Second Time

Chapter 84 - Mingling

As the Rainbow Mist Peak disciples returned to the sect, they felt a bit confused. The peak was basically a ghost town, the residences all empty. They hovered in the air above the inner disciple area, wondering if they'd forgotten an event.

Shao Yue flew down to greet them. "Welcome home, everyone. Before you do anything else, there's something important to take care of. Follow me. All of you."

Cai Fei turned into a shadow, then reappeared next to Shao Yue, linking their arms. Shao Yue smiled and led everyone to the main peak.

Cai Fei could see through the mystery. She waited until just before they reached the mist, then waved her hand, opening a cylindrical path through to the main peak. The inner disciples followed along, still confused.

None of the inner disciples had ever seen the main peak, considering it was off-limits, but they had heard a bit from the core disciples. The stories certainly didn't do it justice, especially after its transformation.

Women in colourful robes flitted about everywhere, setting up hundreds of tables and chairs. Each table had a flower vase in the center. The flowers and tables matched the colour of the nearest pavilion's owner. When they saw the returning women, they all turned and bowed.

"Thank you for your service!"

Even the direct disciples were stunned, unsure what to do.

"Come on, you've all worked hard," Shao Yue said, smiling at them. "Enjoy yourselves all you want!"

A few women tentatively flew down to the tables, quickly followed by more. The outer disciples brought out tea, wine, and food for everyone, then filled the empty seats and mingled with the more senior disciples.

"You go, too," Shao Yue said to the direct disciples. "Take some time to unwind. Everything else can wait a few days."

Chen Chunhua gave in first. "Let's go! Party!"

Xiao Shi'er followed suit, then the rest. Cai Fei stayed with Shao Yue, not needing anyone else.

Cai Fei had returned to visit many times over the previous century. Shao Yue already knew her progress well. With her heightened ability to focus thanks to her Frozen Soul, she had made it all the way to the Heavenly Realm Fourth Stage and was nearly ready to make her next breakthrough.

Though, she didn't have the best progress of the disciples. Jin Liling had spent almost the entire time at the peak, bathing in its thick world energy. She had a Time Body and had been taught one-on-one by Shao Yue for a large portion of the time. She had reached the Heavenly Realm Sixth Stage.

Xiao Shi'er also had a Law Body. She followed the Blood Dao, making the battlefield her ideal cultivation environment. That combined with the normal accelerated growth rate of the devil's path, she had already ascended to the Eighth Stage. With her pure-hearted pursuit of the sword, she had a decent chance to become an Emperor before long.

As for the others who had no innate advantages, the twins and Lin Xifeng had all reached the Third Stage, with the rest at the Second Stage. It was slow relative to the outliers, but fast relative to regular cultivators. The core disciples had also entered the Heavenly Realm, but only recently.

"Meet anyone interesting?" Shao Yue teased while cuddling with Cai Fei in a corner.

"I'm slowing you down enough as is," Cai Fei replied, nuzzling into Shao Yue's chest. "I'm not going to get that close to anyone we'll have to leave behind."

Shao Yue continued her teasing. "Let's hope your Spirit is okay with it."

"I still haven't thought of a name. Do you have any ideas?"