Chapter 344: The thousand dao city 14.

"That is why I married you."

Ning Shuyue looked away.

"Your standards are strange."

"They work."

Inside the assembly hall, dozens of sect representatives were already gathering.

The room was vast enough to seat several thousand people, although only a fraction would participate in the central discussion. The highest-ranking representatives sat in a semicircle around the central platform. Lower-ranking disciples and assistants stood behind them.

The atmosphere was polite.

Too polite.

People smiled.

People bowed.

People exchanged greetings.

But Mo Yuxin could sense the tension under it all.

Cultivators were extremely good at hiding hostility behind courtesy.

She had met such people before.

Su Yubing slipped her arm through Mo Yuxin’s.

"Do not stare too much."

"I am not staring."

"You are staring at the Heavenly Sword representatives."

"Their robes are badly fitted."

Su Yubing looked.

"They are fine."

"The shoulders are uneven."

"You noticed that?"

"Yes."

"You really have too much attention to detail."

Mo Yuxin shrugged.

"I notice things."

"You also noticed the Battle Maiden formation yesterday."

Mo Yuxin’s expression became calmer.

"Yes."

"And?"

"Someone changed it."

Su Yubing glanced toward the hall.

"Do you think it is connected?"

"I do not know yet."

She paused.

"But I think it is worth watching."

The first group to approach them were disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect.

At the front was a tall young man with long black hair and a sword on his back. He looked to be around thirty, though his cultivation meant he could have been much older. His robe was white with silver patterns, and the sword at his waist was clearly a high-grade spiritual weapon.

He smiled politely.

"I am Fang Zhen, second elder disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. I heard about your arrival in Thousand Dao City."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Hello."

Fang Zhen looked briefly at their joined hands.

His expression did not change, but there was a small pause.

"Are you both traveling cultivators?"

Su Yubing answered.

"Yes."

"You came from Bluewave City?"

"Yes."

"Then you have traveled far."

"A little."

Fang Zhen smiled.

"The road to Thousand Dao City can be dangerous. It is good that you arrived safely."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Thank you."

The conversation could have ended there.

But another Heavenly Sword disciple standing nearby smiled and said, "I heard they defeated a Crimson Sand Wolf pack with a single gesture."

Fang Zhen looked at him.

"Is that so?"

The younger disciple nodded.

"That is what the caravan said."

Fang Zhen looked back at Mo Yuxin.

"You are quite strong for wandering cultivators."

There was nothing openly insulting about the words.

But Mo Yuxin could hear the implication.

Quite strong for wandering cultivators.

Not sect members.

Not people with heritage.

Simply outsiders who happened to possess some talent.

Su Yubing smiled before Mo Yuxin could answer.

"We do our best."

Fang Zhen bowed.

"Perhaps we will have an opportunity to exchange knowledge later."

"Perhaps."

He left with his group.

Mo Yuxin watched them for a moment.

Su Yubing asked quietly, "What do you think?"

"He seems reasonable."

"And the others?"

"Some are arrogant."

"That is a very detailed assessment."

"I am tired of them already."

Su Yubing laughed.

Soon after, the delegates from Golden Mountain Sect arrived.

Their representatives were completely different.

They wore heavy golden-brown robes and most had broad shoulders from years of body cultivation. One of them carried an enormous hammer on his back, even though weapons were technically prohibited inside the assembly chamber.

The hall guards allowed it because everyone knew that taking a weapon away from a Golden Mountain cultivator would probably start a different problem.

The leader was a middle-aged man named Han Zhenhai.

He greeted several sect elders before taking his seat.

Mo Yuxin observed him.

His cultivation was around the late Soul Formation stage.

Strong by normal standards.

Not remotely threatening to her.

Su Yubing noticed that Mo Yuxin had begun studying the people around them.

"Stop measuring everyone."

"I am not."

"You are."

"Fine."

Mo Yuxin looked at her.

"The Golden Mountain leader is late Soul Formation."

"You still measured him."

"Yes."

"And?"

"He has a weak left knee."

Su Yubing blinked.

"You can see that?"

"His stance is compensating for it."

"Maybe you should stop telling me these things."

"Why?"

"Because I am beginning to realize I live with a monster."

Mo Yuxin smiled.

"You married me anyway."

"I did."

"Then it is too late."

Su Yubing leaned against her shoulder.

"I suppose so."

The third major group was Azure Cloud Sect.

Their representatives were much more scholarly.

They carried formation scrolls, jade tablets, and layered talisman cases. Their robes were pale blue, and several of them had small brushes tucked into their sleeves.

The lead elder was a woman named Qin Shuying.

She was a middle-aged Soul Formation cultivator and seemed considerably more interested in documents than people.

That impressed Mo Yuxin somewhat.

At least one group here understood that words could be more dangerous than swords.

Cangming Palace arrived next.

Their robes were dark blue and embroidered with silver waves.

They were accompanied by two enormous spirit beasts with turtle-like shells covered in runes. The creatures remained outside the central hall, guarded by disciples.

Purple Heaven Valley arrived with dozens of alchemists and physicians.

They were the most openly friendly group in the hall, greeting everyone and exchanging small gifts.

Luo Qinghe had already gone to speak with several of her senior sisters when a woman from Purple Heaven Valley approached Su Yubing.

She smiled warmly.

"You must be the Yubing Qinghe mentioned."

Su Yubing nodded.

"Yes."

The woman introduced herself as Elder Yu Lan, one of the valley’s senior alchemists.

She looked at Mo Yuxin, then back at Su Yubing.

"Qinghe speaks very highly of you."

Su Yubing smiled.

"She has known us for only a few days."

"She trusts people quickly."

Elder Yu Lan laughed softly.

"Usually too quickly."

Mo Yuxin spoke.

"She seems to have good judgment."

Yu Lan glanced at their joined hands.

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TO BE CONTINUED.