Chapter 39

Under the envious and admiring gazes of both outer and inner disciples, Ye Qiao calmly followed the majority. Wealthy cultivators in the cultivation world traveled using flying boats, which could accommodate thousands of people at once. Those without money could only bitterly ride their swords.

After spending so long in the cultivation world, Ye Qiao had never seen what a flying boat looked like. Ming Xuan, with a broad chest, stood on tiptoe and looked around, “According to the journey, we should arrive at the Sword- Wen Sect in the afternoon.”

Ming Xuan was undoubtedly wealthy; he felt no novelty in the flying boat, leaving Ye Qiao the only one curious about it.

Once the five of them boarded the flying boat, Ye Qiao stuck close to the barrier to gaze at the scenery outside. The others lazily lounged in their seats, sleeping—it all felt quite reminiscent of a modern airplane.

Qin Fanfan handed each person their jade token, infused with spiritual energy, and lit up. She solemnly instructed, “This waist token represents your identity. When the Sword- Wen Sect arranges accommodations, just show this to them.”

Ye Qiao took her own jade token and casually hung it from her waist.

As Ming Xuan predicted, they arrived in the afternoon. Compared to the lively atmosphere of Cloud City, Life Float City had a more distant feel, with scarcely any vendors and mostly shops. Ye Qiao dared not look around, knowing she couldn’t afford anything from Cloud City, let alone shops under the First Sect.

“Wanna go shopping?” Ming Xuan noticed Ye Qiao’s curiosity and kindly offered, “My treat.”

Symbol cultivators were all wealthy. Ye Qiao’s eyes brightened. “Sure.”

Seeing her reaction, Ming Xuan smiled and led them into a shop.

They weren’t the only ones to arrive that afternoon; the other three sects also disembarked at the same time. Ming Xuan, not keen on facing their potential ridicule, preferred strolling through the shops with his little sister.

Inside the shops, they found typical magical instruments and elixirs for sale. Ye Qiao glanced disinterestedly; the main issue was the high prices, which thoroughly quashed any worldly desires she might have had.

Even though Ming Xuan offered to pay, Ye Qiao clearly felt it wasn’t worth the price. While she didn’t craft magical instruments, she knew a bit about alchemy, and these were just low-grade spirit pills priced at fifty high-grade spirit stones each. Why not just steal them?

Xue Yu explained, “Because there are so few alchemists, one pill can fetch a high price. Now, aside from major families and sects, other cultivators find it hard to buy.”

Ye Qiao understood why her ugly elixirs had become popular—cheap and plentiful.

She resolved that when she had money, she’d definitely buy an alchemy furnace. Even though those made in a regular pot weren’t much different from those in a furnace, their odd appearance drove prices lower.

After browsing the shops, they returned to the lodgings arranged by the Sword- Wen Sect before nightfall.

The lodgings were mixed courtyards, perhaps to prevent confrontations between the Five Sects. Each sect’s residence was technically separate but only separated by walls.

“If the desire to fight arises, one punch could knock down the wall and start the brawl,” Mu Chongxi suggested after inquiring about the other sects’ arrangements and nonchalantly tossing aside his jade token. “I think the manager wants to stir things up.”

With longstanding enmity between the Sword- Wen Sect and the Eternal Bright Sect, they awaited the meeting during the Grand Competition. While Ye Qinghan disliked instigations, it didn’t mean the Sword- Wen Sect’s other four disciples were good-natured.

As soon as Ye Qiao and the others returned from their outing, several unfamiliar figures intercepted them outside.

Dressed in white robes with auspicious clouds embroidered and swords at their waists, the appearance was unmistakably from the Sword- Wen Sect.

“Hey,” Chu Xingzhi smiled, “Aren’t you the little sister of the Eternal Bright Sect?”

“How did you end up walking to our Sword- Wen Sect? Couldn’t afford even a flying boat?” Provocation and insults similar to those of Song Jian.

Ming Xuan’s expression changed. “You—”

As he stepped forward, Chu Xingzhi lightly smiled, “Ah, let me see. Isn’t this Ming Xuan?”

“So many years,” Chu Xingzhi paused with malice, “and still haven’t broken through to Golden Pill?”

“A disgrace for the Eternal Bright Sect to have a senior disciple like you.”

“Don’t know how a waste like you qualifies to participate in the Grand Competition, tsk tsk.”

Ye Qiao watched Ming Xuan gradually fall silent. She now understood why Second Senior Brother had developed anxiety about the competition, eventually leading to demonic possession.

Mu Chongxi was almost enraged enough to draw his sword then and there, but Zhou Xingyun, usually calm, stopped him. “No fighting before the competition starts.”

Zhou Xingyun, breaking his usual silence, reminded them, “First, refrain from fighting. We haven’t entered the secret realm yet.”

Ye Qiao unexpectedly understood the implied meaning of his senior brother’s words.

…So, once we’re in the secret realm, we can fight?

Chu Xingzhi was indeed deliberate; he deliberately provoked this group, knowing the Eternal Bright Sect disciples were just dumb fools.

By angering them before the competition, Mu Chongxi would violate the rules by acting prematurely. It would dock them points in advance.

Seeing the helpless look of the Eternal Bright Sect, Chu Xingzhi smirked and was about to mock them further. However, he paused in the next moment.

Ye Qiao, hearing the commotion, peeked out from behind Senior Brother. Seeing Chu Xingzhi and his disciples, she immediately greeted them warmly, “Hey.”

“… ” Mu Chongxi, who knew Ye Qiao’s temperament, began to feel stomach pain subconsciously.

From his understanding of Ye Qiao, her “Hey” meant something wasn’t quite right.

Chu Xingzhi was stunned for a moment, disdainful. “You’re the early Foundation Building stage, newly accepted little sister, right?”

He spoke bluntly, “One in the early Foundation Building stage, one at the pinnacle. Ha. Two useless people still want to participate in the Grand Competition.”

“Ah, that’s right,” Ye Qiao nodded in agreement. “You’re right about everything. Any problem?”

Yes, indeed, there was no problem, because Ye Qiao genuinely agreed with him.

But Chu Xingzhi somehow felt like his words just now were like punching cotton, light and unable to choke anyone.

Enduring the inexplicable frustration, Chu Xingzhi decided to continue poking at Ming Xuan’s weakest psychological defenses, “Knowing you’re useless is enough.”

“Ming Xuan, three years without breaking through to Golden Pill, ranked last for a thousand years and still has the face to compete. I’m embarrassed for you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ming Xuan agreed readily, “I’m just useless.”

The little sister had a point: why walk your own path when you can let others criticize you? He could easily walk others’ paths and leave them no way forward.

“?”

Chu Xingzhi choked, caught off guard by Ming Xuan’s unexpected retort.

Ming Xuan casually glanced at him and calmly said, “We of the Eternal Bright Sect are just a bunch of useless people. So what? Can’t handle it? Just arrest us then.”

Ye Qiao nearly burst into applause for her second senior brother right then and there.

Wasn’t this similar to saying: “So what? Can’t handle it? Call the police.”

“Why walk your own path when you can let others criticize you? She’d rather walk others’ paths and leave them no way forward.”

Chu Xingzhi’s eyes widened slightly.

Ming Xuan, mimicking Ye Qiao’s usual infuriating demeanor, shrugged slightly, “So what? We’re last, and we’re happy. We won’t fight. Any problems?”

Acknowledging the mistake and changing course, or not, we’ll just stay unruffled.

Mock us all you want; we’ll stand steadfast.

Watching Chu Xingzhi struggle to find words in his choked-up expression, Ming Xuan’s lips curled slightly. He had thoroughly grasped the joy of acting nonchalant like his little sister.