Inside the Guest-Welcoming Palace, the atmosphere was far more delicate than out on the square.
The representatives of the three great sects sat at separate tables. Though they maintained superficial decorum, an inexplicable tension hung in the air.
Among the contingent from Perching Phoenix Pavilion, Ming Xi toyed with a lock of black hair between her slender fingers. Her gaze, laden with playfulness, drifted toward the Return to Origin Sect’s seats across the room as she chuckled softly.
“Shang Shuqing, a man who never moves without a well-laid plan... To think you would actually choose to be the first to arrive at Divine Might Manor. That hardly seems like the Return to Origin Sect’s usual style.”
At her words, Shang Shuqing snapped his folding fan shut with a crisp shhh. With a gentle yet indisputable smile on his face, he replied, “Fellow Daoist Ming, why play dumb when we all know the truth? Could it be that your sect’s commander didn't give you a detailed report on what transpired in the Foundation Establishment secret realm?”
His gaze drifted subtly toward Shi Yan, who sat upright beside Ming Xi.
Feeling that gaze brush over him, Shi Yan scratched his head in embarrassment. Straightforward by nature, he was ill-suited for such verbal sparring.
He could only shift his eyes toward Ling Qingyu and Shang Shuyi on the other side.
At this moment, Ling Qingyu’s face was covered in frost, her aloof eyes making her seem completely detached from the matter at hand. Shang Shuyi, on the other hand, returned a gentle, serene smile, entirely unperturbed.
Yet Shi Yan knew in his heart that, much like himself, once Ling Qingyu and Shang Shuyi returned to their sects, they hadn't been able to withstand the relentless questioning of their elders and had inevitably disclosed Su Yi’s heaven-defying performance in the secret realm.
After all, three demon clan Nascent Soul Elders had suppressed their cultivation to Late Foundation Establishment, resulting in one dead and two fleeing. Such a battle record could never be concealed; it was enough to shake the upper echelons of every major sect, and even the demon clan was likely in turmoil right now.
At this point, Qiu Ning, clad in plain white Elder robes, sat upright in the head seat. Looking at the three representatives, she asked, “Fellow Daoists, in accordance with past practice, the Four Sects Exchange is still more than a month away. May I ask why it has suddenly been moved forward and why everyone has gathered at my Divine Might Manor? I hope you can shed some light on this.”
She was just as bewildered right now. Having only just returned from leading disciples on an experiential trial outside, she was met with the three sects arriving together ahead of schedule. Naturally, doubts crowded her mind.
Only... Her eyes flickered slightly. On the journey back, some accompanying disciples had boldly speculated that this was due to the attention garnered by Su Yi’s performance in the secret realm.
Initially, she had found it hard to believe. But considering what Su Yi had pulled off in the past, and realizing that apart from an ever-unfathomable Su Yi, Divine Might Manor was no different from usual...
Glancing across the representatives of the three sects, the bad premonition stirred in Qiu Ning’s heart because of Su Yi grew stronger.
She couldn't help but bite her lower lip, feeling a wave of worry. ‘Just like back then... why doesn't Junior Brother Su understand?’
‘Why does he keep exposing himself to everyone's eyes again and again?’
Just then, Murong Yue stood up from Ancient Sword Mountain’s contingent.
Her temperament mirrored her sword Dao—direct, straightforward, and crisp. Cupping her hands, she said, “Elder Qiu, since things have reached this point, this junior will get straight to the point. Following a unanimous decision by our sect’s Elders, Ancient Sword Mountain earnestly requests that for this Four Sects Exchange, Divine Might Manor must send disciples and make our Ancient Sword Mountain your top choice for exchange and cultivation!”
Her diction was clear as she bowed slightly in greeting.
The moment those words fell, Qiu Ning’s pupils constricted slightly, the shock in her heart beyond words.
The Four Sects Exchange was fundamentally a process where lower-ranking sects sought guidance and learned from higher-ranking sects.
Ancient Sword Mountain’s sword Dao was unrivaled among the four sects, always a sacred place of yearning for disciples of the other three sects who sought the sword. When had a higher-ranking sect ever issued such a solemn “invitation”—carrying even a hint of “pleading”—for disciples of a lower-ranking sect to come for an exchange? This completely overturned all past precedent and common sense!
In disbelief, she turned her gaze toward Shang Shuqing and Ming Xi, only to find that neither showed any surprise at Murong Yue’s earth-shattering proposal. Instead, both nodded slightly with calm expressions, their purpose evidently identical!
Meeting Qiu Ning’s inquiring gaze, Ming Xi smiled radiantly and chimed in, “Perching Phoenix Pavilion shares the same sentiment. We hope Elder Qiu and Divine Might Manor will give priority consideration to our pavilion this time.”
Likewise, Shang Shuqing snapped his folding fan open with a shhh and fanned it gently twice. “The Return to Origin Sect wishes the same. We hope Elder Qiu will grant our request.”
The three great sects were simultaneously, proactively, and even with a hint of urgency inviting Divine Might Manor disciples for an exchange!
Silence fell over the hall. Every Divine Might Manor disciple present realized the utter absurdity of the situation.
Seeing this, Qiu Ning felt her temples throb. With all three great sects presenting such an unprecedented request at once, how could she possibly have the authority to agree?
“Divine Might Manor is deeply grateful for everyone’s high regard. However...” She paused, sweeping her gaze across Murong Yue and the other two. “The Four Sects Exchange is a matter of great consequence. It is definitely not something an outer sect Elder in charge of reception like myself can arbitrarily decide. I hope you can understand.”
Hearing this, Murong Yue furrowed her brows slightly, seemingly wanting to press further, but Ming Xi and Shang Shuqing exchanged a knowing glance, having clearly anticipated this outcome.
Just as Murong Yue was about to say something more...
“Oh? To think that one day, my Divine Might Manor would be held in such high regard by the three great sects, scrambling over one another?”
A voice tinged with surprise yet full of vitality drifted in from outside the hall.
Everyone turned toward the sound, only to see Ouyang Qing stroking his long beard as he strode inside.
First, he gave his daughter Qiu Ning a reassuring look that said “leave it to me,” then curiously sized up the representatives of the three sects, seemingly completely oblivious to the delicate, tense atmosphere inside the hall.
The moment Qiu Ning saw him, she nearly groaned inwardly. ‘Ugh, why did he have to come!’
She helplessly held a hand to her forehead, feeling her headache intensify.
Her father was a genius in the art of alchemy, but when it came to worldly affairs and tact, he was practically clueless. Letting him handle a situation like this was like sending an actor to a battlefield!
However, a few people seemed to be following behind Ouyang Qing.
“Long time no see, everyone.” Su Yi stepped out first, his gaze bypassing Ming Xi and the others, landing straight on Ling Qingyu, Shang Shuyi, and Shi Yan standing behind them as he gave a smiling nod.
His appearance was like a pebble tossed onto the surface of an undercurrent-ridden lake, instantly shifting the focal point of the hall’s entire atmosphere.
Compared to Shang Shuyi and the other two nodding in return, the reactions of Murong Yue, Ming Xi, and Shang Shuqing were far more intense and pronounced!
The eyes of the three sharpened almost simultaneously. On the surface, their purpose here was for Divine Might Manor’s disciples, but in truth, from beginning to end, their core target had only ever been one person—Su Yi!
Almost in unison, all three cast a subtle glance toward their respective juniors.
The meaning couldn't be clearer: ‘As long as you can get him to agree!’
In their minds, no matter how useless their sects’ disciples might be, there was no way they hadn't been of any help in the secret realm, right?
As long as they had shown even a shred of good performance before Su Yi, getting them to bridge the gap and build rapport shouldn't be an issue.
Yet once Ling Qingyu and Shang Shuyi caught their meaning, both looked thoroughly embarrassed and shifted their feet uncomfortably.
Only Shi Yan, upon receiving Ming Xi’s frantic eye hints that looked on the verge of twitching into a spasm, was left with nothing but complete bewilderment in his eyes.
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