Chapter 168: Old Acquaintances

Chapter 168: Old Acquaintances

At this moment, there was a commotion, as most people turned toward the entrance of the main hall. A young man and woman walked into the hall, hand in hand.

Putting aside Zhang Yuelu’s commanding aura that could attract thousands of people, in terms of appearance alone, Zhang Yuelu was not as good-looking as this woman who just walked in. Zhang Yuelu was pretty, but her strength lies in her unique aura, which very few people could compare to.

The woman who just arrived wore a pure white dress. She was so beautiful and graceful that everyone could not take their eyes off her. However, her expression was cold and indifferent. She was as pure as snow, but also as cold as ice. No one could tell her emotions, and it was clear that she was unapproachable.

The man next to her was also much more handsome than Qi Xuansu, with strong eyebrows and eagle eyes that people could not help but praise. Standing next to the woman, he was equally as good-looking and did not lag behind in any way.

Moreover, the man had a sort of sharp vigor, which was somewhat similar to Zhang Yuelu. Qi Xuansu always believed that Zhang Yuelu resembled a dragon and a tiger. Although, when compared to the elders and the big shots, Zhang Yuelu was still a little immature, she was an ambitious person with a commanding and oppressive aura that was natural among leaders.

This man’s aura resembled that of an unsheathed sword, with a frightening sharpness and overwhelming chill. He was not as dignified as Zhang Yuelu and seemed as if he would do anything to achieve his goals, even if it was immoral.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu also noticed this outstanding couple. Zhang Yuelu was not jealous of the woman’s beauty. Instead, she commented, “Wow, she’s so pretty, like a doll!”

However, Qi Xuansu did not speak. Zhang Yuelu looked at Qi Xuansu strangely because he was staring at the couple with a hint of disgust.

Zhang Yuelu asked, “Tian Yuan, do you know these two people?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Yeah, but I didn’t expect to see them here. What an ill fate...”

Zhang Yuelu rarely saw Qi Xuansu in such a mood, so she became more curious. “What grudges do you have against them?”

Qi Xuansu considered his words carefully before saying, “You’ve read my file, so you should know that I graduated from Class A of the Bingzi Year in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. They were in the same batch as me.”

Zhang Yuelu was surprised. “Oh, they’re your classmates! You should have a good relationship with them then, right?”

“You’ve never been to the Lower Palace of Wanxiang Daoist Palace, so you won’t understand what it’s like there.” Qi Xuansu shook his head.

He continued, “Three months before graduation, the Wanxiang Daoist Palace held a special trial for Daoist attendants who were interested in becoming priests. We were divided into two camps, the Dragon Camp and the Tiger Camp, respectively.

“The two camps fought against each other within a prescribed area designated in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. Both sides elected a leader to arrange the troops, and the rest followed orders and performed their duties. The losing side would be punished, and the winning side would be rewarded. For Daoist attendants who grew up with nothing, this reward was very important. So everyone wanted to win.”

It was the first time that Zhang Yuelu heard of such a trial in the Lower Palace of the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. She looked interested. “If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have chosen home school and would have gone to study in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace.”

Qi Xuansu said helplessly, “With your background, aren’t you afraid of being singled out by the orphans if you study at the Lower Palace?”

Zhang Yuelu asked in return, “Do you think that only adults know to curry favor with those in power?”

Qi Xuansu was speechless.

Zhang Yuelu asked, “But I should be able to be the leader of the camps if I was at the Lower Palace, right?”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Probably.”

Since Zhang Yuelu was a woman, Wan Xiuwu did not take the initiative to speak. Instead, Yue Liuli stepped forward to talk to Zhang Yuelu.

Zhang Yuelu treated them with courtesy.

Yue Liuli glanced at Qi Xuansu, who remained silent. She asked softly, “May I know your name?”

Qi Xuansu finally spoke. “Qi Xuansu.”

Yue Liuli had never heard of this name, but she thought that he looked familiar. This was expected because Qi Xuansu had only adopted this name after being taken in by his master, Qi Haoran. Before that in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, Qi Xuansu went by another name.

After staring at him, Yue Liuli could not help but ask, “Were you from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace?”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “I was. I’m surprised you still remember me, Leader.”

Yue Liuli was finally able to confirm her suspicions. “You changed your name.”

Qi Xuansu nodded again. “Yes, my name is Qi Xuansu. You can also call me Tian Yuan.”

“Tian Yuan.” Yue Liuli sighed softly.

Not all Quanzhen Sect disciples were celibate. Wan Xiuwu and Yue Liuli were disciples of the Wuxu Palace Master. They followed their master to Yunjin Mountain. Naturally, they would not associate Qi Xuansu with Qi Jiaozheng, who was a Sage from the Quanzhen Sect.

Since Qi Xuansu was not from the Tiger Camp, Wan Xiuwu had a weak impression of Qi Xuansu. Wan Xiuwu chimed in. “It turns out that we’re old classmates! It must be fate for us to meet here. Brother Qi, were you also invited to participate in the bidding?”

Qi Xuansu answered truthfully, “I was invited by a Sage, so I must attend.”

Yue Liuli’s eyes flickered. She did not expect that her discarded chess piece would still be kept on the board.

Qi Xuansu was invited by a Sage and had a beautiful woman accompany him. It was truly a drastic transformation compared to the past.

Yue Liuli inquired, “May I ask what Tian Yuan’s relationship is with Miss Zhang?”

Zhang Yuelu took the initiative to reply, “We’re close friends.”

When Wan Xiuwu heard this, he had a gloomy look, which disappeared in an instant.

Back in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, Wan Xiuwu was a well-deserved leader. He had the highest cultivation level and the most commanding presence. He experienced what it was like to hold power early on in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace and later won the heart of a beautiful woman, Yue Liuli. His life was near perfect.

On the other hand, Qi Xuansu was not outstanding when he was in the Wanxiang Daoist Palace. He could only be regarded as above average. In the final trial, Wan Xiuwu slashed Qi Xuansu three times with a sword.

Qi Xuansu could not compare to Wan Xiuwu back then, but the latter suddenly discovered that his ordinary classmate was currently on an equal footing with him. Moreover, Zhang Yuelu, who had once rejected and defeated Li Tianzhen, was clearly better than Yue Liuli in every aspect. This gap made Wan Xiuwu very uncomfortable.

For a moment, there was an awkward silence between the two couples.