2. Daoist Sect Exchange Meeting
The exchange meeting of the third-tier Daoist sects was organized by the most respected figures in the academy, so it was a very important event in the eyes of the various sects.
And for Ruohuai Daoist Mountain, this was not only their first appearance among the third-tier sects, but also a time to assess the situation.
There was always competition between the third-tier sects, especially between the leading sects of the major alliances.
Although they weren’t sworn enemies, there was definitely friction, and they certainly weren’t on friendly terms.
A new third-tier sect, regardless of how it got there, was a potential ally to be courted.
And since it could be courted, it could also be suppressed. This was both an opportunity and a challenge.
“This is so troublesome…”
Yan Chuyue glanced at the intricate web of grievances and alliances on the paper in Gong Yiling’s hand and felt like she was looking at a circuit diagram.
But the details were truly mind-boggling. It even included who rolled their eyes at whom that day, let alone who stole what from whom.
Today, Li Si gossiped behind Wang Wu’s back. Tomorrow, Zhang San would talk a little too long with Zhao Da’s crush.
Every faction had people connected to other factions. The complexity of their relationships was enough for Gong Yiling to imagine a grand drama.
But honestly, most of these matters were trivial, like childish squabbles.
“These cultivators spend all day cultivating and refining their character, yet their hearts are still filled with so much resentment, like a bunch of petty gossips. It’s absurd.”
Hearing this, Gong Yiling looked at the “petty gossips” on the paper and shrugged. “Their lives are too easy. They’ve been acting like kings in their own sects for too long. Naturally, they’ve become more and more intolerant of others.”
Yan Chuyue raised an eyebrow and asked, “And what about Miss Lü?”
Faced with this seemingly loaded question, Gong Yiling replied calmly,
“You too.”
Her words held a special meaning.
On the one hand, both Yan Chuyue and Gong Yiling had difficult pasts, one being suppressed for over a decade, the other almost killed by her own master.
And now, both were possessed by transmigrators, sharing a strangely similar past.
Of course, only Miss Gong knew this, and her question was purely to tease Yan Chuyue.
Guess, guess—I dare you to guess!
As for where they were now, it was the main venue of the exchange meeting, the Tianya Meeting Place, located north of the central arena.
This was a large open space on the edge of a cliff.
It was the highest peak in the central mountain range of Qian Yue Academy. The more powerful elders usually held their lectures in the mountain caves here.
And the Tianya Meeting Place, being the highest, was usually used for exchange meetings between the third-tier Daoist sects, or for announcing important academy matters.
As the newest third-tier sect, Ruohuai Daoist Mountain naturally had to make a good impression and arrived half an hour early.
And the result was…
—The entire Tianya Meeting Place was empty. Besides the four of them, there was only a cleaning lady. Even the instructors hadn’t arrived yet.
“Shouldn’t Lu Xinyao be the one handling this kind of social event?”
Yan Chuyue rested her head on the stone table, her voice filled with a hint of complaint. “It’s a beautiful afternoon, and I have to… cultivate!”
“I’ve never seen you cultivate seriously.” Gong Yiling rubbed her forehead. “Since coming to Qian Yue Academy, Qiu Shui is almost at the Profound Void realm. Although Little Heehee’s constitution is special, her bloodline power has improved significantly, and she has learned many spiritual arts.”
“Even Chun Lian is about to grasp the true secrets of Heaven-grade talismans. And you…”
“Stop, stop, stop!” Yan Chuyue covered her ears and shrieked, “You’re not my master!”
“I am. You’ve already admitted it. A teacher for a day, a father for life. Even a nominal one counts.”
“It doesn’t count!”
“It does!”
“It doesn’t!!!”
“Why not?”
“Mmm…” Unable to win the argument, Yan Chuyue could only pout at Gong Yiling.
The protagonist was angry.
Being stared at like this made Miss Gong uncomfortable. She looked away and coughed lightly. “So, why have you been slacking off?”
“Do you know, Little Lü Youyuan?”
“Huh?”
Yan Chuyue pointed at her, a strange expression on her face, both a smile and a glare. “Some people, you know, they’re so quick to boss others around, even though they don’t cultivate themselves, and then they have the nerve to lecture me.”
Mmm… ahem… was… was she?
Miss Gong almost denied it, but a sliver of remaining conscience stopped her.
“Then how about…”
Miss Gong thought for a moment. “You can join Qiu Shui and the others in their training. You can improve yourself while training others.”
The author’s answer was three words: “Not interested!”
Cultivation was fine as it was. She was the author. Who was she afraid of?
“Then you can spar with me.”
Miss Gong was still thinking about how to truly turn Yan Chuyue into her disciple when people from other Daoist sects began to arrive.
The first few groups, to Gong Yiling, all looked the same.
Ahem—don’t get the wrong idea. She meant she couldn’t tell their sect uniforms apart, and besides some minor differences in patterns, they all looked the same.
These sects were clearly from different alliances, and the tension between them was palpable.
Although they greeted each other with cheerful “Brother Wang,” “Brother Li,” “Brother Tan,” and “Brother Zhao,” their eyes held a malicious glint.
Of course, they didn’t forget about Gong Yiling and her group.
After exchanging pleasantries, they approached Lan Suqin and Gong Yiling, one by one, making small talk.
Mostly things like—”I heard Ruohuai Daoist Mountain got first place in the first two rounds. I’m curious about this sect’s senior sister, and also that legendary female disciple who rejected Gu Falie.”
“Did you hear that? Legendary female disciple.” Yan Chuyue nudged the increasingly inconspicuous Gong Yiling, gloating.
“Tsk.”
Miss Gong was quite embarrassed.
When she was pretending to be an immortal, she could use her aura to keep people at a distance. But now, everyone was flocking to her, just because she rejected Gu Falie.
Why don’t you go and reject him yourselves? What does it have to do with me?
