books44 Chapter 151 Returning with the Crowd
Chapter 151 Returning with the Crowd
The hundred or so people from the three major sects had been waiting at the Yaotai Sect's mountain gate for a long time. They gradually became impatient, and a cacophony of voices arose. Even the sect elders, who were usually very composed, were too lazy to stop them.
They complained and glared at the Yaotai Sect's welcoming party, and began to lash out at them.
Luo Sifan didn't care. The dignified ancestor of the Yaotai Sect didn't say a word in his arms, so he, an outsider, pretended not to hear anything.
The junior sister standing to the side was so anxious she was almost in tears:
"Senior brothers and sisters! You have to think of something! If these people cause trouble, the sect will definitely blame us!"
Seeing her pitiful state, Luo Sifan offered words of comfort:
"It's alright. With me and this senior sister here today, we can testify. We can't blame you."
The junior sister was outspoken, her brows furrowed:
"What's the use of your testimony? The higher-ups will probably use you all as a scapegoat to shirk responsibility! Sigh, it's all my fault for stopping my senior brothers and sisters from doing things for me!"
Just as the reckless disciples of the three sects were about to overturn the table and smash it, several clear sounds of jade chimes broke through the clouds and calmed the mind, coming down from the sea of clouds.
The noisy crowd quieted down considerably upon hearing this.
"Is this someone from the inner sect?"
Junior Sister's bitter expression changed. The Yaotai Sect has a long history of strict etiquette and rules, and even its music and rituals are meticulously observed.
Three chimes indicate that at least a sect's inner court hall master has arrived.
Luo Sifan was unaware of these rules, only thinking that these troublesome matters in front of the mountain gate could finally be resolved, and he felt relieved.
A hundred meters up the stone steps of the mountain gate, three figures emerged from a stone platform. Leading the group was Yu Yaoxiang. The sight of the vast crowd in front of the mountain gate startled even the seasoned Hall Master Hanxiang.
Among the three major sects, there were some figures she was also familiar with.
Not daring to be negligent, Yu Yaoxiang flew down and greeted the elders leading the three major sects from afar.
The elders, who were not strangers to Yu Yaoxiang, took the opportunity to vent their resentment at waiting for so long, with a hint of teasing.
Yu Yaoxiang looked embarrassed. Just as the junior sister at the gate had predicted, she turned her head coldly, about to reprimand the junior sister at the gate who was standing silently with her head down as if she was about to face a disaster.
Before she could speak, the figure of Luo Sifan, who was half-blocking her path, flashed into her eyes. Her long hair was tied up in a crown, and the familiar colors and figure of her clothes made Yu Yaoxiang's heart skip a beat, and her tone suddenly softened:
"Disciple on duty, come here for a moment."
The junior sister guarding the gate moved her body with a bitter face. Luo Sifan turned his head when he heard the sound, smiled at Yu Yaoxiang, and quietly shook his head.
With so many people from the outer sect present, Yu Lishuang didn't care. He didn't want to cause trouble and make Yaotai Sect the subject of gossip.
Yu Yaoxiang then saw what appeared to be the ancestor lying in Luo Sifan's arms, and was completely bewildered, but immediately understood Luo Sifan's predicament.
Her expression changed drastically, and Yu Yaoxiang smiled as she took the little hand of the gatekeeper junior sister:
"There are many matters to attend to in the sect today, which has caused trouble for you disciples on duty."
The junior sister guarding the gate looked up in astonishment, her eyes welling up with tears of gratitude for the Jade Palace Master's care and thoughtfulness. None of the excuses she had prepared to shirk responsibility were needed.
Luo Sifan, holding Yu Lishuang, squeezed in with a grin.
Yu Yaoxiang was absolutely certain that the person in Luo Sifan's arms was indeed the Ancestor.
Having been bombarded with a wave of PDA right in front of her, she could only sigh inwardly that male beauty was a curse, and dared not show the slightest disrespect in her expression.
Yu Yaoxiang turned to the people from the three major sects:
"Today, our sect is filled with joyous occasions. Fellow Daoists have traveled great distances and gathered here to celebrate the reunion of our sect's ancestor. Naturally, our sect will not neglect you. To avoid tiring you out, the Jade Terrace Sect has opened its Jade Terrace today to welcome you with the highest honors!"
The senior members of the three major sects were both surprised and delighted upon hearing the news, and their resentment from waiting for so long vanished.
The Yaotai Sect's mountain-guarding formation is extremely rigorous. Visitors are usually teleported through the jade platform behind the mountain gate. The higher the level of courtesy, the more people can be teleported at once, and the faster the process takes.
Yu Yaoxiang took it upon herself to take the personal token and returned to the jade platform to perform some operations.
The sound of chimes echoed all the way to the ninth heaven, activating the mountain-protecting array. Ripples gently spread across the jade platform, forming a visibly twisted space shaped like a lotus platform.
Yu Yaoxiang turned and stepped back, waving to Luo Sifan in front of everyone with a smile on her face:
"The mountain gate will be closed, and we will not be entertaining any guests today. You may return to your sect now."
Instead of inviting distinguished guests first, Yu Yaoxiang invited the disciples guarding the mountain gate into the Jade Platform. The elders and leaders of the three major sects all felt that Yu Yaoxiang's actions were somewhat inappropriate.
Luo Sifan patted his bewildered junior sister:
"Let's go, Palace Master Yaoxiang has given the order, hurry up and move forward!"
The junior sister seemed to awaken from a dream. She caught sight of Yu Yaoxiang's kind attitude and boldly followed Luo Sifan, stepping shakily onto the jade platform where the array had been activated and the light was dazzling.
Luo Sifan gestured for her to stand inside, and then, holding Yu Lishuang, he also stood on the inside side.
Afterwards, Yu Yaoxiang led the people from the three major sects, who whispered among themselves, admiring the rare spatial phenomenon, and filed in one after another.
The original pick-up and drop-off platform, which was only about ten feet long, could now accommodate more than a hundred people with room to spare.
"In the blink of an eye, it has expanded and contracted a hundredfold, yet remained stable beyond measure. Your esteemed sect truly lives up to its millennia-long heritage. Even a simple ceremony of welcoming and sending off can be handled with such great care. I admire you!"
An old Taoist priest looked up at the flowing light in the void and exclaimed in admiration.
Yu Yaoxiang smiled faintly:
"They are just some little things passed down by our ancestor, who was exceptionally talented."
The sect's grand formation and mountain-protecting formation were indeed created by Yu Lishuang alone. They have been passed down for ten thousand years, and no one in the sect has dared to make any changes to them. They remain as they were.
Qi Jing, looking annoyed in the crowd, glanced several times at Luo Sifan, who was obediently squeezed to the side. On a whim, he interjected:
"Third Princess, I have long heard that your family's treasured fan was passed down from a celestial phoenix that ascended to immortality and shed its feathers. It possesses extraordinary spatial abilities. Compared to the ingenuity of this place, I wonder which is superior?"
This kid is clearly trying to sow discord and disgust the Third Princess who once stood up for Luo Sifan.
The elders of the three major sects all looked rather grim.
The Third Princess chuckled and replied:
“Artifacts and Daoist techniques are unrelated, so how can they be compared? Qi Jing, your Qi family’s artifacts are nameless and your Daoist techniques are obscure, so it’s no wonder you have such ignorant ideas.”
The Third Princess avoided the comparison and dispute with the Yaotai Sect, instead making sarcastic remarks about Qi Jing and the Qi family, while also praising the Yun family and the Yaotai Sect.
Most of the cultivators on the platform smiled, admiring the Third Princess's sharp tongue.
Qi Jing's face darkened at the rebuttal. Among the Three Kingdoms, the Yun family was recognized for its expertise in weaponry and treasures, while the Qi family had nothing to offer and was mediocre in everything.
The Third Princess's retort struck a nerve with the Qi family, leaving Qi Jing momentarily speechless and unable to come up with a suitable counterattack.
This fueled Qi Jing's resentment even more. He also saw Luo Sifan secretly laughing, gloating. His heart burned with jealousy and hatred.
"arrive!"
Yu Yaoxiang said coldly.