24: The leader of Shangqing Sect came in person to confront them head on!

“No, this is impossible!”

Su Qingya’s face turned deathly pale, and she involuntarily took a small step backward.

Her slender hands clenched tightly at her sleeves, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.

“He’s clearly just a good-for-nothing with a Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root, who served as a handyman at Tiansheng Academy for five years. How can he possibly do this?”

In her eyes, Chu Feng was just trash she had thrown to Su Qingqiu.

She could accept Su Qingqiu luckily awakening some Immortal Physique, but that was ultimately an external thing, and Su Qingqiu was already married, posing no threat to her.

However, she could absolutely not accept Chu Feng turning his fortunes around!

Su Wenyuan’s hand, which had been frozen in mid-air, finally dropped powerlessly, his face burning as if he had been slapped countless times in public.

The muscles on his cheeks twitched unnaturally a few times, but he ultimately forced out a nearly fawning smile and quickly walked up to Hall Master Pei Qingying.

“Dean Pei’s esteemed presence truly brings glory to my Su Family.”

He glanced at the somewhat humble banquet table, his tone carrying a hint of unease.

“This is the table for the juniors; how could you deign to sit here? Wouldn’t this be my Su Family neglecting an honored guest?”

As he spoke, he quickly raised his hand, adopting a very humble posture, gesturing towards the main table.

At the same time, he looked at Chu Feng, with a barely perceptible commanding tone.

“Chu Feng, hurry and invite Dean Pei to the seat of honor inside the hall!”

However, before Chu Feng could speak, Hall Master Pei Qingying suddenly turned her head, her beautiful eyes, like a cold pond, falling upon Su Wenyuan.

Her gaze was calm, but her tone carried a chilling sense of pressure.

“Are you telling me what to do?”

Su Wenyuan trembled violently, as if struck by an invisible sword qi, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

He quickly bent his waist even lower, his voice trembling.

“I wouldn’t dare! I am merely afraid of inadequate hospitality, with absolutely no other intention. Please make yourself at home.”

He wished he could slap himself, repeatedly apologizing, no longer daring to mention changing seats.

Hall Master Pei Qingying bothered no longer with him, instead turning her gaze to Su Qingqiu at the side, the frost on her face dissipating slightly.

She took a storage ring from her finger, and without a word, pulled Su Qingqiu’s hand, directly placing the storage ring into her palm.

“You two newlyweds just got married; in a hurry, I, as your master, didn’t prepare any decent gifts.”

Hall Master Pei Qingying’s tone was casual, as if she were giving an ordinary item.

“This storage ring has some trinkets inside; consider it a small token of my regard as your master, a wedding gift for you.”

Su Qingqiu felt her palm sink, and she subconsciously looked at Chu Feng, her beautiful eyes filled with inquiry and a hint of bewilderment.

Seeing this, Chu Feng held her hand, closing her fingers around the storage ring.

“Since Master gave it, just accept it with peace of mind.”

Hearing this, Su Qingqiu’s heart settled, and she once again bowed respectfully to Hall Master Pei Qingying.

“Qingqiu thanks Master.”

This scene once again made everyone around twitch at the corners of their eyes.

Su Wenyuan stood frozen at the side, unsure whether to stay or leave, his smile uglier than a cry.

When Su Qingqiu’s divine sense subconsciously swept through the inner space of the storage ring, her expression instantly froze, even turning into shock.

Within the storage ring’s space, there were many dresses that made her blush.

These dresses all had one common characteristic: very little material and extremely high slits.

Tearing a piece of cloth and cutting a hole to put over one’s head would cover more than these dresses.

However, what shocked her the most was that there was also a sword among the dresses.

The sword was about three feet three inches long, with a slender blade, seemingly forged from ten thousand years of cold ice, and was entirely dark blue.

What made Su Qingqiu’s heart almost stop beating was that she recognized this sword.

Or rather, among cultivators in the world, anyone who knew anything about spiritual weapons, who wouldn’t recognize this sword?

Ranked third on the Profound Artifact List — the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword!

Spiritual weapons were divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Prime, with each grade having a corresponding list.

Those who made it onto the list were all incomparably powerful weapons.

Her father, as the Su Family Head, had exhausted his efforts to obtain a Profound-grade low-rank spiritual weapon, which couldn’t even touch the edge of the Profound Artifact List.

And she, having once been the Saintess of Shangqing Sect, was bestowed a Orchid Sword (Orchid Sword) by the sect, which was only ranked ninety-ninth on the Profound Artifact List.

Even that sword was cherished by her as much as her life, and it was one of the symbols of her Saintess status.

Of course, that sword now hung at Su Qingya’s waist.

The Ice Soul Cold Light Sword before her was worth hundreds of times more than the Orchid Sword!

Her husband’s Master had actually casually given such a precious treasure to her as a wedding gift?

No, Master must have forgotten to take this sword out.

Su Qingqiu’s look of horror was completely undisguised, falling entirely into Su Qingya’s eyes.

“Heh, looking like someone who’s never seen the world, what kind of gift could cause such shock?

That’s right, after all, her status is different now; a small favor can make her lose composure to this extent.”

However, no sooner had she finished speaking than Su Qingqiu immediately took out the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword and respectfully presented it to Hall Master Pei Qingying.

“Master, did you forget that this sword was also in the storage ring?”

In Su Qingqiu’s opinion, no one would casually give away such a precious sword.

Therefore, Hall Master Pei Qingying must have forgotten that this sword was stored in the storage ring.

The moment the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and those nearby couldn’t help but shiver.

Unexpectedly, Hall Master Pei Qingying chuckled.

“This sword is your wedding gift.”

At these words, Su Qingya instantly froze in place.

“For me?”

Immediately after, she shook her head.

“This gift is too valuable; this disciple truly feels unworthy to receive it.”

Silence!

A deathly silence!

However, this time, the silence lasted only for an instant.

Hiss—

Countless gasps of cold air rose like a tsunami, and everyone’s gaze fell upon the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword.

“Is that… the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword?”

“The spiritual sword ranked third on the Profound Artifact List, just given away so casually?”

“As expected of the most beautiful Sword Immortal in the Eastern Domain; why don’t I have such a Master!”

Everyone’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets, their gazes filled with envy.

Su Qingya, who had earlier mocked Su Qingqiu for being inexperienced, now looked as if she had been slapped hard, her entire body rigid, her face first flushing red, then rapidly turning ashen white.

She tightly gripped the Orchid Sword at her waist, feeling like a clown.

Compared to the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword, the Orchid Sword in her hand was trash!

As if sensing the subtle meaning hidden in Chu Feng’s raised eyebrow, Hall Master Pei Qingying suddenly turned slightly, leaning close to Chu Feng’s ear.

She lowered her voice, saying meaningfully.

“When we go back, Master has an even better gift prepared for you.”

However, at this moment, she was the absolute center of the entire banquet hall; everyone’s attention was focused on her.

This deliberately lowered voice, for cultivators with accomplished cultivation, was not much different from normal speech.

An even better gift!

These words were like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up monstrous waves in everyone’s hearts.

What could be a better gift than the Ice Soul Cold Light Sword, ranked third on the Profound Artifact List?

Everyone’s breathing suddenly hitched, their eyes instantly becoming disbelieving.

Earth-grade artifact!

Only the legendary Earth-grade spiritual weapons, which many sects might not even possess as their sect-protecting treasures.

Hall Master Pei Qingying was no longer just valuing Chu Feng; this was outright doting, an unprincipled favoritism!

Feeling the instantly scorching gazes around him, Chu Feng revealed a look of anticipation.

“Master’s profound love, this disciple is already looking forward to it.”

Su Qingya felt a dizzy spell, so jealous that she almost ground her teeth.

Earth-grade artifact!

The entire Shangqing Sect couldn’t produce many Earth-grade artifacts, yet Hall Master Pei Qingying actually promised one to Chu Feng, that good-for-nothing!

Just then, a louder announcement came from outside the door.

“Sect Leader Zhao Qingyue of Shangqing Sect has arrived—!”

Su Qingya trembled violently, the gloom on her face instantly sweeping away.

“Master is here!”

Su Qingya almost cheered, the proud expression of a Shangqing Sect Saintess reappearing on her face.

She provocatively glanced at Su Qingqiu, her voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone around to hear.

“So what if you got lucky? My Master is the Sect Leader of Shangqing Sect!”

Hearing of the Shangqing Sect Leader’s personal arrival, everyone was in an uproar.

“The Shangqing Sect Leader actually came too?”

“My heavens, how grand is the scale of the Su Family’s birthday banquet this time? First the Jade Balance Hall Master, and now the Shangqing Sect Leader.”

“The Sect Leader’s personal presence represents the entire Shangqing Sect’s Pay attention to (high regard)!”

Amidst their shock, the Su Family members quickly went out to greet her.

Even the birthday celebrant, Su Qingtian, dared not be arrogant in the slightest, and with the support of his clansmen, quickly rose and went out to greet her with everyone else.

The personal presence of a Sect Master was too great an honor!

A moment later, amidst the respectful escort of the Su Family members, a beautiful woman with a dignified and noble temperament slowly walked into Brocade Hall.

Zhao Qingyue’s gaze swept across the lively banquet hall, and just as she was about to exchange pleasantries with Su Qingtian, who was coming to greet her, her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Hall Master Pei Qingying sitting in a secluded corner.

Her footsteps paused imperceptibly, and a hint of surprise appeared on her dignified face.

“I didn’t expect Dean Pei to be here as well.”

Everyone looked at each other, sensing a hint of tension.

Chu Feng leaned close to Hall Master Pei Qingying’s ear and asked in a low voice.

“Master, does she have a grudge against you?”

Hall Master Pei Qingying took a sip of wine and waved her hand.

“It’s nothing; she just lost to me by one move back then, and I, as her master, got the upper hand.”

Seeing Chu Feng still looking bewildered, Su Qingqiu explained in a low voice.

“Legend has it that Master and… Sect Leader Zhao once fought over the title of the most beautiful Sword Immortal in the Eastern Domain.”

Hearing this, Chu Feng immediately understood.

Zhao Qingyue’s beauty was indeed remarkable, but still a notch below his Master’s.

Now it seemed she was also a notch below in swordsmanship; otherwise, the universally recognized most beautiful Sword Immortal wouldn’t be Hall Master Pei Qingying now.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingyue’s face instantly turned cold.

“Qingqiu.”

Su Qingqiu subconsciously tensed up, but upon remembering that she had already been expelled from the sect, she didn’t even stand up, merely responding.

“Sect Leader Zhao.”