More and more people stopped in their tracks, surrounding Yun Miao and the others from all directions.
Yun Miao was baffled by the attention, but her Human-faced Owl beneath her was visibly excited by the crowd.
The owl twisted its head a full 180 degrees, fluttering its eyes flirtatiously at the people in front, behind, left, and right, while shyly shaking its tail feathers.
“Hey, everyone, how about laying some eggs together?”
Bang!
Suddenly, a hailstone materialized out of thin air and struck the owl’s forehead. It let out a pained cry, eyes brimming with tears as it glanced back at Ning Yu on its back.
Ning Yu ignored the owl’s sorrowful look and coldly swept her gaze over the people blocking the way.
The murmurs around them instantly fell silent, and the few blocking the path sheepishly stepped aside. Seeing this, the Human-faced Owl reluctantly beat its wings and flew away.
Shang Mancang, who had happily gone to sleep after chatting with Yun Miao last night, only learned about the incident this morning from Ning Yu. She was equally confused by the crowd’s murmuring.
She sneaked a glance at Senior Sister Ning sitting ahead and quietly touched the Dizi Ling at her waist, curious about what the phrases floating around—‘Haunted Sky Domain last night,’ ‘Opening of Purple Mansion,’ and ‘Foundation Establishment Sea of Consciousness’—actually meant.
Ning Yu ignored Shang Mancang’s little action and turned to look at Yun Miao, who was still looking around, completely clueless.
“Now you know just how much of a ruckus you caused last night. And this is only the beginning. Look down there.”
***
The Human-faced Owl was nearly flying into the Main Peak, so when Yun Miao followed Ning Yu’s gaze downward, she saw a large crowd already gathered at the mountaintop.
Mist lingered as usual around the cliff edges, the milky-white fog flowing over the Cloudview Platform. The refreshing mountain breeze shifted the clouds, making them dance and change shape.
Fifty-seven new disciples stood on the platform, all clad in pure white disciple robes, neatly arranged, their feet stepping on the white mist, their sleeves fluttering as if fully blended into this celestial realm.
Around the Cloudview Platform, at least a thousand people crowded together like a dense black swarm.
Some stood like pines, others sat cross-legged atop magical artifacts or mounts, grouping in threes or fives, curiously observing their fellow junior disciples on the stage.
Their attire was diverse: elegant garments with feathers, splendid robes with crane cloaks, pearl crowns with jade belts, as well as simple bamboo staffs, coarse hemp robes, grass sandals, and Daoist topknots and robes.
Compared to the swirling white robes on the platform, the crowd exhibited a different kind of carefree immortal aura.
Yun Miao even spotted Ding Sang Sang, whom she had seen yesterday at the Steward Hall, now lying asleep soundly on the back of an ancient turtle larger than a millstone.
Ning Yu said, “Thanks to you, apart from those outside the sect, those in seclusion, or with urgent matters, nearly all the idle disciples showed up.
Although previous Disciple Recruitment Grand Ceremonies also drew many spectators, this kind of near-full attendance is usually only seen during major sect competitions.”
Yun Miao asked, “They’re all here to see me?”
“Yes. Last night, some people already guessed that the strange message came from a Qi Refining Stage new disciple, so this morning they brought friends and came in droves.”
Ning Yu sneered, “Congratulations. Yun Miao’s name now echoes throughout the sect. A sudden rise to fame overnight, achieving what most disciples can’t in decades or centuries.”
Yun Miao mimicked the Human-faced Owl’s shy expression and lowered her head. “Hehe, Senior Sister, you flatter me. I think I still have a lot to improve on.”
Ning Yu: “…I’m not praising you.”
Having learned the full story from the Haunted Sky Domain, Shang Mancang—
Seeing that Ning Yu’s words fell on deaf ears, Ning Yu wordlessly shifted the topic. “By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to get revenge on Lu Dajiao? Look over there.”
Yun Miao and Shang Mancang followed her pointing finger and saw not only the crowded mountaintop but also many people hovering beneath the canopy of the Qingtian Ancient Tree, apparently watching something.
Ning Yu patted the Human-faced Owl’s head. The owl understood immediately and flew toward the treetop.
As they drew closer, Yun Miao and Shang Mancang clearly saw the scene at the center of the crowd: a stunning man in snow-white robes, with white hair and white lashes, was suspended high in the air by several drooping branches.
Two branches twisted behind his back into comical wing shapes, while another two protruded above his head like antennae.
His head hung low, white lashes covering his eyes; his delicate features were cold and fragile, resembling a statue carved from the icy depths of the Northern Seas.
He endured the crowd’s ridicule, pointing, and laughter without a word.
It was as if when the midday sun rose high, he would quietly and sorrowfully melt away.
Shang Mancang instinctively held her breath, whispering, “Senior Sister, who is that?”
Ning Yu replied flatly, “Don’t look. That’s Lu Dajiao.”
“Who?”
Shang Mancang seemed not to hear clearly, or perhaps refused to accept reality.
Yun Miao, on the other hand, was simpler—she first switched to screenshot mode and furiously snapped photos of the ‘white butterfly’ suspended in the air, then gasped in shock.
“No way! Lu Dajiao?”
Because the crowd in front was whispering among themselves, her voice wasn’t very loud, but the melancholic white-haired man suddenly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the crowd directly locking onto Yun Miao.
He opened his mouth, and in the next moment, a familiar, rough, yet strong voice reached Yun Miao’s ears.
“Ah, Ning Yu, you really know how to be a pain. Hanging me here isn’t enough, you even brought two junior sisters along just to laugh at me?”
“And you—tell me, why do you have such a fiery temper? Fine, I admit I was teasing you on purpose back then, but we hadn’t even flown far when the Senior Brother came to get you. Do you really want to risk your life for revenge on me?”
“You little girl’s got some tiger spirit. Damn right. Lucky you’re not dead, or I’d be stuck with a murder charge. And lucky you’re not dumb, or I’d have to support you too—wiping your big nose every day.”
As he spoke, the handsome man accidentally caught a lock of white hair in his mouth. He spat it out with a “Tch!” and impatiently shook his head, sending the antennae and wings on his back quivering.
At this moment, he was no longer the cold, sorrowful ice sculpture but a pure white phoenix butterfly dancing gracefully in the air.
“Little sister… ah, no, junior sister, look at this mess. I was just messing with you. How about this—I apologize, and you talk to the Enforcement Hall to let me down, okay?”
“After all, I’m a grown man. It’s embarrassing to be hung up here for everyone to point at.”
His deep, powerful voice echoed among the massive treetop, and the onlookers turned their gazes to him, then continued whispering and pointing at Lu Dajiao and the three of them.
Yun Miao had been proud when Ning Yu mocked her newfound fame, but now she couldn’t help feeling self-conscious, as if everyone around her was laughing at how close she came to becoming a foolish brat who only knew how to wipe her nose.
She glanced expressionlessly at the ‘white butterfly’ before turning to Ning Yu.
“How long will he be hung here?”
Ning Yu replied, “However long you’re punished, he’ll be hung for the same amount.”
Yun Miao’s tone grew cold:
“Senior Sister, as the beloved disciple of our master and the strongest candidate for the next Sect Master, I decide to set an example and punish myself for one year first. If that’s not enough, I’ll add more.”
Ning Yu’s gaze swept over the ‘white butterfly’: “Alright, I’ll think about it.”
Startled, Lu Dajiao saw the Human-faced Owl begin flying back toward the mountaintop. He fluttered madly in the air like a moth.
“One year? You really treat your senior brother like a sausage to hang, huh! Hey, I already admitted my fault. No need for this!”
But no matter how he struggled, he could only watch the Human-faced Owl fly further and further away.
Ning Yu was clearly a well-known figure in Xuantian Sect. As soon as the Human-faced Owl appeared directly above the Cloudview Platform, someone recognized it immediately—and confirmed the identities of the two behind it.
“Look!”
“Ning Yu’s here! Those two must be Shang Mancang and Yun Miao mentioned in the announcement!”
“Where? Where?”
“Wow, they really opened the Purple Mansion! Incredible!”
“Didn’t they say last night was haunted?”
“I think it’s the manifestation of Zushi Nainai.”
Fortunately, the crowd knew their limits and only watched from a distance without pressing onto the platform.