Chapter 167: Return

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Return

The experts ranked in the teens, in particular, had even made some pointed remarks about this.

"Did they ask for our permission before letting this Yi Xiaoyao jump right over our heads?"

"Heh, if he wants his rank to be recognized, he should defeat us experts in the teens first! Otherwise, even if he’s ranked eighth, it’s just an empty title!"

"When we run into that Yi Xiaoyao, we’ll be sure to put him in his place. We’ll let everyone know that it’s not a good thing to be ranked above us without the strength to back it up."

These words made everyone even more eager to see Yi Xiaoyao encounter these experts and be defeated.

However, more than two months had passed since the news broke, and Yi Xiaoyao had yet to show his face. Everyone assumed he knew he wasn’t strong enough and was deliberately avoiding challenges.

On his way back, Yi Xiaoyao could still overhear some of these discussions, but he just smiled to himself and paid them no mind.

’The competition for the Heaven and Earth Fire Essence will begin in less than a month. I wonder who’s stronger now, me or Shangguan Tianjian...’

That was what Yi Xiaoyao truly cared about. In his eyes, his only opponent was the number-one-ranked Shangguan Tianjian. As for those nobodies in the teens who ran their mouths and questioned him, Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t care less about them.

Besides that, Yi Xiaoyao’s heart ached with longing for Yun Mengling. He hadn’t seen her for over two months, but her dreamlike, graceful figure remained as clear as ever in his mind.

’I wonder how Ling’Er has been doing all this time.’

At this thought, a warm smile spread across Yi Xiaoyao’s face, and he quickened his pace.

The next evening, in a courtyard somewhere in the Seven Kills Star Hall.

"Little Hei, he’s been gone for so long. Why isn’t he back yet?"

The girl in the white dress was slumped over a stone table in the courtyard, looking like a flawless white cloud drifting there. She idly stroked the fur of the Little Black Monkey with her slender, jade-like fingers, pouting as she posed her question to it.

The Little Black Monkey sat on the stone table, blinking its big, dark eyes. Suddenly, it pointed behind the girl and started to squeak.

The girl froze for a moment. Then, she felt a strange stir in her soul, and in the next instant, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her from behind.

A moment later, she gasped, finally realizing what was happening. Feeling the breath on her ear, she cried out in delighted exasperation, "You jerk, you scared me to death!"

"Ling’Er, what were you so lost in thought about? You didn’t even notice I was back. Were you, by any chance, thinking of me?" Yi Xiaoyao asked affectionately, whispering in Yun Mengling’s ear.

Yun Mengling pouted. "Of course not!"

"Well, I was dying to see you," Yi Xiaoyao chuckled.

A sweet smile touched Yun Mengling’s lips, but she still let out a huff, feigning anger.

After a brief moment of silence, Yi Xiaoyao smiled faintly and looked at Little Hei on the table, who was blinking its big eyes and watching them curiously.

"Little Hei has changed so much during this time?"

Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes widened in shock. The Qi emanating from Little Hei was now that of a low-grade, third-rank Demon Beast, equivalent in strength to a human in the Golden Core Realm!

"Mhm. After you left, it woke up and turned into a huge Black Ape. Then it changed back to this size," Yun Mengling replied, a hint of shyness still in her voice.

The two of them just held each other, never wanting to let go.

But just then, the Black Robe Hall Master appeared at a most inopportune time.

"Xiaoyao, I just received news from the Washing Sword Sect and knew you’d come here after you got back..."

The Black Robe Hall Master trailed off as he saw the perfect pair embracing by the stone table, and he froze in the doorway.

Yi Xiaoyao and Yun Mengling quickly separated, and he stood up to bow to the Hall Master.

"Hall Master, did you need me for something?" Yi Xiaoyao asked.

"Ah, it’s nothing, nothing. I won’t disturb you. I’ll be going!"

The Black Robe Hall Master waved his hand, gave an awkward smile, and turned to leave. But then he stopped, turning back. "Oh, right. In a few days, the senior members of our Seven Kills Star Hall who are ranked high on the Hidden Dragon List will be returning. Xiaoyao, you should come as well. It’s regarding the competition for the Heaven and Earth Fire Essence."

Watching the Hall Master’s hasty retreat, Yi Xiaoyao and Yun Mengling couldn’t help but exchange a smile. The Hall Master, who seemed so cold and ruthless to outsiders, was actually rather endearing.

"Xiaoyao, you must have heard the rumors about you, right? I’m afraid the return of these seniors might spell some trouble for you."

Worry flickered in Yun Mengling’s beautiful eyes. During the time Yi Xiaoyao was away, she had made sure to diligently find out every piece of news about him.

Yi Xiaoyao knew what she was referring to, of course. He pinched her little nose and smiled. "For me, a problem I can solve easily isn’t a problem at all."

Yun Mengling sniffled, but seeing the utter lack of concern in his eyes, she relaxed and gave a sweet smile.

For the next few days, Yi Xiaoyao spent all his time with Yun Mengling. He would occasionally have a drink with Jin Sanbao, Xuan Mo, and Luo Yi, and he would consolidate his Cultivation every night. He enjoyed a period of unprecedented peace.

One day, a sudden commotion erupted in the Seven Kills Star Hall. All the disciples, faces flush with excitement, ran in droves toward the main square.

"Did you hear? The seniors from our Seven Kills Star Hall who are in the top twenty of the Hidden Dragon List are all back!"

"Quick, let’s go see! We never get to see these people normally. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

In the square, the Black Robe Hall Master stood on a high platform with his hands clasped behind his back. Not far from him stood six figures, each with an extraordinary bearing and an air of arrogance in their every move.

These six were all in the top twenty of the Hidden Dragon List, beings admired by countless people. They had certainly earned the right to be arrogant.

"Look! That’s the second-ranked on the Hidden Dragon List, Senior Brother Sword Wind Breaker! He’s the idol I’ve always admired most!"

"And there’s Su Xiang, ranked sixth, Hua Yunfeng, ranked eleventh, and the one ranked fourteenth..."

A large crowd of Seven Kills Star Hall disciples stared at the six figures with fervent eyes, their hearts pounding with excitement as they buzzed with discussion.

Just then, another stir went through the crowd, which then parted to form a path.

"It’s Yi Xiaoyao! He’s ranked eighth now!"

"Yi Xiaoyao is strong, but I heard his ranking is inflated."

"Hey, look! Some of those seniors don’t look too happy!"

All the disciples noticed. With Yi Xiaoyao’s appearance, the faces of the senior disciples ranked below tenth on the Hidden Dragon List turned cold.

And among them were the very same Hidden Dragon List experts who had publicly dismissed Yi Xiaoyao’s rank and vowed to put him in his place.

"Heh. Yi Xiaoyao. He finally shows his face."

"After hiding in his shell like a coward for two months, I’m afraid he won’t be able to hide today even if he wants to."

"Still, we’re from the same sect. Let’s not make it too ugly."

The senior disciples ranked in the teens stared at Yi Xiaoyao, discussing among themselves with faint, cold smirks on their faces.

...