113: Chapter 113 Eve of the Grand Ceremony

The Erosion Tide that had been raging in the outside world had been basically cleared under the combined efforts of the various Sects, restoring a rare sense of peace.

Within the Moonshadow Sect, there was an even more unprecedented scene of harmony.

The emerald peaks of Tianyuan Mountain were layered with lush greenery, spiritual mist drifted in the air, and celestial birds sang clearly.

In the Twin Lakes, the water shimmered, reflecting the graceful figures of Disciples washing their bodies and minds; soft conversations and low laughter drifted through the misty air.

Inside the Lingbo Pavilion, the music of silk and bamboo was pleasant to the ear as Disciples smiled charmingly, their slender fingers lingering over silk stockings; their crisp laughter and chatter flowed lightly with the breeze through the pavilions and terraces, echoing endlessly.

On the square of the Mission Hall, sword light crisscrossed and Talismans glowed brightly; Disciples either sparred to test their skills or exchanged insights. The heroic shouts and the clashing of Magical Artifacts were filled with vigorous energy and vitality.

The entire Sect seemed to be shrouded in a veil-like spiritual aura and joy.

...

Panlong Peak, Tiangong Pavilion, Coiling Dragon Spiritual Hall.

Having finished his morning practice, Ling Hao strolled into the hall to observe the Disciples' trials.

The hall was magnificent, with nine massive Ink-Jade Coiling Dragon Pillars standing tall and majestic.

The dragons' bodies were powerful, tightly wound around the pillars. Their crimson eyes looked down sternly, and the eerie blue reverse scale beneath their jaws flickered with a strange luster.

Li Sumei, who was presiding over the trials, stood at the front of the hall.

She wore a boldly cut crimson soft silk dress. Through the slit in the skirt, her long, jade-like legs wrapped in black scale-patterned stockings were faintly visible.

"Today's exam is the Three Passes Meridian Opening! Those who can manipulate their fingers through the three passes, both forward and reverse, and provoke the dragon's eyes to spit mist the furthest shall be the champion!"

A woman dressed in a light purple gauze dress was the first to step forward.

The gauze dress was soft, outlining her graceful curves, and her smooth, delicate skin was faintly visible through the thin fabric.

She employed the 'Shunyuan Tendon-Smoothing Technique,' her slender jade fingers gently stroking down along the smooth scales of the dragon's spine. Her fingerwork seemed exquisite, but her tapping was like a dragonfly skimming the water; the dragon's eyes showed no reaction.

She stopped her movements and turned toward Ling Hao, her eyes shimmering with a perfectly timed hint of bashfulness and a plea for help:

"Sect Master... this Disciple is dull and my power flow is blocked. I beg the Sect Master to hold my wrist and guide me..."

Name: Jiang Wangqing

Age: 22

Spiritual Root: Heavenly Spiritual Root

Physique: Thousand-Mechanism Ingenious Hands

Cultivation: Major Achievement of Jade Bone

Loyalty: 100

Ling Hao looked at the charming body before him that exuded an alluring scent from beneath the thin gauze. He smiled slightly, not exposing her little scheme.

He stepped forward, his broad palm covering Jiang Wangqing's smooth back of the hand, guiding her thumb to press precisely onto a protruding meridian node of the dragon's tendon on the pillar:

"When facing an enemy, the key is to observe the smallest details and, more importantly... strike the vital point to win in one blow."

Before his voice had even faded, a hidden force surged from his palm, carrying Jiang Wangqing's finger strength into a sudden shock!

Buzz—!

The dragon's eyes flared with crimson light, spitting out a thick cloud of white mist that shot three feet away!

Seeing this, a young girl nearby dressed in a light red gauze dress immediately pouted and pulled on Li Sumei's sleeve, acting spoiled:

"Elder Li! Look, my sister is cheating! The Sect Master is being biased!"

Li Sumei's eyes held a deep meaning as she glanced at Ling Hao, then chuckled softly:

"Trials... can inherently involve borrowing strength. If you can borrow it, that counts as your own skill."

Hearing this, JiangListening to the rain's beautiful eyes lit up. She immediately twisted her slender waist and ran to Ling Hao's side, her voice sweet and cloying:

"Sect Master~ you have to help Tingyu too!"

Name: Jiang Tingyu

Age: 22

Spiritual Root: Heavenly Spiritual Root

Physique: Grasp of All Living Beings

Cultivation: Major Achievement of Jade Bone

Loyalty: 100

Ling Hao laughed in spite of himself as she pulled him to another Coiling Dragon Pillar.

Jiang Tingyu performed the 'Reverse Scale Eye-Pointing Technique,' condensing spiritual energy at her fingertips to point at the eerie blue reverse scale on the dragon's head.

However, her strength was slightly scattered, and the dragon's eyes only spat out a few wisps of thin white mist.

"If the force is scattered, it is useless!"

Ling Hao gave timely guidance, his voice low,

"Here... you should use three parts rubbing and seven parts pinching, combining hardness with softness." He pointed vaguely at a spot on the dragon scale, his gaze meaningful.

Jiang Tingyu understood perfectly. Her fingerwork shifted abruptly, containing a rhythm within the rubbing and pinching.

Poof—

White mist gushed from the dragon's eyes, actually reaching two and a half feet!

The last Disciple, in a blue-purple dress, stepped forward. She nervously extended her pinky finger and swept it toward the base of the dragon's tail—specifically, the two round stone orbs on the pillar's pedestal.

Ling Hao stepped forward, his warm large hand completely enveloping her trembling small hand, guiding her finger to slowly draw circles on the cold, smooth stone orb with light movements.

"At this time, you should apply subtle ingenuity."

Sizzle—!

The dragon's eyes flew wide in fury, spitting out a stream of thick golden mist that instantly reached three and a half feet! Gasps of admiration erupted throughout the hall.

"The champion is Zhang Baifeng, with three and a half feet of golden mist!" Li Sumei announced loudly, her gaze sweeping over Ling Hao with pointed intent.

The Disciple named Zhang Baifeng had flushed cheeks as she bowed excitedly in greeting. The gaze she directed at Ling Hao was filled with endless gratitude and... admiration.

Ling Hao nodded slightly and turned his gaze toward the Jiang sisters.

Jiang Wangqing stood tall and graceful. She met Ling Hao's gaze, the corners of her lips curling into a provocative, charming smile as her fingertips brushed against the smooth dragon scales as if by accident.

Jiang Tingyu, on the other hand, bounced to Ling Hao's side, shaking his sleeve while acting spoiled:

"Sect Master~ you helped Sister reach three feet, but I only got two and a half! It's not fair! Next time... you have to compensate me properly~"

She stood on her tiptoes to get close to his ear, her breath like orchids,

"The spiritual spring newly channeled to the top of Panlong Peak is as warm and smooth as jade... How about you take me and my sister there tonight to discuss the methods of meridian opening?"

The tips of Jiang Wangqing's ears turned slightly red, yet her eyes were startlingly bright.

Ling Hao's gaze swept over the sisters' bashful and expectant faces, and he smiled slightly.

"Alright."

As Ling Hao walked out of the Tiangong Pavilion, the burning gazes and suppressed, flirtatious laughter behind him coiled around him like silk.

Passing by the Qingtian Pavilion, a graceful figure carrying a hint of water vapor crashed into his sight.

Hua Youyou had just come out from cultivating in the spiritual spring of the Qingtian Pavilion. Her light green thin gauze dress was soaked through by sweat and spring mist, clinging tightly to her exquisitely curved body.

In particular, the light-colored stockings wrapping her jade legs were almost semi-transparent after being soaked, clearly showing the beautiful lines of her legs, sticking wetly inside the delicate embroidered shoes at her ankles.

Though her chest was not overly full, it was like a newly blooming bud, showing a moving curve that could be grasped in one hand beneath the wet clothes.

"Sect Master!"

Recognizing the person, Hua Youyou cried out in surprise, her eyes instantly bursting with bright radiance.

"Youyou?"

Ling Hao stopped, his gaze sweeping over her. The spring scenery faintly visible under the soaked clothes and the alluring wet marks on her legs made his eyes darken slightly.

Hua Youyou remembered what Elder Huang had told her not long ago. She summoned her courage and asked:

"Sect Master, I heard from Elder Huang... that in a month, during the Shangsi Festival, the Sect will hold the Hundred Flowers Covenant Ceremony... I... I..."

She took a deep breath, "Can I form a covenant and Cultivate together with you, Sect Master?"

Ling Hao looked at her slightly reddened cheeks and watery eyes, a gentle smile curling on his lips:

"Of course."

"Really?!"

Massive joy instantly overwhelmed Hua Youyou. Forgetting herself, she stood on her tiptoes and lunged straight into Ling Hao's arms, her damp and slightly cool arms tightly encircling his neck.

A bosom full of warm fragrance and soft jade.

The girl's soft body pressed closely against him, her warm body temperature transmitting through the thin fabric. The curve of her chest brought a subtle sense of pressure.

A warm scent, mixed with the smell of green grass and the girl's fresh body fragrance, puffed gently against the side of Ling Hao's neck with her rapid breathing.

Hua Youyou buried her burning little face in the crook of Ling Hao's shoulder, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, yet carrying a hook-like, flirtatious breath as she whispered into his ear:

"Sect Master... this Disciple... this Disciple also heard that the night scenery at the Star-Plucking Eave Pavilion on Tianyuan Mountain... is extremely beautiful... and also extremely quiet..."

She didn't finish her words, but that bold invitation hidden within her shyness was as clear as day.