20 Chapter 3: Rankings, Troubles, and Memories

The second Elimination round lasted for three days, all the emergence champions of each group are either at the peak spirit realm or at the Earth Realm. However, there was an exception to this list because the winner from group seventy-three was only at the seventh level Spirit realm, representing Xiao Clan from Floating Cloud City. This young, talented youngster was named Xiao Che, a prodigy youth in the art of medicinal and pill making.

Before the Top One Hundred Ranking, Xiao Che went to greet Lingxi. He was eager to meet his little aunt and tell her of all his exploits. Of course, the disciples of Blue Wind Profound Palace naturally blocked his way and redirect him back to the first level of the plaques. His persistence and rowdy attempts to attract Lingxi's attention annoyed Chief Xiu.

"Young one, this floor is restricted to the top ten powers of the empire, go back to your seat and wait for the start of the official Ranking Round." Before he could send Xiao Che flying back with his wind profound energy, a quiet voice stopped him and express permission for Xiao Che to enter. Xiu nods his head and allows Xiao Che in.

"Thank you, beautiful lady for helping this young one" Che looks toward the beauty in white clothing and expresses his gratitude. 'Wow, what a beauty even though your face were hidden behind a veil.' After staring into her, he almost forgot that he was here to see Lingxi and possibly Qingyue, his soon to be wife. However, despite looking from the east side to the west side, he could spot neither of the two girls' figures.

His inappropriate behaviors got him various frowning looks from Chief Xiu and the other people. To them, Che was like a country pumpkin, never see the grandeur of the Capital and beauties before. Could not stand the embarrassment anymore, Xiao Juetian stands up from his seat and cups his hands to the other forces.

"Please do not mind this ignorant disciple, he was from the countryside and was ignorant of the rules. Please give me some face and ignored his untoward behaviors today." All the forces tacitly nod their head and returning to what they were doing originally before all the ruckus. After the other forces retreated their staring eyes from Che, Juetian walks over.

"Junior Che, this is not a place for you to be roaming around. Go back to your clan before you embarrassed all the surnamed Xiao inside this grand arena." He spoke quietly while occasionally steal glances at the green attired man and the white clothing woman. Afraid that this uninvited junior might disrupt the moods of the two esteemed individuals, he forces Che out personally, leading Che back to the plaque of the Xiao Clan in the first level and reprimanded the clan head and the elders.

After Che left, three figures float back to the plaque of the Palace with the help of a profound artefact. Feeling the stilled air on the floor, Lingxi leans over to Xu. "What happened while we went to the restroom, Master?" While doing so, she moves to Xu's back and played with the long, black luster hairs. She braided the loose hairs into two ponytails, essentially a twin tail.

"Behave, Ling'er. Sit down and wait for your turn to battle against the juniors of this place." Lingxi went back to her seat beside Xu, grudgingly. After making sure that her disciple act accordingly, "A junior was just looking for someone, nothing much happens." She proceeds to describe the youth's attributes such as clothing and facial descriptions. A thought clicks Lingxi's mind and she blurt out 'Little Che!'

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"The winner of this round goes to Lady Wu Xuexin from the Palace!" After her opponent admits defeat without a fight prolong, Xuexin simply left the arena and went back to her seat. To her, this competition was nothing, it has no meaning to her. She only volunteered to come because Immortal Xu was leading the team. She admires this senior ancestor more than any sisters in the Palace, this competition serves as a way for her to impresses Immortal Xu.

While going back to her seat, sister Shui Wushuang joins her on the way. Xuexin was reserved and nods at this senior sister. Even though they were both from the Outer Palace, she does not associate with others and spent most of her time cultivating and collecting books. Without any common ground to strike any conversation, they went back and sit next to Immortal. After looking that sister Lingxi's seat was still empty, Xuexin focus senses on the goddess and remain silent like usual. 'Ah, this smell....'

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"Master! Master!" Lingxi's voice echoed within Xu's mind. "May I talk to little Che for a bit?" After defeating her opponent, a disciple from the current top twenty-five forces easily, Lingxi used a link crystal to ask for permission. Xu knows that this 'little Che' person was very important to her disciple, so she agrees with the answer 'Go ahead but act with prudence.'

To Xu, life was still the same as usual, these little competitions and rankings were meaningless to her. If not for Mighty Heavenly Sword Region encroaching onto the Palace's sphere of influence, she would still be secluded in her own bedroom and cultivating to heal her grave soul injuries. For these past couple of decades, the Sword Region is starting to emerge from its 'righteous' shield and plotting unknown schemes.

The Palace sent Xu to this time Ranking Tournament as a final warning, to deter any malicious intents from those greedy, sword fanatics. As one of the strongest and most senior profound practitioners, her presence alone meant that shit is real, any lust aimed at the Palace will be met with heavy firepower. In addition, Xu herself does not fear facing Heartless, Merciless, Painless, or even the Sword Master himself. Moreover, she also has a personal score to settle with Heartless, one of the reasons why she could not accept any more disciples.

Thinking of the painful memories that were not part of her sealed childhood, her profound energy boiling with rage contrasts with her Yin attribute of cold and calmness. 'Little Yue'er, Master will make sure to avenge you and restore your sullied virtues. Please wait patiently with Master, it is not long for that time-' While thinking of her first and most cherished disciple, the figure of another girl blurred into her thoughts and synchronized with the girl in her memories. Their face, their voice, and their body resemble so much that she could hardly tell them apart. 'Impossible! How could this be, no!'