Chapter :58 Greetings

The moonlight faded, giving way to the pre-dawn glow over Jinghong Peak as Shu Yue stood at the trial grounds’ edge, her Frost Silence blade humming faintly in her grip. The anshen tea’s warmth lingered in her chest, steadying her Golden Core aura, but the third curse pulsed stronger, unnoticed, a dark thread weaving through her spiritual veins. Xiaoxi’s care… it’s keeping me grounded. Her thoughts flickered to Qing Wan’s tentative trust and Wan Qing’s probing warmth. Today, we face the trials together—or fall apart. The sect’s arena buzzed with gathering disciples, the air thick with anticipation.

Qing Wan arrived, her Silent Annihilation Sword Intent sharp but restrained, her eyes meeting Shu Yue’s with a mix of resolve and uncertainty. “You’re here early,” she said, her voice low. Shu Yue nodded, her pale face betraying the curse’s strain. “We need to be ready. The team battle comes first.” Qing Wan’s gaze softened slightly, recalling the azure leaf and Shu Yue’s plea. She’s trying. The curse’s remnants whispered doubts, but she pushed them aside. “No lies today,” she said firmly. Shu Yue’s lips curved faintly. “No lies.”

Chu Yi and Lin Xiaoxi joined them, their auras vibrant despite the tension. Lin Xiaoxi clutched her wooden sword, eyes wide with excitement. “Teacher! Second Sister! We’ll win, right?” Chu Yi ruffled her hair, his Foundation Building aura steady. “Stay close, Xiaoxi. Protect each other.” Shu Yue glanced at her team, her heart heavy but resolute. They’re my anchor. The third curse pulsed, a sharp pain in her dantian, but she masked it, focusing on the trial’s rules: a qi array defense, followed by duels against rival peaks.

Wan Qing observed from a pavilion, her zither’s subtle notes weaving a charm to sway the crowd’s perception. Luyue’s unity is fragile. She signaled Liu Qingxu, hidden among the elders: “Now.” Liu Qingxu activated the third jade slip fully, and the curse surged, sapping Shu Yue’s strength mid-step. Shu Yue stumbled, Frost Silence flaring to stabilize her, catching Qing Wan’s attention. “You’re not fine,” Qing Wan said, her voice sharp with worry. Shu Yue gritted her teeth. “I’ll manage. Focus on the array.”

The trial began, Jinghong Peak facing Yaochi Peak’s team in the qi array defense. Shu Yue led, her Frost Silence cutting through the array’s illusions, but the curse’s drain slowed her reactions. Qing Wan’s sword intent bolstered their defense, her strikes precise but heavy with unspoken tension. Chu Yi and Lin Xiaoxi flanked them, their coordination tight, but Yaochi’s team, guided by Liu Qingxu’s hidden sabotage, pressed harder, targeting Shu Yue’s faltering aura. Lin Xiaoxi noticed, her voice urgent. “Teacher, something’s wrong!” Shu Yue forced a calm tone. “Stay focused, Xiaoxi.”

Elder Yuheng, watching from the elders’ platform, sensed the malevolent qi in Shu Yue. Another curse. She signaled a trusted disciple to investigate Liu Qingxu’s quarters, clutching the counter-talisman from Blackwind Gorge. Liu Qingxu, confident, whispered to an ally: “Luyue’s collapse will disgrace Jinghong Peak.” Wan Qing’s zither notes sharpened, amplifying the crowd’s murmurs against Shu Yue’s leadership.

As the array’s pressure peaked, Shu Yue’s vision blurred, the third curse threatening to unravel her. Qing Wan, sensing her struggle, stepped closer, her sword intent shielding Shu Yue. “Lean on me,” she said, her voice firm but soft. Shu Yue met her gaze, a spark of gratitude breaking through the pain. “Together.” Their combined auras surged, shattering the array’s core, securing Jinghong Peak’s victory. The crowd roared, but Liu Qingxu’s smile didn’t falter. The duels will finish her.

Post-trial, Qing Wan steadied Shu Yue, her hand lingering on her arm. “You’re hiding something. Tell me.” Shu Yue hesitated, the curse’s haze clouding her mind. “Not now. The duels…” Qing Wan’s eyes narrowed, but she nodded, her trust fragile but growing. Lin Xiaoxi hugged Shu Yue’s waist, oblivious to the tension. “Teacher, we did it!” Chu Yi watched, his loyalty unwavering. As the duels loomed, Liu Qingxu’s final trap waited, and Jinghong Peak’s unity faced its ultima

te test.