"Here, here, take it."
With a hint of resignation, Ji Changfeng pulled out a Youth-Retaining Pill and handed it to Tian Linger.
"Yay!" Tian Linger, clutching the pill, threw herself into Su Ru's arms, beaming. "Mama, I've got one too!"
Su Ru smiled tenderly.
Qi Hao, meanwhile, stood frozen, his expression stiff.
Ji Changfeng cast him a faint glance. "Senior Brother Qi, you'd better take back that Cooling Pearl. My little senior sister can't possibly accept a gift from someone of your venerable age…"
Qi Hao's face darkened. "What's that supposed to mean, Junior Brother Ji?"
The surrounding senior brothers turned, curiosity piqued.
Someone of your venerable age?
What was Seventh Junior Brother getting at?
Was Qi Hao…
…that old?
Tian Linger blinked, puzzled. "Hey, Ji Changfeng, what do you mean by that? What's this about venerable age…"
She trailed off mid-sentence.
Ahem, Qi Hao's still standing right there.
But Ji Changfeng wasn't one to hold back. With a faint smile, he explained to the group, "Senior Brother Qi competed in the last Seven Peaks Tournament, didn't he? That was a full sixty years ago. By that reckoning, Senior Brother Qi must be at least seventy or eighty years old, no?"
"In the mortal world, that's old enough to be your grandfather…"
The last remark was directed at Tian Linger.
"What? Senior Brother Qi's that old?" Tian Linger's gaze snapped to Qi Hao, brimming with surprise.
"I…" Qi Hao's mouth opened, then closed.
His face flushed red, his body trembling. The look in Tian Linger's eyes—a mix of shock and respect for the elderly—filled his mind with one desperate thought…
Escape!
He had to flee this place!
Dazhu Peak is too terrifying!
Just then—
"Argh!"
A figure came hurtling through the air, crashing into Shoujing Tang from outside.
Tian Buyi's expression darkened.
But when he saw who it was, his face relaxed.
Oh, it's just that fool Lin Jingyu.
Tian Buyi asked calmly, "Old Eighth, what happened?"
Zhang Xiaofan, gripping his Fire-Stoking Stick, hurried in from outside. He bowed to Tian Buyi. "Master, I was sparring with Jingyu just now and accidentally used too much force…"
Tian Buyi was secretly delighted but kept his tone stern. "Sparring with a fellow disciple, and you dare strike so heavily?"
"Be more careful next time!"
His words were light, almost dismissive.
Zhang Xiaofan nodded respectfully. "Yes, Master."
He quickly turned to Lin Jingyu, helping him up. "Jingyu, are you alright?"
Lin Jingyu looked dazed.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
Zhang Xiaofan's voice snapped him back to reality.
Lin Jingyu opened his mouth. "Xiaofan, your cultivation…"
"Huh?" Zhang Xiaofan scratched his head, glancing admiringly at Ji Changfeng. "My aptitude's nothing special. I only reached this level thanks to Seventh Senior Brother's guidance…"
Lin Jingyu's mouth opened again, but no words came out.
He couldn't beat Ji Changfeng. And now, even Xiaofan was stronger than him?
So, of the three orphans from Caomiao Village who joined Qingyun Sect, I, Lin Jingyu, am the most useless?!
Lin Jingyu's mind reeled, lost in confusion.
Ji Changfeng observed the scene, a quiet chuckle in his heart.
Zhang Xiaofan, with his dual cultivation of Buddhist and Taoist arts, could overpower others even at the fifth layer of Jade Purity. Not to mention, he wielded the Fire-Stoking Stick—a treasure bestowed by Qingyun's Ancestor, rivaling divine weapons of the Nine Heavens!
Without his Dragon-Slaying Sword, what was Lin Jingyu? At best, a slightly gifted genius, nothing more.
Qi Hao noticed Lin Jingyu's despondent state.
Seizing the chance to leave, he grabbed Lin Jingyu and addressed Tian Buyi and Su Ru. "Uncle Tian, Aunt Su, Junior Brother Lin has finished catching up with his friend. We won't impose any longer…"
Tian Buyi waved a hand dismissively.
Go on, you two losers, scurry back to Longshou Peak.
Qi Hao dragged Lin Jingyu out, their figures retreating in disgrace.
In an instant, Shoujing Tang returned to calm.
Su Ru, holding Tian Linger close, turned her gentle gaze to Ji Changfeng. Her voice was warm. "Changfeng, why don't you come with me to Xiaozhu Peak later? Your Aunt Shuiyue often asks after you."
Since his visit to Xiaozhu Peak four years ago, Ji Changfeng hadn't returned.
Each time Su Ru took Tian Linger back to her home peak, Master Shuiyue would casually inquire, "Why didn't Changfeng come?"
Such moments surprised Su Ru.
In all these years, this was the first time Master Shuiyue had shown interest in a male disciple.
Ji Changfeng shook his head lightly. "Shi niang, I'll pass for now…"
"I'm planning to head to Tongtian Peak later to chat with some senior brothers and gather news about the Seven Peaks Tournament."
Gathering news was a pretext.
Drinking with Wan Jianyi, Daoxuan, and Cang Song was the real plan.
With the Seven Peaks Tournament drawing near, there was no rush to meet everyone just yet.
Ji Changfeng paused, then reached into his robe, producing another Youth-Retaining Pill. He handed it to Su Ru. "Shi niang, please pass this Youth-Retaining Pill to Master Shuiyue as my apology…"
Su Ru smiled. "Alright. With this pill, I doubt Senior Sister Shuiyue will have much to say about you."
The scene left the other Dazhu Peak disciples green with envy.
Ugh…
We'd love to visit Xiaozhu Peak too!
Seventh Junior Brother, if you're not going, can't you let us have a shot?!
But, alas, that was impossible.
Su Ru's eyes flashed, her tone turning stern as she addressed the other disciples. "All of you, get back to cultivating!"
"The Seven Peaks Tournament is almost here. When I return, I'll drill you all properly!"
Her words drew groans from the group.
"Ugh, no, shi niang…"
Xiaozhu Peak, Moon-Gazing Platform
As dusk settled, the sunset burned like fire.
The sky glowed with vibrant orange and red, casting a golden veil over the bamboo forest…
Swish!
A streak of azure swordlight flashed.
A figure in white danced gracefully on the Moon-Gazing Platform. Her skirt swirled, her skin as flawless as snow, her face breathtakingly beautiful yet touched with a trace of icy aloofness…
Lu Xueqi wielded Tianya, her divine sword.
A wisp of cyan sword qi sliced through the air, twisting like a lithe serpent, dancing beneath the fiery sunset.
"Xueqi."
A gentle voice called from beyond the platform.
Lu Xueqi paused, startled.
She turned to see Wen Min standing nearby.
"Senior Sister." A faint smile softened the icy maiden's face.
Wen Min smiled warmly. "Xueqi, Master's calling you to Jingzhu Pavilion. Aunt Su and Junior Sister Linger are here…"
At those words, the cold maiden's eyes lit up, her grip tightening on Tianya.
Wen Min chuckled softly, adding, "Junior Brother Ji didn't come…"
"Oh." Lu Xueqi's expression dimmed, her emotions settling back into calm.
She clutched Tianya tightly, her gaze drifting toward Dazhu Peak as she murmured inwardly, Four years of grueling cultivation, all for this moment!
The Seven Peaks Tournament was near.
____
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