Chapter 56: The Grand Competition of the Immortal Sects – What Happened to the Tacit Understanding?

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, there were only four days left before the Grand Competition of the Immortal Sects. Since the first stage was to be held at the Gui Xian Sect, various sects had already started sending people over in these four days.

The first to arrive were the elders of the Three Great Sects. According to custom, each sect was to send ten elders to accompany their team during the competition, with at least two Sword Cultivator Elders and two Alchemy Cultivator Elders among them, while the rest could be freely selected.

This time, the elders sent were mostly strong and steady cultivators, not like the previous group that caused trouble. After arriving, they immediately began making preparations at their temporary lodgings.

The second group to arrive was the main competition teams, and finally came the top five cultivators from each sect.

The elders stayed on the main peak, while disciples from other sects temporarily lodged at Elegant Seasons Peak. Gui Xian Sect disciples remained in their original quarters. Other sects’ disciples stayed in rooms of six, while top disciples got a room to themselves.

These few days, Gui Xian Sect had been especially lively, with silver kites flying all over the sky.

“How many times has Wu Nian Sect’s silver kite come already? Brought the whole clan, huh?”

Wen Yun looked up at the sky and couldn’t help but comment.

Lian Mu was discussing sword flight techniques with Guan Shize. Upon hearing that, she replied, “Not as many as Qing Xuan Sect.”

Wen Yun knew that, of course—he just couldn’t stand Wu Nian Sect. “That White Tiger West sect’s pampered young masters really know how to make a fuss. Each one dragging a whole cart of things—someone who didn’t know better would think they’re moving house.”

Ji Mingyue chimed in from the side, “Don’t forget, you’re from White Tiger West too.”

“Exactly because I’m from White Tiger West that I know what they’re like,” Wen Yun replied calmly.

Ji Mingyue was working with some pills, handing each one to Wen Yun to test for poison. Lian Mu and Guan Shize were huddled together, trying to get their swords to fly.

There were no classes today, and no illusion trials either. Once all three great sects had arrived, the competition would begin right away. With nothing to do for now, Lian Mu decided to try something new.

Murong Yi had already taught her how to fly with a sword, but she still hadn’t managed to break through the barrier. Facai, her sword, just wouldn’t cooperate. Even Guan Shize had already mastered flight.

“Can it lift off?” Guan Shize asked, helping from the side.

Lian Mu gave it a try—no success.

“It’s actually not that hard,” Guan Shize encouraged. “You might just need a little push from fate. The first time I flew, it was because I almost fell off a cliff while looking for my master. I panicked—and boom, it worked.”

Lian Mu lowered Facai, its green blade sinking into the earth. She wasn’t planning to try again. “Maybe it just doesn’t like me.”

Every sword in the Sword Pavilion ran away at her touch. Even the sword she crafted herself refused to resonate deeply with her. Maybe it was because her spiritual root wasn’t natural? Maybe it was just… rejection?

That was the only explanation she could come up with.

“Looks like I’ll still be riding my broom in the future.”

At the mention of the broom, Guan Shize flinched, recalling the beatings he got from his master. He rubbed his arm and said, “I think your broom’s great. I practiced with it every day and finally got used to flying.”

“But recently, the elders ordered us not to fly around too much, in case we crash into other sects’ silver kites.”

While the two chatted, Wen Yun had already finished poison testing. Seeing there were no major issues, Ji Mingyue handed the packed pills to Lian Mu.

“I found a new formula in the Scripture Library,” Ji Mingyue said. “It replenishes a large amount of spiritual energy at once. I made some improvements to the original—you should test the effect.”

Lian Mu received a bunch of oddly colored pills. None of them looked appetizing.

Nearby, Wen Yun’s face twisted with bitterness as he chewed the test pills, frantically pulling candied fruits out of his Spatial Pouch to shove into his mouth.

Guan Shize was alarmed. “Chief Wen, are you okay?”

“N-no problem.” Wen Yun forced out the words. “Lian Mu, you try it. Hurry up.”

Lian Mu: “……”

Ji Mingyue quietly blocked Wen Yun’s contorted expression with her sleeve. “It’s not that bitter. He’s faking.”

Lian Mu stuffed the whole pill in, chewed with a deadpan face, and swallowed.

After a pause, she commented, “It’s alright—similar to the last batch.”

“These are third-grade pills,” Ji Mingyue said. “The Scripture Library doesn’t have many high-grade formulas, so this is the best I could do.”

“Isn’t Master Feng a Gui Xian Sect member?” Lian Mu asked. “He’s so skilled—didn’t he leave behind high-grade pill recipes?”

Ji Mingyue’s expression turned helpless. “He did. But before we could copy them down, Wu Nian Sect took them a hundred years ago, claiming the Feng family’s ownership.”

Lian Mu took a sip from her water pouch. “So that’s how it is…”

Wen Yun, who spent all day hanging around Ji Mingyue, knew about Lian Mu’s physical condition. He quietly moved closer and whispered, “In White Tiger West, the Wu Yang Feng Clan lost all influence ages ago. Now it’s the Talisman Cultivator family, the Shen Clan, who calls the shots. There are two Feng Clan members in this competition. If you want to make a move, it’s easy.”

His message was clear: if others wouldn’t give it willingly, they could find another way. The Grand Competition provided the perfect cover—plenty of chances to “coincidentally” encounter each other. No reason to let it go to waste.

Lian Mu was already thinking the same thing. “Which of the two Feng Clan members is easier to deal with?”

Ji Mingyue: “……”

So quick to settle on a target?

Wen Yun considered for a moment. “Probably the one from Qing Xuan Sect. Wu Nian Sect’s chief alchemy cultivator is Feng Huanyin—she’s likely the next head of the Feng family. Anyone in that position would be sharp and not easy to trick. But she has a younger brother named Feng Yunyi. Eight years ago, he and his father fled the Feng family. Now he’s Qing Xuan Sect’s chief alchemy cultivator.”

“Someone from Qing Xuan Sect?” Guan Shize frowned. “Their people aren’t easy to deal with either, are they?”

Wen Yun said, “No, my family’s in White Tiger West. I met Feng Yunyi before through connections—he’s nothing like his sister. How should I put it… he’s kind of like Xu Xianxing. Looks smart on the surface, but it’s all an act. I think he’s a good entry point.”

Hearing that, Lian Mu silently locked in her target.

Guan Shize said, “But surely the other Qingxuan Sect chief disciples aren’t fools. We should still be cautious.”

“Definitely,” Ji Mingyue agreed. “Qingxuan Sect places great importance on alchemy cultivators and artifact refiners. Feng Yunyi likely has a chief disciple protecting him. They’re all Heaven Spiritual Roots—hard to deal with.”

Just like Xu Xianxing is protected by Baili Que, and Ji Mingyue is protected by Wen Yun, other sects’ alchemists and artifact refiners naturally aren’t unguarded.

Wen Yun said, “Who’s guarding Feng Yunyi? As long as it’s not their chief sword cultivator, anything’s possible.”

Guan Shize suddenly fell silent: “……”

Well, funny thing—he’d heard it was that person.

Lian Mu said, “It’s fine. The tournament’s just starting, there’s still time. Sooner or later, he’ll be alone.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye out for you,” Wen Yun said.

As an alchemy cultivator, Ji Mingyue was naturally curious about the Feng family’s high-grade pill formulas. Robbing the Feng clan’s alchemist wasn’t the most ethical thing—but it sure sounded satisfying.

Seeing how determined the group was, Guan Shize didn’t have the heart to ruin the mood and quietly swallowed the intel he’d gathered.

“What are you all doing huddled here?”

A shadow fell over the four of them as someone looked down and spoke coldly.

The moment Lian Mu and Guan Shize heard the voice, their legs tensed, and they shot upright with a ‘whoosh.’

Xin Wanbai’s eyes swept over them one by one. “All sneaky like—what scheme are you cooking up now?”

Wen Yun and Ji Mingyue also stood up. Wen Yun asked first, “Respected Elder Xin, have your injuries healed?”

Xin Wanbai nodded. “More or less. I’ll be responsible for accompanying you to the sect tournament.”

She glanced at Lian Mu, who wore the picture of honest innocence, eyes full of determination.

Then at Guan Shize, who stayed perfectly calm. When he met her gaze, he even smiled and bared a full set of teeth.

Xin Wanbai: “……”

Over the past few months, she’d heard all about the kinds of things Lian Mu had gotten up to. So seeing them all together like this, of course she was suspicious.

“With the tournament coming up, keep your heads down,” Xin Wanbai said, fixing her gaze directly on Lian Mu.

Lian Mu replied with her most sincere expression, “Yes, Elder.”

But she was the only one to respond. The other three stayed quiet as statues.

Lian Mu: “……”

Where’s the teamwork?

Xin Wanbai turned to Guan Shize. “Your master is looking for you. Don’t wander around—go back now.”

The moment Elder Xuanji was mentioned, Guan Shize panicked and bolted immediately.

“Ji Mingyue, Wen Yun, head to the main peak. A few elders have things to discuss with you.”

Finally, it was Lian Mu’s turn. Xin Wanbai looked at the seemingly innocent girl with a stomach full of tricks and asked, “You’re staying at Clear Bamboo Courtyard, House Thirteen, right?”

Lian Mu nodded. “Mm.”

Xin Wanbai said, “There are disciples from other sects staying in the nearby bamboo huts. Keep a low profile and don’t stir up trouble around them.”

Lian Mu immediately agreed. “Got it.”

“Alright, don’t just loiter around here. Go run a few trial battles when you’ve got time. As the second-seat sword cultivator, you should be setting a good example for your peers.”

——————

Qingzhu Courtyard –> Clear Bamboo Courtyard