Before, there had been some who doubted Mo Xuanli’s strength, believing his success came only from Elder Luofeng’s support, and that with such luck, they’d be no worse. But after tonight, there was nothing left to say. Against Chu Fei, whose cultivation was two full realms higher, Mo Xuanli still managed to land several beautiful counterattacks.
God Nine Transformations came with eight forms, each tied to a different attack mode. There were those who spent their entire lives mastering a single weapon yet he had mastered them all. His movements dazzled the eye and struck terror into the heart.
Although his combat power was still only at the early Nascent Soul stage and he couldn’t yet win, he’d already managed to make Chu Fei suffer several times. In the end, Chu Fei fought to his heart’s content but ended the battle cursing under his breath, declaring that fighting Mo Xuanli was just too exhausting. There were simply too many tricks, his brain couldn’t keep up, and he had to rely purely on instinct. It was too tiring.
Mo Xuanli, however, used this battle to release much of the frustration pent up in his heart, and his cultivation became even more solid because of it.
After all, Gu Baiqing couldn’t spar with him, and Mo Xuanli rarely had the chance to practice properly without risking his life, he gained a lot from it. Afterwards, he even sent Chu Fei some dairy snacks as a thank-you gift.
Fu Zhiyi watched from above, fanning himself with satisfaction. Not only was Mo Xuanli strong, but his performance before the other sect masters today was outstanding. Among the younger generation, it was hard to find anyone who could surpass him.
“When Eldest Senior Sister emerges from seclusion, the successor of our Zixiao Sect will basically be decided.”
Yun Yue watched the match alongside Nan Zhi. Nan Zhi gripped her broadsword, eyes burning with excitement, itching to fight. But by the end, she could only admit defeat with sincerity: “I can’t beat him anymore. Just as Fourth Master said two years ago, within two years, he’s truly surpassed me. Give him two more, and even Master may not be his match.”
Yun Yue tilted her head to the sky. “Xuanli truly has extraordinary talent, not the aptitude of an ordinary man. He’ll only grow stronger. Perhaps one day, everyone in the cultivation world will kneel before him.”
——
In the air, Jingzhan pulled Jingcheng along to watch. “So? My brother’s amazing, right?”
“If you worked as hard as he does, you’d be pretty good yourself.” Jingcheng smiled, praising while still scolding his younger brother.
Jingzhan exaggeratedly groaned. “That’s because you don’t know what kind of hardship he’s been through! Every time he fights, it’s life or death. Would you really want your one and only brother to go through something that dangerous?”
Jingcheng could only smile helplessly. “I can only say Baiqing is truly skilled at teaching disciples. Jade must be polished to become a gem. If you’re willing, perhaps Baiqing could teach you as well.”
Jingzhan immediately waved his hands. “Forget it. If I go, we won’t be brothers anymore.”
“How could that be?” Jingcheng was confused. “You’re just making excuses.”
“You don’t understand,” Jingzhan muttered. “I’m not about to ruin someone’s romance destiny.”
——
“Wow, Mo Xuanli’s gotten so strong! Xiuran, could you beat him?” Ji Chuling asked worriedly.
“How would I know if I haven’t fought him yet? But yes… he’s really strong.” Supported by Ji Chuling, Li Xiuran stepped onto the rooftop to watch, his eyes flickering with excitement; he was itching to recover soon so he could challenge Mo Xuanli himself.
Ji Chuling immediately said, “Tomorrow, my grandfather will personally teach you a sword technique connected to the God-Slaying Sword. Even if it’s last-minute, it’s a technique others could never dream of mastering, you’ll definitely win!”
Li Xiuran froze for a moment, then asked, “That… can it be passed on to others?”
Ji Chuling blinked. “Huh? You’re not thinking of teaching it to those Tianzhao Sect siblings, are you? No way! The technique can’t be passed on unless they’re people of the Hidden Gods Clan or fated with the God-Slaying Sword.”
Li Xiuran smiled faintly. “I see. Got it.”
——
On a nearby rooftop, Si Chun watched quietly. Around her, three of her junior sisters chattered excitedly, they all held Mo Xuanli in decent regard, after all, they’d once gone adventuring with him in a secret realm and deeply admired the strong. When the spar ended, they rushed off to study the techniques he used with his umbrella.
Si Chun watched their lively figures and curved her lips slightly. “He’s really getting stronger.”
“What’s this? You like him that much?” A sudden voice came from behind her, laced with an ominous aura. Si Chun instantly leapt back, umbrella in hand, it snapped open in defense, deflecting a blade before returning neatly to her grasp.
Standing on the rooftop, she frowned. “Breaking into another’s floating island so casually, aren’t you afraid of getting hurt?”
The intruder was none other than Zong Ziming. Though he’d always been unpleasant, he’d never been this rude before.
Zong Ziming stood in the shadows, eyes full of jealousy. “He’s that good, huh? You like him that much?”
“It has nothing to do with you,” Si Chun said coldly. “Either leave or fight.”
“Hmph. Just wait. At the Immortal Conference, I’ll make sure you see me trample him beneath my feet.” Zong Ziming took a step forward, voice chilling.
Si Chun’s expression flickered slightly as she saw his face more clearly but before she could speak, Zong Ziming had already left.
“What’s wrong, Senior Sister?” her junior sisters called as they ran up, sensing something off.
Si Chun frowned faintly, an uneasy feeling rising in her heart. Just now, Zong Ziming’s expression had looked far too much like her master’s… right before he’d succumbed to inner demons.
Could this boy really be twisting himself so far out of shape just from jealousy toward Mo Xuanli?
——
“Daughter, what do you think of the Dao companion I picked for you?” Zong Lei said with a laugh. “If that boy were just a little more obedient, it’d be perfect. He’s clever, sometimes too clever, but the merfolk will never truly be ours to control. Still, that true dragon? No one else can compare.”
Zong Xuezhen looked up at Mo Xuanli’s graceful, upright figure in the sky. What had started as mere calculation began to stir something else within her.
“But Father, he already has someone he likes. And Elder Luofeng didn’t agree to your plan either. I fear this matter…”
“That’ll depend on my clever daughter’s ability,” Zong Lei chuckled. “Even if there’s no chance these days, when we head to Constellation Island, there’ll be more opportunities for you to get close.”
“Constellation Island… that depends on my brother. If he doesn’t clear the obstacles for me, I can’t be sure I’ll even get to go. It’s lucky you warned the others ahead of time to expand the number of spots, otherwise…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on things for you. I even prepared a Fate Stone for the two of you, destiny itself. Surely he can’t ignore that, right?” Zong Lei smiled slyly, full of scheming confidence. “By the way, where’s your brother? Where’s he run off to this time?”
“Who knows…” Zong Xuezhen muttered irritably.
As they were speaking, a figure suddenly flew inside.
Zong Lei immediately barked, “Where have you been?”
Zong Xuezhen rolled her eyes at the newcomer, too lazy to speak, and simply walked away.
Zong Ziming stepped forward. “Father, I have an idea. I want to—”
“What idea? The only thing you should be doing right now is improving your cultivation, paving the way for your sister, and getting close to the Hidden Gods Clan! What’s wrong with you? Haven’t you managed to get even a single opportunity? Do you have any idea how many benefits you’d gain if you caught their attention?”
After scolding him, Zong Lei said sharply, “Get in here. I’ll have the elders talk to you properly about which opponents to watch out for at the Immortal Conference.”
He turned and went inside.
Zong Ziming stood trembling for a while, then slowly straightened. His eyes glowed faintly red but the color faded soon after.
——
That night, Mo Xuanli was likely too exhausted and soon fell into a deep sleep on the soft couch nearby.
Gu Baiqing, on the other hand, sat cross-legged on the bed, officially meditating but in truth, his mind wandered. He kept thinking about whether there was anything else in the original text that he could use to their advantage. Even a single clue could make a crucial difference in their current situation.
After all, cultivators didn’t need to sleep. Meditation was rest enough.
In the second half of the night, he suddenly heard faint sobbing.
Gu Baiqing got up and walked over. Mo Xuanli was curled up on the couch, clearly asleep but tears streamed down his face. He was crying like a helpless child, hugging himself tightly, his expression shattered with sorrow, his brows drawn in confusion and pain.
Gu Baiqing gently turned him over. God Nine Transformations around Mo Xuanli’s wrist was waving its red cord, lightly patting its master. When it sensed Gu Baiqing’s presence, it reached out a thread and hooked around his wrist, as if asking him what to do.
Gu Baiqing sighed softly and placed a hand on Mo Xuanli’s chest, patting lightly. “Xuanli…”
Mo Xuanli’s lips trembled as if he were speaking. Gu Baiqing leaned closer, and through the sobs, caught broken fragments of words—
“Father… Mother… Sister… Why… why… don’t leave me… don’t abandon me… I’m not a bad child… I’m not…”
Gu Baiqing’s expression softened, and he let out a quiet sigh. Once, they had been a happy family of four. But fate was cruel, the original text said all three were dead.
“Don’t grab me… don’t… don’t kill me… I don’t want to die… I just… just want to live… I’m really not a bad person… I’m not a demon… I’m not…”
Gu Baiqing frowned slightly. So he was dreaming about those years of being hunted. It seemed that what they’d learned from the Taixu Hall still weighed heavily on his heart. Even if he forced it down, that deep-rooted terror from childhood would still resurface when he was defenseless, tormenting him in his dreams.
Gu Baiqing continued to pat his chest gently, murmuring to soothe him: “You’re not a demon. Don’t be afraid. It’s all right now. You’re safe, and strong. No one can hurt you anymore.”
But suddenly Mo Xuanli’s whole body trembled, as though he were even more afraid.
“Master… Master…”
Tears poured down faster, and Mo Xuanli’s hands flailed until he caught Gu Baiqing’s hand, gripping it tight.
A pang of discomfort twisted in Gu Baiqing’s chest. So I’ve become part of his nightmares too?
“Master… don’t leave me… I’ll be good… I’ll really behave… please don’t abandon me, all right?”
Gu Baiqing froze. The tone, it was exactly like little Xuanli back in Linxun Town.
A small boy with no strength at all, running desperately for his life. Whenever someone treated him kindly, he clung to them with everything he had, desperate not to be left behind, eager to prove how much he cared, wanting nothing more than to bind his entire life to that person.
Gu Baiqing wanted to erase all the fear in his heart, but he knew he couldn’t. The root of that fear was in Xuanli’s very bloodline. Only by breaking free from it could he truly be reborn.
So he spoke softly instead: “Master is here. Don’t worry, I’ve always been here. See? You’re holding on so tightly.”
Mo Xuanli’s grip was so tight that Gu Baiqing’s wrist was already turning red, but Xuanli still couldn’t calm down, tugging at him over and over.
Gu Baiqing hesitated for a moment, then gave in, climbing onto the couch beside him. As soon as he lay down, Mo Xuanli immediately curled up against him like a child, pressing himself into Gu Baiqing’s arms.
Though his grown body made the position awkward, he still tried to make himself small, as if only being enveloped by someone he trusted could bring him peace.
Once he’d nestled in, he reached around and hugged Gu Baiqing tightly, holding him so close there was no space left between them.
Gu Baiqing could only sigh helplessly and let him be, allowing the tears to soak into his robes, continuing to pat his back lightly until the “child” finally fell back into a peaceful sleep.
By then, Gu Baiqing’s arm was sore and aching.
Once he was sure Mo Xuanli was deeply asleep, he carefully pried open the embrace and got up.
His body ached all over. He stretched, glanced at the light outside, it was nearly dawn. Forget it. He’d rest for a bit.
He returned to his bed and slowly drifted off.
Morning light filtered through the window. Mo Xuanli stirred on the couch, slowly waking.
For a moment he was dazed. He touched his sticky, tear-streaked cheeks and flushed in embarrassment.
He remembered having many terrible dreams, he’d cried in all of them, desperate to live, desperate for someone to accept him. And then, a black-robed figure shrouded in blue lightning appeared.
It was his master. His master held him, lifted him, and carried him away from that dreadful world.
A faint smile tugged at Mo Xuanli’s lips. His master always saved him, whether in dreams or in reality.
He got up quietly. Seeing that Gu Baiqing still seemed to be asleep, he called softly twice.
But Gu Baiqing didn’t stir, sleeping soundly for once. Remembering the order that they were to remain together at all times these days, Mo Xuanli decided to stay put.
Since his master was resting, he wouldn’t go anywhere.
Standing by the bedside, looking at his master, recalling the dream where his master had gently comforted him, Mo Xuanli couldn’t help pressing his lips together. In the end, he couldn’t resist leaning down and lightly brushing his master’s soft, slightly flushed lips. Then he drew back, two words rolling in his throat, thick with affection—
“Baiqing…”
Perhaps because the touch was too light, Gu Baiqing’s lips tingled a little, and he licked them.
Seeing this, Mo Xuanli’s gaze deepened, his breathing growing heavier. Just as he was about to lose control, Gu Baiqing’s eyelashes suddenly fluttered. Startled, Mo Xuanli immediately straightened up and took a step back.
Moments later, Gu Baiqing woke up, unaware of anything. Seeing that Mo Xuanli was already awake and looked normal, he relaxed.
After that, Gu Baiqing prepared to take Mo Xuanli out.
“Master, where are we going?”
Gu Baiqing paused, recalling the previous night, then smiled. “Bring all those dairy snacks you made. We’re going to find your martial uncle for some sparring.”
“Ah?”
“Now, me instructing you isn’t as effective as actual combat. You must know, there aren’t many in the Immortal Convention who can match you. Fighting them would be boring. If you’re going to fight, fight the strong.”
After discovering yesterday that Mo Xuanli’s cultivation improved the fastest after sparring with Chu Fei, Gu Baiqing decided to make the most of that.
So when master and disciple appeared before Chu Fei again, the “tool man” Chu Fei twitched at the corner of his mouth, looking at the pile of snacks stacked before him. “I… I do want to spar with him, but not right now. I need some time to digest his last set of moves.”
Gu Baiqing then took out three white porcelain bottles.
Chu Fei stared in disbelief. “Where did you get those?”
“Second Senior Brother.” Gu Baiqing smiled faintly.
Resentment flickered in Chu Fei’s eyes, but in the end, he gave in.
So that day, Mo Xuanli sparred with Chu Fei, then with Nan Zhi, and when not, he was besieged by several disciples at once. Midway, Ao Hang returned briefly with Three Bean; finding it interesting, he joined in, promptly beating Mo Xuanli flat before lazily flying off again. Gu Baiqing merely watched calmly from below, offering the occasional pointer.
Other sects were also busy preparing.
The day quickly passed, and the first day of the tournament officially began.
