Chapter 190: The Guardian Object in the Deep Mountains

Though they acted like they could chat until the end of time, the Master of the Mo Sect was surprisingly discreet.

Having finished most of their tea, and before it could cool down, he stood up to take his leave, not wanting to waste too much of Miss Vilyric’s and the others’ time. When he left, even Fish Dan’er was still not finished with her registration.

As they watched the old man in black gradually disappear into the crowd, Vilyric leaned back against the soft cushion, her fingers lightly tapping on the wooden armrest, creating a rhythmic sound.

The other party hadn’t touched on any sensitive topics, like certain matters about the “Four Saints Selection Tournament” or the jade pendant worn by the Priestess at her waist. They merely chatted about trivial, everyday matters—nothing more.

“Hen, what do you think he means?”

The silver-haired girl sitting next to Vilyric replied without hesitation.

“Testing the waters, showing goodwill.”

“Hmm… That aligns with my thoughts. Seems like he’s a person who adheres to the middle way and doesn’t like to stand out too much.”

Such individuals are usually good at lighthearted banter and resolving conflicts between groups but make poor leaders. In other words, the Master of the Mo Sect doesn’t have too many ambitions; he simply wishes to keep a low profile in front of the two, just to be on the safe side.

It appears Wen Zhengyang truly kept his promise to her, which is why these big shots couldn’t figure him out and dared not act recklessly.

Let them guess all they want; after all, Miss Vilyric has nothing to lose here, and she doesn’t plan to interfere too much with the internal politics of the Ancient Spirit Realm’s four countries. It would be best if she could board the Immortal Island without a hitch.

“Let’s go check on Fish Dan’er.”

When they returned to the registration point, the girl in the elegant attire had already completed her second answer sheet and was waiting for the reviewer’s inspection.

In fact, Mo Ziqing’s guarantee for her was meant to be a favor to Vilyric and the others, allowing them to skip the assessment and complete their registration. However, the little girl seemed quite stubborn.

But with the Master of the Mo Sect’s personal endorsement, even if she doodled a landscape painting on her paper, the low-level staff wouldn’t dare say a word against it, naturally passing through the selection smoothly. Vilyric also took the opportunity to register herself here.

Though she wouldn’t claim to be an expert in geological spiritual veins, she felt she was somewhat knowledgeable, and since it was just for fun, there was no need to fuss too much—whatever happens, happens.

After that, they strolled around with Fish Dan’er, chatting along the way and gathering a general understanding of the little girl’s situation.

Fish Dan’er didn’t come to the capital, Xingyuan, alone from her hometown. Although Yide County was remote, it was impossible to miss the sensational news about the “Four Saints Selection Tournament.” Many aspiring individuals from her place banded together to form a group akin to a “travel group” to come to the capital together.

Along the way, they also recruited several fellow travelers who shared their goals but were strapped for cash, gathering a group of over a hundred people who were now staying in a lodging in Xingyuan City.

To be honest, Fish Dan’er didn’t need to go through all this trouble. Her family had deep roots, substantial property, and a well-established foundation; they were a genuinely prominent family.

However, her parents seemed somewhat opposed to her publicly making an appearance, unwilling to provide any financial support for this venture. After several arguments, in a fit of anger, Fish Dan’er simply ran away and conveniently joined the travel group heading to the capital.

With limited funds, naturally, she was cautious about spending, which led to the earlier incident concerning the registration fee.

“So that’s how it is… But why do your parents oppose you attending the tournament? Do they think a woman shouldn’t pursue a career and should instead stay home as a housewife? That prejudice is a bit too outdated, isn’t it…?”

Sipping on the freshly squeezed juice the Priestess offered her, Fish Dan’er wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, shaking her head helplessly.

“That’s not the reason. My parents are quite fond of me. They wouldn’t mind if I never wanted to marry, but the situation at home is a bit special…”

Hesitating for a moment and carefully glancing around to ensure no one was watching, the girl in elegant clothing whispered.

“Actually, my family has been protecting something since long, long ago, living alongside the mountains. Our ancestral teachings require us to avoid contact with outsiders from Yide County as much as possible. My parents don’t want me going to the capital for this reason, hoping to force me back with money issues.”

Vilyric immediately showed curiosity.

“Protecting something? What is it?”

“Ugh… How would I know? That thing is hidden deep within the mountains; not even my parents know how to get there. Only our clan leader probably knows.”

“I’m not entirely sure what treasure the family is guarding, but this ridiculous rule has trapped our clan in the mountains for hundreds of years! What kind of situation is this?”

“While others are cautious, I, Fish Dan’er, am not afraid! Besides, my parents should have their own thoughts; otherwise, they wouldn’t be using such a compromise to let me go without caring. We can’t be bound by some inexplicable ancestral teachings forever, can we?”

“Hmm…”

It seems that the legends from Yide County are not baseless. The knowledge Fish Dan’er possesses probably comes from those very tales, but she appears to be merely a fringe character, knowing only part of the story.

After wandering around the registration venue, before they knew it, the three girls had returned to the areas for the Literary and Martial Assessments, and Fish Dan’er bade farewell to her newfound friends.

“Thanks for your help today, and please thank that old gentleman for me! Don’t worry, us Wu Clan members are grateful and will surely repay any kindness! See you again when the Literary Assessment officially begins!”

“Okay, be careful on your way.”

Waving her hand, Fish Dan’er bounced away, her slightly naïve demeanor leaving one worried about whether she might get abducted on the way…

But the public security in Xingyuan City has been quite good, especially recently with the strict measures in place, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?

After that, the two girls headed to the Martial Assessment area, found Murong Yun and Miss Xiao Kong, who had already been waiting in line for half a day, completed their registration together, and then returned to the inn where they were temporarily staying.

What was left to do now was wait for the official opening of the “Four Saints Selection Tournament.”

Seven days passed in a flash; under the strict stability measures of the Holy Sect Alliance, even though more and more people flooded into Xingyuan City, causing all inns and accommodations to be fully booked, and even a room became hard to come by, there weren’t any major disturbances.

The orderly preparation time approached its conclusion, and the much-anticipated event was finally about to begin.

On the morning of June 12th, 1000 of the Four Saints Era.

The ancient streets of Xingyuan City were alive with flags flying and voices buzzing.

Although the dawn only revealed a faint glimmer, the massive creature representing the core of Dongyuanzhi Kingdom was already lively in the early morning. Countless people took to the streets early to secure prime viewing spots for the upcoming event, while the soldiers assigned to keep the city safe had already been deployed, on high alert to deal with any potential troublemakers.

The first act of the “Four Saints Selection Tournament” was the customary parade performance.

This wasn’t merely a competition to select outstanding talents worldwide; it was also an excellent stage to showcase the power and grandeur of each nation. Even the Immortal Island would send envoys to personally witness the events in the four countries’ capitals. If something went wrong, it would be a huge embarrassment.

The parade would consist of elite experts selected from the Eastern Yuan Guard and the Five Elements Army, along with performance talents specially trained by Qiguo. They would set off from the East Gate military camp, traverse the entire ancient street, ensuring enough citizens would see them, before heading to the main venue where the Eastern Yuan Holy Monarch and the five sect leaders were located.

   

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