Chapter 694 - 632: Stepping onto the Peak 41 (4,000 Words)_2
Si Kaojing, seeing that Shuangshuang was interested in this place, helped explain to her, "These clouds and mists are not real clouds, but rather a massive magic artifact that can float in mid-air. People can live on this artifact, and disciples of the Wuji Sect like to do small businesses here. Over time, this cloud has become like a marketplace."
Si Kaojing said with some regret in his heart, "Now that there’s a hurry to arrange for you to enter the secret realm, we must rush to gather; there’s no time to take you to this market to play. There are many interesting things for exchange at the market. After you join the Wuji Sect, you must visit and have fun."
It was obvious that Si Kaojing had already taken Shuangshuang’s entry into the Wuji Sect for granted. Shuangshuang quietly listened, occasionally asking questions about things that surprised her.
The Flying Heaven Palace stopped before a massive building located at the mountainside of the giant peak. In front of the building stood two rows of disciples, all with cultivation at the Martial Master or Half-step Martial Master level. Seeing Si Kaojing, the disciples hurriedly saluted and greeted him.
Si Kaojing acknowledged with a hum, said nothing, and led Shuangshuang in. None of the gatekeeping disciples dared to stop Shuangshuang.
After Si Kaojing led Shuangshuang inside, the guarding disciples couldn’t resist sharing some gossip among themselves.
They were already aware that Si Kaojing was going to bring a genius from an affiliated sect family to participate in the secret realm expedition. Upon seeing Shuangshuang, they secretly scrutinized her to ascertain her identity.
Some who were not satisfied with Shuangshuang getting a spot in the secret realm by what seemed like a backdoor method even secretly used the Spirit Exploration Technique on her, wanting to verify if she was truly that talented.
The Spirit Exploration Technique is a small spell that confirms others’ true ages, applied to the user’s pupils. Unless a cultivator has powerful perception, an average person won’t realize they’ve been probed for their age.
The disciple who used the Spirit Exploration Technique was stunned upon seeing Shuangshuang’s age. A fellow disciple, noticing he used the technique, couldn’t help but ask, "Senior Brother Zhao, how is it? Is that woman already close to thirty?"
That Senior Brother Zhao, who used the Spirit Exploration Technique, regained his composure and looked at the inquisitive peer with a complex expression, "Haven’t you seen her looks? She doesn’t look like someone near thirty; she’s not even of age yet!"
Finished with those words, Senior Brother Zhao squatted aside in frustration, silent. Despite being nearly sixty, a young age for a cultivator and considered an average genius, he had taken pride in his cultivation speed.
In the past, Senior Brother Zhao felt pleased with himself, even when compared to those who were better than him in the Inner Sect; they were all over twenty anyway. He hadn’t thought he was much lesser than those geniuses.
But now, comparing with this barely of age girl whose level nearly matched his, Senior Brother Zhao genuinely felt the blow geniuses inflicted on ordinary people—making him feel like he wasted all those years.
Unaware that she unwittingly struck a blow to someone, Shuangshuang followed Si Kaojing through a long corridor into a grand hall, where she saw numerous people meditating and cultivating.
Roughly estimated, there were about four to five hundred people meditating, yet the hall did not feel crowded, indicating just how large the hall was.
Sitting above those meditating was a young man with an immortal-like aura. The man had a naturally congenial face that seemed approachable and amiable, easily gaining others’ favor.
Si Kaojing led Shuangshuang to this young man, and after exchanging peer-level salutes, introduced Shuangshuang, "Shuangshuang, this is our Wuji Sect’s Sect Leader Wei Tianxiao."
Shuangshuang stepped forward and respectfully saluted as a junior, "This junior greets the Sect Leader." Shuangshuang’s poise was confident and composed, neither too reserved nor disrespectful, which left a fine impression on Wei Tianxiao.
He smiled and said to Si Kaojing, "So this is the Tan Family’s number one genius, the daughter of your beloved apprentice and her husband? Sure enough, her innate talent is extraordinary." As he spoke, Wei Tianxiao casually took off a storage bag and handed it to Shuangshuang with a smile, "Here, this is a meeting gift for you."
Shuangshuang glanced at Si Kaojing, and seeing him give an almost imperceptible nod, she thanked him before accepting Wei Tianxiao’s gift.