"Awoooo!"
Following a huge roar that echoed through the Jade Mist Forest, Murong Xue Meng killed the 30th demonic beast that day. She targeted only those in the peak third-layer harmonisation realm and higher; of course, she limited herself to the peak fourth-layer harmonisation realm. Any stronger than that and she might get herself killed.
The sun started to set, and the sky gradually darkened. Millions of stars littered the inky black night. The scene was just something that anyone could see; it wasn't anything special. But this reminded her of back home, the simple days when she'd watch the stars with her dad and older brother. They'd watch a new moon through their telescope and name the constellations until she'd fallen asleep. Until that fateful day when her brother was found dead in his room, a needle lay next to him. The coroner said he committed suicide, though no one believed it. Even when years of investigation found nothing.
Though now Murong Xue Meng is almost 100% sure it had something to do with Ruo Lan. But alas, what can she do? She wasn't even in the same world as Ruo Lan anymore....
As the moon hung brightly in the sky, a small figure could be seen leaving the Jade Mist Forest.
.
.
.
The sun was just rising from the horizon when Murong Xue Meng woke up. She felt something was a bit off; it seemed she had just broken through again. Since when could people break through like drinking water?! Even Murong Xue Meng herself was a bit flabbergasted; she had been at the peak of the third-layer harmonisation realm yesterday, and today she was in the early fifth harmonisation realm? There wasn't even any sign of instability in her yuan qi! She inspected her dantian and wondered what on earth had happened in one night. Perhaps it was an accumulation from the battles she fought yesterday? But that wasn't quite right either; she was merely consolidating her realm yesterday, not trying to raise it.
And then she noticed it: an azure-blue carp resting in her dantian.
Murong Xue Meng, ".....What?"
This shouldn't be possible; two martial spirits have never been recorded before, even in ancient times, where the average strength of martial artists was unfathomably high!
"Nirvana Mystic Phoenix?"
"Yes, Dear?"
"The Azure Carp.... You see it too, right? It isn't just me that's imagining it, right?"
".....It awoke sometime in the night; even I do not know how it awakened; however, its origins are probably somewhere in the ancient divine continent, from which I came. Though its origins are probably even greater than mine. Think of this as a blessing, since I cannot appear easily, this Azure Carp can. Although right now its grade is lower than mine at Legendary low tier, it might be able to evolve and gain power to become even more powerful than me."
"Evolve, EVOLVE?!"
"This... I'd say so."
"Oh..... This...Isn't this a bit too strong?"
"Well then, dear, aren't you a lucky one?"
"...."
.
.
.
Murong Qing Yang, "Father"
Murong Qing Yue, "Father"
Qiu Lisi, "Husband"
"Why is Meng'er (Xue Meng) here?"
"This... I gave her an invitation three days ago, she said that if she couldn't awaken her martial spirit in these three days, she wouldn't come with us."
"....."
"Father, step-mother, there is no need to worry! I have awoken my martial spirit and stepped into the Harmonisation realm! At this banquet, Meng'er absolutely won't lose face for our Murong Family"
She said this with a bright smile, but in her heart she was filled with hatred!
This Qiu Lisi, it was hard for Murong Xue Meng to call her even step-mother when she knew this was her true face! She was truly a poisonous snake!
But with this situation, there wasn't much else she could do.
However, she really drew pleasure from her half-sisters' and stepmother's pale faces. They all thought she was dead! But now she was here and alive, they were naturally suspicious. But obviously, they can't tell anyone because their assassination attempt will also be brought to light!
This was truly satisfying!
Without much talk after that, the four boarded their carriages in awkward silence the whole way.
When they arrived, the Nangong family was there already. The four major families were tasked to look after the four major cities under the imperial family's rule.
The Nangong family was based in Black Water City.
The Ouyang family was based in Mirror Lake City.
The Sima family was based in Seven Thorn City.
The Murong family was based, of course, in Jade Mist City.
The Mystic Heaven's sect had a branch in each of these four major cities, and its main base was in the Imperial city. Every three years, a branch in one of the cities would recruit disciples through the Mystic Heaven's sect's Banquet. This year it's held in Jade Mist city, and people would come from all over the country to participate, so that even if they don't get into the sect, they may catch the eye of another smaller sect or get some benefits.
The Nangong family's Nangong Xue Hai, at just 14 years old, was already at the 4th layer of the Master realm and an inner disciple ranked among the top 5 in Black Water City's Mystic Heaven sect.
He was hailed as the most talented person in the younger generation after he awakened the Heaven-ranked mid-tier martial spirit, Flowing Light spear.
As they walked into the main hall of the Mystic Heaven's sect, many of the smaller families' participants quickly gave way, and an elder of the Mystic Heaven's sect announced their arrival. Murong Xue Meng had suppressed her cultivation to the peak first-layer harmonisation realm to attract less attention.
They naturally sat down on the seats next to the Nangong family. As the four pillars of the Imperial family, they naturally had quite a high status, so they sat nearer to the head of the table, where the Sect Master of Jade Mist city's Mystic Heaven sect would be seated.