novelraw Chapter 484: Next Time I Will Win
Chapter 484: Next Time I Will Win
When her words fell, all was silent. Neither the Sea of Consciousness nor the far depths of the fire responded. Yu Zhao simply turned toward the heart of the flames, made a solemn bow, then strode on along the chain.
With nothing else to divide her focus, her speed increased severalfold. At last, she reached the end of the chain.
There lay a wide stone dais, and at its center ten crimson pearls floated, wreathed in a faint red halo. They were the supreme treasure of the Bifang Realm, the Bifang Pearls. Yu Zhao extended a hand, and one Bifang Pearl flew of its own accord into her palm, its warmth seeping through her whole body. She closed her fingers around it, and a smile tugged at her lips. She had not failed the trust Senior Qun Fang had placed in her.
Before long, Lu Jiu Yuan and the others passed their trials in succession and arrived upon the dais where the Bifang Pearls hovered. Seeing Yu Zhao sitting at ease with legs crossed, their expressions turned a shade peculiar, none more than Lu Jiu Yuan. He had only just hurled harsh words at Yu Zhao, and now he had been slapped in the face by reality. He wished nothing more than to avoid her eyes.
Still, business came first. They put their grudges aside, stepped up one by one to claim a Bifang Pearl, and when all had taken one, a final pearl still floated lightly within the halo upon the dais, as if awaiting its owner.
Yu Zhao swept her gaze over them and asked in a low voice: “We are still short one person?”
After a moment of silence, Lu Jiu Yuan answered: “While crossing the chains, he failed the trial and was buried in the sea of fire.” His voice was heavy, and it was plain he regretted that disciple’s fall.
Yu Zhao sighed softly and looked at the lone Bifang Pearl: “How should this pearl be handled?”
“By custom, we carry it out and hand it to his sect,” said Lu Jiu Yuan.
“Very well,” Yu Zhao nodded. Since there was a longstanding custom, they would follow it. No one objected. Lu Jiu Yuan stepped forward and took the remaining pearl.“The task is complete. We can leave,” Yu Zhao said as she rose. “Come, this is no place to linger.”
“Grip the Bifang Pearl and you will leave this place at once,” someone reminded. They all nodded, focused their thoughts, and in the next instant appeared outside the cave mouth that led into the Eye of Bifang.
The Sect Masters waiting there broke into smiles when they saw Yu Zhao, Lu Jiu Yuan, and the others emerge. “Good, good, good,” one Sect Master exclaimed as he clapped, thumping his own disciple’s shoulder and praising without end. The Heng Nan Sect Master, cradling his Bifang Pearl, showed Yu Zhao the greatest gratitude he could, and for a time the scene bustled with excitement.
Only one man stood out from the cheer. The Sect Master whose disciple did not appear wore an unnatural look, his eyes fixed on the entrance as though still hoping. But when the last person had come out and nothing more stirred within, his hope broke, and the forced curve at his lips fell away.
Lu Jiu Yuan went to him, took the extra Bifang Pearl from his robe, and offered it with both hands: “Sect Master of Muyang, this is the Bifang Pearl that belongs to your sect’s disciple. He perished within the Eye of Bifang. Please accept my condolences.”
The Muyang Sect Master’s hand trembled as he received it. Sadness flickered in his eyes, though he quickly forced it down. “Thank you.”
Lu Jiu Yuan only shook his head and returned to stand beside the Pinnacle Sect Master. “With the Bifang Pearls in hand, everyone may return to their sects,” the Pinnacle Sect Master said in a deep voice.
At that, the Muyang Sect Master departed first. The others exchanged brief farewells, then led their disciples back to their respective lodgings.
When Yu Zhao returned to the Lingyin Sect’s group, she was greeted with warm celebration. She was preparing to leave again with Ancestor Sui Bian and Old Black Daoist aboard the Lingyin Sect’s palace-ship when a voice called from behind: “Hold a moment.”
Turning, Yu Zhao saw Lu Jiu Yuan, Su Qing Wan, and Du Wu Xiang hurrying toward her. “What is it?” she asked.
“Yu Zhao, you will take part in the next selection for the Great Thousand Alliance, will you not?” The three pairs of eyes fixed on her with burning intensity.
Yu Zhao’s lips quirked: “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Lu Jiu Yuan was not satisfied with that answer. But Yu Zhao had already leapt up into the palace. He could only shout beneath it: “Yu Zhao, I will be waiting for you in the Great Thousand Alliance. Next time I will win for sure!”
“Oh,” Yu Zhao answered, and disappeared within.
Inside the palace, the air turned a shade delicate. Yu Zhao and Old Black Daoist tucked themselves into a corner with tacit agreement, doing their best to lower their presence. Sneaking a glance at the front, Old Black Daoist could not help whispering to Yu Zhao: “Look at the ancestor, is he not just like a duck trussed up over a fire?” Yu Zhao followed his gaze and saw Ancestor Sui Bian sitting upright, a stiff smile frozen on his face. Senior Xiu Yu sat to his left and Senior Qun Fang to his right. Wedged between the two, he dared lean neither left nor right, spine ramrod straight as he strained to remain neutral. Yu Zhao nearly burst out laughing.
Old Black Daoist gave a sly chuckle, ready to tease further, when he suddenly sensed that Yu Zhao’s aura was off. He widened his eyes and said in a sour tone: “You little lass, how did your cultivation break through again? Did you sneak an immortal pill?”
Yu Zhao waved modestly: “Luck, only luck.” Old Black Daoist’s heart grew even more sour. Why was Yu Zhao not a disciple of their Heavenly Sword Sect?
A thought flashed through his mind, and he leaned to whisper in her ear: “How about this… you come to our Heavenly Sword Sect as a disciple too?”
Before Yu Zhao could answer, Ancestor Sui Bian’s voice rang from the front: “Old Black Daoist, what crooked schemes are you plotting now?” Seizing the chance to escape the pincer of Senior Xiu Yu and Senior Qun Fang, he sprang to Old Black Daoist, hooked an arm around his neck, and shook him hard: “You miserly ghost, not content with prying at this palace’s walls, you want to poach the pillars of my Five Elements Dao Sect? Courting death, are you?”
Feeling wronged, Old Black Daoist retorted, poking at Ancestor Sui Bian’s eyes: “You old codger, your Five Elements Dao Sect has so many disciples already. What is the harm in giving Yu Zhao to me?”
“Give her to you? Keep dreaming. Yu Zhao is the darling treasure of my Five Elements Dao Sect. Even if the ancestor of your Heavenly Sword Sect came in person, he could not take her.”
“You are not Yu Zhao. How can you make decisions for her?”
Trading blows, the two tumbled to the floor in a heap. One dug at the other’s nose, the other jabbed at a tender spot in the waist, locked in a scuffle that neither would yield.
Yu Zhao started forward to break them up, but Senior Qun Fang and Senior Xiu Yu barred her way. Senior Qun Fang said, “Let them fight, it would be best if one of them died.” Senior Xiu Yu added, “In my view, mutual destruction would not be unacceptable.”
Yu Zhao: […]