42: Chapter 42 Offering a concubine?
At dusk, the banquet dispersed.
Guests with Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivation levels successively summoned their Magical Artifacts.
Streaks of light shot up from the jade platform like stars returning to their positions, scattering in different directions.
The Master of Xiaoyao Tower, Lin Yan, swept his Divine Thought and caught a glimpse of Fairy Jiumiao sitting alone in a side chamber. Her eyes were as hollow as a soulless clay figurine; she did not even lift her gaze when his presence approached.
The Master of Xiaoyao Tower felt an inexplicable irritation surge in his heart, but he did not say another word. He merely let out a cold snort through his nose and turned back to the main hall.
The hall still held some lingering warmth, and Master Sikong was exchanging pleasantries with several familiar Golden Core Cultivators.
Catching sight of the Master of Xiaoyao Tower approaching, he immediately cupped his hands with a smile: "Master Lin, that dance by Fairy Jiumiao today was truly stunning. Even True Disciple Chu was left mesmerized."
Lin Yan walked a few steps to his side, deliberately lowering his voice to ask via Divine Sense: "What exactly happened? Why didn't Fairy Jiumiao go?"
The smile on Master Sikong's face did not fade, and he replied via Divine Sense as well, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Sigh! True Disciple Chu left to rest at midday."
"Master Luoli came over specifically to instruct me, saying that True Disciple Chu could not hold his liquor and was in his room circulating his Qi to neutralize the alcohol, so he should not be disturbed."
"I had no choice; I could not exactly barge in to pull strings for Fairy Jiumiao, could I?"
Lin Yan's brows locked tightly. In an instant, he seemed to understand the crux of the matter, and a flash of realization crossed his eyes.
He let out a cold sneer, his transmission filled with sarcasm: "Since when did a dignified Golden Core Pavilion Master of Duobao Pavilion start playing the tricks of the Hehuan Sect?"
The smile on Master Sikong's face remained unchanged, though his voice grew a bit colder. His transmission carried a hint of admonition: "Master Lin, watch your words."
"To be honest, if True Disciple Chu truly wanted to see Fairy Jiumiao, even if Master Luoli tried to stop him, he would have his own ways to send a message. How could he not even show his face?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the deepening twilight outside the hall, and added meaningfully: "Some things, in the end, cannot be forced. If the fate has not arrived, no matter how thoroughly we arrange it, it is all wasted effort."
Lin Yan remained silent for a moment, not retorting.
He knew well that Master Sikong's words were reasonable. That minor incident in the North District of the Second Ring of Hongyue City, though unintentional, had ultimately planted a grudge in Chu Feng's heart.
With Chu Feng's current status, he was never short of beautiful female Cultivators throwing themselves at him; why would he bother provoking one who might harbor resentment?
He raised his hand and sent a Divine Thought toward the side chamber, summoning Fairy Jiumiao.
Before long, a dazed Fairy Jiumiao walked over slowly, still wearing that same soul-lost expression.
Lin Yan said nothing more, brought her up onto a cloud, and flew toward Xiaoyao Tower.
On the cloud carriage.
The evening breeze, carrying the chill of dusk, blew past. Fairy Jiumiao kept her head lowered, not saying a word. Her slender figure appeared exceptionally lonely in the twilight, as if most of her soul had been drained away.
By the time they returned to Xiaoyao Tower, the sky had already turned dark.
The Master of Xiaoyao Tower waved his hand to dismiss the attendants, leaving only Fairy Jiumiao in the main hall.
"Jiumiao." His voice was flat and waveless, devoid of any emotion. "Since you do not have that connection with True Disciple Chu, do not keep obsessing over it."
"In two years, I will find you a suitable Dao Companion. He will be at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, possess decent family assets, and be a steady and reliable person who can accompany you in your cultivation."
"From now on, settle your heart, Cultivate well, and stop thinking about those unrealistic notions."
Hearing this, Fairy Jiumiao's body trembled imperceptibly, and she slowly raised her head.
Her eye sockets were already dry, without a single drop of tears; only a dead, silent calm remained, as if even despair had been exhausted.
After a long while, she bowed slightly, performed a salute, and her voice was as hoarse as if it had been rubbed by sandpaper: "Jiumiao... will obey."
After the words fell, she turned and walked out of the hall, step by step.
Her retreating figure was so desolate that it lacked even half of the immortal charm she had when dancing, gradually disappearing into the shadows of the pillars.
"What a pity."
Lin Yan looked at her retreating figure and let out a long sigh.
With such stunning beauty and such exquisite dancing skills, if it had succeeded, she could have become another resounding signature of Xiaoyao Tower.
...
Meanwhile.
In the Chusheng Sect of Nanshan Prefecture.
Above the main peak of the Chusheng Sect, twilight and a sea of clouds intertwined, with spiritual mist swirling in between. The thousand-foot-high peak stood like an unsheathed sharp sword, piercing straight into the heavy sky.
Deep within the rosy clouds, a magnificent palace stood on the summit. The flying eaves and upturned corners caught the afterglow of the setting sun, and the golden tiles and vermilion walls exuded majesty in the dusk, fully displaying the grandeur of a great Sect.
Outside the palace gate, the Chusheng Sect Master stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a white silk robe with wide sleeves. His gaze passed over the swirling spiritual mist and landed on the jade-green pavilion hidden among the ancient pines and green bamboos on the left.
From time to time, clear, aloof zither music drifted from the pavilion, as clear as melted snow from a mountain, yet carrying a lingering loneliness.
Involuntarily, the dancing figure in the sea of clouds under the moonlight appeared before his eyes.
That was Fairy Ji Yue's most moving appearance; her white dress fluttered like fireflies under the moon, and as her black hair flew, she was surrounded by Immortal Qi, as if a Fairy from the Moon Palace had descended into the mortal world.
"Ji Yue..."
The Chusheng Sect Master murmured in a low voice, his eyes surging with complex emotions—guilt, determination—which eventually turned into a soft sigh. "All of this is for the ten-thousand-year foundation of my Chusheng Sect!"
"If we can establish a connection with True Disciple Chu of Duobao Pavilion, the Sect will be able to rise to the next level. At that time, we will not lack resources or Cultivation Techniques. If you sacrifice a little for the Sect, why is that unacceptable?"
He seemed to be persuading Ji Yue, or perhaps comforting himself.
That's right, he wanted to offer a concubine.
Suddenly, the Chusheng Sect Master's brows twitched violently, as if he had sensed something.
He waved his hand, and a jade pendant carved with crocodile patterns flew out from his spiritual ring and landed in his palm.
This jade pendant was ink-green all over and felt warm to the touch. It was an exclusive communication talisman left behind by Ancestor Chusheng, which was never used lightly on ordinary days.
At this moment, fine blood-colored patterns were spreading inside the jade pendant like meridians, weaving denser and denser.
Eventually, they gathered into a small but condensed rune in the center of the jade pendant, which became slightly hot.
The Chusheng Sect Master's eyes suddenly surged with wild joy, his hands shaking uncontrollably, and his voice was full of excited tremors.
"Soul Transformation! It's Soul Transformation! The Old Ancestor has successfully Advanced to Soul Transformation! My Chusheng Sect is finally going to have a Soul Transformation Cultivator!"
He no longer cared about the jade-green pavilion and Ji Yue inside it. He turned and strode into the main hall, his voice echoing loudly throughout the main peak: "Pass my order, summon all Elders to discuss matters immediately!"
A moment later.
A mountain-shaking bell rang out above the main peak. One ring after another, nine times in total. The deep bell toll pierced through the spiritual mist and twilight, spreading throughout the territory of the Chusheng Sect for a hundred miles.
This was the highest-level summoning order of the Chusheng Sect; it was never rung lightly, except in the event of a Sect-destroying crisis or a great joyous occasion.
Hearing the bell, the Elders and True Disciples of various peaks all had their expressions change drastically. They successively summoned their fastest flight lights, rushing toward the main peak, each with an anxious look, wanting to know what kind of major event had occurred.