63: Midnight Gate

Looking at the bustling streets, cultivators came and went, making it very lively.

Among them, there were many at the Divine Core Realm, and occasionally even Spirit King Realm experts whose auras were revealed, showing the influence of the Qingxuan Grand Competition.

Everyone first went to the largest inn in the city center to book rooms, then came to the second floor and ordered a table of local specialty dishes.

Just as they were about to pick up their chopsticks, they heard other guests at nearby tables discussing something, and the content attracted their attention.

“Have you heard? The Huangji Sect is said to have produced another peerless genius. He is only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, but his cultivation has already reached the ninth level of the Qi Sea Realm, just one step away from the Spirit Core Realm.”

A thin Middle-aged man said with some excitement.

For people like them, coming to Moyuan City was just for the excitement. The more geniuses there were, the more topics they had to discuss while drinking.

“Hiss!”

“If I remember correctly, the Huangji Sect also took the top spot in the Qingxuan Grand Competition a hundred years ago, winning first place, right? Now another prodigy has emerged. Could it be that they will win the championship again?”

“That’s not necessarily true. Although the Huangji Sect’s genius has unparalleled combat power, the other three continents might also have genius disciples who can contend with him.”

“For example, Jian Wuchen of the Tianxuan Sword Sect in the Southern Continent, his strength has also reached the ninth level of the Qi Sea Realm. Who is stronger or weaker will only be known after a battle.”

“There is also He Bingning of the Bingjing Palace in the Northern Continent, her strength is equally formidable. But undoubtedly, the hot favorites for the championship in this Qingxuan Grand Competition will likely emerge from these individuals.”

“Hmph, a bunch of rabble dares to speak so presumptuously!”

Just as they were chatting animatedly, a discordant voice rang out, full of disdain.

Everyone turned around and saw that the speaker was a beautiful woman in a luxurious long dress, with a pretty face, now showing a hint of contempt.

She was a disciple of the Ji Ye Sect, the only top sect in the central region of the Four Continents. Upon hearing everyone discussing the Qingxuan Grand Competition and not including her senior brother, Chen Tianhua, she immediately spoke up to mock them.

The thin Middle-aged man glanced at the token on the woman’s waist and said in a panic, “Are you a disciple of the Ji Ye Sect?”

Everyone else’s expressions changed. The central area of the Qingxuan Domain could be said to be dominated by the Ji Ye Sect, where its word was law, and no one dared to offend it.

Senior Brother Chen Tianhua also had a cultivation of the ninth level of the Qi Sea Realm, it was just that he was a bit older, already twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

His potential was slightly inferior to those prodigies, which was why they hadn't compared him to Jian Wuchen and others.

But it was undeniable that Chen Tianhua’s strength still made him a contender.

Seeing that everyone was somewhat afraid after knowing her identity, she raised her head, inevitably showing a triumphant expression.

She said proudly, “A bunch of nobodies. The so-called geniuses you speak of are all no match for my Senior Brother Chen Tianhua. The first place in this competition will definitely be the Ji Ye Sect’s!”

The thin Middle-aged man and the others exchanged glances, not daring to refute. They were cultivators from the central region and knew the terror of the Ji Ye Sect, so they dared not offend it.

So they scurried away, fearing that the woman would remember them.

Seeing everyone leave, the woman became even more triumphant, scanning her surroundings like a proud peacock. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet her gaze, except for the Chang Sheng Sect group, who were still watching.

The woman’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She was the granddaughter of the Ji Ye Sect’s Great Elder, accustomed to being arrogant and overbearing since childhood, acting without restraint, and few dared to defy her.

Seeing someone staring at her, as if her authority had been challenged, she looked coldly at the Chang Sheng Sect group and said icily, “What are you looking at? Keep looking, and I’ll dig out your eyeballs and feed them to dogs!”

Wu Kuang: ???

Wei Shengjin: ???

“A young girl, so young, yet she has no respect for elders. What a waste of such a good appearance!”

Wu Kuang’s fiery temper was immediately ignited, and he couldn’t help but mock her directly.

What kind of situation was this? Getting caught in the crossfire, and not even allowed to watch?

Wei Shengjin’s small eyes, filled with aggression, scanned the woman up and down, making her hair stand on end.

Her face then darkened. She had never been so insulted in her life, especially by that lewd old man, whose gaze made her feel utterly uncomfortable.

“Uncle Cai, slap her!”

The woman’s eyes twitched slightly, her voice like ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, causing the surrounding air temperature to drop significantly.

Behind her, a thin Middle-aged man slowly stepped forward, his eyes filled with uncertainty. As an early-stage Spirit King Realm expert, he couldn’t see through the cultivation of the people in front of him, which made him hesitate.

“Hmm?”

The woman, seeing that Uncle Cai hadn’t moved for a long time, couldn’t help but turn around to urge him, but seeing his somewhat wavering gaze, she felt a little puzzled.

Uncle Cai took a step forward, cupped his hands towards the Chang Sheng Sect group, and said with an apologetic tone, “My junior is ignorant. I ask all fellow Daoists for your understanding. I apologize to you all on her behalf.”

The woman was stunned. What was happening? Didn’t I tell you to teach them a lesson? Why are you apologizing to them instead?

Wu Kuang sneered, “Such a barbaric personality will sooner or later lead to trouble. Take her back and discipline her strictly, lest something unexpected happen to her one day!”

“You!”

Upon hearing this, the woman’s face showed a hint of anger, her body trembling slightly. She stared intently at Wu Kuang, this person actually dared to curse her.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

“Fellow Daoist is absolutely right. I will take her back and discipline her strictly. Farewell!”

Then he dragged the woman away.

This was just a small interlude, and the Chang Sheng Sect group didn’t care much.

After the man named Uncle Cai led the woman away from the inn, he felt some lingering fear, with cold sweat breaking out on his back. He then let out a sigh of relief.

The woman shook off his hand, her tone somewhat indignant, and angrily said, “Uncle Cai, aren’t they just a bunch of outsiders? What’s there to be afraid of? You completely lost face today!”

Uncle Cai’s tone finally showed a hint of anger: “Xiaofen, do you know who they are?”

“Aren’t they just a bunch of outsiders, just here to join the fun of the Qingxuan Grand Competition?”

The woman retorted stubbornly.

“Alas!”

The man sighed: “I will report this matter to your grandfather. If you don’t change your personality, you will suffer greatly in the future.”

Then his expression became serious: “Those people are not simple outsiders. Besides those few young disciples, I cannot see through the cultivation of the other elders.”

“Perhaps every one of them is far stronger than me, and they might even be here to participate in the competition.”

“What?”

The woman’s mouth dropped open upon hearing this. Although she was barbaric, she wasn’t completely brainless.

Since Uncle Cai said so, it was likely that those people truly had extraordinary backgrounds. If she offended them rashly, it might implicate the Ji Ye Sect.

She looked towards the inn with some lingering fear. Fortunately, those people didn’t make too much trouble, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so easy to let it go.

She fell silent, then followed Uncle Cai back to the sect without a word. Her grandfather would definitely not indulge her temper after knowing about this, and she would probably receive some punishment.

Several days passed in a blink of an eye, and the day of the competition had arrived.

“Dong dong dong!”

Three consecutive bell tolls rang out, echoing for a hundred li around Qingxuan Mountain. All the strong practitioners participating or observing transformed into streaks of light and flew towards Qingxuan Mountain!