Chapter 22: The Lion-Dragon Roars at Heaven

As the two were talking, Xing Wu from the Beast Taming Sect came over to greet them. Xing Wu was the closing disciple of the sect leader Hu Wankui and was highly regarded, usually carrying himself with great arrogance. However, he behaved with impeccable courtesy in front of Shen Zhilan, and before long, the two were chatting and laughing together. Lu Xiuhan’s expression turned somewhat sour, but unable to say anything, he simply called over the other inner disciples participating in this trial of the secret realm.

Whether it was her superior Water Spirit Root aptitude or her cultivation speed—surging to the third level of Foundation Establishment less than two months after reaching that stage—Shen Zhilan was easily the focus of the crowd. She basked in being the center of attention, until a cry of alarm rang out!

"A man-faced lion!"
"The man-faced lion is here!"

The crowd panicked and cleared a path as a beast resembling a gale lion strode forward. Suddenly, the beast roared at the sky, and those with lower cultivation were left dazed and dizzy; some even fainted. Shen Zhilan and the others were also left with buzzing ears and hurriedly summoned their flying swords.

Just as they stood in defensive formation, a small head popped out from the beast’s back. A thin, frail young girl stood up and waved.

"Yo, everyone is here! Hope you're all doing well! Let me introduce myself: I am Feng Xi from the Xuantian Sect, and this is our sect’s divine beast, the Golden-Maned Suanni. It’s impolite to arrive empty-handed for a first meeting, so I just gave everyone a little gift. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the ‘Suanni’s Roar’? The sound has the effect of refreshing the mind and spirit. Anyone with a righteous heart can appreciate the benefits of this roar."

Feng Xi pointed to someone at random: "Brother, can you feel it?"

The man quickly replied, "I can, I can! I was feeling drowsy, but now my mind is crystal clear. It’s even more effective than a Spirit-Awakening Pill!"

Feng Xi asked a few others, and they all gave affirmative answers, singing the praises of the Xuantian Sect. After all, if they claimed they didn't feel it, wouldn't that imply they lacked a righteous heart? Only a fool would say they didn't feel anything!

Feng Xi continued, "We at the Xuantian Sect have always made it our mission to eliminate demons and uphold justice, but we do more than we speak, which is why people don't know much about us. Take me, for example—not long ago, I risked my dantian shattering to ambush the old fiend Xue Tianjue. By rights, such a heroic deed should be well-publicized, but the Xuantian Sect is as low-key as ever and has never mentioned it. To finish the deed and brush off one’s robes, hiding one’s fame and merit—that is the true reflection of the Xuantian Sect. I don’t mean anything else by saying this; I just want everyone to know us better. If you are looking to join a sect, you might want to consider the Xuantian Sect..."

The crowd didn't remember much of what Feng Xi said, but they remembered one thing: she had ambushed Xue Tianjue. Whether it was the earlier misunderstanding about the man-faced lion or Feng Xi’s "warmhearted" gesture of letting them experience the "Suanni’s Roar," she had left a deep impression. Not to mention the courage and responsibility it took to ambush a fiend like Xue Tianjue!

Feng Xi’s reputation soared, and with it, the prestige of the Xuantian Sect reached a new level. Shen Zhilan’s gaze never left Feng Xi’s face, her eyes flashing with shock and suspicion.

Standing beside her, Lu Xiuhan gritted his teeth: "This Feng Xi is a compulsive liar. I have never heard of any ‘Suanni’s Roar.’ She must be spouting nonsense! Junior Sister, you didn't feel any ‘refreshing’ effect, did you?"

Shen Zhilan: "..." *Idiot! How am I supposed to answer that? If I say no, and the Suanni’s Roar actually exists, won't I be digging my own grave?*

She flickered her eyes: "Second Senior Brother, I just took a Spirit-Awakening Pill earlier, so I am not sure if what she said about the Suanni’s Roar is true."

Lu Xiuhan turned to Xing Wu and the others: "What about you?"

Xing Wu and the others replied almost in unison: "We also took Spirit-Awakening Pills just now." Then, they scattered like birds and beasts. *This Lu Xiuhan must have a screw loose; better to stay away from him.*

At this moment, the rest of the Xuantian Sect members arrived on their flying swords. Xiao Baidao felt a bit of blame toward his little disciple; he had warned her repeatedly not to let the Golden-Maned Suanni run too fast, in case there was danger and he couldn't reach her in time. Yet, in the blink of an eye, these two had run ahead. He would have to have a serious talk with her later.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard his little disciple’s crisp voice: "Everyone, look! The Xuantian Sect’s team has arrived!"

As soon as Feng Xi finished, she began to clap. Once she took the lead, others followed, and soon more joined in. People are naturally inclined to follow the crowd. Besides, the Xuantian Sect was one of the four major sects and deserved the applause. Not to mention, they had just gifted everyone... the Suanni’s Roar. Thunderous applause erupted.

Xiao Baidao nearly fell off his flying sword! What had happened before he arrived? However, being a veteran of the cultivation world, after a momentary shock, he immediately adopted a dignified air, nodding slightly at the crowd with a perfectly measured smile. The others from the Xuantian Sect quickly followed suit, cupping their hands in greeting.

Jun Wen was dying of curiosity! What exactly had his little junior sister done?

The sect leaders of the other three major sects, however, did not look so pleased. They had never enjoyed such treatment; why should the weakest sect, the Xuantian Sect, receive it? Baili Muchen whispered a few words to the leaders of the Myriad Sword Sect, Lu Zhenkuan, and the Beast Taming Sect, Hu Wankui. The two exchanged glances and nodded. *If they could watch the show and gain some benefits, why not?*

A while later, Xiao Baidao walked over with a measured gait. Baili Muchen said in surprise, "You... you’ve advanced?"

Seeing Xiao Baidao nod, the three sect leaders felt a surge of bitterness, especially Lu Zhenkuan and Hu Wankui. Originally, among the four, only Baili Muchen was at the third level of Soul Transformation, while the other three were at the second level. To think that Xiao Baidao was now at the third level as well. *This old man Xiao has been having too much luck lately! Not only did he discover a high-grade spirit stone mine, but he even advanced!*

The three offered insincere congratulations, and then Baili Muchen said, "Sect Leader Xiao, when Feng Xi went missing, you begged our Hunyuan Sect to send an elder proficient in formations to rescue her. Out of morality, I agreed. The condition I set was that you would yield most of your quotas for the Sky Scar Secret Realm, to which you agreed. Although Feng Xi came out on her own, our formation elder wasted effort traveling back and forth, so you owe me an explanation, don't you? How about this: give up twenty of your quotas this time, how about that?"

Xiao Baidao was both shocked and furious. He had sent a message to Baili Muchen as soon as Feng Xi returned; it hadn't even been two hours in total. This was called "traveling back and forth"? And he had the nerve to ask for twenty quotas? Was this not daylight robbery?!

Lu Zhenkuan and Hu Wankui cleared their throats, preparing to back up Baili Muchen, when Feng Xi scurried over.