"Grandfather, why am I the only participant from the Shen Family? What about Ling’Er? Isn’t she participating?" Shen Haoran asked in confusion as he continued to flip through the Scroll, noticing he was the only one listed from the Shen Family.
Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Old Sir Shen sighed and said helplessly, "Ever since your parents disappeared, the Shen Family’s strength has plumted. Among the younger generation, you are the only one qualified to participate in an event like this. As for Ling’Er... she was taken away!"
"Taken away?" Shen Haoran frowned. ’No wonder I haven’t seen that little girl since I got back. With her personality, she should have been clinging to this whole ti!’
"Who took Ling’Er?!" Fury surged in Shen Haoran’s heart. Ling’Er was very important to him. He would never forgive anyone who dared to touch his family!
"I’m not entirely sure myself. About half a year after you left, an incredibly beautiful young woman suddenly appeared at the Shen Family’s residence and took Ling’Er away. I wanted to stop her, but a single glance from her froze in place. She was too powerful! And she could even perform Walking on Void! The woman never revealed her na from start to finish. She only left this Jade Pendant. See if you can recognize it." With that, Old Sir Shen handed an exquisite Jade Pendant to Shen Haoran.
The Jade Pendant was beautifully carved. On the front, a palace amidst the clouds was depicted so vividly it made one imagine being there. On the back was the engraved character for "jade," which held a mysterious charm that even Shen Haoran found himself lost in.
"Jade Maiden Heart Palace!"
As Shen Haoran stood there in a daze, a startled cry from Elder Yan snapped him out of it.
"Jade Maiden Heart Palace? What’s that?" Shen Haoran asked, completely baffled. He had never seen Elder Yan react so strongly.
"The Jade Maiden Heart Palace is a Sect! But it’s hidden away in the mountain forests, uninvolved in worldly affairs. This Sect only recruits female disciples, so the entire Sect is filled with beauties!"
’All won!’ Shen Haoran exclaid internally.
"That’s right. But don’t think they’re weak just because the Sect is full of female disciples. The Jade Maiden Heart Palace’s power is terrifying. You’d be hard-pressed to find more than a few powers on the entire continent that could stand against them! Your Little Ling’Er must have sothing special about her to be taken away like that. But don’t worry, they won’t harm Little Ling’Er," Elder Yan said.
"Hmph, they still can’t just take my people away without my consent! So what if they’re powerful? In the near future, I will definitely pay this Sect a visit and get justice for Ling’Er!" Shen Haoran said, his eyes narrowing as he gazed into the distance.
"Haha, good lad! You have the sa spirit I had in my youth!" Boss Yan laughed heartily.
"But you’d better raise your strength as quickly as possible. Without power, you won’t even have the right to speak."
"Of course!" Shen Haoran replied. ’Once the Hunting Contest is over, I’ll have to seriously consider my future path!’
After staying with Old Sir Shen for a while longer, Shen Haoran returned to his small courtyard, where Aunt Xue and Ji Lingxuan were waiting for him to have dinner. For the next ten days, Shen Haoran didn’t train as frantically as before. Instead, he spent his days wandering through the markets of Cyan Mountain City with Ji Lingxuan. After all, one shouldn’t be too tense even with Cultivation; a balance between work and rest was the key to success.
Ten days passed quickly. As the Hunting Contest approached, a tense atmosphere enveloped all of Cyan Mountain City.
「The fifteenth day of the eighth month, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival!」
Early that morning, the square in Cyan Mountain City was already packed with people. At the very front of the crowd, the Shen Family, the Ge Family, the Liu Family, the Cyan Mountain City Lord’s Mansion, and a few other influential figures all stood with solemn dignity, awaiting the arrival of the Three Great Sects.
Ti slowly trickled by. At noon, the crisp cry of a crane echoed across the sky. Hearing the sound, the crowd below looked up to see a giant Spiritual Crane circling in the sky, the strong winds it generated causing their robes to flutter noisily.
"He Yiming, Third Elder of the Spirit Crane Sect, has arrived!"
As soon as the voice fell, the Spiritual Crane in the sky slowly descended. An old man with the dignified air of an immortal leaped down from the crane’s back. At the sa ti, a terrifying aura enveloped everyone in the square.
Feeling this pressure, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically. Several of the Patriarchs even cried out in alarm, "A Spirit Aspect Powerhouse!"
Shen Haoran also watched He Yiming with a grave expression. ’To think that a re Third Elder of the Spirit Crane Sect is already a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse. They truly live up to their na as one of the Three Great Sects!’
When Shen Haoran happened to glance at Ji Lingxuan, he found that she still wore her usual indifferent expression, as if a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse was nothing worth ntioning to her. Thinking of the power behind Ji Lingxuan, Shen Haoran could only give a wry smile. ’Looks like I’ll be under a lot of pressure in the future!’
While Shen Haoran was lost in thought, another sound of sothing tearing through the air ca from the sky. A white Treasure Sword fell from above and plunged straight into the center of the square, kicking up a cloud of dust.
When the dust settled, a middle-aged man who looked like a frail scholar was standing on the sword’s hilt. He looked at He Yiming and said, "Elder He, it’s been a while!"
"Jian Wuxin of the Sword Sect. I never thought you’d co back to this godforsaken place," He Yiming said coolly, glancing at the middle-aged man.
"Heh, how can you call it godforsaken? After all, it attracted a rare bird like you, didn’t it, Elder He?" Jian Wuxin said with a faint smile, completely unfazed by the killing intent in He Yiming’s eyes.
"My, it’s quite lively here!" As the two n subtly jabbed at each other, a seductive voice rang out. Imdiately, a rain of flowers began to fall from the sky, filling the entire square with a rich fragrance. While the crowd marveled at the shower of blossoms, a stunning figure that could make one’s blood boil descended upon the petals.
"Rose Fairy! The Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace is being quite generous this ti, sending you down the mountain to select disciples!" He Yiming said, looking at the beautiful woman.
"Giggle... You jest, Elder He. Even Jian Wuxin has co out of seclusion for this. How could I not co to see the Sword Sect’s Sword Saint for myself?" the Rose Fairy chuckled, covering her mouth lightly.
Shen Haoran glanced at the Rose Fairy before looking away. He swept his gaze over the three of them and sighed internally, ’Three Spirit Aspect Powerhouses. Is this the power of the Three Great Sects? Truly formidable!’
"Since we’re all here, let’s begin this year’s Hunting Contest," Jian Wuxin said coldly, ignoring the Rose Fairy’s flirtatious advances.
"Let’s begin. I’m waiting to see a good show," He Yiming chuckled, his gaze then finding Shen Haoran in the crowd and locking onto him like a venomous snake.
The mont He Yiming’s gaze fell on him, Shen Haoran felt a chill. eting He Yiming’s eyes, Shen Haoran’s expression turned just as cold, and he didn’t back down in the slightest.
Seeing that Shen Haoran dared to look him straight in the eye, He Yiming snorted coldly. "Hmph, just a buffoon putting on a show. I’ll let you hop around for a little while longer."
After Jian Wuxin, He Yiming, and the Rose Fairy reached a consensus, the three of them looked down at the eager crowd and announced in a loud, clear voice, "The Cyan Mountain City Hunting Contest now officially begins!"
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