One month later.
"Senior Sister Xu!"
"Greetings, Senior Sister Xu!"
"We pay our respects to Senior Sister Xu!"
As Xu Yi, along with Yang Mei and the three of them, headed towards the mountain gate, they encountered several disciples of the Xuanqing Sect along the way.
Upon seeing her, the disciples' eyes lit up, and they proactively stepped forward to greet her.
Xu Yi smiled and gestured to them, then turned to Long Haotian and said, "Your Xuanqing Sect disciples are quite enthusiastic, haha."
Completely overshadowed by Xu Yi's radiance, leading to them being ignored, the three Xuanqing Sect members twitched their lips, but ultimately none of them spoke up to refute her.
During this period, the news of Xu Yi's sparring with Bei Xinghan had already spread to all the disciples through various subtle clues.
Everyone in their hearts deeply admired this Senior Sister Xu, who could contend equally with Senior Brother Bei.
Those with strength would receive respect wherever they went.
Outside the mountain gate, a considerable number of disciples participating in the sect grand competition had already gathered. Today was the day they would depart for the Myriad Buddha Sect.
Upon seeing Xu Yi's arrival, they too were very enthusiastic, stepping forward to pay their respects. They nearly pushed Long Haotian and the other two, who had been standing beside Xu Yi, out of the way.
They did not question why Xu Yi would appear here.
Although the sect grand competition was a contest among disciples of various sects, other non-sect disciples, such as rogue cultivators and members of various noble families, were also permitted to attend as spectators.
As Xu Yi continued to smile and respond, she secretly felt a pang of unease.
Once they arrived at the Myriad Buddha Sect, would these people, upon learning that she would be representing the Xuanji Sect in the competition, band together to ambush her?
While she was lost in thought, the voices around her suddenly ceased, and the entire area fell silent. A familiar chill spread through her entire body, penetrating her clothes.
A flicker of understanding flashed in her eyes as she turned her head and saw Bei Xinghan walking towards her alone, with an unhurried stride.
The disciples who had been surrounding Xu Yi involuntarily retreated, clearing a path.
Bei Xinghan arrived beside Xu Yi unimpeded, stood still, his handsome profile appearing as if meticulously sculpted, beautiful yet devoid of any vitality.
Xu Yi was somewhat surprised, but then she thought about it; they had been sparring together recently, and Bei Xinghan was likely accustomed to staying close to her.
It was only after a few more breaths that some disciples reacted, respectfully saluting Bei Xinghan before quickly retreating. The atmosphere was no longer as relaxed as it had been when they were speaking with Xu Yi.
Upon seeing Bei Xinghan, Long Haotian's old and new grievances surged to the forefront, and he glared fiercely at him several times.
However, Bei Xinghan did not even move the corner of his eye, as if Long Haotian were merely air.
"Senior Brother Bei, Senior Sister Xu."
Jin Biao, who had just arrived, spotted Bei Xinghan and Xu Yi at once. He quickened his pace and eagerly stepped forward to greet them both.
"Senior Brother Jin," Long Haotian said with a smile.
"Ah, so Junior Brother Long is also here."
Only then did Jin Biao notice Long Haotian standing beside them and let out a hearty laugh.
Long Haotian's smile froze, and he felt so angry he wanted to vomit blood.
He and Bei Xinghan were standing side by side with Xu Yi, yet only Bei Xinghan was noticed.
It was the same as when he was a child and he and Bei Xinghan were together; his father's eyes were always solely on Bei Xinghan!
Bei Xinghan! Bei Xinghan!
What was so good about Bei Xinghan!
Bei Xinghan's presence stirred up unpleasant memories for Long Haotian, causing his lips to tighten into a straight line, and the veins on his forehead to throb.
At this moment, True Master Qing Lian appeared before the mountain gate with several elders.
"I will be leading the team for this sect grand competition. I hope all of you will be diligent and strive for excellence, not to disgrace the sect..."
True Master Qing Lian spoke a few words to boost morale, his gaze sweeping over the enthusiastic disciples, and he felt increasingly pleased.
However, when his gaze fell upon Bei Xinghan and the others, his brow furrowed slightly.
Bei Xinghan remained expressionless; he was accustomed to it, but he felt something was off about Xu Yi's smile.
What was most irritating was Long Haotian, who wore a look of deep grievance, as if the person speaking was not his father but his mortal enemy.
All of them were a nuisance.
True Master Qing Lian lost any further inclination to speak. After a few more perfunctory words, he waved his hand, dispelling the previously erected barrier. A luxurious, palace-sized grand vessel appeared above them.
"This is the sect's supreme treasure, the Liu Guang Ship, capable of accommodating over a thousand people."
Seeing the look of astonishment in Xu Yi's eyes, Long Haotian dutifully began to explain.
"Liu Guang Ship, a beautiful name."
Xu Yi's eyes gleamed, and she wished she could rush onto the ship immediately and thoroughly examine the ship's structure from the inside out.
In the end, Xu Yi, with saliva dripping from her mouth, was pulled onto the ship by Long Haotian.
Upon boarding the ship, Xu Yi dragged Long Haotian back to find True Master Qing Lian. She wanted her dream to become a reality and to personally touch and explore the Liu Jin Ship.
To her surprise, upon hearing that the two of them sought an audience, True Master Qing Lian did not even show his face. He directly used his spiritual power to throw them out.
Clearly, he was still holding a grudge for the scene he had witnessed earlier.
Xu Yi and Long Haotian, having been thrown out, exchanged glances and could only dejectedly return to their respective resting chambers.
The Liu Jin Ship was an eighth-grade magical treasure that could travel ten thousand miles in an instant. Furthermore, the Xuanqing Sect did not fear expenditure, spending a large amount of spirit stones daily to activate it.
In just half a month, they had arrived at Shizhou, and in a few more days, they would reach their destination, the Myriad Buddha Sect.
In her chamber, Xu Yi slowly opened her eyes, and a golden light flashed through them.
"Late stage Nascent Soul."
Finally breaking through before the sect grand competition, Xu Yi was extremely satisfied with this outcome.
She stood up and stretched her limbs, then pushed open her chamber door. Immediately, the exclamations of disciples reached her ears.
"Senior Brother Bei has actually broken through!"
"Late stage Nascent Soul Grand Perfection! For this competition among Nascent Soul disciples, Senior Brother Bei will surely secure a spot in the top three!"
"Senior Brother Bei is too formidable!"
"..."
Xu Yi's expression fell. That fellow Bei Xinghan had also broken through.
She had thought that she would finally be able to crush Bei Xinghan, but it seemed she had been thinking too wishfully.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists of the Xuanqing Sect!"
Xu Yi turned her head, her eyes widening in surprise, and quickly moved to the window.
She saw a massive, seven-story pagoda floating alongside the Liu Guang Ship.
Xu Yi tilted her head back, unable to take in the full appearance of the pagoda.
From the pagoda's windows, quite a few cultivators were smugly laughing at the Liu Guang Ship, seemingly to mock the Liu Guang Ship for being insufficiently grand.
"It's people from the Daqi Sect!"
"Damn it, they're actually mocking us!"
"Hmph!"
"..."
The young disciples, being young and spirited, naturally could not tolerate the other party's mockery. They poked their heads out and loudly issued challenges.
The disciples of both sides quickly devolved into a noisy quarrel.
Seeing this, Xu Yi leaned against the ship's hull and watched with interest, occasionally joining in the insults for the Xuanqing Sect disciples, further stirring up the situation.
Yang Mei, having heard Xu Yi's voice from her chamber, ran out. Upon seeing Xu Yi's actions, she went to her room, retrieved two chairs, and brought them to Xu Yi's side.
Xu Yi cast a look of admiration at her and leisurely sat down.
Yang Mei obediently sat beside Xu Yi. After a moment's thought, she took some snacks, favored by female cultivators, from her storage bag, placed them on a tray, and offered them to Xu Yi.
When Elder Bai emerged to maintain order, the first thing he saw was Xu Yi, who was peeling snacks while lounging in a chair, watching the spectacle.
"This Xu Yi is truly..."
Even the usually well-mannered Elder Bai was amused to the point of exasperation by Xu Yi.