(Thank you to everyone who has been patient with me, I know I missed a few days and I am sorry, I feel horrible not being able to write but that's just how life is, stuff just pops up. I'll try to be more consistent and write better-quality chapters from now on, but no promises lol)
Jun glanced over at the motionless figure nearby. "You think they'll leave him out cold the whole flight?" he asked Yinling, his voice low with uncertainty.
Yinling shrugged, her gaze drifting to the unconscious person before returning to Jun. "Looks like it. They haven't made a move."
Jun nodded. "Guess we'll see," he muttered while smirking, settling back into his seat beside Yinling, snuggling against her warm form.
As they sat together, the cabin filled with the sound of people's breathing, Junn kept his thoughts to himself, not wanting to stir up any trouble.
Yuer occasionally opened her eyes, stealing glances at Yinling and Jun. The sight of their affectionate gestures made her hand clench involuntarily; it felt like a mocking jab after the recent events.
As hours passed, Jun and Yinling drifted off to sleep, while the others aboard the carriage mentally prepared themselves. Even the patriarch couldn't shake a sense of unease.
Soon, the carriage passed through the cloud line and stopped, below stood a barren expanse of parched earth, devoid of any signs of vegetation. The landscape stretched out before them like a vast, desolate desert, its cracked surface resembling the hardened skin of an ancient creature.
Occasional sandstorms swept through, swirling clouds of dust and grit that obscured the horizon and whipped against the carriage windows with a relentless fury. Despite the absence of traditional sand dunes, the relentless winds carried fine particles, casting a gritty haze over the landscape.
Such a place should have been devoid of any life, however, miles upon miles of luxurious carriages drowned out the sky and ground, sweeping away the sandstorm as if it were nothing.
Every disciple with Jun and Yinling stared in awe at the sight. Despite their privileged backgrounds, they had never witnessed such a grand spectacle.
"I thought nothing could surprise me," commented one youth, his voice filled with wonder.
Yuer trembled with fear at the overwhelming scene before her. The prospect of competing against such a multitude filled her with uncertainty—would she even survive these impending games?
Jun, on the other hand, stood in awe, his simple mind overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the spectacle. It felt as though the sun itself had been obscured by the multitude of carriages blanketing the sky and ground.
Scanning the surroundings, Jun quickly identified a few carriages that commanded respect, their designs marking them as belonging to the elite.
"I wonder if Li Chen will be here," Yinling murmured, her words carrying to Jun's ears effortlessly.
Slapping his forehead in realization, Jun cursed under his breath. "Damn, you're right! That bastard's definitely gonna be here."
Jum had totally neglected the fact that Li Chen was going to be here. Although the last time they had met, Jun was in his female form, he couldn't say the same for Yinling.
Sure her appearance had changed and they were wearing masks, but who knew what secret techniques those people at the top had to discover something they wanted.
Slowly, the carriage floated in the sly like the rest of the carriages.
"Why are we waiting up here?" asked a curious disciple.
Elder Lili, upon hearing the question, opened her eyes.
"It's a gesture of respect to Heaven's Eternal Alliance. Even the most prestigious cities and sects adhere to this unspoken rule," she explained, her gaze narrowing with intensity.
"Of course, you could try to ignore this, but you'll find yourself swiftly obliterated by every cultivator in sight," Elder Lili warned sternly.
The disciple paled further. "S-so... when will the event begin?" he stammered trying to shift the conversation.
The patriarch rose abruptly, startling everyone with his sudden movement. "The event will commence officially when the Heavens Eternal Alliance rings the order bell twice," he announced.
"Dafucks an order bell?" Jun wondered incredulously in his mind.
Ding
Ding
The sudden peal of a bell reverberated through the air, its resonance sending a tingling sensation rippling through Jun and everyone in the vicinity.
"Has it started already?" exclaimed an elder from the Scarlet Sect.
"Descend the carriage to the 7-star sect area!" commanded the patriarch, prompting the carriage to swiftly glide towards its designated spot along with the others.
In an instant, the sky, previously crowded with carriages, became an empty expanse, cleared in preparation for the event. Not a single sect dared to defy the protocol.
As the carriage touched down in an area bustling with hundreds of other carriages, Jun peered out the window, observing the flood of people emerging from them. Some carriages bore emblems depicting beasts, while others displayed unique symbols representing their respective sects.
"This is more than I expected," remarked Yuer, her voice already betraying a hint of unease.
Meanwhile, the patriarch, despite his typically stern demeanor, felt a sense of overwhelming uncertainty creeping in.
The invitation from Heaven's Eternal Order had provided no instructions beyond attendance, leaving him at a loss for what to do. Watching everyone else go about their business with apparent ease only accentuated his feeling of being adrift.
Stepping out of the carriage, Jun and Yinling were greeted with curious stares from the gathered crowd.
"Looks like we have a new face here," remarked a disciple from another sect.
A bold elder from another sect approached the patriarch of the Scarlet Sect, paying no attention to Jun and Yinling, as was customary in such situations.
"It's quite uncommon to see newcomers at this event. Now, who might you be?" inquired the elder with a raised eyebrow.
Feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down upon him, the patriarch understood that this moment held the fate of their sect in its balance. If he faltered now, he would become the eternal pariah of the Scarlet Sect. However, if he succeeded...