Chapter 104: Transformation

“Senior sister, don’t overthink it. I see that Master Su hasn’t emerged from seclusion yet, and Senior Brother Chi is busy presiding over the Nine Swords Peak’s arena, so he hasn’t had time to call for you,” Wu Qiu reasoned.

Qu Youyou’s eyes flickered with a gleam of light, her voice tinged with doubt: “My master is still in seclusion?”

Wu Qiu nodded with a smile. “The peak master hasn’t emerged yet. Everyone is guessing that he’s attempting to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage during this seclusion.”

Qu Youyou brightened with joy but pursed her lips slightly. “It’s a pity Master is so strict; he didn’t even come to see me before entering seclusion...”

“Youyou Senior Sister, I haven’t finished what I was saying yet...” Zhao Wen, seeing Qu Youyou’s good mood, tried to muster courage to continue speaking about the Little Peaceful Peak.

But Wu Qiu cut him off once again. “Senior sister, Senior Brother Chi’s event should have already started. Let’s hurry over... Zhao junior brother, what do you want to say?”

Wu Qiu looked at Zhao Wen with curiosity.

Zhao Wen shot him an annoyed glare and prepared to continue.

Qu Youyou glanced at him hurriedly. “We’ll talk about your matter later. Let’s go to the plaza first—we absolutely can’t miss this competition!”

“Senior sister, what we need to discuss is very important...” Huang Lan sensed the situation wasn’t good and quickly spoke up but still couldn’t hold back Qu Youyou’s enthusiasm.

In just moments, Wu Qiu and Qu Youyou transformed into two streaks of light and flew off.

Huang Lan stomped her foot in frustration. “It’s all that Senior Brother Wu’s fault, coming over at this exact moment! What should we do now?”

Zhao Wen’s lips trembled as he supported his forehead with one hand. “There’s nothing we can do. Soon, senior sister will see Mu Yunjin from the Foundation Establishment stage...”

At the central plaza of the Heavenly Evolution Sect’s main hall, the atmosphere was buzzing with lively chatter and excitement.

In the center of the square, several circular arenas had been magically constructed, each shrouded in a faint golden glow.

Beside the arenas, steward disciples were distributing wooden number plaques.

“Senior sister, I’m number twenty-three at Arena B!” A youthful, excited voice rang out, prompting the crowd surrounding the arena to part, creating a path for Mu Yunjin. Their gazes then shifted toward Mu Yunjin and Qu Yiqiu.

For a moment, Qu Yiqiu felt a prickling sensation on her back, as if she had returned to the days before she was five, when everyone fawned over her.

However, this time she was merely a supporting figure; the true protagonist was twelve-year-old Mu Yunjin.

Qu Yiqiu shook off the unpleasant memories with a smile. “Alright, I understand.”

---

“Hehe, senior sister, let’s wait by Arena B!” Mu Yunjin’s crystal-like eyes sparkled like tiny stars.

He eagerly anticipated the moment he could make his master and senior sister proud on the arena, determined to claim first place!

Qu Yiqiu habitually ruffled his hair and smiled. “Alright, let’s go.”

Fei Zhongda withdrew his surprised gaze, slipping away from the crowd to the southeastern corner of the main hall where a hollowed jade lantern hung.

“Sister junior, I’ve found out! Chi Yushu isn’t planning to participate in this year’s sect competition, and as for Mu Yunjin from Little Peaceful Peak, he drew number twenty-three at Arena B!”

Beneath the hollowed jade lantern, Jiang Shuangyan stood dressed in an elaborate golden three-flower gauze dress, her head adorned with a sunrise phoenix hairpin with dangling beads, her appearance stunning and her aura noble.

“Is Master Su about to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage? Truly worthy of being the Nine Swords Peak master.” She praised outwardly, though her tone carried a chill beneath the surface.

Fei Zhongda dared not comment further on Su Xichen’s affairs and changed the subject: “Sister junior, should we pull some strings to switch the number plaque to another arena?”

Jiang Shuangyan looked toward Qu Yiqiu and Mu Yunjin quietly resting before Arena B and laughed softly. “No need. Let him make it to the end—then I’ll deliver the fatal blow!”

Fei Zhongda smiled. “Mu Yunjin’s Foundation Establishment stage is all thanks to the Nine-Color Deer’s blood. He can never be your match. Your plan is truly cunning!”

Letting him progress smoothly, giving him hope, then despair, pushing him step by step into the abyss!

Jiang Shuangyan’s almond-shaped eyes gleamed with pride as she chuckled lightly, then turned and left with Fei Zhongda.

As Jiang Shuangyan departed, a concealed divine sense lurking nearby was abruptly withdrawn.

Qu Yiqiu opened her eyes and looked at the obedient Mu Yunjin. “Junior little brother, I have something important to tell you.”

Mu Yunjin opened his eyes at her words, smiling with crescent-shaped dimples. “Senior sister, I’ll protect myself well on the arena. No one will hurt me!”

“Mm, I know you can do it.” Qu Yiqiu smiled gently, then suddenly stood and pulled Mu Yunjin aside.

“What is it, senior sister?” Mu Yunjin blinked in confusion.

Qu Yiqiu glanced around to ensure no one was paying attention, then solemnly looked into his eyes. “Little Peaceful Peak is flourishing right now; there will undoubtedly be those with ill intentions who might do something terrible to you. This sect competition is their perfect opportunity. Do not compete fiercely for first place—just make it safely through the first round.”

A trace of disappointment flashed across Mu Yunjin’s eyes as he lowered his head silently.

Qu Yiqiu gently patted the back of his head and whispered, “You’re still young. Making it through the first round is already impressive. Don’t try to stand out and forget who you are...”

Now that Mu Yunjin and Little Peaceful Peak were closely linked, if anything happened to him, the consequences for Mo Qingli and her would be dire.

---

Mu Yunjin’s thick, curled lashes cast a shadow over his eyes.

After a moment, his youthful voice replied, “Senior sister, I will do my utmost to protect my identity!”

Qu Yiqiu’s hand paused, thinking he had agreed to her request, and she relaxed with a smile. “Good boy. After you finish this competition, I’ll prepare a delicious feast for you at Little Peaceful Peak!”

Mu Yunjin nodded his head.

Qu Yiqiu smiled satisfactorily.

The two returned to the front of Arena B.

---

At the summit of Little Peaceful Peak, in a simple cave dwelling without any elaborate furnishings, dense black mist swirled thickly.

“Tell me the location of Sang Nanxing,” a pale, flawless face emerged faintly from the dense black fog.

Mo Qingli’s eyes were as clear and bright as ever, but a swift flicker of black light ignited within them as she spoke.

Before her, a twisted, fearful face seemed to have seen the grim reaper. Its lower soul shrank into a trembling ball, the spirit on the verge of vanishing. “Spare me... spare me... I don’t know, I don’t know where Suo Nanxing went...”

“Don’t believe him. As the sect leader of the Supreme Holy Sect, how could he not know the whereabouts of the former Demon Son?” another voice appeared in the small cave shrouded by black mist.

Mo Qingli slightly turned her head toward the miniature hooked snake perched on her shoulder, then refocused on the weak spirit before her. “Qian Jiangfan, do you think I’ll be soft-hearted like before? This is the last time I ask—where is Sang Nanxing?”

Qian Jiangfan’s remaining half Nascent Soul manifested its form; his fearful single eye trembled, heartbeat like thunder. “Mo Qingli, you’re a righteous cultivator, the child of the twin heroes Xuan Qing—you mustn’t harm me!!!”

---

—Side note—

Thank you to Naihe Zero Degree Ice Point, Jingjie Hui, and eyeful for their recommendation votes~~ Thank you all for reading~~~