Chapter 228 | You Said You Only Wanted to Die

"It looks like Big Senior Brother is being targeted," Li Nanzhu teased.

Feng Qingping nodded in agreement. "After all, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator under thirty is indeed enough to put them on guard. As far as we know, the only other Nascent Soul cultivator in that age range is Qi Yunze." She turned to Mu Wenyan. "Big Senior Brother, you’re about to become everyone’s target."

Mu Wenyan's bell swayed slightly at his waist, his voice carrying a hint of indifference. "It matters not."

"Since they’re having us fight other sects," Zhu Yinxi said, holding the jade slip sent by Rong Yuying, "they will definitely be watching us closely. So, before the team matches, we must hide as much of our strength as possible."

"Specifically, Big Senior Brother and Little Junior Sister's Suisui. The rest of you should also avoid revealing that you can use a sword."

"Understood."

Upon hearing this, Suisui immediately straightened its spine, putting on an obedient air.

"Then starting tomorrow, we will split up," Feng Qingping arranged. "Big Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, and Fourth Senior Brother will be responsible for gathering intelligence. Seventh Senior Brother will take Little Junior Sister to familiarize themselves with the venue. Sixth Senior Brother and I will deal with those spies."

"The focus should be on studying the Nascent Soul stage cultivators. There are too many Golden Core stage and Foundation Establishment stage cultivators; we only need to pay attention to those who advance easily," Li Nanzhu added.

"That's right. After all, Big Senior Brother’s opponents are the most dangerous. I recall there might even be a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator," Jiang Yifan mused.

Feng Qingping put away the jade slip and glanced at the darkening sky outside. "Since everything is arranged, let’s rest for today and build up our strength."

After everyone returned to their rooms, Li Nanzhu took out the memory stone Mu Wenyan had given her.

The images showed the scene from today's mobilization meeting—the Sword Heart Sect's sect leader sat high on the main platform, talking endlessly about the rules, while Duan Xianxing dozed in a corner and was poked awake three times by Feng Qingping's sword qi.

Suisui lay on her lap, its soul fire flickering along with the images. When it reached the part where the various sects' Nascent Soul cultivators were being introduced, the little skeleton suddenly jumped up, its bone claws pointing at a white-robed sword cultivator.

"Qi Yunze..." Li Nanzhu said softly. The man in the image had a cold face, his body surrounded by pure light spiritual energy. This was the formidable rival Big Senior Brother would surely face in the end.

As for her own opponents, Li Nanzhu wasn't particularly worried. With her current strength and the assistance of her divine sense, entering the top fifty wouldn't be difficult.

She didn't snap out of it until Suisui tugged at her sleeve. Outside the window, the sky was full of stars, and the lights of the Sword Heart Sect in the distance were still bright.

"Let's sleep," she rubbed Suisui's skull. "Tomorrow is when the real show begins."

...

Sword Heart Sect, Wandao Peak.

Qi Yunze was practicing his swordplay under the moon, the snow-white sword light pouring down.

Suddenly, he turned his sword, pointing it straight into the depths of the bamboo forest. "Come out."

"Big Senior Brother, it's me." Cang Dongqing stepped out from the shadows, her pale yellow dress still damp with night dew. "Master asked me to give you this intelligence regarding the Five Elements Dao Sect."

She handed over the jade slip, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against Qi Yunze's wrist.

The young sword cultivator's gaze shifted slightly, his cold expression softening a bit. "Thank you, Little Junior Sister."

Cang Dongqing keenly caught this subtle change.

From the first moment she met Qi Yunze, she had realized that this usually indifferent big senior brother treated her very differently. Though she didn't know why, she was happy to see it.

"That Mu Wenyan..." she said softly. "A Nascent Soul cultivator under thirty. He might be your greatest opponent."

Qi Yunze put away the jade slip, his sword tip tracing an arc on the ground. "It matters not."

Though his tone was indifferent, a spark of battle intent flashed in his eyes.

"I believe Big Senior Brother will surely win," Cang Dongqing said with a beaming smile. "Can Big Senior Brother also give me some encouragement?"

"Mm... you will surely win as well."

Seeing that her goal was achieved, Cang Dongqing didn't linger. As she turned to leave, she didn't see the long, lingering gaze of the young man behind her.

...

Hehuan Sect Station, Feihua Pavilion.

Rong Yuying was reviewing the latest intelligence when her hand suddenly shook, and her teacup shattered on the floor with a snap.

"Nascent Soul stage?!" She stared at the jade slip in disbelief. "The Five Elements Dao Sect's Mu Wenyan is actually..."

"Surprised?" The bead curtain tinkled as an elegant and noble middle-aged woman walked in slowly.

A nine-phoenix pearl-holding hairpin was tucked into her hair, and a touch of crimson at the corner of her eyes was like the morning glow on snow—it was the Hehuan Sect sect leader, Rong Lingmeng.

Rong Yuying hurriedly bowed. "Grandmother." She pointed to the jade slip. "The strength of the Five Elements Dao Sect..."

"Stronger than expected, isn't it?" Rong Lingmeng chuckled, her fingertips brushing over a peach blossom branch on the table. "Ying'er, do you know why I agreed to cooperate with the Five Elements Dao Sect?"

Seeing her granddaughter shake her head, she suddenly changed the subject. "Five hundred years ago, I met Feng Yi once."

Rong Yuying's eyes widened.

"At that time, he had already broken through to the Soul Transformation stage, but he was exceptionally low-profile." A look of recollection appeared in Rong Lingmeng's eyes. "I still remember that he looked exactly like this when I met him back then. I didn't expect that after five hundred years, his appearance wouldn't have changed in the slightest."

"What?!" Rong Yuying's eyes went wide at the news. "How is that possible? Even you..."

"That’s why," Rong Lingmeng sighed softly, "even if the Five Elements Dao Sect has fallen on hard times, its foundation is far beyond our imagination. He alone could revitalize the sect. Now that he’s letting his disciples out into the world, there must be a major move in the works."

She suddenly pressed her hands onto Rong Yuying's shoulders. "Pass down the order: all disciples are to covertly assist the Five Elements Dao Sect. Especially that Li Nanzhu—she might be the key."

"Shouldn't it be Mu Wenyan? Among the people here, I think his aptitude is the best, or perhaps Feng Qingping..."

Rong Lingmeng said meaningfully, "You also told me that the little skeleton named Suisui is Li Nanzhu's spirit pet, but Feng Yi said it is the Five Elements Dao Sect's dao-protecting bone spirit."

"And that means either Li Nanzhu has incredible luck to have such a spiritual being recognize her as master... or Feng Yi values her extremely highly and was willing to give her the dao-protecting bone spirit."

"I understand. But Grandmother..." Rong Yuying hesitated. "Aren't we gambling too much?"

Rong Lingmeng chuckled. "The path of cultivation is a struggle against fate to begin with." She looked out at the bright moon. "This competition might just be the turning point for the fate of our Hehuan Sect."

...

Early the next morning, the members of the Five Elements Dao Sect were ready to go. To maintain consistency, they had specially changed into the blue sect uniforms that everyone had received upon joining.

"Let's go." Mu Wenyan waved his hand. "Today, we let the world get to know the Five Elements Dao Sect once again."

Suisui hopped onto Li Nanzhu's shoulder, its soul fire reflecting the brilliance of the morning sun. The little skeleton had somehow found a red hair ribbon and tied it around its skull like a small battle flag.