Chapter Twenty-Seven: Perhaps It Is the Red of Great Fame After All

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Jiang Zao raised her eyes. “Like what?”

Jiang Zhuoran and Yan Wuqiu looked at him as well, curious to hear what he would say.

“Uh…”

He had only said it to comfort her. Why were they all taking him seriously?

Under the scrutiny of the other three, he felt a little guilty. His mind began racing as he considered what would sound most reasonable—while also managing to comfort Jiang Zao.

“For example… you could improve your practical combat skills through the matches. And quite a few disciples of the Seeking Immortals Sect would remember you.”

“Most importantly…” Lou Si deliberately paused for effect. “You might even earn the Sect Master’s and the elders’ appreciation.”

Lou Si thought he had come up with a flawless argument. His complexion even seemed to glow with satisfaction.

After hearing him out, Jiang Zao lowered her head in disappointment.

[As expected, I never should have hoped that Fourth Brother could come up with a good idea.]

The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. She had thought Lou Si truly had something worthwhile in mind, but in the end… that was it?

How could that not count as a good idea? I considered every possible benefit before coming up with it.

Lou Si silently retorted, feeling disgruntled.

This could improve her strength while also giving her a certain degree of fame. It was practically killing two birds with one stone. Jiang Zao really had no idea how much thought he had put into this.

[Practical combat experience… Are we sure it won’t just be me getting beaten senseless by one person?]

[Making the sect disciples remember me? Heh… How could infamy not count as fame? Who knows, I might even become spectacularly famous.]

The two of them stubbornly clung to their own opinions, thinking on entirely different wavelengths.

As bystanders, Jiang Zhuoran and Yan Wuqiu felt that Lou Si’s idea was highly feasible. Unfortunately, Jiang Zao clearly did not see it that way, and they could hardly force her to act against her wishes.

Seeing her gloomy expression, Yan Wuqiu could not bear it. He hoped that learning the rules of the sect tournament might help her see things differently.

“Junior Sister Zaozao, actually… the sect tournament isn’t as frightening as you imagine. It uses an elimination system, with contestants advancing step by step until the champion is determined.”

Given your strength, you’ll probably be eliminated before you even get through the first round, so there’s no need to worry about being beaten up and losing face.

Of course, Yan Wuqiu did not dare say that part aloud.

Jiang Zao lifted her head. A faint light appeared in her eyes as she asked uncertainly, “Really?”

Yan Wuqiu nodded.

This format saved a great deal of time. The participating disciples drew lots to determine their opponents, ensuring fairness and impartiality.

Only after receiving a definite answer did Jiang Zao spring back to life. She stood up, and all the gloom seemed to vanish from her at once.

[You should have said it was an elimination system from the start. You had me worried for so long.]

[An elimination system… I’ll simply forfeit and surrender in the first round, then transform from a contestant into a spectator. Hehe… No one can say anything about that.]

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[Hehehe…]

Jiang Zao’s smile gradually took on a sinister cast. There was no trace of dejection left in her.

Listening to her thoughts, Yan Wuqiu smiled gently. He had never expected a simple competition rule to cheer her up so completely.

…

Half a month later.

At the Seeking Immortals Sect’s largest martial arena, crowds surged everywhere, and the atmosphere was exceptionally lively.

Following behind Jiang Zhuoran, Jiang Zao let out exclamations of amazement every now and then.

[As expected of the greatest sect in the cultivation world. Even its sect tournament is this grand.]

Jade Spirit Peak lay to the southwest of the martial arena. The two of them made their way through the crowds before finally arriving.

“Is it just the four of us?” Jiang Zao pointed at the four of them and asked uncertainly.

Lou Si nodded, looking utterly unconcerned, as though this sort of thing were nothing unusual. “Yep.”

“Our master doesn’t like taking disciples. Counting you, there are only six of us in total. Eldest Senior Brother is usually away and rarely comes back, while Third Senior Sister is in secluded cultivation. So naturally, only the four of us are left.”

“In previous years, Master never allowed us to participate in the sect tournament. I don’t know why he suddenly permitted it this time,” Yan Wuqiu added.

It seemed that ever since she had arrived at Jade Spirit Peak, Jiang Zao had never seen Eldest Senior Brother or Third Senior Sister.

The novel had never mentioned where they were, either. They appeared only when the plot reached certain key points.

Jiang Zao looked toward Jiang Zhuoran as though seeking confirmation.

The latter shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know much more than you do.”

When she had first brought He Mobai back to Jade Spirit Peak, she had wondered the same thing. She had even suspected that Eldest Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister might already be dead, and that the others were only claiming one was out gaining experience and the other was in secluded cultivation because they could not accept the truth.

It was not until she had innocently asked Lou Si about it—and been lectured by him for three whole days—that she had reluctantly believed him.

Jiang Zao blinked her eyes innocently.

[Hmm! Very robotic. They really do feel like NPCs.]

Robotic? NPC?

What did that mean? He had no idea.

“Look, it’s Senior Brother Qi!”

“Is Senior Brother Qi presiding over the sect tournament again this time?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Senior Brother Qi is the Sect Master’s eldest disciple. Who else could possibly be qualified?”

The person being addressed nodded in sudden realization and fell silent.

The four of them followed the voices and looked over.

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On the highest challenge platform, Qi Shuqian, dressed all in white, rode a crane and landed steadily.

His robes fluttered in the breeze. With his peerless appearance, tall and graceful bearing, and the elegant composure of a slender bamboo stalk, he caused many female cultivators to blush and grow bashful.

[No wonder he’s described in the novel as the most beautiful man. Just standing there and smiling gently is enough to make anyone’s heart race.]

Jiang Zao herself was no exception.

“What’s so handsome about him?” Lou Si sized Qi Shuqian up and muttered unhappily, “He looks so delicate, and he’s smiling all the time. What exactly is so attractive about that?”

Qi Shuqian, standing on the arena platform, noticed Jiang Zao’s heated gaze and looked in her direction. He gave her a gentle smile.

His handsome features and tender smile struck her eyes and mind with overwhelming force. She clutched her chest as though she had been pierced by Cupid’s arrow.

[Mom, I think I’m in love!]

Although the other three had no idea why she was reacting this way, they could tell from her expression and her thoughts…

She had fallen head over heels for Qi Shuqian!

To keep her from sinking any deeper, Jiang Zhuoran pulled her toward the innermost part of the crowd. Yan Wuqiu stood in front of her, blocking her view of Qi Shuqian, while Lou Si brought out spirit fruit and spirit tea and placed them before her to distract her.

Jiang Zhuoran: Zaozao is still young. She isn’t suitable for finding a cultivation partner.

Yan Wuqiu: Qi Shuqian is far too calculating. A guileless girl like Junior Sister Zaozao could be schemed against until nothing remained of her. We have to keep an eye on her.

Lou Si: He isn’t even as handsome as I am.

The three of them had different thoughts, yet they were perfectly united in one thing: none of them wanted her to meet Qi Shuqian. They did not even want her looking at him.

“Senior Brother Yan, why are you blocking me?” Jiang Zao raised her eyes in confusion at Yan Wuqiu, who was completely obstructing her view. She then tilted her head back to look at Jiang Zhuoran, who was holding her firmly in her chair. “And you too, Sis. Why won’t you let me stand up?”

[Why are all of them acting so strangely?]

Seeing that the situation was taking a turn for the worse, Lou Si quickly stuffed a spirit fruit into her hand. “Zaozao, eat some fruit!”

Jiang Zao looked at the fruit in her hand and took a bite. Glancing over the three of them, she mumbled indistinctly, “You’re all acting very suspiciously.”

The three people in question grew self-conscious and shifted their gazes about, afraid to meet her eyes.

It was proof that when people felt awkward, they would pretend to be busy. The three of them were perfect examples.

Below, Qi Shuqian received the latest rules for the tournament. His brows drew together slightly. When he raised his head, he happened to meet his master’s gaze.

Master… are you truly going to change the rules?

That is correct. Simply follow what is written on the jade slip. Do not concern yourself with anything else.

Understood.

After communicating through divine-sense transmission, Qi Shuqian’s doubts finally subsided.

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