CHAPTER 53: 54. ULTIMATE ASURA FIGHT! (4K-WORD SUPERSIZED CHAPTER, 2 IN 1)_1

Nightfall.

Atop Fairy Cliff, a ravishing woman in a teal robe stood with her tall figure, her black hair like a cascading waterfall, gazing at the stars and the moon, hands clasped behind her back.

Xiao’er, tonight is a crucial juncture in altering your destiny. You must listen and behave.

Don’t worry. As long as you safely navigate the Five Branches Martial Arts Competition—a pivotal event that will determine your fate—I have plenty of ways to make the so-called Son of Destiny suffer a fate worse than death!

The woman exuded an imposing aura that seemed capable of destroying the heavens and annihilating the earth.

Xiao’er... how have you been these past ten days in the Phantom Spirit Blessed Abode? Have you truly been cultivating diligently?

I’ve really wanted to visit you during this time, but...

I simply didn’t know how to face you alone...

That night in the Lotus Blessed Abode, you little rascal, you were truly... Hmph!

Seemingly recalling something, the woman’s exquisite, stern face softened with tenderness, her cheeks blushing to the tips of her ears.

"Chairman, Lin Xiao, the eldest disciple of our branch, is here! Of your three Direct Disciples, except for Lu Yingying, the other two have arrived," a middle-aged female steward announced, stepping forward.

Caught up in her thoughts, Xiao Hongling snapped out of her reverie and cleared her throat, saying, "Understood."

"Inform them—"

"The Divine Phoenix Peak Mobilization Assembly—starts now!"

「Half an incense stick later.」

Taiyi Square, at the foot of Fairy Cliff, was already teeming with people. Disciples from the inner and outer sects, including all the servant disciples, had gathered!

"The Chairman-Master arrives!" A clear voice echoed through the valley.

"We pay our respects, Master!"

The disciples in attendance bowed en masse.

In the front row, Lin Xiao, too, reluctantly released the hands of his two junior martial sisters and bowed.

WHOOSH.

Under everyone’s gaze, a woman with exquisite features, a noble temperament, and clad in a teal dress, her black hair flowing freely, descended as if riding the wind!

Under the bright moonlight, her temperament seemed even more ethereal, like a celestial fairy from the Moon Palace of the Upper Realm.

Master is so beautiful, Lin Xiao marveled internally.

Scenes from that night in the Lotus Blessed Abode involuntarily flashed through his mind.

No! How can I entertain such irreverent thoughts about my own Master?

A person must have principles!

Precisely because Master is a peerless beauty, pure and untainted, she should be used to... Bah! She should be held in awe and reverence in one’s heart!

Lin Xiao promptly vanquished the impure thoughts from his mind, his mind regaining clarity.

Suddenly, the woman revered by all disciples as Fairy Hongling descended from high above, landing on the Chairman’s high platform.

Unlike the usual stern Chairmen, she elegantly crossed her legs, propped up her chin with one hand, and said with a lazy yawn, "Alright, everyone present should be clear by now that the reason I convened you all today is for the matter of selecting participants for the upcoming Five Branches Martial Arts Competition!"

As she spoke, her cold, overbearing phoenix-like eyes slowly swept across the crowd, finally resting on a handsome figure in snow-white robes in the front row.

Then, as if she had received an electric shock, she quickly shifted her gaze to Guo Yourong on the other side.

This subtle change in expression naturally didn’t escape Lin Xiao’s eyes.

What does Master mean?

Is she... embarrassed to look at me?

My heavens, no way! No way! She was completely drunk that night; she shouldn’t remember anything, right?

Lin Xiao’s heart pounded.

However, he quickly relaxed.

That’s right. Considering Xiao Hongling’s personality from the original novel, if she knew her disciple had taken advantage of her drunken state and acted so outrageously, she would have obliterated him with a slap long ago!

"Alright, our Divine Phoenix Peak has never been one for formalities."

Xiao Hongling waved her hand and said in her usual languid tone, "Regarding the three inner sect disciple spots for the vanguard this time, I’ll just announce them directly. That way, everyone can go back and rest sooner."

With that, her phoenix-like eyes moved, and she looked at the two beautiful young women in the front row, each with her own unique charm. "Youwei, Yurong, we’ll be counting on you this time. Set a good example for your junior martial brothers. And also..."

"Hmm? Where is that little girl, Yingying?"

Furrowing her eyebrows, she looked around but did not see her youngest disciple, Lu Yingying.

"Reporting to Master! Senior Sister Yingying seems to be busy with something today. She asked me to request a leave of absence for her from you, Master! She also said she’s fully prepared for the Five Branches Martial Arts Competition and asks you not to worry, Master!" a newly-joined junior martial sister stepped forward timidly and said.

"I see."

Xiao Hongling nodded, the corners of her mouth curling upwards. "Very well, then it’s decided! The three inner sect disciples from our Divine Phoenix Peak who will form the vanguard are Guo Yourong, Chu Youwei, and Lu Yingying! As for the outer sect disciple candidates for the second wave, they will be selected by our branch’s Guest Elders and stewards!"

"Yes!"

"Master is wise!"

"Our Divine Phoenix Peak is sure to secure the top spot this year!"

"Go, Senior Sisters!"

The disciples erupted with excitement.

HIC—

Xiao Hongling let out a hiccup, rose gracefully, stretching languidly. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, the participants have been decided. The Mobilization Assembly ends here for today. Everyone may return to your rooms and prepare for tomorrow’s morning lessons!"

"Dismissed!"

Upon hearing her words, the disciples were dumbfounded.

The grand Mobilization Assembly, held once every five years with such great fanfare, was... over just like that?

After all, the mobilization assemblies of other peaks always involved boosting morale and discussing future prospects, lasting at least until late into the night!