Chapter 2: Have the Main Characters Arrived?
Lan Yue stood outside the arena, clutching her heart, still feeling lingering fear.
The eldest brother, however, hung his head low, filled with shame.
Li Bai was already deeply regretting it, never expecting that his master's long beard was actually fake.
He must have broken it when his master and the other elders were fighting. He was so ashamed!
At this moment, the entire arena was very quiet, and the occasional cry of cranes could even be heard from the Spirit Beast Peak.
Everyone, whether they were sect elders, managers, disciples, or even the spirit beasts following behind some disciples, couldn't help but stare at the Fifth Elder on the far right.
The Second Elder coughed first: "Little Five, I didn't expect you to be so secretive. You kept it from us for so long."
His gaze fell once again on the other man's long white beard, his eyes filled with intense curiosity.
Throughout the entire sect, apart from the Grand Elder and the Supreme Elder who rarely appear, the Fifth Elder is the most serious, being extremely strict in both daily assessments and accepting disciples.
The only exception was when the Fifth Elder fought with the other elders for Li Bai, which shocked many people and is still a topic of conversation in the Southern Spirit Sect.
The Fifth Elder's ethereal white beard, which everyone praised, had practically become his trademark.
I never imagined that I had secretly stuck it on myself?
The Second Elder's eyes gleamed with gossip. If Lan Yue had seen it, she would have recognized it immediately—it was the look of someone who had just gotten their hands on some juicy gossip!
After sighing at her senior brother's swordsmanship, she then activated the Three Realms Gossip System.
This is the spirit of a gossip-loving girl! Even if she escapes death, she'll still enjoy the gossip!
[Who just saved my life? They were so incredibly cool! I have to find them and thank them secretly!]
The Fifth Elder on the high platform twitched his brow. He was about to send a telepathic message to his disciple, but it was too late.
The elders nearby were also secretly listening, wanting to know how Lan Yue would react when she found out that the person who saved her life was the Fifth Elder.
[Ah, it was the Fifth Elder who saved our lives. That makes sense; the eldest disciple is the Fifth Elder's senior apprentice, so of course he'd protect him. I guess it was just a side effect.]
[But what kind of magical artifact did the Fifth Elder use to save people? It was so beautiful! I saw sparkling fragments of light on it; it was so pretty!]
On the high platform, the Sixth Elder on the left curiously nudged the Fifth Elder and secretly transmitted his voice.
"Fifth Brother, did you use decorations? They surprised our little Lanyue so much."
The Fifth Elder froze, turning his head away immediately.
[Ah, I found it! That magical artifact is actually the Fifth Elder's beard! He just saved us with his beard!]
In other words...
The disciples below the stage began to discuss among themselves, their tone filled with surprise and uncertainty. The once quiet arena was now bustling with activity again.
The Fifth Elder on the high platform finally couldn't sit still any longer and stood up.
"Silence! What kind of nonsense is this? Anyone who utters another word will be dealt with according to the sect's rules!"
The authoritative voice echoed throughout the entire arena, and the disciples who had been whispering amongst themselves immediately shut their mouths.
The unspoken sentiment that had been lingering throughout the arena also disappeared.
"Now that all the disciples have arrived, let's begin the sect's triennial martial arts competition."
"The martial arts competition will be conducted according to..."
[Alas, I never imagined that the Fifth Elder, who seems so serious on the surface, would secretly sprinkle gold powder on his beard! No wonder it looks so sparkly and beautiful!]
The Fifth Elder on the stage paused, stroking his beard, and his eyelids twitched.
"The martial arts competition will be held on different peaks, with each peak sending twenty disciples to compete."
"final..."
[And another thing, not only does the Fifth Elder adorn his beard every day, but he also hides spiritual food and candy inside it! No wonder it smelled so good just now, I see, I see!]
"Pfft, hahaha! I never expected that you, Fifth Brother, would secretly hide spiritual food and candy in your beard. You wouldn't be hiding even more fun things, would you?"
The disciples held back their laughter, not daring to speak openly, but the Sixth Elder had no such scruples. He was practically laughing so hard he was choking, and he directly mocked them through telepathy.
If someone else had done this, he might not have found it so funny, but this was his fifth brother.
It's said that even some children are scared to tears by the name of Fifth Brother, but who would have thought he has such a girlish heart in private!
It's really unbelievable.
If he hadn't heard Lan Yue's thoughts in the martial arts arena, he might not have realized his senior brother's private side even a hundred years later.
With a snap, the Fifth Elder flicked his whisk, finally unable to hold back any longer, and glared angrily at the corner of the arena.
"Little Bai, what are you standing there for? Why aren't you bringing your junior sister over for the competition?"
Li Bai, feeling dizzy, led his junior sister into the arena.
Lan Yue realized that something was wrong, so she quickly shut down the gossip-eating system in her mind and quietly followed her senior brother forward.
However, once they reached the inner perimeter of the arena, the two suddenly realized that neither of them had signed up for the competition!
Li Bai was the senior disciple, so all he had to do was keep an eye on discipline.
Lan Yue, on the other hand, was a complete novice who couldn't even learn to fly on a sword after three months. The reason she insisted on getting up so early and coming to the arena was because there was some drama to watch.
This is the spirit of those who just watch the show!
So, what did Master/Fifth Elder ask them to do?
With the same question in their hearts, the two arrived at the front seats of the arena.
"Xiao Bai, Xiao Yue, you two come here and sit down." The Sixth Elder waved to the two of them eagerly, his face beaming with joy.
Lan Yue blinked, thanked them obediently, and then quietly sat back down in her seat.
Such a well-behaved little girl, even the Sixth Elder felt a little itchy to touch her.
He casually pulled two candies made from spirit fruits from the Fifth Elder's beard: "Here, have some candy, have some candy!"
Li Bai's expression stiffened. He secretly glanced at his master and reluctantly accepted the task.
After accepting the spirit candy, Lan Yue thanked her again.
On the surface, they appear incredibly well-behaved, but inside they are already marveling.
[Wow, so this is the spirit candy that the Fifth Elder secretly hid! It looks so beautiful!]
The Fifth Elder glared at the Sixth Elder, veins bulging on his forehead: "Go down and preside over the martial arts competition!"
"Alright, let's go right now." The Sixth Elder, clutching the last piece of candy he had managed to steal, quickly leaped down.
"Sect Master, all the peaks have arrived, and the martial arts competition can begin immediately." The Fifth Elder came to the high seat in the center.
The sect leader was dressed in a deep purple robe, his eyes closed as if he were dozing.
However, even the Fifth Elder could sense the Sect Master's spiritual sense scrutinizing him near his beard.
Fifth Elder: "..."
His reputation is legendary! He built a name that has stood the test of time. Was it easy?
For a moment, the Fifth Elder almost burst into tears.
"Ahem, now that everyone is here, the competition can begin. Xiao Liu, continue to preside." The sect leader's spiritual sense was violently repelled, but he was not annoyed. Instead, he looked at the arena with a smile.
At the same time, another part of his spiritual consciousness was observing Lan Yue.
The spirit dared not approach, and could only secretly hang on the tree, with the dog following behind reverently.
"This is truly a powerful immortal artifact. It can even intimidate my spiritual sense. No wonder, no wonder..."
"Sect Master, that immortal artifact is truly strange. It's best not to provoke it lightly," the Fifth Elder couldn't help but remind him upon hearing the Sect Master's words.
However, when the sect leader looked at the Fifth Elder's elegant beard, his handsome face broke into a smile.
Fifth Elder: "..."
What a terrible thing!
[This is so boring. I don't even know when the main characters will appear. I want to see the scene where the female lead finds out she's the sect leader's biological daughter.]
The sect leader's bright smile froze on his face.