At the top of the first peak of the Qingxuan Sect, Qiong Lou Peak, the Zhenjian Square.
A giant sword, several dozen feet tall, was diagonally embedded in the center of the Zhenjian Square, giving people an inexplicable sense of oppression.
The platform directly facing the giant sword was the final stage for the seven-peak selection this time.
Today, twenty-eight outer sect disciples will compete here for seven spots to ascend the mountain.
Surrounding the vast Zhenjian Square, there were rows of cloud pavilions.
These cloud pavilions, nestled among the mountains and clouds, were primarily used by the disciples of the first peak for cloud appreciation and cultivation of the mind. On days like the seven-peak meeting, they naturally became the viewing stands for the competition.
Although it was still early, the disciples from the seven peaks who came to watch the competition had already taken their seats on both sides.
Laughter and discussions could be heard from time to time in the cloud pavilions.
"Senior Brother, we seem to have arrived late."
After searching several cloud pavilions without finding a seat, Zhao Linglong sighed with a look of disappointment.
"It's all because of you. You said you would close your door for a month, but you slept for fifteen days straight and didn't wake up. I had to come and wake you up."
Qingxiao glared at Zhao Linglong with a look of exasperation.
"Senior Brother, you can't blame me. The Heart Cultivation Pavilion is so boring. After I went in, Father locked the door. What else could I do besides sleep?"
Zhao Linglong looked aggrieved.
"Senior Brother Qingxiao, Junior Sister Linglong, there are seats here."
At this moment, a sweet voice came from the seats in front.
Zhao Linglong looked up and saw Senior Sister Ziyang from the sixth peak.
Besides Xu Ziyang, Lin Buyu was also sitting beside her.
"So, Senior Brother, you had everything arranged already."
Zhao Linglong smiled mischievously at Qingxiao.
Qingxiao glared at her fiercely.
Without a word, Zhao Linglong stepped on a celestial silk and flew over, directly hugging Ziyang.
"Senior Brother Qingxiao, I've saved a seat for you too."
At this moment, Ziyang called out to Qingxiao again.
"Um, thank you, Junior Sister Ziyang."
Qingxiao's face rarely showed a smile.
"Junior Sister Buyu, why are you reading a picture book?"
After sitting down, Zhao Linglong, who couldn't stay still, leaned over to Lin Buyu. When she saw Lin Buyu engrossed in a picture book called "Mysterious Encounters," she looked surprised.
Lin Buyu looked up at Zhao Linglong and then lowered her head again, continuing to read with interest.
"It's not like that. Master saw that Junior Sister Buyu only focuses on cultivation and doesn't understand human relations, so she gave her many picture books to read and learn about human relations."
Ziyang explained with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"That bad woman is always causing trouble."
After saying this, she forcibly leaned over to Lin Buyu and read with her.
"Junior Sister Linglong, why do you always call your Master a bad woman?"
Ziyang asked Qingxiao curiously.
"When she was seven or eight years old, your Master came to the seventh peak to find our Master. They happened to meet, and your Master, seeing that she was cute, insisted on taking her to the sixth peak to play for a few days. She thought she had encountered a bad person and hid under the Rainbow Bridge for a whole day, too scared to come out. She has been holding a grudge ever since."
Qingxiao explained with a hint of helplessness.
At this moment, a crane's cry suddenly echoed over the Zhenjian Square.
Everyone looked up and saw a spiritual bird carrying a disciple flying from the horizon, heading straight for the platform in the Zhenjian Square.
Then, the voice of the examiner by the platform announced:
"North Mountain, Tingyue Pavilion, Gongsun Sheng, take your seat!"
Clearly, this was the examiner introducing the participating disciples of the seven-peak meeting.
It's unknown from which session of the seven-peak selection this method of introducing the participants began, but it has now become a ritual of the seven-peak selection.
"Gongsun Sheng, isn't he one of the few you mentioned last time, Senior Brother?"
Hearing this name, Zhao Linglong sat up straight and turned to look at Qingxiao with a serious expression.
At this moment, several figures flew down from the cloud pavilions, and then several hearty laughs echoed from the Zhenjian Square below.
These people seemed to be welcoming Gongsun Sheng.
"Those few seem to be disciples from the fifth peak."
Zhao Linglong looked at the few people who were greeting Gongsun Sheng.
"That should be Lu Chen from the fifth peak and his few junior brothers. Gongsun Sheng was once Lu Chen's senior brother, but he violated the sect's rules, was stripped of his cultivation, and expelled from the mountain. However, he has the Xuanling Bone, and his talent is remarkable. After seven or eight years, he is expected to return to the fifth peak this year."
Ziyang, who was familiar with the fifth peak, immediately recognized Lu Chen and introduced him to the two.
Hearing the name "Lu Chen," Lin Buyu suddenly looked up and said coldly:
After saying this, she continued reading the picture book in her hand.
Hearing this, Qingxiao and Zhao Linglong were stunned and then looked at Ziyang.
Ziyang first held her forehead and then explained with a mix of amusement and exasperation:
"Last time, we were ambushed by a tiger demon. Lu Chen left her and another female disciple to find help. The little girl has been holding a grudge ever since."
The two understood immediately.
"I also think this Lu Chen is not a good person. Every time I meet him, he always looks at me with lecherous eyes."
Zhao Linglong also snorted coldly.
"If he dares to do that again, tell me, and I'll gouge out his eyes."
Qingxiao's face turned cold, and a killing intent rose around him.
"Senior Brother, that's not necessary."
Zhao Linglong smiled awkwardly, signaling Qingxiao to calm down.
As the few of them were discussing the next few outer sect disciples entering the square, a handsome young man with a slightly sinister look suddenly appeared in front of their seats.
Behind him was a tall, proud, and handsome young man.
"Senior Brother Jin, aren't all the disciples from the first peak in the cloud pavilion over there?"
Xu Ziyang looked at the cloud pavilion opposite and frowned slightly.
This person was Jin Hezhi, the second disciple of the current generation of the first peak. The young man behind him was Ye Xuan, a new disciple who had recently gained fame in the Qingxuan Sect.