Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
Daoxuan's remarks went unheard by the others.
Upon learning that Daoxuan was merely testing Xu Taiping, the Sect Leader Zhou and several Peak Masters all secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although they all recognized Xu Taiping's performance in the Sword Inquiry, if Daoxuan truly intended to choose a disciple with a White Spirit Bone as his successor, it would undoubtedly be a loss for the entire Qingxuan Sect.
Centuries of cultivation experience had taught them that the potential of White Spirit Bones was limited; breaking through to the Profound Realm was already considered one in ten thousand.
If one couldn't break through Profound Realm, wouldn't Xu Taiping's swordsmanship be lost after a hundred years when his lifespan was exhausted?
Such a loss was something the Qingxuan Sect could not afford.
"Right."
Just as Uncle Nine was about to leave the arena on his flying sword, he suddenly stopped.
He turned his head to Sect Leader Zhou Tong and said:
"After the rest of the disciples finish their Sword Inquiry, come back to the main peak to see me, I have something to ask you."
"Yes."
Hearing this, Zhou Tong's face turned stern, and he immediately bowed in response.
Although he was the Sect Leader, he dared not show any airs in front of Uncle Nine.
"Haha, my friends, thank you for your indulgence!"
As Uncle Nine left, Zhao Qian, the Peak Master of the Seventh Peak, proudly bowed to the others and then cheerfully patted Xu Taiping on the shoulder, pointing to the Peak Masters of the Sixth Peak: "Kid, you've got good judgment. Our Seventh Peak may seem to be at the bottom, but in every aspect, we're no worse than them!"
"Talking nonsense with your eyes open."
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingqiu, the Peak Master of the Sixth Peak, immediately rolled her eyes at Zhao Qian.
"Hmm, I think so too!"
What surprised everyone even more was that Xu Taiping firmly agreed with Zhao Qian's statement.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qian was even more delighted, wishing he could accept Xu Taiping as his disciple on the spot.
"Taiping, in half a year, it will be the Seven Peaks competition. You will definitely regret your choice today after you see it."
Meng Qingqiu couldn't stand it any longer and reminded Xu Taiping again.
"I won't."
Upon hearing this, Xu Taiping still shook his head firmly.
Zhao Qian laughed heartily again at his response.
"This kid is really stubborn, beyond help."
Meng Qingqiu held her forehead.
"Little Taiping!"
At that moment, Zhao Linglong, Xu Ziyan, and Lin Buyu came down from the Cloud Tower and ran towards Xu Taiping.
"Sister Linglong."
Xu Taiping smiled at Zhao Linglong.
"Call me Senior Sister!"
Zhao Linglong corrected him with a smile.
Xu Taiping paused, then nodded with a smile:
"Senior Sister!"
Zhao Linglong immediately laughed out loud at his response.
"Alright, there are six more Sword Inquiries to go. Those unrelated, please leave."
At this moment, Sect Leader Zhou suddenly spoke up.
With Uncle Nine gone, he once again resumed his lofty and invincible demeanor, and when he spoke, he deliberately released his immense pressure.
"Linglong, Qingxiao, take Taiping back to the Seventh Peak to heal."
Zhao Qian casually reminded Zhao Linglong and Qingxiao, as he released his own invisible pressure to shield them from Sect Leader Zhou's.
"Yes!"
The two happily agreed.
"Taiping, I'll take you to heal first. Once you're better, I'll show you around the Seventh Peak, and your residence should be arranged soon."
"Right, right, I also need to take you to the Wanjuan Tower to select a cultivation technique, which is the reward promised to you by our Seventh Peak."
Zhao Linglong chattered nonstop as she held Xu Taiping's hand.
Xu Taiping wasn't feeling very well at the moment.
His head was heavy, and he felt weak, but for some reason, he found the chatter of the woman beside him not only not annoying but inexplicably comforting.
"Ah, I remember now, my mother also liked to nag."
Xu Taiping suddenly recalled the face of his mother, which now only appeared in his dreams.
"Xu Taiping."
Just then, another girl's voice suddenly sounded behind the three of them.
Xu Taiping turned around.
In a daze, he only saw a face that could topple cities.
After a few moments of sluggishness, a name finally surfaced in his mind—Lin Buyu.
"We meet again, Miss Buyu."
Xu Taiping smiled at Lin Buyu.
"It's not 'meet again,' it's 'see you again.'"
Lin Buyu said this with an unintentional sly smile at the corner of her mouth.
After saying this, she didn't wait for Xu Taiping to reply and turned to leave with Xu Ziyan.
"See you again?"
Zhao Linglong looked at Xu Taiping with some surprise.
"Besides the time when you first entered the sect, have you met before?"
She asked Xu Taiping curiously.
Xu Taiping frowned and thought, could it be that she recognized me that day in the Red Maple Forest?
With this thought, Xu Taiping couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine.
"Taiping?"
Seeing Xu Taiping in a daze, Zhao Linglong called out to him again.
"Uh, no, we haven't met. Miss Buyu probably meant the time we returned from the Dragon Gate Hall."
Xu Taiping evaded the question and quickly changed the subject:
"Sister Linglong, Brother Qingxiao, I've lost a lot of blood and need a quiet place to heal."
Hearing this, Zhao Linglong and Qingxiao became somewhat anxious.
"Sister, I'll take Taiping back to the Seventh Peak first."
Qingxiao looked back at Zhao Linglong.
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Zhao Linglong nodded immediately.
Then, the two summoned their flying swords and flew away, one after the other.
***
That night.
On the Zhaixing Terrace of the main peak where Sect Leader Zhou Tong resided.
"Sect Leader, what did Uncle Nine say to you?"
Jin Yue, the Peak Master of the First Peak, looking at the silver trail left by Uncle Nine's flying sword in the sky, curiously asked the Sect Leader beside him.
"Baihong is not dead, not only is he alive, but he also gained a great fortuity in the Northern Territory. In one to three years, he is likely to break through to the Demon Sovereign realm. By then, if we don't rely on the Seventh Peak's restrictions, I fear that even if we join forces, we might not be able to capture him. So, Uncle Nine came to warn me to think carefully about how to deal with Baihong."
Zhou Tong stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky.
"This is troublesome."
Jin Yue frowned.
"Not troublesome."
Zhou Tong smiled and shook his head.
"Not troublesome?"
Jin Yue looked at Zhou Tong, puzzled.
"Uncle Nine told me to prepare a proper explanation for Baihong, so I'll just give him one. After all, the masterminds behind this are the West Wind Pavilion Master and that peacock."
Zhou Tong chuckled.
Jin Yue understood immediately.
"It's a pity to lose these two, one human and one demon, whom you've cultivated for many years."
He sighed again.
"Indeed, but if I can exchange their lives for Baihong's, then it's worth it."
Zhou Tong's lips curled up slightly.
"Sect Leader, are you confident?"
Jin Yue's pupils widened, immediately grasping the deep meaning in the Sect Leader's words, and asked in a lowered voice.