"Junior Sister ran off to the Reception Hall. What is she up to? Didn't we agree to go check out the gathering at the foot of the mountain together?"
He Han, the second senior brother, asked in puzzlement.
Li Daoxuan was also in the dark about it.
"She's probably just curious. Today marks the official start of the Five Sects Treasure Exchange Gathering, and several prominent leaders have taken this opportunity to come by. They are currently conversing with the Master in the Reception Hall. Our Junior Sister rarely gets a chance to see such figures and naturally wants to take a good look." Li Daoxuan said with a smile.
He Han nodded in strong agreement.
After a while, the two finally arrived at the Reception Hall. Sure enough, they saw Junior Sister crouched by a window, peering inside sneakily.
They exchanged knowing smiles, then quietly approached and gently tapped her shoulder.
"Junior Sister—"
The sudden voice startled Lu Yaoyao. When she turned around and saw it was her two senior brothers, she let out a sigh of relief.
She quickly made a shushing gesture and then pulled them closer to the window, peeping inside.
"First Brother, Second Brother, who is that woman sitting at the far left?" Lu Yaoyao pointed with curiosity.
The two followed her gaze through the crack in the window and soon understood whom she was referring to.
It was a graceful middle-aged woman with a high nose, red lips, white teeth, and skin as pale as snow, untouched by time.
Particularly striking was the vivid red dot at her brows, like a red plum blossoming in the snow, both striking and enchanting.
Her silver hair, mingled with a hint of green, was elegantly pinned up with a jade hairpin, adding to her dignified beauty.
Li Daoxuan whispered, "She is the Sect Leader of the Cyan Feather Immortal Sect, Immortal Xuan You."
"Xuan You?" Lu Yaoyao murmured, her eyes reflecting a thoughtful expression.
He Han glanced at the faint silver streaks hidden in Lu Yaoyao's dark hair, then looked back at Immortal Xuan You's silver-green hair, his eyes widening as if he had stumbled upon a great secret.
He quietly sent a message to First Brother.
Li Daoxuan looked around but soon shook his head.
It must be a coincidence. The Master had mentioned that during his hunt for sea beasts along the coast, there had been a tornado.
Junior Sister had fallen from the sky, badly injured, likely swept up by the storm.
How could she be related to the Sect Leader of the Cyan Feather Immortal Sect?
But seeing Junior Sister's conflicted look, a doubt stirred in Li Daoxuan's heart.
He couldn't help but ask, "Junior Sister, do you... know her?"
Lu Yaoyao looked at the beautiful woman with complex feelings, her gaze slightly dazed: "I don't know. She might just be a stranger to me, or perhaps... she really is my kin."
The two were astonished by her words.
This could be a significant revelation that needed to be reported to the Master immediately.
If the Cyan Feather Immortal Sect's leader turned out to be their treasured Junior Sister's kin, the bond between the two sects would become unbreakably strong.
However, there had never been any news about Immortal Xuan You having a partner.
Soon, Lu Yaoyao pulled them away from the Reception Hall, seriously saying, "I was just speaking nonsense earlier. Don't mind it and let's quickly head down the mountain."
The two nodded, but Li Daoxuan, hands behind his back, formed a seal, and a miniature paper crane flew silently from his sleeve into the hall...
Inside the hall, laughter and conversation filled the air, a scene of old friends joyfully reuniting after many years.
In reality, while the Five Sects were allies, the competition among them was fiercely intense.
"Long time no see, Immortal Xuan You. You look more radiant than ever." Lei Wuji of the Golden Thunder Sect, with his gruff demeanor and booming voice, complimented Immortal Xuan You.
Immortal Xuan You shook her head with a smile: "What radiance? Time spares no one; I am no longer my younger self."
Lei Wuji laughed heartily: "You look just the same to me. Master Xuanji, isn't your Phecda Sect known for inference skills? Why not help Immortal Xuan You find out if her true love is here in this very hall?"
Lei Wuji turned his gaze to the Phecda Sect Leader seated nearby.
Master Xuanji, dressed in a robe adorned with a Taiji diagram, his long beard swaying, waved his hand with a wry smile: "Such things are beyond prediction and unwise to try. If someone here is truly her fated partner, it must be Brother Sikong."
All eyes turned toward Sikong Yan, Palace Master of the Cangyan Daoist Palace.
Sikong Yan sat quietly, a man in his prime, exuding maturity and resoluteness.
His sword-like brows and chiseled face combined the ruggedness of age with the strength of manhood perfectly.
In his fiery red robe, he looked like a blazing flame, intense and bold.
Everyone knew Sikong Yan had been pursuing Immortal Xuan You for years, without success. Unfortunately, his unyielding love met with unreciprocated feelings.
Sikong Yan couldn't help but glance at Immortal Xuan You, but she subtly turned her head away, pretending not to notice, causing him to smile wryly.
Cao Zhengyang, Sect Leader of the Taiqing Sect, Sikong Yan of Cangyan Daoist Palace, Immortal Xuan You of Cyan Feather Immortal Sect, Master Xuanji of Phecda Sect, and Lei Wuji of Golden Thunder Sect.
These were the leaders of the Five Great Sects.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Cao Zhengyang quickly changed the subject, steering the conversation to other topics.
Just then, a paper crane flew in, and upon hearing its message, Cao Zhengyang's expression changed slightly, instinctively looking towards Immortal Xuan You.
Immortal Xuan You noticed too and asked in confusion, "Brother Cao, is something the matter?"
Cao Zhengyang quickly shook his head: "No, no, it's getting late. We've prepared fine wines and delicacies in the Jade Dining Hall. Let's continue our conversation there."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Brother Cao!"
"Don't mention it. I hope everyone enjoys it."
"Please!"
"Please!"
...
Zhou Qing, with his chin resting on his hand, squatted beside Third Senior Brother's stall, feeling utterly bored as Yan Xiaohu boisterously haggled with another person.
Indeed, as Senior Sister Shi Zhen had mentioned, most of the items on display were fake or deceptive.
As Yan Xiaohu closed another deal, Zhou Qing clapped: "Third Senior Brother, you must treat us after this."
Yan Xiaohu squinted his small eyes in satisfaction: "Certainly. By the way, what did you buy earlier? Let me have a look."
Zhou Qing reluctantly took out the half-bone he had purchased.
Yan Xiaohu was stunned, unable to believe his eyes.
"This?"
"This."
"How much?"
"Ten low-grade spirit stones."
"You... you must be crazy to spend ten spirit stones on this bone! If you want bone marrow, head to the kitchen. They have plenty there." Yan Xiaohu looked exasperated.
Such extravagance; there are better ways to spend money thoughtfully.
"Never mind, as long as you're happy. It's your money, so spend it wisely!"
Seeing Zhou Qing scratching his head with a foolish smile, Yan Xiaohu decided not to reprimand him further and tossed the bone back.
Zhou Qing didn't explain anything about the bone's mystical properties he discovered or how it had changed shape like the Third Senior Brother.
No point in making Senior Brother worry. He already had a way to identify its properties.
"Yan Senior Brother, Zhou Senior Brother, are you setting up a stall here?"
Just as Zhou Qing was about to doze off, a surprised voice called out.