Chronicles of Heaven's Chosen - Chapter 53

Yuan Yao was speechless.

All the way back to Heavenly Martial Peak, passing Xiaoyao Sect disciples greeted them.

At the foot of the mountain stood a tall figure.

“Master!”

Yuan Yao shouted excitedly.

The figure slowly turned. Long silver hair cascaded past his face like a waterfall, setting off skin as pale as jade and extraordinarily handsome features.

Even standing perfectly still, he carried a cool, aloof air that seemed to transcend the mortal world, like an immortal descended from heaven.

“Master!” Cang Li and Ying Wuji called as well.

They hurried closer.

Lu Xiangxiang, trailing a short distance behind, quickened her pace to catch up.

Qian Jueshan saw at once that Yuan Yao was pale. The strong scents of medicine and blood clung to her body, and his brows drew together slightly.

“Master, did you come especially to meet us?” Yuan Yao jogged up to Qian Jueshan, her eyes smiling.

“Yes.” He took her hand and checked her pulse.

The energy within her remained somewhat disordered, though it was gradually settling. Her previous injuries had clearly been severe. She had also faced mortal danger and triggered one of her life-saving talismans.

Qian Jueshan’s heart sank. The thought of her suffering outside the sect made him suddenly reluctant to let her continue cultivating.

Noticing that his expression was wrong, Yuan Yao said cautiously, “Master, how could anyone go out to train and never get hurt?”

Qian Jueshan raised his eyes slightly. “You still want to train outside?”

“Of course.” Yuan Yao immediately smiled. “There are lots of places I still want to visit. I want to take part in this year’s Grand Sect Tournament on the Ninth Continent too!”

“You want to enter the Grand Sect Tournament?” Cang Li had just approached and stared at her in surprise.

Yuan Yao lifted her chin proudly.

“That’s right.”

“To participate, you first have to pass the Xiaoyao Sect’s internal selection,” Ying Wuji explained. “In other words, you must compete for one of the sect’s tournament berths.”

Yuan Yao did not know the rules. “How many berths does the Xiaoyao Sect have?”

“Thirty,” Qian Jueshan answered softly. “Any young disciple at least thirteen and no older than twenty-five may compete for one. Your Eldest Senior Brother and the others already hold automatic berths, however.”

“Automatic berths?” Yuan Yao looked at him in confusion.

Qian Jueshan continued, “Any young disciple at the Golden Core Realm or above receives one automatically.”

The cultivation realms were divided into the Qi Refining Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Golden Core Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, Soul Transformation Realm, Void Refinement Realm, Body Integration Realm, Mahayana Realm, and beyond.

Yuan Yao thought for a moment. “Doesn’t that mean lots of people qualify automatically?”

Qian Jueshan laughed. “Not too many, but not too few either. Anyone who reaches the Golden Core Realm at that age is already considered a genius. If you wish to enter the Grand Sect Tournament, compete for a berth in the Internal Sect Tournament one month from now.”

“Do I need to register somewhere?”

“You can register through your disciple jade token.”

Lu Xiangxiang looked up at Qian Jueshan. “Master, I also want to take part in the Grand Sect Tournament.”

At the sound of her voice, Qian Jueshan looked over and nodded.

“Then the two of you can register together.”

“Ah Yan has already sent word that they’re going to Yunming City to provide aid. Let us head back first.”

“Yes, Master,” the others answered.

They followed Qian Jueshan up Heavenly Martial Peak.

Yuan Yao walked beside him.

“Is your foot injured?” Qian Jueshan keenly noticed that her gait was different from usual.

Yuan Yao did not hide it. “Yes.”

That bastard Xie Yan was responsible for the wound on her foot!

Qian Jueshan frowned and quietly sent a message to Second Elder.

Yuan Yao walked along in high spirits, chattering without pause.

“Master, the secret realm really opened my eyes! There were so many spirit beasts inside. But the worst were definitely the leech monsters. Just remembering how slimy and wet they looked makes goose bumps rise all over me.”

As she spoke, she produced five green keys as if performing a magic trick and showed them to Qian Jueshan with a smug look.

“Master, look! These are the legacy keys I received from Senior Nie Lie. I actually had six of them, but I already used one…”

Seeing her so happy, Qian Jueshan’s expression unconsciously softened.

Cang Li cut in. “Master, you should have seen it. Those tomb guardian corpses chased Little Junior Sister all the way just to give her the legacy keys. They nearly frightened the soul out of her.”

Qian Jueshan looked at the others. “None of you received one?”

“No.” Cang Li shook his head, pressed his palms together, and sighed. “Little Junior Sister is simply more lovable.”

Yuan Yao was puzzled. “But I didn’t get a secret-treasure key. They did!”

Watching their laughter and easy conversation left Lu Xiangxiang dazed. She had once shared happy moments like these with them too.

Now, however, it seemed they had merely treated her as Yuan Yao’s replacement.

When they finally arrived at Tianding Pavilion, Qian Jueshan waved the others away to rest but asked Yuan Yao to remain.

Cang Li and Ying Wuji exchanged a look. Without another word, they turned and left.

Lu Xiangxiang hesitated, lips pressed together, but silently followed them.

Once they were gone, Qian Jueshan looked gravely at Yuan Yao.

“Lingwei just sent me a message. She said your injuries are serious. If they are not treated promptly, they may leave lasting damage. I will take you to Heavenly Learning Peak at once and ask Second Elder to treat you.”

Warmth filled Yuan Yao’s heart. She was about to say that there was no need to trouble anyone when a gentle, heated current swept over her like a pleasant spring breeze.

In the blink of an eye, the scene before her changed.

They had arrived at the Medical Pavilion on Heavenly Learning Peak.

“Greetings, Third Elder.” Several Heavenly Learning Peak disciples were startled to see Qian Jueshan and Yuan Yao. They bowed respectfully.

Qian Jueshan inclined his head and led Yuan Yao into the Medical Pavilion.

A man who appeared to be in his thirties came to meet them. He first bowed to Qian Jueshan.

“Third Elder, Second Elder is waiting for you inside.”

“Mentor Li!” Yuan Yao greeted him with a smile.

Mentor Li smiled back. “It’s been a long time, little Yuan Yao.”

At that moment, the old, heavy door to the medicine room creaked softly as Qian Jueshan pushed it open. He glanced back.

“Yaoyao.”