Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Is She the Ninghua Sect Young Sect Master?

Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao watched the lot drawing on Bai Mu Mu’s side.

Standing behind Bai Mu Mu were Feng He Yun and three others. Shen Dao Chen had not planned to let the four of them enter the individual trials. Their condition was not good. But they insisted, and Master Ling Xiao also wanted them to get some real practice, so Shen Dao Chen agreed. Even if they were a bit off, they were still Master Ling Xiao’s Personal Disciples, so their strength would not be weak.

Bai Mu Mu set the Young Sect Master’s Token of the Flying Cloud Sect onto the giant stone, and the stone announced: “Flying Cloud Sect Feng He Yun, first group.”

It continued: “Flying Cloud Sect Bai Mu Mu, second group.”

Then: “Flying Cloud Sect Luo Chu, third group.”

Feng He Yun and Luo Chu stepped forward to take their tokens without saying a word to Bai Mu Mu. Instead, they looked around as if searching for Shen Sang Ruo. When they saw Ye Huai and the others standing with her, they clenched their tokens so hard it looked like they would crush them.

Wen Xuan squinted hard at the Ninghua Sect’s stone and blurted: “Wait, the one putting down the Young Sect Master’s Token for Ninghua Sect… is that Little Ruo?”

Everyone turned and saw Shen Sang Ruo raise her hand to take the Young Sect Master’s Token off the boulder.

Feng He Yun’s voice cracked as he stared: “She is the Ninghua Sect Young Sect Master?! She has only been in Ninghua Sect for a short time. How did she become the Young Sect Master?”

Up on the high platform, after watching the Flying Cloud Sect’s draw, Shen Dao Chen naturally looked toward Ninghua Sect. Seeing Shen Sang Ruo standing in front of Ye Huai and the others, he understood at once what her position was there, and his gaze froze. His half-lidded eyes darkened with a shadow and a fury he could barely believe.

[She joined another sect and now she is their Young Sect Master?] He knew exactly what the title meant and how important it was for a sect. Shen Sang Ruo knew it too. [Does she really plan to take root in Ninghua Sect and stay there her whole life? Someone like her, how can she carry the burden of a sect’s Young Heir?]

He could tell that Ninghua Sect’s Sect Master, Daoist Wu Wei, was not a muddle-headed man. [Shen Sang Ruo is being willful, and he follows her willfulness too?] Entrusting a sect’s future to someone who just joined? That small token was proof of how highly Daoist Wu Wei valued Shen Sang Ruo.

Shen Dao Chen said in a low voice: “Truly senile.”

His chest felt tight and messy. Shen Sang Ruo had gone too far. His hostility toward Ninghua Sect now surpassed what he felt for the long-time second place, Heavenly Sword Sect. He sneered to himself: [Her temper is not even close to Mu Mu’s, yet she dares dream of being Young Sect Master? Pathetic and shameful.]

He only hoped Bai Mu Mu would trample Shen Sang Ruo into the dust and wake her from that unrealistic fantasy.

Master Ling Xiao’s face was frosty. He and Shen Dao Chen shared the same thought: they could not allow Ninghua Sect to gain a foothold in the Cultivation World. Since it was a small sect, it ought to be eliminated.

A familiar cry drifted from afar: “Ziz!”

Song Wei Yan rubbed his chin and frowned, saying with a hiss: “Where did that weird cry come from?”

Shen Sang Ruo turned and saw Fang Yu slip through the crowd with amazing ease. He waved as he reached her and called out: “Sister Sang Ruo!”

That one warm “Sister Sang Ruo” put Ye Huai and the others on alert at once.

Song Wei Yan swept a glance over the handsome youth and said in a snarky tone: “Good little brother, were you calling for your granny?”

Fang Yu scratched his head, clearly uneasy under four pairs of steady eyes, and said: “What granny or little brother? You must be Sister Sang Ruo’s Senior Brother and Senior Sister, right?”

Bai Ruo An looked to Shen Sang Ruo and asked: “Who is this?”

Shen Sang Ruo answered calmly: “This is Fang Yu, the one I met in the Phantom Mirage Domain. He is from the Joyous Union Sect.”

“That’s right,” Fang Yu said as he turned to Su Xi Yu with a grin: “You must be Fourth Senior Sister. Hello, Senior Sister. I even took one of your pills in the Phantom Mirage Domain.”

His gaze circled the others, then landed on Bai Ruo An as he lit up: “You are Third Senior Brother, right? With eyes that bright, you must be!”

Su Xi Yu and the other three traded a look and thought the same thing: he did not seem very bright. They relaxed their guard.

Fang Yu chatted quickly: “I saw Ninghua Sect enter at the start, but I didn’t get a chance to come find you. Your seniors are amazing, Sister Sang Ruo, especially Immortal Lord Chang Li. He is your Master, right?”

“Mm,” Shen Sang Ruo replied. She glanced at the Young Sect Master’s Token in his hand and raised a brow, asking: “Young Sect Master?”

“Only acting. Only for now,” Fang Yu sighed helplessly: “There is no one left in Joyous Union Sect, so I had to come.”

“I am in the first group. Sister Sang Ruo, which group are you in?”

“Group three. My First Senior Brother is in the same group as you,” Shen Sang Ruo said with a smile, looking toward Ye Huai.

Ye Huai stayed as cool as ever and gave Fang Yu a brief nod.

Fang Yu hurried to say: “No need to be polite. First Senior Brother already looks very skilled. If we end up facing each other later, please go easy.”

Joyous Union Sect was only here to make up the numbers. They were not chasing any rank.

As they spoke, Ji Zi Cang of the Beast Taming Sect walked over. After greetings and simple introductions, Shen Sang Ruo asked: “Fellow Daoist Ji, did you come for something?”

Drawing the Beast Taming Sect to their side was a key step in her plan for Ninghua Sect, so she paid close attention to Ji Zi Cang’s movements.

“I don’t know,” Ji Zi Cang said honestly: “My Master told me to come. He didn’t say what to do, just told me to come.”

Shen Sang Ruo nodded. She understood that the token she had given Yuan Jin was taking effect. Yuan Jin had seen the Elder match just now and was wavering, but still unsure. Sending Ji Zi Cang over was a test.

Fang Yu, who loved to check everyone’s grouping, asked: “Brother Ji, are you entering the individual trials too? Which group?”

“I’m in group three.”

Fang Yu gave Shen Sang Ruo a jealous look and said: “Then you are in the same group as Sister Sang Ruo. Why couldn’t I be in the same group as her?”

Shen Sang Ruo smiled, her eyes bright: “Meeting me is not a good thing. I won’t hold back.”

Two voices sounded at the same time: “Young Sect Master Shen.”

A man and a woman stepped into view. Shen Sang Ruo recognized them at once as the Young Sect Masters of the Artifact Forging Sect and the Alchemy Sect, Zhu Hua Qiao and Chen Zhou Xing. The two moved with a hint of closeness. She had heard their names while in the Flying Cloud Sect. She had not met them before, but their clothing made it clear.

Shen Sang Ruo cupped her hands and greeted them: “Young Sect Master Zhu, Young Sect Master Chen.”

They returned the salute with warm smiles and no hostility, though their sudden visit left Shen Sang Ruo unsure of their aim.