Actually, as a slacker at heart, Su Bei wasn't very eager to use the rewards the system had bestowed upon her at this time. The day after tomorrow, however, was the battle for the Ascension Platform.
It was foreseeable that Wuhua Palace and Sword Sect would be at loggerheads on the platform. As the emerging sect touted to be second only to Dao Sect, Wuhua Palace's publicly known foundation was far stronger than that of Sword Sect.
Sword Sect possessed a heritage spanning ten thousand years, but that was all inscribed within its mountain gates. At least, Su Bei knew that Sword Sect did not possess two cultivators at the Half-Step into Dao Integration realm.
"One must be flexible to be a true man. In life, one cannot avoid bowing one's head. Bow when it's time to bow, and lift your head when it's time to lift it."
So the saying went, and this had always been the core of the path of caution Su Bei had used to remind herself since integrating into this world.
But sometimes, one couldn't always be as low-profile as one wished.
The sect's glory or disgrace was shared with its disciples. If she truly stood upon the high platform, Su Bei couldn't guarantee she wouldn't lose her composure and step forward to shed some passionate blood.
"I just hope Xi Qingyi can hold his ground."
As for Xi Qingyi, Su Bei had no deep grudges against him; this time's events on the Ascension Platform would largely depend on him.
Her consciousness stirred, sinking into her Sea of Consciousness.
Lottery draw!
"Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: a batch of utterly useless nature's spiritual energy, a deck of playing cards, a roll of tattered parchment, the *Complete Compendium of the World's Forbidden Physiques*... and a bag of popping candy."
"Congratulations to the Host for triggering an unranked item, the Red String of Fate!"
Su Bei looked at the array of useless items before her and curled her lips slightly in disdain.
What is all this?
Casually picking up the red string, which looked identical to those tied on wrists during the Dragon Boat Festival, she examined it…
Ji Nanjue rested her cheek lightly on her hand. In Key Smoke's room, she felt no need to hide her identity and had already reverted to her female appearance. "I just went to Azure Cloud View to offer incense for the Dongfeng common people."
After a moment, Key Smoke's eyes narrowed. She then turned her head to scrutinize her disciple's face carefully, staring for a long while. "That's not right! You reek of alcohol. Come clean now, or don't force this Saintess to resort to harsh interrogation!"
Ji Nanjue's cheeks flushed slightly. She coughed, attempting to assume the authoritative air of the Eastern Emperor to end the topic. "Master, did the meeting not go smoothly?"
As expected, Key Smoke was diverted. She began to ramble about the matters between Sword Sect and Wuhua Palace. She knew her disciple was always strategic and much clearer-headed than herself. After briefly describing the earlier situation to Ji Nanjue, Key Smoke sighed and asked, "What do you think, Sister? Should I get involved or not?"
Ji Nanjue blinked and replied with a smile, "Why get involved? Isn't this situation quite favorable? Let it develop naturally."
Key Smoke was visibly surprised; this didn't sound like something Ji Nanjue would say.
Noticing Key Smoke's confusion, Ji Nanjue's eyes, dark as ink-drawn brows, curved into a smile as she said, "More than six hundred years ago, I met Master at my most desperate moment."
Watching Su Bei accept Sword Maiden as her disciple, Key Smoke felt as if she were seeing her past self.
Key Smoke was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, and finally laughed heartily. Yes, indeed. More than six hundred years ago, she had found Ji Nanjue. At that time, Ji Nanjue had been in an even worse state than the Sword Maiden Su Bei had just accepted on the high platform.
"Then let's leave it be and let them fight it out."
Just as Key Smoke was about to reach for another piece of candied fruit, she suddenly seemed to recall something. Staring at Ji Nanjue, who was seated calmly on the chair, Key Smoke's dark brows furrowed, and she huffed, "Aha! Ji Nanjue, so you *do* know how to change the subject! Speak! Where were you during the day? And where did this reek of alcohol come from?"
Ji Nanjue knew herself well; she rarely drank. Or rather, there were very few people who could pique her interest enough to accompany them in drinking.
"Look, the moon is quite full tonight!"
Clearly, the Eastern Emperor was not inclined to discuss this topic with Key Smoke; she seemed more interested in the moon that night.
BOOM—
Thunder suddenly roared.
A torrential rain began to fall. Dark clouds swept in, obscuring the moonlight, and the candlelight in the room swayed precariously.