Embers of Sword

Chapter 142 Can I climb the Lotus Peak?

Above the main hall of Jin'ao Peak, there were sounds of string music and celestial sounds.

The main hall was very lively. Several mountain masters and the guests in charge of recruiting disciples for the main peak were all in the hall, having cordial conversations with the young talents who were shortlisted for Xuanshui Dongtian.

Those who are qualified to sit here are undoubtedly the core disciples of the future main peak.

"Master Huangshan, are you going to sit like this forever?"

Xie Xuanyi sat in the corner of the hall, in an inconspicuous place.

Huang Su, dressed in a loose black robe, was sitting next to him… Because of Huang Su, this inconspicuous place became extremely conspicuous.

The mountain will be closed for ten years.

The most surprising thing is that Huang Su became the new master of Lotus Peak.

Xie Xuanyi had noticed a lot of eyes lingering on Huang Su, most of which were filled with awe and fear.

Perhaps it was because Huang Su was too cold that he interrupted many people's thoughts of chatting.

"Lotus Peak doesn't need to recruit any disciples."

Huang Su had a blank expression on his face: "As for this Sword Qi Ceremony... I don't think many people are interested in it."

"If there are not many, then there are some?" Xie Xuanyi smiled.

"The little guy who follows you around all day has shown some interesting sword moves in the past few days. He is a talented person with great potential."

Huang Su thought for a moment and said, "There is also Xu Nianning from the Xu family in Bingzhou. That girl has pretty good aptitude as well."

Today's banquet was extremely lively.

But Xie Xuanyi did not see Duan Zhao.

This little fellow's background is extraordinary. Could it be that he was taken to the back mountain by the Chief Lawyer himself?

However, from what Huang Su said...it seems that she doesn't know Duan Zhao's true identity.

"Xu Nianning?"

Xie Xuanyi followed Huang Su's gaze and looked towards the top of the banquet hall.

After all, other "big shots" were invited to this banquet, so they were simply divided into different orders in the hall according to their status. Although Prince Jiangning was annoying, he was noble after all, so he was arranged to sit at the top of the hall. At this moment, the most lively place in the whole hall was where Prince Jiangning was... He gained a lot from the opening of the Sword Palace this time, making many good friends and establishing relationships with many young geniuses.

Except for Jing Qingming of the Yinyue Sect who was previously abolished.

It is said that all the young Dongtians who were counted in the Fangyuanfang case files and had the potential to be promoted to the top ten received the olive branch extended by Jiang Ning.

No one would take the initiative to become an enemy of Prince Jiangning.

The cancellation of the competition this time was a "happy ending" for everyone, so when the seating order was arranged at Jin'ao Peak, many people took the initiative to ask to sit next to Prince Jiangning.

The hall was bustling with activity, like a star-studded crowd.

The other side seems much quieter.

The daughter of Bingzhou Xu's family mentioned by Huang Su was sitting in the quiet seat opposite to Prince Jiangning. She did not look very old, only eighteen or nineteen years old. At the moment, she was drinking tea alone, which was neither lukewarm nor hot, and was out of tune with the hustle and bustle of the hall.

"Nineteen years old, and in the third level of the Cave Heaven. This aptitude is already very good."

Xie Xuanyi recalled the case file of Fangyuanfang. There was very little description about this little girl, only a few words.

the reason is simple.

The Xu family of Bingzhou is very low-key and is completely different from the Xie family of Jiangning.

Even before the opening of the Dasui Sword Palace, few people knew that the daughter of the Xu family patriarch had such attainments in swordsmanship. At this age, being able to advance to the cave heaven was already a very impressive achievement, and Kuang Lun had already stepped into the third heaven.

"Master said before he went into seclusion that Lotus Peak couldn't remain lonely any longer..."

Huang Su rubbed his brows and said in distress: "If I must recruit a disciple this year, it will be her."

Xie Xuanyi noticed.

Xu Nianning was drinking tea by herself. Several guests went to talk to her, but all came back empty-handed.

Xiaochongshan and Zhenyinfeng both extended olive branches to her...

But looking at Xu Nianning's expression, it seemed that she refused.

Could it be that this little girl is waiting for Lotus Peak?

But she never glanced at Huang Su from beginning to end, and it seemed that she was not waiting for Huang Su to come and "recruit" her.

At the entrance of the hall, a golden light slowly fell.

Qi Lie carried a young man and stepped into the hall.

“…Thank you, brother!”

When the young man saw Xie Xuanyi at the corner of the hall entrance, he quickly waved and greeted him.

Xie Xuanyi smiled and nodded, indicating that he had met him before.

It seems that my guess was correct. Duan Zhao was taken to the back mountain of Jin'ao Peak... After all, a big shot of the level of the Lord of Wangyou Island came here in person. It is reasonable for the Chief Law Officer to take care of him.

Qi Lie and Duan Zhao appeared on the stage together, which attracted a lot of attention.

Qi Lie also saw Xie Xuanyi sitting in the seat of the great hall.

However, his attention was more focused on Huang Su.

Qi Lie frowned.

A voice was transmitted and it disappeared.

"The banquet is about to begin... How can you, the master of a mountain, sit here? How will others view Lotus Peak?"

This grand banquet.

As Prince Jiangning invited many heroes, the scene of the main hall on Jin'ao Peak was collected by talismans and treasures, and reflected in the banquet hall at the foot of Dasui Sword Palace Mountain for everyone to "watch".

Several main peaks are competing for disciples.

However, the Lord of Lotus Peak remained indifferent and even went into hiding... If word got out, people would probably think that the Lord of Lotus Peak was escaping from the world and was not in harmony with Jin'ao Peak.

This is what it means to be at the center of a storm.

Every move will lead to countless interpretations and even misunderstandings.

The Lotus Jade Order incident happened not long ago. Qi Lie suppressed those questioning voices with a tough attitude. If Huang Su still behaved too coldly at this banquet, he would definitely be "criticized" by outsiders.

"Okay, okay, I'll go now."

Huang Su held his forehead and sighed softly.

In fact, when she was on Lotus Peak, besides Senior Brother Xuanyi, she was most afraid of Qi Lie. Huang Su knew that since she was the head of Lotus Peak, she could not avoid some troubles, so she "hid" here just to have a moment of peace.

Now that the banquet was about to begin, she flicked her sleeves, walked towards the seat of honor, and went straight to where Xu Nianning was sitting.

Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes.

Huang Su and Xu Nian Ning exchanged a few words through their spiritual thoughts. It was visible to the naked eye that Xu Nian Ning's expression was much more relaxed than those of the previous guests.

However, Huang Su's complexion did not look very good.

Is this a rejection?
the other side.

Duan Zhao wanted to sneak up to Xie Xuanyi, but Qi Lie ruthlessly grabbed the back of his collar and took him to the seat of honor... It seems that the owner of Wangyou Island should have left some instructions, and Qi Lie brought this silly boy with him, which clearly showed that the Chief Lawyer was preparing to forcibly interfere with Duan Zhao's apprenticeship ceremony.

With Qi Lie around, the other guests from the main peak would naturally not take the initiative to disturb the young man.

Everyone would assume that this young man had been chosen by Jin Ao Peak.

……

……

This is how the banquet began.

After a conversation before the banquet... several main peaks have basically decided to recruit disciples. In the sword energy competition in the past few days, many young talents have been noticed by the Dasui Sword Palace.

As for those who were "unsuccessful", there is no need to be discouraged.

Many great practitioners from sects and aristocratic families were watching the battle in person at the dojo. They were not only watching the battle, but also "picking up leaks". The young practitioners who were not recruited by the Dashui Sword Palace were not necessarily unqualified. Some of them just did not quite match the sword skills of the main peak. These young practitioners would also be recruited by aristocratic families and sects.

anyway.

This banquet tonight will bring the Sword Qi Ceremony to a perfect end.

Tomorrow, the Xuanshui Cave Heaven will be opened——

All the young geniuses step into the mysterious cave that appears once every sixty years, looking for their own opportunities.

Everyone at the table in the hall was toasting each other, and before long, some of them were already drunk.

Ye Qinglian sat in the seat of honor. It was a coincidence that her seat was next to Jiang Qihu's at tonight's banquet. They drank a few glasses with each other and talked about some unfinished topics in Qingzhou.

The banquet is the most lively moment.

Many people in the hall had left their seats to toast with others.

Ye Qinglian waved her hand, signaling to the disciples of Baihua Valley behind her not to be so restrained.

So Yuan Yi brought a few fellow disciples and trotted to Xie Xuanyi, holding wine cups.

"Mr. Xie, the last time we parted in Qingzhou, it was too hasty."

Yuan Yi held the wine cup in both hands, blushing slightly, and his voice trembling a little: "Since we met at Yuping Peak, I wanted to offer a glass of wine, but unfortunately I don't have the chance, please forgive me."

Xie Xuanyi remained calm and silently glanced at the seat of honor.

Ye Qinglian, who was having a pleasant conversation with Jiang Qihu, also looked over here with a smile.

"Miss Yuan is too polite."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and drank it all in one gulp.

The girls behind Yuan Yi were all curious... They had met this Master Xie Zhen once before in front of Yuping Peak.

I heard about Beihai Mausoleum.

Xie Zhen single-handedly saved the entire Baihua Valley and killed all the evil cultivators.

After Yuan Yi returned to the sect, she emphasized more than once that Xie Zhen was her benefactor and how extraordinary Xie Zhen was...

But now, "take a closer look" is right at your fingertips.

But they really couldn't figure out what was so charming about this young Master Xie?

Is it as good as Yuan Yi said?
His appearance was ordinary, his temperament was ordinary...perhaps the only thing that made people feel a little different was his deep, dark eyes.

If you look directly at Xie Zhen, you will find out.

The young man's eyes were like a deep pool, hiding all his joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, and it was impossible to see clearly.

All living beings seem to be hidden within these eyes.

suddenly.

The noisy sound in the main hall of Jin'ao Peak suddenly became silent in an instant.

Countless eyes were cast towards the seat of honor, where Prince Jiangning was.

The bustling hall suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The reason for this is——

It was Prince Jiangning who stood up.

He was wearing a loose and gorgeous robe, but perhaps because he was too thin, the robe was blown up by the wind, only highlighting his bony figure, which did not look very beautiful.

But that's why.

A messy and sharp aura emanated from his body.

At this point in the banquet, he, the center of attention, had already drunk dozens of glasses of wine and refused conversations with dozens of recruiters.

this moment.

He stood up on his own initiative, picked up the wine cup, and looked at Huang Su, the master of Lotus Peak, who was sitting higher up not far away.

"Master Huangshan."

Prince Jiangning said softly: "I heard that the view at the top of Lotus Peak is very beautiful."

The entire hall suddenly became extremely quiet.

What is supposed to come will always come.

Ever since Prince Jiangning held a banquet at the foot of the mountain, Xie Xuanyi knew that tonight’s banquet was not that simple.

“…It is indeed beautiful.”

Huang Su poured himself a drink without even looking at Prince Jiangning. He just replied calmly.

"Who is qualified to worship under Lotus Peak?"

Prince Jiangning smiled slightly and asked, "First place in the Sword Qi Competition, or the youngest person in history to achieve Perfection of the Cave Heaven... Is this condition enough?"

(End of this chapter)