Chapter 162: How Could It Be Her?
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The Main Peak.
Yu Zhao firmly said, “I agree.”
Zhou Jin Yue’s face lit up like a blossoming flower. “Junior Sister Yu, I knew you’d accept!”
Zhang Jun punched the air with excitement. “With you on board, our team is guaranteed first place!”
Seeing Zhou Jin Yue and Zhang Jun genuinely thrilled brought a warm sense of relief to Yu Zhao, dispelling the negative mood caused by Quan Ye.
Before returning to the Five Elements Dao Sect, she hadn’t been sure whether Senior Sister Zhou would reserve a spot for her on the team. After all, each team competing in the grand tournament was limited to just five members, and each sect could only send two teams. Every position was extremely precious.
She had set her expectations as low as possible before returning. Fortunately, the reality exceeded her hopes. Senior Sister Zhou had indeed kept a spot for her, and Yu Zhao had no reason to refuse.
“In addition to me and Zhang Jun, the team includes Lü Li and Pu Xing He. You’ll meet them during tomorrow’s sect selection process,” Zhou Jin Yue explained.
Yu Zhao wasn’t unfamiliar with the names of the other two teammates. Lü Li and Pu Xing He were esteemed disciples under other peak masters, well-known within the Five Elements Dao Sect. However…
A shadow of doubt flickered through her eyes.
Senior Sister Lü Li had a gentle temperament and was easy to get along with. However, Pu Xing He had targeted her multiple times in her previous life because of Ye Cong Xin. Would history repeat itself?
Despite her concerns, Yu Zhao maintained her composure, unwilling to dampen Senior Sister Zhou’s spirits. After agreeing on the meeting time for the next day, Yu Zhao gifted her prepared presents to Senior Sister Zhou before taking her leave to visit the Archive Pavilion.
At the entrance, Elder Gu sat engrossed in an ancient text. Yu Zhao hesitated between stepping forward to greet him or waiting silently when Elder Gu suddenly looked up.
“Since you’ve returned, why haven’t you come to greet this old man?”
Elder Gu frowned, his white whiskers curling upward in dissatisfaction.
Hurriedly, Yu Zhao stepped forward to apologize. “Senior, I saw you were absorbed in reading and didn’t wish to disturb you. Please forgive me.”
Elder Gu huffed. “At least you’re polite. Next time, just approach directly. Formalities are unnecessary.”
With that, he scanned Yu Zhao from head to toe, finally cracking a faint smile. “Not bad. You’ve made progress and haven’t let this old man down.”
Yu Zhao bowed solemnly. “My growth is entirely thanks to your generous guidance, Elder Gu. I’m deeply grateful.”
Be it the Illusory Tides Technique or the materials for crafting the Fleeting Life Mirror, Elder Gu had played a crucial role. Though not formally her master, he was a teacher in every sense of the word.
Elder Gu accepted her bow with a composed expression, his tone softening. “Your diligence is what bore these fruits.”
Yu Zhao smiled as she retrieved several food containers from her storage space and placed them on Elder Gu’s desk.
Elder Gu’s eyes widened in surprise. “What’s this? Take it back! I don’t want anything from you!”
“These are regional specialties I picked up during my travels,” Yu Zhao explained gently. “They aren’t expensive, just a small token of my appreciation. You’ll see for yourself.”
Elder Gu, half-convinced, opened one container. A golden aroma wafted out as he revealed a box of glistening fried fish balls.
The elder swallowed audibly.
He opened the second container, uncovering a bowl of thin, translucent sashimi that shimmered like crystal.
Snapping the lid back on, Elder Gu’s face crinkled into a smile, deepening the lines etched by age. “You’re thoughtful, child.”
Yu Zhao chuckled softly and took out several coarse ceramic jars from her storage space.
“This is some rice wine I bought in a small town. It’s light but has a unique flavor.”
This time, Elder Gu didn’t refuse and accepted them all.
The atmosphere grew even more harmonious after that.
When Elder Gu learned that Yu Zhao had obtained another part of the Illusory Tides Technique inheritance, he sighed in admiration at the workings of fate. He had only acted out of pity back then, wanting to help Yu Zhao so her talent wouldn’t be wasted. Unexpectedly, his small intervention ended up helping her discover a cultivation method even more suited to her.
“Will you participate in tomorrow’s sect selection?” Elder Gu asked.
“Yes, I’ve already teamed up with Senior Sister Zhou from the Main Peak,” Yu Zhao replied.
Elder Gu was overjoyed. “With the two of you, the Five Elements Dao Sect is certain to claim first place in this tournament again.”
Yu Zhao merely smiled without speaking.
Seeing her confidence, Elder Gu grew even more pleased.
Yu Zhao chatted with Elder Gu in the Archive Pavilion for two hours before the elder finally sent her away, reminding her to perform well in tomorrow’s selection. Yu Zhao readily agreed.
After leaving the pavilion, she prepared to head back and adjust her state of mind for the selection. However, as she approached the base of Lone Moon Peak, she suddenly remembered she no longer lived there. Her current residence was in the Inner Courtyard, reserved for inner disciples.
She immediately changed direction toward the Inner Courtyard.
Reflecting on it, she realized she had only stayed in the small courtyard she won after defeating Xiu Luo for less than a month. No wonder she had forgotten she’d moved.
When Yu Zhao reached the Inner Courtyard, her steps faltered. She remembered how the place used to brim with an intense and competitive atmosphere. Now, upon her return, it felt entirely different.
Was it her perception that had changed, or was something else different?
“Yu Zhao? You’re finally back!”
The door of the central house at the foot of the mountain swung open, and Xiu Luo appeared, her eyes sparkling.
“Yes, I’m back,” Yu Zhao nodded.
“You… you’ve formed a Golden Core? I can’t even discern your cultivation level anymore. Have you already reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm?”
Xiu Luo, who had been eager to reclaim her honor, immediately deflated when she realized Yu Zhao’s strength was now unfathomable. Her once-bright eyes dimmed.
“Is it just you here in the Inner Courtyard? Where is everyone else?” Yu Zhao asked curiously.
“They’re here,” Xiu Luo replied, her tone lackluster. “Probably cultivating in their rooms.”
Yu Zhao raised a surprised eyebrow.
If they were cultivating, why wasn’t the intense atmosphere she remembered present?
Perhaps her confusion was too apparent, for Xiu Luo added with a touch of disdain, “They’ve long been corrupted by their desires. Naturally, they don’t cultivate as fervently as before. Only a few, like Fang Cheng Lang and his group, still manage to maintain some semblance of diligence.”
Yu Zhao wanted to ask more, but Xiu Luo beat her to it. “Tomorrow is the internal selection for the team representing the sect in the cultivation world tournament. You must have come back to participate, right?”
“Indeed,” Yu Zhao confirmed.
“Are you teaming up with Senior Brother Fang and his group from Lone Moon Peak?” Xiu Luo’s gaze was fixed intently on Yu Zhao, her hands subconsciously clutching the hem of her robe.
“No, I’ll be teaming up with Senior Sister Zhou from the Main Peak.”
“So the person Senior Sister Zhou has been waiting for is you!”
Xiu Luo looked pleased, but her mood shifted upon hearing the latter part. Disheartened once more, she thought about how she didn’t even qualify to form a team, while Yu Zhao was partnering with the sect’s senior-most disciple—a gap she could only dream of closing.
Suddenly, her eyes widened as a thought struck her. “But if you’re not teaming up with Senior Brother Fang, doesn’t that leave their team short a member?”
Yu Zhao smiled faintly, already guessing her intentions. “How could they be short? Have you forgotten Lone Moon Peak still has a junior sister?”
“It can’t possibly be her!”