Chapter 199: 199, Ancient Martial Sect Chapter 199: 199, Ancient Martial Sect The mountains undulated and clouds entwined as celestial cranes occasionally flew past. Although it was now summer, this place remained as warm as spring, brimming with greenery, birdsong, and floral fragrance, resembling a realm of immortals.
At the end of a peach grove, inside a majestic and luxurious hall, sat more than a dozen people, young and old, male and female. However, the clothes they wore gave off a feeling as though one had traveled back to ancient times.
“Have those ten slots been sent out?” the commanding man at the head of the table asked indifferently, his cold gaze sweeping over those present.
“They have been sent out. After three days, the ten individuals who received the slots will come to the Hidden Sect,” Jiang Donghao respectfully replied from the right side.
The Hidden Sect housed over a hundred Ancient Martial Sects, and the man at the head was none other than Situ Mingyou, the Sect Leader of the Lishan Sect, the premier sect among them.
Upon learning that the Heavenly Trace Sect’s disciples had their points stolen within the Emperor Realm, Situ Mingyou was furious. The dignity of the Hidden Sect was inviolable, so after discussions among the several major sects, this decision to send out ten slots was made, aiming to lure those who had stolen the points into the Hidden Sect.
Those individuals who were able to steal the points from the Heavenly Trace Sect’s disciples were clearly not weaker than Ancient Martial Cultivators. Besides the Hidden Sect, no other place was allowed to have Ancient Martial Cultivators, and those in the Emperor Realm were all disciples of the Hidden Sect.
The disciples of the Heavenly Trace Sect stated that the five people who intercepted them were not disciples of the Hidden Sect. As a rule, each disciple of the Hidden Sect would have a mark of their respective sect on their masks, making them easily identifiable.
Thus, if any of the incoming ten were Ancient Martial Cultivators, decisions would be made based on their cultivation aptitude. They would either be kept as sect disciples or be directly annihilated; once those ten entered the Hidden Sect, they would have no chance of leaving.
Situ Youming nodded slightly, “Leave this matter to you.”
Jiang Donghao nodded happily, stood up, and quickly bowed to Situ Youming, “Thank you, Sect Leader!” Once those ten people come in, he would identify the five who stole his sect disciples’ points and let them know the consequences of depriving his sect disciples of their qualifications to enter the Emperor Realm. He would absolutely not let them off.
When Yang Lisheng returned, Song Yan Ning told him and Li Xue Mei about her upcoming departure.
“You’re going out again? How long will you be gone this time?” Li Meixiang looked at Song Yan Ning. In recent years, Xiao Ning had been taking trips intermittently, which they had grown accustomed to, but the worry was inevitable.
“It should be about half a month. The place I’m going to might not have good cell service, but don’t worry, I will be fine,” Song Yan Ning promised.
“Does that mean you won’t be able to call us?” Yang Lisheng frowned. It wasn’t a problem for her to go out, but without hearing from her, they would surely be anxious. Moreover, Xiao Ning wouldn’t say where she was going, leaving them no way to find her.
Song Yan Ning shook her head and smiled softly, “No, I’m just worried that if you can’t get through to me, you’ll get worried.” If she had a signal within the Hidden Sect, she would make the call to her grandparents herself. If really unable to call, then, they would have to rely on Ling Yu and others. She would arrange everything before she left.
“Try to call us every day, otherwise we will definitely worry,” Li Meixiang urged. Xiao Ning was their treasure; if anything happened to her, they wouldn’t be able to go on.
“Okay, grandma!” Song Yan Ning took Li Meixiang’s arm and leaned against her, acting coquettishly.
Li Meixiang affectionately ruffled Song Yan Ning’s hair, “Really can’t deal with you!”
Song Yan Ning giggled and made a face at Li Meixiang, “Grandma is the best, Xiao Ning loves Grandma the most.”
Yang Lisheng looked at Song Yan Ning affectionately yet helplessly, and chuckled, “Am I not good too?” Xiao Ning was perfect in every way, just perhaps a bit too assertive.
“Grandpa is of course good too, hehe…” Song Yan Ning playfully stuck out her tongue.
“Xiao Ning, are you taking the train this time? Or the bus?” Li Meixiang looked down at Song Yan Ning.
“Qin Yushen will come to pick me up, and I’ll go with him,” Song Yan Ning said.
“Hmm,” Li Meixiang and Yang Lisheng nodded. Xiao Ning going with Xiao Shen gave them peace of mind. Xiao Shen was a stable boy, and they believed he would take good care of Xiao Ning.
Seeing that her grandparents did not question her further, Song Yan Ning raised an eyebrow, “Are you really that confident in Qin Yushen?”
Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang nodded.
“Xiao Shen is a stable boy; with him around, we are definitely at ease.”
“You should listen to Xiao Shen more and not cause him trouble, understand?”
Song Yan Ning rolled her eyes in speechless exasperation, “Grandpa, Grandma, I am your granddaughter, why don’t you trust me as much as you trust Qin Yushen?”
Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang exchanged a look and laughed, “When you’re as old as Xiao Shen, we’ll trust you too.”
“I don’t believe that.” Song Yan Ning took an apple from the table and bit into it. In her grandparents’ eyes, she would always be a child, and no matter how old she was, they probably would never stop worrying.
Qin Yushen sat on the couch, his long fingers lightly tapping on his phone, occasionally curving his lips into a slight smirk. Just the thought of setting out with Xiao Ning soon filled him with joy.
“What’s making you so happy?” Liu Shanyue sat down next to Qin Yushen, smiling at him.
Qin Yushen looked up at Liu Shanyue, “The day after tomorrow, I’m going out with Xiao Ning for about half a month.”
Liu Shanyue smiled knowingly, “No wonder you’re so happy, Xiao Ning finished her exams, right? How did she do?” Anything related to Xiao Ning always brightened Xiao Shen’s mood. Maybe someday, Xiao Shen and Xiao Ning could indeed be together. She really hoped the two of them would end up together, as Xiao Ning was the most outstanding girl she had ever met.
“Naturally, she was top of the school,” Qin Yushen raised a proud smile. His girl was naturally the best, the most outstanding.
Liu Shanyue shook her head and chuckled, “Should Xiao Ning come to Beijing during her summer vacation?” It had been a while since she last saw Xiao Ning, and she really missed her.
“I’ll ask her then,” Qin Yushen saw a message on his phone, glanced at it, and sent a response.
“By the way, are you and Xiao Ning going on a vacation?” Liu Shanyue, remembering Qin Yushen had mentioned going out with Song Yan Ning for half a month, asked.
“Mhm,” Qin Yushen nodded with a smile. He didn’t want to worry his family, so he hadn’t told them that he was going to the Hidden Sect.