Chapter 85
With Gu Qinghong and Xiao Siwen taken away, it seemed the matter had finally come to an end.
Lou Yuqing was just about to close the gossip panel when her finger accidentally brushed against the audiovisual projection function.
Above the dueling platform, the enormous screen flickered.
Then the image abruptly shifted.
A sinister scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.
The atmosphere in the arena froze instantly.
Within the projection, Xiao Siwen and Gu Qinghong stood side by side, dark, ominous energy winding around them as they coldly observed Shao Qiuyan's suffering.
Trapped inside an endless nightmare, Shao Qiuyan's mind had long since lost the ability to distinguish truth from illusion.
She mistook illusion for reality.
She mistook herself for her own enemy.
Sword in hand, she hacked relentlessly at her own body.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The blade rose and fell without pause, until her face was no longer recognizable and white bone showed beneath shredded flesh.
The spirit sword she had once cherished had become nothing more than an instrument of slaughter.
The swordsmanship she had once been proud of had become the tool of her own torture.
A rising genius of the sword path-cut down before she ever reached her peak.
"Can't bear to let her go?"
Xiao Siwen tilted her head and looked at Gu Qinghong. Madness flickered in her eyes, as though a single wrong answer would make her kill him on the spot.
Gu Qinghong's expression never changed.
"Sisi." His voice remained calm and steady. "I am your Nightmare Slave. What do other people have to do with me?"
The moment he had willingly signed the slave contract with Xiao Siwen, her mark had been permanently branded onto his body.
"Hiss—"
Sharp intakes of breath rippled through the crowd.
A chill crawled up everyone's spine.
At that moment, their understanding of the pair reached an entirely new level.
Xiao Siwen claimed she wanted revenge, yet she slaughtered innocent people.
Gu Qinghong, despite being a murderer himself, willingly became a slave simply to survive and shift the blame elsewhere.
The shamelessness of it was almost unbelievable.
Many disciples stared in stunned silence before outrage rapidly replaced shock. The cruelty they displayed toward fellow disciples was utterly despicable.
No matter how one looked at it, both of them deserved the same punishment.
Watching the righteous indignation spreading through the crowd, Gu Buqi's eyes showed a trace of satisfaction.
At least these disciples still possessed a conscience.
Any large forest would inevitably contain a few rotten birds.
The Wendao Sect was vast and powerful. It was impossible to avoid admitting a few scoundrels.
What mattered was identifying them and removing them before they caused greater harm.
Nearby, Shen Lijun cautiously glanced at Shao Qiuyan. His eyes held nothing but heartache.
"Qiuyan..."
Even when he had first learned of her death, he had not felt emotions this intense.
Shao Qiuyan watched the projection without blinking.
She watched herself descend, step by step, into that horrific state.
She watched until nothing remained but a skeleton.
Watched until her future self drew her final breath.
Only then did she finally speak.
"I'm fine."
Her voice was calm.
When she had first entered the sword path, she had spent years cultivating beneath her master's sword intent.
Every strike had been merciless—stabbing, cutting, scraping.
At first, the pain had been unbearable.
Eventually, she had grown accustomed to it.
Because of that, she had always believed that even if she one day suffered such torture, she would remain unmoved.
Yet when she saw the scene of her master finding her remains—finding nothing but a skeleton—a dull ache spread through her chest.
Shao Qiuyan had never felt she owed anyone anything.
The only exception was her master.
As the saying goes, no one knows whether tomorrow or death will come first.
Once, she had believed she would grow old together with her fiancé. Then his soul lamp suddenly extinguished during a journey.
And in another future—because she became entangled in someone else's emotions—she died in the Demon Mountain Range.
Perhaps... she really should stop clinging to the dead.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Didn't you tell me not to find a substitute just to remember you?" she murmured softly.
Then she laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"Knowing your temper, you'd probably rather come back from the dead and beat me up yourself."
Slowly, she untied the sword box from her back.
Her fingers lingered on it for a long moment before she finally stored it away.
A streak of light flashed as her spirit sword returned to her dantian to be nourished once more.
For years, she had been unable to bear the thought of leaving the sword box he gave her empty.
Now, at last, she understood.
After a moment of silence, Shao Qiuyan looked at Shen Lijun.
"You don't have to avoid me in the future."
Her tone was casual, as though she were merely stating a fact.
Then she turned and left.
Shen Lijun stood rooted to the spot.
He watched her retreating figure until it disappeared from view.
Only then did he finally snap out of it.
His eyes widened.
A look of undisguised joy spread across his face.
Qiuyan no longer rejected his presence.
That fact alone was enough to make him ecstatic.
What he didn't know was that Shao Qiuyan had simply arrived at a new understanding of life.
Everyone died eventually.
Since that was the case, there was no point forcing certain things.
Shen Lijun was someone she knew.
As long as he didn't interfere with her life, there was no reason for her to deliberately avoid him.
Of course, if he secretly investigated her whereabouts and engineered "coincidental" encounters, that would be an entirely different matter.
The screen hanging in the sky flickered.
Its light distorted briefly before disappearing altogether.
On the surface, the disciples of both sects appeared remarkably calm.
Beneath that calm facade, however, countless private discussions had already erupted.
Lou Yuqing noticed the strange atmosphere spreading through the crowd.
After a moment's thought, she concluded that everyone was probably unsettled by the revelation of a Nightmare Clan infiltrator.
After all, the Nightmare Clan ranked high on the Wendao Sect's kill list. The idea that one of their members had successfully infiltrated the sect was enough to make anyone uneasy.
Unfortunately, the people involved had already been taken away by the Enforcement Hall.
If anyone wanted answers, they would have to wait.
As a result, the crowd gradually began to disperse.
Meanwhile, Gu Buqi turned his gaze toward the mountain gate.
Another sect had arrived—and ahead of schedule.
The sword intent rolling toward the sect was overwhelming.
There was only one possible source.
The Cloud Soaring Sect.
Xuantian Peak.
A faint smile appeared on Sect Master Qingxuzi's face.
"It seems I need to personally greet our guests. The accommodations have already been prepared."
He looked toward Minghan Zhenren.
"Fellow Daoist Minghan, why don't you rest first?"
Minghan immediately shook his head.
"No need."
A trace of anticipation appeared in his eyes.
"I haven't seen Sword Venerable Chengfeng in a very long time. This is a rare opportunity to catch up."
Then he laughed. "Besides, it's not easy to get him to leave his sect."
The Nascent Soul cultivators in the hall laughed as well.
Sword Venerable Chengfeng was famous for two things.
His terrifying swordsmanship and his refusal to go anywhere.
Most of the time, he stayed within his sect and immersed himself in sword cultivation.
Had he not once shocked the world with a legendary sword strike, many people might never have heard of him at all.
The group rose into the clouds and, in the blink of an eye, arrived at the mountain gate.
The moment they drew near, a terrifying sword aura swept across the heavens.
It stretched for miles, covering the sky and blotting out the sun. Any cultivator with insufficient cultivation would likely have been unable to remain standing beneath such overwhelming pressure.
Qingxuzi and the others, however, remained completely unaffected. Without even exchanging a glance, they casually dissolved the incoming sword pressure.
Below, the disciples guarding the mountain gate stared upward in shock.
A colossal sword hung across the sky.
Thousands of feet long, it was so vast that it seemed to occupy half the heavens.
The pressure pouring from it was almost tangible, like an invisible mountain descending upon the earth.
"Fellow Daoist Chengfeng." Sect Master Qingxuzi cupped his hands politely. "I've long admired your reputation."
As he spoke, his sleeve swept lightly through the air. A gentle current of spiritual energy drifted downward, instantly dispersing the oppressive sword pressure.
The disciples below finally regained their composure, the crushing weight on their shoulders vanishing as though it had never existed.
High above, Sword Venerable Chengfeng merely nodded.
"Mm."
Sect Master Qingxuzi paused.
For the briefest moment, an awkward silence threatened to settle over the scene.
Elder Wei Tu and Zeng Xuangan exchanged subtle glances, both spotting the same helpless amusement in each other's eyes.
This Sword Venerable truly had no talent whatsoever for social interactions.
Several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Cloud Soaring Sect stood nearby. Seeing Chengfeng's response, they inwardly covered their faces.
If not for the Sect Master's repeated persuasion, they would never have allowed him to lead the delegation.
Meanwhile, Minghan Zhenren's gaze drifted toward the disciples standing behind them.
Every one of them wore fitted martial attire. Their backs were straight as spears, their bearing proud and unwavering.
Sword intent rolled from them like a surging river—sharp, fearless, and seemingly capable of splitting heaven and earth the moment their blades left their sheaths.
"What remarkable disciples," Minghan praised with a smile. "Although our Bailing Sect has more disciples, their overall quality is nowhere near yours. The Cloud Soaring Sect truly deserves its reputation as the foremost sword sect in the region."
Sect Master Qingxuzi simply smiled.
Anyone foolish enough to take that statement at face value deserved to be fooled.
The Bailing Sect was one of the Seven Sects' top three powers. There was no chance their disciples were truly inferior.
The Cloud Soaring Sect clearly thought the same.
Almost in unison, everyone turned toward Sword Venerable Chengfeng.
Hopefully, this time he would offer a few words of humility.
Chengfeng fell silent.
He considered the matter seriously.
Very seriously.
Then, under the expectant gazes of both sects, he gave a solemn nod.
"Indeed. We won't show mercy."
Cloud Soaring Sect: "..."
Bailing Sect: "..."
Wendao Sect: "..."
The silence was deafening.
This Sword Venerable really had no idea how conversations worked.
Sect Master Qingxuzi quickly stepped in before things became even more awkward.
Smiling warmly, he said, "Then we'll look forward to witnessing it. It's inconvenient to talk outside. Please, come inside and have a proper chat."
"Alright."
The group agreed.
Meanwhile, Sword Venerable Chengfeng silently shut his mouth.
Instinct told him he had probably said something wrong again.
A trace of regret surfaced in his heart.
If his senior brother hadn't offered access to the sect elders' sword manuals as payment, he never would have agreed to come in the first place.
At that moment, Sect Leader Qingxuzi added, "Disciples may proceed to the guest quarters to rest and recover."
With a wave of his hand, attendants immediately stepped forward to guide the disciples of the Cloud Soaring Sect.
Sword Venerable Chengfeng glanced at his disciples. "Go."
The disciples of the Cloud Soaring Sect immediately rose into the air on their flying swords.
At the same time, the colossal sword that had dominated the sky gradually turned translucent. Its enormous form faded into a faint phantom before finally dissolving into a streak of light that merged back into Sword Venerable Chengfeng's body.
A flicker of surprise appeared in many eyes.
So the giant sword hadn't been a physical object at all. It was a manifestation of separated sword intent.
While everyone was still digesting that revelation, they watched Sword Venerable Chengfeng casually follow after his disciples as though he intended to head to the guest quarters with them.
"..."
A brief silence fell.
Sect Leader Qingxuzi immediately stepped forward.
"Fellow Daoist Chengfeng, please wait."
Chengfeng stopped.
"What is it?"
His answer was as concise as ever.
Qingxuzi smiled warmly. "It is rare for so many fellow Daoists to gather at the Wendao Sect. I was thinking this would be an excellent opportunity for us to discuss the Dao and exchange insights. Perhaps we might even resolve a few long-standing doubts. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Chengfeng?"
He had no intention of letting the representative of the Cloud Soaring Sect slip away.
If the person in charge left, what exactly were they supposed to discuss?
Sword Venerable Chengfeng's expression remained unchanged.
Troublesome.
"Let's go," he said.
The group immediately transformed into streaks of light and shot across the sky, creating quite a spectacle.
News spread throughout the sect almost instantly.
Following the arrival of the closely allied Bailing, the Cloud Soaring Sect-one of the Seven Great Sects-had also arrived.
Whether by coincidence or prior arrangement, the remaining sects followed soon after.
Medicine King Valley.
Haotian Palace.
Star Pavilion.
Su Yin Sect.
One after another, the major powers descended upon the Wendao Sect.
The already bustling sect became even livelier.
Flying artifacts of every shape and size moved between mountain peaks and palaces.
The market nestled within the valley overflowed with people. Countless trades were conducted every moment, and the flow of cultivators seemed endless.
Yet the liveliest place of all was undoubtedly Xuantian Peak.
Bursts of laughter, flashing lights, and noisy celebrations continued deep into the night, stirring the excitement of every disciple participating in the competition.
Very few managed to sleep as peacefully as Lou Yuqing.
The next morning, Lou Yuqing woke unusually early.
Stretching lazily, she stepped out of her cave residence. A faint purple glow was rising in the eastern sky, painting the horizon in soft colors. She paused for a moment and couldn't help taking a second look.
Just then, a paper crane drifted toward her on the morning breeze.
Lou Yuqing raised a hand and tapped its head, sending a thread of spiritual energy into it.
The next moment, Si Nidie's voice rang out from within.
"Junior Sister, hurry over!"
Lou Yuqing blinked.
She had thought she was already up early. Apparently, her senior sister had beaten her to it.
The venue for the Seven Sects Joint Competition was the central plaza-a rare stretch of level ground within the Yuelin Mountains, spanning roughly a hundred li.
By the time Lou Yuqing arrived, disciples from all seven sects had already gathered in the plaza.
Although the area was crowded, the enormous square was so vast that it showed no sign of congestion.
Among everyone present, the disciples of the Su Yin Sect were undoubtedly the most eye-catching.
Nearly all of them were women, blessed with beautiful features, fair skin, and graceful bearing. Standing together, they formed an exceptionally striking sight that drew attention wherever they went.
Lou Yuqing noticed disciples from every sect stealing glances in their direction from time to time.
The men looked.
The women looked too.
Beauty truly transcended boundaries.
Still, she doubted anyone would show mercy once the competition officially began.
"I went to several trade fairs yesterday," Si Nidie whispered excitedly. "I wasn't expecting much, but I actually managed to buy a Hundred Flower Vine for a bargain price!"
Her voice was low.
The pride in it, however, was impossible to hide.
Lou Yuqing blinked in surprise. "Wasn't Senior Sister looking for spiritual herbs to refine pills? She said she was missing a key ingredient. Could it be the Hundred Flower Vine?"
"Exactly."
Si Nidie looked delighted.
"What a pity you didn't come. Not only did I find something good, my brother got lucky too. If the competition weren't today, I would've stayed there all night."
In truth, she had practically stayed up all night already.
Yet not only was she not tired, she seemed more energetic than ever.
Lou Yuqing couldn't help thinking that this was probably what people meant by the joy of discovering hidden treasure.
"They've arrived!"
A sudden commotion rippled through the crowd.
Lou Yuqing turned toward the source of the noise.
A group of Golden Core cultivators was approaching together, led by Captain Wei.
Compared to Foundation Establishment cultivators, their auras were vastly more powerful.
If the Qi Refining disciples' matches were merely decorative flourishes for the Seven Sects Competition...
And the Foundation Establishment disciples were merely the appetizer...
Then the Golden Core disciples were undoubtedly the main course.
Wei Houming separated from the cultivators of the various sects and strode to the front of the Wendao Sect's ranks.
Like a stabilizing pillar, his mere presence immediately calmed the disciples.
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"Silence."
The moment he spoke, everyone quieted down.
Behind Captain Wei, Lou Yuqing spotted a familiar figure.
Song Li.
The disciple who had awakened the Fire Poison Physique.
"The competition is about to begin," Wei Houming said gravely. "Calm your minds. Once you enter the small world, remain vigilant at all times. As long as you display your true abilities, this journey will not have been in vain."
His eyes passed over every disciple.
Everyone straightened instinctively.
"Yes!"
The response rang out in unison.
Wei Houming hadn't deliberately lowered his voice.
As a result, disciples from the other six sects all turned to look.
Seeing the Wendao Sect's discipline, many unconsciously quieted their own conversations.
High above in the void, Minghan Zhenren smiled and said to Elder Wei Tu, "Fellow Daoist Wei's disciple possesses remarkable prestige among the younger generation. Even many of our Bailing Sect's foremost disciples fall short in that regard. It seems we should learn from him."
Elder Wei Tu immediately beamed, unable to conceal the pride on his face.
"Fellow Daoist Minghan gives him too much credit. Ming'er merely spent a few extra years in the Enforcement Hall and achieved some minor accomplishments."
Then he smiled and added, "I hear your disciple will be participating in the exhibition match. Congratulations in advance. Each sect only sends its ten finest Qi Refining disciples. Given enough time, your disciple will surely achieve great things."
Minghan was visibly delighted. "You're too kind. Shu'er still has much to learn."
His gaze then shifted toward the woman in red beside him.
"Hongyan, I heard you've recently accepted a disciple. Aren't you planning to introduce her?"
Madam Hongyan shot him a sidelong glance. "What's the hurry? Li'er is standing beside Junior Nephew Houming right now. I'll introduce her after the competition."
Minghan Zhenren narrowed his eyes slightly.
With how well-informed he was, he had most likely already learned that Li'er was the Sect Master's daughter. Asking now was simply a convenient excuse to gauge the girl's abilities.
Unfortunately for him, Madam Hongyan saw straight through that intention and had no interest in giving him the opportunity.
Minghan inwardly clicked his tongue.
How stingy.
The Nascent Soul cultivators from the seven sects exchanged smiles, pleasantries, and the occasional veiled jab.
Only Sword Venerable Chengfeng remained silent from beginning to end.
His gaze was distant, his expression unusually weary.
He was suffering.
Yesterday's Dao discussion had thoroughly drained him, and now he didn't even know how many more days he would be forced to remain here.
More than anything, he wanted to return to the Cloud Soaring Sect as soon as possible.
As he sat there enduring the conversation, a thought suddenly surfaced.
The first trial in the small world had a time limit, didn't it?
How many days was it again?
Just as he was trying to remember, Wei Houming's voice echoed across the plaza below.
"The rules of the small world permit participants to remain inside for only seven days. Within those seven days, your first priority is survival. After that, complete as many objectives as possible to earn points."
A look of realization flashed through Chengfeng's eyes.
Seven days.
The disciples below answered in unison.
"Understood!"
Meanwhile, Lou Yuqing glanced around the gathered crowd, recognizing many familiar faces among the Foundation Establishment participants.
Ling Yunxiao.
The Si siblings.
Shao Qiuyan.
Shen Lijun.
The Nangong sisters.
Chen Mujian.
Ruan Qingzhu and Yuan Chenxing were present as well.
However, Ruan Qingzhu—like Wu Fengshu—was participating in the Qi Refining exhibition matches.
As for Gu Buqi, Tan Sheng, and Shi Xiuxiu, they had already gone to the designated viewing area.
In truth, Gu Buqi qualified to participate.
The Foundation Establishment division only had two requirements.
Reach Foundation Establishment.
Be under thirty years old.
Perhaps Senior Brother Gu was worried about his old condition acting up.
After all, watching his face suddenly split open in the middle of a competition would be terrifying.
Dong—!
The Chenshi Bell rang out.
Its resonant toll seemed to strike directly into everyone's hearts as ripples of light swept across the entire plaza, silencing the bustling crowd in an instant.
Seven towering illusory figures slowly appeared in the sky above.
Sect Leader Qingxuzi.
Minghan Zhenren.
Sword Venerable Chengfeng.
Along with the representatives of the remaining sects, they stood high above the arena like divine beings overlooking the competition below.
The moment they appeared, the atmosphere changed.
An invisible tension spread throughout the plaza.
Qingxuzi's calm gaze carried immense authority as it swept across the assembled disciples.
"This Seven Sects Joint Competition gathers the strength of all seven great sects. Based upon our sect's Heart-Questioning Formation, Lingzhu Zhenren and the others have transformed it into countless small worlds. You are already familiar with the rules, so I will not repeat them."
He paused briefly before his voice thundered across the entire venue.
"I hereby declare the Seven Sects Joint Competition officially open!"
Amplified by a sound-transmission artifact, his words echoed through every corner of the massive plaza.
The crowd instantly erupted.
Cheers burst forth like water splashing into boiling oil, and the entire venue came alive with excitement.
Ruan Qingzhu and ten other Qi Refining disciples were the first to step forward. Together with representatives from the other six sects, they gathered to draw lots and determine their opponents.
At that moment, a flash of golden light descended from above.
The referee appeared.
She had delicate features and a single braid hanging before her chest, giving her an elegant and refined appearance.
Then she opened her mouth.
"Alright! Drawing's over! Number One and Number Two, get up here!"
The rough, booming voice completely shattered the image.
The crowd froze.
"..."
Wait.
Was that voice really hers?
Lou Yuqing nearly burst out laughing.
She'd experienced the exact same shock when she'd first heard the name Lingzhu Zhenren.
That's right.
The referee standing before them was none other than Lingzhu Zhenren herself.
Seeing the disciples still clutching their bamboo lots in stunned silence, she barked impatiently:
"Hurry up! Don't waste my time!"
After creating the new Heart-Questioning Formation alongside the formation masters from the other six sects, she had remained in seclusion to prevent information leaks.
Today was the first time she had appeared.
The disciples shuddered.
Numbers One and Two immediately rushed forward.
After introducing themselves inside the area enclosed by Lingzhu, they began fighting.
After all, performing well before so many powerful figures was an opportunity nobody wanted to miss.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The collision of spells officially opened the curtain on the Seven Sects Joint Competition.
Lou Yuqing occasionally glanced toward the seven towering projections whenever an exciting match occurred. She couldn't sense any reaction from them.
Perhaps great experts simply weren't interested in contests between low-level cultivators?
In reality, Qingxuzi and the others were enthusiastically commenting the entire time.
These disciples might currently be weak, but they represented the future of their sects.
Whenever someone displayed exceptional talent, the representatives behind the projections immediately began praising them.
Unfortunately, the projections themselves were merely manifestations of spiritual energy.
Without direct control, they remained completely motionless.
Thus, nobody noticed.
Two hours later, the exhibition matches finally concluded.
A deafening wave of cheers erupted from the Wendao Sect.
The reason was simple.
First place belonged to one of their disciples.
Morale instantly soared.
Although Ruan Qingzhu had not won, she was still genuinely happy for the sect.
Wu Fengshu, who had finished second, clenched her teeth.
After shooting the Wendao Sect disciples a resentful look, she returned to the Bailing Sect's area.
The moment she arrived, Luo Buqi puffed out his chest.
"What's there to worry about? I, Luo Buqi, will reclaim the Bailing Sect's honor!"
Wu Fengshu looked him up and down before saying coldly, "With your abilities, you'd better pray you don't run into a Southern Border sorcerer in there. Otherwise you'll be frozen in place and eliminated before you can even move."
Luo Buqi instantly choked.
For once, he couldn't think of a comeback.
"Your sect's disciples truly are impressive."
Minghan Zhenren sighed regretfully as he watched his beloved disciple narrowly miss first place.
The expressions of the other sect representatives weren't much better.
Especially Haotian Palace, which ranked near the bottom.
Sect Leader Qingxuzi, meanwhile, was all smiles.
He stroked his beard proudly.
"On behalf of this junior disciple, I thank Fellow Daoist Minghan for the compliment."
The champion turned out to be a rather plain-looking young man.
The moment he returned, he was immediately surrounded by excited fellow disciples.
Embarrassed by the attention, he scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly.
Lou Yuqing watched as one disciple after another reached over to rub his palm, all apparently hoping to borrow a bit of the winner's luck for themselves.
The sight was strangely convincing.
For a moment, she found herself tempted to join them.
Just then, a shout rang out from above.
"Come out and activate the formation!"
It was Lingzhu Zhenren.
The next instant, more than a dozen figures appeared across the plaza with a series of rushing sounds.
Lou Yuqing had no idea where they had emerged from.
After scanning the group, she managed to recognize only one familiar face—Zao Mo, Lingzhu's Dao companion.
Each person held a formation plate in their hands. As their fingers flashed through a succession of hand seals, the plates began to glow brighter and brighter.
With every seal cast, the radiance intensified until the formation plates were completely enveloped in dazzling white light.
Then, almost simultaneously, they tossed the plates into the air.
The formation plates soared skyward and arranged themselves into a precise pattern overhead. Spiritual power poured into them without pause, setting them spinning faster and faster.
The light grew increasingly brilliant, until it rivaled the sun itself.
A deep rumble echoed between heaven and earth.
The formation activated.
Countless streams of white light poured down from above.
Lou Yuqing's vision instantly blurred.
The world around her dissolved into whiteness.
Then, in the blink of an eye—she found herself inside a small world.