Chapter 108: A Backstab from a Sister
After a full day of selection, a total of 700 people from various sects and factions qualified to participate in the cultural event. In previous years, the number never exceeded 100, so this was a staggering sevenfold increase.
Most of the participants were women, each more beautiful than the last. Everyone knew exactly why they were here.
This time, not only the Prince of Beiyang but also the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty would be attending! To catch the eye of either of them would be a tremendous fortune.
As for the men, they hoped to use this grand stage to gain fame. A stellar performance could attract the attention of a prospective match. Even if they couldn’t win the favor of a stunning beauty like Su Xueni, they still had their sights set on the others.
“How vulgar… utterly vulgar…” Ji Bai shook his head and sighed. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Soon after, another piece of explosive news spread through the ranks—the Lin Qi’an would serve as a judge for the event!
“What? The Prince as a judge?”
“I thought the judges were only the Sect Master of Yunmo Dao Palace and the renowned Book Saint?”
“While the Prince’s talent in cultivation is undeniable, his literary skills might not be up to par.”
“Yeah, this might upset the real scholars in attendance!”
“But why isn’t the Immortal Dynasty Crown Prince a judge also?”
“Perhaps it’s because the Crown Prince has external help, while the Beiyang Prince composes his poetry independently, without relying on anyone.”
“That’s embarrassing for the Crown Prince!”
“This is absurd!” Ji Bai clenched his fists, his face contorted in anger. “How can Lin Qi’an be a judge? Just because of Beiyang’s power? If this actually happens, it’ll be a disgrace to scholars everywhere. I won’t stand for it!”
His righteous indignation caught the attention of several participants, and his harsh critique of the Young Lord sparked mockery from those loyal to the lord.
“Who do you think you are, daring to criticize the Prince?”
“I… Heh, you’ll all know soon enough!”
—
The next evening, under the bright moonlight and starlit sky—scenes beloved by scholars—the cultural event was set to officially begin.
The venue was the Wenqu Waterfall, located behind Yunmo Dao Palace. It was the place where the Wenqu Emperor had proven his Dao, a site revered by countless scholars.
While many admired the Wenqu Emperor, few attempted to follow his path. Throughout history, only the Wenqu Emperor had succeeded in proving his Dao through literature, making the road impossibly narrow.
Even in a blessed land like Yunmo Dao Palace, which had natural advantages as the Emperor’s place of enlightenment, the strongest practitioner had only reached the quasi-Saint level, like the Palace Master.
Most people viewed poetry as a hobby, not a method of cultivation. However, there were exceptions—Saintess Lu Miaoyin was one such person.
She was determined to walk the same path as the Wenqu Emperor, aiming to prove her Dao through poetry. With every word she spoke, the heavens would respond, and one word alone could subdue a thousand enemies.
Unfortunately, the poetry left behind by the Wenqu Emperor was extremely scarce. The most famous line was: “Flying down three thousand feet, I suspect the Milky Way is falling from the Nine Heavens!”
It was because of this verse that the Wenqu Waterfall became a place of pilgrimage for many. The sheer majesty of the imagery was awe-inspiring.
“If only I could study more of the Wenqu Emperor’s poems, I’m sure I could grasp the way to prove my Dao,” Lu Miaoyin sighed.
Walking beside her was Mo Shuiqiu, and they were headed to greet the Beiyang Prince and the Immortal Dynasty Crown Prince .
“All of the Wenqu Emperor’s poems are masterpieces, but they are rare treasures. There’s no way there could be more,” Mo Shuiqiu smiled and shook her head. “You’re too obsessed.”
“If there’s ever an opportunity to find the secret realm left by the Wenqu Emperor, we might discover his unpublished works,” Lu Miaoyin responded wistfully.
“People say the Wenqu Emperor’s inheritance lies within the Wenqu Waterfall, but our Yunmo Dao Palace has studied it for years without uncovering a single clue,” Mo Shuiqiu laughed. “Let’s not dwell on it, come with me to greet the Beiyang Prince.”
“Aren’t we greeting the Beiyang Prince and the Crown Prince?”
“The Crown Prince is just an afterthought…” Mo Shuiqiu’s eyes curved into a teasing smile.
Fine, she thought. She was curious to see what kind of man had managed to captivate Mo Shuiqiu so completely.
The two women stood side by side, waiting outside. Before long, the Crown Prince Zhao Ziyu appeared, followed by two delicate maids. However, their beauty was significantly lacking compared to those beside Lin Qi’an.
“Greetings, Your Highness,” the two women said in unison.
“At ease,” Zhao Ziyu smiled as his gaze fell upon Lu Miaoyin, openly admiring her.
“Are we not going?” he asked impatiently.
“Please wait a moment, Your Highness. The Prince Lin Qi’an hasn’t arrived yet,” Mo Shuiqiu replied.
“Wait for him?” Zhao Ziyu’s face darkened immediately.
I’m the Crown Prince! And I have to wait for him? What about my dignity?
“I just remembered I forgot something. I’ll head back to retrieve it,” Zhao Ziyu announced, turning to leave.
One of the maids quickly chimed in, “Your Highness, I can go fetch it for you!”
You’re useless! No sense of the situation!
“No need, I’ll go myself!” Zhao Ziyu said, hands behind his back as he strode away.
He needed to make Lin Qi’an wait for him. Why should he be the one waiting?
Upon returning to his quarters, Zhao Ziyu instructed one of his attendants, “You, go and keep watch. When you see Lin Qi’an come out, report back to me immediately.”
After giving the order, he leisurely sat down to drink tea.
Moments later, the attendant returned with the news that Lin Qi’an had emerged.
“Good. Let them wait for me now!” Zhao Ziyu smiled smugly as he reclined on the couch.
Let’s see who commands more respect!
Mo Shuiqiu and Lu Miaoyin were still waiting patiently. From the courtyard, a tall and graceful figure walked toward them. Dressed in white robes, pristine as snow, his demeanor was extraordinary—Lin Qi’an, the Prince of Beiyang, stood out as a figure of unparalleled grace and elegance.
His looks alone put him far ahead of the Crown Prince, and behind him followed three stunning maids, each with their own unique charm. Beside them was a little princess in a frost-colored gown, exuding elegance and nobility.
At just one glance, Lu Miaoyin was frozen in place, her eyes trembling with surprise. Lin Qi’an was indeed a rare sight—a strikingly handsome man—but she had always prided herself on being immune to good looks, caring little for outward appearances.
What truly caught her off guard, however, was the mysterious aura subtly surrounding him.
A Dao Aura Golden Dragon…
Others had to constantly absorb the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth, yet it seemed that for Lin Qi’an, spiritual energy would naturally flow toward him wherever he went.
“An ancient and rare Dao Physique…” she unconsciously muttered, before realizing her slip.
She quickly covered her lips with the back of her hand. This physique was extraordinary, for it naturally aligned its bearer with the Dao. Being so close to the Dao made comprehending it easier.
She wondered how such a divine physique had gone unnoticed. If this had been known, women from all over the Dao Domain would have rushed toward him.
Wait! Su Xueni, the Saintess of Tianchi Holy Land—wasn’t her cultivation supposed to be only at the Heaven Dominion Realm? Why did she now exude the aura of someone in the mid-stage Transcendent Realm?
Normal cultivation couldn’t progress that fast. Moreover, there was a peculiar cold energy about her, likely indicating that she had awakened some form of special spirit body. Could it be that she had benefited from Lin Qi’an’s Dao Physique?
Countless thoughts flooded Lu Miaoyin’s mind, leaving her in turmoil. Eventually, one pressing question remained:
If she could gain his help, would she more easily comprehend the Wenqu Emperor’s Dao? That was her lifelong pursuit.
“Miaoyin, what’s wrong?” asked Mo Shuiqiu.
“Nothing… nothing,” Lu Miaoyin quickly took a deep breath, calming her thoughts as she regained her usual graceful composure. However, the storm raging in her heart was impossible to suppress.
“Greetings, Your Highness,” the two women said, bowing in unison.
Mo Shuiqiu, dressed in her elegant Dao robe, and Lu Miaoyin, wearing an ethereal green dress, stood side by side like the most beautiful scene of autumn. It reminded Lin Qi’an of a line from a famous novel: “Her brows were like autumn waters, her skin as soft as the breeze.”
“Your praise is too generous…” Mo Shuiqiu lowered her eyes, surprised that the prince had complimented her with poetry. She immediately thanked him with a bow. Noticing Lu Miaoyin’s silence, she quickly nudged her in reminder.
To be honest, Lu Miaoyin’s first impression of Lin Qi’an had been far beyond her expectations. She had anticipated that the Prince of Beiyang would be an exceptional man, but only in terms of his cultivation talent.
She had imagined him as a frivolous playboy, given how many beautiful maids surrounded him. Yet, to her astonishment, he left such a good impression—dressed in snow-white robes, full of grace, and able to craft poetry with ease.
With a slight bow, Lu Miaoyin softly said, “This humble woman is but a novice in talents, yet Your Excellency is unmatched in this world.”
Mo Shuiqiu: ?
Her wide eyes stared at Lu Miaoyin in disbelief. What happened to letting me shine? You just praised him as unmatched in the world right after arriving—what is this supposed to mean?!
Noticing this, Lin Qi’an smiled subtly, realizing that Lu Miaoyin’s previous animosity toward him had completely disappeared…