474: Chapter 474 The Path to Entering the Sect

At the center of the stage.

Fairy Xi He was completely stunned.

She stood there blankly, murmuring to herself:

"Clouds make one think of her raiment... flowers make one think of her face..."

Every word she uttered felt like something was gently tapping against the bottom of her heart.

Her entire body felt as if it had been struck by electricity, turning soft and tingling, even her fingertips trembling slightly.

After a long while.

She snapped out of it.

Two rosy clouds bloomed on her cheeks, spreading all the way to the roots of her ears.

She looked up and gazed at you.

Those eyes, clear as autumn waters, were filled with admiration and tenderness, as if they wanted to melt your entire being into them.

Someone said:

"Young Master Ximen's poem... though neat, was too formal; I always felt it lacked a certain flavor."

"This Fellow Daoist's poem... that is truly ethereal and unconventional."

"Once this poem is out, I fear this Fairy Maiden Tower will become famous throughout the Immortal City."

Whispers rose one after another, like ants crawling over Ximen Huan's heart.

His expression grew increasingly unsightly. First pale, then turning green, and finally flushing a deep red.

He whipped his head around, glaring at you viciously, his eyes looking as if they wanted to swallow you alive:

"Kid, how should I address you?"

You smiled and ignored him, picking up your spirit tea and taking a sip.

Seeing you ignore him, Ximen Huan's expression darkened further, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to swallow the harsh words on the tip of his tongue—this Fairy Maiden Tower had a background, and he couldn't cause trouble here.

He took a deep breath and plopped back into his seat, hands propped on his knees, his fingertips trembling.

Clearly, he had marked you.

Naturally, you didn't care.

Let him remember you then.

Just as you were thinking this, Fairy Xi He at the center of the stage leaned over and whispered something into the madam's ear.

After speaking, she looked up, her gaze crossing the crowd to land on you.

That look carried a smile, a hint of charm, and something indescribable.

Then, she turned and walked gracefully back toward the inner courtyard.

The madam walked over to your table with a face full of smiles and waved her hand at you:

"Young Master, how should I address you?"

"Qin Chen."

"Young Master Qin," the madam's smile deepened, "please follow this old woman to the back courtyard; Fairy Xi He invites you for a chat."

You turned to look at Yu Hong.

Yu Hong was also looking at you, his eyes filled with both envy and joy, looking as if he wished he could go in your place.

"Go on, quickly!" He gave you a shove, grinning so wide his eyes were nearly closed.

Beside him, Yu Ji's expression suddenly changed.

She had been smiling just a moment ago, but now her face darkened, her lips pressed into a thin line, and her fingers pinched each other.

You caught Yu Ji in your peripheral vision and noticed she was staring at the direction where Fairy Xi He had disappeared, her eyes carrying a hint of... indignation?

You smiled. "Why don't we go together? It's just a chat anyway."

Then you looked at the madam: "Is that alright?"

The madam was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Of course!"

"Really?" Yu Ji looked up abruptly, the gloom on her face swept away as her eyes lit up like stars. "I want to get to know this Fairy Xi He too!"

When she said "get to know," she deliberately emphasized her tone.

You shook your head and smiled.

You requested to bring the two of them along naturally because you were worried Ximen Huan would retaliate against the siblings.

Of course, there was another layer of meaning—personally, you felt that while Fairy Xi He was beautiful, she wasn't as good as Yu Ji.

Led by the madam, you crossed the hall, bypassed the winding corridors, and arrived deep within the back courtyard.

A moment later, an exquisite courtyard appeared before your eyes.

Inside the courtyard were mountains and water, along with a pavilion.

Fairy Xi He sat upright in the pavilion, her gaze turning toward you.

The madam left tactfully—giving you the illusion that Fairy Xi He was actually the master of the Fairy Maiden Tower.

This thought flashed by, and the three of you sat down in the pavilion.

Yu Ji sat opposite Fairy Xi He, looking at her with a strange expression.

Fairy Xi He only gave her a faint smile, then looked at you:

"Young Master Qin is quite generous. I wonder which Immortal family you hail from?"

You smiled:

"Just a Loose Cultivator, a nobody."

Fairy Xi He smiled faintly as she poured tea, her gaze shifting:

"Young Master Qin casually spends a hundred thousand Spirit Stones and recites poetry that could startle the Immortals. For such a person to call himself a Loose Cultivator... it makes this little girl curious."

She paused, her smile deepening slightly:

"Could you be a Young Master from some hidden great clan, here to experience the mortal world?"

Hearing this, Yu Hong seemed to be reminded of something and turned to stare at you:

"That's right, brother, I've been wondering too. Where did you get so many Spirit Stones?"

Your expression remained unchanged as you glanced at them:

"Left by my ancestors. The more I spend, the less I have."

"As for the poetry... I just heard a down-and-out old scholar recite it when I was young. Seeing the Fairy dance today, I merely borrowed it to offer to the lady."

You picked up your teacup and took a sip:

"Besides, with my strength, having Spirit Stones on me is a curse. It's better to spend them to save others the trouble of coveting them."

Yu Hong nodded:

"No wonder you told me before that you wanted to come to the Wuji Immortal Sect to find a backer."

Fairy Xi He's eyes moved slightly, and her fingertip lightly tapped the stone table:

"Oh? With the Young Master's foundation, I'm afraid it's not as simple as just finding a backer, is it?"

You looked at her, your tone becoming a bit heavier:

"Sigh, you don't understand the hardships of a Loose Cultivator!"

"Furthermore, the Wuji Immortal Sect is a Holy Land of the Sword Dao. Being able to join the Immortal Sect to temper oneself is always better than being a Loose Cultivator."

Yu Hong rubbed his hands together, his eyes brightening:

"Right, right, right! Brother Qin is right!"

He looked at Fairy Xi He and put on a smile:

"Fairy Xi He, you are the top courtesan here, so your information must be well-informed. Do you have any leads to point us toward? We siblings also want to share some of the luck!"

You followed up with a question:

"I'm also curious. There are quite a few people with True Spiritual Roots in the Immortal Realm. How many people come every year? Are they all accepted?"

This was also what you found strange—although the proportion of True Spiritual Roots wasn't high, how vast was the population of the entire Immortal Realm?

With such a massive base, wouldn't the number of people joining the Immortal Sect every year be enormous?

Did the Wuji Immortal Sect accept them all every time?

Yu Ji glanced at Fairy Xi He and said airily:

"Who knows? Don't they say people from Wuji Immortal City get priority? The grand Wuji Immortal Sect ends up full of people with connections."

Fairy Xi He ignored Yu Ji and took a deep look at you, her smile deepening:

"The Young Master is truly interesting. Usually, when people come to my side courtyard, they want to talk about romance and scenery."

"However, the Young Master asks about these trivial matters."

You smiled. "Since they are trivial matters, then please clear up my confusion, Fairy!"

She covered her mouth and chuckled, then said seriously:

"As you expected, there are many who want to enter the Immortal Sect every year."

"It's just..." she paused, her tone meaningful, "if you aren't a local and have no one to speak for you, it's indeed easy to be screened out."

"However, if the Young Master can pass the assessment... I can give you a hand and recommend you to the Lu family's faction."

She watched your reaction:

"The Lu family has some influence in the Sect. With a backer and the Young Master's talent, your future will naturally be limitless."