The First Summoner - Chapter 30

Five days later, the Qiutian Sect’s competition in Lingyan Forest was about to begin.

The sect had revealed neither the contents nor the rules.

Everything remained unknown.

That day, crowds packed the area outside Lingyan Forest. Some had come to compete, while others had come merely to watch.

The major powers of the nine kingdoms had claimed sections of the nearby open ground in advance. Their leaders and representatives took their seats, exchanging polite greetings.

Shen Yan arrived early.

She wore a neat, crisp purple outfit. Her skin was pale, her features cool and flawless, and a hint of indifference rested in her dark eyes.

Her remote bearing drew repeated glances.

People from the other kingdoms did not recognize her. Curiosity drove them to ask about her identity.

The answer left them bitterly disappointed.

Such a stunning beauty was the infamous good-for-nothing, Shen Yan.

They had heard she even severed ties with Nanxiao Kingdom’s Shen family of Summoners over some trivial dispute.

Many looked at her with contempt. Others wore expressions of amused anticipation.

Hongri heard the endless mockery and burned with anger.

Still, she kept her voice as even as possible.

“Miss, ignore them.”

“Mm.”

Shen Yan did not care.

Her mind held only one thought.

Find the Blood-Devouring Pearl inside Lingyan Forest.

Suddenly, an uproar rose behind her.

“Shen Xue has arrived!”

“His Highness the Crown Prince of Nanxiao is here too!”

“The Seventh Prince of Chifeng Kingdom, Zhuge Weiran, really came! I heard he has broken through to the tenth level of the Yellow-rank realm. I wager he will definitely become one of the Qiutian Sect’s inner disciples!”

Their arrival added fresh excitement to the gathering.

Shen Xue spotted Shen Yan immediately.

Seeing that Shen Yan had grown even more beautiful, Shen Xue felt as though a thorn had lodged in her heart.

If she had known Shen Yan would return alive after the blood exchange, she would have slashed that beautiful face with a blade.

She would have disfigured her.

Outwardly, Shen Xue remained gentle, poised, and gracious. She treated everyone with warm courtesy.

Beside her stood Crown Prince Nangong Jin, Young Master Lu—Lu Shaohuai—and the noble heir Nangong Yu.

Every man looked at Shen Xue with tender indulgence.

Shen Xue suddenly walked toward Shen Yan.

The people nearby watched in surprise.

She stopped before Shen Yan and adopted the considerate expression of a caring elder sister.

“Sister Yan’er, the competition is too dangerous. You have no spiritual power, so you should withdraw. And stop acting out of anger. Hurry and move back to the Shen family.”

Before Shen Yan could answer, Crown Prince Nangong Jin strode over.

He was tall and dressed in black brocade, with a handsome face and a cold gaze that regarded Shen Yan as something filthy.

“Shen Yan, if you understood the greater good as Xue’er does, you would never have thrown a tantrum and left the Shen family. Nor would you have registered for this competition without the slightest understanding of your own limitations!”

The surrounding gazes grew even more contemptuous.

When Nangong Yu saw that Shen Yan had truly come, the corner of his mouth lifted.

His plan was already half successful.

He strode over and feigned helplessness.

“Shen Yan, do you possess no sense of shame?”

Shen Xue’s brows drew together. She looked troubled.

“Sister Yan’er is young and ignorant. Please do not blame her so harshly.”

Shen Yan regarded them coldly.

She gave only one reply.

“Get lost.”

Her voice was perfectly calm.

Yet that single phrase changed countless expressions.

Some were incredulous.

Some curious.

Some furious.

Crown Prince Nangong Jin’s face turned black.

Humiliated before the crowd, he snapped, “Shen Yan, how dare you tell this crown prince to get lost?”

“I didn’t.”

Shen Yan lifted her eyes.

Nangong Jin had only begun to feel mollified when she continued in an icy voice.

“I told all of you to get lost and leave me alone.”

Nangong Jin’s eyes widened.

“Shen Yan!”

“You have incredible nerve!”

Once he recovered from his shock, rage overwhelmed him.

Shen Xue hurriedly intervened.

“Your Highness, Sister Yan’er does not know any better. Please forgive her this once.”

Then she turned to Shen Yan with an expression of weary patience.

“Sister Yan’er, your poor behavior at home was one thing. Hurry and apologize to His Highness.”

Shen Yan’s black eyes, gleaming with cold light, fixed on Shen Xue.

She said nothing.

Meeting that stare, Shen Xue’s heart skipped.

For some reason, panic stirred within her.

“There are so many of you. You have frightened the poor young lady.”

A clear, pleasant laugh drifted over.

Everyone followed the voice.

A handsome young man approached at an unhurried pace. He wore white brocade embroidered with phoenixes.

Most striking of all was his long, dark-red hair, which lifted elegantly in the breeze.

“It’s the Seventh Prince of Chifeng Kingdom—Zhuge Weiran!”

Nearly every member of Chifeng Kingdom’s imperial bloodline possessed dark-red hair. It was their most recognizable trait.

Nangong Jin’s face sank.

“Zhuge Weiran, do you intend to interfere in the affairs of Nanxiao Kingdom?”

Zhuge Weiran laughed.

“Crown Prince Nangong, there is no need to turn such a minor matter into an issue between our kingdoms. I merely saw your group surround a young lady and subject her to one rebuke after another.”

His smile remained easy.

“After watching for a while, I found myself unable to bear it.”

Cultivators from the other kingdoms exchanged complicated looks.

It did seem…

Rather like a group bullying one young woman.

Even if she had done something wrong, she should not have been berated in a place like this.

The people of Nanxiao Kingdom had been vicious as well, calling her a good-for-nothing with every breath.

With only a few sentences, Zhuge Weiran shifted part of the crowd’s opinion.

Shen Xue’s eyes darkened.

The instant Zhuge Weiran glanced her way, she offered him a courteous smile and inclined her head.

He smiled back.

Nangong Jin’s face was iron-blue.

He was about to speak again when movement at the front drew everyone’s attention.

An elder of the Qiutian Sect had arrived.

The soldiers of the nine kingdoms withdrew to either side. The elder approached at the head of a group of sect disciples.

Every major power seated nearby rose respectfully.

None dared show the slightest neglect.

The Qiutian Sect held tremendous weight in the Pingze Western Region.

Even all nine kingdoms combined could not compare to a single Qiutian Sect.

The elder wore green robes. His face and body were both thin, making him appear frail enough to collapse in a strong wind.

Yet he carried the danger of a venomous serpent.

No one dared underestimate him.