Chapter Sixty: To Meet Someone

Chapter Sixty: Going to Meet Someone

As time passed, the valley gradually regained its former lively atmosphere. People from all corners of the land engaged in animated conversations, and those disciples who had returned from their journeys naturally became the focus of attention among the assembled cultivators.

The three from the Immovable Peak, as always, remained quiet and unobtrusive. Even Xian Qingqiu, whose seat was set a little further away, did not speak again with Fan Lanzhou.

Time ticked by, and more and more cultivators filled the valley, until it seemed that, aside from the central arena reserved for the competition, every inch of space was occupied.

This grand competition, held only once every century, was without doubt a rare and magnificent event.

A great number of outer disciples harbored high hopes of distinguishing themselves during this contest, aiming for generous rewards or perhaps even catching the eye of an outer elder who might take them under their wing.

...

“Ahem!”

After another half an hour or so, it seemed the appointed time had arrived. The Sect Leader, Daoist Tianhe, cleared his throat. His voice was not loud, yet it seemed to resonate within everyone's hearts, causing many of the lower-ranked cultivators to shudder involuntarily.

The hum of conversation in the valley faded almost instantly, leaving the silence so complete that one could hear a pin drop.

All eyes turned to Daoist Tianhe.

He stood and first offered a slight bow to Nanguo Cheng and his two companions, before arranging his face into a sly, foxlike smile and beginning his opening speech.

It was, as always, filled with gratitude, challenge, and encouragement—a blend of hollow flattery and rousing declarations, with both words and spiritual power flowing in equal measure.

At first, the younger disciples listened with rapt attention, their blood surging with excitement. But as it became evident that Daoist Tianhe could ramble on endlessly, most of their faces slipped into drowsy stupor, and even the visiting cultivators from the other three sects wore unreadable, darkened expressions.

So, being the leader means you can talk as much as you like?

“In the end, we elders will inevitably be swept aside by the tides of time. The future of the Peach Blossom Source Sword Sect will rest in your hands.” Daoist Tianhe’s voice suddenly grew louder as he reached the end. “Anyone who performs outstandingly will never be overlooked by the sect. We have heaps of rewards waiting for you!”

This final proclamation managed to reignite the cooled blood of the crowd, and eyes were once again filled with anticipation as they looked to Daoist Tianhe.

Every grand competition within the sect promised generous rewards. Even the visiting cultivators from the other three sects were keen to know what prizes were being offered this time.

Daoist Tianhe paused, as if to heighten the suspense, then after a few heartbeats continued, “This time, the competition will again be divided into the Floating Dust Group, the Dao Embryo Group, and the contest for the position of inner elder!”

“The third place in the Floating Dust Group will receive a high-grade magical treasure.”

At this, the sound of swallowing filled the air. Many of the Floating Dust cultivators still used mere magical implements!

The eyes of the visiting cultivators brightened slightly. Even in their sects, high-grade magical treasures were not easily obtained—many elders possessed only a few.

“The second place in the Floating Dust Group will be allowed to enter the fourth floor of the Book Repository to select any cultivation method or mystic art to study.”

Again, the sound of excitement swept through the crowd. The fourth floor of the Book Repository was a place all outer disciples dreamed of visiting. The sword techniques stored there generally required a mastery of swordsmanship at the bone-deep level to even attempt.

Even many inner disciples, who could learn such advanced methods from their own masters, found their hearts beating faster. After all, who would turn down the chance to learn more?

Did this reward imply Daoist Tianhe was confident that the second place in the Floating Dust Group would have reached that level of sword mastery?

But never mind that—first win the chance, then worry about the rest.

“As for the first place in the Floating Dust Group,” Daoist Tianhe continued, “the prize is three Dao Embryo Pills refined by Junior Brother Chunyu. Whether these three pills can help the winner break through to the Dao Embryo stage will depend entirely on their own fortune.”

This announcement caused an uproar.

Dao Embryo Pills!

These were precious treasures that greatly increased the chance of forming a Dao Embryo. Even in the cultivation markets, such pills were highly coveted.

Within the Peach Blossom Source Sword Sect, Chunyu Qian was known to refine these pills, but the rare ingredients made them extremely difficult to produce. Each pill used meant one less for the future, and who could say when new ones would be made?

Nanguo Cheng, Xie Dongliu, and the Silver Fish Fairy, along with their Floating Dust disciples, all looked at Chunyu Qian with envy. Though they themselves were already at stages beyond the Dao Embryo, they still wished for the sect to grow stronger.

Unfortunately, in the Great River Nation, Chunyu Qian, the Sword Immortal of Alchemy, represented the pinnacle of the pill-refining arts. Only one old monster among the five Demon Sects—the Medicine Demon—could rival him. None of the three visiting sects had such a talent.

“Among the top three, should any be an outer disciple, they will be accepted as inner disciples. Furthermore, these three will, sixty years from now, be granted, without further testing, a place in a mysterious secret realm to vie for a great opportunity.”

As Daoist Tianhe spoke the final words, his eyes grew distant.

Most disciples were baffled by this last part. The first portion was clear, but the latter? What secret realm? What opportunity lay within? Why had they never heard of it before?

Nanguo Cheng and his companions, along with their disciples, showed a profound understanding—they clearly already knew.

This final, mysterious reward was, without a doubt, the greatest temptation of all.

...

Linghu Jiu, Song Shed, Yang Xiaoman, and many other inner Floating Dust disciples, had bright lights shining in their eyes.

“Master Uncle, what is this secret realm? Where is it? What opportunities does it hold?” someone called out impatiently—a young man seated among the disciples of Black Cloud Peak.

The younger generation all craned their ears.

“It is not yet time for you to know,” Daoist Tianhe replied coolly, his gaze growing complicated.

Seeing he would not elaborate, no one pressed further. Still, some began to connect the rumors swirling through the Great River’s cultivation world with recent major events, their minds racing with speculation.

“Those who do not make the top three, do not be disheartened. From fourth to eighth place, you will receive a large reward in spirit stones. Should any ancestor take a liking to your performance and wish to accept you as an inner disciple, I will not stand in the way.”

This final enticement stirred even more of the mid-to-late Floating Dust cultivators to eager anticipation.

...

“The rewards for the Dao Embryo Group will be even richer!” Daoist Tianhe declared.

Once again, the crowd’s eyes lit up.

He swept his gaze over the Dao Embryo disciples and smiled. “The third place reward is entry to the fifth floor of the Book Repository to select any cultivation method or mystic art you desire.”

The Dao Embryo disciples’ eyes sharpened. It was said that the fifth floor housed only a dozen or so cultivation methods, each one of enormous power and breathtaking subtlety.

Even the inner elders could not simply enter and study as they wished. To gain entry was a tremendous fortune.

“The second place reward is a damaged supreme-grade magical treasure!”

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

Supreme-grade magical treasures? These were a tier above high-grade treasures. Many had never even seen a high-grade one, yet the sect was now offering up a supreme-grade treasure—even if damaged, its power far exceeded that of any high-grade artifact.

Even Nanguo Cheng and the others found their eyes alight. As non-sect-leader cultivators at the Dragon Gate level, they themselves did not possess such a treasure. The Peach Blossom Source Sword Sect truly lived up to its reputation for wealth.

At this point, everyone was even more curious about the reward for first place.

Daoist Tianhe’s mood seemed to reach a peak, his gaze growing distant and ethereal as he looked toward some far-off direction. “The reward for first place is to go and meet someone.”

The crowd was stunned.

What did that mean?

Even the elders looked surprised. It was the first time they had heard of such a reward; the prize for first place had always been personally decided by Daoist Tianhe.

“This person is a senior I know,” Daoist Tianhe continued.

At the mention of “senior,” all the cultivators’ eyes shone with sharp light. For Daoist Tianhe to call someone his senior, it could only mean the person was either of much greater age or far superior in cultivation. If the latter, could this individual have already stepped through the Gate of Mortal Transformation, surpassing even the Dragon Gate realm?

A Mortal Transformation cultivator—such an expert was unheard of in the Great River Nation. When had Daoist Tianhe encountered such a figure? And judging by his tone, their relationship was not a casual one. Who could this person be?

Daoist Tianhe went on: “This senior’s attainments in swordsmanship are extraordinary. The reward I offer is simply to introduce the first-place winner to this person. Whether any guidance is received, what kind of guidance, and how much is gained will be entirely up to the individual.”

The crowd murmured in realization. So that was the nature of the final reward.

If this mysterious senior truly was a Mortal Transformation cultivator, to receive even a word of guidance would be an immense opportunity—perhaps even a chance to open the Gate of Mortal Transformation.

For a moment, the eyes of all the Dao Embryo cultivators burned with longing, Fan Lanzhou among them.

But after a few breaths, as if recalling something, their eyes dimmed once more. Almost everyone turned to look at Gu Xijin.

His mid-stage Dao Embryo cultivation might be matched by others, perhaps. But in terms of dual attainment in the second realm of swordsmanship, who in the Peach Blossom Source Sword Sect could rival him?

Who but him could possibly lay claim to first place in the Dao Embryo Group? It could be said that this mysterious reward was tailor-made for him.

“If only that person were still here, perhaps there would have been a contest...”

Some cultivators thought of a certain individual and sighed inwardly.

Among his peers in the Peach Blossom Source Sword Sect, only Long Jinyi had once handed Gu Xijin a defeat—but in their next encounter, Gu Xijin had reclaimed victory.

Thinking of Long Jinyi, the crowd’s eyes turned again to Daoist Tianhe.

Had the sect master waited until Long Jinyi defected from the sect before offering this reward out of fear that his own disciple Gu Xijin might lose? Was there a hint of favoritism?

...

Some people could not help but let their thoughts run wild.

But then, when one considered it, Daoist Tianhe could have simply granted the opportunity to Gu Xijin privately without incurring any criticism. And no one could have predicted Long Jinyi’s defection.

With this in mind, the crowd’s mood returned to normal.

...

At the center of attention, Gu Xijin remained exceptionally calm, his demeanor serene, with even a hint of disappointment glimmering in his half-closed eyes.

Besides Long Jinyi, who else was worthy to be his rival?

If there was not even a single worthy opponent, and first place fell into his hands effortlessly, would someone like Gu Xijin truly feel joy at such an easy victory and opportunity?

Beside him, Ouyang Ge’s gaze was fixed on Gu Xijin as well, a flash of intense jealousy crossing his eyes once again.

“Congratulations, Brother Xijin!” Ouyang Ge forced down his envy and spoke in a low, pleasant voice. “You are certain to claim first place in the Dao Embryo Group. This opportunity truly makes me envious.”

“The competition has not yet begun. Who can say who will win?” Gu Xijin replied coolly, always composed, never arrogant or careless.

“Hypocrite,” Ouyang Ge cursed inwardly. “One day, I’ll defeat you, expose you, and let everyone see your true face.” It was precisely this about Gu Xijin that drove him mad with resentment!

“Everyone, perhaps this is the greatest reward we old-timers can offer your generation. Strive for it,” Daoist Tianhe’s voice rang out from the high platform.

At these words, all but a handful of disciples in the Peach Blossom Source Sword Sect were taken aback, sensing an underlying meaning.

Was this really the sect’s entire fortune being laid bare?

Or did it portend a coming storm?

“As for the contest for inner elders, you all know the situation. This time, only the outer grand elder Ning Jiuyi is challenging the position of Immovable Peak, since Junior Brother Cuotuo remains in deep slumber. The outcome will be decided by the performance of their disciples.”

All eyes turned to Ning Jiuyi and his group.

Ning Jiuyi was unfathomable, and among his disciples, all but Bai Chengzhou and Feng Wanhai wore confident, eager expressions.

Daoist Tianhe continued: “As for the rules, you are all aware. Among Junior Brother Cuotuo’s disciples, at least two must make it to the top four of the Dao Embryo and Floating Dust Groups to retain Immovable Peak. On Ning’s side, at least two must reach the top eight of those groups to advance to inner sect status. These requirements can’t both be met; their disciples will face each other in the group stages.”

At this, the Peach Blossom Source Sword Sect’s disciples showed little reaction, but the visiting cultivators from other sects were visibly astonished.

“Tianhe, forgive me for being blunt, but aren’t these requirements for the disciples of Immovable Peak unfair? Why not make them the same? If word gets out, your reputation may suffer,” said the Silver Fish Fairy from Mount Immortal Bird, her voice magnetic and pleasant.

Of course, it was all because of the incident with Xiao Yunyu’s death!

Most of the sect’s disciples exchanged glances, shooting the three from Immovable Peak looks of schadenfreude and retribution.

But none dared speak aloud.

Daoist Tianhe, wily as ever, showed a shrewd glint in his eye and replied with a slight smile, “The disciples of Immovable Peak receive more resources and better instruction than those of the outer sect. If the requirements were the same, that would be true injustice!”

The Silver Fish Fairy and her group nodded, conceding the point.

The Peach Blossom Sword Sect’s cultivators, however, scorned Daoist Tianhe in their hearts.

Still, the decision was made and could not be changed.

“If Ning’s line truly replaces Cuotuo’s as the new masters of Immovable Peak, they will receive the sect’s reward as well. The details I have discussed directly with Ning; there’s no need to elaborate today,” Daoist Tianhe concluded.

Ning Jiuyi, for his part, would stop at nothing to enter the inner sect—surely he had his own ambitions.

With the Dao Embryo rewards so generous, how could there not be even greater prizes for someone like Ning Jiuyi, who stood at the Dragon Gate?

...

“If there are no further questions, then let the centennial grand competition officially begin!” Daoist Tianhe announced loudly.

The crowd stirred, spirits lifting—the grand spectacle was finally about to commence.