"Brothers, the new year is over, and everyone who needed to relax has relaxed. The Water Lily Secret Realm will open in three days. People from various sects and families have already headed to the territory of the Kaitian Sword Sect. It's time for us to set off."
On this day, Young Master Lei summoned everyone, preparing to return to the Central Region.
After all, the token for the Water Lily Secret Realm was posing alluringly, beckoning him while cooing,
"Ohh~ Little brother, hurry, hurry and obtain me. Once you get me, half of your Wind Blade Escape technique will be collected."
Who could resist such temptation?
Amidst the firecrackers, the old year departs; warm spring breezes bring New Year's soup.
The snow had stopped falling and, in the warm spring breeze, was already beginning to melt.
The willow branches by the roadside hadn't yet sprouted tender buds, but they swayed in the wind, eager to showcase their elegance.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, Wan Lei set off with his brothers and sisters.
As usual, they first traveled from Qishan County to the capital of the Lanning Kingdom, then located the Qianhu Kingdom within the territory of the Kaitian Sword Sect in the Central Region, and began their teleportation.
Qianhu Kingdom was considered a relatively famous country in the Central Region, not because of its power, but due to its exquisite scenery.
Within this small Jiangnan country, there were over a thousand lakes, large and small. Situated in the south, the lake surfaces rarely froze, making it suitable for travel in all four seasons.
Upon arriving in the country, they were immediately greeted by a wave of misty rain, invigorating their spirits.
"It's not easy, we've finally arrived at a place without snow."
The young Daoist nun stretched, took a deep breath, her pretty face radiating satisfaction.
"Isn't snow beautiful?"
"Beautiful my foot! You've bothered me so much these past years that I'm nearly going snow blind."
"Then shall we go play in the water?"
"Why do you only think about playing?"
"Come on, during this holiday season, they were fooling around all day, and I was working and receiving guests every day. Is that easy for me..."
Speaking of this, Tian Suanzi looked full of grievance.
Baby is wronged, baby's heart is bitter...
"Yo, Tian Suanzi, you're still receiving guests? Are you selling the front or the back?"
Sui Xiaohang said with a sly grin, nudging Tian Suanzi with his shoulder.
"Let's go. Two thousand miles north from here is Guyang Lake, the entrance to the Water Lily Secret Realm. Everyone else has already gathered there, so let's head over too."
Wan Lei pointed north, took Xiao Yu's hand, and flew ahead.
Two thousand miles wasn't far, but they had to account for those with lower cultivation, so they ended up flying for a full hour before arriving.
Along the way, they passed several large lakes, each breathtakingly beautiful.
Guyang Lake wasn't vast, only a few hundred miles in circumference. Outside, it was densely packed with people, from various major forces, but more so from independent cultivators.
Seeing them arrive, the tens of thousands of people present turned their gaze towards them.
Upon recognizing them, some people were indifferent, some hostile, some admired, and more… kept their distance.
"Oh, my little slave, daddy missed you so much."
Before they even reached the Yin Yang Sect's contingent, someone flew out, arms wide open, soaring towards them.
*Thump!*
"Ah!"
Qian Duoduo, who had received a crippling kick, dared not call himself "daddy" anymore.
"These people, what's their deal? Why are they avoiding us?"
Watching others flying further away, Wan Lei scratched his head, puzzled.
"Young Master Lei, are you genuinely unaware or just pretending?"
"What did I do?"
"Your reputation is great, that's why."
"Tch, it's good that those people are staying away. It saves me trouble. This time, we'll still form a team and make a name for ourselves in the Water Lily Secret Realm."
Young Master Lei was unfazed and still very excited.
"Uh... Young Master Lei, when did we say we wanted to team up with you?"
Sui Xiaohang looked at him suspiciously.
"Ah? We... aren't teaming up? You plan to go solo?"
"No, we are teaming up, but not with you."
"Why?!"
At this moment, Young Master Lei felt his dignity had been ruthlessly wounded.
"Look, on the Ten Thousand Prodigies Ranking, you two went missing at the end and only returned five years later.
In the Wood Immortal Secret Realm, you two were trapped and only escaped through a near-death experience.
In the Gold Immortal Secret Realm, you two emerged three months later than everyone else, and from what you said, you only got out after starving to death.
If nothing unexpected happens, you two will have another accident this time.
It's clear that you two are solitary stars, targeted by the Heavenly Dao, and incredibly unlucky. We just don't want to share your misfortune. You two should team up yourselves. We're leaving."
Sui Xiaohang patted Young Master Lei's shoulder. Then, the entire group scattered and left, leaving Lei Yu alone in the wind.
"Don't regret this, you'll come back begging me."
"Never."
Young Master Lei's eyes welled up with tears, his teeth gritted tightly.
"Hmph, without these freeloaders, we'll do even better. Just you wait and see."
Fang Xiaoyu was also puffing with anger, holding Wan Lei's hand and glaring fiercely at the group who had abandoned their companions.
Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu went to greet the leaders of the Kui Lian Sect and the Fang family. The leader of the Kui Lian Sect was still the old woman from last time, a cultivator in the Mahayana stage. As for the Fang family, it was an uncle of Fang Xiaoyu, not the one from last time, but a distant relative.
After that, they went to the Yin Yang Sect's contingent. This time, the leader was an old acquaintance, Elder Qu.
This Elder Qu was usually very low-key in the Yin Yang Sect. Wan Lei knew him because he had accompanied Wan Lei to receive an award and the materials for building the teleportation array.
"What is it?"
Elder Qu glared fiercely at Wan Lei, who was reaching out to him.
"Give me my salary."
"What salary?"
"Hey now, I built a teleportation array for the Yin Yang Sect. We agreed on a salary of one million spirit stones. Give it to me."
"Didn't the Kui Lian Sect already give it to you?"
"The Kui Lian Sect gave it, but the Yin Yang Sect hasn't yet."
"What, you want to get paid twice for doing one job?"
"Pah! I clearly did two jobs."
"Go ask the sect leader, I don't have money here."
"Pah, you stingy person! That old turtle is also stingy. Asking him for money is harder than ascending to immortality. You black-hearted capitalists, squeezing the blood and sweat of the working people, pah."
The surrounding Yin Yang Sect disciples covered their mouths and snickered.
The surface of Guyang Lake was serene. A gentle breeze rippled across the water, and occasionally, water birds would skim the surface, snatching small fish with their sharp beaks before flying away quickly.
Azure waves connect to a returning Buddha, floating light turns into threads.
On the lake, a small, dilapidated boat drifted amidst the tranquil ripples.
The boat wasn't large, only able to carry two or three people.
A young man, clad in a straw cape and wearing a bamboo hat, sat alone in the boat, holding a fishing rod. The fishing line dangled in the water, occasionally twitching gently, with subtle traces of the Dao hidden within.
The young man appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with healthy wheat-colored skin and a gentle smile on his lips, giving off a feeling of basking in the spring breeze.
Strangely, among the tens of thousands of people around, not a single gaze focused on him.