Chapter 82: Setting a Banquet — “Hardship My Ass”

When the rankings of the four great sects were announced, everyone outside the illusion realm was stunned.

Azure Profound Sect taking first place was still within reason, but the remaining three spots were completely unexpected.

The disciples in the sects’ resting areas couldn’t see what was happening inside the illusion realm. All they knew was that within the span of an hour, the four great sects had all plucked the Wood Core Flower, and with the timing being so close, it was hard not to raise suspicions.

“Did all four sects run into each other? Weird, how come no one got knocked out?”

Logically speaking, if the four teams had encountered each other at the Wood Core Flower, a chaotic battle would have been inevitable. Yet from the moment Azure Profound Sect plucked the first flower to when Crimson Sky Sect’s ranking came out, not a single cultivator had been eliminated.

“Maybe the team leaders reached some kind of agreement about the order?”

“No way. With the kind of relationships those three sects have, there’s no chance they’d agree on anything.”

Outside the Azure Profound Sect area, the disciples were busy speculating, but the ones most shocked were those from Crimson Sky Sect and Clear Thought Sect.

Clear Thought Sect came in third—as usual. That’s how it had been in past years, so no one was surprised. But this time was different. They hadn’t beaten Returning Immortal Sect—they’d beaten Crimson Sky Sect.

Once the news spread, even the Clear Thought Sect’s resting area went quiet for a moment. Then, all eyes turned toward Crimson Sky Sect.

One of Crimson Sky Sect’s top disciples had already been eliminated and was waiting outside for the others to return. But after waiting a long time, they were greeted with the news that Crimson Sky Sect had come in dead last.

The expressions on everyone’s faces in the Crimson Sky Sect camp were grim as they turned to look at the Skydial Instrument.

Azure Profound Sect was the first to exit the illusion. Ying You led the way, with the four top disciples following behind. Their expressions were calm, as if the outcome hadn’t surprised them at all.

In reality, Azure Profound Sect’s team had no idea how the rankings had been decided either. They’d found the Wood Core Flower and immediately plucked it. At the time, Clear Thought Sect had been right behind them. They’d all assumed Clear Thought would take second.

But before Clear Thought Sect could get the flower, Returning Immortal Sect was suddenly announced as second place. And they had been right next to the flower—no one else was even present.

“So… there was more than one Wood Core Flower in this illusion?” Feng Yunyi looked around as others stared at their team.

If there had been more than one Wood Core Flower, that would explain why the trails of spiritual energy had been so chaotic.

Ying You said, “Go get the recording stone. Let’s see what the other sects were doing.”

Jiang Yuechen nodded and left to retrieve it.

After the Azure Profound Sect team returned to their resting area, the Returning Immortal Sect emerged.

Their leading team walked in front. Half of them looked totally relaxed, even slightly smug. The other half looked dazed.

Ji Mingyue had no idea what had happened. She’d been searching for the Wood Core Flower on the grasslands and had just found half of it when she was suddenly teleported out of the illusion. When she saw the others in the return corridor, she and Luo Qianxue were both stunned.

“You guys… ran into the Wood Core Flower halfway through?” Ji Mingyue finally came to her senses and asked.

As soon as she spoke, all the other sects turned to look at them. Even Azure Profound Sect’s top team was paying attention.

Guan Huailin’s expression was hard to describe. Baili Que didn’t even know where to begin. Lian Mu explained, “After entering the illusion, I accidentally mistook the Wood Core Flower for a spirit plant and dug it up—roots and all. It’s been in my spatial pouch this whole time, and I didn’t recognize it.”

Ji Mingyue: “?”

Other sects: “???”

They understood every word, yet together, they made no sense.

Xu Xianxing said, “So… you were right next to the flower the moment you entered?”

Lian Mu thought back and said, “It was right beside me.”

Everyone: “……”

Baili Que: “You’re drawing lots for the next illusion trial.”

Ji Mingyue agreed: “Yeah, with luck like that, not using it would be a waste.”

Lian Mu didn’t feel much about it. They already had their ranking. Talking about the past now wouldn’t change anything. She finished her explanation lightly, completely ignoring the bewildered looks from the other sects’ disciples.

“Where’s Wen Yun?” she suddenly noticed he wasn’t with them.

Guan Huailin shook his head. “He might’ve been too far from us. He’ll probably be out soon—it should be fine.”

Sure enough, after a while, Wen Yun walked out. His expression was blank. He sat down on the ground without saying a single word.

Lian Mu: “?”

She glanced at Xu Xianxing. He shook his head and shrugged.

Ji Mingyue shook her head too, but she seemed to have a guess and subtly pointed toward the Crimson Sky Sect side.

Lian Mu understood and said nothing.

The usual chatterboxes had all gone quiet. Guan Huailin had a vague sense that something was off, but he didn’t say anything either.

After Clear Thought Sect came out, Crimson Sky Sect finally returned. They headed back to their resting area.

They had clearly lost this round. Their position was on shaky ground, and the atmosphere around their camp was heavy.

Changsun Li looked toward the Returning Immortal Sect camp, just in time to see Wen Yun staring back.

Wen Yun curled his lips, made a gesture in the air mimicking something breaking in half, then grinned with an arrogant, punchable look on his face.

Changsun Li snorted in anger. “So cocky—and yet they still got stomped by Azure Profound Sect.”

Lu Feishuang remained silent, still unable to process what had just happened.

“Go get the recording stone,” she said to Changsun Li.

Changsun Li hesitated. “Leader, I’m sorry, I…”

Lu Feishuang didn’t even look at him. “What use is talking now? Cut the nonsense. Just go.”

Her gaze swept over Returning Immortal Sect’s team, and her hand on the sword hilt tightened.

“That sword cultivator—what’s her deal?”

In Azure Profound Sect’s camp, the five cultivators gathered around Ying You.

Ying You was cleaning his sword. When he heard Feng Yunyi’s question, he didn’t even look up.

Seeing no response, Feng Yunyi turned to Yuan Huai, who had just finished repairing his spirit artifact.

“A three-spirit-root sword cultivator—what’s there to talk about?” Yuan Huai said.

“She just got lucky,” Gu Qingyu added quietly. “They won’t be able to rely on luck forever. When it comes to a real clash, they’ll learn just how wide the gap is between them and the other sects.”

Jiang Yuechen had just finished watching the recording stone. He looked relieved. “Good thing our Elder planted another Wood Core Flower midway. Otherwise, we might not have secured our rank…”

“In that kind of situation, only our Elder would be qualified to interfere.”

He looked proud. Any other sect probably wouldn’t have handled it so cleanly.

Feng Yunyi frowned. “That sword cultivator’s luck is too good. I’ve got a feeling she’s not simple…”

He glanced at Ying You—who had, at some point, raised his head and was staring straight at Returning Immortal Sect’s second-seat cultivator.

“Her sword broke,” Ying You said.

Feng Yunyi: “?”

Ying You: “That sword… was no ordinary weapon.”

“How so?” Feng Yunyi asked.

Ying You had a natural affinity with swords. If a sword stood out to him, it definitely wasn’t normal.

“It’s hard to say for now,” he replied. “Just keep your distance. Especially you. Since the sect competition began, she’s been targeting you. She just hasn’t had a chance to act.”

“……”

Feng Yunyi knew this wasn’t far-fetched. Given his background, plenty of people had their eyes on him. He just didn’t care.

He always felt that their team leader’s gaze toward that sword cultivator wasn’t just observational—it carried another layer of complicated emotion.

“The elders are here. Tell the others to get up and form ranks,” said Ying You, rising to his feet.

The members of the four great sects emerged from their rest areas and headed to the main hall to be briefed on the unexpected events of this round’s illusion trial.

Azure Profound Sect and Returning Immortal Sect stood together in silence, not speaking a word—quiet as corpses.

It was obvious that the chaos stirred up by Returning Immortal Sect’s second-seat sword cultivator had impacted Azure Profound Sect as well, so the latter showed them no goodwill.

Clear Thought Sect, having followed behind Azure Profound Sect to snatch third place, was naturally feeling smug. Since they didn’t dare provoke Crimson Sky Sect, they instead turned their attention toward Returning Immortal Sect.

Shen Wuxie said, “You all just got lucky. Really think you deserve second place? What a joke.”

The disciples of Returning Immortal Sect were furious but restrained themselves out of decorum, glaring silently in rage.

Wen Yun nudged Lian Mu and said, “They’re praising your good luck.”

Lian Mu accepted it cheerfully. “I think so too. The four great sects should have a luck ranking—I’ll take first place.”

Shen Wuxie: “…”

Could she be any thicker-skinned?

“I’ve said it all along—you’re the chosen one,” Xu Xianxing said. “What a pity. I haven’t yet seen the consequences of offending Crimson Sky Sect.”

He spoke with a bright grin, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

The disciples of Crimson Sky Sect ground their teeth in fury, holding back their anger in silence.

Onstage, the elder finished explaining the ranking results and called for quiet.

“This round’s illusion trial featured harsh conditions. You’ve all endured much. Special thanks to the young cultivators of Returning Immortal Sect, who protected the Woodcore Flower all the way—surely a difficult journey.”

Disciples who had seen the memory stone: “…”

Difficult, my ass!

That person clearly feasted and drank the whole way through, while the demonic beasts and poisonous insects lined up to die at her hands!

“With the rankings decided, let us hope all young cultivators can now set aside past grievances and get along in peace outside the illusion trial.” As the elder spoke, his gaze landed on Wen Yun.

Wen Yun turned away, face still cold.

“Worm Mountain and Serpent Ridge teem with toxic creatures. After discussion among the elders, we’ve decided to hold a banquet tomorrow night at Limbo Pool, where you can rest and enjoy yourselves. The waters of Limbo Pool can cleanse poison from bugs and snakes—so you can all prepare with peace of mind for the next trial.”

Lian Mu listened below. Once the elder finished, the disciples were dismissed.

“Another banquet? Azure Profound Sect sure has time to kill,” Lian Mu said.

She had been planning to go find Bai Su as soon as the trial ended, sell the Green Bean, and exchange them for cash. Her sword had been half-destroyed—Xu Xianxing couldn’t repair it—so she urgently needed money to buy spiritual materials and fix it herself.

Now it looked like that plan was off for tomorrow.

Ji Mingyue patted Wen Yun and asked, “What’s wrong? Did Changsun Li piss you off?”

Wen Yun: “…It’s fine. I already beat him up.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the other four staring at each other.

“…”

Lian Mu and the others exchanged glances. None of them spoke, but they all had the exact same thought at once.