Almost an incense stick’s time after the lotus collapsed, the last waves of qi swept out, and the battle between the two fellows ended. By then, the magnificent ‘Pure Moon Peak’ had become something else entirely, the fifty li tall peak was now little more than a small hill…

*Wheeze* *wheeze*

The skeletal old man, Heigu Xuanzong, his body now covered in bloody bruises and claw marks, while the few strands of hair left on his scalp hung down messily, was hunched over, breathing raggedly and wheezing uncontrollably.

*Cough* *cough*

The fatty, Jun Zhenmin, was arguably in even worse shape, he was coughing out mouthfuls of black blood as he glared hatefully at his adversary. His upper torso was now completely bare, revealing dark purple poisonous spots festering all over his chest and arms.

“Stupid fatty, have you had enough yet?!” the skeletal old man, Heigu Xuanzong taunted as he slowly caught his breath.

“Ha! I'm only unable to keep going because of a stomach ache, not because you're useless moves! You’re lucky I ate a bit too much today!” the fatty, Jun Zhenmin, rebuked, unwilling to give his rival the last word.

“Fuck, stupid fatty, you eat too much every day!”

“Shut the fuck up! I eat a lot to stay healthy! Who would want to look like you? Damned old bones…”

“Ptooey, have you seen a healthy person look like a fucking tub of lard?!”

“Screw off you damned bag of bones, the pretty girls in at the ‘Red Lotus Lodge’ seem to lo-”

However, before the fatty could finish his words his ears wiggled slightly, and he heard not one, but two footsteps…

“Ai-yah~ this was quite a haul…but I made it! It’s a bit past sunset though, ah well, they haven’t rung the bell yet, so I should be safe…super safe! Hehe, how could I possibly fail…after I am the incredibly virtuous, supremely righteous, the bravest and the boldest, the smartest and the wi-” A youth’s monologue rang across ‘Pure Moon Peak’…

“AHHHHHHHHH…just shut up!” A melodious scream pierced through the youth’s soliloquy…

“Elder Jun! Elder Heigu!” a blue-robed maiden glared bitterly at the fatty and the skeletal old man as she stepped onto the ruined peak, while brandishing a red medallion with the character ‘罚’inscribed upon it. “For the crimes of destroying the ‘Pure Moon Pavilion’ and ‘Pure Moon Peak’, and damaging the ‘Heaven Ascending Steps’, ‘Radiant Sea Gates’ and seventeen peaks surrounding ‘Pure Moon Peak’, do you plead guilty!?”

The maiden’s words pulled the two out of their stupor, but they didn’t really care about what the maiden had to say in the slightest. Guilty, not guilty, what was the institute going to do to them?! No, they were instead focused on the youth behind her, and almost in the same instant, their spiritual sense swept towards the youth…and passed right through him.

Slightly puzzled, the duo’s spiritual sense wavered slightly, before homing in on the youth once more and felt their spiritual sense pass through him again. It was like the youth wasn’t even stood there, was this kid some fucking ghost…?! The two’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets, the fuck?! What the hell was this…

But in the next moment, it was like a light bulb had lit up in their weaselly old heads, and they quickly turned to face each other, their eyes meeting.

“Could this be him?!” Fatty Jun asked in a voice transmission.

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“It’s…possible.” Old Heigu replied, slightly hesitant.

“But his face…and that ugly smile…” Fatty Jun muttered, his eyes fixed on the youth’s, well, rather unkempt appearance…

Perhaps the blue-robed maiden had done it out of good intentions, or maybe, she just couldn’t bear to look at the delipidated mess that was his appearance any longer, regardless she had warned Xianyi of it, but uh, let’s just say he just wasn’t too good at cleaning up. He still hadn’t changed out of his torn robes, nor had he wiped off the dust that completely covered his bare chest, however, Xianyi had cleaned off the bits of dust that clung to his face, rather half-heartedly though, and his face was still a bit of a disaster…

“Well…he looks nothing like her…or her elder brother for that matter…” Old Heigu responded. “However, his soul...it's odd enough…so it could be him”

“Yes…could very much be him…there has been no one else out of the ordinary…” Fatty Jun agreed, “Ah…there was that Yun Chengfeng…but the little lass’ brother should be surnamed ‘Lin’, so it couldn’t have been him…but this youth, he is the last person to scale to ‘Heaven Ascending Steps’, it is out of the question that the little devil’s brother would fail such a simple test, if she said he would show up no matter what…he will definitely show up! This youth is him!”

“Agreed…it can only be him…”

Giving each other a sharp nod, a flash of bright light suddenly surrounded the two. By the time the light faded, the two were both covered in noble blue robes, with a polished badge displaying the characters ‘尊老’ pinned to their chest and a tranquil, sagely expression on their faces.

“Hehe, junior, recently, us two old fellows have taken up stargazing, and well, two moons prior, we met with a heavenly phenomenon that revealed to us an eminent sign of eternal blessings! The stars had arranged themselves into a hint of divine karma offering an incomparably felicitous revelation, ordaining the countless masses! So, we have both decided to accept a disciple in accordance with the will of heaven, and as announced by divine karma, his name was to be…erm…” The fatty began in a grandiose fashion, before stopping flusteredly and turning to his partner for help, sending a quick voice transmission, “psst…did the lass ever tell us this brat’s name?!”

“Eh…no? She just called him…a little…rascal?” Heigu Xuanzong replied, slightly stumped as well…

“Hmm…?” Xianyi’s ears perked up slightly, before he hurriedly cupped his fists and began introducing himself with a bright smile, “hehe, seniors, junior is the incomparably virtuous, supremely righteous, the bravest and the bo-”

*Pah*

A resounding slap echoed ‘Pure Moon Peak’…

“Ow!” the youth exclaimed in pain as he turned to face the maiden beside him. “Sister fairy…what was that for?”

“Who’s your fucking sister! My name is Lan Wenqing! You little-” The blue-robed maiden, Lan Wenqing, responded in anger, before quickly calming herself down, this was unlike her…it must be the frustration from her failure today, if she had held on for that little bit longer…or if only this rascal hadn’t broken the barrier when he did…the old woman’s promise…This was all of this little brat’s fault!

No, whether the lotus would have held on or not…she knew the best. Even with the youth shielding her with his body, she still felt it clearly, very clearly, the shockwave of qi that had swept outwards was not something the lotus could have sealed in, not in the slightest! Although the youth had caused the lotus to crack open earlier, he was well-intentioned, and before that, he had even saved her from falling onto the ‘Heaven Ascending Steps’. Clearly, she had no right to be angry at this youth…

Not to mention…the old woman had only promised to consider doing that…so, even if she had held on, would the old woman have really done that? Who was she even trying to fool…

But, wasn’t this little brat a bit too infuriating?! Not only did she get taken advantage of physically, his odd words and strange expressions made her feel every bit as embarrassed, no, even more ashamed than being held in his arms!

“Eh …don’t tell me, this fairy sister a tsundere?! That would be a bit too clichéd…but still, there’s clearly a reason it’s one of the classics…” Xianyi muttered as he stared at the maiden, rubbing his noggin, before breaking into a wry smile.

Hearing this, despite not understanding anything the youth was spewing out of that rascally mouth of his, Lan Wenqing felt an indescribable anger rise up her chest, but she quickly calmed herself down, she refused to let this little brat get a reaction out of her! However, when she saw that smile of his out of the corner of her eye, she completely lost it, and in a momentary lapse of sanity, slammed the back of her fist into his face, sending him tumbling down the ‘Heaven Ascending Steps’.

Meanwhile, the two elders watching this couldn’t help but crack into amused smiles…