Chapter 1657: Chapter 1646: Encountering an Old Acquaintance Again
The next morning.
A dark shadow was flying in the sky with Sky Command Flight.
Behind this shadow hung a rusty broad sword. If seen by other cultivators, they would surely think it was picked up from some trash heap.
The speed at which this shadow flew through the sky could only be considered average. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, displaying an extremely strenuous expression, and sweat seemed to drip freely from every pore of his body.
This dark shadow was none other than Ye Chenfeng with the Qingyun Sword hanging on his back.
After Ye Chenfeng finished refining elixir pills for the disciples of Ye Gate yesterday, he set up a formation in the square of Ye Gate overnight.
This formation had been taught to him by Old Black and Old White. Once activated, it could act as a camouflage, making it impossible for passing cultivators to notice the existence of Ye Gate. With this formation, Ye Gate would be much safer.
Of course, the formation set up at Ye Gate consumed a significant amount of spirit stones, and its effects could only be maintained for a year. After a year, it would need to be replenished with a new batch of spirit stones to continue its function.
However, within Ye Gate, even Elder Tianhuo had no clue about formations, but Ye Chenfeng, entering the Dragon Origin Secret Realm this time, and coming out of it, would certainly not take more than a year.
The time before the Dragon Origin Secret Realm opened was still very ample. Ye Chenfeng planned to detour to the Yunxian Sect. After all, he had an extra Dragon Bone Token, and it certainly couldn’t go to waste.
Around Ye Chenfeng, the only ones suitable to enter the Dragon Origin Secret Realm were the young master of Yunxian Sect, Zuo Feibai, and the young master of Sunset Island, Wu Lifen. Sunset Island was too far away, and if Ye Chenfeng went to Sunset Island, he wouldn’t be able to enter the Dragon Origin Secret Realm in time.
The distance to Yunxian Sect was not too far, and a slight detour wouldn’t delay Ye Chenfeng’s journey to the place where the Dragon Origin Secret Realm opened. After all, Ye Chenfeng had plenty of time at his disposal now.
Ye Chenfeng, with the Qingyun Sword on his back, flew through the sky arduously. He was doing his utmost and had to adapt to the Qingyun Sword in the shortest possible time.
Fortunately, Ye Chenfeng himself was an alchemist. Once the spiritual energy in his body was depleted, he immediately took a Spirit Supplementing Pill. As a result, he didn’t stop to rest along the way, though he appeared extremely disheveled, his clothes staying drenched all the time, and the sweat on his body never ceased.
...
Fifteen days later.
The scorching sun hung in the sky.
Earth Profound Realm.
At the foot of Yunxian Sect’s mountain.
Today, Yunxian Sect was extremely lively, with many cultivators heading toward the mountain top where Yunxian Sect was located.
Most of these people were youths and young maidens in their teens or twenties, accompanied by middle-aged men or women, who were likely their parents.
Today was the public disciple selection of Yunxian Sect.
In the Earth Profound Realm, Yunxian Sect was considered a first-class sect as a third-rank sect, so there were naturally many people here to participate in the disciple selection.
Within the crowd at the foot of the mountain.
A woman dressed in a purple silk gown, with well-proportioned features and a curvy figure, had her eyebrows slightly knitted. Seeing so many people here for the Yunxian Sect disciple selection, she knew the competition would be fierce.
If Ye Chenfeng were here, he would surely recognize this woman as Qin Shuangshuang of the Qin family from Bei Yun City!
Back in Bei Yun City, when the son of the Southern Yuan Dynasty’s Guard General, Zhang Wenxuan, and the fifth elder of Spiritual Medicine Valley, Wang Yongxing, conspired to frame Ye Chenfeng, intending to take his life in Bei Yun City,
it was then that Jiang Yunting, who had been saved by Ye Chenfeng, as the princess of the Southern Yuan Dynasty, chose to believe Zhang Wenxuan instead, making one mistake after another.
At the critical moment, it was Qin Shuangshuang, the daughter of the Family Head of the Qin family in Bei Yun City, who secretly aided Ye Chenfeng. She foresaw Ye Chenfeng’s soaring future. In big families, women were sacrificial pawns, and Qin Shuangshuang hoped Ye Chenfeng could help her in the future to claim the position of Family Head of the Qins.
Later,
when Ye Chenfeng returned to Bei Yun City, Qin Shuangshuang was in a crisis, and Ye Chenfeng helped her eliminate the ancestors of several other families, aiding Qin Shuangshuang to take control of the Qin family and sit as the Family Head.
Since that separation, Qin Shuangshuang and Ye Chenfeng had not seen each other again.
Qin Shuangshuang knew they were from different worlds, but her horizons had broadened much since then, and she had thought a lot. She realized she couldn’t stay complacent in Bei Yun City; she wanted greater power. With the Yunxian Sect’s disciple selection happening, Qin Shuangshuang decided to give it a try.
Beside Qin Shuangshuang, there was an eighteen-year-old girl, her face full of excitement, looking at Qin Shuangshuang with admiration. She was Qin Shuangshuang’s cousin, Qin Ke’er.
When Ye Chenfeng helped Qin Shuangshuang gain control of the Qin family, during her tenure, women’s status drastically improved, and all the women of the Qin family idolized Qin Shuangshuang. For example, Qin Ke’er before them, who didn’t know about Ye Chenfeng behind Qin Shuangshuang’s rise.
Qin Shuangshuang’s strength was now at the late stage of the first level of the Ocean Gathering Realm, while Qin Ke’er was at the initial stage of the fifth level of the Spirit Communication Realm.
Qin Ke’er, holding Qin Shuangshuang’s arm, said, "Sister Shuangshuang, do you think we can successfully join the Yunxian Sect? Actually, I haven’t wanted to stay in the Qin family in Bei Yun City for a long time. If we stay in the family our whole lives, we are destined never to become true powerhouses. We’ve sneaked out this time, hoping to join the Yunxian Sect."
Qin Shuangshuang nodded silently, but she knew the current situation was not optimistic.
Just as Qin Shuangshuang was about to lead Qin Ke’er towards the mountain top of Yunxian Sect,
mocking voices rose from the crowd, and everyone turned back to look.
"Who is that guy? Did he just finish swimming? And in his clothes? What a weirdo!"
"Look at the broad sword behind him. How poor do you think this guy is? That sword is so rusted, yet he still carries it? He must have picked it up from somewhere!"
"I can’t feel any aura from this guy. He looks like a bumpkin who popped out of nowhere, and he thinks he can join Yunxian Sect? That’s simply a daydream."
...
Ye Chenfeng listened to the mocking voices around him, feeling helpless inside, as he was obviously the subject of ridicule. He had only just arrived at the foot of Yunxian Sect’s mountain and was unaware that today was Yunxian Sect’s disciple selection.
Ye Chenfeng’s spiritual energy was extremely withdrawn within him, concentrating almost entirely on the Qingyun Sword on his back. He didn’t want to waste any spiritual energy, so the others couldn’t sense any aura from Ye Chenfeng.
Over fifteen days of constant adaptation,
Ye Chenfeng could now walk and fly comfortably, despite the extreme weight of the Qingyun Sword, but its weight was still somewhat of a burden for him.
Originally preparing to go to the mountain top, Qin Shuangshuang of the Qin family from Bei Yun City turned curiously, but with just one glance, her gaze couldn’t shift away. A look of disbelief appeared on her face. She unexpectedly encountered Ye Chenfeng here, the man who lingered in her mind!
Ye Chenfeng didn’t want to argue with the people around him, so he continued walking towards the mountain top. But after taking three steps, he saw Qin Shuangshuang and said, "Qin Shuangshuang, you’re here too? Are you here to participate in the Yunxian Sect’s disciple selection?"
Surprised, Qin Shuangshuang turned around out of curiosity, and upon recognizing Ye Chenfeng, she felt a wave of mixed emotions. She tried to mask her joy as she replied, "Ye Chenfeng, you’re here too? Are you here for the Yunxian Sect’s disciple selection?" Because of her previous understanding, she assumed Ye Chenfeng came for the same reason. She didn’t expect to run into the man she couldn’t forget.
Ye Chenfeng, not wanting to waste time, nodded at Qin Shuangshuang, acknowledging her presence. Despite the sweat glistening on his brow, his focus remained on his destination—the opening of the Dragon Origin Secret Realm.
After gathering herself, Qin Shuangshuang tried to hide her delight, knowing well that their current situation wasn’t favorable.
But she couldn’t shake the wistful disappointment at the thought of them living separate lives, aware now of her opened horizons over recent days, and her desire for strength drove her to participate in the Yunxian Sect disciple selection.
Standing by Qin Shuangshuang’s side was an eighteen-year-old girl, her face lit with excitement and her eyes glistening with admiration for Qin Shuangshuang, her cousin Qin Ke’er.
Years ago, when Ye Chenfeng helped Qin Shuangshuang seize control of the Qin family, women’s status within the family had been raised significantly. Every woman in the Qin family looked up to Qin Shuangshuang as an idol, just like Qin Ke’er did now, though she was unaware of Ye Chenfeng’s past role in supporting Qin Shuangshuang.
Today, Qin Shuangshuang’s strength was on the late stage of the first level of the Ocean Gathering Realm, while Qin Ke’er was at the initial stage of the Spirit Communication Realm.
Qin Ke’er, holding onto Qin Shuangshuang, asked, "Sister Shuangshuang, do you think we can successfully join the Yunxian Sect? Actually, I haven’t wanted to stay with the Qins in Bei Yun City for a long time either. If I had to stay in the Qins for my whole life, then..."
Qin Shuangshuang knew well that the current situation was not optimistic. But she understood many things had changed in her life recently, and she knew she couldn’t stay content in Bei Yun City. The opportunity to join the Yunxian Sect was here, and Qin Shuangshuang wanted to seize it.
However, when she turned around out of curiosity to look, she saw him — Ye Chenfeng, the man whose memory she could not erase from her mind, and her heart leaped.
Ye Chenfeng also did not wish to waste time with the mocking whispers. He had more important things to focus on, and resolving misunderstandings was all in due time.
...
To participate in the selection, go to Yunxian Sect at 8:00 A.M. tomorrow. We sincerely invite your participation, and all those who pass the test can become official disciples.
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