"Upon learning that my junior sister was here, I came to take a look."
Jin Hezhi’s lips curled up, and he smiled somewhat frivolously.
"There are no more seats here. I advise you and your junior brother to go elsewhere."
Zhao Linglong shot Jin Hezhi a glance.
As he spoke, he patted the shoulder of a stranger sitting in front of Zhao Linglong, then smiled at him and said,
"Junior brother, could you and the junior brother next to you please move to make room for me and my junior brother?"
The disciple was intently watching the situation on the stage and was suddenly interrupted, which made him very unhappy.
"Just because I am Jin Hezhi of the First Peak."
Jin Hezhi leaned in close to the disciple, his expression cold.
Upon hearing this, the disciple suddenly shivered and hurriedly pulled his junior brother aside, saying,
"It's my fault for not recognizing you, Senior Brother Jin. Please sit, we'll go elsewhere."
"Why should we go elsewhere!"
The disciple who was forcibly pulled up argued, but before he could finish, Ye Xuan, who had been waiting impatiently, kicked him away with a "bang."
Ye Xuan coldly shouted at the two.
"Go, go, go, hurry up and leave!"
The kicked disciple wanted to argue with Ye Xuan but was dragged away by his companion.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? You dare to offend those two devils!"
"So what if I offend them? Aren't they also disciples of Qingxuan Sect?"
"Can they be the same? One is the son of the First Peak's peak master, and the other is a direct disciple of the peak master. What do you have to fight them with?"
Jin Hezhi and Ye Xuan paid no attention, as if nothing had happened, and sat down in the two empty seats.
"Junior sister Ziyi, when will you visit my Daoist hall? The snow tea flowers in my garden have just bloomed, and we can enjoy the flowers while discussing cultivation."
Jin Hezhi held a folding fan, turned around, and smiled at Xu Ziyi.
"No need, I am going to seclude myself for cultivation and have no spare time."
Xu Ziyi refused outright.
"Cultivation can be done gradually, but once the flowers wither, you'll have to wait another year."
Jin Hezhi continued to press.
"You, Sister Ziyi has already said she's busy, why are you still pestering her?"
Zhao Linglong grabbed Ziyi's hand and glared at Jin Hezhi.
"Little girl, didn't your mother tell you not to interrupt when others are speaking?"
Jin Hezhi looked at Zhao Linglong with a cold face.
"Senior Brother, Sister Linglong's mother passed away long ago. Saying that will make her unhappy."
Ye Xuan, standing nearby, said with a cold and sarcastic tone.
Zhao Linglong was speechless with anger.
"Jin Hezhi, Ye Xuan, are you two here to cause trouble?"
Qingxiao stood up, a powerful aura sweeping through the entire cloud tower, pressing down on Jin Hezhi and Ye Xuan, making their blood surge.
Ye Xuan was even pressed to the point of bleeding from the corners of his eyes, almost unable to hold on.
"Senior Brother Qingxiao."
Ziyi pulled on Qingxiao's sleeve at this moment.
If Jin Hezhi and Ye Xuan were truly injured, Qingxiao would likely face severe punishment from the sect, which she did not want to see.
"Come to watch the Seven Peaks Meeting, then watch properly. Don't be like a fly, buzzing around."
Qingxiao coldly snorted, then retracted his aura and slowly sat down.
Jin Hezhi and Ye Xuan felt as if they had been granted a reprieve, but their gazes were filled with venomous resentment.
"Xishan, Qingzhu Residence, Xu Taiping, take your seat!"
At this moment, a name familiar to Zhao Linglong and the others suddenly echoed over the Zhenjian Square.
Zhao Linglong, excited, stood up immediately.
Lin Buyu, who had been reading a novel, also looked up and gazed at the Zhenjian Square.
In the sky above the Zhenjian Square, a celestial crane carrying a slightly slender youth descended slowly and landed on the ground.
Jin Hezhi also recognized Xu Taiping at this moment.
Although Xu Taiping had performed well in the recent trials, Jin Hezhi had not paid attention to the previous trials. He had come to watch today solely because of Xu Ziyi.
"Is he the one chosen by the Spirit Bone Stele, who ended up being just a white bone?"
Ye Xuan also looked at Xu Taiping with curiosity and a cold voice.
After three years in the sect, Ye Xuan's arrogance had only increased.
"Are you waiting for this kid to win the Seven Peaks Meeting and become a formal disciple?"
Jin Hezhi suddenly turned to Zhao Linglong and the others, his lips curled in a mocking smile.
Zhao Linglong glared at Jin Hezhi.
Although she knew Xu Taiping's chances were slim, she would never admit it to Jin Hezhi.
"Sister Linglong probably doesn't know, but among the twenty-eight this time, several were previously expelled mountain disciples. With them around, how could Xu Taiping get one of the final seven spots?"
Jin Hezhi looked at Xu Taiping on the Zhenjian Square with disdain.
Although he had not paid attention to the previous trials, he was somewhat familiar with the candidates who had a chance to return to the mountain this time.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Linglong frowned, unsure how to respond.
"Senior Brother, Sister Ziyi, let's go, to see Little Taiping!"
Zhao Linglong ignored Jin Hezhi and pulled Ziyi and Lin Buyu to go see Xu Taiping on the Zhenjian Square.
"No wonder so many outer sect disciples stop at the Seven Peaks Meeting every year."
Seeing many disciples participating in the Seven Peaks Meeting surrounded by mountain disciples welcoming them, Xu Taiping, who was alone, suddenly understood.
In contrast, his figure appeared somewhat lonely amidst the bustling Zhenjian Square.
At this moment, a tall, middle-aged man walked straight up to Xu Taiping.
Xu Taiping did not recognize the man.
"I am Gongsun Sheng, a fellow disciple participating in the Seven Peaks Meeting this time."
Gongsun Sheng looked at Xu Taiping coldly.
"What does Senior Brother Gongsun want with me?"
Xu Taiping had indeed seen Gongsun Sheng's name on the list.
But he did not understand why the other person was seeking him out.
"The match list has been released, and your first opponent is me."
Gongsun Sheng pointed to the large notice board next to the stage.