Chapter 16: Competition

Chapter 16: Competition

In her cultivation Room, Xiao Hong’s form floated in a cross-legged position, glowing with a starry light as she breathed in and out in a strange, halting rhythm.

The Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth reacted to her breaths, surging with her exhales and sinking with her inhales.

“Phew...” Xiao Hong breathed out a mouthful of turbid air. Her eyelids slowly parted, revealing a pair of resplendent red orbs, radiant like stars.

As her body descended, her legs unfurled into a standing pose, landing on her toes with the grace of a cat.

She took out a token that was flashing yellow, indicating that it was time for the Trial to begin.

She took a deep breath and exhaled it. “Let’s do this!”

Having made sure that she had everything, Xiao Hong walked out of her home. After completely deactivating the Formations, she wistfully looked at her home for 2 years now, “I’ll see you in three years, I guess.”

After gazing at her home for a while longer, she decisively turned away and shot into the sky.

***

The Purple Spirit Mountain Range that was occupied by the Purple Spirit Sect had a valley named Sky Reigning Valley. This was where the Immortal Ships of the Sect took off.

Usually, it wasn’t very crowded and was only occupied by a few members of the Sect at any given time. Today, however, the valley welcomed a startling number of people. With just a glance, one could see hundreds of people in the Valley. Some people stood alone, with their eyes closed; some stood in smaller or larger groups, discussing something; some stood in pairs; some sat down; and some were even found sparring casually.

“... Who all do you think are gonna be among the Alchemists this time?” A disciple wondered.

“Yeah, I’m kinda curious. We’ll be depending on them, after all. I hope the Sect has chosen some good ones. You wouldn’t believe what I heard from my Elder Brother!

“In the Trial 30 years ago, some dandy with connections managed to sneak in and wreak havoc with his subpar Alchemy, causing a lot of trouble. That year we had the lowest score among the three Super Sects. Even some of the Top Sects had better scores! What an embarrassment!”

“Tsk, yeah, I heard about that... It was truly a shame, we had some of the best disciples participating that year too. Just because of that one idiot we had to face embarrassment for 10 years until Senior Brother Han came along and brought us a great victory.”

“How did the Sect even allow that dandy to participate?!”

“You don’t know, but that dandy’s Ancestor is a Core Elder!”

“Fuck! No wonder!”

“Right, right, I’m also curious.”

“Let me see... I think there was Alchemist An Taiping, Alchemist Li Huo...

“Right! I remember that Chen Yu was going to take the Grade 3 Alchemist exam after this! Yeah, then he’s definitely coming along!” The disciple thumbed towards a small group of 4 people (including Chen Yu) who were all wearing an Alchemist Token somewhere on their clothes. All but one girl that looked 30% similar to Chen Yu.

“Oh yes, there is also Alchemist Nangong Wan and Alchemist Qi Lijuan!

“Oh, the Twin Beauties of the Alchemy Hall?! What great luck, we get to go with the most beautiful Alchemists in the Outer Sect!” A ‘simp’ Junior Brother had his ‘licking tools’ ready!

“Heh! ‘The most beautiful Alchemist’? That title doesn’t belong to them anymore! Recently, I heard that the Outer Sect’s No.1 Beauty - Junior Sister Xiao Hong recently became a Grade 2 Alchemist!” A fan of Xiao Hong exclaimed.

“The Outer Sect’s No.1 Beauty? Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration? There are plenty of beauties in the Sect, so ‘No.1 Beauty’ seems too much.” The Senior Brother with Sword-like eyebrows was sceptical.

“Hehe, Senior Brother, you must be a cultivation maniac, right?” The Junior Brother who explained the competition said, his lips curving slightly, “Just wait till you see her, I guarantee you’ll change your mind!”

“Speak of the devil, it’s Junior Sister Xiao!” Another disciple said pointing towards the sky, at a red dot that quickly grew bigger as it came closer.

As the figure got closer, the people around could see the figure coated in the red aura better.

The distinctly female figure stopped in the sky briefly before floating down, like a Fairy from the Heavens.

As she floated down, a breathtaking visage slowly came into view. Her long, black hair flowed like a river at night, framing her flawless face that was like the peerless Moon reflected on it. Her luscious lips made one unable to hold back the desire to take them for their own.

Her Sect uniform was loose and flowing, yet they couldn’t hide those full curves or that thin waist that aroused desires in who knows how many men.

Yet, it was that pair of phoenix-like eyes under her willowy brows that drew the most attention. Those resplendent orbs seemed to embody the colour red. They were neither blazing red like fire, nor crimson like blood - they were the purest red. An ethereal and mesmerising glow like that of the Northern Lights seemed to flow from the edge of her pupils to the borders of her irises, fading away slowly. They seemed to hold infinite mysteries within, making one unable to draw their eyes away.

Her entire being exuded a mysterious aura like that of a Celestial Being, ethereal and ephemeral.

For a moment, the world seemed to dim and lose colour, as if unworthy of her presence. Stepping gracefully forward, she walked over to Chen Yu’s group.

It was only after a long while that the disciples regained their senses.

Xiao Hong’s fan then turned to the Senior Brother - who according to him, had spouted blasphemous lines about the goddess in his heart - and smirked, “Well, what do you say?”

“... I stand corrected.”