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墨書 Inktalez
The disciple who spoke was the direct apprentice of the Sect Leader, Shen Qing. With him backing them up, the previously intimidated disciples found a sense of security. However, when Senior Sister Wang from Qingxuan Peak and Senior Brother Zhao from Qingyuan Peak led the group, they would never have spoken like this. Indeed, they treated all disciples equally.
Song Xiaoling's face flushed slightly, her anger rising. This mission had too many tasks and too few spirit stones; if it weren't for her concern for Brother Ye's safety, she wouldn't have taken on this mission at all. It was one thing for them not to feel grateful towards Brother Ye, but to dare to pick at her here was simply infuriating.
She coldly turned away, deciding that if it came to this, she might as well not go. "Brother Ye, come with me. If you want to undergo trials, I’ll accompany you alone in the future; I won’t bring along this bunch of dead weight."
At her words, Su Lingyue's expression changed slightly. Her second junior sister was being reckless; could a mission be so easily abandoned? How would that reflect on their Qingjing Peak? It would make them seem arrogant, unreasonable, and irresponsible.
Lu Mingyuan furrowed his brows and stepped forward to block Song Xiaoling. "Junior Sister, you shouldn't go that far."
Su Lingyue shot her a warning glance and spoke coldly. "Junior Sister, don’t act foolishly."
Song Xiaoling bit her lip and turned her head away, remaining silent. Su Lingyue felt helpless and had to smooth things over. "Everyone, don’t worry. Since the two of us are responsible for the escort team, we will treat all disciples equally. My second junior sister just spoke without thinking; it’s not her intention."
Su Lingyue glanced at Ye Xiuyuan and whispered, "Brother Ye, aren’t you going back to the team yet?"
Ye Xiuyuan could only brace himself and walk towards the group of disciples. They didn’t say anything further but clearly were not as close to him anymore.
At that moment of silence, Qi Xiaoshan arrived late. "I’m sorry everyone; I took a bit longer preparing my things. I hope I’m not too late."
Lu Mingyuan glanced at the sundial's shadow and replied, "Just now."
He stood on the platform and addressed all the disciples with some important notes before waving his hand to summon a flying boat, allowing everyone to board in succession.
Although in theory, Foundation Establishment disciples already possess the ability to fly using magical tools, the difficulty of controlling these tools is high and the consumption of spiritual energy is significant. Many disciples only manage to stabilize their flying abilities after reaching the Golden Core stage. Therefore, when Foundation Establishment disciples go out for training, the sect provides flying spirit boats for them.
As the mist swirled around them, the green mountains and clear waters below gradually came into view. Before long, the flying boat soared over the mountain peaks, leaving the territory of the Xiaoyao Sect behind. Below was a breathtaking sight.
Along the way, there were numerous villages and towns, among which one stood out for its grandeur and beauty. The city walls were imposing, and the sounds of bustling crowds filled the air. Colorful lanterns hung everywhere, their brilliant lights shimmering in the dim night, making it particularly eye-catching.
Seeing this, Lu Mingyuan introduced it to his fellow disciples. "This is Qian Deng City, which is our destination."
Qian Deng City is famous for its lantern-making; within the city are all sorts of exquisite and beautiful lanterns that shine even brighter at night. Due to this reputation, many mortal cultivators come to admire the scenery. However, even more cultivators are heading towards a place called Little South Mountain, located thirty miles east of the city.
Recently, there have been rumors circulating in the cultivation world that a Qingling Bird has been spotted in Little South Mountain. Although no one has managed to capture one yet, rumors do not arise from nothing. Consequently, many people wish to venture to Little South Mountain to investigate. This time, even the sect's trial has an additional requirement: to gather information about the Qingling Bird.
Several disciples were discussing this trial when one could not help but ask, "Senior Brother Lu, what exactly is this Qingling Bird?"
Lu Mingyuan smiled and replied, "It's hard to say for sure. Some say that the Qingling Bird is a descendant of the ancient beast Qingluan and possesses prophetic abilities due to its unique eyes. Others claim it’s just an ordinary beast that resembles the legendary Qingluan because of its long green feathers and tail."
"There are many theories about this bird in the cultivation world; I can't tell which ones are true or false. However, one thing is certain: this bird must possess extraordinary strength. If any of you happen to see something similar, don’t be reckless—safety comes first."
The disciples nodded in agreement.
Lu Mingyuan then emphasized how to use the communication jade talismans. Qi Xiao listened attentively but was also pondering another matter. Throughout his life until death, he had never heard of anyone truly capturing a Qingling Bird; he suspected that this rumor might be entirely fabricated.
Just as he was lost in thought, they arrived at Qian Deng City. Lu Mingyuan approached a guard at the city gate and inquired briefly before gathering enough passage fees from everyone. After confirming they had enough spirit stones, the guard raised his hand and allowed them entry into the city.
Upon entering the inn, the innkeeper repeatedly apologized.
"I’m truly sorry, everyone. As you know, there’s been quite a commotion in the Little South Mountain recently, and everyone has come here. Now, there are only a few rooms left in this small establishment. If you don’t mind, perhaps you could make do for one night?"
Lu Mingyuan nodded. This was the largest inn in Qian Deng City, and if even this place was fully booked, there was nowhere else to go. Besides, they were already cultivators; meditating to replenish their energy was more effective than sleep. They didn’t necessarily need a bed; a place to rest would suffice.
Soon, the remaining disciples split into small groups to find their spots.
"Xiao Liu, you can share a room with Junior Brother Ye," Song Xiaoling suggested. She knew that her earlier actions had caused some discontent among the disciples towards Ye Xiuyuan. Worried that he might be bullied, she took the initiative to speak up. With her and the Senior Sister around, Qi Xiao should not dare to cause any trouble.
Lu Mingyuan glanced at Qi Xiao with some concern, but Qi Xiao merely smiled faintly.
"Junior Brother Ye is not feeling well; it’s better for him to rest alone. I wouldn’t want to disturb him. Brother Lu, would you mind if I shared a room with you instead?"
Lu Mingyuan was taken aback but quickly agreed. "Of course! I was hoping to discuss the sword techniques from last time with you."
He eagerly pulled Qi Xiao over and began whispering earnestly about their discussion, while Qi Xiao occasionally chimed in with agreement.
Seeing this scene made Song Xiaoling's expression darken. The entry-level sword techniques of the Xianyao Sect were worthy of such enthusiastic discussion? It was clear that they were just making excuses because they didn’t want to share a room.
Ye Xiuyuan stood awkwardly to the side, feeling isolated and uncomfortable. Although Qi Xiao's words seemed considerate, anyone with eyes could see that given the shortage of rooms, it was impossible for him to have one alone; Qi Xiao’s offer was nothing but a polite refusal.
Meanwhile, the others chatted away as if it had nothing to do with them, completely ignoring him. When had Ye Xiuyuan ever faced such humiliation?
Song Xiaoling’s expression soured as she couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She directly took Ye Xiuyuan by the arm and started leading him outside.
"In such a big city, can we really not find a single room? If we can’t stay here, I’ll take you somewhere else."
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