Chapter 116: Chapter 114: Another Sect Grand Tournament

「The next day.」

Su Qing and Liu Linlin set out for the Sect’s main square together.

There was a decent-sized crowd—not too many, but not too few either.

This time, Ouyang Mingming wasn’t the one who brought Su Qing.

It seemed Ouyang Mingming hadn’t come to watch the competition this time.

Su Qing wasn’t sure.

But an Elder generally had the power to come and watch as she pleased.

’So, does that mean she came to watch last time just to gauge my strength?’ Su Qing guessed.

No wonder Liu Linlin had told him to be respectful to his master back then.

That must have been what she meant.

Number 18. Su Qing had drawn number 18.

"Junior Brother, I drew number 132. What about you?"

"Just 18," Su Qing said, shaking his head and showing his lot to Liu Linlin.

"Huh? Junior Brother, you’re that early in the running!"

"You’ll wait for your Senior Sister after your match, right?" Liu Linlin asked bluntly.

How could Su Qing not understand what she meant?

Su Qing smiled. "Of course I’ll wait. You’re my Senior Sister, after all. It’s just... I was planning to go buy some tasty ingredients to cook after my match..."

"In that case, you should head back first, Junior Brother! I can wait by myself!" Liu Linlin changed her mind in an instant, her eyes lighting up.

It was clear she was also craving Su Qing’s cooking.

...

Su Qing was amused. ’It’s not that I don’t want to wait, I just don’t want to waste time. It’s better to use it to cook a good meal than to just let it slip by.’

His first match.

Su Qing was soon called up to the stage.

He was quite lucky; his opponent was just a fellow sect member at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level.

Su Qing sent him off the stage with a single, gentle palm strike.

After returning and saying a quick word to her, he asked, "Senior Sister, I’m going to go shopping. Is there anything you’d like to eat?"

"Yes! I want meatballs. Don’t forget to make them for me," Liu Linlin said immediately, tapping her slender fingers on the armrest of her chair a few times.

"And that peach wine, buy a few jars for me."

"Alright, that’s it then."

Su Qing left the waiting area.

He then set off for the Marketplace.

Same old routine.

A round of treasure hunting at the street stalls.

Su Qing was just wandering around out of boredom. Besides, he didn’t have enough Spirit Stones for any major splurges at the moment.

Since he wasn’t practicing Alchemy, he didn’t really have much of an income.

This time, he didn’t come across any good finds, or even any cheap treasures.

"Sigh." Su Qing really missed that Grotto Heaven Fragment he’d found.

After all, even a murky Grotto Heaven Fragment could produce miraculous results when synthesized.

’Since there are no treasures, I’ll just buy some meat and vegetables to prepare back home. I’m running low on spices, so I’ll buy some of those too.’

He spotted a sea fish from the Celestial Sea Realm.

It was said to be incredibly delicious.

At ten Spirit Stones each, it was quite expensive.

’I can mix some of the fish with beef to make the meatballs.’

Su Qing bought a huge amount of food.

After all, with big eaters like him and his master around, they went through a lot of food.

Immortal Cultivators could refine the food in their stomachs, which was why they could eat so much.

As for Su Qing, who practiced Body Refinement, his digestion was extremely fast, so the amount didn’t matter to him.

「That night.」

Ouyang Mingming and Liu Linlin sat on either side of Su Qing.

They were all eating.

"This is great! You really made meatballs, and there’s peach wine!"

"You’re the best, Junior Brother," Liu Linlin said happily.

"Oh, my, my," Ouyang Mingming cooed, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

"How is it that you buy what your Senior Sister likes, but not what your master likes?" Ouyang Mingming said, her eyes turning slightly dangerous as she looked at Su Qing, though a smile still played on her lips.

A shiver went down Su Qing’s spine.

"It wasn’t intentional. Senior Sister just happened to mention it while I was shopping for ingredients."

"Whatever you want to eat, Master, I’ll buy it. The next time I cook, I’ll be sure to get it for you," Su Qing hastily explained.

All Ouyang Mingming wanted was the right attitude.

And right now, Su Qing’s attitude was very satisfying to her.

"That’s more like it!" Ouyang Mingming didn’t press the issue.

"I almost lost my match today," Liu Linlin said.

"I never expected my opponent to also be a fellow disciple who had just reached the Foundation Establishment Realm." Liu Linlin let out a breath.

Ouyang Mingming, however, said seriously, "Practice the Swordsmanship your master taught you well. If you do, you’ll have few rivals at the same level."

"But it’s so hard to grasp just by practicing on my own, and I have no idea where Master is right now," Liu Linlin said helplessly.

"That’s just how You Yanhan is. She’s probably off somewhere harvesting Heavenly and Earthly Treasures," Ouyang Mingming said between bites.

Suddenly, Ouyang Mingming jumped in fright.

"You scared me to death, Junior Sister!"

Junior Sister?

Su Qing and Liu Linlin looked around, but there was no one there.

"My dear Senior Sister, are you really going to gossip about me right in front of my own disciple?"

"And you’re here eating without me! Senior Sister, don’t you love me anymore?"

You Yanhan materialized, immediately directing a stream of playful complaints at Ouyang Mingming.

She appeared before Su Qing so suddenly that he almost jumped. He hadn’t heard a single heartbeat or breath.

’This concealment technique is way too powerful,’ he thought.

"Don’t be ridiculous. How could I eat without saving a share for you? Besides, my wonderful disciple made all this. It’s not like he’s short one bowl and a pair of chopsticks."

"Disciple, go grab a chair for your Martial Aunt."

"This Cold Extremity Peak is so large and cold. At least the lively atmosphere of a good meal can warm things up," Ouyang Mingming commanded Su Qing grandly.

She acted as if this was her own home.

"It’s been so long since I’ve eaten anything from the Mortal Realm."

"Did my Martial Nephew make this?" You Yanhan asked, a wistful expression on her face after taking a bite of vegetables and then a piece of meat.

Su Qing nodded. "Yes, Martial Aunt. I’m not sure why, but I bought extra today, so there’s more than enough to go around."

"Oho, your intuition is pretty good, disciple," Ouyang Mingming praised.

"Master, this is my favorite meatball. Please try one."

Liu Linlin seemed overjoyed to have everyone gathered for a meal, picking up a meatball and placing it in You Yanhan’s bowl.

You Yanhan smiled. "How thoughtful of you, my disciple. I heard your Swordsmanship isn’t quite up to par. In that case, I’ll spend the next few days personally instructing you."

"Thank you, Master!" Liu Linlin was ecstatic.

Ouyang Mingming asked, "Where have you been all this time?"

"To the Celestial Sea Realm. A ruin opened up in an underwater region of the Dragon Race."

"And then?"

"I went in to look for treasure and found a Tier Four Magical Treasure. You could tell at a glance it had been left behind by a deceased Cultivator."

"But I didn’t expect some other guy to actually try and snatch it from me!"

"..."

"..."

And that’s how Immortal Cultivator gossip starts. Su Qing and Liu Linlin ate in silence, listening intently to the juicy details.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Mingming and You Yanhan were the ones dishing it out as they ate.

「The next day.」

Su Qing and Liu Linlin set off once more.

This time, however, You Yanhan went with them.

She wanted to see Liu Linlin’s strength for herself.

They drew lots.

Su Qing drew number 89, a late spot in the lineup.

It was almost the very last one.

Liu Linlin, on the other hand, drew number 6, a very early slot.

After a short wait, it was Liu Linlin’s turn on the stage.

Then, a dramatic scene unfolded: that guy Bai Ranmo...

...also walked onto the stage.

What a coincidence.

But he clearly hadn’t broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. It seemed he hadn’t even attempted Crossing the Tribulation.

They were too far away for Su Qing to make out their conversation.

All he knew was that Liu Linlin, now in the Foundation Establishment Realm, activated her Great Sun True Flame Skill, and within a few exchanges, Bai Ranmo had lost.

Su Qing could clearly see the resentful look in Bai Ranmo’s eyes.

Liu Linlin didn’t leave the area.

Instead, she returned to their private room.

Her face was flushed with exhilaration.

"Senior Sister, there’s no need to be *that* happy," Su Qing said with a sigh.

"You’re in the Foundation Establishment Realm, and you’re practicing one of the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sect’s ultimate Cultivation Techniques. If you couldn’t even beat a Ten Thousand Tribulations Divine Body who’s still at the Qi Cultivation level..."

"...then everyone might as well just cultivate the Ten Thousand Tribulations Divine Body instead."

Su Qing’s words didn’t affect Liu Linlin in the slightest. She was still overjoyed.

"You don’t get it. I’m just so happy! The Great Sun True Flame Skill really is better. It’s not nearly as dangerous."

"Look at Bai Ranmo! That guy reached Qi Cultivation Perfection two years ago, and he still doesn’t dare attempt Crossing the Thunder Tribulation. But now that I’m at the Foundation Establishment Realm, I defeated him easily."

"That feeling... it’s just so amazing." Liu Linlin couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but her whole body felt at ease. In a word: satisfying!