Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“Big Sister, it really is you. It really is you, isn't it?” She was so agitated that she looked like she was about to cry. As she held on tightly to Shen Ying, she exclaimed, “I knew I would see you again!”

What the h.e.l.l?

“Lily!” Yi Qing, who had nearly fallen over after Lily pushed him aside, frowned. He stepped forward to peel her from Shen Ying. “Show Master some respect.”

“Eh?” Lily paused, as if she just noticed Yi Qing standing there. “Brother-next-door, what are you doing here?”

Yi Qing looked back at her with contempt and pulled Shen Ying closer to him. “I am my master's disciple. Of course I would be here.” Why were you hugging her? What if you hurt her?

“Master?” She scanned Yi Qing from head to toe, then glanced at Shen Ying. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Suddenly, she realized something and started. “You became the disciple of the big sister who saved me!” It was obvious from her eyes that she was now treating Yi Qing like the enemy. Turning to face Shen Ying instead, Lily's eyes began to well up. “Big Sister, do you still remember me? I'm Niu Niu! The Niu Niu you saved in the past! I became a cultivator because of you.

“Er…” Shen Ying tilted her head, confused.

“I'm the granddaughter of Mother w.a.n.g, who lived next to Yi Qing in the past,” Lily tried again. “We were almost eaten by a tiger demon in the past. You were the one who saved us. I really missed you. I really missed you…”

“Oh…” Shen Ying nodded. Who is Mother w.a.n.g?

Lily became excited again. “I pa.s.sed out that time. That was why I didn't manage to speak to you. Now… I'm finally meeting you again! I have always wanted to ask you…” Lily could not stop herself from reaching out to tug at Shen Ying's arm. With deep eagerness, she said, “Big Sister, are you still accepting disciples?”

Yi Qing: “…”

Lonemoon, “…”

The Sect Master of the Red and Green Sect, who had just walked over: “…”

Hey, hey, hey, do you have to seek another master in front of your own current one?

“No!” Yi Qing's expression darkened. He pulled Shen Ying away from Lily and dusted her sleeves for her. Emphasizing each word, he said, “My master has no plans to accept anymore disciples.”

“Brother-next-door, you're way too petty. Let me be your junior sister – I promise I will listen to you.”

“No!” Yi Qing stood his ground.

“Hmph! You're not the one accepting disciples – who are you to say no?”

“No means no!”

“You've always been such a selfish bully. I'm going to take her as my master just to spite you.”

“How dare you!” Yi Qing moved to draw his sword.

“Hmph! Do you think I'm afraid of you?”

“Try me!” Yi Qing drew his sword.

They were about to engage in battle before their very eyes. They stared at each other intently. Lonemoon was speechless. Lily was supposed to be Shen Ying's love rival, yet she became Yi Qing's. This world was changing too quickly – he could not keep up.

The Sect Master of the Red and Green Sect, however, could withstand it no longer. He tutted and said, “Lily!”

“What!” In a fit of anger, Lily turned around to glare at the person who called out to her. When she realized it was her own master, she cowered and bent over, apologizing. “Master…”

“You've just won the compet.i.tion. What trouble are you getting yourself into?” He looked disapprovingly at Lily, his gaze full of reproach.

Lily looked wrong at first. After awhile, upon recalling something, she said excitedly, “Master… I found the big sister that saved me years ago! Look, that's her!”

“Your master heard everything,” the Sect Master of the Red and Green Sect pursed his lips. He also heard that Lily wanted to switch masters. Yet, out of courtesy, he had to bow. “Greetings, Supremacies.”

Lonemoon bowed in return.

The Red and Green Sect patriarch turned back to face Lily. “Alright, you have already thanked her. This is a compet.i.tion among the sects. Stop making a fool out of yourself. Follow your master back!” Once he finished speaking, he turned around and walked off, not bothering to wait for her reply.

Lily, however, was determined. She was being dragged away by her seniors and juniors, but her eyes remained fixed on Shen Ying. “Big Sister, I will look for you again after the compet.i.tion. Wait for me. You have to wait for me! My name is Lily… Lily like the flower!”

Only after seeing Shen Ying nod curtly did Lily turn around to follow her master back.

Chef's expression looked as dark as the bottom of a wok. He had the sudden urge to bring his own master back to Invincible Peak and prevent anyone else from entering. Worriedly, he turned to look at her. Shen Ying calmly gnawed on her fruit, expressionless.

Yi Qing looked down. Realizing that she was going to take another bite of her fruit, he frowned and s.n.a.t.c.hed it from her. “Master, you cannot eat too many spirit fruits. Have some pastries.” He kept the fruit and presented a plate of pastries.

“Oh…” Shen Ying bit down on thin air and looked at the pastries. Unsatisfied, she cast a spell that made half of the pastries fly into her mouth. The fruit was clearly nicer. Subconsciously, she mumbled, “You never used to care.”

Yi Qing's hands paused. He clenched his fists.

In the past…

Little Sister Lily's sudden outburst caused Lonemoon to lose his patience. He had completely lost interest in watching the compet.i.tion. Shen Ying and Yi Qing, on the other hand, did not have an interest in the compet.i.tion from the beginning. They faintly heard that Lou Hong's son won second place in the Foundation Establishment group. That was not bad. After the Golden Core group finished their compet.i.tion, Lonemoon noticed that Jing Qi had won first place.

It had been a few years since Lonemoon last saw that invader. The last time was probably three years ago in the mystic realm. He had not expected Jing Qi to form his core that soon. What's more, he looked much more vicious than the last time. After winning the compet.i.tion, he was understandably extremely gleeful and proud.

For some reason, the Qi surrounding his image had lessened significantly. Lonemoon did not know exactly what happened to Jing Qi in the mystic realm, but from what he heard, Jing Qi was both a sword and a core cultivator. His sword technique was extremely fast, and he defeated his opponent relatively easily. This caused great excitement among the spectators.

Even Divine Heavens Sect, who had conflicts with Wu Xiang, praised Jing Qi.

After announcing that Jing Qi was the winner of the Golden Core group, the judges closed the compet.i.tion.

“Wait!” Jing Qi stopped them and took a few steps forward. He cupped his fists and bowed to the various sect masters, saying, “There is an even stronger Golden Core cultivator than me, who did not take part in the compet.i.tion this time. I would not dare to accept the champions.h.i.+p t.i.tle.” As he spoke, he turned to face Yi Qing. There was a hint of hatred in his eyes. He averted his gaze immediately and continued, “I heard that Fellow Daoist Yi Qing from the Honesty Sect has unmatched sword techniques. He is also very close to breaking through the Golden Core stage and becoming a Nascent Soul. It's a pity that he did not partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion today. That is why I am requesting to battle him right now.”

The moment he finished speaking, the various sect leaders turned to face Yi Qing. A lot of them looked excited. Initially, they agreed to partic.i.p.ate in this compet.i.tion in order to get close to the sword array. Yet, they later found out that Honesty Sect had closed off the sword array so that none of them could find it. Now, they were being given a chance to observe a compet.i.tion involving a man who allegedly broke through all ten levels of the sword array. In some sense, this was exactly what they had come for. Their excitement, therefore, was understandable.