"Miss Mo Li, among the leading '985' sects right now, aside from the Five Roads Cultivating Artifact Sect, it's the Yuan Da Yuan Dao Sect right next to it," one person commented.
"In addition, Wuhua Palace, which has emerged as a dark horse in the past two years, is also very impressive!" another added.
"These three sects are all within the range of consideration!"
"With Miss Mo Li's talent, I think going to Wuhua Palace or Yuan Da Yuan Dao Sect would be a very good choice!"
"The Sword Sect, which seems to be the weakest among the '985s', has also started recruitment..." someone else mused.
"The Sword Sect? Isn't that the one that's always at the bottom of the '985s' year after year? Their student enrollment is so pitifully low every year; indeed, their status is quite embarrassing."
"It's a '985', but ever since the Sect Leader of the Sword Sect disappeared, its strength is only comparable to some of the mid-tier '211s'."
"It's still a '985' though..."
"Actually, considering that Miss Mo Li has the physique of a Sword Three, her compatibility with the Sword Sect is pretty good. It's just a pity that the Sword Sect has been declining year by year."
"Ultimately, it all depends on the young miss's choice."
Everyone looked at Mo Li with faces full of anticipation.
Just then, a member of the Mo Family rushed over, handing Mo Zhan an envelope.
Narrowing his eyes, Mo Zhan opened it. He read the contents from the gold-embossed card and then recited aloud, "Sword Sect. Respected Mo Family of Dongfeng Ancient Country: In order to promote friendly cooperative relations between the sects and noble families, and to ensure the support of the noble families for our sects, we cordially invite one of the four major families of Dongfeng Ancient Country, the Mo Family, to our Sword Sect on the thirty-first day of the twelfth month of the immortal calendar to witness the Sword Sect's recruitment conference!
"This recruitment conference is an extremely important event for the Sword Sect, occurring only once every fifty years! Given your long-standing silent support and attention to the Sword Sect, we are very happy to extend this invitation to you. Your participation is very important to us, and we look forward to meeting you at the beautiful Sword Sect on the thirty-first of December.
"This time, the host of the Sword Sect's recruitment conference will be our Fifth Elder of the Sword Sect, Sword Immortal Su Bei!
"Contact methods: Sword Sect and the various great teleportation arrays of the Dongfeng Ancient Country.
"Contact person: Su Bei."
Mo Zhan paused, set down the gold-embossed, bright red invitation, and said with a frown, "The Sword Sect has sent an invitation to our Mo Family. And the host of the Sword Sect's recruitment ceremony has been confirmed; it's the Fifth Elder of the Sword Sect, the great immortal Su Bei!"
The group all pricked up their ears, looking at Mo Zhan somewhat strangely before exchanging glances. Although they had never met this Fifth Elder of the Sword Sect, they had heard a bit about his deeds. It was said he was once a prodigy, but ever since his breakthrough to the Mid Stage Divinity Transformation, his cultivation hadn't advanced a whit in a hundred years. He was, arguably, the one with the weakest cultivation among the nine elders of the Sword Sect. However, this Su Bei, though not very skilled in cultivation, was famous throughout the Twenty-One Provinces in other respects—especially for his poetic talent and appearance!
If they were talking about looks, everyone present considered themselves quite stunningly attractive. But in front of that Fifth Elder, they would be as pearls dull in the presence of the moon, dim and lackluster.
"I, Mo San, have never conceded to anyone in terms of appearance, but this Elder Su is indeed too astonishingly handsome," one declared. "The world's handsome men might fill a single measure, but Su Bei alone would take thirteen-tenths of it, with the world still owing him three-tenths more!"
"I, Mo Si, was born with innate knowledge, my mind a repository of myriad verses, yet compared to the Fifth Elder's talent, I truly feel ashamed," another lamented.
"Yes, hasn't his 'Prelude to Water Melody' expressed so many of the world's sorrows?"
"And haven't those disdainful scholars, who wouldn't deign to look others in the eye, all been unable to best him in debate?"
"Although Elder Su is flawless as white jade, unmarred and perfect, with a radiant golden aura and impeccable charm, like fine gold and beautiful jade, brilliant as a lustrous pearl, utterly perfect... his cultivation is low, after all."
"A Mid Stage Divinity Transformation is indeed considered mid to lower tier among these higher immortal sects."
"Why would the Sword Sect let him host their recruitment conference?"
"It's unclear. But... as one of the four great families of the Dongfeng Ancient Country, our Mo Family surely should attend this Sword Sect recruitment conference."
"That's true. And you, cousin, wipe your drool; it's dripping onto my hand. Hmm, did you eat durian?"
Mo Li raised an eyebrow.
Mo Li listened to the discussions around her with an expressionless face. Nobody noticed that when Mo Zhan mentioned "Su Bei," her tightly clenched fist had veins nearly bulging, and the touch of sadness deep in her eyes could no longer be dismissed.
She turned her head, gazing at Mo Zhan, who was discussing matters with the rest of the clan, and slightly lifted her delicate chin.
The sword loosely sheathed at her waist seemed to sense the fluctuations in its master's emotions, its blade trembling faintly.
Su Bei! Him again! That man with the face of a human but the heart of a beast! No one knew him better than she did! In this lifetime, she had to deal with him in her own way—and, incidentally, save Sister Xiao, who was also brutally killed by him!
"Father, I've made up my mind," Mo Li said, calming the emotions that surged within her, a tempest unsuited for her apparent age. The whirl of thoughts in her mind vanished like smoke.
"Oh? Li Er, have you decided?" Mo Zhan looked at her with expectant curiosity. "Five Roads Cultivating Artifact Sect or Yuan Da Yuan Dao Sect? Or maybe Wuhua Palace?"
"The Sword Sect." Mo Li smiled gently, her slender, jade-like fingers lightly caressing the sword's blade. The clean, smooth, and dazzling metal reflected a pair of determined silver pupils.
The Sword Sect? Mo Zhan frowned slightly but said nothing. He gently stroked his beard, mulling over the matter before finally speaking. "Well! Though I don't quite recommend the Sword Sect, since you've made this decision, I won't interfere. The Sword Sect might be considered one of the lower-tier '985' institutions, but a lean camel is still bigger than a horse; it retains a top-ten heritage in the world.
"Our Mo Family's ancestors had a connection with Xi Qingyi, the Second Elder of the Sword Sect. You may take him as your master! Of course, it's all up to you. I won't interfere too much with whoever you choose as your master!"
Actually, come to think of it, apart from this Su Bei, all the other Sword Sect elders are probably at the Refining Void realm. What if she ends up apprenticed to that fellow... He then smiled self-mockingly. As her father, how could I not know my own daughter's character? She would absolutely, definitely, completely not be bewitched by someone like Su Bei—a carefree, irresponsible playboy. Among these Sword Sect elders, he's the only abnormal one. The rest are all quite exceptional! Even if it isn't Xi Qingyi, I can accept it.
「Sword Sect, No-Sword Peak.」
Su Bei turned, his eyes faintly watching Dan Wuque, who still maintained her posture. He looked at the delicate insteps wrapped in light black stockings, reflecting a weak yet marvelous gloss. Her slender legs and small, exquisite ankles had a crisp, graceful outline. Seeing the curves of her chest, either accentuated by the tight-fitting small suit or inherently bountiful, bulging outwards, he nodded in satisfaction.
He stepped forward.
In the face of Xiao Ruoching's puzzled expression, he patted the dust from Dan Wuque's jacket. "Yes, the essence of the Sword Heart is to find others' flaws! When you have time, come to my No-Sword Peak in this outfit. I, your elder brother, will teach you how to find others' weaknesses!"