Although it was an excuse to escape, Li Jin’an indeed had something to do. It wasn’t anything serious, though. She sent a spiritual message to the Sect Master, asking who had received the Dao Sect’s invitation. She intended to pay them a visit.
Didn’t the Sect Master know what this fellow was up to? He had already been puzzled by why the Dao Sect was guarding against Jijin Sword Sovereign as if she were a thief at Qingxiao Immortal Venerable’s disciple-acceptance ceremony. Why wasn’t Jijin Sword Sovereign angry? Turns out she just hadn’t remembered it before! Big temper, big forgetfulness. But the Sect Master smoothly and without hesitation told Li Jin’an which elders had received the three invitations. He wasn’t going anyway, so why take the risk? He was the Sect Master, after all. If others got into trouble, so be it.
After a friendly exchange, Li Jin’an successfully took an invitation from the Peak Master of Falling Rain Peak. She wouldn’t be so overbearing as to seize all the invitations for herself. What kind of example would that set for her disciples? Alright, truth be told, one invitation was enough to bring several people, more than enough to pack up all of Jijin Peak. That’s why Li Jin’an didn’t make a fuss.
While her three disciples were still oblivious, Li Jin’an had already arranged their trip to the Dao Sect to observe Qingxiao Immortal Venerable’s disciple-acceptance ceremony. So, when the three of them were led by a silent Li Jin’an to gather under the statue of the founding master at the training grounds early in the morning, they were more confused than the last. Another day of being woken up by their master.
Originally, Tan Yanyi and Ling Qiu were still guessing if Jijin Peak had some absurd new rule, but when they realized they were headed towards the training grounds, they immediately shook off their drowsiness, their eyes fixed curiously on Li Jin’an’s back. Qi Lingzi saw the subtle glances from disciples of Flowing Breeze Peak and Steady Path Peak on either side, and her brow twitched involuntarily. She subconsciously looked up at her master in dismay. What was she to do when she always found her master could get even more outrageous?
Jijin Sword Sovereign had been present at Qingxiao Immortal Venerable’s previous two disciple-acceptance ceremonies. The scene, needless to say, made observers fear that blood from a fight between the two major sects would splash onto them. Qingxiao Immortal Venerable remained silent, while Jijin Sword Sovereign merely jabbered sarcastic remarks, finding fault in every direction. Even the shapes of clouds drifting in the sky would be pulled into her passive-aggressive, open mockery. If the Immortal Venerable ignored her, she’d get angry; if the Immortal Venerable engaged her, she’d blow up. Even the Dao Sect members’ ominous stares couldn’t silence her. They truly feared Jijin Sword Sovereign wouldn’t be able to leave the Dao Sect’s gates. But then again, not necessarily. The Sword Sect’s group of sword fanatics were fiercely clannish and would start brawls at the slightest disagreement. Otherwise, Li Jin’an would have been beaten to death when she was just a junior sword cultivator.
And the one fortunate enough to witness this level of pandemonium twice was none other than Qi Lingzi! No, wait, it would be the third time soon. What kind of earthly suffering was this!
Sure enough.
After the sword cultivators arrogantly ascended to the sky on their swords, Qi Lingzi held no further illusions. The two little fools beside her were still happily giggling, not even bothering to look down at their path. If they had, they would have found their route incredibly familiar. The formation was simply too vast. Twenty sword cultivators released their sword intent, unrestrained, brazenly cutting across the sky. Various sword intents converged like streams flowing into the sea. The sword intents of Li Jin’an, Xiaoxiang Sword Lord, and Junxing Sword Lord enveloped the disciples’ nascent sword intents, allowing no one to challenge or disperse them. Arrogance simply radiated from them.
Li Jin’an, holding the highest status, stood with her hands clasped behind her back on the Blazing Radiance Sword, leading the charge at the very front. Her expression was cold and stern, her aura formidable and unapproachable. With this kind of display, cultivators from half of the Ringing Jade Domain could detect the Sword Sect’s movement. Newly emerged demonic beasts below let out terrified whimpers and quickly ducked their heads back down. Terrifying! The Slaughter Gods are out again! At this point, let alone someone blocking the Sword Sect’s path, it would be a good thing if a passing dog didn’t get kicked twice! Those who didn’t know might think some thoughtless individual had maliciously killed a junior sword cultivator from the Sword Sect, and now the elders had come out, rallying people for a mass brawl. This was the swagger of a powerful, even nefarious, force!
En route, Tan Yanyi and Ling Qiu, immersed in the grand spectacle, completely failed to notice that their senior disciple beside them had been in a state of quiet despair for a long time. By the time they realized something was amiss, it was too late; they could vaguely make out the outline of the Grand Dao Mountain Range. At this point, even if they jumped off their swords, they couldn’t escape!
Right, it didn’t matter if the invitations didn’t reach their master’s hands; their master could just go and demand them herself.
Tan Yanyi looked around and, as expected, saw her junior sister’s terrified gaze, as well as the amused glances from their sectmates around them. Even Xiaoxiang Sword Lord and Junxing Sword Lord in front were barely suppressing their smiles. Jijin Peak’s drama was as fresh and entertaining as ever! She immediately pinched her philtrum, unsure whether she wished to faint or not.
Ancestral Master above! It hadn’t even been half a month since their last visit to the Dao Sect, and they were meeting again so soon? They truly weren’t curious about such a major event in the cultivation world as an Immortal Venerable taking on a disciple. Was the Immortal Venerable taking a third disciple? No, it was clearly Ling Qiu’s fated nemesis! Well, now it was good. No need for three against two, no need to compete or fight; everyone had their own opponent. Could fated enemies be inherited?! That was truly too progressive.
The Sword Sect was not far from the Dao Sect. Each sect occupied half of the Ringing Jade Domain, so even without flying at full speed, they quickly reached the Dao Sect’s territory.
After landing, Li Jin’an handed off the useless social interactions to the other two Sword sovereigns, telling them to negotiate with the Dao Sect people. When she looked back, she saw three dull, lifeless figures. She didn’t speak or send a private message, merely giving the three spineless individuals a light, meaningful glance. It didn’t matter how listless or wailing they were at home, but when out, especially in the presence of Xie Huaixue and her disciples, they absolutely couldn’t show the slightest flaw!
Thus, Qi Lingzi, Tan Yanyi, and Ling Qiu were forced to straighten up, heads high, chests out, with fierce gazes. They strode boldly behind their master, glaring back at anyone who looked their way, appearing very difficult to provoke, clearly having come with ill intent. Li Jin’an nodded in satisfaction. This was how a Sword Sovereign’s disciples should look. Limp, drooping cabbage-like figures were simply unacceptable.
She took the lead, striding angrily inwards. She was familiar with the path and didn’t need a guiding disciple at all, leaving all the Dao Sect personnel behind. She was here to cause trouble today; why should she give the Dao Sect and Xie Huaixue any respect?!
The one negotiating with Xiaoxiang Sword Lord and Junxing Sword Lord was Elder Zhang, who handled miscellaneous affairs for the Dao Sect. He was a cultivator of the same generation as Chixin Sword Lord and Yinyue Monarch. It could be said that he had witnessed the entire progression of Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue, from junior cultivators fighting to their current Venerable ranks. He wasn’t the least bit angry at Li Jin’an’s arrogant demeanor, and even felt a faint sense of nostalgia.
Elder Zhang, now seeing this scene, completely disregarded the indignation on the Dao Sect disciples’ faces and the embarrassed expressions of the two Sword sovereigns. He chuckled, “A hundred years unseen, Jijin Sword Sovereign’s cultivation has advanced considerably again. The Immortal Venerable will surely be pleased to see her.”
The people beside him all had strange expressions. Really? You’re lying, we don’t believe it! If Qingxiao Immortal Venerable said she was pleased for the Sword Sovereign, the Sword Sovereign would absolutely not think the Immortal Venerable was praising her, but rather mocking her. It would only be due to the Sword Sovereign’s restrained temper if they didn’t cause an earth-shattering brawl.
Xiaoxiang Sword Lord and Junxing Sword Lord exchanged glances, knowing this old senior was disrespectful of his age and mischievous, intending to add fuel to the fire. Watching the junior disciples fight below was enough; why instigate a fight between the Sword Sovereign and the Immortal Venerable? Elder Zhang gave them a knowing look, as if they didn’t want to watch.
Next came the elders’ hypocritical pleasantries and formalities, their fake smiles almost slipping.
The master and disciples of Jijin Peak, having broken away from the main group, were finally caught by Jiang Fengmian. After much persuasion, she dragged them to seats in the venue, serving them good food and drink, preventing Li Jin’an from taking her disciples directly to Qingxiao Peak.
By the time they arrived, quite a few people were already seated in the venue. Even Xiaoxiang Sword Lord and Junxing Sword Lord had arrived later, bringing their disciples to their places.
Jiang Fengmian let out a deep sigh, wiping the fine sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. “I knew it! Originally, it had nothing to do with me, but then I was urgently summoned. So, it turns out you were coming.” She was dragged in to deal with Li Jin’an every time; wasn’t she suffering too?!
Seeing such a familiar procedure, it was clear the Dao Sect was accustomed to Li Jin’an’s arrival. Although the frequency of her troublemaking had decreased significantly over the last century, looking back thousands of years, the Dao Sect was practically the Sword Sovereign’s second home! Some disciples who later joined the Dao Sect might not even be as familiar with it as Li Jin’an. This was what one called an ‘old hand’.
Li Jin’an didn’t eat or drink, simply scoffing, “Judging a noble person’s heart with a villain’s mind.”
Jiang Fengmian’s brow twitched, “You? A noble person?” Was there any necessary connection between those two words?! She had known Li Jin’an for a thousand years and had never imagined that word could ever be applied to Li Jin’an.
Li Jin’an complained, “Why are you so idle? Every time I come to the Dao Sect, you’re the one who receives me.”
Behind them, Tan Yanyi and Ling Qiu pricked up their ears, eavesdropping. Qi Lingzi was also fully attentive. When they had visited the Dao Sect before, it was Jiang Fengmian who had shown them around and even given them gifts, so they had a very good impression of her.
Jiang Fengmian shrugged, “I’m not like you and Qingxiao; I’m still stuck at the perfected Void Refinement realm and haven’t broken through, so naturally, I have plenty of time.”
Li Jin’an looked at her with a strange expression, as if she had never known Jiang Fengmian, now seeing her in a completely new light. The Heavenly Book was still somewhat useful; for instance, it had descriptions of Jiang Fengmian.
Just as Li Jin’an’s eyes lit up, wanting to ask some gossip, she suddenly paused, looking up.
Her gaze directly met a pair of clear, cool eyes.
Good
The other FL is hereeeee