Chapter 383 - 220: [Floating Light and Shadow Sword: (???/???)]

Chapter 383: Chapter 220: [Floating Light and Shadow Sword: (???/???)]

"What’s up with Senior Sister Ning?"

"You know how it is. Senior Sister Ning has a fiery personality, and her figure is even more fiery... Maybe the men of Jiangnan can’t handle that sort of thing."

"It’s true Senior Sister Ning has a hot body, but I think her personality is fine. I like them that way, hehe..."

"You’re better suited for Shuzhou; you shouldn’t be in Yunzhou. With a wild personality like Senior Sister Ning’s, whoever marries her will have his hands full for life..."

"What are you guys talking about?"

A voice, hurried and energetic as if carrying the essence of high summer, rang out.

The few Inner Sect Disciples felt their backs tense up. They all turned in unison to face the gorgeous, well-endowed woman and said nervously,

"Senior Sister Ning! I... We..."

"Instead of practicing your swordsmanship, all you do is stand around gossiping about nonsense! Scram!"

Ning Zi shot them a sideways glance and scolded them.

Her tone showed she wasn’t truly angry, and the disciples, as if granted amnesty, flushed red and hurried away.

Ning Zi scoffed.

’These male disciples, whenever they get together, all they can talk about is that stuff. They talk about swordsmanship far less than they talk about women!’

’But they’re just a bunch of young boys who talk a big game. To hear them, you’d think they were old pros, but in reality, they’ve probably never even held a girl’s hand.’

She shook her head, then her eyes lit up as she saw the calm Xie Yuan standing to the side.

"Junior Brother Zhang is much more composed, not like these restless junior brothers. Hey, you don’t seem like a new disciple at all! Have you had that sourpuss face since you were a kid?"

Xie Yuan watched Ning Zi stride over, her figure swaying with each step. His eyelid twitched, and he quickly looked away.

’She just praised me, it wouldn’t be good if she caught me staring again... It’s really not on purpose; Ning Zi just has this... astonishing momentum that naturally draws the eye.’

In truth, back in his old dorm room, Xie Yuan had acted much the same as those male disciples when chatting with his roommates.

It’s just that here on Ruyun Peak, or rather, in this world, there was no one left he could banter with like in his past.

Ning Zi was a personal disciple from Yao Yue Peak, a status much higher than that of an Inner Sect Disciple from Ruyun Peak. Xie Yuan lowered his head and bowed to her.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Ning! May I ask what brings you to Ruyun Peak? Is there anything this junior brother can help with?"

Ning Zi waved her hand dismissively.

"What brings me here? I came to find you, of course! Why else would I run right up to you? You’re not like those other junior brothers, already thinking of names for our kids, are you? Hehe!"

Huh?

Xie Yuan froze for a moment, unable to keep up with Ning Zi’s pace.

"Find... me? Senior Sister, why are you looking for me?"

"It’s not really me looking for you; it’s the Sect Leader and the others. I volunteered to come get you so you wouldn’t have to wait for those slowpokes. Junior Brother Zhang, come with me to the main peak right now!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed Xie Yuan’s arm and started walking up the stone steps.

Xie Yuan was nearly pulled off balance by the impetuous Ning Zi. He asked, still confused,

"The Sect Leader...? Senior Sister Ning, may I ask why the Sect Leader is looking for me?"

"Silly! What else could it be these days? It’s for the Little Hidden Dragon Gathering, of course! We need to go up, they’ll give you a few instructions, and then you’ll have to head down the mountain right away! Don’t waste time and miss the date!"

’The Little Hidden Dragon Gathering?’

Xie Yuan subconsciously raised an eyebrow.

’What does the Little Hidden Dragon Gathering have to do with me?’

’After all, I’m already a true Hidden Dragon... Whatever the reason, making the list is making the list.’

’Besides, even if Li Xingtuo wanted to send me to win glory for the Sect, he should know that my situation isn’t exactly suitable.’

The current strength of "Zhang Shan" was that of someone who had just broken through to the Qi Blood First Transformation Realm; his aura wasn’t even stable yet.

During this period of cultivation, several of Xie Yuan’s peers had broken through one after another.

Lin Zhen had long been on the verge of the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm. After a period of arduous training on Yao Yue Peak under Luo Shuang’s guidance, she had successfully become a Qi Blood First Transformation Realm Martial Artist some time ago.

To go from an ordinary person to this realm in a year and a half, one had to say her talent and fortune were both top-tier. With an ancient ruin in her past, a Grandmaster taking her as a disciple in her present, and Xie Yuan secretly helping in between, it could be said that the Lin family’s luck had finally turned after a long string of misfortunes.

Lin Cheng was a similar case. Benefiting from the numerous foundation-building Divine Medicines on the first two floors of the Slaughter Tower, his ossified bones and sealed meridians—a result of starting his training at an older age—were completely reformed, thoroughly improving his natural aptitude. Combined with his superhuman diligence and perseverance, plus a huge pile of Blood Dragon Pills, he finally broke through at the start of autumn as well, becoming a Qi Blood First Transformation Realm Martial Artist.

Then, the very next day, Xie Yuan—who was getting tired of pretending to be at the External Training stage—followed suit and broke through, continuing to be "rotten brothers" with Lin Cheng. It was all so perfectly logical and reasonable that Li Xingtuo could only laugh when he heard about it.

Therefore, Xie Yuan was currently just an Inner Sect Disciple who had just broken through to the First Transformation Realm. Even with the reputation of a genius, he wasn’t qualified to represent the Sect at the Little Hidden Dragon Gathering.

’Besides, even if my true strength is greater than this, I couldn’t possibly show it off at the Little Hidden Dragon Gathering, where a Grandmaster would surely be watching.’

’It’s one thing in daily life, but in a fight, I would inevitably reveal some of my Second Transformation Realm Blood Qi, which a Grandmaster would spot in an instant. And as for directly revealing my true strength... how could I possibly explain that? A sudden epiphany that just happens to take me to the Second Transformation Realm?’

Although Xie Yuan and this inscrutable Sect Leader had a certain tacit understanding, since they hadn’t laid all their cards on the table yet, he naturally had to continue playing the part of Zhang Shan.

So when Ning Zi said Li Xingtuo was looking for him regarding the Little Hidden Dragon Gathering, he was completely baffled. What use could they have for him?

’Getting on stage is out of the question. Secretly taking out the competition by, say, slipping them some laxatives... now that’s a possibility... ’

’Besides, even if they wanted me to participate, hadn’t the candidates and date been decided long in advance? Calling for me now, right when it’s time to depart, is a bit strange.’

Xie Yuan frowned in thought for a long time but couldn’t make sense of it. He was simply dragged step by step by Ning Zi, swiftly descending Ruyun Peak and then ascending the main peak.