what was happening.

Youqin Xuanya had received the pill rewarded by Exalted w.a.n.g Qing, which was nothing. However, Li Changshou had lost his only battle. How could he receive a reward?

In that jade token, there should be some kind of high-level immortal techniques, right? After all, it was the reward that Exalted w.a.n.g Qing had personally given.

Jiu Jiu grinned, pretended to be stern, cleared her throat, and said, “Master said that you have dealt with the Prince of the Dragon Palace well.

“The Second Prince of the Dragon Palace is full of evil tricks. He should have wanted to let you beat him up with serious injuries and lose to you on purpose. Then, the Dragon Palace would seize the chance to take action on the Immortal Du Sect.

“Master said that if you had not seen through him in time, used the deceptive technique, and admitted defeat first, we might not be able to return to the mountains.

“He also said that Fifth Senior Brother had mentioned you a few times before him, saying that you are meticulous in your thoughts, prudent in your execution, and very reliable in handling matters.

“He had not chosen the wrong person to lead the team of disciples this time.”

The burden in Li Changshou’s heart fell instantly.

Exalted w.a.n.g Qing had actually seen through the conspiracy of the Dragon Palace!

Indeed, he had the height and outlook of a Heaven Immortal, which was totally different from their insignificant outlook!

Although Li Changshou had previously done a meticulous a.n.a.lysis, deduced that the Prince of the Dragon Palace wanted to dishonor the Dragon Palace, and reversed the bad atmosphere of the Dragon Palace, he had not expected such logic behind that and even such a vicious scheme!

Li Changshou thought back right away and realized that he was not standing at a height high enough. From the start, due to his first impression, he had believed that the Dragon Palace did not dare to deal with the Immortal Sects of the Three Schools directly. At the very most, they would let Ao Yi kill an insignificant disciple like him in the compet.i.tion.

‘Oh? After thinking about it carefully, Exalted w.a.n.g Qing’s logic seems to have many loopholes. Forget it, forget it. From the present outcome, Exalted w.a.n.g Qing’s a.n.a.lysis is beneficial to me.’

This Exalted One was…