novelraw Chapter 97 - 96: Watching Helplessly as Master Is Pulled Away by the Bad Woman
Chapter 97 - 96: Watching Helplessly as Master Is Pulled Away by the Bad Woman
The Celestial Lock Islands, as the name suggested, were several mountainous islands enchanted with Floating Arrays, linked together by pillar-thick Meteorite Iron Chains to form an archipelago in the sky.
Viewed from afar, the islands stretched out in a vast and magnificent chain.
However, all the islands were currently shrouded in a rolling white fog that blocked a Cultivator's Divine Sense. This was likely because the scenes beneath the fog were related to the Sect's Grand Competition, and the mist served to prevent any 'spoilers.'
Upon the Cloud Sea surrounding the Celestial Lock Islands floated countless jade pavilions and exquisite halls, all supported by Floating Arrays. These were the so-called 'spectator stands,' where innumerable Cultivators from the Dao Sect would watch the entire Grand Competition.
The Sect's Grand Competition had not yet begun, and outsiders were not permitted to enter the Celestial Lock Islands, which served as the trial grounds. Thus, Pei Yuhang was wandering about the Cloud Sea with his two disciples.
He also took this opportunity to explain the details of the competition's assessment, which he had just received, to his two disciples.
"Xiaoxiao, Yueqiu, the first round of the Sect's Grand Competition is a point-based system. The entire Celestial Lock Islands will be divided into several different trial zones. In each zone, criminals from the Demon Race, suppressed in the Celestial Prison, will be released.
You must choose a trial zone that you are skilled at handling. If you find you can't adapt to your initial zone, you must quickly use the chains connecting the islands to hurry to the next one."
As Pei Yuhang explained the rules of the competition to his disciples, he also shared as much of his own experience as their master as possible, hoping to give them every possible advantage.
"The time limit for the first trial is until midnight tonight. The top fifty contestants with the highest scores will qualify for tomorrow's combat tournament. You can earn points by killing Demons, or even by snatching the Tokens from other contestants..."
"Although the time limit for the trial is quite long, I advise you not to hunt Demons or fight with others after sunset. Instead, you should focus on protecting yourselves and staying safe.
This is because many of the Demon Race from the Celestial Prison have bloodlines that are greatly enhanced at night. The nights on the Celestial Lock Islands will become far more dangerous than the daytime. If you suffer serious injuries at night, even if you manage to advance to the second day's combat tournament, you will be no match for the other contestants."
At this moment, Yu Xiaoyan and Qing Yueqiu showed no trace of their usual playfulness. They were listening intently to their master's teachings.
Just then, the cry of a crane sounded from behind them.
"Ah, Junior Brother Pei, it must be fate for us to meet here again... And Yueqiu, Xiaoxiao, you two must do your best today~!"
Lu Ruoxi greeted them with a beaming smile, causing the expressions of Qing Yueqiu and Yu Xiaoyan, who had been in good spirits, to darken.
'This woman, a sign of great misfortune who's eyeing Master covetously, is here for him again!'
'Wait... Neither I nor Yu Xiaoyan will be by Master's side today. What is she planning to do, coming to find him now when they'll be a man and woman all alone?'
Countless terrible scenarios flashed through Qing Yueqiu's mind. She was just about to whisper a warning to her master, telling him to be extra careful today and that it would be best to return to his wife's side immediately instead of lingering here to watch their competition.
Just then, a tremendous roar echoed from the void.
The mist-shrouded Celestial Lock Islands rumbled, and the rolling fog dissipated completely, revealing their true appearance below.
On some floating islands, a dark, active volcano jutted out over a dry Great Desert, clearly a place of scorching heat. Other islands were covered in dense primeval forests, with single trees dozens of meters tall and wide enough for several people to link arms around. There were also icebergs, poisonous swamp mists, great lakes, and many other diverse ecosystems, each corresponding to a different trial zone.
Before Qing Yueqiu could react, her body was enveloped in a white light that pulsed with spatial fluctuations.
'No, this can't happen... How can I just stand by and watch Master spend a whole day alone with that woman?!'
The last image in Qing Yueqiu's vision was the beaming smile on Lu Ruoxi's lips. Then, her world spun, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she lost consciousness...
Pei Yuhang watched his two disciples get teleported by the Array to random locations on the Celestial Lock Islands, and he clenched his fists in worry.
'Just now, it seemed like Yueqiu had something to tell me. Did she still have questions about the trial? Damn it, the teleportation started too suddenly. Yueqiu and Xiaoxiao had no time to prepare...'
'I hope they both come back safely.'
As Pei Yuhang stared at the spot where his two disciples had vanished, a fair hand rested on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Junior Brother Pei. Your two disciples will definitely be fine. Their excellence stands out even among the entire Sect."
"Yueqiu kept looking at me just before she left. She must have been hoping that I would comfort you today and put your mind at ease about them."
Listening to Lu Ruoxi's words, Pei Yuhang felt that something wasn't quite right. But before he could say anything, he felt his arm sink into something like a cluster of cottony clouds. The soft, supple sensation made his breath catch.
Seeing the adorable expression on Junior Brother Pei's face, Lu Ruoxi's smile widened.
Qing Yueqiu's intuition was correct. As an Elder of the Dan Yun Pavilion, Lu Ruoxi was normally swamped with countless tasks and incredibly busy. How could her appearing here now, conveniently at leisure to meet Junior Brother Pei, be a coincidence?
Today, the Sect's Grand Competition began. Both of Pei Yuhang's disciples had to compete, so of course he, their master, would come to watch. Meanwhile, Ye Liyuan's frail body meant she most likely couldn't attend... This meant that today, Junior Brother Pei would be all alone for the entire day!
Such a golden opportunity—of course she wouldn't pass it up!
It was still a long time until midnight, when Qing Yueqiu and Yu Xiaoyan would finish their trial. With so much time today, who knew what kind of sparks might fly between her and Junior Brother Pei~
KEKEKEKEKE~~
Lu Ruoxi hugged Pei Yuhang's arm, burying it deep within her fairy-like cleavage. Though her actions were suggestive, her tone was merely that of a senior sister showing normal concern for her junior brother.
"Junior Brother Pei, let's not wait out here. We can wait in a room. Knowing you'd be here today, your senior sister here even booked the best Heaven-tier private box in advance for us!"
...…
In a world of ice and snow where mountains lay buried, several monsters were sprawled across the snowy ground. They had humanoid bodies covered in pitch-black fur, but their heads were the savage and ferocious heads of wolves.
Their necks had all been sliced open by a single, clean sword strike. The cuts in their fur, which was tough enough to withstand artillery spells, were perfectly smooth. Blood seeping from the wounds stained the snow red. Viewed from above, it looked as if blood-red plum blossoms had bloomed upon the white earth.
A pretty girl with her hair in twin pigtails casually flicked a drop of blood from her sword, frowning slightly as she scanned the vast, white world around her.
'After I was forcibly teleported in, I got separated from Qing Yueqiu... My luck isn't bad, though. The initial trial island is a world of ice and snow. For someone like me who has trained at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion since childhood, it's no different from coming home. I just wonder how my senior sister is doing.'
Although Yu Xiaoyan didn't have a very good impression of Qing Yueqiu, her rival in love for their master's affection, they were ultimately both from the Cold Palace Sword Mansion. Here in the Celestial Lock Islands, they were each other's only trustworthy allies.
Therefore, if Yu Xiaoyan wanted to earn a higher score, she had to find Qing Yueqiu and regroup with her as quickly as possible!
[Xiaoxiao, the Magical Artifact Master gave you is reacting. Head southeast. Qing Yueqiu is there.]
"Got it."
After dispatching a Demon creature lurking beneath the frozen earth with a blast of Sword Qi, Yu Xiaoyan immediately flew southeast using Sword Control.