Wei Yunxi glanced between Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui's starkly different reactions, smiled, and shared the first-hand information she had obtained.
Lin Keyang's brow furrowed deeper as he listened. When Wei Yunxi finished, he spoke up. "Senior Sister Ran Xi, based on what you know, the evil cultivators will definitely stir up trouble at this Five Region Grand Tournament hosted by Huaxian Sect. Wouldn't that put every participating disciple in danger?"
Before Wei Yunxi could answer, Zhang Lingrui jumped in. "Danger is a given. But isn't facing danger head-on exactly what cultivators are supposed to do? Just because we know evil cultivators plan to make a move, should the tournament be canceled? Wouldn't that only embolden them and make them think we're afraid?"
As a sword cultivator, Zhang Lingrui had no shortage of forward momentum.
Wei Yunxi smiled, accepting his point, but as a friend she had her own considerations. "The sect received the warning in advance, so there will be deployments. They will not let the evil cultivators have their way. This time, besides Nascent Soul cultivators being allowed to register directly, Golden Core and Foundation disciples must pass internal selection first. The Sect Master has been busy with it these past two days.
I will not interfere with either of your decisions. But as your friend, I want to make sure that if you accidentally fall into a trap, you have the means to protect yourselves. Otherwise, I truly do not wish for you to wade into this mess. Nothing matters more than keeping your own lives."
Zhang Lingrui rubbed his hands, eager. "Haha, I haven't drawn my sword since advancing. If Senior Sister Ran Xi honors us with a bout, how could we refuse? Go all out."
Lin Keyang shot his excitable friend a look and nearly covered his face. They had only just stepped into early Nascent Soul, while Ran Xi was already late Nascent Soul. They were all in the same realm, but there were still two minor stages between them. Given Wei Yunxi's combat power, even together they might not be able to match her.
Still, he did want to test himself, to see clearly the gap between himself and a "prodigy disciple." One thing she said resonated with him: nothing matters more than your own life. If a crisis exceeds your limits, better not to dive in.
So Lin Keyang followed Zhang Lingrui's lead. "Senior Sister Ran Xi, we understand your intention. No time like the present. Let's head to the sect's arena right now."
"Good."
Wei Yunxi agreed readily. She had not stretched her limbs since healing. Today would be a warm-up before the tournament.
The three left Lingxue Peak together and made for Haoran Sect's Doufa Peak.
On the way, Wei Yunxi sent Elder Han a message, asking him to open an arena in advance. She would cover the spirit stones and sect-point costs herself.
All three were Yuányīng Zhēnjūn. Their destructive power was second only to Divine Transformation cultivators. Even for a friendly spar, protections were a must, or the entire inner sect might get blown apart. Opening an arena consumed sect points, and maintaining the protective barrier required spirit stones, so everything had to be prepared ahead of time.
At the Disciples' Hall, Elder Han was sorting the list of tournament registrants when a message talisman drifted down. After reading it, his eyes widened. He immediately sent a notice with his inner-elder identity token, grabbed the jade key for activating the arena, and hurried out.
The two late-Foundation assistants exchanged a look, gossip blazing in their eyes.
"Did you see that? Elder Han took the jade key for a Grade-A Arena."
"Of course I saw it. I'm not blind. Who's dueling that they need the biggest arena in the sect?"
"How would I know? But judging by Elder Han's face, both sides must be something else. Think it's a personal grudge?"
"No idea. I really want to go watch."
"We're on duty. Don't even think about it."
"Tch, just because I can't go doesn't mean others can't. I'm sending a message to the senior brothers. They can watch for me."
He pulled a message talisman from his storage bag and began to transmit. The other assistant's eyes lit up too, and he started messaging his friends.
In less than a quarter of an hour, news that two high-level cultivators were settling private scores on the arena had spread through the inner sect. Disciples who received the message rushed to Doufa Peak. Some came just for the spectacle. Others came to study and learn. The peak grew lively at once.
Wei Yunxi and her two companions did not ride sword-light within the sect. They walked toward Doufa Peak, and halfway there Wei Yunxi asked after Cao Yi.
"Cao Yi got lucky," Zhang Lingrui answered. "He profited greatly in the Baohua Mountain secret realm and formed his Yuányīng ahead of us. Then he took a sect mission and left. I don't think he cares about this tournament. His heart is in arrays.
Before he left, he sent me a talisman. He's going out to sense the flow of Heaven and Earth and comprehend how to arrange formations using the power of the five elements. He won't be back anytime soon."
"Good."
Wei Yunxi nodded.
She believed Cao Yi had real talent in formations. He had broken the evil formation set by Xiao He, which said plenty. Given time to lay his arrays, an array master was basically invincible among peers. She was not worried about his safety at all.
By the time the three reached Doufa Peak, many disciples had already gathered.
"Look, isn't that Ran Xi Zhēnjūn of Lingxue Peak?"
"Yes, yes. And the other two are Lin Zhēnjūn of Gang Peak and Zhang Zhēnjūn of Jian Peak. Are they the ones dueling?"
"But they're chatting so happily. Doesn't look like a personal grudge."
Someone immediately countered, "You can spar without a grudge."
"Hurry, grab a front-row spot."
At that reminder, the disciples at the foot of the mountain surged uphill toward the summit.
The three exchanged looks, each a little speechless. They had heard the whispers. Apparently, the reason for their match had been completely misunderstood.
Zhang Lingrui waved a big hand. "It's fine. Doesn't affect our sparring. Let's head straight to the peak."
Wei Yunxi and Lin Keyang offered no objection. The three figures blinked out and reappeared by the largest arena on the summit.
Elder Han had already been waiting a while. He stood respectfully at Hao Hui Zūnzhě's side, answering questions.
Seeing Hao Hui Zūnzhě, the three stepped forward together to salute. "Greetings, Hao Hui Zūnzhě."
Hao Hui waved a hand. "The three of you are itching for a bout?"
Wei Yunxi chuckled and sent a voice transmission to explain the reason.
Hao Hui glanced over Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui. He remembered them. Both had advanced steadily step by step. Without Wei Yunxi, they would have died in the Baohua Mountain secret realm. He wanted to see their current strength as well, so he smiled. "I will serve as referee. Onto the platform."