5. The Final Wish
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Xu Weiyan was a tall and pale beauty with large slanty dark eyes that could make most men turn to look at her at least three times.
She had small heart-shaped lips, with long hair and a slim and shapely figure, which was currently clad in an immaculate set of white and gold robes.
She leapt out of the veiled chair, her figure presenting a breathtaking image against the moonlit sky, and the crowd was filled with ooh's and aah's.
"So beautiful!" Someone whispered.
"Wah!"
"*'A flower surely blooms beneath her feet'!"
(*Referring to: jiǎo huā chū xiān, yù huáng jiào chén- A flower blooms under her feet, and the Jade Emperor (the king of heaven) personally sweeps the dust)
Xu Weiyan's robes and hair settled around her, as her feet lightly touched the ground, and more than a few of the men grinned appreciatively, as two fairies led her to Sun Liang.
'Hmph.' Bailong scoffed. 'I fed a stray and it bit me!'
He might be willing to concede that Xu Weiyan might outshine even the prettiest immortals, but he only felt a surge of displeasure.
Then he froze when Weiyan's head turned slightly, and their eyes briefly met.
It was sudden.
Bailong's heart began to beat faster, and he quickly looked away. 'Wh- what's this?!' He wondered, glancing back up at her.
Fortunately, she hadn't stopped, and was already before Sun Liang.
Weiyan bowed to her father first, and he beamed at her.
Behind Lord Xu was a young maid simply called Tong, who had been with Weiyan since they were children.
"*3rd Miss!" Tong greeted, looking too excited to contain herself.
(*Third child in the Xu family)
Standing a short distance away was Xu *Furen, Xu Haoyan, Xu Linhua, and Xu Meihua, Weiyan's mother, brother, and sisters.
(*Madam, head of household)
Lord Xu himself couldn't resist a teary wink at his daughter, and with an acknowledging nod from him, Weiyan turned to kneel before Sun Liang.
"Xu Weiyan." Sun Liang continued in the same bored voice. "In addition to all this, you personally get one chest of jade, three chests of gold and five chests of silver. You also get one of each of all the precious items, and can make a single request of me, the Sky Emperor."
Sun Liang finished reading and handed the Scroll to Weiyan.
"Wait! Wasn't the winner promised residency and an official Junior position in Sky Realm?" Lord Huo asked, and the people around all turned to Weiyan.
"Yanyan, did you refuse such a thing?" Xu Fengyan asked, but Weiyan slightly shook her head.
There was instant murmuring as people wondered why Sky Realm didn't grant her the reward.
"Wasn't that the chief reward?" Asked Lord Huo, who had also challenged Caoyang as a youth.
Killing the black dragon was a thing of honour, but was far too dangerous, and most humans were unwilling to send their promising disciples into such danger.
To encourage and entice humans, Sky realm had attached a rather attractive prize to it:
Residency in Sky Realm and a junior official position!
The person would have access to cultivation resources way beyond humans, which meant a shortcut to Immortality.
This 'Once-in-a-lifetime' reward increased the number of those willing to challenge Caoyang, or at least encourage their youths do so.
A few sects saw it as manipulative, but went with it because they would still challenge Caoyang either ways.
But most Sects were swallowed by greed and lost promising disciples, year after year.
Bailong shook his head, personally feeling the reward was empty and careless, and would make humans send their youths to Caoyang for the wrong reasons.
Even in Sky Realm, it would still take quite a while for a human to achieve immortality, and there were too many things to consider.
The energy in Sky Realm was so dense that special arrangements would need to be made for the human, and they would also need to protect the human from envious fairies who had spent their own lives vying for official positions.
Also, the human's self-esteem might take a blow, as some young immortal children might be ahead of them. Even the lowest fairy in Sky Realm might be able to pick on them.
All these might give them hell in a place they considered heaven.
Meanwhile, Sun Liang noticed the people were disgruntled, but he remained unfazed, and he glared down at Weiyan.
~"Sky Realm would never let the likes of you in!"~ He spoke into her thoughts with telepathy. ~"Swallow your dissatisfaction. You helped us kill the black dragon, and we've rewarded you enough!"~
Sun Liang's directed aura made Weiyan shudder, and she found it hard to breathe.
But she caught herself and remained calm.
Lord Huo and Lord Xu fisted their hands in anger, guessing what Sun Liang was doing.
But Bailong also froze.
'I heard that!'
He looked around to see if Sun Liang projected his thoughts aloud, but no one else seemed to have heard.
Lords Huo and Xu seemed suspicious, but it didn't look like they had heard anything.
'How did I hear it?!' Bailong wondered.
Unless telepathy was projected to multiple people, only the target could hear it.
'And when did Immortals become so shameless?' Bailong eyed Sun Liang.
Bailong did not like Xu Weiyan, and he certainly did not like the reward in question.
But he had never been able to stand for injustice!
"Xu Weiyan is the first to clear Caoyang, despite the Lava Sea." Lord Huo was saying, and the crowd was nodding in agreement.
Bailong also nodded. 'Hmm, hmm! No one can get past *Xiao Hei!'
*(Little Black)
The 'Xiao Hei' in question was not 'little' in any way.
He was a giant black fiery serpent called 'Heifeng', and he lived beneath the Lava Sea. It was he who killed anyone who approached the sea's midway point, or sent them fleeing back.
But Xu Weiyan had somehow crossed it.
People were skeptical of how she had done it, but if Sky Realm acknowledged her success, then they ought to fulfill their promise.
Sun Liang held up a hand and forced a smile. "The reward has been misinterpreted over the years." He explained.
"After reviewing the Sky Codex, we realized the reward was tied to the Cultivator's wish to the Sky Emperor." He lied, and his eyes shot down to Weiyan.
~"If you ask for the Chief Reward, the Sky Emperor would be forced to grant it."~ He mentally informed her. ~"But I promise you, taking that step is the same as giving up your life!"~
Weiyan flinched, but Bailong heard the entire thing again.
'Shameless!' He concluded, as Sun Liang spoke aloud for everyone to hear.
"Xu Weiyan. Would you like to use this as your request to the Sky Emperor?"
Weiyan quickly regained herself.
"No." She replied, simply but clearly, and there was a collective gasp.
'She has some wisdom...' Bailong thought.
"Yanyan, why pass up something so great?" Her father asked.
He didn't want her to leave, but he wanted to be sure it was her choice, and that she wasn't bullied!
Weiyan turned to reassure him.
"Father, I never considered going. I earned the title of 'White Swallow' under your guidance, and it's only right that I help elevate the Sect."
"Yanyan..." Lord Xu's eyes glistened. "You were never required to repay me or the Sect, so don't refuse something good for our sake!
"Every father wants his child to blossom, so if I'm assured of your safety, I will personally see you enter Sky Realm!"
He glared up at Sun Liang, and Weiyan's eyes widened slightly, as she realized he might have noticed what Sun Liang had been doing.
Her father wouldn't let her stay if he believed she wanted to go, so she clarified.
"Father, I don't believe in shortcuts. It won't be a loss cultivating here in the Mortal Realm. I'll turn away from the flower-covered path and learn through hardship."
She cupped her hands and bowed. "Please let me remain as a Yueyan Disciple!"
Lord Xu merely nodded, and most of the crowd nodded their approval as she faced Sun Liang, who calmly asked,
"Xu Weiyan, what do you request of the Sky Emperor?"
Weiyan's lips bent in a small satisfied smile, as she pointed to the white tiger, who had lain on her side.
"I would have asked for the Divine Light Tiger, but she already shares a soul bond with the Sky Emperor."
"You-!" Sun Liang glared at her, but she continued.
"However, the tiger is pregnant, and my request is for the newborn tiger cub."
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