An Unexpected Invitation to Azure Feather Immortal Sect

The day of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect’s disciple recruitment quickly arrived.

Bing Xingwen had already sent word, arranging for Xia Yi, Bing Yingying, and a few others to await the Azure Feather Immortal Sect’s arrival at the Bing family estate.

Before long, a young man, clad in a dignified azure Daoist robe and possessing an imposing aura, was escorted into the Bing family residence.

He carried a long sword on his back, and the characters ‘Azure Feather’ emblazoned on his robe clearly marked him as a member of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

Reaching the gathered group, the young man bowed respectfully to Bing Xingwen before speaking.

“Patriarch Bing, we have arrived as agreed to escort your esteemed daughter back to the Azure Feather Immortal Sect for her entrance examination.”

“It is indeed an honor for Young Friend Li to have made this journey personally. Allow me to introduce my daughter and her fiancé, Xia Yi.”

With a nod, Bing Xingwen motioned for Xia Yi and Bing Yingying to step forward.

“I am Xia Yi. A pleasure to meet you, Senior Brother Li.”

“Greetings, Senior Brother Li.”

Xia Yi and Bing Yingying offered their greetings to the young man named Li, thus completing their introductions.

“You are Xia Yi?”

To Xia Yi’s surprise, the young man—Li Junying, as he now realized—actually knew him.

The moment Xia Yi stated his name, Li Junying’s eyes lit up, and a palpable sigh of relief escaped him, as if he had just completed a crucial mission.

“Indeed, Senior Brother, I am Xia Yi,” he replied.

Though bewildered as to why a member of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect would recognize him, Xia Yi responded affirmatively out of courtesy.

“Would Daoist Friend be willing to activate this treasured sword?” Li Junying inquired.

Li Junying produced an exquisite, pure white long sword, adorned with delicate orchid patterns, and extended it to Xia Yi, his face etched with an expression of profound hope.

“Certainly,” Xia Yi agreed.

“Buzz!”

As he gripped the sword and channeled his spiritual energy into it, the pure white blade swiftly reacted, emitting a series of wondrous melodies.

The orchid patterns etched into the blade seemed to awaken, blooming one after another, some even twining around Xia Yi’s hand as if expressing profound affection.

The delicate fragrance, harmonizing perfectly with the enchanting melody, uplifted the spirits of everyone present, even dispelling many of their distracting thoughts.

“Excellent, that will suffice!” Li Junying declared.

Li Junying’s voice interrupted the sword’s wondrous display, prompting Xia Yi to cease channeling his spiritual energy.

Deprived of spiritual energy, the sword that had seemed so alive reverted to an ordinary long blade, resting quietly in Xia Yi’s hand.

“Senior Brother Li, this…” Xia Yi began, a question lingering.

“There’s no need for concern, Junior Brother Xia Yi. This was merely a small method of confirmation.”

“A method of confirmation?” Xia Yi echoed, intrigued.

“Precisely. Someone within the Azure Feather Immortal Sect entrusted me with finding you. I don’t know their identity, but they simply instructed me to bring you back to the sect, and that I should agree to any conditions you might have…”

“Huh?”

Li Junying’s words utterly dumbfounded Xia Yi. In his recollection, such a plot twist had never appeared in the original novel.

He knew no one in the Azure Feather Immortal Sect. What exactly was happening?

Xia Yi glanced at his future father-in-law, Bing Xingwen, who wore an equally bewildered expression.

His gaze then fell upon Pei Yunxiang, who stood nearby, deep in thought.

Observing their reactions, Li Junying spoke again.

“Junior Brother Xia Yi, do not fret. That person also conveyed that she bears no ill will. You will naturally understand everything once you arrive at the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, and this very sword serves as a token of her sincerity.”

Xia Yi’s brows furrowed at these words. He found himself believing Li Junying’s assertion that the person held no malicious intent.

Someone capable of concealing their identity while still commanding a Core Formation inner disciple like Li Junying undoubtedly held a significant position within the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

If such a powerful individual wished to manipulate him, there would be no need for such elaborate measures.

Between entrusting someone and conducting a test, it seemed overly complicated. Moreover, he had intended to join the Azure Feather Immortal Sect anyway, and this arrangement effectively allowed him to bypass the entrance examination.

After careful consideration, Xia Yi agreed to Li Junying’s proposition.

“Senior Brother Li, you speak too gravely. I had already intended to join the Azure Feather Immortal Sect. I merely wonder if I will still need to participate in the entrance examination afterward?”

To be on the safe side, Xia Yi deemed it prudent to confirm.

“Having successfully activated the treasured sword, Junior Brother Xia Yi naturally won’t need to undergo the entrance examination.”

“If I’m not taking the entrance test, how do I choose which Spiritual Peak to join?” Xia Yi asked.

“Junior Brother will have a specially arranged private residence, unaffiliated with any specific peak. Your treatment will be on par with that of an inner disciple, and you’ll be free to choose any Spiritual Peak to visit and study at your leisure.”

“May I bring family members with me?”

“Certainly, there’s no objection.”

“And Yingying, will she…”

“She will enjoy the same privileges as Junior Brother.”

A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers.

It wasn’t Xia Yi who drew a sharp breath upon hearing Li Junying’s words, but rather Bing Xingwen and the other spectators, including Bing Yingying and Fei Miaoyun.

Faced with such incredibly generous terms, Xia Yi found himself hesitating, as it all sounded more fantastical than an outright scam.

“If Junior Brother remains unconvinced, I can present you with the inner disciple token right now.”

As he spoke, Li Junying produced two jade tokens, each emblazoned with the character ‘Azure’, and offered them to Xia Yi and Bing Yingying. He then showed his own token, which, notably, bore an additional character: ‘Li’.

“Both of you may now bind the tokens to yourselves.”

Xia Yi accepted the tokens, gave them a brief inspection, and then promptly initiated the blood-binding ritual.

As a flash of azure light enveloped it, Xia Yi’s token, like Li Junying’s, gained an additional character: ‘Xia’. His spiritual essence was now officially recorded within the token.

Xia Yi could distinctly feel the connection forged between himself and the token.

This was, without a doubt, a genuine inner disciple token of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

With Xia Yi’s encouraging nod, Bing Yingying performed the same ritual, successfully binding her own token.

“So, Junior Brother Xia Yi, do you still harbor any doubts?” Li Junying inquired once both had completed the binding.

“None whatsoever, Senior Brother Li. Thank you for dispelling my confusion. This is a small token of my appreciation; I hope you will accept it.”

With that, Xia Yi produced a bottle of third-grade Qi Recovery Pills and presented them to Li Junying. While his suspicions lingered, the young man was, after all, an inner disciple of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

A token of gratitude was appropriate, and a common third-grade Qi Recovery Pill was hardly a significant expense for Xia Yi.

Moreover, Qi Recovery Pills were a frequently used elixir that would eventually be consumed, ensuring the gift was not perceived as perfunctory.

“Absolutely not, Junior Brother! I am merely acting on another’s behalf; how could I possibly accept a gift from you?”

“One matter is separate from another. This is my apology for having doubted Senior Brother earlier. It was my discourtesy, and I earnestly request that you accept it.”

“This… very well. Then, I shall accept it for now. Junior Brother, do you have any other matters that require your attention? I can arrange for us to wait a little longer for you.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Senior Brother, but I have no other affairs to attend to. We are ready to depart at your convenience.”

“Excellent. In that case, shall we return to the sect immediately? Junior Brother Xia Yi, please follow me.”

With that, Li Junying took the lead, and after bidding farewell to Bing Xingwen and Chang Zhenli, Xia Yi followed him out.

They arrived before a colossal immortal vessel, emblazoned with the characters ‘Azure Feather’.

After Li Junying presented his token, he led everyone aboard the immortal vessel.

“Junior Brother, you and Junior Sister may rest here. We will arrive at the Immortal Sect in approximately half a month.”

Unlike the smaller accommodations provided for others, Xia Yi’s room was noticeably larger and situated on the immortal vessel’s uppermost deck.

It was more than spacious enough for Xia Yi and the three others, clearly a VIP suite.

“We appreciate your trouble, Senior Brother Li.”

“You’re too kind, Junior Brother. I still have matters to attend to, so I shall not disturb your rest.”

“Farewell, Senior Brother.”

Li Junying gave a dismissive wave of his hand and then withdrew from the room.

Once certain that Li Junying had departed, Pei Yunxiang, at Xia Yi’s subtle signal, activated the room’s protective formation. To be absolutely safe, she added an extra layer of restriction.

Inside the room, Xia Yi and the three others settled together.