144: Chapter 144 Akabane's Suspicion

He looked up at the stage again.

Today, Crimson Rainbow was wearing a dark red ruqun, diligently and cleverly handing items to True Man Zhuzhao.

She wore an appropriate smile on her face, and her round cheeks revealed two shallow dimples, giving her the air of a well-bred young lady.

The gazes of many male Cultivators were foolishly fixed on her, completely ignoring the instructions from True Man Zhuzhao.

Xu Changsheng, however, lowered his head, internally calculating his plan for revenge against Xiao Tongguang.

... ...

Two hours later.

True Man Zhuzhao's lengthy speech finally concluded.

"I will give you one last piece of advice: enter alive, and come out alive. How many Yao Beasts you hunt is skill, but only if you still have your life will you have a future."

"Enough said, open the mountain gate ceremony, end!"

"Hoo."

A sound of relief came from the rear. The Qi Refining Cultivators who had arrived here were all elites of the same Realm, not very old, and found it difficult to endure staying motionless for such an extended period.

At this moment, Crimson Rainbow approached, holding a bamboo tray made of green bamboo.

"The Disciples' teams have been arranged. Now, I will assign the Guardian Cultivators to each team."

Her hanging hand formed a spiritual light, which covered the bamboo slips on the tray.

The bamboo slips flew up.

Scattered in mid-air.

The next moment.

They flew toward the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the front.

"Confirm your teams."

A bamboo slip flew in front of him. Xu Changsheng snatched it down, glanced at it, and immediately frowned.

The slip was clearly inscribed with a familiar name.

Yan Jinghong, Crimson Glow, Ye Quan...

He did not leave the plaza with the other Cultivators. He suspected he had been manipulated behind the scenes and planned to stay to ask Crimson Rainbow what was going on.

Was it just because he refused her request to take her as a concubine? Was she really so petty as to make things difficult for him?

The Qi Refining Cultivators left, rubbing their hands excitedly, while the Foundation Establishment Cultivators followed to identify members of their respective teams.

The plaza soon became sparse.

Crimson Rainbow saw that Xu Changsheng was still standing in place waiting. She gave a sweet smile and walked down the stone steps of the high platform.

Turning the corner of the platform, a figure in moon-white blocked her path.

Looking up, it was a tall male Cultivator. She couldn't help but get annoyed: "Young Master Shen, why are you blocking my way?"

Saying that, she tried to go around him.

Shen Jinglun took a step sideways, continuing to block her: "Fairy Ni, we have met several times, why be so distant?"

Li Hongxuan had been watching Crimson Rainbow the whole time. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but clench his fist in annoyance, but he didn't have the courage, so he could only watch with suppressed anger.

Xu Changsheng narrowed his eyes, sizing up the unfamiliar man.

He was wearing a moon-white long gown, had a slender figure, a high nose bridge, and a face like warm jade. As the wind blew, his robes fluttered, making him look like a noble Young Master stepping out of a painting.

He asked: "Who is this person? He's quite handsome."

"Fellow Daoist Xu doesn't go drinking at the taverns? How can you not recognize one of the famous young talents in the Cultivation World? This is the biological son of the Hall Master of the Mingjing Hall, and also the recognized next Hall Master, Shen Jinglun."

"Mingjing Hall..."

Xu Changsheng pondered. The Mingjing Hall, as the other Nascent Soul level force in Yue Country besides the Jinyang Sect, was naturally known to him.

The Mingjing Hall cultivated what its name suggested: a Confucian Dao Sect, cultivating the Righteous Qi. It was rumored that upon reaching profound heights, one could use poetry and literature as weapons.

Watching Shen Jinglun converse eloquently with Crimson Rainbow, a sense of powerlessness surged straight to the top of Li Hongxuan's head.

They looked like a talented man and a beautiful woman; he simply couldn't compare.

While he was sinking into sorrow, Xu Changsheng had already turned around.

Because another acquaintance had arrived behind him.

Tall in stature with a beautiful face, it was none other than Crimson Rainbow's older sister—Crimson Feather.

"Fairy Yu, long time no see."

At this time, Crimson Feather had also advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Seeing Xu Changsheng, who was at the same Realm as her, her expression held a hint of bitterness.

"Yes, after parting ways in the Secret Realm last time, I never expected to meet again in a situation like this."

Xu Changsheng noticed that nearly half of Crimson Feather's beautiful hair had turned white.

Crimson Rainbow had told him that Crimson Feather possessed the same Crimson Flame Illuminating Heart Fire as her, and it was even purer.

He secretly guessed that Crimson Feather must have frequently used the Crimson Flame Illuminating Heart Fire to perform the Blood Burning Secret Art, causing her Dantian to rupture and her Meridians to be damaged.

He thought to himself: "She managed to reach Foundation Establishment? These two sisters' talents are too exceptional. I wonder what kind of entity the Chi Family truly is."

On the other side, Li Hongxuan saw this scene, his mouth slightly agape. He patted Xu Changsheng's shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"Is this Fairy Yu Crimson Rainbow's...? She looks so much like..."

"I am Crimson Rainbow's biological sister."

Crimson Feather stepped forward, deliberately emphasizing the word 'biological'.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you..."

Li Hongxuan suddenly understood something. Including when Crimson Rainbow waved at him yesterday, it seemed her gaze had never truly been on him.

A bad thought surfaced in his mind.

Crimson Feather looked at Xu Changsheng, clutching and then releasing the edge of her skirt, appearing as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

Xu Changsheng felt confused, cupped his hands, and asked: "May I ask what business Fairy Yu has with me?"

Blushing slightly: "Fellow Daoist Xu, I must apologize to you."

He shook his head: "I don't recall Fairy Yu owing me anything."

"It's about that day in the Ancient Wood Secret Realm, I shouldn't have mocked Fellow Daoist Xu like that."

"That matter? Don't worry, I didn't take it to heart at all."

Xu Changsheng wasn't wrong. As a bottom-tier Loose Cultivator in the Cultivation World, he had experienced too many similar things. If he took every single one to heart, he would die of suffocation.

Crimson Feather gazed steadily into his eyes, revealing no emotion.

"It was my shallowness. Since that is the case, could Fellow Daoist Xu answer one question for me?"

Saying that, she extended a Storage Pouch towards him.

Xu Changsheng swept it with his Divine Sense; it contained a full ten thousand Spirit Stones. He was slightly surprised and pushed it back, saying: "Fairy Yu should ask the question first. I'll see if I should answer."

"Fellow Daoist Xu, don't panic, it's just a small doubt."

Her voice gradually lowered, eventually turning into a Divine Sense transmission.

"Do you possess some kind of nurturing method that can repair the damage caused by Crimson Rainbow's excessive use of the Crimson Flame Illuminating Heart Fire?"

He replied with an expressionless face: "No."

His heart skipped a beat. Logically, when he treated Crimson Rainbow's injuries, they were alone. How could Crimson Feather know about this?

However, he didn't care about this matter. Regardless, he would not treat Crimson Feather. The fewer people who knew about such a secret matter, the better.

Hearing the answer he expected, Crimson Feather sighed faintly: "Is that so? Then I must have been overthinking."

She still offered the Storage Pouch.

Xu Changsheng still refused, pushing it back again: "It feels wrong for me to receive Fairy Yu's reward for such a simple matter."

"It was meant for Fellow Daoist Xu. If you don't accept it, Crimson Feather won't leave today."

During the exchange.

The distance between the two grew closer. Xu Changsheng could clearly smell the body fragrance on Crimson Feather, which was exactly the same as Crimson Rainbow's.

Just then.

Crimson Rainbow also saw the situation over there. She impatiently slapped away Shen Jinglun in front of her and rushed over angrily.

Li Hongxuan turned around and saw this scene, waving happily at her.

But she completely ignored him, directly standing in front of Xu Changsheng, her delicate eyebrows tightly furrowed: "My dear older sister, what are you doing here?"