NOVPUBChapter 841: Chapter 266: Xi Xi and Her Underworld Masters, Qingming Divine Sect Ancestor Worship Great God Accepts Disciples [Request for Monthly Ticket]_4
The next moment, his pupils contracted once more.
Because, behind the Bull Demon, one figure after another appeared.
A lean and cold persona wearing a Horse Face Mask.
A persona wearing the Divine Monkey Mask, carrying a staff, exuding wild arrogance.
And another, standing with hands clasped behind his back, donning a ferocious Thunder Dragon Mask, lightning arcs coursing across, radiating unparalleled dominance.
"The... Underworld villains?!"
Hong Lei's face turned ashen...
These were the ones who had executed the Western Camp General of the Divine Guard Army, You Liqing, on the spot, injured a Martial Saint, and aided in the assault and killing of a Martial Saint!
Elusive, their tracks impossible to capture!
What right did he, Hong Lei, have to be able to confront the villains directly?!
The Bull Demon, towering like Tower Mountain, slightly lowered his head, his gaze falling on Hong Lei.
A raspy voice, like the edge of a blade, gently scraped against Hong Lei's throat.
"Bet everything on number ten..."
"Li Nuanxi."
...
...
"The Underworld villains appeared together at the Qiankun Gambling House? To bet on Li Nuanxi?"
"And the Underworld Horse Face placed a bet with a Fifth-Order Middle-Level Divinity Crystal? Betting so big?"
"If the Underworld villains' gamble proves correct, and the Qiankun Gambling House refuses to pay out, or if they call upon the Su Family's Martial Saints and Divine Fetus to encircle and kill the villains... would the Underworld dare to come then?"
"What do you think? Would the Underworld dare?"
...
The news of the Underworld villains openly placing bets spread like a storm, almost overshadowing the momentum of the Sect Master's Direct Disciple Examination.
However, it was well-known among major forces that the Bull Demon had always had a close relationship with Li Nuanxi.
Thus, the Bull Demon rallying the Underworld villains to bet on Li Nuanxi wasn't entirely shocking.
What startled people was the way the villains swaggered publicly, acting unrestrained and fearless.
After all, the Underworld, in collaboration with the Yellow Sword Wine, had slaughtered the Su Family's disciples and even killed the Su Family Patriarch, Su Wenxi, completely severing ties with the Su Family.
So many were curious—how did the Underworld villains dare to act with such brazen audacity?
But upon reflection, the Underworld's actions seemed to show that they did not regard the Su Family at all.
And indeed, the Underworld had the capital to be this arrogant.
By the time Su Family Patriarch Su Daoling arrived, the Underworld villains had long since disappeared without a trace.
Qian Yuan Divine Sect.
Inner Sect, Divine Talisman Tower.
"Husband~~~!"
"You must take good care of Xi Xi. Xi Xi is, after all, my disciple, Xuan Qisha. If she gets eliminated during the Direct Disciple Examination, it would be such a loss of face for your wife!"
"Husband, let me pull some strings, okay?"
Xuan Qisha clasped her hands together, her watery eyes filled with a pitiful plea.
Lv Taibai, with a doting smile, rubbed her head affectionately.
"My dear, don't be naughty."
"Xi Xi doesn't need shortcuts."
"That little girl..."
"Someone will naturally help her."
...
...
February 26, Qingming Festival.
During Qingming, the drizzling rain falls incessantly, the travelers on the road feel their spirits consumed by sorrow.
The spring rain continued to fall lightly, and in the depths of Qianyuan Taoist City, a sprawling mountain range resembling a giant dragon coiled between the city was shrouded in misty rain, with a faint glimpse of a peak adorned with blooming red plum blossoms.
Dong——!
A resonant chime echoed from within the Qian Yuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate.
This was an ancient Divine Bell that only rang for events of monumental importance, said to have been left by the founding ancestor of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect.
It carried a unique significance.
The bell sound rippled across the city, dislodging two or three peach petals from the peach trees lining the streets. 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑝𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
The petals fell to the rain-soaked ground, dampened by the raindrops, and were subsequently crushed by the wheels of passing carriages, sticking to them as they rolled forward.
Today was Qingming, a special time of the year, and also the day for an event that had captured the city's full attention.
The Qian Yuan Divine Sect Master, Lv Taibai, was about to conduct the final Direct Disciple Examination.
This would be the last disciple Lv Taibai took under his wing as a Direct Disciple, and although no one understood why Lv Taibai had made such a decision, no one doubted its authenticity once he had declared it.
The broad avenue of Qianyuan Taoist City, wide enough for a dozen luxurious carriages to travel side-by-side, was wet from the rain and bustling with activity.
Many children who hadn't been recorded in the Qiankun Gambling House's Divine Child List were still being escorted by their families toward the mountain range where the Qianyuan Divine Sect Mountain Gate was located.
Of course, only those with Divine Child talent were permitted; bringing a Spirit Child who hadn't achieved Divine Child level to participate in the examination...
Would be a grave disrespect to the Divine Sect Master, the Divine Fetus Great God Lv Taibai, ranked fifth on the Great God List.
Moreover, as of now...
No one knew what exactly the examination entailed. Lv Taibai hadn't revealed a single detail—not even to the elders of the Inner Sect.
Because the rules of the examination were personally set by Lv Taibai without consulting others.
Thus, it differed significantly from past Sect Master Direct Disciple Examinations.
Regardless, this examination carried profound significance. Becoming a Direct Disciple could bring about a situation akin to "one person ascends, all rise."
After all, should this Direct Disciple hail from the Great Vista, they might even...
Become the future successor of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect!
Qian Yuan Divine Sect.
Outer Sect, Disciple City, Elder Court.
Nie Yang had long driven the carriage to wait at the gate, while Li Chengzhou sat leaning against the shaft with his sword, eyes closed, bearing a maturity far beyond his age.
Xi Xi, after eating three large bowls of longevity noodles with added eggs prepared by Zhang Ya, contentedly patted her round little belly.
"Xi Xi can already feel Mommy's love! Let's set off, Emperor Xi Xi is ready to conquer!"
Hands on her hips, belly puffed out, Xi Xi radiated fighting spirit!
Though she really should've wiped away the noodle dangling at the corner of her mouth.
Li Che emerged from the house with a laugh, picked Xi Xi up, and together they entered the carriage.
"Time to go or we'll be late."
"Your poor old dad has staked almost everything he owns on this."
Li Che chuckled.
Hearing this, Xi Xi, held in Li Che's arms, confidently patted her chest like a drum.
"Daddy, don't worry, Emperor Xi Xi has been waiting so long to fight someone!"
"Today, I'm going to shock everyone!"
Xi Xi was brimming with confidence.
Li Che ruffled her hair. When it came to fighting, this little girl truly didn't back down—she was like the Number-One Tough Fighter of the world.
However, this Direct Disciple Examination wasn't about who could fight better.
Nie Yang, now elevated to Supreme Grandmaster, cracked the whip and the carriage set off.
Old Chen, puffing on his pipe, drove another carriage behind them, inside of which sat Xi Xi's little support crew—Gong Yang Xiu, Gong Yuanliang, Hai Chao Sheng, Huang Si Xiang, and others.
They were companions from the Golden Light Sub-sect who had come to the Qian Yuan Divine Sect together.
Though unqualified to partake in the Sect Master Direct Disciple Examination, they were eager to cheer for Emperor Xi Xi and boost her morale!
The carriages emerged from the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.
But they weren't the only ones; one carriage after another split through the spring rain, speeding along the mountain path.
From inside the Mountain Gate...
And from outside it...
Carriages moved as if twin currents, all converging on the Qiankun White Jade Arch imbued with the Founding Ancestor's Dao Yun—the designated site for Lv Taibai's Direct Disciple Examination.
On this Qingming day, to commemorate the ancestor.
And to accept one more Direct Disciple.
The spring breeze caressed willows, raindrops veiled the air.
Plum blossoms adorned the mountains.
Amidst the fine spring rain, the ancient Divine Bell rang once more.
