Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Summoning his flying sword, Su Zimo supported the spirit tiger on it carefully before hopping on himself. He nodded to Xue Yi and everyone else. âFellow senior brothers, Iâll make a move first.â
âWeâll leave as well.â
The many disciples of Weapon Peak summoned their flying swords and sped off after Su Zimo, leaving Spirit Peak.
Little fatty hesitated for a moment before making up his mind and followed suit.
Before long, Su Zimo and the others disappeared from everyoneâs sights.
Disciples of the other three peaks gradually dispersed from Spirit Peak as well.
It was a momentary still to the current crisis. However, everyone knew that the year end face-off would definitely create a huge stir!
The eventual victor will be decided six months later.
At the same time, a gigantic pair of wings tore through the skies from the depths of the clouds, flying into Ethereal Palace.
If any disciples of the sect saw that, they would have recognized the owner of those wings as the Mystical Guardian Beast â that terrifying crane!
The craneâs gigantic body landed into Ethereal Palace but with a spin, it turned into a ravishing middle aged lady, elegant with a head of red hair.
âCaw, caw!â
A cry came from a room as a smaller crane dashed over sadly upon sensing the aura of the redheaded beauty, flapping its wings furiously.
That crane was the one who had deterred Su Zimo and the others at the front peak of Ethereal Peak.
Shaking her head and smiling, the redheaded beauty looked at the little crane dotingly and asked, âWhy? Youâre sad about being locked up?â
âCaw...â
The little crane seemed as though it wanted to explain something.
Looking at the pondering little crane, the redheaded beauty spoke gently after a while, âChild, Iâve been worrying about your future because I canât bear to see you being enslaved as someone elseâs spirit beast and losing your freedom. But I know that this day would come keeping you by my side since I canât protect you for the rest of your life.â
The little crane did not know why its mother had suddenly turned so moody. Feeling fearful, it ran beside the redheaded beauty hastily.
Smiling, the redheaded beauty continued, âBut, I seem to have found someone rather interesting recently. Heâs quite suitable to be your master and Iâm sure that you wonât suffer following him.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âCaw, caw!â
The little crane called out once more.
Rubbing the little craneâs head, the redheaded beauty explained, âYou canât follow me all the time. Iâm old now and youâve still got a long road ahead.â
Instantly, the little crane was dejected.
After awhile, as though it could not repress its curiosity, the little crane asked inquiringly.
The redheaded beauty chuckled. âYou know that man too. Youâve even fought him on the walls of the peak.â
âCaw, caw! Caw, caw!!!â
Stunned for a moment, the little crane turned extremely agitated as it shrieked loudly, looking furious and disdainful.
âFufu.â
The redheaded beauty laughed. âYes, heâs a little weak now but you might not be a match for him. Besides, that man... hmm, he has some secrets in his body. Itâs hard to tell how his future will turn out.â
âAnd of course, the most important thing is that you donât have to make a blood oath to follow him. Youâll still retain your freedom.â
The little crane called out a couple more times, seemingly still disagreeable to the suggestion.
The redheaded beauty nodded her head. âOf course, itâs still your decision and Iâll not force you. What I mean is that thereâs no harm for you to try getting along with him. If you like him, you can stay by his side. If you donât, you can just leave.â
The little crane cried softly.
âYes, of course I wonât lock you up anymore as well. You can head out and play from now on as long as you donât get into trouble.â
Rolling its eyes, the little crane lamented. âHmph, hmph! I hate that man the most! He caused me to be locked up for so long and mummy even wants me to follow him? Heâd wish! Now that Iâm out, Iâll definitely find a chance to get revenge!â
The redheaded beauty could naturally read the little craneâs mind through its expressions.
However, she merely chuckled and did not expose him.
...
In the skies not far away from Spirit Peak, four peak masters were present and Wen Xuan joined them now that he was done.
âWen Xuan, my thanks. I owe you one,â The disheveled old man cupped his fists.
There was initially no need for a peak master to appear personally to resolve todayâs incident â the Disciplinary Hall could have settled it.
However, worried that something might happen to Su Zimo, the disheveled old man requested for Wen Xuan to settle this personally.
Wen Xuan waved it off. âLetâs not stand on courtesy between one another.â
Pausing for a moment, he continued, âActually, I did not intend to forbid Su Zimo from entering Spirit Peak. Itâs just that the lad was so arrogant to speak of such brazen words! In a fit of anger, I made that decision so that he could suffer some setbacks.â
âNo matter what, Iâm still thankful for you stepping in.â
The disheveled old man said, âQi Refinement Warriors are all around the same, so it doesnât matter whether he learns anything. As long as he enters Foundation Establishment realm and gets promoted as an inner sect disciple, he can learn all the fighting techniques he wants at that time.â
âItâs just that, the challenge between him and Feng Haoyu at the end of the year...â Wen Xuan paused in his words.
The disheveled old man shook his head. âAs youâve said, if he loses, so be it. Itâll be good for him to suffer some setbacks. At least, suffering in the sect is better than losing his life out there in the cultivation world.â
Array Peakâs master, Xuan Yi, suddenly said, âActually, Su Zimo is not entirely to blame for todayâs incident.â
âThat Feng Haoyu is quite a scheming fella,â The brown haired youth, Elixir Peakâs master, remarked wistfully.
Wen Xuan frowned in displeasure and shook his head. âFeng Haoyu is merely competitive, but he isnât bad by nature.â
The brown haired youth shrugged his shoulders. âForget it, take it as though Iâve said nothing.â
Xuan Yi hurriedly changed the topic as the five of them conversed idly for a while more before going their separate ways.
...
Su Zimo had just arrived at his cave abode in Weapon Peak when little fatty caught up to him.
âBro, hold on,â Little fatty called out.
Turning around to see the descending little fatty, Su Zimo chuckled. âThank you for speaking up for me quite a bit today.â
âThatâs nothing,â Little fatty waved it off casually.
As though he had just recalled something, Su Zimo apologized, âBecause of me, youâve offended quite a number of people today. Iâm afraid things in Spirit Peak might be tougher for you in the future.â
âHeh! Donât worry about it, bro! Even though Iâm only Level 7 Qi Condensation right now, thereâs still six months more to the end of the year. Iâve got hope to reach Perfected Qi Condensation too. By then, there wonât be many people who can match me. If anyoneâs unhappy with me, they can meet me in the spirit arena!â Little fatty replied in a relaxed manner.
When he was done with that, he sighed. âBro, that final challenge you issued to Feng Haoyu... was a little rash.â
âOh?â Su Zimo could tell that little fatty was hinting something.
Little fatty asked, âBro, do you know of the three major secret skills of Ethereal Sect?â
âNopes,â Su Zimo shook his head.
Little fatty explained, âThe reason why Ethereal Sect could become one of the five main clans of the Great Zhou Dynasty is because they have the legacy of these three major secret skills. Even if youâre promoted to an inner sect disciple, you canât get to cultivate those skills. Only legacy disciples amongst the inner sect disciples have the possibility of learning them.â