Chapter 185 - 117: Embracing Pill, Today

The Guiyuan Sect had recently started to liven up.

On the bluestone steps outside the Mountain Gate, unfamiliar faces constantly appeared.

There were lone travelers carrying greatsabers on their backs, Rangers with longswords hanging at their waists, and groups of Sect Disciples in uniform attire.

In a steady stream, Martial Artists arrived at the Guiyuan Sect to attend the Three Sects Exchange Tournament.

The so-called Three Sects Exchange Tournament was primarily an event for disciples of the Guiyuan Sect, the Five Elements Sect, and the Medicine Valley.

These three powers were neighbors, and there was a fair amount of friction between them.

However, they all maintained a state of competition without outright conflict.

After all, if the Three Sects were to fight to the death, it would only benefit other powers.

Therefore, despite the competition between the Three Sects, they still sent representatives to meet regularly and maintain open communication.

This was the purpose of the Three Sects Exchange Tournament.

Over time, however, it evolved. The Three Sects would have some of their disciples compete, offering rewards and keeping their conflicts contained within a certain scale.

Held once every ten years, the Three Sects Exchange Tournament grew increasingly important to the Three Sects.

In recent decades, they even began inviting some Jianghu Martial Artists to participate, who would also receive rewards if they won.

Many Jianghu Martial Artists flocked to the event.

This time, the Three Sects Exchange Tournament was being hosted by the Guiyuan Sect.

Thus, many Jianghu Martial Artists had arrived at the Guiyuan Sect ahead of time.

The Guiyuan Sect’s Mountain Gate stood tall and imposing, flanked by stone lions that were each over a man’s height.

A few welcoming disciples from the Guiyuan Sect stood before the gate. All of them were in high spirits, dressed in uniform cyan robes with longswords slung across their backs.

They greeted every arriving guest with a smile and a cupped-fist salute, guiding them and making arrangements.

Inside the Mountain Gate was a wide, bluestone-paved plaza.

Colorful banners were planted on both sides of the plaza, bearing the names of the Guiyuan Sect, the Five Elements Sect, and the Medicine Valley.

When the wind blew, the banners snapped sharply, adding a solemn, formidable air to the Mountain Gate.

A large crowd had already gathered in the plaza.

There were unaffiliated Jianghu people in groups of three and five, and Sect Disciples standing in neat formations.

All sorts of sounds mingled together, creating quite a clamor.

On this day, Mo Tingzhu also arrived at the Guiyuan Sect. With him was a young woman of sixteen or seventeen—his new disciple, Bai Xuan.

Mo Tingzhu wore a grayish-white robe, a long saber hanging from his left side.

The scabbard was black, engraved with simple cloud patterns, and the hilt was wrapped with non-slip hemp rope.

He had a square face, thick brows, and large eyes, with a short beard on his chin. His entire demeanor was one of steady competence.

Bai Xuan, on the other hand, wore a light green dress, cinched at the waist with a white silk ribbon.

She wasn’t particularly tall, but she had a well-proportioned figure and a round face. Her large eyes were full of life as she looked around, finding novelty in everything she saw.

"Master, so this is the Guiyuan Sect... It’s so magnificent..."

The lively and active Xuan’er’s bright eyes darted everywhere, marveling at the sights of the Guiyuan Sect.

She pointed at the banners on either side of the plaza, then at the distant complex of buildings, her mouth hanging open in awe.

The Guiyuan Sect occupied a vast area. Looking in from the Mountain Gate, one could see layers of courtyards built into the mountainside, their green tiles and white walls arranged in a picturesque, staggered layout.

On the most distant mountaintop, a grand and majestic hall was faintly visible, seeming to glint with golden light under the sun.

"Look at you, so easily impressed..."

Mo Tingzhu shook his head.

He reached up to stroke the short beard on his chin, his gaze also sweeping over the Guiyuan Sect’s architecture. ’Still,’ he couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

’As expected of one of the Three Sects. This magnificence alone is something unaffiliated Jianghu people like us can’t compare to.’

He had made a special trip to the Guiyuan Sect this time to participate in the Three Sects Exchange Tournament.

This was a grand event in the Jianghu.

Any Jianghu person who received an invitation took immense pride in it.

Mo Tingzhu was among those invited.

After all, he was the renowned Hero Mo of the Jianghu!

Bai Xuan pulled her gaze back and sidled up to Mo Tingzhu, lowering her voice. "Master, this is my first time at a Major Sect like the Guiyuan Sect. I was just a little curious."

"By the way, didn’t you say a friend of yours was coming to meet you? I heard he’s a Huajin expert from the Guiyuan Sect. Where is he?"

Bai Xuan’s talent was not lacking. Although she was still only at the Qi Blood Realm, she was not far from developing Inner Strength.

Mo Tingzhu had always doted on this disciple of his, so naturally, he brought Bai Xuan along with him to the Three Sects Exchange Tournament.

Hearing Bai Xuan’s question, he scanned the crowd but didn’t see the familiar figure.

"Don’t worry, he should be here soon."

Mo Tingzhu replied casually.

The words had barely left his mouth when a resonant voice called out from a distance.

"Brother Mo, long time no see!"

Mo Tingzhu followed the voice and saw a man in a black robe striding towards them.

The man was about thirty years old, with a burly frame, a square face, thick brows, and large eyes. He had a smile on his lips and walked with a confident swagger.

This person was none other than Zhou Peng.

Zhou Peng closed the distance in a few large steps and reached Mo Tingzhu, laughing as he clapped him on the shoulder.

"Brother Mo, still as impressive as ever."

A smile also appeared on Mo Tingzhu’s face.

The friend he had mentioned was, in fact, Zhou Peng.

Back at the Celestial Eagle Tower, Zhou Peng had let Mo Tingzhu off the hook. The two had unexpectedly become friends, exchanging letters from time to time. Though they didn’t meet often, their friendship had deepened.

"Brother Zhou, you’re looking much better than the last time we met."

Mo Tingzhu said with a smile, looking Zhou Peng up and down.

"Haha, I’ve been well, thank you."

Zhou Peng replied with a laugh, his gaze then shifting to land on Bai Xuan.