The sect competition was held as scheduled.
The Martial Arts Arena of the Azure Cloud Sect was bustling with voices, with disciples from all peaks gathered together. Xiao Yi, Ling Yu, and Mo Wanxian stood side by side, watching the intense matches on the stage.
"Next match, Xiao Yi versus Li Mingxuan!" The referee elder's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"Junior Brother Xiao, go for it!" Mo Wanxian clenched her small fists to cheer him on.
"Be careful of Li Mingxuan's Blazing Fire Palm. His fire-element techniques are very powerful," Ling Yu reminded him.
Xiao Yi nodded and leaped onto the martial arts stage. His opponent, Li Mingxuan, was an inner disciple whose cultivation level was one realm higher than Xiao Yi's, but Xiao Yi wasn't afraid. The hard training on the Moon Gazing Platform during this period had greatly improved his strength.
"Please guide me!" Both cupped their fists and bowed.
The match began. Li Mingxuan struck first, his palms carrying blazing flames as they struck toward Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi's figure flashed, his long sword unsheathed, the sword light flowing like water, using softness to overcome hardness.
Below the stage, Mo Wanxian nervously watched the battle above, unconsciously grabbing Ling Yu's sleeve with her small hand.
"Don't worry, Junior Brother Xiao's swordsmanship has reached mastery. Li Mingxuan is no match for him," Ling Yu comforted, though there was also a trace of worry in his eyes.
Indeed, after an intense battle, Xiao Yi relied on his exquisite swordsmanship and agile movement techniques to finally defeat Li Mingxuan, winning thunderous applause from the audience.
"Junior Brother Xiao is mighty!" Mo Wanxian jumped up excitedly.
Next was Ling Yu's match. His opponent was a fellow disciple named Wang Haoran. Ling Yu's palm techniques were powerful and forceful, combined with exquisite movement skills, and he quickly gained the upper hand.
Finally came Mo Wanxian's match. Her opponent was a senior sister of the same age with comparable cultivation. However, Mo Wanxian's "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra" was indeed exquisite, her moves flowing like clouds and water, beautiful and graceful, and she ultimately won with a slight advantage.
"Wonderful! All three of us advanced!" Mo Wanxian said excitedly.
The three looked at each other and smiled, their hearts full of joy. In this competition, they had all achieved good results, bringing honor to their respective peaks.
After the matches ended, the three came to the Moon Gazing Platform as usual. The night was like water, the bright moon hung high—it was perfect for moon gazing.
"Today was so happy!" Mo Wanxian sat at the edge of the platform, her legs dangling and swaying. "All three of us won, Master must be very pleased."
"Yes," Xiao Yi also sat down, "but this is just the beginning. The road ahead is still long."
"No matter how long, we'll walk it together," Ling Yu sat between the two. "We are sworn siblings after all."
"Right!" Mo Wanxian nodded vigorously. "We'll become stronger together, protect the sect together, and see all the beautiful scenery in the world together!"
"Then let's make a promise," Xiao Yi suddenly said. "When we all become true experts, let's travel the world together and see how vast this world is."
"Great!" Mo Wanxian's eyes sparkled like stars. "I want to see the legendary sunrise over the Eastern Sea, and the snow mountains of the Western Regions."
"I want to see the grasslands of the Northern Frontier and the ancient ruins of the Southern Wilderness," Ling Yu was also infected by this idea.
"Then it's settled," Xiao Yi extended his hand. "Let's pinky promise."
The three stacked their hands together, making this beautiful promise under the moonlight.
"By the way," Mo Wanxian suddenly remembered something, "Senior Brother Xiao, why do you always like to cultivate alone? Before meeting us, you seemed to rarely talk to others."
Xiao Yi was silent for a while before slowly saying, "I've been an orphan since childhood. After being adopted by Master, I always felt different from others. So I got used to being alone."
"What about now?" Mo Wanxian asked softly.
"Now it's different," Xiao Yi looked at his two companions, his eyes filled with warm light. "Now I have family."
"We'll always be family," Ling Yu patted Xiao Yi's shoulder.
"Mm, always," Mo Wanxian nodded in agreement.
The three looked at each other and smiled, their hearts full of warmth. On this moonlit night, on this Moon Gazing Platform, their friendship was as pure as the bright moon, as eternal as starlight.
Time passed unknowingly as the three chatted about everything under the sun, sharing their dreams and innermost thoughts. It wasn't until late at night that they reluctantly parted.
"Shall we come here again tomorrow?" Mo Wanxian asked.
"Of course," Xiao Yi smiled. "This is our place."
"Then we'll see each other tomorrow," Ling Yu waved goodbye.
The three returned to their respective quarters, their hearts filled with happiness. They thought such days would continue forever, that their friendship would be as eternal and unchanging as the bright moon.
They didn't know this would be their last time gathering so carefree on the Moon Gazing Platform.
They didn't know that the shadow of fate had quietly enveloped the Azure Cloud Sect.
They didn't know that a great conspiracy was brewing in the darkness, and Xiao Yi would become the sacrifice of this conspiracy.
But at this moment, on this moonlit night, everything was still so beautiful.
Youth without regrets, friendship priceless.
This pure emotion would become the only light in Xiao Yi's darkest moments, and would also become the source of strength for him to stand up again.
The Moon Gazing Platform still stood quietly there, moonlight like water spilling onto the platform, as if blessing this beautiful friendship.
Time flows like water, years pass like songs. Some things change, some things never will.
What changes are faces; what remains unchanged is this sincere emotion.
What changes are circumstances; what remains unchanged is this Moon Gazing Platform that witnesses everything.