Chapter 4 The Missing Person

  Ling Wushuang was furious with himself for being careless in his excitement, and at the same time, facing this person with a special identity in front of him, the thoughts in his mind had already turned several corners in an instant.

  "It's just a small thing that doesn't enter the eye." Ling Wu's eyes gleamed with a cold and subtle light, his expression was calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant. He handed over the object in his hand to Gu Xi in front of him, his red lips curled up slightly, without showing any annoyance.

  Gu Xi's expressionless face nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Ling Wushuang's attitude. However, looking at his expression, he seemed unfamiliar with the thing in Ling Wushuang's hand.

  "Taishizun, what is this thing?" The Holy Maiden Bai Qian also cast her gaze at the Tianqing Shui Shi, and her spiritual energy also entered to investigate for a moment, unintentionally murmuring, "This thing looks very ordinary, and there's no energy fluctuation either."

  What did Taishizun see in it?

  Gu Xi didn't notice Bai Qian, holding the celadon vase in his hand, stroking his white beard with one hand, seemingly deep in thought, muttering to himself: "This thing is very familiar... I seem to have seen it somewhere before..."

  Gǔ Xī nǎ zhe shǒu zhōng, zuǒ yòu fān le fān, shén shí jìn yī bù tàn xún, "méi yǒu rèn hé de néng liàng bō dòng"

  Translation:

  Ancient Xi held it in his hand, flipping it left and right, his divine sense further explored, "There is no energy fluctuation at all".

  He carefully sensed it again, but still to no avail. He handed it back to Ling Wu Xue and said with a determined tone, "It seems I was mistaken. This thing is a piece of junk."

  He looked familiar, but there was no energy fluctuation at all, not even comparable to ordinary jade, it's just something that kids like to play with.

  Ling Wushuang caught the thing handed over by Gu Xi, tucked it into his sleeve, and with a flick of his hand, put it away. He let out a sigh of relief as a big smile spread across his handsome face. Opening his eyes, he said blindly: "I was thinking that if you like it, I'd give it to you."

  "It's just a child's plaything." Gu Xi's eyebrows furrowed, and he looked up to scrutinize the young man in front of him. "Who are you? Why have I never seen you before?"

  Gǔ Xī had already reached the quasi-divine level, and as soon as he touched the divine character, he made a qualitative leap to the holy rank. With his divine consciousness probing, he naturally felt Ling Wú Shuāng's strength to some extent. Adding Ling Wú Shuāng's intentional leniency, Gǔ Xī sensed that his strength was roughly at the mid-level saint level.

  Gu Xiwei was both surprised and perplexed, as he had never heard of such a genius existing, despite walking alongside Bai Lian and Cai Yi, who were either from the Holy Temple or familiar with him.

  Ling Wushuang smiled, "This junior is also just leaving the house for the first time, and passing by the Holy City, I want to see the grandeur of the gathering." As he spoke, Ling Wushuang seemed to suddenly think of something, and took out a token from his bosom, "At the invitation of Lord Mu, I would like to participate in this Genius Selection Tournament."

  Ling Wushuang's expression was very calm, without intentionally trying to please or show any repulsion towards the two of them, as if he was just casually chatting with them.

  "It turned out to be like this" However, when Saintess Bai Qian saw the token in Ling Wu's hand, she was slightly taken aback, but her expression became even more gentle.

  Gu Xi glanced at the special token in Ling Wu's hand, his furrowed brow slowly relaxing, seemingly nodding slightly in satisfaction. "Your strength is passable, your talent isn't bad, participating in the selection tournament, you might just have a good chance."

  The Star Continent is vast, and it's not surprising that some hidden forces exist. The emergence of such a genius is not unusual. If we can win them over to the greatest extent possible, it would be best for consolidating the dominance of the Holy Temple.

  Bai Lian and Cai Yi exchanged a glance, full of doubts, but neither of them spoke up.

  Shengnu Bai Qian was taken aback by Gu Xi's words, and glanced at Bai Lanhua's colorful clothes before turning to Ling Wushuang with a subtle smile, like a water lily in clear water. Her voice was soft as she said, "So this young master is participating in the selection competition. If you're willing, you can come to Shengnu Palace as a guest."

  Ling Wushuang looked at Bai Qian's smiling face, and got goosebumps all over his body, but he also smiled and said: "If there is a chance, I will definitely visit your place"

  Gu Xi's face was expressionless as he nodded, his hands clasped behind his back. He strode into the store, and the shopkeeper immediately looked like he had been granted an imperial favor, hastily scrambling to greet him. "Sir, is there something you'd like to take a look at?"

  The Holy Maiden Bai Qian smiled and beckoned to a few people before following them at a leisurely pace, elegant and courteous, holy and untroubled.

  A figure emerged, walking in the opposite direction with their back turned. Ling Wu Shuang furrowed his brow and curved his lips, revealing a strange glint in his eyes. He quickened his pace, his footsteps growing faster and faster until he had walked about the length of one street before finally slowing down.

  "Jun Ling, are you really going to participate in the Genius Selection Tournament?" Bai Lan was truly perplexed this time, he always felt that something was off.

  "Ling Wusong nodded slightly, and didn't hide it from the two of them."

  The colorful clothes were beautiful and elegant, but the expression on her face changed again and again. She pulled at her bright red robe, as if struggling for a long time, before softly saying to Ling Wu Xiang: "Jun Ling, I advise you not to participate in the competition."

  "Why?" Ling Wu Shuang was slightly surprised.

  As for the Holy City Genius Selection, she didn't know much about it. The competition seemed mysterious too. As far as the world knew, except that the top 100 could have a chance to join the Holy Temple, there was almost no other information.

  Bai Lan glanced around at the bustling crowd, pursed her lips and seemed to sigh softly, "This isn't a place to discuss things, Jun Ling, let's head back first."

  At this time, Bai Qian walked beside Gu Xijiu with a gentle pace, wanting to speak but hesitating. Finally, she softly opened her mouth and asked, "Master, just now that..."

  Bai Qian's words had not finished, Gu Xi opened his mouth, "That little guy is a good seedling, with unlimited prospects. If we can win him over, it would be great."

  Bai Qian was taken aback, and a hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes. She had never heard Taishan so resolutely affirm someone before, not even herself. Yet now he looked at this unknown young man with such a different gaze.

  "He has already reached the level of a mid-tier saint, or perhaps even higher, who knows" Gu Xi's subsequent words left Bai Qian stunned on the spot.

  “She...” She was shocked, her mouth slightly agape, various emotions flashing rapidly in her eyes before gradually settling down and restoring her usual gentle calmness.

  Gu Xizai walked slowly among the various instruments, stopped, stroked his beard with one hand, and pinched a instrument in front of him with the other hand, and said slowly: "You send someone to investigate the background of that kid, see which faction he belongs to."

  Bai Qian nodded obediently.

  The old man stroked his beard and said something inexplicable, "However, such a seedling, we're probably unable to keep it either."

  Ling Wushuang followed Bai Lian and others for a stroll before heading directly to the White Manor, which was also his residence.

  In the Holy City, the status of the Holy Temple is equivalent to that of the royal family in a country, with the highest governing position. The forces under its banner are numerous, and the White Family can be considered a large clan. Recently, due to Bai Qian's election as the Holy Maiden, their status has risen by several degrees.

  Bai Lan belongs to the direct bloodline of the Bai family and is also a disciple of Huo Sheng, the Great Elder of the Sacred Hall. In the Bai family, his status is also transcendent, only slightly inferior to that of Bai Qian today.

  On this side, there is a courtyard pavilion, exquisite and grand, similar to the architectural style of the cathedral, with white as the base tone.

  In a beautifully decorated courtyard, Ling Wushuang looked around and swung open her clothes, sitting down leisurely. Across from her were Caiyi and Bailan, both with somewhat knotted expressions.

  Bai Lian picked up the white jade teapot on the stone table and filled the cup in front of Ling Wu Shuang, slightly furrowing his brow before slowly saying: "Ling Wu, I suggest you don't participate in this selection competition, there's a reason for it."

  "Jun Ling, there are some things you don't know." Cai Yi furrowed her brow and let out a sigh before closing her mouth in distress.

  Looking at the worried expressions of Bai Lian and Cai Yi, Ling Wu Shuang smiled slightly and said frankly: "Bai Dage, Cai Yi Niang, to be honest with you, I came to Holy City this time specifically for this matter."

  Ling Wushuang nodded and stopped there, without intentionally hiding anything, but also didn't say any more.

  The youth with a clear and cold brow opposite him called out "Bai Dage", which made Bai Lian's heart inexplicably warm, and from his eyes, he also saw sincerity and frankness. Bai Lian secretly thought that he had not misjudged him, it seemed that Jun Ling had intentionally used the opportunity to get closer to Bai Qian and others.

  "After a moment's consideration, Bai Lan still spoke out, 'The Genius Selection Tournament of the Holy Temple isn't as simple as it seems.'"

  Ling Wushuang's expression was calm and collected, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as she listened attentively to Bai Lian's words. Before leaving, Ji Yunyang had also told her everything he knew, but that young man hadn't been in the Holy Hall for long before he left, so he only had a superficial understanding of many things, unlike Bai Lian and Caiyi.

  "The so-called genius selection, the most direct purpose is to attract and gather geniuses from all over the world." Bai Lian's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, "Those with good qualifications can be used by the Holy Temple, and those who are favored by the various elders will be directly accepted as disciples, or join their lineage."

  Cai Yi sat beside Ling Wu Shuang, tossed a fruit into her mouth and added, "Jun Ling, don't think that joining the Holy Temple is a good thing. If it weren't for Master, I would have already taken the opportunity to slip away with Yun Yang Shixiong."

  In the eyes of mortals, Sheng Tang is unattainable, but she knows that Sheng Tang has long since rotted to the bone, and only Huo Sheng Shibo and her master's lineage, a minority, have not been assimilated.

  "I didn't think I'd join," Ling Wu said with a half-true, half-false smile.

  "Even if you don't want to join, it's likely that you won't be able to help yourself. A genius like Jun Ling, if not utilized by the Holy Master, will eventually... " Bai Lan sighed and shook his head lightly. "However, even if you don't participate in the Genius Selection Tournament, I'm afraid you've already been targeted by Gu Xi and Bai Qian." This was what he worried about the most.

  Moreover, after the genius selection tournament, there will always be some people who mysteriously disappear. Bai Lan's last sentence made Ling Wu Xuan think of something, and his eyes suddenly dimmed, "Disappear?"

  "That's right," Bai Lian nodded, "This news was sealed by the people of Sheng Tang, only a few direct disciples knew about it, and it was not allowed to be spread outside. As for the reason behind this, I don't know either. The Saint Master and other Taishang elders have never revealed it."

  How many people came to participate in the genius selection contest? Even if some of them disappeared, it wouldn't stir up much commotion. After all, where the masters gather, there are plenty of disputes and conflicts. With fighting, there will inevitably be casualties. Who would suspect the Temple's leader? And even less likely to reduce their pursuit of the Temple.

  But Bai Lan knew that these missing people must have something to do with the Holy Master.

  "There's indeed some skill involved here." Ling Wu Xiang's red lips curled up slightly.

  However, it seems that you have already been targeted. Cai Yi's expression was somewhat inexplicable, looking at Mu Shi Qing and Bai Qian's attitude, if Jun Ling refused to join them in the end, they might make a sneak attack again, this kind of thing had happened more than once before.

  "Don't worry, I'll be fine." Ling Wu's eyes gleamed with a subtle smile, careful not to let them notice how she had snuck in. With an opportunity that was delivered right to her doorstep, she could only make the most of it and use it to her advantage.

  Cai Yi didn't know what Ling Wu Shuang was thinking in her heart, seeing this, she felt a bit disappointed and worried, "Alright then"

  Ling Wu's eyes moved slightly, and he suddenly thought of something. He turned over and took out two white jade-like stones from the Qingyu ring, handing them to the person in front of him. "Bai Gege, I think you'll need these things." He handed one to Cai Yi as well.

  Bai Lian smiled and looked around, after seeing clearly, the elegant handsome face slightly changed color, quickly looking towards Ling Wu Shuang, seemingly certain, seemingly surprised, "Sacred Energy Stone!?"

  A milky white stone, fist-sized, and the fluctuation of energy inside it allowed Bai Lan to recognize it at a glance.

  "What?" Cai Yi slightly opened her mouth, blinked twice, and stared at the thing in Ling Wu's hand. "A white energy stone, with such a fluctuation of energy, it's really a Sacred Energy Stone."

  In the Holy City, ordinary energy stones and even top-grade energy stones can be found, but Saintly Energy Stones are extremely rare.

  "That's right" Ling Wu Xiang smiled lightly, and put two sacred energy stones into the hands of the two people who were still a bit dazed, "This thing, I don't have much use for it even if I hold it in my hand."

  Bai Lian and Cai Yi are both high-ranking Tian Xuan, and Bai Lian has even reached the peak of 9th rank Tian Xuan. With this thing's assistance, breaking through to the Sacred stage will be twice as easy.