Chapter 254 - Strangers (2/2)

Right then, Su Xiaomei’s voice rang inside his head. “Not bad. That youngster is not bad, indeed. He didn’t lose the imposing manner of a Su family member. I’ve never even heard of the Ling family in my era. Who cares about them?”

Xiao Chen once again forced a smile as he imbued a wisp of Divine Sense into the pendant. “You’re up?”

“Yes. I woke up when I sensed someone from my family around. Oh, by the way, you said your mother was from the Su family. Even though our millennium-old rule says that the Su’s and Xiao’s must not interact, I’m sure they won’t make things difficult for you if I put in a word for you,” Su Xiaomei said.

“Then, thank you for the favor.”

This was what Xiao Chen wanted. He was determined to make time to visit his mother at the Su family residence. Moreover, he must find a way to bring her back to the Xiao family residence. With Su Xiaomei around, his task would be much simpler.

What he must do next was sign up for the Immortal’s Sword Assembly. The assembly would only accept ten disciples from each sect, at most. The Jade Qing Sect sent seven people including Yu Yifeng, Mu Shaoai, Li Muxue, and Luo Shangyan. Xiao Chen, Qingluan, and Ziyun’er made up the rest of the numbers.

After the Elder in-charge registered their names, he gave Yu Yifeng a little pouch to collect the Hearts of Illusory Moon and ten cyan-colored badges.

Those representing the East Continent would be wearing cyan-colored badges, while those from the West Continent were given red badges. Those from the South Continent had the color purple, those from the North Continent had the color brown, and those from the Middle Continent had the color white.

Each badge had the name of the participant’s sect carved on it. Those without a badge weren’t allowed to enter the Forest of Illusory Moon.

It was boisterous in the public square. The loud ones were mostly from the Middle Continent. They were known to the strongest, after all. Moreover, they also had a sense of superiority stemming from the fact that the assembly was held in their homeland.

Whenever they saw someone with a cyan-colored badge, they would shoot him a condescending look. That was because those from the East Continent were known to be the weakest; they had failed to pass the qualifying round for three consecutive assemblies. Many cultivators from the East Continent had their heads lowered, too embarrassed to say anything. Some even took off their badge and put it into their pocket.

To be frank, the East Continent was the oldest cultivation grounds of the five continents. It was the origin of cultivation, going as far back as hundreds of thousands of years ago. It was the Great Divine Land, where the strong stood in great numbers. Seeing as the ruins of the Mystic Cyan Sect were located here, it was obvious that it meant that East Continent was the strongest of them all.

However, the East Continent had been regressing with time since the end of the previous Cultivation Era. Just as the other four continents were close to forgetting its presence, the Jade Qing Sect appeared and regained attention for the continent. In its hundred years up of establishment up until now, Jade Qing Seven came into existence and sent tremors throughout the world, allowing the East Continent to stabilize its position among the five continents again.

The reason for the continent’s decline was likely its beliefs. As the origin of the ancient cultivators, many sects ignored fame and profit in their pursuit of Bodhicitta. They focused on exterminating evil and defending traditional values as protectors of the living.

The other continents were different. They were firmly aware that the survival of the fittest was the true rule of the Cultivation World. Otherwise, the previous Cultivation Era wouldn’t have been destroyed. The right way to live was to constantly improve one’s powers. It was the only way to survive.

Life had proven them right. The innocent pursuit of Bodhicitta was no longer suited for such chaotic times.

Of course, there were exceptions too. Thousand Feathers Sect was one such example. However, they rarely came out to the world and no one knew their true strength.

Coincidentally, Xiao Chen spotted Xiaoyue in the crowd as well. He was surprised that she would be representing the East Continent as well, but had no idea about her true purpose.

He also noticed another person wearing the cyan-colored badge that represented the East Continent. Even though they were so close, he felt as if she was as far away as if she was at the other end of the world. It was Huangfu Xin’er participating under the Heartless Palace.

Their coincidental meeting led Xiao Chen to think that she had turned into someone else entirely. She was like a block of ice. He couldn’t sense any emotion from her.

When they passed by each other, she didn’t even spare him a glance. It was as if they were strangers. It was just like that line of lyric in the song they once wrote together.

“Today I long to part with the willow trees; my words are accompanied by tears. He meets a stranger by a chance but doesn’t get to know her.”

Suddenly, he felt a stab of pain in his heart. It was an unspeakable pain. They shared so much history, after all. Back then, she didn’t know anything about her family withdrawing their engagement. However, there was no resolving that misunderstanding. The memories of their time at the Skygale Sect in the Human World were still vivid in his mind. In the end, she overheard what he said during their final meeting at the Heartless Palace.

Finally, they had become complete strangers.

Suddenly, an ear-piercing voice resounded in the crowd. “I heard the disciples of the Heartless Palace are all breathtaking. Now I see that the rumors are true.”