Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Feast of the Proud

Time passes unnoticed in the mountains; when the cold finally fades, one scarcely knows how many years have gone by.

Days within the sect flew swiftly. In the blink of an eye, another month had slipped away.

Through recent developments, the Haoran Alliance was rising in strength, now a colossus capable of contending with the Four Great Alliances. Among disciples, it was whispered as the Fifth Alliance.

Meanwhile, Wang Ran’s cultivation had grown ever more refined, firmly perched at the summit of the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, ready to break through to the sixth at any moment.

Notably, throughout this month, Wang Ran had paid special attention to tempering his physical body. His mastery of the Diamond Glazed Body technique was at its introductory peak and would soon reach minor achievement. His physical cultivation had also advanced to the third level of Foundation Establishment. Though still a shade behind his mastery of spell arts, overall, it was not lacking.

The sole regret was the slow progress in cultivating the Immortal Undying Technique. He remained at the entry level, with some improvement, but the leap to minor achievement still seemed distant.

Yet there was hope—thanks to Wang Ran’s efforts, the Dao Verification Points required to upgrade the Immortal Undying Technique had decreased somewhat. At first, the system demanded one hundred thousand points to reach entry level, and one million for minor achievement.

Now, as his cultivation advanced, the points required were gradually reducing. To upgrade the Immortal Undying Technique to minor achievement, only nine hundred and seventy thousand Dao Verification Points were needed.

Three thousand points had been shaved off. Though negligible compared to what remained, it at least gave Wang Ran something to strive for.

At present, Wang Ran was thriving within the sect. With the Haoran Alliance stabilized, he began to consider undertaking sect missions to earn Contribution Points, preparing for the selection of true disciples six months hence.

In fact, Zhao Xiaobai had long since started completing sect missions. He appeared in the sect less and less, spending most of his time outside fighting. His cultivation was advancing at a remarkable pace.

He had returned two days prior, and Wang Ran noticed he had broken through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. His aura carried a hint of newfound danger, prompting Wang Ran to sigh inwardly—this was indeed a top-tier talent. Doubtless, Zhao had gained some great fortune during his time outside.

As for their junior sister, though she appeared adorably absent-minded, she had never neglected her cultivation. Unnoticed, she too had reached the peak of the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, becoming second only to Wang Ran, Zhao Xiaobai, and Xu Ke within the Haoran Alliance. Even Ma Rulong was not her equal.

Two days later, while cultivating atop the Third Mountain, Wang Ran slowly opened his eyes.

He glanced back at the empty great hall, feeling a touch of melancholy. Entering the bathhouse, he watched the steam rising from the hot water and suddenly thought of Senior Sister Yao Jianjia.

Since her last seclusion, five months had passed. In all that time, she seemed to have vanished—never once appearing.

At first, Wang Ran thought nothing of it, but gradually sensed something amiss. Perhaps she was not in seclusion, but engaged elsewhere.

Yet Wang Ran lacked the ability to pierce the secrets of heaven; after much pondering, he could only set the matter aside in his heart.

He undressed and entered the bath, wearing a look of contentment.

"Ah, so comfortable... Now that I think of Senior Sister Yao, she truly is cold-faced but warm-hearted. Last time, I saw her completely, and she never held it against me. But her figure, honestly, defies all reason—just like those digitally enhanced models from my previous life, hehehe..."

Wang Ran first sighed in pleasure, then, as some thought struck him, his blissful expression turned comical.

The curve of his mouth lifted, proud yet not arrogant, his slightly flushed cheeks radiating warmth, his gaze filled with joy and mischief, the arch of his brows hinting at hidden depth...

"Eh? Senior Brother, what kind of expression is that? It looks so fun!"

Suddenly, a round little head appeared upside down before Wang Ran, staring at him. Black hair drifted about, sometimes brushing his nose, making him wrinkle it in annoyance.

"Junior Sister, what are you doing?" Wang Ran quickly brushed her hair aside, speaking with mild reproach.

His junior sister straightened, sitting at the edge of the bath, idly stirring the water, smiling sweetly. "Senior Brother, I’ll be leaving the sect in a couple of days. Do you have time? I want you to accompany me."

"Leaving the sect?" Wang Ran was taken aback. "Why?"

With a flip of her delicate hand, she produced a jade slip from her storage pouch and waved it. "Because someone invited me out. Look."

She handed Wang Ran the jade slip.

He glanced at it, reading aloud the three characters written there.

“Heavenly Pride Banquet?”

“Exactly, the Heavenly Pride Banquet!” His junior sister lifted her chin, adopting a proud air, evidently mimicking Wang Ran’s usual cold demeanor. She explained, “The Heavenly Pride Banquet is the most elite gathering for the young generation of Cloud Province.”

“All the talented disciples from every sect, and the brilliant heirs of great families, will be there, drinking and celebrating together! It’s one of the grandest events in Cloud Province, held in Falling Cloud City.”

Seeing her so well-informed, Wang Ran asked curiously, “Have you attended before?”

Her proud expression faltered, and she pouted in disappointment. “No, I’ve only heard about it. This is my first time.”

Wang Ran laughed aloud. He understood now—the so-called “Heavenly Pride Banquet” was the top gathering for young cultivators in Cloud Province, a convergence of talent from every corner, from sect disciples to young lords of great families.

In short, everyone invited was a favored child of destiny, a darling of the immortal path.

Wang Ran found himself interested. After pondering, he tapped the jade slip and said, “But there’s only one invitation. It was sent to you. Even if I wanted to go, I couldn’t.”

His junior sister instantly looked troubled, resting her cheek on her hand, pouting, racking her brains for a solution.

Suddenly, her eyes brightened. “Senior Brother, you can snatch Xu Ke’s invitation! He received a jade slip too.”

“Great idea!” Wang Ran’s eyes lit up, and he and his junior sister agreed at once.

He rose from the water, excitement surging, for he realized that such a gathering of countless prodigies was tailor-made for him—a perfect opportunity to earn Dao Verification Points!

How could he let such a heaven-sent chance slip by?

Wang Ran was so excited that his junior sister suddenly blushed, hastily covering her face with her little hands, shyly mumbling, “Ah, Senior Brother, you’re not wearing any clothes!”

Wang Ran froze; he had been submerged in the water, and now that he stood up, he’d forgotten.

He beckoned, and his robes on the nearby screen floated to his hand. As he was about to dress, he noticed that his junior sister, though covering her eyes, left wide gaps between her fingers, her wide, innocent eyes stealing glances, all the while insisting, “I didn’t see anything, Senior Brother, I didn’t look.”

Wang Ran sighed deeply, turning away and gazing forty-five degrees up at the sky in melancholy.

Ah, all the sins of this world arise from beauty. Even the purest junior sister cannot escape. I treat you as a friend, yet you only covet my body. Can’t I simply be a handsome man in peace?

Truly, the human heart is unfathomable, and the world full of cold indifference!