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The Competition Commences
After breakfast, Chen Yu walked out of the hotel wearing a simple light-colored casual wear and carrying a bag with the compass and the Soul Summoning Bell.
“Shishi.”
Chen Yu, who was about to turn a corner and walk towards the ticketing center of Qilian Mountain scenic spots, when she heard someone calling her. She turned around curiously and saw Lu Ning, who was getting out of a white car across the road.
“Lu Ning, you haven’t gone yet either.” The other Celestial Masters living in the same hotel had set off for Qilian Mountain before dawn. Only Chen Yu was unconcerned. She slept and woke up as usual, and before going out leisurely, she had her breakfast.
“I got up late.” Lu Ning smiled in embarrassment. In fact, he had already reached the rendezvous point. However, upon looking around and not finding Chen Yu, he drove back to pick her up.
“Then let’s get going, or we’ll be late.” Chen Yu naturally didn’t care whether she was too late. She just couldn’t delay others’ time.
“There is no hurry.” Lu Ning smiled, and gently opened the car door for Chen Yu.
The assembly point of the Profound Spirit Grand Competition was at the end of the Qilian Mountain Cableway, where all the participating Celestial Masters would wait until the magical barrier at the top of the mountain opens, before climbing from the meeting point to the peak of the mountain. Then, they could enter the magical barrier. In order for the competition to be held smoothly, the Qilian Mountain tourist spots stopped receiving foreign visitors three days prior.
It was about half an hour walk from the hotel where Chen Yu was staying to the scenic spot, and just a few minutes by car. Soon the two of them arrived at the entrance of the scenic spot.
Chen Yu got out of the car and made her way to the ticket booth. Seeing this, Lu Ning quickly shouted at her, “This way.”
“I know, but I haven’t bought a ticket yet,” Chen Yu explained.
Lu Ning was stunned, then thought that since it was Chen Yu’s first time to participate in the Profound Spirit Grand Competition, it was no surprise that she didn’t know. Hence, he smiled and clarified, “Cable rides today are free, no charge.”
“Free?” Chen Yu was quite surprised.
“Yes, let’s go up quickly.” When the two got on the cable car, Lu Ning explained, “In order for the competition to proceed smoothly, the Metaphysics Headquarters communicated with the local authorities. Thus, the Qilian Mountains suspended the reception of tourists during the competition, and cable car rides also became free for the participants’ use.”
“What a huge feat!” Chen Yu had seen with her own eyes how many tourists visited the Qilian Mountains every day during this period. Yet, they actually declared no reception.
“After all, there is only one session every decade, so naturally the Metaphysics Headquarters attaches great importance to it,” Lu Ning said.
When Chen Yu heard this, she suddenly felt guilty for no apparent reason. She knew that the Metaphysics Headquarters attached so much importance to it, so she arranged more snacks for them recently.
After a while, the cable car reached the end. Most of the talented young Celestial Masters in the country gathered in a beautiful valley. They stood together in twos and threes, as if they were discussing something.
Lu Ning took in the valley full of people and unconsciously frowned. He glanced at the top of the mountain before leading Chen Yu towards a certain place.
“Brother Lu Ning,” Yan Xin spotted Lu Ning at a glance.
Lu Ning nodded and brought Chen Yu to a group of acquaintances. Chen Yu looked around and found that there were three other acquaintances besides the Yan siblings. Liang Guang, Qin Guanhai, and Shao Qi, Qin Guanhai’s senior martial brother.
“Fellow Daoist.”
“Fellow Daoist.”
“Fellow Daoist.”
The three people took the initiative to greet Chen Yu when they saw her.
“Hello guys, didn’t Liang Yu come?” Chen Yu surveyed the area and didn’t find Liang Yu.
“His cultivation level isn’t high enough, so my grandfather didn’t let him attend,” Liang Guang explained.
“Oh.” Chen Yu nodded knowingly. Speaking of Liang Yu’s cultivation, without Liang Guang behind him, he would be crying mother and father if he were to see more than a hundred malevolent ghosts or touch a couple of them at the same time.
“Hasn’t the magical barrier opened yet?” Lu Ning asked aloud.
“Not yet.” Liang Guang shook his head.
“How odd.” Lu Ning was puzzled.
“Indeed. Under normal circumstances, the barrier should have opened long ago,” Shao Qi nodded in agreement.
“The magical barrier has existed through hundreds of years, so there will always be times when it is unstable. Let’s wait a little longer,” Liang Guang said.
There was nothing else they could do but wait. In fear that Chen Yu did not understand, Lu Ning specially turned to her and explained, “In the past, the Profound Spirit Grand Competition opened at dawn, but this year, I don’t know what’s going on. It’s already at this hour, but the barrier has still to open. Let’s wait and see.”
“Hmm!” Chen Yu nodded guiltily, and while everyone was not paying attention, she secretly wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She took out her phone and sent a message to her grandpa.
(Old man, did you forget to open the magical barrier?)
Elder Wu replied in seconds: (Isn’t this your job?)
Mine?? Chen Yu gaped, almost thinking she read wrong: (When did this happen? Why don’t I know?)
Elder Wu: (Last time, ah. Didn’t I tell you when I taught you how to use an incantation to open the barrier?)
Chen Yu carefully recalled what the old man said that day
“Girl, have you learned how to use the magical barrier?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you from now on.”
Just that one sentence? He didn’t dare to get into more details?
If it weren’t for the people her, Chen Yu would have called the old man and scolded him: (Didn’t you mean the next Profound Spirit Grand Competition?)
Elder Wu: (Look at your comprehension. Do you still call yourself a college student? Forget it, don’t dawdle. It’s already several hours late. Why don’t you go and open the magical barrier.)
Chen Yu couldn’t hold back and almost hurled the phone in her hand. Perhaps her facial expression was so ferocious that Lu Ning asked despite himself, “What’s the matter, Shishi? Are you uncomfortable?”
“No, nothing?” Chen Yu smiled awkwardly.