Chapter 125: Ridiculous

After several days of cultivation, the Feiling Secret Realm opened on schedule.

Having disappeared for three years, Qu Yiqiu made her first public appearance, immediately drawing countless gazes. She stood composed within the ranks, her beautiful eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Mu Yunjin was much the same. He pushed away all the female cultivators attempting to get close to him, his face set in a cold expression as he walked to Qu Yiqiu’s side. Qu Yiqiu held back a smile, thinking to herself that her boy had finally grown up.

Among the three, the most significant change was in Zhou Chen. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he stood indifferently beside the other two. It was only as they were about to depart that Qu Yiqiu learned of a smaller secret realm nearby under the control of the Tianyan Sect. Although Zhou Chen was only an outer-sect disciple, he was eligible to participate now that it had opened.

"Who is she?" a fifteen-year-old boy in the crowd stared at Qu Yiqiu with burning intensity.

Beside him, Jiang Shuangyan, dressed in elaborate, beautiful robes, said with a half-smile, "That is Qu Yiqiu."

"Qu Yiqiu," the boy murmured softly, his gaze remaining fixed upon her.

Jiang Shuangyan scrutinized Mu Yunjin, paying no mind to Qu Yiqiu, and said in a coaxing voice, "Bai Yang, I heard your sister has also reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Would you like to find an opportunity to see her?"

The boy called Bai Yang froze, a cold glint flashing rapidly through his eyes. He lowered his voice and said, "There is no need, Senior Sister. I have no relationship with her anymore!"

Jiang Shuangyan took in his subtle expression, satisfied. "Bai Yang, your aptitude is excellent, though you started cultivating quite late. If you can truly let go of this sister and focus on your cultivation, forming a Golden Core in the future will be no problem."

"Yes, Bai Yang thanks you for your cultivation, Senior Sister!" Bai Yang kept his head down, his voice dark and heavy—not at all the voice of a fifteen-year-old boy.

Jiang Shuangyan nodded slightly, turning away with a look of gratification.

Qu Yiqiu felt a sense of abnormality and cast a side-glance toward Jiang Shuangyan’s position. Bai Shulan’s brother was right beside her, his cultivation having made significant breakthroughs compared to years past. Her heart stirred; was Jiang Shuangyan planning to groom this child into a confidant?

"Everyone, listen to orders! Board the flying ship!" Xu Chengguang, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, had actually become the leader for the secret realm expedition. As Qu Yiqiu passed him, she did not miss the fleeting look of astonishment in his eyes.

The flying ship set sail, carrying everyone to the Feiling Secret Realm. This time, almost all the elite and direct disciples from every peak were present, as was the case for the Xuanyi Sect.

The disciples of Wuhui Peak were the most prominent among them. Qu Yiqiu swept her gaze across and saw many familiar faces. Several disciples on the opposite side looked back at her simultaneously. It was unavoidable; her appearance was simply too stunning for them to ignore.

You Ruoying snorted, turned her head, and whispered, "She looks somewhat similar to that ruined courtesan from the Chunyu Pavilion. To think she has the nerve to show up here just by relying on her looks!"

He Yuman’s expression darkened. She scolded in a low voice, "What nonsense are you spouting? Have you seen her do anything?"

Taken aback by her reaction, You Ruoying said indignantly, "Senior Sister, isn't it only because of her face that she was accepted as a disciple by Mo Qingli?"

He Yuman was left speechless. The rumors were indeed that way.

"Do not worry about that. What we need to look out for is her junior brother, Mu Yunjin!"

"Yes," You Ruoying replied, pouting. He Yuman withdrew her gaze from Mu Yunjin and turned it toward Huo Tangsheng at her side. Huo Tangsheng was staring at the location where the secret realm would appear, paying no attention to his surroundings.

At the front of the formation, the leaders of both sects offered words of encouragement to their disciples. Then, several peak masters joined forces to open the gateway to the secret realm, sending the disciples from both sects inside.

Qu Yiqiu and Mu Yunjin had been standing together, but after the teleportation, neither knew where they had landed. She stood steadily on a treetop, locking eyes with the light-as-a-swallow Huo Tangsheng.

"Mo Qingli's disciple?"

Qu Yiqiu’s heart tightened. While others might not know who Huo Tangsheng truly was, she knew perfectly well. Shen Kunyuan, the merciless arch-fiend—when he was alive, no righteous cultivator dared to defy him.

"This is a fair competition. I represent only the disciples of the Tianyan Sect," Qu Yiqiu said, cunningly distancing herself. She had heard that Mo Qingli’s reputation had been quite formidable lately.

Huo Tangsheng chuckled, looking at her with amusement. "I saw you in Tianchen Town."

"Is that so? What a coincidence," Qu Yiqiu said, unsure why he would mention this now. At the time, the puppet Huo Tangsheng had released was intercepted by Yao Zhimei; she wondered what he had seen.

"A coincidence? You snatched away the opportunity belonging to our Xuanyi Sect; how could that be a coincidence?" Huo Tangsheng showed no intention of leaving, perched atop the treetop like an agile bird.

*This is bad. He’s here to cause trouble!*

Qu Yiqiu looked up at him, fearless. "It is a coincidence that the Heavenly Dao favors us, and your Xuanyi Sect is destined to be defeated by our hands."

"How arrogant!" Huo Tangsheng’s phoenix eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he stared at her.

Qu Yiqiu, unsure of Huo Tangsheng’s true strength, bet that he would not dare to strike here. "It is a fact. The 'perennial runner-up' Xuanyi Sect will never surpass our Tianyan Sect!"

She spoke loudly, secretly summoning her Ice-Colored Silk Ribbon. If he showed even the slightest intention to attack, she would strike first.

Huo Tangsheng’s lips curled into an inscrutable smile, though his eyes remained as cold as a snake’s. "You are truly fearless. Do you know what happens to those who break a contract with me?"

Qu Yiqiu froze. "Break a contract? What agreement could there possibly be between us?"

Huo Tangsheng’s eyes grew colder, his smile widening. "I said before: you must participate in the Five Sects Grand Tournament."

Qu Yiqiu’s heart sank. *This is bad.* Just as she prepared to strike, a shout from behind interrupted them.

"Qu Yiqiu, you really have reached Foundation Establishment!"

Qu Youyou leaped out from somewhere on the ground. Huo Tangsheng withdrew his hand from his sleeve, sizing Qu Youyou up with a mocking smile.

Qu Yiqiu felt a wave of relief. Her own cultivation was too unreliable, and she wasn't sure if she could control it well during a fight. Seeing Qu Youyou so happy for the first time, she couldn't help but smile. "Qu Youyou, didn't you see it already? Where did you come from? You’re covered in dust!"

Qu Youyou was so angry her face turned black. Hearing this, she hurriedly checked her attire, quickly cast a Water Purification Spell, and said with embarrassed rage, "What’s so funny? It was just a teleportation error; I fell into a rat hole!"

*No wonder neither of us noticed her.* The aura of the rat beasts had masked her presence, and in their preoccupation, neither had sensed her.

Qu Yiqiu was in a great mood, so she kept smiling. "Yes, yes, everyone has their unlucky moments. There’s really nothing funny about it."

"Heh, you’re covered in rat droppings; how is that not funny?" The mockery in Huo Tangsheng’s eyes was displayed clearly before Qu Youyou.

Steam seemed to rise from Qu Youyou’s head. She glared at the two of them and roared, "Neither of you is allowed to laugh!"