Chapter 161

Chapter 161: The Sects Attending the Sect Grand Tournament

Months passed in a blur.

Today, the people of the Ninghua Sect were setting out for Fengling Terrace.

Fengling Terrace was the traditional site for every Sect Grand Tournament.

Shen Sang Ruo, together with several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, wore the Ninghua Sect uniform and stepped onto the sect’s flying boat.

From now on, they would fight on behalf of the Ninghua Sect.

The flying boat under their feet looked plain. It was the only one left after the great calamity and had been patched for a long time by Daoist Wu Wei.

Once everyone was aboard, the boat lifted off.

Shen Sang Ruo glanced over the people on deck, then her eyes moved as a thought struck her. She turned to Immortal Lord Chang Li and asked: “Master, what about the Elder division?”

Up to now, the only ones from the Ninghua Sect who could compete in the Elder division were him and Daoist Wu Wei.

Immortal Lord Chang Li stayed calm and said: “Don’t worry,” then he lifted his gaze to the distance and smiled. “Here they come.”

As soon as he finished, a cyan streak split the sky. A graceful figure landed lightly in front of them.

Shen Sang Ruo brightened at once, hurried forward, and said with delight: “Immortal Maiden Azure Luan?”

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan pretended to push away the arm Shen Sang Ruo had looped through hers and sniffed: “Keep your distance.”

Shen Sang Ruo only grinned and clung tighter. Azure Luan clicked her tongue but did not push her off again.

Immortal Lord Chang Li tossed over a badge he had already prepared and said in a sing song tone: “Ninghua Sect’s Second Elder, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan, please bring honor to our Ninghua Sect.”

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan caught the token steadily, rolled her eyes at him, and said coolly: “This Immortal Maiden is only here to help for the time being.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li looked toward Shen Sang Ruo and said with a nod: “Now you can relax, right? Your Master told you I would handle it.”

Shen Sang Ruo was pleasantly surprised that Azure Luan had come to help. She had thought that someone with such a cool nature would not be interested in this.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan gave Chang Li a cold look and said: “Don’t flatter yourself. I came for her.”

The “her” she meant was, of course, Shen Sang Ruo.

Shen Sang Ruo chimed in with a playful nod and said to her Master: “Exactly. Immortal Maiden Azure Luan came for me. Some people shouldn’t think too much.”

The two were so close that an outsider might think Azure Luan was actually her Master.

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s face fell, and he glared as he grumbled: “No respect. When I met her, you were still soaking in the River of Reincarnation.”

Shen Sang Ruo felt very satisfied and thought: [Good, keep poking Master. Maybe one day he will finally wake up.]

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan watched Shen Sang Ruo’s smug look and thought she was not much different from Immortal Lord Chang Li. After all, Master and disciple were alike. Her heart felt even more prickly, and her expression turned more openly annoyed.

Shen Sang Ruo pretended not to notice, still smiling as she tugged Azure Luan a few steps aside and said: “Immortal Maiden, let me show you the Luan Feather Fan after my modifications.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li folded his arms and stood behind them, watching.

The other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters kept to a spot about ten meters away, secretly peeking, amazed that she dared to be so familiar with someone as intimidating as Immortal Maiden Azure Luan.

They swallowed and thought: [As expected of our Junior Sister. Terrifying.]

With all Ninghua Sect competitors assembled, the flying boat crossed endless rivers and mountains. After several days, Fengling Terrace finally appeared before them.

At the same time, many other sect boats gathered around. Flags hung from their rails, showing names like Artifact Forging Sect, Spirit Herb Valley, and Divine Talisman Sect.

Shen Sang Ruo’s gaze swept over the boats. She spotted the Beast Taming Sect’s ship and the Joyous Union Sect’s ship.

She thought: [Ji Zi Cang and Fang Yu might be on those boats.]

She drew her eyes away from those two and looked ahead at a few flying boats that were clearly larger and more luxurious than the rest.

Wherever they passed, the other flying boats made way. Their presence alone was overwhelming.

Those were the ships of the great sects.

Shen Sang Ruo recognized the Flying Cloud Sect’s boat at a glance. As the last tournament’s first place, their display was naturally the grandest of all.

She pulled her gaze back as the Ninghua Sect’s flying boat neared Fengling Terrace.

Fengling Terrace had been built for the Sect Grand Tournament. As each sect’s boat arrived and landed there, the Spirit Voice Transmission would announce it.

A calm voice rang out and said: “Joyous Union Sect has arrived. Last ranking: 821.”

Then: “Divine Talisman Sect has arrived. Last ranking: 972.”

Then: “Azure Water Sect has arrived. Last ranking: 745.”

Next, the tone suddenly grew excited and called out: “Beast Taming Sect has arrived. Last ranking: 3!”

Besides the competitors, countless spectators from all parts of the cultivation world had come to watch. The stands around Fengling Terrace were packed tight, completely surrounding the arena.

The Sect Grand Tournament took place once every ten years, the liveliest event in the cultivation world.

Hearing that the third ranked Beast Taming Sect had arrived, the crowd broke into wild cheers, almost drowning out the announcements of the other sects. Many people stared at the Beast Taming Sect’s ship, one of the top powers in the world.

On that ship, Dong Fang Xu lifted his chin. He was the Acting Young Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect. He smirked and said: “What a bunch of country folk. We only showed up and they’re already this excited.”

Amid the cheers, the Spirit Voice Transmission sounded again and announced: “Ninghua Sect has arrived. Last ranking: 999.”

Most eyes were still glued to the Beast Taming Sect, so hardly anyone noticed the small sect.

A man next to Dong Fang Xu curled his lip and said in a low voice: “They still haven’t dropped out of the top thousand. This time we shouldn’t go easy on them.”

He lowered his voice further and urged: “Focus hard on that little sect. They refused our Sect Master’s olive branch and still think they can survive in the cultivation world?”

Others on the deck nodded and voiced agreement.

As for sects that defied them, they planned to grind them into the dirt.

Dong Fang Xu’s expression turned cold. He fixed his eyes on the speaker and said: “Xu Han, is it your place to give orders?”

He stepped closer and warned: “Remember your status. I am the one competing as the Beast Taming Sect’s Young Sect Master.”

A shadow flashed in Xu Han’s eyes. Catching sight of Sect Master Guan Hui walking over from the corner of his eye, he forced himself to hold back. He put on a smile and said smoothly: “How would I dare overstep, Junior Brother?”

Dong Fang Xu snorted and swaggered off, leading the Beast Taming Sect’s people away.

Xu Han clenched his fists in secret and thought bitterly: [He only barely beat me to become the temporary Young Sect Master, and already he’s putting on airs.]