Chapter 177

Chapter 177: What Magic Does Shen Sang Ruo Have?

Fang Yu and Ji Zi Cang were stunned to see two great sects’ Young Sect Masters come over. Many nearby onlookers were just as surprised.

Seeing Shen Sang Ruo’s doubt, Zhu Hua Qiao explained with a friendly smile: “We only wish to meet Fellow Daoist Shen and build ties between our three sects. There is no other meaning.”

Even though the Alchemy Sect had been knocked out by Ninghua Sect in the Elder match earlier, there was not a hint of grudge on Chen Zhou Xing’s face.

Different levels of sects keep different circles. The Artifact Forging Sect and the Alchemy Sect move among the top sects. As Young Sect Masters, all three of them represented their own sects. Zhu Hua Qiao and Chen Zhou Xing showing Shen Sang Ruo such goodwill meant their two sects accepted Ninghua Sect’s strength and status.

People who understood this stared wide-eyed. It looked like the pattern of the Cultivation World was truly changing. Before today, who would have thought a sect with only eight members could squeeze into the ranks of the top sects?

Ji Zi Cang was shocked. Fang Yu was happy for Shen Sang Ruo. Ye Huai and the others felt flattered.

Shen Sang Ruo stayed calm and at ease. The smile at the corner of her lips was just right as she said: “Honored.”

Zhu Hua Qiao and Chen Zhou Xing likely already knew about her ties with the Flying Cloud Sect. Just the fact that she had severed relations with Shen Dao Chen and been expelled from the Flying Cloud Sect would scare off most top sects. Few would risk offending the Flying Cloud Sect to befriend the not-yet-proven Ninghua Sect.

But the Artifact Forging Sect and the Alchemy Sect were different. With artifacts and pills so precious in the Cultivation World, their special position gave them the confidence to fear no one. From what Shen Sang Ruo knew, they were easygoing and rarely joined sect conflicts, so there were no hidden schemes. Every Sect Grand Tournament, they came mostly to play. In short, they were worth befriending.

Once she accepted their good will, the two drew her aside and asked in a mysterious tone: “Pardon the question, but are you the former adopted daughter of the Flying Cloud Sect’s Sect Master Shen, Shen Sang Ruo?”

Shen Sang Ruo could almost see the gossip flames burning behind their eyes. [So that’s the real reason you came.] She smiled and said: “I am.”

Everyone would know sooner or later. It was not a secret, so she did not hide it.

“So it really is you!” The two of them looked thrilled to have gotten a huge piece of gossip. They did not seem to care about her so-called “bad record.” They were eager to pull her into more details about the Flying Cloud Sect.

Just then, a cool plum blossom scent reached Shen Sang Ruo’s nose and a clear voice said: “Fellow Daoist Shen.”

She looked up. The woman before her had a heroic face, her hair held high by a plum blossom crown.

Shen Sang Ruo greeted her with a nod and a smile: “Fellow Daoist Mei.”

Before Shen Sang Ruo could ask, Mei Mei stated her reason: “I am also in group three, so I came to meet you early. It is a pleasure.”

Shen Sang Ruo was a little surprised and asked gently: “Does Fellow Daoist Mei not know that I was once a disciple of the Flying Cloud Sect?” The Heavenly Sword Sect’s disciples were famously strict and upright. If they knew how she had “broken the rules,” they would keep away, especially the Young Sect Master.

“I know,” Mei Mei said with a light nod.

Shen Sang Ruo was even more surprised. Mei Mei said calmly: “My Master often teaches that we should not judge only by others’ words. We must learn for ourselves, then decide.”

“So I came.”

She would judge Shen Sang Ruo by herself. In truth, she was curious too. She wanted to know why Shen Sang Ruo left the Flying Cloud Sect for Ninghua Sect and admired her courage.

Shen Sang Ruo smiled and said: “I have long heard the Heavenly Sword Sect is the most upright. Meeting Fellow Daoist Mei today proves it.”

Mei Mei returned a small smile: “You are not as the rumors say either.”

Chen Zhou Xing glanced past them and suddenly called out: “You came too?”

Following his gaze, Shen Sang Ruo and Mei Mei saw Jiang Chu walking over with a confused look. He was the Young Heir of the Red Desert Jiang Clan, ranked fourth in the last Sect Grand Tournament.

Jiang Chu scratched his head and said honestly: “I saw you all here. It felt wrong not to join, so I came too.”

“Since you are here, why not all get to know each other?” Zhu Hua Qiao suggested, guiding Jiang Chu to Shen Sang Ruo.

“Alright, then let’s get acquainted,” Jiang Chu said, still at a loss, and greeted Shen Sang Ruo.

Keeping to her goal of making wide ties, Shen Sang Ruo got along well with all of them.

A short distance away, Ye Huai and the others watched Shen Sang Ruo move with ease among the Young Heirs and Young Sect Masters. Their faces showed open praise.

Su Xi Yu said proudly: “Junior Sister is truly a born Young Sect Master.”

“With Junior Sister here, the rest of us can relax,” Bai Ruo An added with a grin.

Ye Huai nodded.

Leaning his arm on Fang Yu’s shoulder, Song Wei Yan said with pride: “Well? Jealous?”

“Jealous!” Fang Yu said, nearly drooling with envy.

Ji Zi Cang grew thoughtful, as if he finally understood why his Master had sent him.

As one Young Heir after another came over to Shen Sang Ruo, the expressions of the watching cultivators grew more and more colorful. By now, except for the Flying Cloud Sect and the Beast Taming Sect’s Young Sect Masters, the Young Heirs from the top six sects of the last tournament had all gathered around her.

[What kind of magic does the Ninghua Sect’s Young Sect Master have?]

Dong Fang Xu noticed and snorted coldly: “Is someone like that worth befriending? Did the fire just now burn their brains? It is only a few Divine Transformation Stage Elders. They are spineless.”

He would never stoop so low. With a cold huff, he led Xu Han away in another direction.

Even if he had tried to befriend her, Shen Sang Ruo would have refused. She had decided to bring the Beast Taming Sect under her banner, so she would not tie herself to anyone tangled up in their grudges.

When Feng He Yun and his group finally reached the Ninghua Sect’s drawing area, there were already people packed around Shen Sang Ruo.

Bai Mu Mu looked at all the Young Heirs from various sects chatting with Shen Sang Ruo and could not hide the flash of jealousy and malice in her eyes. She was the Young Sect Master of the number one sect, the Flying Cloud Sect. She should have been the one surrounded by stars.

How could the Young Sect Master of a shabby sect steal the glory that should have been hers?

Lu Shi Qing’s gloomy gaze swept over every person around Shen Sang Ruo, not even sparing the two female cultivators, Mei Mei and Zhu Hua Qiao. His eyes were full of hate, as if he wanted to tear them all apart and swallow them.

He clenched his fists, pushed through the crowd, and headed straight for Shen Sang Ruo.