Chapter 181 - Arc 12: Ruyi Xianzhuang | Chapter 181: Owner
Translator: Lynn
Xu Ziqing successfully completed the ritual and was about to share his joy with his senior brother. Unexpectedly, he noticed his senior brother gazing in another direction, prompting him to follow suit.
Beneath the dense shade, a woman in a yellow shirt exuded a gentle aura, while the other was draped in a frosty black robe. They stood together, seemingly ready to take flight.
At this moment, Xu Ziqing wasn’t inclined towards sympathy or empathy; he simply thought that they must have witnessed the sacrifice he and his senior brother had performed together earlier. This brought a sense of displeasure—Ruyi Xianzhuang held great renown, and Ruyi envoys within the sect peering in on them privately, even without malicious intent, was rather inappropriate. Politeness should dictate they keep a distance.
Recollections of the sacrifice flitted through Xu Ziqing’s mind. Both he and his senior brother had been fully absorbed in the process, making it dangerous to be spied upon. He could sense it, but these two women were Golden Core cultivators, seasoned and discerning. Would this lead to complications?
The more he contemplated, the more tangled his thoughts became.
Upon seeing that they had been noticed, the two women didn’t depart but instead approached.
Among them, Rui Rou smiled and spoke gently, “I observed both of you performing the ritual earlier, and you should have had privacy. However, the birthday banquet is approaching, and seating arrangements need to be made, hence we had to wait here. I hope you can forgive us.”
This explanation made it difficult for anyone to grow angry.
Yet, ultimately, some truth was mingled with falsehood. It seemed likely that there were guests to greet, but why would two Golden Core Daoists need to wait? Even Yun Lie, as the leading disciple of Wuling Immortal Sect, might not warrant such attention.
Most probably, there was still an intent to spy on the senior brother.
Xu Ziqing furrowed his brow and then relaxed it. He glanced at Yun Lie, and seeing his senior brother’s composed demeanor, he calmed down and let go of his previous concerns.
This wasn’t the right moment for him to speak, so he simply smiled and refrained from saying much.
Yun Lie remarked, “Our fellow sect member is still a guest here; I need to return first.”
Rui Rou smiled faintly, “It won’t be long. Shijie and I will accompany both of you.”
Yun Lie nodded slightly and took the initiative, saying, “Ziqing, let’s go.”
Upon hearing his senior being addressed, Xu Ziqing was momentarily surprised and then followed promptly, affirming, “Yes, Shixiong.”
The two of them proceeded, and Rui Rou and the woman in the black robe, aware of their previous transgressions, purposefully kept their distance, maintaining a separation of about a dozen paces. Yet, in their consciousness, they were engaged in a silent exchange.
“Shijie, what are your thoughts on Yun Lie?”
“His potential runs deep, and his future is unpredictable.”
“It’s rare to see Shijie speak highly of others like this. If the Master knew, they’d be very pleased.”
“People striving for recognition, if I praise them, it would sully my words!”
Rui Rou smiled gently upon hearing this, her eyes playful as she responded, “Indeed, indeed, elder sister is the epitome of rectitude, and younger sister holds immense admiration.”
The woman in the black robe appeared stern, saying, “Sweet words—Mo Xuesu, akin to a frivolous envoy!”
Rui Rou quickly apologized, then changed the subject and communicated via telepathy.
“Elder sister must have discerned the master’s intent this time…”
“What my master said is too exaggerated. Could it be that a disciple of Ruyi Xianzhuang is meant to be chosen and selected like that? It’s truly preposterous!”
“Where’s the notion of being chosen and selected? It’s evident you must see and assess things for yourself first; what unfolds and the outcome is in the hands of us sisters. It’s not a bad approach.”
The woman in the black robe remained composed, and a hint of a smile played across her features. There was a chilling undertone: “If they don’t accept, they’ll be eliminated. The current situation is likely the result of my master being too soft-hearted.”
Rui Rou sighed lightly upon hearing this, “It’s a different era now. If it continues like this, for the next ten thousand years, our Yunu Sect, once a powerful faction, may decline…”
The woman in the black robe finally sighed, “Forget it, I have a sense of proportion; there’s no need to persuade me.”
Rui Rou shook her head slightly and ceased transmitting her thoughts.
Meanwhile, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie had already arrived at Kelaijuwai.
A group of people emerged from within—many disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect. Since they were informed about attending a banquet, they were properly attired, not overly ostentatious, projecting a sense of prestige.
Leading the group was Ou Mubai from Tianwu Peak, serving as the deputy for this occasion. Upon seeing Yun Lie, he saluted along with everyone behind him, saying, “Brother.”
Yun Lie acknowledged with a slight nod and replied, “You two, please have the envoy guide us, we will follow.”
Ou Mubai and the others naturally noticed the two tall women approaching gracefully from behind. They greeted them one by one, engaging in courteous exchanges.
The woman in the black robe exuded a cold and austere aura; her furrowed brow carried an imposing authority. Her demeanor resembled Yun Lie’s in some aspects.
In the midst of the gathering, she merely nodded coldly and introduced herself, “Mu Ronghua.”
Understanding that everyone had different temperaments, no one took offense.
Rui Rou wore a gentle smile, her voice like a soothing stream as she said, “Everyone, please follow me.” With those words, she took a step forward, already levitating several feet ahead. Mu Ronghua swayed slightly and walked alongside her.
For some unknown reason, the two female cultivators walked together, utilizing the technique of shrinking the ground to an inch.
Mastering this technique was exceptionally challenging and demanded a considerable amount of true energy. However, it was an incredibly refined technique that allowed individuals to traverse vast distances. Proficient practitioners could condense thousands of miles into just a few steps, seemingly teleporting with a flick of the foot.
Rui Rou and Mu Ronghua strolled leisurely, their movements composed. Yet, due to employing this technique, they swiftly left everyone behind in just a few breaths.
The disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect, particularly the Twelve Golden Core cultivators, were naturally prideful and self-assured. These Twelve Golden Core cultivators were handpicked by the sect, considered peerless prodigies. They excelled in various fields, making them the center of attention.
Some budding geniuses in the Foundation Establishment Period and Golden Core Transformation Period had initially accompanied their more experienced seniors. It was a rare opportunity for them to employ the extraordinary technique of shrinking the ground to an inch. Consequently, these cultivators, too, used this technique to keep pace with their acquaintances.
Before Xu Ziqing could make any decisions, he felt his wrist being grasped by slender fingers. The sleeves of a white robe danced gently before him, confirming that it was his senior brother. His heart eased, and he made no resistance. He sensed a void beneath his feet, the scenery around him shifting rapidly. In a short while, he caught sight of the backs of the two women ahead.
Soon, they traversed numerous flower seas and gardens, and a vast mountain unfolded before them.
This mountain featured myriad peculiar rocks and towering peaks on either side. Positioned on the mountain was a grand palace that resembled a fairy abode, exuding a breathtaking pressure akin to an abyss.
The female cultivators within this palace bore a more composed temperament compared to their carefree demeanor in the Wanlan Flower Realm outside.
Upon witnessing the arrival of Rui Rou and Mu Ronghua, all present saluted respectfully, saying, “Greetings, Shijie.”
Rui Rou and Mu Ronghua, accustomed to such respect due to their elevated status, paused for a moment. Rui Rou stated, “Everyone, please proceed inside.”
In a manner similar to theirs, several women dressed in traditional attire approached, leading disciples from other sects. The whole procession proceeded in an orderly manner, devoid of any chaos.
All the disciples from the Wuling Immortal Sect ascended the steps and entered this grand and splendid palace.
The palace was spacious, adorned with numerous tables and chairs emitting a delightful fragrance. Every furnishing was carefully crafted and intricately designed, leaving observers in awe.
Within the palace, numerous steps were occupied by female nuns. The higher the step, the greater the cultivation level.
The area guarded by this multitude of steps held a towering throne, exuding immense coercion. From a distance, it appeared unattainable, evoking a sense of admiration at first glance.
Amidst the scent of incense and flowing garments, many cultivators had already taken their seats. Due to their distinct identities and sect statuses, there were certain peculiarities in the seating arrangements.
The Wuling Immortal Sect was a second-rank immortal sect, a prominent force in this vast world. Naturally, its disciples received exceedingly meticulous hospitality when visiting this third-rank sect.
After Mu Ronghua entered, bidding farewell to many disciples, she proceeded deeper into the palace. Meanwhile, Rui Rou maintained her warm smile and continued guiding them.
Following Rui Rou’s lead, the disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect arrived at seats closer to the steps. There were twelve low tables here, belonging to the twelve real individuals from the Immortal Sect.
As the team leader, Yun Lie was seated behind the first low table, and Xu Ziqing accompanied him. The rest of the Jindan Daoists also took their seats, shielding the individuals they had brought with them.
These young budding cultivators had come to witness the world, and they couldn’t be left to sit randomly at the back, vulnerable to the crowd.
Beautiful women moved gracefully between the seats. Each time they approached, numerous cultivators took their seats, and the arrangements were methodical. It was evident that Ruyi Immortal Villa possessed profound elegance, and its disciples were well-versed.
Gradually, hundreds of seats were filled. Towards the front, a few individuals remained seated together, evoking curiosity.
It turned out that among these seats were individuals emanating an unfathomable aura, even though they suppressed their coercion. Astonishingly, they were several Nascent Soul Patriarchs!
Some who were initially displeased that the front seats were occupied by unknown casual cultivators fell silent upon seeing these ancestors. Sect status held importance, but the strength and dignity of these Nascent Soul ancestors truly warranted those seats.
The palace continued to fill with more people, and countless female cultivators adorned the hall like butterflies, placing fresh flowers, fruits, exquisite wine, and precious jade liquid on the numerous low tables—preliminaries to the banquet.
Numerous women streamed into the hall, spreading out under the steps on both sides. Once all the guests had arrived, these low tables were adorned with precious beverages. Many female cultivators who were previously occupied returned to their sisters. Beyond the chatter between the many cultivators who had gathered for the banquet, the hall remained relatively tranquil.
At this moment, a potent aura encompassed the entire palace, and suddenly, a woman’s voice resonated, causing everyone to halt.
“The owner has arrived.”
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