Chapter 182

The vexation in his heart inexplicably dissipated at this moment. He lowered his eyes and leaned back in the chair, glancing sideways at her curled-up figure. His tone was firm and unquestionable, “No.”

“Really?!”

Ning Ning immediately poked her head out of the robe, smiling from ear to ear. Then, thinking something was amiss, she furrowed her brows. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

Pei Ji’s expression remained unchanged, “No.”

Only then did she feel at ease, smiling as she continued, “Then don’t ask anyone what happened in the secret realm today!”

Pei Ji: “Okay.”

Ning Ning was very satisfied and, after thinking for a while, earnestly told him, “Actually, nothing much happened. It was just a fight… the ultimate duel between sword cultivators, you know? But as you know, my spiritual energy is insufficient, so it was a bit embarrassing.”

Cheng Ying “tsk-tsked” a few times.

Look at this girl’s expression; it completely contradicts her claim of “not really caring.”

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The beginning and end of the trial conference were both at midnight. The spirit foxes and demon cultivators were taken to the platform where the elders gathered, awaiting further discussion and decisions.

The disciples who passed the trial were extremely tired and returned to the inn early to rest, awaiting the announcement of the rankings the next day.

Ning Ning slept until the afternoon of the next day. To celebrate the successful passage of the first trial by all of Tian Xianzi’s disciples, they decided to head to the famous Tianxiang Tower to celebrate.

Tianxiang Tower was renowned for its wide variety of dishes from both the north and south, especially its exceptional wine-making craftsmanship, making it the top restaurant in Luan City.

The group was arranged in a private room on the third floor. Zheng Weiqi, feeling refreshed after passing the trial, couldn’t stop talking as they went upstairs, “This is so much better than the written exams at the academy! Fighting and killing are so much fun! Just carrying a sword means fighting. What’s the point of reciting poems and couplets?”

This outrageous statement made Ning Ning chuckle softly. Remembering her promise to Pei Ji, she immediately said, “I’ll treat everyone today.”

“No way, no way! How can we let Ning Ning pay? As the senior brother, I should be the one to treat!”

He Zhizhou, thinking of the delicious food, grinned widely, “I still have some of the money I earned from the last mission in the Floating Tower. I’ll use it to thank Uncle Master Tian Xianzi for his long-term care. This meal is on me.”

Although Tian Xianzi was poor, he still had the status of a master. It felt inappropriate to let the young disciple pay for the meal, as it would be a blow to his dignity.

Thus, the poorest elder in the entire Xuanxu Sect waved his sleeve, smiled, and shook his head, then loudly said, “Since the trial just ended, it’s only right for me, as the elder, to treat you. No more arguments; this meal is on me!”

“That won’t work!”

Being one of the poorest disciples in the entire Xuanxu sect, He Zhizhou was equally oblivious to his financial situation. He quickly pulled out his wallet and said, “I’ll pay! Tonight, we won’t go home until we’re drunk!”

Either you don’t mention paying from the start, or you stick to it and settle the bill. If you back down halfway, it feels like losing to the other, making one feel uncomfortable all over.

Tian Xianzi thought this wouldn’t do and quickly took out a small cloth bag from his storage pouch, pressing down He Zhizhou’s hands, “Since Uncle Master finally got to take you out with great difficulty, so don’t be stubborn!”

The two poor souls erupted with an extraordinary desire to win, pushing and shoving with their wallets as they walked up the restaurant, resembling a pair of dancers. Their bodies swayed left and right, while their money bags flew up and down.

Following behind them, Ning Ning, who was initially guessing with Zheng Weiqi who would end up paying, almost choked on her laughter—

Their private room was on the third floor of Tianxiang Tower, and to get there, they had to pass through the brightly lit corridor, inevitably encountering the staircase.

At this time, He Zhizhou and Tian Xianzi were still pushing each other with deep affection as master and disciple.

A familiar male voice suddenly sounded behind them, seemingly the voice of the Lord of Luan City, full of surprise and laughter, “Ah! Isn’t this Elder Tian Xianzi of the Xuanxu Sword Sect and all the young daoists!”

This voice sounded unexpectedly. Tian Xianzi recognized its owner and was temporarily distracted. He quickly turned his head away.

He Zhizhou, not expecting this sudden movement and distraction, still focused on pushing Tian Xianzi’s arm, smiled shyly, and gave a strong push.

Unfortunately, this time it was no longer evenly matched.

Thus, the Lord of Luan City and his wife, in the brightly lit Tianxiang Tower, witnessed the most horrifying scene of the day.

Elder Tianxian was walking with a disciple. After hearing the voice, he hurriedly turned around and gave the two of them a hearty smile.

In the next moment, his expression drastically changed. His body leaned backward and slid down the stairs. In utter panic, he reached out with his last bit of instinct.

Unfortunately, trust and the bond between master and disciple were misplaced. The disciple did nothing but stand there in shock.

When his fingers just brushed the sleeve, Elder Tian Xianzi could no longer hold back his expression. His eyes, mouth, and nostrils all expanded by more than 30% compared to their original sizes, to a state unimaginable for ordinary people.

It was extremely horrifying.

From his look of fear and confusion, anyone could imagine the secret of a bloody battle between masters and disciples in the immortal sect.

—It turned out that the disciple accompanying him had pushed him down the stairs when he wasn’t paying attention!

The wife of the city lord, who looked like a fallen fairy, took a deep breath and tightly grasped her husband’s arm. She was indeed a beauty, and even her screams were particularly clear and melodious: “Help! Murder—!”

He Zhizhou’s rusty brain finally caught up, realizing what had happened. He waved his money bag and shouted, “Master—uncle—!”

The diners on the second and third floors of Tianxiang Tower heard the commotion and peeked out to see what was happening. Their expressions turned to shock when they saw the scene.

The white-robed elder was pushed hard and fell backward in extreme terror, like a windmill spinning uncontrollably, rolling down the long staircase.

His head and feet took turns hitting the steps under inertia. When his bloodless, pale face was flung up into the air, it was filled with despair.

When he finally lay flat on his back like a pancake, he fell right at the city lord’s feet. The purse in his hand fell to the ground, and a few pitiful spirit stones fell out of it.

A passerby glanced at the stones and muttered in slight disdain, “Ah, just a few pitiful spirit stones.”

Tian Xianzi twitched.

The money in this bag, added together, is not as high as his current blood pressure.

He Zhizhou tentatively called out, “M-master-uncle?”

Tian Xianzi ignored him, crawling to the stair railing, trying to use it to stand up.