On the day of "Snow at the Cheng Gate," the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm was enveloped in pristine white clouds, with a serene atmosphere and misty veils. Immortal friends from all realms strolled leisurely, engaged in lively discussions about the day's main event, "Snow at the Cheng Gate."
Legend had it that the Immortal Master Liaoying, after empathizing with the suffering of the mortal world and balancing the forces of the Three Realms, sacrificed a part of himself to create the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm. He hoped that future practitioners would revere the heavens, cherish the people, and safeguard all living beings.
"Snow at the Cheng Gate" marked the opening of the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm's barrier, the only day it welcomed visitors from the Three Realms. Hence, individuals from various corners of the realm came together to witness the assessments. Presently, besides the immortals, the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm comprised Immortal Lords/Masters, War Gods, Warlords, Immortal Scholars, and Immortal Servants/Soldiers.
"This 'Snow at the Cheng Gate' aims to select virtuous immortal friends from diverse realms who are ready to serve in the celestial court. I hope all participants will display their talents and shine in the competition. Ever since the enlightenment of the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm, it has embraced selfless love and compassion for the world, striving to maintain peace and protect all beings. Thus, I urge all immortal friends partaking in 'Snow at the Cheng Gate' to fulfill their roles and contribute their utmost efforts, paving the way for peace in the Three Realms." This dignified and refined voice belonged to Xuanming Star Lord, who oversaw various literary affairs and held significant prestige in the realm.
"'Snow at the Cheng Gate' is about to commence, and the theme for this assessment is..." A celestial servant on the elevated platform raised their hand, unfurling a scroll, sparking murmurs among the crowd.
"What's this? 'Yellow Emperor's Chariot'!" Various immortals couldn't help but express their surprise.
"'Snow at the Cheng Gate,' the assessment topic is 'Yellow Emperor's Chariot' at Jiuling." The celestial servant glanced at the assessment topic in the scroll and announced loudly.
"The Yellow Emperor's Chariot possesses inherent fairness and discernment, capable of distinguishing between right and wrong. It's said that those with personal desires and ulterior motives cannot approach it. Hence, the victor of this assessment not only requires exceptional martial prowess but also a heart dedicated to righteousness and the common good. Otherwise, the Yellow Emperor's Chariot may remain elusive, preventing anyone from reaching it, let alone bringing it back." Xuanming Star Lord whispered to another Star Lord beside him.
With the command given, all immortal servants, scholars, and participants from the Three Realms set off, heading towards Jiuling.
Jiuling, located east of the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm and bordering the Wuming Demon Mountain to the northwest, was not merely separated from the mortal world by flat lands but also connected to every corner of the Three Realms.
Although Jiuling lay adjacent to the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm, its terrain primarily comprised steep mountains, cascading springs, and rugged cliffs. It was no easy feat for ordinary folk to traverse it. Nevertheless, it served as an excellent training ground for cultivation.
On the grand hall, numerous immortals, both civil and martial, were seated. Li Luoning and Senior Mu Han were arranged to sit on the left side of the hall, slightly elevated.
Unlike most of the immortals engaged in lively conversations, Li Luoning appeared nonchalant, occasionally closing his eyes to rest while leisurely sipping his wine. He seemed detached from the proceedings, as if he were there just to enjoy the wine.
Meanwhile, Yun Qingyi and Mi Xingzhe stood aside in their immortal attire.
"Brother Qingyi, when will this 'Snow at the Cheng Gate' end? Do I have to socialize with these completely unfamiliar people?" Mi Xingzhe asked impatiently, feeling uncomfortable in the bustling environment, as it wasn't his intention to be there.
"Hey, look, isn't that the little immortal servant that Senior Xiao Yi brought back earlier? Doesn't seem extraordinary at all," whispered a young immortal servant nearby, pointing at Mi Xingzhe.
"Yeah, that's him, as skinny as a monkey. It's strange though, Senior Xiao Yi, who's known for being obsessed with medicine, rarely interacts with others. How come he voluntarily brought back this little immortal servant? I heard he has been living in the Mirror Cloud Residence for quite some time now," another young immortal servant responded.
Mi Xingzhe naturally heard the discussion between the two and couldn't help but feel a bit inferior, lowering his head.
Beside him, Yun Qingyi comfortingly patted Mi Xingzhe's head, gesturing for him not to mind the others' words.
Although Li Luoning was a casual immortal in the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm, renowned for his medical skills and outstanding cultivation, his handsome appearance concealed a lonely and reserved demeanor due to his reputation. Moreover, his cold and handsome face had captivated many immortal servants in the realm.
Countless aspiring immortals sought to become his disciples, but Li Luoning didn't even spare them a glance. Now, not only had Mi Xingzhe been brought back to stay for many days, but he was also openly brought out to meet others, inevitably arousing jealousy among others.
Though Li Luoning had already taken in Yun Qingyi as his disciple, Yun Qingyi's gentle and polite demeanor made him a topic of discussion among many immortal servants in the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm.
However, the position of Senior Xiao Yi's closed-door disciple was often coveted.
Compared to these two, Mi Xingzhe's unfamiliar face and ordinary aptitude seemed out of place.
"Brother Qingyi, is your master particularly popular in the Lingering Tranquility Immortal Realm?" Mi Xingzhe whispered softly into Yun Qingyi's ear.
Upon hearing Mi Xingzhe's words, Yun Qingyi smiled at him, gently pursing his lips as a sign for him to lower his voice.
"Well, those immortal servants are mostly fascinated by Master's appearance. Plus, with Master usually keeping to himself, he does exude an air of mystery to them. You'll get to see for yourself gradually," Yun Qingyi whispered softly.
Noticing the two behind him murmuring, Li Luoning, who had been resting with closed eyes, slightly opened his eyes and glanced in their direction.
Seeing Li Luoning's gaze drifting towards them, Mi Xingzhe gently tugged on Yun Qingyi's sleeve, and the two immediately quieted down, pretending as if nothing had happened.
"Xingzhe," Li Luoning softly called out, then motioned for Mi Xingzhe to come over.
"Don't pay attention to what others are saying. If you really don't enjoy being here, let Qingyi take you back," Li Luoning said calmly, as if he didn't care much about the Snow at the Cheng Gate event. To him, it was just a social obligation he had to fulfill.
"No... no need, I'm... I'm fine like this," Mi Xingzhe declined, stepping back.
"Just endure a little longer. It'll probably end soon," Yun Qingyi reassured him softly, glancing at the departing figure of a woman, then nodded understandingly.
Mi Xingzhe nodded obediently.
Meanwhile, at the Ju Ling Peak...
A graceful and handsome female warrior stood on high ground, observing the terrain. Her black attire fluttered lightly in the wind, her long hair tied up, accentuating her slender figure and heroic demeanor.
With a sharp gaze, the female warrior surveyed her surroundings from above, pondering for a moment before seeming to come to a decision.
"As a young creature, the Charioteer Yellow prefers to reside near water, especially during this season. The best place for it should be by a stream with tall trees, a cool and restful spot," she muttered to herself.
With her direction set, the female warrior dashed off swiftly, her agile figure leaping between the cliffs. Her footsteps were so light that even someone nearby wouldn't notice her movements.
The female warrior watched as the crowd below searched aimlessly, and with a playful demeanor, she suddenly stopped and pointed in the opposite direction, loudly exclaiming, "The Charioteer Yellow is over there, I've spotted it!"
Hearing her voice, the crowd immediately rushed towards the direction indicated by the female warrior's finger.
Meanwhile, among the group of immortals and young disciples, one person suddenly stopped in their tracks and looked around.
Seeing no one nearby, they summoned a wisp of black smoke from their bag and directed it towards the direction of the Ju Ling Peak's grand hall, then cast a fierce glance before disappearing into the crowd.
"Sure enough, it's here."
As expected by the female warrior, she found the young Charioteer Yellow napping under the sparse shade of a few trees by the stream in the Ju Ling Peak.
The young Charioteer Yellow was still in its infancy, its goose-yellow fur looking soft and fluffy as it gently waved in the breeze. Occasionally, a few milky-white hairs shone brightly under the sunlight, resembling a sleeping lamb.
As the Charioteer Yellow was still young, it looked innocent and had a low level of vigilance. The female warrior approached quietly and slowly, then gradually moved closer to the young Charioteer Yellow.
Hearing the sound, the Charioteer Yellow simply raised its head, giving her a sleepy glance before turning its head and tucking its pink nose under its belly, ignoring her presence.
The female warrior understood that she had gained the Charioteer Yellow's approval, so she casually waved her immortal technique and effortlessly picked up the young Charioteer Yellow in her hands.
"Little one, come with me," she said, carrying the Charioteer Yellow as they flew back to the Ju Ling Peak.
In the grand hall, many immortals were drinking, chatting, and enjoying music and dance when a young disciple hurriedly ran in.
"Reporting to the Immortal Master, Yue Ru Ling has brought back the young Charioteer Yellow," the disciple announced.
Upon hearing this, the immortals were delighted, and one immortal said, "I heard that Yue Ru Ling was just an ordinary mortal before, but she obtained a chance encounter and accidentally consumed an immortal herb, transforming from a mortal into a powerful woman with formidable magic. Unexpectedly, she captured the auspicious beast with such ease. Truly remarkable."
"It is said that when she first entered the Ju Ling Peak, although she was young, she could spar with Qing Yuan for dozens of rounds. Did you hear about this?"
Qing Yuan, who was nearby, simply smiled and shook his head without replying.
Before the conversation could continue, Yue Ru Ling returned with the young Charioteer Yellow in her arms.
"After you, Immortal Master. Yue Ru Ling has brought back the Charioteer Yellow, please review it," the young disciple announced.
Then, she gently placed the Charioteer Yellow on the ground. The little creature shook its head, just awakened from its nap, and stretched lazily before slowly standing up, looking around somewhat dazed.
"Please rise, Yue Ru Ling. Your reputation is well deserved. To locate the young Charioteer Yellow in such a short time and bring it back safely is truly remarkable," praised the Immortal Master.
"You flatter me, Immortal Master. I was merely fortunate to find the Charioteer Yellow," Yue Ru Ling replied modestly with a smile.
"You are too modest. I hereby announce that the winner of this year's Chengmen Li Xue is Yue Ru Ling. She shall be rewarded with an elixir for cultivation, promoted to Immortal Warrior, and granted the Flowing Light Battle Armor," declared the Immortal Master with a pleased expression.
"Thank you, Immortal Master." Yue Ru Ling smiled and accepted graciously, then glanced in the direction of Li Luo Ning with a childish pride on her face.
Li Luo Ning sat there, leisurely swaying the wine glass between his fingers, completely oblivious to Yue Ru Ling's gaze.
However, Mi Xingzhe noticed the glance Yue Ru Ling casted, tugging at Li Luo Ning's sleeve to wake him up.
Feeling the tug, Li Luo Ning glanced at Mi Xingzhe. Mi Xingzhe gestured towards Yue Ru Ling, prompting Li Luo Ning to follow his gaze to Yue Ru Ling, who was staring at him.
"It seems like she's looking at you," Mi Xingzhe murmured softly to Li Luo Ning.
Just as Li Luo Ning's eyes were about to meet Yue Ru Ling's, the Charioteer Yellow beside Yue Ru Ling suddenly became agitated, roaring loudly and tensing up as if something had frightened him behind Yue Ru Ling, making him full of hostility.
The fur behind the Charioteer Yellow slowly stood up, emitting a faint blue light, glaring fiercely in Yue Ru Ling's direction as if it would attack at any moment.
Before Yue Ru Ling could react, a deafening roar came from behind her, followed by a powerful magic crashing down, hitting the center of the Immortal Master's hall, flipping over the tables of many immortals present, and knocking down many immortal masters and disciples who couldn't dodge in time.
Seeing this, Li Luo Ning quickly grabbed a folding fan and threw it in the direction where the Charioteer Yellow was roaring. Although he couldn't see what the Charioteer Yellow was roaring at, it was certain that there was something in that direction.
The folding fan seemed to touch something in the air before bouncing back, followed by a roar and the emergence of a gigantic earthworm from the black smoke.
Seeing such a large earthworm, chaos erupted in the hall instantaneously. Many young immortals and servants panicked and fled in all directions. Some immortals were injured and couldn't move on the ground.
The Charioteer Yellow was thrown several meters away by the force and crashed heavily into a pillar not far from Mi Xingzhe. It struggled to get up but failed several times. It seemed to be seriously injured, panting heavily before collapsing to the ground.
"Little Charioteer Yellow!" Mi Xingzhe saw the injured little creature not far away.
Then he looked at Li Luo Ning, who had flown out to confront the enemy, and struggled to get up and run towards the injured Charioteer Yellow.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Don't move, you'll be fine," Mi Xingzhe comforted the little Charioteer Yellow as he picked it up.
"It's you again!" Mi Xingzhe turned his head and saw the earthworm shrouded in black smoke. He recognized it as the monster that had chased him in the woods that day, his voice full of anger.
Hearing Mi Xingzhe's words, Li Luo Ning also looked closely at the earthworm in front of him. Seeing the blood stains on its claws, he realized that this earthworm was the same one he had encountered in the forest.
What puzzled Li Luo Ning was how the earthworm had grown so large in just a few days.
Without much time to think, the giant earthworm lunged forward. Li Luo Ning threw the folding fan in his hand, hitting the earthworm's right eye. The creature recoiled in pain, closing its eyes.
"May the dark flames of heaven burn, and the soul be silent~"
Seizing the opportunity, Li Luo Ning summoned his long sword and flew towards the earthworm, thrusting it forward.