The Mysterious Realm of the Heavenly Book, Part 3

Ji Xinghong, Cha Chun, and Li Weiyang were all prominent figures of the new generation. When one appeared, they would attract countless gazes, let alone when all three appeared together.

Su Qing silently observed for a while, then heard Tang Yueling say, “In a moment, they will surely come to find us and speak with us.”

Su Qing was surprised. “Us?”

Was she involved here too?

Tang Yueling raised an eyebrow as if it were obvious. “Of course, is there anyone stronger than us among the first-year students present?”

Although the official senior sister hadn’t been chosen yet, these people, with a little investigation, would understand who was truly desired by all.

As fellow major sect disciples, even if they weren’t entirely compatible, they were at least in the same camp. Coming over to say hello and socialize was a normal thing.

Many times, the cultivation world was also a world of human relations.

Su Qing glanced around. “I haven’t seen anyone from the Qi, Song, or Que families yet. The resources in this secret realm are abundant. I don’t believe they wouldn’t come.”

Tian Ning nodded slightly. “They will come.”

Tang Yueling sneered, “They look down on the people here; how could they easily show themselves?”

Indeed, as she said, the atmosphere between the He Rong Faction and the Yan Yi Sect remained tense for a few breaths. In a blink, they acted as if nothing had happened, approaching the Sword School from front to back.

The elders of the two factions stiffened their faces, forced smiles, and exchanged pleasantries. The Sword School’s elders, with clasped hands, watched this battle of wits with a hint of helplessness, secretly observing the subtle struggle.

“Haha, Elder Tianyan, after many years, you are still as unchanged as ever!”

This was a jab, mocking the other party’s stagnant cultivation, having made no progress.

“Oh, no, how can I compare to Elder Qing? So leisurely and serene, like a roaming cloud and wild crane. No wonder your mentality is so good.”

This was a jab, mocking the other party for not being highly regarded within the sect, and being outside the core circle of power.

They were clearly cultivators at the Spirit Transformation stage, capable of making the cultivation world tremble with their presence, yet now they were bickering like immature children, vying for verbal supremacy. It was truly an unsightly spectacle.

Cha Chun sighed faintly, somewhat helpless. Li Weiyang, noticing her movement, chuckled softly, “Elder Tianyan is always like that.”
Cha Chun replied softly, her voice like jade beads falling onto a tray, “Let him be.”

Li Weiyang looked at her slender neck. The wind stirred the strands of hair by her cheek and her light veil, revealing half of her pointed small face. The lingering illness was even heavier. His heart stirred slightly, and he couldn’t help but say gently, “Are you alright?”

Cha Chun said indifferently, “Just my old ailments.”

She furrowed her delicate brows, her dark eyes looking at the Sword School group, especially the three vaguely clustered figures in front, and asked, “Senior Brother, should we go say hello?”

Li Weiyang nodded. “It’s only proper, in all respects, to go over.”

He called out, “Huayi, Liuye, after the last secret realm, you two should be more familiar with them. Perhaps you can go together?”

“Yes.” Yu Huayi and Shen Liuye also deferred to this senior brother. Even if the two had private disagreements, they didn’t show it openly.

The elders each discussed their own matters, and the students had their own exchanges.

Su Qing saw the people from the Yan Yi Sect approaching them first.

Yu Huayi and Shen Liuye were familiar opponents from past battles.

After many years, both of their cultivations had made considerable progress.

Yu Huayi was at Foundation Establishment Layer 6, and Shen Liuye was at Foundation Establishment Layer 5.

Su Qing couldn’t discern Cha Chun’s cultivation.

Her divine sense was powerful, and she vaguely sensed that the spiritual energy and aura on her body seemed intermittently present, appearing smooth at first glance, but actually sluggish.

It seemed that, just as the rumors claimed, her health was very poor.

As for Li Weiyang, he was indeed as rumored, already at late Golden Core stage cultivation at a young age, not yet sixty.

The moment they met, Li Weiyang nodded politely, greeting the three.

Then, his eyes flickered, and he first looked at Tian Ning, who stood beside them.

He gently praised, “The world says I possess heaven-blessed talent, but today, having witnessed Daoist Qi’s demeanor, I truly understand that a firefly is to the bright moon.”

His words were indeed polite, but they also struck a nerve.

Tian Ning’s face stiffened. She gave him a cold glance, but did not reply.

Tang Yueling, being fiercely protective, immediately retorted impolitely, “That is indeed true.”

Yu Huayi’s expression changed. Already bearing an old grudge, and now openly humiliated, she angrily said, “My senior brother was merely being humble. How can you act like this!”

Tang Yueling showed no fear, retorting, “A defeated general, why speak so much?”

The dignity of the sect must not be offended. Shen Liuye said coldly, “This time is different from that time.”

Of course, this time was different from that time. After all, Li Weiyang was here, and late Golden Core stage was incomparable to early Golden Core stage.

Su Qing said unhurriedly, “Everyone has senior sisters and senior brothers, don’t they?”

Her words also carried a deeper meaning. After all, logically speaking, Li Weiyang should be an opponent from the second-year cohort, and fighting against them, the first-year students, even if he won, was nothing to boast about or be proud of.

No matter his cultivation, she couldn’t lose the verbal sparring match.

Those present were all shrewd individuals; how could they not understand her meaning? Shen Liuye’s brows furrowed tightly, a hint of thinly veiled anger appearing on his face.

He was about to retort when he heard Cha Chun cough a few times, pressing her hand to her lips.

“Senior Sister, this is a windy spot. We should go somewhere else…” Yu Huayi asked worriedly, but was interrupted by a female voice. The newcomer was Ji Xinghong. She looked at Cha Chun and asked with concern, “How has your health been recently?”

As soon as she spoke, it immediately drew hostile glances from the Yan Yi Sect disciples, especially Yu Huayi. She had the best relationship with Cha Chun, and her face changed dramatically upon hearing this, instinctively wanting to step forward and shield Cha Chun.

Ji Xinghong wouldn’t humor anyone. The pressure of her late Golden Core cultivation made everyone present’s faces turn pale. Yu Huayi’s steps stiffened, freezing on the spot.

Cha Chun’s hand rested on her shoulder. She walked forward, her skirt hem fluttering. She lowered her head and nodded, saying, “Daoist Ji, long time no see.”

Li Weiyang’s gaze was somewhat complex. He sighed, “Daoist Ji.”

Ji Xingjian’s gaze was like a poisoned blade, fiercely sweeping over Li Weiyang.

Ji Xinghong said nothing to Li Weiyang, only curled her lips into a smile.

None of the three spoke further, yet the atmosphere surged, strangely indescribable.

The rivalry between the Yan Yi Sect and the Sword School was completely overshadowed by the undercurrents among the three.

What a grand drama.

Su Qing also managed to get to the front row.

Tang Yueling’s eyes gleamed with interest, occasionally elbowing Su Qing, reminding her of the key points to observe.

Su Qing watched the reactions of each protagonist in this grand drama, narrowing her eyes, deep in thought.

Tian Ning was uninterested. She silently observed everyone’s swords, finally concluding: ‘Not as good as Snowfall.’ Then, she contentedly began to zone out.

After Ji Xinghong greeted the Yan Yi Sect amicably, she looked at Su Qing. “Daoist Su, we meet again.”

“Daoist Ji.” Su Qing nodded in response.

Their interaction, however, drew a flicker of attention from Li Weiyang.

Although he hadn’t truly taken this ordinary female cultivator with no background seriously, if Ji Xinghong was befriending her, perhaps he could subtly maneuver something.

If Ji Xinghong knew what Li Weiyang was thinking, she would surely curse him as an idiot.

The Sword School had a short history.

Although it possessed Carefree Immortal’s legacy, talent was scarce.

From a family background perspective, the one most favored by the Sword School and entering its inner circles would not be Qi Tianning from the Qi family, nor Tang Yueling from the Tang family. It could only be Su Qing.

How could she be looked down upon just because of her ordinary birth? This was her future sharp weapon for climbing upwards.
Too stupid.

After about an incense stick’s time, the various sects were finally assembled. The elders gathered at the front, and the students at the back, all dressed in uniform sect attire. Looking across, they were clearly demarcated.

Before long, Wang Quan, the Sect Leader of the Sword School of the World, appeared.

As usual, he was in white robes, and as usual, he coughed every three steps, leaning weakly on his staff. Those who knew his true nature twitched at the corners of their eyes: ‘Act, keep acting.’

Wang Quan had many flaws. His only virtue was that he disliked idle talk.

Therefore, he did not deliver a lengthy speech to the already long-waiting crowd.

Instead, he waved his sleeve, releasing a spiritual light, and directly brought out the Book of Heaven.

Above the nine heavens, a spiritual light flashed.

The Book of Heaven, suspended in mid-air, began to move without wind.

Its pages fluttered, causing a strange phenomenon in the heavens and earth, spiritual energy surging.

Unfortunately, it was a blank book, each page empty, leaving nothing to examine.

Wang Quan took in all the commotion.

As the initiator of this secret realm, he naturally made the first move.

He saw his Taixu Sword shoot straight into the sky, radiating dazzling spiritual light, soaring towards the canopy.

In an instant, as if in response, the Sword Tomb mountain peak released streams of golden-purple energy.

Su Qing watched as the old plum tree, in this golden light, revealed its strong and rustic form, and above the plum tree, continuous, rosy purple qi, vibrant as clouds.

This was where the Sword School’s fortune lay. Only the Sect Leader had the authority to mobilize it.

Wang Quan pointed his fingers as a command, and a wisp of golden-purple energy separated from the high sky, plunging directly into the Book of Heaven above.

As that purple qi surged from the Sword Tomb, all the Sword School students present felt their minds tighten, as if connected to something.

Su Qing was also like this.

She clutched her fiercely pounding heart, feeling as if her entire soul was about to follow this wisp of fortune.

The Book of Heaven trembled, receiving the offering from the Sword School.

On its snow-white pages, a five-petal plum blossom emblem appeared, and below it, four flowing characters: [Sword School of the World].

Following this, the Yan Yi Sect, He Rong Faction, Penglai Immortal Island, Tianxing Academy, Boundless City, Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, Hundred Sects Alliance, and Rogue Cultivator Alliance—the other eight forces—each cast their fortunes.

The fortune of a sect could only be mobilized by its Sect Leader, or by someone holding the Sect Leader’s token.

Therefore, the scene of the secret realm opening today was undeniably grand, no wonder it attracted tens of thousands of people to watch and worship.

Wang Quan quietly observed the other eight distinct colored fortunes being cast into the Book of Heaven, revealing corresponding emblems and symbols on its pages.

The fortune of the Yan Yi Sect… it’s getting fainter.

Although it wasn’t obvious, because he paid special attention, he noticed it immediately.

He had once mentioned this to Li Zhoudu, the Sect Leader of the Yan Yi Sect, but the other party dismissed it, saying that sect fortune naturally fluctuated constantly, with no fixed number, and changes in density were perfectly normal.

Moreover,

“A Nascent Soul cultivator within a hundred years will emerge from our sect. Even with setbacks, what is there to fear?”