"Okay."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuan, Tian Ling'er, and Zhang Xiaofan nodded, turned around, and headed back to the Shouleng Hall.
Looking ahead, they immediately spotted two youths in white.
Qi Hao stood tall and straight like jade, free and easy, unconventional, with white robes fluttering in the wind, exuding an air of immortality. Although he stood motionless in his place, his refined demeanor was impeccably maintained, giving off the immediate impression of an enlightened immortal that could not be underestimated.
Beside Qi Hao stood Lin Jingyu.
Lin Jingyu was slightly shorter than Qi Hao, but his presence was not inferior in the least; his chiseled face revealed a delicate sharpness.
"Jingyu."
Seeing this old friend again, Zhang Xiaofan's voice turned hoarse.
Lin Jingyu's body trembled. He turned around, staring at Zhang Xiaofan and Zhang Yuan with his mouth wide open, looking just like brothers reuniting after a long separation. It seemed as though he had countless things to say, but in the end, all those words melted into just two names.
"Xiaofan, Zhang Yuan."
Looking at Lin Jingyu, then at his white Daoist robes, and finally down at his own somewhat plain cloth garments, Zhang Xiaofan instantly felt a sense of looking up to someone far above him.
It seemed Lin Jingyu was doing very well on Longshou Peak.
And as for himself...
It seemed... only he and Zhang Yuan were companions in misfortune. Lin Jingyu had already quietly made a name for himself.
Zhang Yuan, however, couldn't be bothered to pay him much mind.
Compared to the upright and imposing righteous disciple Lin Jingyu, he actually liked Zhang Xiaofan much more. Zhang Xiaofan was genuine and frank, though it would be even better if he treated Biyao a little better.
No, wait.
Biyao was already his.
In the future, he would be responsible for treating Biyao well, and Biyao would be responsible for bearing his children.
Zhang Yuan smacked his lips inwardly.
"Greetings, Uncle Tian, Uncle Su."
Hearing the voices of Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu, Tian Buyi subconsciously looked at Zhang Xiaofan standing behind him, instantly feeling a pang of discomfort.
Longshou Peak was brimming with talent; any random pair they sent had aptitude far surpassing the disciples of Dazhu Peak.
Dazhu Peak was gradually declining.
"Let's get straight to the point! What changes have been made to the Seven Meridians Martial Gathering?"
Qi Hao offered a slight bow. "My master, entrusted by the sect leader, has taken charge of preparations for the Seven Meridians Martial Gathering two years from now. To prevent true talent from remaining buried in obscurity, the number of participants from each peak has been increased. Instead of three participants from each peak as before, there will now be nine participants from each peak. Because Tongtian Peak has a very large population, they will provide one extra person, making a total of sixty-four contestants. Through six rounds of drawing lots and dueling, the ultimate champion will be recognized as the number one of the younger generation in the Jade Essence Sect, and will receive the full resources of the sect's cultivation."
Hearing this, Tian Buyi said nothing. He turned his head and glanced at his wife, Su Ru.
Both of their moods were extremely poor.
Although the number of participants for the Seven Meridians Martial Gathering had increased, Dazhu Peak was short-handed and withered in every aspect; it was difficult enough just to scrape together ninepresentable people. The rule change for this Seven Meridians Martial Gathering actually favored Tongtian Peak and Longshou Peak, which had an abundance of disciples.
"Since the sect leader has already decided, we have no objections." Displeased at heart, Tian Buyi naturally spoke with much greater coldness. Back then, he had wanted to take Lin Jingyu as a disciple, only to have him snatched away by Daoist Cangsong—it was downright bullying.
At this thought, Tian Buyi felt even more wretched inside.
Seeing that official business was concluded and that having Qi Hao chat with Uncle Tian in the Shouleng Hall was enough, Lin Jingyu figured this was the perfect time to catch up with Zhang Yuan and Zhang Xiaofan. After bidding farewell to Tian Buyi, he left the Shouleng Hall together with Zhang Yuan and Zhang Xiaofan.
"Jingyu. Three years without seeing you, I never expected you to become so formidable on Longshou Peak. If I wasn't mistaken just now, you arrived on a flying sword—you must have reached at least the Jade Purity Realm Layer 4, right?" Zhang Xiaofan looked at Lin Jingyu, his eyes filled with envy. Originally, he had wanted to hug Lin Jingyu just like they used to do when they were kids, but after a second thought, he decided against it. The gap between them was now vast; that intimacy from childhood was gone.
"Thanks to my master's great favor and all-out cultivation, I've achieved what I am today. Xiaofan, you mustn't sell yourself short either."
Lin Jingyu smiled, his voice full of pride.
He was a prodigy who had cultivated to the Jade Purity Realm Layer 4 in a mere three years; naturally, he was proud, haughty, and full of youthful arrogance. Now, seeing his old friend again, he couldn't help wanting to show off a little.
In the original text, Lin Jingyu aggressively sparred with Zhang Xiaofan and sent him flying backward with a strike, which triggered the subsequent series of events.
Zhang Yuan stood aside, silently watching Lin Jingyu show off. Besides, Lin Jingyu was bullying Zhang Xiaofan; what did that have to do with a blind man like me? I just need to sit back and watch the show.
However.
Just as Lin Jingyu was about to challenge Zhang Xiaofan to a spar, his gaze flickered, and he caught sight of the Soul-Devouring Staff strapped to Zhang Yuan's back. He wasn't some ignorant bumpkin like Zhang Xiaofan, so he naturally saw at a glance that the Soul-Devouring Staff was extraordinary.
The energy of the Soul-Devouring Staff was restrained within, but it still couldn't hide the massive aura of power it emitted. Even compared to his own Dragon-Slaying Sword, it didn't seem to lag behind by much.
All of this clearly indicated that this was an immortal weapon.
Lin Jingyu was extremely surprised.
They both came from Caomiao Village, so he naturally knew that Zhang Yuan had been blind since birth. Could a blind man cultivate as well? And had he somehow accidentally acquired an immortal weapon? A thought flashed through Lin Jingyu's mind, and an idea took shape. Zhang Yuan had mediocre talent and was a blind man to boot; even if he had stumbled upon such an immortal weapon, it was a waste of a heavenly treasure.
Better to hand it over to me.
Only I can bring out the maximum potential of this immortal weapon.
Besides, an immortal weapon like this would definitely attract covetous eyes.
Zhang Yuan lacked the ability to protect the Soul-Devouring Staff and would easily invite disaster upon himself. It would be much better to let him keep it for safekeeping.
"Zhang Yuan, I see you have an immortal weapon strapped to your back. You must be a practitioner of the Dao as well, right? How about the two of us have a spar? If I win, you must unconditionally agree to one condition of mine." As Lin Jingyu spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the Soul-Devouring Staff on Zhang Yuan's back.
Planning to seize it by force?
His hidden motives are as obvious as Sima Zhao's plots.
Zhang Yuan saw through him like a mirror. Seeing Lin Jingyu constantly sizing up the Soul-Devouring Staff on his back, he knew what the other person was thinking. It was nothing more than coveting his weapon, yet being too proud to rob him openly, which was why he proposed such an unfair match.
"I don't want to fight you," Zhang Yuan shook his head.
He made it very clear that he didn't *want* to fight, not that he couldn't beat him. There was a world of difference in meaning between the two, but none of them noticed this distinction.
"Come on! Don't hold back."
"We're both from Caomiao Village and have been cultivating in the Jade Essence Sect for three years. Let me see what progress you've made."
Lin Jingyu was determined to win the Soul-Devouring Staff. Whether Zhang Yuan agreed or not, he had his ways of obtaining it.
Zhang Yuan's face sank.
He didn't want to stir up trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either. Now that Lin Jingyu had put it this way—there is a saying that one can be on guard against thieves for a thousand days, but one can't be on guard forever. Since you want my weapon, don't blame me for unleashing my trump card.
"I can spar with you. But we must stop at the point of mastery, do no harm to fellow sect members, and put friendship first."
"Naturally." Hearing this, Lin Jingyu was overjoyed. It seemed Zhang Yuan was not only blind, but also a fool. Since you're in such a rush to deliver a weapon to me, don't blame me.