27: At the Book Mountain Gathering, I will compose a poem for you.

Under Yu Linglong's guidance, Qin Gelan arrived at a luxurious private room on the top floor of the Ascending Immortal Tower.

There were two women in the room. One was Hua Yannan, whom he had met before, and the other bore a resemblance to Yu Linglong but possessed a more composed and dignified aura.

“This Junior greets the Island Master.” With a slight guess, Qin Gelan knew this was the Island Master of Linglong Island, a figure whose strength was not inferior to Xue Ning or Xiao He.

Yu Feihua's beautiful eyes sized up Qin Gelan, and she was slightly shocked to discover that his cultivation had already reached the Peak Immortal Venerable Realm.

The flash of surprise in Yu Feihua's eyes was caught by Qin Gelan, just as it had been with Xue Ning earlier.

He had intentionally not let the System hide his cultivation because he wanted this exact effect. By letting them see his level and demonstrating his value, he could make them take the initiative to befriend him.

As for Qin Gelan taking the initiative to befriend them?

Qin Gelan hadn't considered it. There was a difference between initiating a connection and being sought after; the nuances involved were beyond words.

“To Cultivate to the Peak Immortal Venerable Realm at your age is something no one in the younger generation of Xuanhuang Heaven has achieved. It seems you are going to put quite a bit of pressure on them,” Yu Feihua said with a nod.

Peak Immortal Venerable Realm?

Hua Yannan was astonished. Wasn't he only an Immortal Sovereign back at the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land? Sensing Qin Gelan's cultivation, it was indeed at the Peak Immortal Venerable Realm.

Qin Gelan looked toward Hua Yannan and smiled. Hua Yannan felt a bit embarrassed; it was quite taboo to use one's Divine Sense to pry into another person's cultivation at will.

However, Qin Gelan didn't mind. He smiled at Hua Yannan and said, “Senior Hua, we meet again.”

Hua Yannan nodded in response, her appreciation for Qin Gelan's temperament increasing slightly.

Beside them, Yu Linglong's expression remained calm, but her heart was in a state of upheaval. The Peak Immortal Venerable Realm was a level only reached by the leaders of first-rate factions, yet Qin Gelan had achieved it at his age.

This probably wasn't something that could be achieved just through the nurturing of a Supreme. It required an immense amount of talent. Having been taught by her own Old Ancestor for a time, she naturally understood this.

“Senior waited specifically at the Ascending Immortal Tower, but surely not for this Junior. You must be waiting for the Supreme behind me?” Qin Gelan asked while looking at Yu Feihua.

Yu Feihua shook her head. “The one I am waiting for is you.”

Qin Gelan was slightly stunned and fell into thought for a moment before smiling. “I understand Senior's intentions, but the Supreme behind me will not show his face unless it is a life-or-death situation. As for his whereabouts, this Junior does not know either.”

Hearing Qin Gelan's words, Yu Feihua thought to herself what a clever boy he was, but she still said, “We can discuss those things later. Are you aware of the Confucian Book Mountain Assembly taking place in a year?”

Book Mountain Assembly?

Qin Gelan had truly never heard of it. Seeing this, Yu Linglong explained, “The Book Mountain Assembly is held once every hundred years by Book Mountain, one of the Transcendent Factions.”

“All scholars under heaven may attend to compete in poetry and prose. If one can stand out among them, they not only receive rewards but also gain the protection of the Confucian lineage.”

Yu Linglong looked at Qin Gelan and smiled. “I wonder how Young Master Qin's literary talent is?”

Qin Gelan suddenly became interested. If he brought out the poems of the Immortal of Poetry and the Sage of Poetry from his past life, wouldn't he easily crush these people?

Looking at Yu Linglong, Qin Gelan teased with a smile, “How about you lift your veil and let me see? I'll compose one for you.”

Hua Yannan, standing to the side, immediately felt that Qin Gelan was incredibly bold. He actually dared to flirt with the Saintess? Did he not see that the Island Master was right there?

Yu Feihua, however, looked at the young man with interest and didn't mind. Although they were flirtatious words, she saw that Qin Gelan's eyes were clear, and he truly meant them as a joke.

Yu Linglong's cheeks also flushed slightly at Qin Gelan's words. For some reason, she didn't feel any resentment toward his lighthearted remarks.

If it were anyone else, she would have likely responded with a cold gaze or even a physical lesson.

When other men saw her, they all tried to appear elegant and extraordinary to win her favor, but Qin Gelan was different.

Seeing that Qin Gelan's eyes were clear and lacked the heat and possessive desire she usually saw in others, she also became bold. “Alright. If I'm not satisfied, what will you do?”

Qin Gelan thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and clapped his hands, looking like he was enduring great pain as he spoke. “I'll go all out! If you aren't satisfied...”

The three of them looked at Qin Gelan, waiting for the rest.

“If you aren't satisfied, today's expenses are on me!” After saying this, Qin Gelan had a look of extreme heartache on his face.

Yu Feihua: “...”

Hua Yannan: “...”

Yu Linglong: “...”

The three of them were speechless. This guy was acting like he was about to die, as if he were suffering a massive loss. How pathetic... Yu Linglong calmed her emotions and gritted her teeth. “Fine...”

She then lifted her veil, and her flawless, beautiful face appeared before Qin Gelan. It was like a masterpiece carved by the heavens, possessing an aesthetic beauty as clear as the bright moon, like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world.

Qin Gelan was momentarily dazed. It wasn't until Hua Yannan gave a light cough that he snapped out of it.

“Beautiful! Holy crap!”

Qin Gelan blurted out, giving a thumbs up.

Although he could faintly see Yu Linglong's features through the veil before, now that it was removed, she was even more breathtaking than he had imagined.

“I asked you to compose a poem, not to give an exclamation,” Yu Linglong said, her face darkening.

“Ahem... poetry.” Qin Gelan was just about to use a poem from old man Li, but a knock sounded at the door.

Xue Ning walked in, bringing Xue Qingcheng and Qin Xian with her.

“So Island Master Yu is here as well. We have come uninvited; the Island Master won't mind, will she?” Xue Ning's cold voice spoke.

Yu Feihua smiled slightly. “Palace Master Xue must be joking. I was just speaking with Young Friend Qin about the Book Mountain Assembly.”

Meanwhile, Qin Gelan had already grabbed the delicacies on the table and was munching away without any regard for his image. These exotic beast meats were far more delicious than any of the so-called grand feasts from his past life.

Yu Linglong leaned in and whispered, “They're probably here for you.”

“How do you know?”

“My aunt and Palace Master Xue have known each other since they were young. They've been secretly competing for years; she couldn't have come just to visit my aunt.”

“There's gossip like that? Does that mean you and Xue Qingcheng are also competing?”

“More or less. Uh... can you pay a little attention to your image?”

Xue Ning exchanged pleasantries with Yu Feihua for a while before looking at Qin Gelan and smiling. “Is Young Friend also planning to participate in the Book Mountain Assembly?”

Qin Gelan wiped his mouth and nodded. “The Divine Continent is so large; this Junior also wants to travel around and broaden my horizons.”

Book Mountain was located in the central part of the Divine Continent. Because of the vast number of scholars in the world, Book Mountain's status was quite special. Therefore, none of the other Transcendent Factions had any objections to them being established in the center of the Divine Continent.

“In that case, how about letting Qingcheng travel together with Young Friend?” Xue Ning glanced at Xue Qingcheng.

This was a perfect chance to draw closer to Qin Gelan. After all, he had a Supreme who had achieved the Dao through the Physical Body behind him, and combined with his own talent, he was worth winnowing over.

Xue Qingcheng looked at Xue Ning, feeling it was a bit sudden, but she didn't speak up to object. She also wanted to know how Qin Gelan cultivated; earlier, her aunt had said that Qin Gelan was already nearing the level of an Immortal Emperor.

Qin Gelan's mouth twitched as he thought about how best to refuse. Having someone following him was always a bit inconvenient.

“Palace Master Xue's suggestion is good. Cultivation is not just about secluded bitter training; experiencing the world and its trials can lead to better growth.” Yu Feihua also looked at Yu Linglong. “Linglong, you should head to Book Mountain together with Qin Gelan. It just so happens there is still a year until the Book Mountain Assembly.”

Another one?

At this moment, Qin Gelan felt his head growing two sizes larger.

“Alright,” Yu Linglong said with a slight smile.