In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 296 Congratulations to the Emei Sect on its return to first-class status

June, fifteenth.

The mountain breeze of midsummer sweeps across the layered peaks, bringing the fresh scent of grass and trees, and also dispersing the sea of ​​clouds, revealing the shimmering light of the Jinjiang River below.

The sunlight poured down without any obstruction, illuminating the continuous glazed tiles of the main hall on the golden summit of Mount Da'e, making them appear magnificent, and further enhancing the bustling atmosphere of the crowd in the vast square in front of the hall, making it seem like a boiling cauldron.

Prominent figures from various prefectures and cities, like streams drawn by invisible threads, converged to form this bustling sea of ​​people before us.

They wore the distinctive costumes of their respective sects, some solemn, some flowing, some simple, and some magnificent.

A massive bronze cauldron stands at the front of the square, with sandalwood incense burning inside, sending up straight plumes of blue smoke that exude a solemn atmosphere.

In the main hall with the golden roof, tables and chairs were arranged on both sides, and nearly 70% of the seats were already occupied.

At Songhe Manor in Jinzhou Prefecture, the owner, with his white hair and youthful face, was enjoying tea and conversation with several old friends, his demeanor refined and elegant.

Inside the "Zhengqi Academy" in Jinchuan Prefecture, young scholars, dressed in blue robes and square scarves, held books and recited something in a low voice.

The disciples of "Baishuijian" in Jianping Prefecture were dressed in white, close-fitting clothes, carrying long swords on their backs, and their aura was as clear and cold as a spring.

The head镖师 (chief镖师) of the "Fuyuan镖局" (Fuyuan Escort Agency) in Baoshan Prefecture, dressed in fine clothes and with a smile on his face, was greeting someone with a cupped-hand salute...

The once tranquil Golden Summit of Mount Emei was now bustling with activity due to the thousands of people from various factions who had gathered there.

At the main table at the very front, Xu Changlong, the leader of the Longlong Helmsman, a second-rate force, was dressed in a sky-blue robe and gently waving a paper fan.

Beside him stood Liu Ruofeng, the owner of Yunshanzhai, who wore a long robe with flowing clouds and had a goatee, his eyes gently closed.

Sun Jinhai, the leader of the Bamboo Forest Gang, was a burly man wearing a t-shirt and had a full beard that gave him a rugged appearance.

The leaders of Jinshan Sect, Tiema Hall, Yuxiao Sect, and Gufeng Sect all had smiles on their faces.

But the smiles never reached his eyes.

Those with keen eyes had already noticed the clues.

The various forces invited by the Emei Sect this time, apart from the seven second-rate forces such as the Longlong Brigade and the Gufeng Sect, were all well-known "orthodox sects" in their respective prefectures, with excellent reputations, chivalry, and integrity.

They may not be as powerful as the seven major factions such as the Longlong Faction, but they have deep roots and enjoy a good reputation in the martial arts world.

The disciples and elders of the Emei Sect, dressed in uniform blue and white long skirts with the Emei Sect emblem embroidered on the collar and sleeves, and white sashes tied around their waists, moved through the crowd, leading the way and maintaining order, their steps light and graceful, like a blue stream.

Wherever they went, not only people from other forces, but even members of the Longlong Brigade and Yunshanzhai greeted the Emei disciples or elders who were leading the way with smiles.

at the same time.

Back mountain.

Zhao Jingxuan, Bei Jinyi, Gu Shaoan and others stood outside Abbess Miejue's villa.

But unlike in the past, the clothes worn by Zhao Jingxuan, Bei Jinyi, Zhou Zhiruo, Yang Yan, and Mei Jiangxue today were no longer the blue and white colors of the past.

Instead, it was a combination of gold and white, just like Gu Shaoan.

The longswords they held added a touch of elegance to the women's heroic spirit.

Mei Jiangxue would occasionally look up at Gu Shaoan and the others, then at the snow patterns painted on her clothes, her eyes sparkling.

After thinking for a moment, Mei Jiangxue tugged at Yang Yan's dress and asked, "Senior Sister, weren't gold and white clothes only for Senior Brother and Sect Leader Master Uncle to wear before? Why are we being given such new clothes this time?"

Yang Yan responded, "My senior brother said that what symbolizes my identity as a member of the Emei Sect is the Yitian Sword and the Sect Leader's Thumb Ring. The color of our clothes doesn't matter much. Compared to the usual blue and white, gold and white are more suitable for us."

"You know that our sect leader and our master listen to our senior brother the most, so this is how it is now."

Zhou Zhiruo turned her head to Mei Jiangxue and asked, "Do you like your new clothes?"

Mei Jiangxue nodded and said, "I like it. It looks even better than before."

Zhou Zhiruo smiled and said, "The snow pattern on your clothes was specially made by Junior Brother Yan'er in Jiading Prefecture by a tailor. He said that the snow pattern matches your name better."

As she spoke, Zhou Zhiruo added, "It's not just yours. Senior Sister has ancient pine embroidery on her body, Third Senior Sister has peony embroidery on her body, and Junior Sister Yan'er and I have magnolia and peony embroidery on our bodies respectively. The patterns were all conceived by Junior Brother."

Hearing Zhou Zhiruo's words, everyone's gaze fell on Gu Shaoan.

Meeting their gazes, Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "It was a sudden thought. Senior Sister, Third Senior Sister, please don't be offended."

Upon hearing this, Bei Jinyi replied, "That's great, junior brother is very thoughtful."

Although Zhao Jingxuan did not speak, the smile on her face showed her satisfaction.

Life is full of unexpected and heartwarming surprises.

More often than not, it's just the unintentional gestures in everyday life, like we are now.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Shaoan looked at Mei Jiangxue and asked, "Have you encountered any difficulties in your cultivation recently?"

Since joining the Emei Sect, Mei Jiangxue has spent almost all her daily cultivation time comparing herself to Gu Shaoan.

Furthermore, Mei Jiangxue's physical constitution has also reached an unparalleled level, and her progress can be described as rapid as a thousand miles a day.

With the combined effects of the "Bodhi Exquisite Pill," not only had his internal energy cultivation already reached the level of returning to the innate state, but his martial arts cultivation in the "Emei Sword Manual" and "Golden Summit Cotton Palm" was also progressing well.

With his current strength, he is comparable to some of the outer sect elders within the Emei Sect.

In response to Gu Shaoan's question, Mei Jiangxue said, "My internal energy cultivation is fine, but the speed of cultivating the Emei Sword Manual is a bit too slow."

Gu Shaoan replied, “The Emei Sword Manual is inherently complex. The first four sword moves can be said to condense the essence of the Golden Summit Cotton Palm, Willow Catkin Sword Technique, and Sunset Sword Technique, so it will naturally be slower. Senior Sister and Junior Sister Yan’er have already reached the level of ‘momentum’ in ‘Sword Three’ and ‘Sword Four’. You can ask them for guidance more often.”

"Your martial arts theory and experience are still weak. Given your current situation, it's better to gather ideas from others than to bury yourself in your own training."

Mei Jiangxue nodded with a smile and said, "Jiangxue understands, thank you for reminding me, Senior Brother."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan smiled and patted Mei Jiangxue's head.

“We all went through this process before. When you reach the Qi Condensation stage in your internal energy cultivation, your senior brother will personally guide you through the world.”

Upon hearing this, Mei Jiangxue's eyes flashed and she readily agreed.

Just then, a bell suddenly rang out from in front of the Golden Summit of Mount Emei.

The melodious sound of the bell seemed to pause the heartbeat as it reached the ears.

A moment later, Extinction, Dustless, and Insulation slowly walked out of the courtyard.

Abbess Miejue wore a long robe of black and gold, and instead of her usual simple hat, she wore a gold-threaded crown inlaid with warm white jade, which added to her solemnity.

Abbess Juechen and Abbess Juejue wore the same style of elder robes as Abbess Miejue, but slightly simpler, with blue and white as the main colors. Their hair was tied up with simple jade hairpins, and their expressions were solemn and their steps were steady.

As the three of them walked out, seeing the group of people outside the courtyard getting along harmoniously and smiling, Abbess Miejue and her companions couldn't help but show satisfied and gratified smiles.

The world of martial arts is turbulent and unpredictable, rife with intrigue and scheming. Even among brothers and sisters, conflicts and estrangement can arise due to interests and positions, sometimes even leading to swords drawn against each other.

This is a common tragedy that has long been seen among various sects.

Even for powerful and influential families, internal strife is often more chilling than external enemies.

Despite their varying levels of martial arts talent, Gu Shaoan and his companions did not become estranged; instead, they were as harmonious as family, which brought great comfort to Abbess Miejue and her group.

"Master, Uncle-Master"

As the three people walked out of the courtyard, Gu Shaoan and the others stood up straight and bowed respectfully.

Abbess Miejue nodded gently and said in a mild tone, "The time is approaching, let's go."

Having said that, he turned around first and strode forward, followed closely by Abbess Juechen, Abbess Juejue, Gu Shaoan, and others.

As they walked, Gu Shaoan could clearly feel that the three people walking ahead, including Abbess Miejue, were all experiencing a rapid heartbeat.

This is enough to show that the three people's inner reactions were far more than what they appeared to be calm.

Gu Shaoan chuckled inwardly at this, but when he looked up, his gaze held a hint of cold arrogance.

Beside the main hall at the Golden Summit, several Emei disciples gathered in front of a ten-foot-tall bronze bell, striking it in accordance with the water clock beside it.

The deep, resonant tones of the bronze bells, echoing through the mountains and fields, resounded powerfully from the direction of the Golden Summit Hall, the sound waves sweeping past everyone's ears as if they were tangible.

Following that are the third, fourth, and fifth tones.
The bells tolled one after another, with a steady rhythm.

Before the last notes of the sixth bell had faded, Abbess Miejue and her entourage emerged from the back mountain.

Along the way, whether they were elders or disciples of the Emei Sect, everyone bowed and paid their respects.

"Sect Leader, Young Sect Leader."

The sound was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. The thousands of guests in the Golden Dome Square, who were still stunned by the sound of the bell, turned their heads abruptly until their eyes fell on Abbess Miejue and Gu Shaoan and others.

At this moment, many martial artists on the Golden Dome Square had come at the invitation.

However, nearly 90% of them had never seen Abbess Miejue and Gu Shaoan before.

Looking at these people whose appearance, demeanor, and even physique far surpassed those of ordinary people, everyone's eyes flickered slightly.

Regardless of their initial purpose in coming here, everyone couldn't help but sigh inwardly as they watched Abbess Miejue and her entourage slowly approaching.

On the Longlong Helmsman's side, Xu Changlong's gaze swept past Miejue, Juechen, and Juejue before finally settling on Gu Shaoan, who was walking behind the three.

Looking at Gu Shaoan, who had one hand behind his back and a gentle yet ethereal air about him, Xu Changlong narrowed his eyes slightly.

In contrast, Abbess Miejue and her entourage walked step by step towards the main table where Changlongduo and the others were, under the gaze of thousands of people.

As Abbess Miejue and the others approached, Xu Changlong, Sun Jinhai, and the other seven people who were originally sitting all stood up.

"Meet the Master."

"You're too kind, everyone. Please have a seat."

After Miejue nodded slightly in response, Xu Changlong and the others sat down.

Juechen and Juequan, along with Zhao Jingxuan and Zhou Zhiruo, sat at an adjacent table.

Only Gu Shaoan remained by Abbess Miejue's side.

Although among them, the relationship between Miejue, Juejue, and Abbess Juechen is the closest.

He also holds the highest position of authority within the Emei Sect.

However, to the outside world, Gu Shaoan's true identity is that of the young sect leader.

Today's banquet is for guests from all directions, and naturally, it is hosted by Gu Shaoan and Abbess Miejue.

However, just as Abbess Miejue and Gu Shaoan had settled down and were about to make their next move, Gu Shaoan seemed to sense something and his eyes suddenly darted toward the mountain entrance in the distance.

Immediately afterwards, a voice rang out without warning above the Golden Summit of Mount Emei.

The sound was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear and resonant, like the striking of a jade chime, carrying a strange penetrating power that instantly filled the entire golden roof.

Every word seemed to echo from the mountains, or like a clear spring cascading from the heavens, caressing everyone's ears:

"Cihang Jingzhai congratulates the Emei Sect on its return to the top tier."

The moment the sound reached their ears, the previously quiet Golden Dome Square erupted in cheers.

Everyone turned to look at the entrance to the mountain.

Just then, I saw a group of women climbing to the top of the mountain, seemingly slowly but actually quickly.

The group of over twenty women at the head of the group were all dressed in elegant, moon-white long dresses. The dresses were simple in style, with wide sleeves and flowing robes, making them appear ethereal and graceful.

Their robes were not pure white, but rather shimmered like the first snow on a mountain peak reflecting the morning mist, radiating an indescribable brilliance.

Each person wore a sky-blue sash around their waist and a simple, scabbarded longsword slung across their shoulder.

With a refined face and a pure temperament, her eyes were like a deep well, devoid of sorrow or joy. Only the profound and indescribable sense of distance made the bustling square fall into an even deeper silence.

As they entered the square, they silently lined up on both sides, standing quietly with their hands at their sides.

The next moment, a figure slowly stepped into the mountaintop plaza from the top of the long blue stone steps, bathed in the brightest midday sunlight.

She was also draped in a simple, moon-white dress, the wide sleeves billowing like clouds as she walked, the hem of her dress brushing against the stone steps as if without a speck of dust.

Her figure was slender and graceful, and her movements carried an indescribable rhythm. It was neither the swiftness and sharpness of a martial artist, nor the delicate fragility of an ordinary woman, but rather like a clear spring under the moonlight flowing naturally among the rocks, harmonious and unpredictable.

The woman had long, slender eyebrows and eyes, like the mist gathering from distant mountains. The lines that should have been cool and aloof were instead imbued with an otherworldly holiness when reflected in her eyes.

Looking at the Cihang Jingzhai Holy Maiden whom she had met in the play of selling herself to bury her father in Yuzhou Prefecture, Qin Mengyao...

The woman was already exceptionally beautiful, but the pure and otherworldly aura she exuded was even more rare in the world.

The combination of these two factors meant that the moment the woman stepped onto the mountaintop, she instantly drew the attention of everyone present.

Some people couldn't help but glance back and forth between Qin Mengyao, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yang Yan, as if they were making comparisons in secret.

Upon seeing the group reaching the summit, a hint of displeasure flashed in the eyes of Abbess Miejue and Juechen.

Gu Shaoan shifted his gaze slightly, looking at Qin Mengyao and the others who were slowly approaching, his eyes as calm as still water.

"It really is like a persistent ghost!"

(End of this chapter)