Chapter 63: Blue Snow Ruo

The New Moon Profound Palace covered a vast area. Its central hall was magnificent, and countless buildings of various styles stretched as far as the eye could see. Yun Che followed Xia Yuanba towards the accommodation Sikong Han had arranged for him. They encountered many New Moon Profound Palace disciples, all under twenty years old. Occasionally, fifteen or sixteen-year-olds were also seen, and those in that age range were mostly in the Elementary Profound Realm. Along the way, many people greeted Xia Yuanba; after all, given his age and stature, it was hard for him not to be well-known.

“How many disciples does the New Moon Profound Palace have now?” Yun Che asked.

“I recall it’s over three thousand,” Xia Yuanba replied after a moment’s thought. “The New Moon Profound Palace’s age limit for recruiting disciples is 15 to 18 years old. Most leave around age twenty. A large portion of them will eventually join the Azure Wind Imperial forces.”

“But, brother-in-law, are you really going to attend that banquet tonight?” Xia Yuanba asked with some concern.

“It’s an opportunity to see almost all the top powers in New Moon City at once. Of course, I’ll attend such an event,” Yun Che said, turning his gaze. “Yuanba, you don’t seem very keen on going. Is there something wrong with this banquet?”

“It’s not exactly a problem, it’s just… it’s just…” Xia Yuanba hesitated, then spoke with some indignation: “I heard a while ago that when the previous Palace Master took office, he also sent out invitations for a grand banquet. But at that banquet, the invited sect disciples challenged our New Moon Profound Palace disciples of the same age, claiming it was for entertainment and sparring. In ten challenges, our New Moon Profound Palace lost all ten matches, completely humiliating the former Palace Master. The New Moon Profound Palace became the laughingstock of the entire city for a long time because of it.”

“Haha, it’s clear those sects were trying to put the new Palace Master in his place, making him understand who the real giants in New Moon City are,” Yun Che said with a smile.

“Exactly.” Xia Yuanba nodded, sighing helplessly. “I heard it was the same when the Palace Master before last took office. But a new Palace Master can’t not hold a grand celebratory banquet, otherwise, they’d be ridiculed even more, losing all face. This time will surely be the same. If we go, we might be challenged… Losing isn’t the biggest concern, but those people often strike maliciously. Last time, two senior brothers were crippled and might never recover, and the Palace Master could only endure it silently.”

“The New Moon Profound Palace attracts a huge number of disciples every year. Is its strength really that weak?” Yun Che frowned.

“It’s not that our New Moon Profound Palace is weak, it’s just that those few major sects are simply too powerful. Although the New Moon Profound Palace was established by the Imperial Family, those sects have very long histories. Their foundations, resources, and inherited profound arts are simply incomparable to ours. Even their outer disciples have a much higher entry threshold than the New Moon Profound Palace. Furthermore, those who enter profound palaces established by the Imperial Family generally aspire to serve the Imperial Family in the future. The original intention behind setting up imperial profound palaces was to attract talented individuals to join the imperial forces. However, people with exceptionally high talent are usually proud and arrogant; far more of them join major sects than the imperial forces. Therefore, while the average strength of New Moon Profound Palace disciples is superior to that of New Moon City’s smaller and medium-sized sects, it simply cannot compare to the major sects.”

What Xia Yuanba described was actually quite normal. Take Yun Che himself, for instance: though he joined the New Moon Profound Palace for certain reasons, it was merely to seek opportunities, and he never once considered serving the Imperial Family. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Which forces in New Moon City are superior to the New Moon Profound Palace?”

“Hmm, let me think…” Xia Yuanba thought seriously for a moment, then slowly listed, “There are seven in total: Profound Heart Sect, Cloud Sun Sect, Iron Spear Gate, Seven Kill Sword Pavilion, and Wind and Cloud Profound Palace.” After a pause, Xia Yuanba’s voice became somewhat cautious. “These five sects all have histories spanning over five hundred, or even a thousand years. Their influence in New Moon City is deeply entrenched, and their overall strength surpasses that of the New Moon Profound Palace. If not for the New Moon Profound Palace being established by the Imperial Family, they might have been suppressed and forced out long ago. Besides these five sects, there are also two major powers that even the Imperial Family would never dare provoke… namely, the New Moon City branches of the Xiao Sect and the Burning Heaven Clan! Although they are only branches, they have the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan as their backing, making them the two unshakeable overlords of New Moon City.”

“Branches of the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan?” Yun Che tapped his chin with his hand. He understood well that while they were nominally branches, they were essentially “outer sects” for those whose talent was too low to remain in the main sect. However, they were still official “outer sects,” unlike the abandoned Xiao Clan.

“However, our New Moon Profound Palace isn’t that easy to bully, either,” Xia Yuanba said, patting his chest with an indignant expression. “Though that banquet five years ago cost the New Moon Profound Palace all its dignity, that was five years ago! Now, our New Moon Profound Palace also has many geniuses who are absolutely no worse than those from the other sects… Ah, brother-in-law, look! That senior brother is Li Yuhao. He’s seventeen this year but is already at Level Three of the Nascent Profound Realm. I hear he inherited his family’s profound arts and is incredibly strong.”

“The one in white over there is even more impressive! I remember his name is Xu Aoran; he’s only eighteen but is already at Level Five of the Nascent Profound Realm! Both of them are in our Class One. But they’re not the strongest in our New Moon Profound Palace; that would be Senior Brother Murong and Senior Sister Xueruo, the two recognized geniuses of the New Moon Profound Palace. The elders will definitely bring them to the banquet tonight. With them there, it definitely won’t be like five years ago again…”

As he spoke, Xia Yuanba’s voice abruptly cut off. Ahead of them, a young man in a white robe and a girl in snow-white attire were walking side-by-side. The man, who looked around twenty, had a tall, slender build and a handsome face, elegant as jade – a handsome man capable of making young maidens instantly infatuated. The girl beside him was even more breathtakingly beautiful. She also appeared to be around twenty, with captivating eyes, cherry lips, and eyebrows like new moons. Most enchanting was the faint smile on her lips, as heartwarming as fragrant breezes. The two were like a golden boy and jade girl stepping out of a painting; their appearance instantly captured all the light in the world. The young man kept talking beside the girl, constantly glancing at her reactions, while the girl maintained a warm smile, not speaking. Though she merely stepped forward lightly, she seemed like a white-clad fairy dancing gracefully, especially her long, fair neck, which lent her beauty a noble, elegant, and ethereal aura, as if one were beholding a lofty princess who rightfully belonged in the Imperial Family.

“What a beautiful girl,” Yun Che exclaimed inwardly. Although her looks might not surpass Xia Qingyue’s, she was undoubtedly one in a million, breathtakingly stunning. And the subtle noble aura about her was something Xia Qingyue couldn’t match. What amazed Yun Che most was the peacefulness in her eyes and expression. Generally, a girl of such extraordinary beauty would carry a certain degree of arrogance; his wife, Xia Qingyue, was a prime example. Yet, this girl possessed a gentle demeanor, her gaze was soft as water, and there was not a trace of arrogance in her brows. The natural, light smile on her lips made one’s heart almost melt with a single glance.

“Senior Brother Murong, Senior Sister Xueruo!”

While Yun Che silently admired the girl, Xia Yuanba pulled him along and eagerly went to greet them.

Murong? Xueruo? Hmm? Could these be the two people Yuanba just mentioned…? Yun Che thought to himself.

“Junior Brother Xia, are you heading back to your accommodation to rest?” Seeing Xia Yuanba, the girl smiled and greeted him. As her voice rang out, Yun Che felt a warm current gently flow from his ears to his heart. Her voice was incredibly soft and melodious; simply listening to it was an indescribable pleasure. Encountering her gaze up close, he could even more clearly feel how gentle and captivating her eyes and smile were. At that moment, the girl’s gaze also turned to Yun Che, and she asked curiously, “This is…”

“Hehe, he’s my brother-in-law, and he just joined our Profound Palace today. He’s even in our class!” Xia Yuanba said with a chuckle. “Brother-in-law, these are Senior Brother Murong Ye and Senior Sister Lan Xueruo, whom I just mentioned to you. They are the most outstanding senior brother and sister in our New Moon Profound Palace this term.”

Yun Che stepped forward, a polite smile on his face. “Greetings, Senior Brother and Senior Sister. My name is Yun Che, a new arrival to the Profound Palace. I hope you will both look after me in the future.”

Murong Ye nodded slightly in acknowledgment. His gaze lingered on Yun Che for a moment before moving away, a deep sense of arrogance etched into his brows. There was also a hint of displeasure, clearly annoyed that they had interrupted his “private world” with Lan Xueruo.

“Oh? You’re also in our Class One?” Lan Xueruo took a good look at Yun Che and chuckled. “You look so young, yet you’re already at Level One of the Nascent Profound Realm. No wonder Elder Sikong ‘snatched’ you into Class One. If those little beauties in class knew such a handsome junior brother had arrived, they’d be thrilled. You should be careful, junior brother. Huh? Wait, Junior Brother Xia just called you ‘brother-in-law,’ didn’t he? Don’t tell me you’re already married?”

Before Yun Che could answer, Xia Yuanba quickly interjected, “That’s right! Even though my brother-in-law is only sixteen this year, he married my older sister half a year ago.”

“Oh, so Junior Brother Yun is only sixteen. Getting married so early, your bride must be very beautiful,” Lan Xueruo said with a radiant smile.

“Ahaha… Well, in any case, I hope Senior Brother and Senior Sister will continue to look after me,” Yun Che chuckled awkwardly. Then, his eyes shifted, and he smiled at Lan Xueruo, saying, “I guess, Senior Sister Xueruo, you’re not from around here, are you?”

“Oh? How did you know?” Lan Xueruo blinked her beautiful eyes.

“Because I feel that the earth’s energy in New Moon City is restless and the spiritual energy is slightly murky. It shouldn’t be able to nurture such a graceful and ethereal beauty as Senior Sister Xueruo.”

Lan Xueruo paused slightly, then her pink lips curved upwards and her slender eyebrows arched. “Junior Brother Yun, not only are you handsome and talented, but you also have such a sweet tongue. It’s a pity you’re already married, otherwise, Senior Sister might have… hehe.”

Lan Xueruo’s words were clearly a playful joke, but they caused Murong Ye, standing beside her, to suddenly raise his eyebrows and glare fiercely at Yun Che.

Yun Che, however, acted as if he hadn’t seen it at all. He smiled at Lan Xueruo and said, “It’s fine. My wife promised me that she would never object to me finding other wives.”