The dense crowd parted to create a wide path, and everyone turned to look back.
Song Xiaohe also stood up, standing on her tiptoes to peer through the crowd.
She easily spotted Shen Xishan, as his towering figure stood out prominently among the people.
The young man walking slowly wore the Heavenly Rank sect robe of the Hunt Division, a flowing snow-white robe with golden emblems on the lapel that shimmered faintly with his movements.
His long hair was half-tied up, adorned with an exquisite small golden crown, from which two long golden ribbons hung, entwined with his ink-black hair, swaying gently.
Shen Xishan's appearance was exceptionally striking, with the most captivating feature being the vermilion mark between his eyebrows, which gave him an air of celestial grace, resembling a young bodhisattva descended from the heavens.
He walked through the parted crowd to the gate, standing at the forefront of the disciples, followed by several other handsome young men and women, all dressed in fine attire, indicating their noble origins as inner disciples of the Immortal Alliance.
Shen Xishan's name was widely known, and many in the mortal and immortal realms had heard of this prodigious young man. Now, standing before them like a deity, the noisy surroundings fell silent even before he spoke a word.
His eyes carried a faint smile, and every movement was elegant and dignified. He cupped his hands in a respectful salute to Fengyang Spirit Lord, his voice clear and melodious.
"Disciple Shen Xishan of the Immortal Alliance, greets Fengyang Spirit Lord."
He was the epitome of a gentle and refined gentleman, as warm and smooth as jade.
Song Xiaohe hid to the side, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Shen Xishan, taking in every detail of his expression, movements, and appearance.
It had been over a month since their last meeting, and she finally had the chance to see her junior brother again. She wanted to take a good look to ease the longing in her heart.
"So, you are the renowned genius of the Shen family?" Fengyang Spirit Lord scrutinized him several times before asking in a deep voice.
Perhaps due to Shen Xishan's fame, Fengyang Spirit Lord's tone lacked the disdain he had shown earlier when speaking to Liang Tan.
Shen Xishan replied, "My master and the Alliance Leader are currently discussing the recent incidents of Immortal Alliance disciples being harmed. They are likely too preoccupied to receive guests at the moment. Please return for now, Fengyang Spirit Lord."
"My disciples died near the Immortal Alliance, and without an explanation, how can I return empty-handed and face my sect's members?" Fengyang, angered by Shen Xishan's immediate dismissal, darkened his face, teetering on the edge of fury.
Yet Shen Xishan seemed completely oblivious to the brewing anger. His eyes narrowed into a smile, further accentuating the beauty of the vermilion mark between his brows, his complexion as pale as snow.
"My master has instructed that no outsiders are allowed to enter the Immortal Alliance during the council. If Fengyang Spirit Lord insists on forcing your way in..."
"And what if I do?" Fengyang demanded sharply.
"Then this disciple can only apologize for the offense." Shen Xishan cupped his hands and bowed once more.
His tone was neither submissive nor arrogant, gentle yet firm, and even when faced with Fengyang's overwhelming presence, he showed no sign of weakness. This was Shen Xishan's skill of deflecting a thousand pounds with a mere four ounces of force.
Song Xiaohe watched intently, her admiration and infatuation growing. She could hardly resist jumping up to cheer for Shen Xishan, wishing to praise him with all the beautiful words in the world.
But her knowledge of poetry was limited, and she could only repeat phrases like "handsome," "amazing," and "my favorite junior brother" to express her adoration.
"Wipe your drool! Can't you have a bit more dignity?" Seeing her disciple utterly captivated by Shen Xishan, Liang Tan angrily kicked her.
At this point, there was no room for further negotiation. Fengyang was determined to force his way in, taking advantage of the Immortal Alliance elders' preoccupation with the council to stir trouble. He wouldn't be swayed by mere words.
He summoned his sword and shouted, "Don't say I didn't warn you! If you end up with broken limbs, don't go around saying I bullied a junior!"
A gust of sword wind erupted as Fengyang released his full spiritual pressure. The surrounding disciples, unable to withstand the force, began to retreat.
Yet Shen Xishan remained standing in place, letting the wind whip his robes and send his ink-black hair and ribbons flying. The strands of hair brushed against the vermilion mark on his forehead.
His expression remained calm. With a wave of his hand, he held a talisman between his fingers. The black ink of the spell on the paper glowed faintly, and the incantation flowed like ink from his fingers, wrapping around him from head to toe.
In an instant, the previously clear sky darkened as black clouds gathered above Shen Xishan's head. Silver-white lightning flickered within the clouds, accompanied by the rumble of thunder, signaling an impending strike.
Shen Xishan stood beneath the thunderclouds, facing Fengyang Spirit Lord's sword with an aura as grand as a rainbow.
The sky darkened, yet Shen Xishan's figure seemed to glow, the only vivid color in the chaotic heavens.
The disciples on both sides had already been forced back several feet by the clashing auras. At this critical moment, Song Xiaohe finally remembered her master, who was still lying on the ground, and hurried over to drag him away like a lifeless dog.
"Master, isn't junior brother a sword cultivator? Why is he using a talisman to deal with that villain who knocked out your teeth?" Song Xiaohe squatted beside Liang Tan and asked.
"Shen Xishan is a once-in-a-millennium genius in sword cultivation. His mastery of the sword is already unfathomable. Fengyang's abilities aren't worth him drawing his sword," Liang Tan said, sitting up slowly and squinting at Shen Xishan. "By using a talisman, he's giving Fengyang some face."
"Then what talisman is he using?"
"The Wind and Thunder Talisman," Liang Tan replied with a smile. "This talisman is extraordinary. Years ago, a talisman genius created it, capable of borrowing thunder from the ninth heaven. If one can master this thunder technique, it can exterminate all evil in the world."
"It's the most powerful talisman in existence," he added with high praise.
"Junior brother is truly amazing, not only skilled with the sword but also with talismans," Song Xiaohe exclaimed in awe.
"His talisman skills aren't refined. He's just relying on his exceptional talent. He can only unleash ten percent of the Wind and Thunder Talisman's power," Liang Tan scolded her. "You're both disciples of the Immortal Alliance. Reflect on the gap between you and him! Years ago, I told you to learn talismans, but you said drawing them was too hard and refused."
Song Xiaohe thought to herself that drawing talismans was indeed difficult, and it wasn't just an excuse to be lazy.
Besides, the gap between her and junior brother was as vast as ten thousand mountains. No amount of reflection would bridge that.
She could only blend in with the other disciples, hiding among the envious, jealous, and admiring gazes, becoming just one of countless eyes secretly watching Shen Xishan from an unnoticed corner.
She often reflected on why she couldn't see junior brother every day, and her conclusion was to blame Shen Xishan himself, as he was always skipping classes.
Fengyang felt the immense pressure from the sky and gritted his teeth, raising his sword high before swinging it down with a shout.
At the same moment, Shen Xishan flicked the talisman between his fingers, and a thin, dazzling bolt of lightning shot down from the clouds above. With a deafening roar, the lightning struck Fengyang's sword directly.
Fengyang felt a tremendous shockwave travel from his wrist to his shoulder, accompanied by searing pain and numbness. His sword was instantly knocked from his hand and clattered to the ground. He staggered back several steps before finally stopping, staring at Shen Xishan in shock.
The talisman in Shen Xishan's fingers turned to ash in an instant. He casually flicked away the remnants, and the thunderclouds above him dissipated just as quickly, restoring the clear sky.
The wind died down, and Shen Xishan's robes settled. The strands of hair fell back onto his forehead, partially obscuring the sharpness in his eyes, returning him to his usual calm and gentle demeanor.
He cupped his hands and bowed once more, saying respectfully, "My apologies. Please return, Fengyang Spirit Lord."
Three salutes upon meeting, courtesy before force.
Shen Xishan's actions were impeccable, his light tone effortlessly persuading the other to retreat, showcasing the grace of the Immortal Alliance.
Everyone knew Shen Xishan was a sword cultivator. By not drawing his sword and still knocking Fengyang's sword from his hand, he had already shown considerable restraint.
Fengyang was deeply shaken by Shen Xishan's power. Knowing that with Shen Xishan guarding the gate, forcing his way into the Immortal Alliance was impossible, he could only flush red with anger, mutter a few threats, and vow to return another day before slinking away with his disciples in defeat.
Once the troublemakers had left, the Immortal Alliance disciples swarmed around Shen Xishan, showering him with praise and admiration.
Shen Xishan smiled softly, exchanged a few words with those around him, and then turned to leave.
He summoned his sword and soared into the sky, leaving amidst the envious gazes of the crowd. The few men and women who had been following him also departed one after another.
As the excitement faded, the crowd dispersed, and the surroundings gradually returned to quietness.
Song Xiaohe stood still, staring in the direction Shen Xishan had left, her eyes searching the horizon, watching his figure slowly disappear into the distance.
"Little Junior Brother is truly a role model for us," she said earnestly.
"He's already gone far, why are you still looking?" Liang Tan picked up a small branch and lightly smacked her on the head.
Song Xiaohe rubbed the spot where she had been hit and then squatted down. "Master, you only lost a couple of teeth, it's not like your legs were broken. Why don't you just get up and walk yourself?"
Liang Tan huffed, "I'm an old man with brittle bones! After being sent tumbling through the air twice, how could my body take it? Hurry up and take me to the Hall of Healing Immortals!"
"You're just being lazy," Song Xiaohe muttered, pursing her lips. She formed a hand seal with her fingers and said, "This is a good chance to test the spell I need to pass this month's assessment."
Within the Immortal Alliance, there were many cultivation methods, with sword cultivation being the most prominent, followed by spell cultivation.
Song Xiaohe had long wanted to switch to sword cultivation, but she simply lacked the talent and was too clumsy. After pestering her master to teach her a couple of sword techniques, she found herself utterly exhausted. Despite practicing day and night, she made no progress. Seeing her struggle, Liang Tan stopped teaching her sword techniques, so she had no choice but to continue with spell cultivation.
In terms of spell cultivation, Song Xiaohe wasn't particularly gifted either. Over the years, her only improvement was going from being unable to remember spells to barely managing to pass her monthly assessments.
Song Xiaohe activated the spell, her hands glowing faintly. The grass beneath Liang Tan seemed to come alive, weaving itself under his back and tremblingly lifting him up. The grass swayed unsteadily as it carried him onto a small flying boat and dropped him inside.
Liang Tan let out a pained groan and scolded, "Foolish disciple! Foolish disciple! You spent a whole month learning a simple movement spell, and this is the result?"
Song Xiaohe climbed into the flying boat, grinning widely. "At least I succeeded! I can pass this month's assessment now!"
Liang Tan sighed deeply, unsure whether he was worried about his only disciple or the two teeth he had just lost.
"One day, I'll pass the Hunt Division's exam and become a Heavenly Rank hunter. Then I can go in and out with Little Junior Brother, eat and sleep together!" Song Xiaohe declared her grand ambition as she started the flying boat.
"Eat and sleep together? If you put half as much effort into practicing spells as you do into daydreaming, you'd be a hundred times better off," Liang Tan retorted, dousing her enthusiasm.
Song Xiaohe replied, "Oh, Master, there's always tomorrow, and there are plenty of tomorrows. There's no rush to practice spells right now."
In truth, she wasn't that greedy. Though she spoke boldly, deep down, she only hoped that one day Shen Xishan would stand before her, call her by name, and remember her—Song Xiaohe.
It was a small wish, but given the current circumstances, it seemed a bit difficult to achieve.
It might take a few years.
Or decades.
Or it might never happen.
But since she and Shen Xishan were both part of the same Immortal Alliance, with their long lives, they were bound to cross paths eventually.
