The surrounding area erupted in astonishment. Was there truly a disciple willing to attend the East Sea’s Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering? The cultivation styles of the Shanhai and Donghai sects were vastly different, not to mention the immense distance between the East Sea and the Central Plains. How could someone so young bear to leave home and travel so far alone?
Ye Ye and Baili Changyue’s faces turned ashen. Changyue stepped forward to intervene but was caught off guard when Mr. Shen glanced back at her. Despite his handsome appearance, his expression was cold and severe, causing Baili Changyue to retreat a few steps.
Mr. Zuo Qiu spoke up, “During the disciple selection, no one is allowed to interfere. Step back.”
Although the children were reluctant, they had no choice but to step back a few paces.
Mr. Shen’s gaze was fixed on Baili Gelin. This gaze, which had intimidated Changyue, did not make her retreat. Her forehead was covered in sweat, yet she maintained her composure, refusing to show fear under his intense scrutiny.
After observing her for a while, Mr. Shen suddenly smiled and said, “Young girl, your courage is commendable. According to your rules, I must test you before you can enter, correct?”
He looked around and pointed to a stone mannequin not far away. “Show me the basic Five Elements spells.”
Baili Gelin nodded, stepped forward, and focused her energy. The crowd saw a flash of cold light as her Ice Condensation spell enveloped the entire mannequin with surprising speed. Her spellcasting was swift, and her immortal techniques even swifter. In no time, flames engulfed the mannequin, followed by a dazzling golden light. In the blink of an eye, she had demonstrated all the basic Five Elements spells.
A Jiao exclaimed, “How did your basic spells become so proficient?”
Baili Gelin lowered her head and replied, “Disciple practices diligently every day.”
Mr. Shen smiled at Baili Gelin and turned to Mr. Zuo Qiu, saying, “I didn’t expect to find a satisfactory disciple at the academy this time! To be honest, I had no hope at all.”
Mr. Zuo Qiu smiled, “It is her honor to receive Mr. Shen’s favor.”
Mr. Shen laughed heartily and gave Baili Gelin a heavy pat on the back, nearly knocking her over. He declared loudly, “Your name is Baili Gelin? I like you very much! From today on, you are a disciple of the East Sea’s Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering!”
Baili Gelin responded crisply, ignoring the surrounding clamor.
The children finally rushed forward. Baili Changyue slapped her and said coldly, “You’ve gone too far this time! Even if you’re willful, there should be a limit. Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”
Baili Gelin touched her slapped cheek, gave a bitter smile, and then laughed, “Sister, I just thought it would be fun to ride a demon beast like they do. I wanted to try it, and I didn’t expect to be accepted. It feels like a dream!”
Baili Changyue’s face was livid, and she raised her hand to strike again, but Li Fei quickly stopped her. Gelin’s childish reason was too much even for her to bear.
“Gelin, choosing a sect is not a joke. You… you intend to go to the East Sea’s Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering!” Li Fei looked at her anxiously. “Why don’t we ask Mr. Zuo Qiu if you can change your mind?”
“Disciple selection is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly!” Ye Ye frowned, suppressing his anger as he looked at Baili Gelin. He said sternly, “The East Sea’s Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering is extremely far from the Central Plains. Once you go, who knows how long it will be before we see each other again. Do you not regret it?”
Baili Gelin giggled and pointed to the giant centipede spirit in the corner of the martial arts field. “Look at that. I want to ride a centipede spirit and see what it feels like.”
Ji Tongzhou, who had a fear of centipede spirits, frowned and said, “What’s so interesting about that? It’s disgusting!”
Baili Gelin laughed, “When I come back riding a centipede spirit, won’t you come to see me?”
Ji Tongzhou imagined the scene and his face turned a bit pale. “Just don’t bring it in front of me!”
Baili Gelin laughed heartily.
The selection of new disciples from various immortal sects finally concluded amidst the pattering rain.
Sixteen academy disciples were assigned to their respective sects. Ye Ye and Baili Changyue went to the Dizang Sect, Lei Xiuyuan, and Li Fei went to the Wuyue Court, and Ji Tongzhou joined the Xingzheng Pavilion. Princess Lanya was not chosen by the Xingzheng Pavilion but was instead selected by Long You Yuanjun of the Fire Lotus Temple. Though reluctant, she had no choice but to accept.
As for Ji Tongzhou’s followers, none were chosen by the Xingzheng Pavilion. They all went to other sects, with one even joining the Longming Seat. However, due to recent conflicts in Duantu, the elders Zong Quan and Zhen Yunzi of Longming Seat declined to attend the new disciple selection.
A banquet was held in the academy’s main hall, where immortals from various sects gathered, filling the room with laughter and conversation. Compared to the jovial discussions of the immortals and elders, the disciples at one table seemed somewhat melancholic.
After the banquet, they would each follow their new masters to their sects. Only now did they understand why the academy had given them a fifteen-day break beforehand. After the new disciple selection, they would immediately go to their new sects, with no time to return home.
Princess Lanya clung to Ji Tongzhou’s sleeve, still upset about not being chosen by the Xingzheng Pavilion. She cried, her face covered in tears, and choked out, “Your Highness, please don’t forget Lanya. Visit Lanya when you have the chance.”
Ji Tongzhou was most afraid of seeing girls cry. Her tears made his head spin, and he frowned, “Once in a sect, you’ll be busy cultivating. It’s not like the academy where you can come and go as you please! Besides, I don’t even know where the Fire Lotus Temple is!”
Princess Lanya sobbed, “Then Lanya will visit Your Highness at the Xingzheng Pavilion!”
Ji Tongzhou was at a loss for words. He looked around for help, and Ye Ye, who had been quietly drinking, finally smiled and said, “Princess, there’s no need to be sad. His Highness has already made a ten-year pact with Xiuyuan to have a duel. You’ll have the chance to meet in ten years.”
Ji Tongzhou was taken aback, “When did I agree to a duel…”
Unexpectedly, Lei Xiuyuan smiled slightly and said, “Do you need ten years to master your skills? How weak.”
Ji Tongzhou immediately flared up. He had always competed with Lei Xiuyuan, from immortal techniques to martial arts. Though he had never lost, he had never won either. Now that they were going to different sects, he couldn’t stand the thought. Ye Ye’s fabricated duel to comfort Lanya unexpectedly ignited his fighting spirit.
“Six years from now, at the academy’s martial arts field, don’t be late!” He immediately issued a challenge, even setting the location.
Everyone laughed at the idea of meeting at the academy’s martial arts field. Baili Gelin laughed so hard she knocked over her cup.
Ye Ye chuckled, “Do you think you’ll still be academy disciples in six years? Choose a different place! Aren’t duels usually on mountain peaks? Find a higher mountain!”
Li Fei suggested, “Why not meet at Lu Gong Town? That’s where we all met, and I think there’s a hill there.”
A hill? Ji Tongzhou was about to object, but everyone applauded the idea. Ye Ye finally tapped Baili Gelin on the forehead, “You have to come too! No matter how far, you must fly over!”
Baili Gelin kept laughing, as if going to the East Sea’s Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering was truly her dream come true. She was so happy that she agreed to everything anyone said.
No one mentioned Longming Seat or Zhen Yunzi, as if they never existed. They talked about meeting in six years, but from now on, they would face various formidable foes alone. Whether they could truly meet again was uncertain. Perhaps it was this fear of the unknown future that made their conversation even more lively, as they repeatedly made promises six years later as if it would give them hope and courage.
Li Fei, not paying attention, drank too much. Leaning against the wall, she left the main hall, intending to sleep in the disciples’ quarters. As the cold wind and rain hit her at the door, she remembered that the disciples’ quarters were locked, and she couldn’t return.
A wave of melancholy washed over her as she leaned against the wall, gazing at the night sky. Soon, she heard footsteps. It was Hu Jiaping, pulling the veiled woman out of the main hall. They were likely taking advantage of the moment to talk before parting.
Seeing Li Fei standing there, Hu Jiaping exclaimed, “What are you doing here alone?”
Li Fei didn’t want to disturb them, so she shook her head and prepared to go inside. Unexpectedly, Hu Jiaping laughed, “Little girl, now that you’re my junior sister, won’t you call me senior brother?”
Li Fei, muddled by alcohol, suddenly remembered this crucial matter. She turned back urgently, “Right, my senior brother…”
“Yes, that ‘senior brother’ sounds nice.” Hu Jiaping laughed heartily, ruffled her hair, and was about to leave with the veiled woman.
Li Fei grabbed his sleeve, “Sir, now that I’m a disciple of the Wuyue Court, can I find my senior brother myself?”
Hu Jiaping smiled gently, “Haven’t you already found him? You just called him.”
Li Fei was stunned, “I-I wasn’t joking… This senior brother isn’t that senior brother…” She didn’t know how to explain, her mind and tongue muddled by drink.
“Xiao Bang Chui,” Hu Jiaping suddenly called her by her old name, smiling nonchalantly, “Master is a renowned immortal. How could he be hunted to death? Instead of worrying about him, you should take care of yourself. Master asked me to tell you: adult matters are none of your concern, and you are not to look for him.”
With that, he hurried away with the veiled woman. Li Fei couldn’t catch up. She was already drunk, stumbling as she tried to fly on her sword. She fell onto a floating island, her spiritual energy unstable, and rolled several times on the grass.
Breathing heavily, Li Fei lay on the wet grass, Hu Jiaping’s words causing a storm in her heart—Hu Jiaping was her senior brother? Was he joking or serious? Or was he just brushing off the little girl who kept asking about her senior brother? But he knew her old name, which she had changed before coming to the academy. If Master hadn’t told him, how would he know?
Had he recognized her from the start? Why didn’t he tell her when she first asked about Master? Why didn’t he acknowledge her? He said Master was a renowned immortal, but how could that be? That old man who only knew a few spells! He just didn’t want to cause trouble by saving Master, right?
Li Fei sat up abruptly but then lay back down in defeat.
The whole world seemed to become a blur. Memories of living with Master replayed in her mind. She should have noticed some clues, right? How could Master be just a charlatan with a few spells? She was now a disciple with one foot in the immortal sect, no longer the naive Xiao Bang Chui of the past.
Hu Jiaping had warned her not to speak of Master’s matters, and now he said Master had sent a message for her not to search for him. Did Master not want to acknowledge her? Leaving a message for her to come to the Wuyue Court was probably to entrust her to Hu Jiaping’s care, right? He didn’t want to be her Master anymore? Did he go back to being a renowned immortal? Who was he?
Footsteps approached from behind, but Li Fei didn’t turn around. Soon, a red and white robe appeared in her view. Lei Xiuyuan looked down at her, expressionless.
Li Fei forced a smile, “I drank too much, just came up to get some air.”
Lei Xiuyuan said nothing, sitting lightly beside her. The fine rain wet his hair and face. He placed a hand on her damp forehead, his voice as soft as the wind and rain, “Your smile is ugly, stop smiling.”
Li Fei was silent for a while, then whispered, “Xiuyuan, did you guess about Master when we were in Qingqiu?”
She couldn’t finish, but she didn’t need to ask. He was so smart, how could he not guess that Master wasn’t just a charlatan? But he hadn’t told her anything, none of them had.
His hand remained on her forehead, his voice still soft, “Don’t cry either, you look even uglier when you cry.”
Li Fei’s voice was hoarse, “Can you say something nice?”
He seemed to smile and flicked her forehead, but said nothing.