Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Junior Sister Xu Meets Miss Shi for the First Time
Jade Void Palace, Scripture Lecture Hall.
After the Ziwei Master finished lecturing on the scriptures, just as the disciples were about to leave, they heard the Sect Leader say in a drawn-out tone:
“Qiu Changtian, Xu Yinglian, stay behind.”
Under the astonished gazes of their senior brothers and sisters, the two sat quietly on their meditation cushions, silent and serene.
Once everyone in the Scripture Lecture Hall had left, the Ziwei Master maintained his posture of resting with closed eyes, waved his horsetail whisk, and said:
“Qiu Changtian.”
“Your disciple is here,” replied Qiu Changtian respectfully.
“Coming from Kunlun together, helping each other with righteousness,” the Ziwei Master slowly said, “This saying is very good.”
Even with Qiu Changtian’s skill in acting cool nearing its peak, he couldn’t help but curse inwardly at that moment.
The Ziwei Master, ignoring his disciple’s embarrassment, continued:
“Our Kunlun Taiqing Sect, and the Penglai Jade Pure Pavilion, both originated from the Ancient Clarify Cult, hence we maintain the custom of exchange visits at regular intervals.”
“Tomorrow morning, as your teacher, I shall be invited to visit the East Sea to discuss many affairs between the two sects.”
“According to tradition, both sides will also arrange a meeting of elite disciples at the Foundation Establishment Rank, to enhance understanding and network.”
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“Previous visitors were always disciples at the Great Perfection rank of Refining Mansion. However, considering the two of you often go out on adventures, this time you will accompany your teacher on the visit and also see the world.”
Qiu Changtian:
Xu Yinglian:
See the world? I’m already familiar with Penglai, what’s there to see? Qiu Changtian thought to himself.
Does Master think I usually go out for adventures with my senior brother? Cough, actually, I’m just soaking in the Kunlun Spring. Xu Yinglian thought to herself.
Of course, neither of them could reveal the truth to their master on the spot, so they could only nod in agreement.
It wasn’t long before the next day arrived.
Given the long distance, flying on swords was naturally not possible.
The group arrived at the plaza in front of Jade Void Palace, where the Ziwei Master pulled out a treasure ship model from his sleeve and tossed it forward.
The treasure ship grew with the wind, getting longer and longer, until it quickly reached over a hundred meters in length.
A number of true immortals and disciples followed the Sect Leader onto the ship, among them the lowest in cultivation, Qiu Changtian and Xu Yinglian, naturally receiving another round of astonished gazes.
From Kunlun to Penglai, it was almost nine thousand miles, but the actual flight took no time at all.
In this world, the speed of magical treasure ships is the fastest, even more so than Flying Swords.
As evening neared, the treasure ship finally arrived at Penglai Island, where the Pavilion Master of Yuqing View and a number of Elders came out to welcome the Kunlun envoy group into the residence of Yuqing View.
Qiu Changtian followed within the group of disciples, noticing ahead the Ziwei Master in amiable conversation with Elder Shi Ding, evidently acquainted for some time.
He discreetly withdrew his gaze and then heard Junior Sister Xu beside him ask:
“Senior brother, it seems this is not your first time here?”
Qiu Changtian responded with a faint smile:
“Why do you say that?”
“Because senior brother seems too uninterested,” Xu Yinglian pointed out towards their surroundings.
Following her indication, Qiu Changtian saw the Refining Mansion rank senior brothers and sisters looking around with great interest, examining their surroundings.
After all, within the Kunlun Shangqing Sect, almost all Inner Sect disciples were recluses, staying in their secluded snowy mountain cave dwellings, practicing cultivation for a hundred years without stepping out of the mountain.
Now coming to an Island Sect for the first time, they were attracted by the vast and unseen sights, which was very normal.
Not only the Kunlun disciples but also the Penglai disciples, who had come to greet them, looked at these visitors from the western snowy ridges with inquisitive and curious eyes.
Judging by their attire, the Kunlun disciples mostly wore white or sky-blue Taoist robes with wide sleeves, carrying Flying Swords on their back and their heads crowned with high-caps, appearing extremely dignified and solemn.
The Penglai disciples, on the other hand, favored brocade clothes with slim sleeves, no headwear, and various magical treasures such as flags and amulet bags at their waists, more resembling wealthy young masters and ladies out on an excursion.
Both sides examined each other; whatever they thought inside, they had to maintain decorum, greeting each other with smiles.
The reception banquet was held in the main hall of Yuqing View, with disciples from both sects mixed and seated together to facilitate mutual acquaintance and friendship.
Qiu Changtian and Xu Yinglian found a spot to sit down and saw a variety of exquisite dishes on the table, mainly cold dishes, including all kinds of meats and fruits, thinly sliced with thick soups, dazzling to the eyes.
Although cultivators had long ago practiced fasting, feeding on wind and dew, having a bite to eat occasionally was fine, and the impurities within the stomach could simply be refined away afterward.
Qiu Changtian picked up a flat peach from the plate and slowly ate it, finding it succulently juicy and extremely sweet.
It was far more delicious than the sliced fruits and snacks that Luo Yan usually scrounged from Miss Shi.
“This is no ordinary peach,” said a female voice nearby. “It is the fruit of a peach sapling grown among spirit grass, bathed in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and thus sweet and luscious. While it may not increase one’s lifespan, it can cleanse the mind and body.”
Qiu Changtian turned his head to look beside him and immediately cursed inwardly.
It was none other than Shi Liuli!
At this moment, the typically fearless Miss Shi was sitting to his left, behaving demurely, looking at him with an adoring and passionate gaze.
To be exact, it didn’t seem like love at first sight between a man and a woman, or falling in love.
It was more like the inexplicable emotions of a fan upon meeting their idol.
Qiu Changtian instinctively felt a sense of extreme unease, but in order not to give himself away, he had to pretend to be a stranger who hadn’t met her before, and he smiled and asked,
“May I ask who this Daoist friend is?”
“Yuqing View, Shi Liuli,” she replied with a slight smile, continuing, “Daoist Qiu, Sister Bi Lian once mentioned to me that it was you who broke the Yimu Kunlong Formation in the cave heaven at Qinling and rescued our Yuqing View disciples, correct?”
With her saying this, combined with Luo Yan’s understanding of Miss Shi, Qiu Changtian immediately understood.
It must be that Bi Lian went back and boasted extensively about his heroic deeds to Shi Liuli.
Shi Liuli, with her typical girlish nature, admired the strong and detested mediocrity; additionally, she was a senior member of the appearance appreciation society.
Having heard that Qiu Changtian, the chief disciple of this generation from Kunlun, was handsome, gentle, and powerful, how could she not become instantly interested?
The test of his acting skills had arrived! Qiu Changtian modestly said,
“It was just a fluke, not worth mentioning. The art of formations mostly belongs to Penglai; I, Qiu Changtian, dare not show off my meager skills.”
“Daoist Qiu is too modest.” Shi Liuli said with a smile, “The way of formations is truly abstruse, and even within our Yuqing View, there are few cultivators who study Qimen Dunjia.”
This was indeed true; Luo Yan had spent a considerable time in Yuqing View and was aware that the most studied within the view was alchemy, followed by talisman scripts.
Workshops like Heavenly Craft that specialized in weapon-making were no more than three in the entire Yuqing View. As for those who studied formations, there were probably only seven or eight.
“Daoist Qiu’s ability to break the Yimu Kunlong Formation wasn’t just a stroke of luck; it required profound knowledge of formations.” Seeing no sign of pride in Qiu Changtian, Shi Liuli became even more intrigued and said smilingly, “Even my junior brother who delves into formation and alchemy probably hasn’t mastered the solution to the Yimu Kunlong Formation.”
No, he actually had…
Qiu Changtian forced himself to remain calm, not wanting to continue the conversation on this topic.
After all, his facial features were exactly the same as Luo Yan’s.
The only difference was that Luo Yan had squinty eyes, while Qiu Changtian had his hair tied in a tall crown and, combined with the modifications in demeanor from Mirror Flower Water Moon and mental suggestions, had kept Shi Liuli from immediately recognizing the similarities with Luo Yan.
But what if she continued to discuss Luo Yan and suddenly noticed the similarities in their appearance?
He had to shift the topic quickly!
Qiu Changtian suddenly turned his body to the side, introducing the Junior Sister Xu sitting on his right:
“By the way, this is my junior sister, Xu Yinglian.”
Xu Yinglian was drinking tea at the time, only to hear Shi Liuli opposite her say,
“Oh, the Phoenix Immortal? Hehe, I’ve long admired your reputation.”
The hint of barely concealed hostility in her voice immediately triggered Xu Yinglian’s competitive spirit.
“Shi Liuli?” she asked coldly, “Is the Daoist friend the beloved daughter of Elder Shi Ding?”
“I never expected to be recognized by the Phoenix Immortal herself,” Shi Liuli said with restraint. “It truly is an immense honor.”
“You’re too kind,” Xu Yinglian replied indifferently, “After all, you are the daughter of Elder Shi Ding.”
Emphasizing “the daughter of Elder Shi Ding” twice, Shi Liuli immediately picked up on the tone of mockery (implying she was nothing special aside from having a notable father), and her face strained to maintain its composure.