Chapter 201: A Gathering of Heroes and Talents
After entering the mountain gate, there was a mountain path stretching ten li ahead. At the end of the path lay Tian Jian Villa. After the seven members of the Xiao Sect entered the gate, they intentionally deviated in their pace, gradually creating more distance between one another. Xiao Juetian, Xiao Kuangyu, and Xiao Kuanglei walked at the front; Xiao Boyun and Xiao Zhen walked in the middle; while Xiao Wuji and Xiao Nan fell to the rear.
Xiao Juetian, the Sect Master of the Xiao Sect, had four sons, named after "Wind, Rain, Thunder, Clouds" — from eldest to youngest: Xiao Kuangfeng, Xiao Kuangyu, Xiao Kuanglei, Xiao Kuangyun. Xiao Kuangfeng had gained fame in the previous upper-tier ranking battle, while Xiao Kuangyu had taken third place in the last competition, equally imposing. This time, it was Xiao Kuanglei's turn, who had just turned twenty. As for the youngest son, Xiao Kuangyun, though he was only a month younger than Xiao Kuanglei and also twenty years old, he was known to all as a playboy, or to put it less kindly, a complete drunkard and womanizer. The Xiao Sect would never allow him to come and embarrass them.
However, within the Xiao Sect, Xiao Kuangyun was the most favored, after all, he was the only son born to Xiao Juetian's legal wife.
Xiao Juetian glanced indifferently behind him and said to Xiao Kuanglei, "Lei'er, this time in the ranking battle, the heavy burden of shaking off the 'eternal third-place' name falls on you. I don't expect you to defeat Ling Yun, but with your talent, aside from Ling Yun, you have no reason to lose to anyone... including Xiao Zhen. He is eyeing you eagerly, wanting to compete."
"I understand, Father. I will not disappoint you or the Sect." Xiao Kuanglei nodded, a resolute expression appearing on his face.
"Yu'er, tonight you can explain the details of the ranking battle to Lei'er. Also, when the top sixteen competition begins, don't forget to hand the 'Shock Dust Sword' to Lei'er. It will be our secret trump card for this ranking battle." Xiao Juetian instructed.
"Father, rest assured. I know how to guide Third Brother." Xiao Kuangyu said with a faint smile.
Behind them, Xiao Boyun spoke similar words to Xiao Zhen. Xiao Boyun's long eyebrows slanted slightly, making it clear from his appearance that his temperament was not gentle. He said in a low voice, "Zhen'er, this ranking battle is your chance to make a name for yourself! Your opponents are not just disciples of other sects, but also Xiao Kuanglei! In the sect master contest back then, I could not overcome Xiao Juetian and ended up as an elder of the Sword Sect — I accepted that. But my son will never lose to his son! This time, you must not only secure second place for the Xiao Sect, but also defeat Xiao Kuanglei, so that I can hold my head high."
Xiao Zhen nodded heavily: "Father, rest assured. I will not disappoint my fellow disciples, and even more so, I will not disappoint you."
As for Xiao Wuji's instructions to his grandson Xiao Nan, they were much simpler: "Nan'er, bringing you to this ranking battle was a hard-earned opportunity I managed to secure. You are still young, and breaking into the top ten is basically impossible. But as a disciple of the Xiao Sect, you must not fall below the fiftieth place no matter what. You have cultivated in seclusion for so long; this actual combat will be the best training for you and a test of your hard work during this period."
"Yes!" Xiao Nan replied respectfully, then said, "Grandfather, when I came out of seclusion a few days ago, I happened to hear that you had selected a husband for Yue Rui... a certain Xiao Luocheng, and that he was crippled? Is that true?"
"Indeed, such a thing happened." Xiao Wuji nodded, but his expression was calm, clearly not taking it too much to heart: "Yue Rui's talent is mediocre, her appearance and temperament are unremarkable. Rather than finding a 'phoenix tail' in the main sect, it's better to find a 'chicken head' in a branch sect. And with your grandfather around, no one in the branch sect dares to bully her. Although that Xiao Luocheng had average talent, he was considered a top talent in New Moon City. But being crippled now, he is barely fit to be her husband. I'll have to find her another suitable match after these matters are settled."
"..."
After saying these words, this Tian Jian disciple wished he could slap himself twice on the spot. Greeting guests at the mountain gate was a matter of the villa's prestige, so he had been specially selected as an important disciple capable of handling any situation. In front of sect masters of Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Sect, he had remained neither humble nor arrogant, his expression unchanged. But facing the fairy maiden of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, he finally lost his composure — after all, he was a normal man.
Although he hadn't yet read the invitation letter, a woman with such divine beauty, transcendent appearance, and ethereal aura could only come from the Bing Yun Fairy Palace. The floating dreamlike ice aura was absolute proof. Moreover, to facilitate control over potential unexpected situations, the ranking battle rules had a strict stipulation: the total number of accompanying people and participating disciples from any force must not exceed seven. Even major forces like the Four Great Sects were not exempt. The quota of seven was too few even for a small sect, and almost no force would have fewer than seven people... except the Bing Yun Fairy Palace! The Bing Yun Fairy Palace rarely wanted to interact with the outside world, especially places with many men — everyone knew the reason. It was not surprising that the Bing Yun Fairy Palace had only sent five people this time.
The stunning woman standing in front, without a veil, took out the invitation letter and the name list, handing them to the Tian Jian disciple. Seeing that jade-like, snow-white hand so close, the Tian Jian disciple's heartbeat quickened. For the first time in his life, he realized that a woman's hand could be so beautiful. He even felt that if he could touch that hand just once, he would willingly die... but even with ten thousand times the courage, he wouldn't dare act on it. He carefully reached out, pinched the edges of the invitation letter and name list, and took them.
Glancing over the invitation letter and name list, he quickly lowered his head and said, "So it's Fairy Bingli and Fairy Bingchan of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace in person... Ah? F-Fairy Bingchan?"
Belatedly realizing, the Tian Jian disciple instinctively looked up at the veiled woman with eyes as cold as ice crystals. The moment he met her gaze, his entire body shuddered. He realized he had already lost his composure badly and hurriedly lowered his head again, saying respectfully, "Fairy Bingchan's name thunders in our ears. Please forgive my discourtesy. Five honored guests, please enter..."
After speaking, he stepped aside unsteadily. As a chilling breeze of fragrant ice passed by him, he didn't even dare to raise his head.
Only after they had walked far away did the Tian Jian disciple fully come back to his senses. He stared blankly at their retreating figures for a moment, feeling somewhat dazed. Then, the disciple beside him suddenly said, "Senior Brother Haiya, you just said... Fairy Bingchan? Could it be that legendary Chu Yuechan?"
"Yes!" The senior brother called Haiya nodded: "Chu Yueli, Chu Yuechan, Shui Wushuang, Wu Xuexin, Xia Qingyue... that was indeed Chu Yuechan's name. She actually came in person..."
"Should we report to the Villa Master immediately? When the Villa Master learns that Chu Yuechan has arrived, he will surely be excited..."
"Report your head!" Ling Haiya slapped him on the head: "The Villa Master and the Villa Master's wife are currently receiving guests together at the villa. Any fool knows that the name Chu Yuechan is a huge taboo for the Villa Master's wife. If you report it and cause trouble, see how you'll handle it!"
"Then... how should I report?"
Ling Haiya thought for a moment and said, "Just say that the Bing Yun Fairy Palace has arrived, five people in total, led by Fairy Bingli, Chu Yueli. After all, on the name list, her name is written first. Don't mention Chu Yuechan at all!"
"Oh, alright." The Tian Jian disciple quickly moved to a different spot, took out a sound transmission talisman, and sent the message to the villa.
At that moment, the group of people who had earlier been dumbfounded finally walked over. The middle-aged man at the front clasped his hands and said, "Young friend, were those just now the fairies of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace?"
"Yes." Ling Haiya nodded succinctly.
"As expected. Truly, hearing about them a hundred times is not as good as seeing them once; seeing them once far surpasses hearing a hundred times." The middle-aged man sighed, then said, "We are from the Xuan Blade Sect of the Eastern Domain, and have come specially to pay a visit to the Tian Jian Villa..."
Wave after wave of sect teams arrived continuously. Each team had only seven members, but the elders were invariably powerful overlords renowned across the land, while the youths were top-tier talents famous throughout the region. Over these days, these renowned overlords and the most outstanding young geniuses would gather at Tian Jian Villa to compete in the ranking battle.
As dusk fell, an unusual team arrived at the mountain gate. It was unusual because it consisted of only four people — even fewer than the Bing Yun Fairy Palace.
These four people were none other than Qin Wushang, Cang Yue, Yun Che, and Xia Yuanba.
As they approached the mountain gate, Ling Haiya stepped forward and said sternly, "Please stop here. These days, our villa is preparing for the Cang Feng Ranking Battle, and we are not receiving guests. Please return."
With only four people, and apart from the elder, the other three young ones had profound strength only at the True Xuan Realm for two, and one was merely at the Initial Xuan Realm. Amidst this gathering of heroes at Tian Jian Villa, it was utterly pitiful. No one would believe they were here to participate in the Cang Feng Ranking Battle.
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