The snow on Tianjue Mountain has been getting fiercer in recent days, showing no signs of stopping.

Every time, it’s only when dusk falls that the disciples of Yuluan Palace venture out to clear the snow that has accumulated in front of the mountain palace all day long.

On the fifteenth day of the cold moon, the heavy snow still drifts down like goose feathers.

Early in the morning, Zhong Yinyue yawned repeatedly as she made her way up Shangxuan Mountain with Wen Han.

Shangxuan Mountain is the highest of the seven peaks of Tianjue Sect and is also located at the center. The other six peaks surround this mountain where the sect leader resides, either far or near.

The mountain is shrouded in mist. By the time they reached the summit, they had already broken through the cloud layer.

The higher they went, the colder it became, and the snow on Shangxuan Mountain was even heavier. Walking along the corridor leading to the mountain palace, they could see disciples clearing the snow everywhere.

“The other peaks have so many disciples; they don’t even have to worry about clearing the snow,” Zhong Yinyue muttered softly, leading Wen Han upward.

“After all, it’s the Shangxuan Sect Leader; there are the most disciples under him,” Wen Han whispered back. “In places like this, the disciples take turns to clear the snow…”

Zhong Yinyue sighed, “It’s hard on you all to follow me.”

Wen Han’s expression changed upon hearing this: “Master, what are you saying! That’s not true!”

Zhong Yinyue chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit guilty about her own acting skills.

Before she crossed over, she had no idea she could act so well.

If she had known, she wouldn’t have applied for directing back then.

Just as they were walking up, a voice suddenly called out from behind, “Yuluan.”

Zhong Yinyue turned around to see a white-clad immortal with an ethereal presence, draped in a white fox fur coat, walking toward her with a whisk in hand.

The immortal had gray hair and a slightly aged face. His deep-set eyes were firm, proud, and bright, exuding an air of dignity and righteousness.

He was followed by another person.

That person was Shen Changxue.

Upon seeing Zhong Yinyue, Shen Changxue, who had originally been smiling slightly, immediately squinted his eyes into a smile.

Zhong Yinyue’s brain short-circuited for three seconds before she finally recognized the man in front of her, whose face was practically screaming “I’m strong.”

This was Elder Qian Yao, Geng Mingji.

Oh my! It’s you!!

The culprit behind Shen Changxue’s death is him!!

Zhong Yinyue almost wanted to rush up and strangle him.

But she held back.

The main reason was that her current body couldn’t take him on.

Zhong Yinyue forced a very fake laugh to suppress her murderous desire and pretended to bow, “Elder Qian Yao.”

“Hmm.” Geng Mingji replied, “What a coincidence to meet you here in front of the Sect Leader’s palace.”

“Hahaha, you say that, but isn’t it because the Sect Leader called us here?” Zhong Yinyue smiled, “Elder Qian Yao is just making small talk.”

Geng Mingji’s eyes widened.

Shen Changxue also opened his squinted eyes, staring blankly at her.

Wen Han was so scared that he tugged at her sleeve: “Master!”

Yuluan shouldn’t be saying such things.

Elder Qian Yao held a high position, and Yuluan usually acted like a sycophant whenever she saw him, showering him with compliments. Today, she was getting bold!

Geng Mingji was stunned, looking at Zhong Yinyue in disbelief.

Zhong Yinyue maintained her professional fake smile. It seemed no different from her usual flattering smile, yet it felt completely different.

Geng Mingji could hardly believe what he had just heard: “What did you say?”

Zhong Yinyue suddenly burst into laughter again.

“I was just joking, Elder Brother!”

She walked over and patted Geng Mingji’s shoulder a few times, “Today, you and I were both called by the Sect Leader, so it’s only natural we meet here, right? Elder Brother was just making a coincidental joke, so I was just teasing you! You’re still so straightforward; it’s no wonder you’re a great sword cultivator!”

“Someone as fierce with the sword as you, Elder Brother, is naturally not one to catch on to jokes. It’s my fault for speaking out of turn—”

Zhong Yinyue pulled Geng Mingji along, chattering about this and that as she led him toward the Shangxuan Palace.

Geng Mingji was being dragged along, but the more he listened to Zhong Yinyue, the more he felt something was off, yet he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was wrong.

Did Yuluan take the wrong medicine?

The two elders had already walked a distance ahead, leaving the two disciples behind.

Shen Changxue had his hands behind his back and followed after them.

Wen Han, however, was still in a daze, staring at the backs of the two. Just then, Shen Changxue walked up beside him.

Wen Han turned his head, and Shen Changxue paused for a moment. The two locked eyes, and Shen Changxue squinted, giving him a mysterious smile before leaving.

“Hey, wait,” Wen Han said, feeling confused, and hurriedly followed, “Shen Elder Brother, what are you smiling about? Huh?”

---

Inside Shangxuan Palace, a fragrant aroma wafted through the air.

The Sect Leader, Elder Shangxuan, sat in the main seat at the front, with a large intricately carved wooden screen behind him.

Next to him, the incense burner released a thin wisp of smoke through the carved patterns, filling the entire palace with a pleasant scent.

Elder Shangxuan was an old Daoist with an ethereal presence and white eyebrows.

He spoke with a mature and steady tone, his voice slow, and everything he did was leisurely.

After slowly sipping half a cup of tea that his eldest disciple had handed him, he finally began to speak: “I called you all here today for… the Tianjue Grand Ceremony on the fifteenth of the first month.”

This old man’s pauses were quite strange.

Zhong Yinyue held her teacup, listening absentmindedly.

As the old man droned on with his ramblings, Zhong Yinyue took the opportunity to scan the faces of everyone present.

The other five elders had their disciples behind them. After glancing at their faces, Zhong Yinyue matched them up in her memory.

The elders were seated in two rows facing each other, arranged according to their ranks. Elder Qian Yao sat at the front, with Shen Changxue obediently standing behind him, lowering his gaze.

What a beautiful person, yet he was ruined by this group of beasts in human skin.

Zhong Yinyue took a sip of her tea.

She was sitting in the last position.

“Although cultivators should stay away from the noise of the mortal world, there should always be a time to… have some fun throughout the year,” Elder Shangxuan said. “This… Tianjue Grand Ceremony is just that. It has been held every year, so it’s not unfamiliar and is easy to manage…”

“Yes, it’s naturally easy to manage.” Elder Lingze chimed in, “No matter how high the spiritual energy within, we are still flesh and blood. We should set aside a day to enjoy and rest. Since that’s the case, let’s do it like in previous years, imitating the mortal world’s temple fairs, doing some fun activities, preparing some food, and having the disciples who are willing to perform join in for some lively entertainment.”

As soon as this was said, several elders instinctively glanced in Zhong Yinyue’s direction.

Every time there was a Sect Leader meeting, Elder Yuluan would always chime in with flattery after each elder spoke.

At this moment, she would definitely be there with a face full of sycophancy saying things like “Yes, yes, yes,” “Indeed, indeed,” “Truly, Elder Lingze speaks as beautifully as he looks,” and other mindless compliments.

However, under everyone’s gaze—

Zhong Yinyue raised her teacup and drank, as boldly as if she were drinking wine.

Elder Lingze: “…?”

The elders present stared wide-eyed.

Even Elder Shangxuan widened his round eyes and blinked a couple of times.

Elder Qian Yao—Geng Mingji coughed.

Several elders’ gazes shifted back to him.

Geng Mingji said, “While that’s true, if every year is the same, it becomes meaningless. Although it’s a grand ceremony, it should have some novelty; it can’t just be about making noise. If we want to make it lively, let’s do something new; it can be even more exciting.”

Several elders instinctively looked at Zhong Yinyue again.

Elder Yuluan was known to be Elder Qian Yao’s sycophant.

This sycophant chooses whom to flatter based on their strength.

Elder Qian Yao’s strength is second only to the Sect Leader, and Yuluan follows him around every day.

Over time, the sycophant and his master develop a tacit understanding. Often, when one speaks, the other immediately praises them, following up with sweet words.

Elder Qian Yao had just proposed a new idea for the grand ceremony, so it was time for Yuluan to speak!

However.

Zhong Yinyue placed her empty cup down and, not knowing where she pulled it from, took out a nail file and began to file her nails.

“…”

Elder Qian Yao’s face darkened.

Shen Changxue covered his mouth, almost laughing out loud.

Fortunately, all the elders and disciples were focused on Zhong Yinyue, so no one noticed him.

Seeing this, Elder Lingze quickly said, “Then, according to Elder Brother’s view, how should this grand ceremony be arranged?”

Someone picked up the conversation, and Elder Qian Yao’s expression improved a bit.

“If it were up to me, I’d suggest that this time we don’t hold the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day, but rather shift it a day or two later, and incorporate other customs into the grand ceremony. Adding more customs and more incense offerings, and if it’s not on the fifteenth, it wouldn’t be disrespectful to any festival. Otherwise, if we do this on the Lantern Festival, it might cause some disciples to feel dissatisfied.”

Elder Shangxuan’s eyes lit up, nodding: “Not bad, not bad.”

Once he finished speaking, all the elders looked at Zhong Yinyue again.

Wen Han had already refilled his tea, and Zhong Yinyue had just raised her teacup, preparing to bring it to her lips.

This time, she finally caught the gazes of everyone present.

Zhong Yinyue paused, the tea she was about to drink hovering in mid-air.

“What are you all looking at me for?” she asked.

Elder Qian Yao was so exasperated he almost laughed.

“Yuluan, have you been possessed?” he said irritably, “Why are you silent today?”

“Why should I speak? All of you senior brothers and sisters are stronger than me. I’m just a lowly one, listening and learning is enough. Such an important matter as the grand ceremony, how could I dare to interfere?”

Zhong Yinyue put down her teacup, looking sincerely at Elder Qian Yao, “Elder Brother Qian Yao, with your status, do you really want to use my mouth to show off something?”

Elder Qian Yao’s face turned green.

Because he actually enjoyed Zhong Yinyue’s flattery on a daily basis. Zhong Yinyue’s chatter, whether good or bad, was still that of an elder. At first, when she praised him, even if others were unhappy, they could only nod along.

The elders present couldn’t help but stifle their laughter.

Elder Qian Yao’s face was losing its composure, and he said with a dark expression, “Since Junior Brother Yuluan wants to learn, why don’t we assign the arrangements for this grand ceremony to you?”

Zhong Yinyue’s smile instantly froze.

“That wouldn’t be good, would it?” Elder Guanghan frowned.

“What’s wrong with it?” Elder Qian Yao was still irritable.

“Who doesn’t know that Junior Brother Yuluan has very few disciples under him?” Elder Guanghan said, “He’s not like us; his path in cultivation is fraught with obstacles, and he’s not skilled in swordsmanship. He hasn’t had many opportunities to gain fame, and he only has four disciples under him. How can he handle such a grand Tianjue ceremony?”

Upon hearing this, Elder Qian Yao stood up and bowed to Elder Guanghan: “Junior Brother need not worry; since this immortal has said it will be him, then naturally, I will teach him.”

You teach me?

No way, you must be trying to embarrass me because I just made you lose face!

Zhong Yinyue wailed inwardly, but on the surface, she could only pretend to be calm and take another sip of tea to calm her nerves.

“He has been an elder for over twenty years, and he has yet to preside over a grand ceremony; it’s about time,” Elder Qian Yao said, tilting his head, “What does the Sect Leader think?”

Elder Shangxuan stroked his graying beard and nodded in agreement: “That’s fine. What you said makes sense. It’s also time… for Yuluan to do something.”

Elder Qian Yao bowed: “Thank you, Sect Leader, for your support.”

Hey, support what?

Zhong Yinyue felt desolate inside but couldn’t argue against it.

She could only watch as Elder Qian Yao turned to Shen Changxue: “Shen Changxue.”

Shen Changxue was called out and immediately bent down to bow: “Disciple is here.”

“From today onward, you and a few of your fellow disciples will stay at Yuluan Palace,” Elder Qian Yao said, “Assist Elder Yuluan in arranging the grand ceremony.”

Zhong Yinyue: “?”

She immediately felt wide awake, sitting up straight.

Shen Changxue seemed a bit surprised and didn’t respond for a moment.

After a brief pause, he buried his head a little deeper: “Disciple will obey the Master’s orders.”