As soon as the list was revealed, it caused quite a stir, with everyone voicing their opinions.
How did those three who weren't originally from Wukang Mountain get to join the gathering?
Preparations had been made for such dissent, and someone was arranged to publicly explain.
Xiang Lan'er, Shi Chun, and Wu Jinliang had officially become disciples of Wukang Mountain, with ranks higher than many present; they were senior uncles to many in attendance.
Upon returning to the Punishment Hall after seeing the list, Pang Tiansheng nearly slapped his own thigh in laughter.
It was clear to anyone that the sect had temporarily accepted those three disciples just to take the heat off the real disciples.
Seeing the official attendance list, Bian Weiying was stunned and quickly went to find his mother for the truth.
On the other hand, Bian Weikang was filled with despair and hurried back to his small dwelling, pulling Xiang Lan'er along to ask what was going on.
Xiang Lan'er tried her best to smile calmly, saying, "I volunteered. Once I become a real disciple of Wukang Mountain, your parents will find it easier to accept us being together, and the sect won't have any reason to reject me. I can't just watch you suffer alone; I have to do something."
Bian Weikang held onto her arms, repressing his emotions, but eventually fell to the ground, sobbing like a child.
He wasn't foolish; he knew Xiang Lan'er was pressured to sign up.
During their time at Wukang Mountain, outsiders couldn't imagine what he endured.
Under Bian Jixiong’s deliberate arrangement, he gritted his teeth daily through all kinds of difficulties and humiliations, doing the dirtiest, most exhausting chores, facing mocking and bullying, and even beatings from fellow disciples.
These days, he experienced indignities he had never faced before in his life.
In just a few days, he came to deeply understand what losing the status and power of Wukang Mountain's young master meant.
The fellow disciples who once made him comfortable now showed twisted faces, reminding him of his past drinking and feasting friends who scattered once he lost his wealth and glory.
To give Xiang Lan'er a future, he endured.
Even after returning, he forced a smile for Xiang Lan'er, transforming from a once cheerful person into someone gloomy.
He realized now how the sect leader was so high above, not someone a mere disciple could casually approach.
This was reality.
He never thought that despite enduring so much, he still couldn't protect his own woman.
Crying wouldn't solve anything.
He wiped his tears and ran off.
"My love, my love..."
Xiang Lan'er called out several times, but he didn't return.
Finally, she could only sigh deeply.
With spies within Wukang Mountain, she knew the humiliation Bian Weikang endured.
Worse was to come when he learned that his best brother and benefactor had helped him just for his woman; the shock would be colossal.
Truthfully, she felt a tad guilty.
It was clear Bian Jixiong, as a father, was indeed ruthless, intent on driving his son into the dust!
Bian Weikang tried to meet his father, saw him not; sought his mother, also fruitless.
Later, he broke into the Law Enforcement Hall, meeting Elder Ke, kneeling and begging for leniency for his woman.
Elder Ke coldly stated the reality: once the list was submitted, even the sect leader couldn't change it on a whim.
No one could help him unless he became someone like the Domain Lord of Sheng Prefecture, who could settle things with a word.
He was then thrown out.
Desperate, Bian Weikang approached his sister Bian Weiying, begging her to look after Xiang Lan'er.
Bian Weiying nonchalantly agreed, filling Bian Weikang with deep gratitude, almost bringing him to his knees in thanks, recalling the incident at the City Lord's residence.
Returning to his humble abode, Bian Weikang wiped away his tear stains, smiled as if nothing happened, and reassured Xiang Lan'er, "Lan'er, I’ve asked around; the sect will provide plenty of talismans for protection. My sister Weiying is leading the group, she’ll look after you, nothing will happen. I’ll be waiting for you to come back..."
The day of departure quietly arrived.
It had little to do with most Wukang Mountain disciples, who were busy with their own matters.
At daybreak, just outside the discussion hall, only the senior sect members were there to see them off, not bothering others.
Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Lan'er had changed into the chestnut-colored robes of Wukang Mountain disciples.
Even among the crowd, Wu Jinliang stood out, the tallest with the largest blade.
Just by that one blade, it was clear he wasn’t a Wukang Mountain disciple, yet he mingled among them, causing the higher-ups some discomfort.
But it was his weapon, he was used to it, and they couldn't just make him give it up.
Elder Ke was to escort everyone to the Domain Manor.
To simplify matters, he took direct responsibility, along with five accompanying disciples.
After bidding farewell to Bian Jixiong and others, Elder Ke approached Shi Chun and the others.
With a flip of his hand, he conjured a metal sphere resembling a pinecone.
Once revealed in his palm, green light shimmered as it dissolved like water, sending countless specks into the air, swarming like locusts.
These turned into azure scales reminiscent of fish scales.
Once the pinecone-like metal sphere was completely dissolved, Elder Ke gestured, and the scales swooped down, wrapping around the group set to depart, swirling rapidly, forming tubes, cones, and spindles.
Soon, the wind lifted the group, accelerating into the sky.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang felt the swirling wind struggle to support their weight, but after multiple attempts, they found their balance and glanced back at Wukang Mountain below.
It shrank rapidly, and the shadows spinning around them revealed the mythic artifact known as "Wind Scales," a treasured item not everyone could afford.
The wind had scales, like fish swimming in the sky.
From the eyes of those at Wukang Mountain, the Wind Scales turned into a stream of light, vanishing into the distant horizon...
Near noon, they descended from the heavens, the Wind Scales pouring down like from a funnel, gathering rapidly into Elder Ke's palm and reforming into a pinecone-shaped metal sphere.
Looking around, they found themselves surrounded by grand celestial buildings, standing in an open plaza.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang couldn't get enough of the sights, constantly looking around.
After a moment, Wu Jinliang asked, "Where are we?"
"Sheng Prefecture City," replied Gan Tangyu, with a cold look and few words, two-word responses, embodying a kind of expert demeanor, always shadowing Bian Weiying like a guardian.
Elder Ke was busy with a group in armor, conducting handovers, and soon called everyone over.
The armored group verified their identities and cultivation levels, locking prepared metal bracelets onto each wrist.
Each bracelet bore a small metal plate with inscriptions.
Shi Chun examined it.
One side had his name, the other read "Sheng Prefecture Wukang Mountain Four."
He grabbed Wu Jinliang's wrist to look, same inscription, "Sheng Prefecture Wukang Mountain Five," and found the chains unbreakable.
After all formalities, Elder Ke instructed, "Just follow them, we’ll meet you at the capital."
The armored guards ushered five attendees into a tunnel within a fortress, where a shimmer enveloped them, a sensation not unfamiliar to Shi Chun, reminiscent of exiting the prison—they were experiencing the so-called Xun Gate.
During the passage, Wu Jinliang couldn't help but ask, "Where's this going?"
A guard responded sternly, "To Shengshen Prefecture's capital, of course!"
As they emerged into the light from the long tunnel, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, unfamiliar with such sights, were dumbfounded by the resplendent welcome before them.
In front, mountains seemed to be uprooted, floating in the air, adorned with splendid buildings.
Torrents from celestial rivers cascaded down, rainbows arching in the sky, mythical birds flying.
The prosperous land below was filled with countless celestial jewels.
Godly figures moved in and out of the scene.
From what their eyes could capture, the towering magnificent splendor was unmatched, dazzling beyond description.
They stood upon a floating mountain.
"Stop dreaming, move along," urged a guard, nudging Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang.
At the foot of the floating mountain lay a bridge-like giant flood dragon, resembling a divine creature, waiting for passengers.
As the group mounted, the creature moved, spiriting them away.
As they journeyed through the wind and clouds, the wonder both above and below brought forth an awe-inspiring visual impact, reminding Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang of their own insignificance.
They gaped in speechless wonder.
Their destination was another floating Immortal Mountain guarded by soldiers.
The flood dragon delivered them before leaping away.
The group learned here was the temporary resting place for Sheng Prefecture participants, with many sects already present.
Each sect was assigned accommodation in order of arrival, strictly forbidden to contact outsiders without permission.
Not too far from the Immortal Mountain, in a tranquil part of the bustling capital, sat a quaint garden nestled on a hillside, surrounded by ancient trees, with elegant pavilions and towers within.
Miao Yilan, dressed plainly, tended to rare flowers and grasses, while Lan Qiaoyan, the picture of a dutiful wife and mother, prepared meals inside.
This was their home in Shengshen Prefecture's capital, with similar homes elsewhere.
Miao Yilan’s ability to come from Sky-Illuminating City was due to Lan Qiaoyan arranging a leave; the upcoming Heavenly Rain Meteor Conference was causing a stir, enough for them to visit.
While they intended to see the commotion, minor figures’ struggles for glory didn’t hold much interest for them.
They didn’t come specifically for Shi Chun, though they knew he would be there.
Knowing Shi Chun would be at Wukang Mountain, Lan Qiaoyan expected its disciples at the conference and had browsed the attending sects’ list.
She was surprised to see Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang listed; she and her daughter were baffled.
But the real reason for bringing her daughter to the capital was the presence of many nobles, not just from Shengshen Prefecture but from the entire continent, assembling for the conference—ideal for social mingling and finding a suitable match for her daughter.
Shi Chun, though admirable, wasn’t son-in-law material in her eyes.
As the carefully prepared meal was set on the outdoor table, the male host returned.
Wearing a green robe and black hat, with a bit of a mustache and a slightly feminine face, yet a man with some air of grace.
Miao Dingyi, one of the six chief officers of Bowang Pavilion.
Miao Yilan chatted away, leading her father to the dinner table.
With Lan Qiaoyan joining them, Miao Dingyi remembered something, taking out a shell-colored metal plate and tossing it before the two.
Then, he returned to tasting his wife's cooking with chopsticks.
Thinking it was a gift, the mother and daughter leaned in to see the plate engraved with "Wukang Mountain Four, Shi Chun, 100,000 gold, first place thousand-fold" on it.
Miao Yilan, having seen little, didn’t know what it was, but Lan Qiaoyan recognized it, exclaiming in surprise, "Did you place a bet at a gambling house? And dropped 100,000 gold at once?"
Miao Dingyi shook his head, "Couldn't be helped. I ran into the house's owner. Mentioned it, would’ve been rude not to bet. Betting too little felt disrespectful. Just a form of courtesy."
Lan Qiaoyan was shocked, "But you shouldn’t have bet on Shi Chun; aiming for him to take first place? Betting on Wukang Mountain itself would've been smarter. Do you really hope for a thousandfold miracle?"
Miao Dingyi laughed, "No interest in any multipliers. I don't know those participants, didn't study it. You mentioned Shi Chun a few times recently; I didn’t know who else to bet on. Better to spend 100,000 gold on someone mentioned in conversation than waste it on strangers. It was casual. Come on, it’s just for show. Do you really think fortune will fall from the sky and bless us with a win? But when I browsed Shi Chun’s details in the betting data, he seemed mismatched for competition. Possibly forced to fill a spot."
Lan Qiaoyan paused, "How so?"
Miao Dingyi explained, "His cultivation is only at the Initial Martial Realm. If Wukang Mountain sincerely sought victory, they wouldn’t have sent him. You mentioned that guy even slighted joining Bowang Pavilion; he’d hardly willingly join as a mere Wukang Mountain disciple. Likely pushed to take the fall."
(End of this chapter)