Chapter 93: On the Eve of the Azure Cloud Grand Gathering—Choosing Senior Sister or Choosing Master

Li Zhiyun was different from the other Peak Masters. Though her words seemed to be for her own sake, in truth, she was cheering Xing Mengfan on. If Yu Wan would not support her own disciple, then she would. Exorcism Peak may lack in some things, but when it came to contests of skill, they feared no one.

How could one ever reach greater heights by cultivating meekly and without ambition? The Qingyun Conference itself was a rare opportunity, and the quota for the Qingyun Mist Cavern was just one of its rewards. In Li Zhiyun’s eyes, to refuse to compete simply because of a single admonition from the junior uncle, Immortal Xiang Qiu, and let resources slip away, was a waste—even if one managed to break through the Golden Core stage. At first, she had rather high hopes for Cao Xuan, but after Yu Wan’s persuasion and Cao Xuan’s silent agreement, she suddenly felt disappointed. Genius or not, his path was utterly at odds with hers.

People of like mind—those who share the same Dao. Though the four Peak Masters all belonged to the Qingyun Sect, their paths and philosophies could not be more different. So, Li Zhiyun did not speak further, but led Xing Mengfan away, embodying the meaning of “different Daos, different paths.”

Afterward, the three Peak Masters each took their personal disciples to find separate courtyards. The silence that followed marked the beginning of their journey to the Central Continent.

…

The Qingyun Conference was held during the year’s end on the Xuanyua continent, coinciding with the annual grand examination in Yunzhou’s Qingyun Sect. Cao Xuan and the others had set out ahead of time, leaving three days before the conference began.

Once inside their courtyard, Yu Wan sighed. She and Li Zhiyun had never gotten along; their personalities clashed. This trip to the Central Continent seemed only to have widened the rift between them. Still, her sigh was tinged with pride—she, too, walked her own Dao with confidence. She believed her path was without flaw, and saw no reason to fight for fleeting advantage. The Dao was a long road, and she trusted herself to walk it in her own way.

Unlike other masters, who might not truly know their disciples’ progress, Yu Wan was intimately aware of Cao Xuan’s foundation. With his robust reserves, when he broke through to the Golden Core, it would likely be as a Six-Pattern Talisman Golden Core. Why risk everything now, when it was not yet his time?

Not wishing to dampen Cao Xuan’s spirits, Yu Wan turned her strictness on Li Yao instead. “Yao’er, these next few days I want you to focus on your cultivation. I don’t need you fighting for any quotas on my behalf. Look at yourself—idling your days away. Have you finished your talisman drawing assignments? Did you slack off just because I was in seclusion for a while? Remember, cultivation is for your own sake, not for your master!”

Li Yao: ???

Was Master on edge or something? She felt so wronged, but dared only to mutter softly, “Master…I’ve already reached late Foundation Establishment…”

Yu Wan, hearing her retort, raised her voice, “And what of it? Look at your junior brother—how long since he broke through to Foundation Establishment, and how long have you been at it? He’s about to break—through—to the—Golden—Core!” She emphasized each word, making her meaning crystal clear.

Cao Xuan, noticing Yu Wan’s sidelong glances at him, resigned himself. What could a young man do when caught between a scolding master and an elder sister? He could only endure it.

…

The Central Continent’s Qingyun Sect was situated in the east, bordering the Eastern Wilderness, so the Yunzhou branch arrived relatively quickly. Many subordinate sects, in contrast, would not reach until the final day of the conference; some had set out two years prior, crossing mountains and rivers. For all their cultivation, should they attempt to fly over dangerous terrain, they might end up as a beast’s meal.

Thus, Cao Xuan and the others, traveling by the great whale-jiao boat, were truly benefiting from Immortal Xiang Qiu’s favor.

At this time, across the many peaks of the Central Continent’s Qingyun Sect, factions with Nascent Soul cultivators were gathering their suitable disciples.

“Meng Weizhi, you are the only disciple of my lineage with a chance to enter Xuanyua Dao Sect. You know what this opportunity means for you.” He handed over a talisman. “This is my Nascent Soul-stage talisman treasure. Remember to use it at a critical moment. If you can break through to Golden Core before thirty in the Qingyun Mist Cavern, you may one day reach Spirit Transformation and fulfill your Dao. So, at the Qingyun Conference, hold nothing back! I have only one thing to say: strive for the Dao!”

“Yes, Master. I will not fail your expectations!”

…

“Qiu Qianliu, your senior brother has gone into seclusion to break through to Nascent Soul. If he succeeds before the Qingyun Conference, he’ll be a Nascent Soul within a hundred years—a true prodigy in Xuanyua Dao Sect! Compared to others, if you can seize the chance in Qingyun Mist Cavern to reach Golden Core and enter Xuanyua Dao Sect, the two of you supporting each other will go far.” Before this early Spirit Transformation elder stood a youth in a black robe, short blade at his side. Compared to other lineages, the old man’s ambitions were clearly greater. Two Golden Cores at thirty, two Nascent Souls within a century—if his line could claim both, Immortal Xiang Qiu himself might take notice.

“Once you reach Golden Core and enter Xuanyua Dao Sect, do your utmost to assist your immortal uncle. Remember, do not harbor any improper thoughts—the Dao is all that matters!”

The elder knew full well that among the young disciples of the Central Continent’s Qingyun Sect, none were without secret ambitions. Yet the Spirit Transformation realm was far beyond ordinary comprehension. No matter how blind a dragon, it would never favor an ant; in a bad mood, it might even crush it without a thought. He did not doubt his disciple could claim a place in the Qingyun Mist Cavern, so he spoke directly of what must be done after reaching the sacred land.

…

“Yun Fanyou, I want you to…”

“Xiao Xuan’er, Qingzhu…”

…

On the eve of the Qingyun Conference, the whole Central Continent Qingyun Sect was restless. Some pinned their hopes on this chance, some were supremely confident and had already begun planning for Xuanyua Dao Sect, while others urged their disciples to win entry for the benefit of their own advancement.

Meanwhile, in a courtyard elsewhere, the Yunzhou Qingyun Sect party was no more at peace. Liu Yu, being of the Qingyun Peak line and a friend of Jin Tiehua, stayed in the Artifact Refinement Peak’s courtyard, as their own sect leader had not come. Ye Caixuan and Master Yuan Dan had both secluded themselves, focused on alchemy. For them, this journey was more about gaining experience—they did not truly expect to win a place in the Qingyun Mist Cavern, though it would be a welcome surprise if they did.

“Boom—boom—”

As for Li Zhiyun and Xing Mengfan, the two master and disciple clashed with demon-slaying blades, spells swirling about them.

“Not enough, not enough! Is this what I taught you? With swordplay like that, when will you ever comprehend Blade Intent?”

Xing Mengfan bit her lip, unable to hold back. “But Master, you haven’t comprehended Blade Intent either!”

“How dare you talk back!”

…

As for the Talisman Peak, Cao Xuan was suffering and enjoying himself in equal measure. In their courtyard, there were three rooms, and at this moment Li Yao was stamping her foot, dragging Cao Xuan toward one of them. On the other side, Yu Wan leaned languidly against a doorframe, stretching out her long, fair leg. In order to entice Cao Xuan to cultivate, both women were dressed rather lightly.

Li Yao puffed out her cheeks and demanded, “Junior brother, will you choose me or Master?”

Yu Wan said nothing, but folded her arms and fixed Cao Xuan with a look that needed no words.