Chapter 117 : Are You Surnamed Long?

Chapter 117: Are You Surnamed Long?

Long Xi nodded thoughtfully, then broke into a radiant smile that looked especially bright in the morning light.

“After saying so much, I still haven’t properly introduced myself. My name is Long Xi. Long as in dragon and phoenix, Xi as in the tide. Just call me by my name.”

However, to her surprise, the moment Jiang Wuyun heard the name, her pupils contracted sharply.

A trace of barely concealed fear flashed through her originally timid eyes.

Jiang Wuyun’s excessive reaction left Long Xi utterly baffled.

Her name was plain and ordinary; within the territory of the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect, it was nothing out of the ordinary.

How could it possibly frighten someone to this extent?

“Y-You… you’re surnamed Long?” Jiang Wuyun’s voice trembled with disbelief, and even her words came out haltingly.

“Long as in dragon and phoenix? Long as in flood dragon?!”

“Y-Yes.” Long Xi looked completely confused by the questioning.

“What’s wrong? Could it be that someone surnamed Long where you’re from has a grudge against you?”

Seeing that Long Xi’s expression was calm and sincere, without any sign of pretense, Jiang Wuyun finally steadied herself a little.

After cautiously glancing around, she lowered her voice and explained, “Quite the opposite… There isn’t a single person surnamed Long where I come from.” She paused, a complicated look flashing through her eyes.

“Not just the surname—even the character itself has never appeared in anyone’s name.”

“Huh?” Long Xi grew even more puzzled and leaned forward slightly.

“Is there some incredible figure there whose name must be avoided?”

“It’s not avoidance.” Jiang Wuyun lowered her voice further, as if revealing a dreadful secret.

“In our Lower Realm, there’s an ancient curse. The character ‘Long’ must never appear in a person’s name. Otherwise, they are doomed to die a miserable death.” She sighed, a trace of pity flickering through her eyes.

“Every few years, there are always people who refuse to believe it and insist on giving their children names containing ‘Long.’ But those children…” She trailed off, merely shaking her head gently, leaving the unspoken words to cast an even more sinister shadow.

Long Xi sucked in a sharp breath and instinctively touched herself, as if confirming that she was still alive and well.

“Th-That’s too terrifying.” She shuddered.

“Looks like my whole family really can’t visit your place.”

“I’m sorry, I overreacted.” Jiang Wuyun finally realized her lapse and hurriedly bowed in apology, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“This is the Cloud Sea Realm, after all. I brought the rules of the Lower Realm here… Please don’t take it to heart.”

“It’s nothing, nothing.” Long Xi waved her hand and quickly resumed her bright smile, taking Jiang Wuyun’s hand of her own accord.

“By the way, can I just call you Wuyun? It’s rare to meet in a place like this—must be fate.”

“Okay.” Jiang Wuyun was slightly startled.

Feeling the warmth from Long Xi’s palm, she finally revealed a genuine smile.

That smile seemed to light up her whole person.

The two looked at each other and laughed, the earlier awkwardness vanishing without a trace.

Soon they found common ground and excitedly chatted about their experiences in Mountain Gate Town over the past few days.

Because Jiang Wuyun came from the “Lower Realm,” even though she was a Commandery Princess, she could not bring a single personal maid with her—aside from her, no one else had the qualification to “ascend.”

These past days, she had wandered alone in this unfamiliar land.

Her naturally timid personality, combined with the anxiety of being in a strange place, had left her too afraid to speak with anyone.

She could only stay all day in the residence arranged by the immortal elders.

Only when she was unbearably bored or hungry would she muster the courage to go out for a bite to eat and take a short walk.

Living like this for so long had made her increasingly withdrawn.

Just now, taking the initiative to speak with Long Xi had nearly exhausted all her courage.

While they were chatting happily, they gradually realized that they were the only two left at the bridgehead.

Walking one after the other to the deacon senior sister, Jiang Wuyun submitted her recommendation letter first under Long Xi’s encouraging gaze.

“Mmm… oh…” The deacon senior sister carefully examined the letter.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

“Junior Sister, you’re from the ‘Dragon-Taboo Realm’! That’s impressive—I’ve heard almost no one there has spiritual roots. Welcome. If there’s anything you don’t understand in the future, you can directly ask senior brothers, senior sisters, or the elders.” Her tone was gentle as she solemnly stamped the sect seal onto the letter.

Faced with the senior sister’s friendly attitude, Jiang Wuyun was immediately flattered and repeatedly expressed her thanks.

After carefully putting away the recommendation letter, she stepped lightly onto the stone bridge, not forgetting to glance back at Long Xi with an expectant look.

“Junior Sister, you’re the last one.” The deacon senior sister turned to Long Xi and took the jade slip she handed over.

“Let me see…” Her gaze swept across the letter.

Suddenly, she gasped sharply, her voice rising an octave.

“Th-This is from True Person Zhiying… and it’s handwritten!?”

At this, not only the deacon senior sister, but even the other deacon senior brother—who had remained silent all along—leaned over curiously.

When he saw the signature at the end of the letter, he too revealed a shocked expression.

In their impression, a top Golden Core True Person of the sect like True Person Zhiying would never write a recommendation letter for someone outside the sect.

Moreover, Long Xi did not appear to be from any great aristocratic clan.

Still, both were well-trained and quickly regained their proper smiles.

As the deacon senior sister stamped the sect seal onto the paper, her fingers trembled slightly.

When she returned the envelope to Long Xi, there was even a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

During the handover, she unconsciously paused for a moment.

Anyone could tell she truly wanted to keep this recommendation letter filled with True Person Zhiying’s own handwriting for herself.

After all those holding recommendation letters had crossed the stone bridge, the two deacon senior siblings followed and began explaining the next procedures in detail.

“Junior brothers and sisters, although you’ve entered the sect in advance with recommendation letters, according to sect rules, you still need to participate in the entry examination together with the Seekers of the Dao over there.” Her gaze swept across the crowd, her tone gentle.

“This is not merely a formality. It allows the sect to better understand your talent and aptitude, temperament and cultivation, as well as whether you possess any unawakened hidden talents. Therefore, please take it seriously.”

Most nodded obediently; they had long known these rules.

After all, they were still youths at heart, and many even felt a hint of anticipation and curiosity.

However, a few showed nervous expressions.

“Long Xi, I’m so nervous.” Jiang Wuyun unconsciously edged closer to Long Xi.

“What’s there to be afraid of? You’ve already tested positive for spiritual roots—it’s just going through the motions.”

“But I heard they test temperament too, and we have to climb some kind of Heavenly Ladder…” Jiang Wuyun’s voice grew softer and softer.

“If I don’t perform well, won’t that be embarrassing?”

“Come on, we’re all half-grown kids. How strong can our temperament really be? If it’s embarrassing, we’ll all be embarrassed together. At least I’ll be there embarrassing myself with you.”

This unconventional comfort made Jiang Wuyun burst into laughter.

Looking around at the richly dressed children of aristocratic clans, she did indeed feel much more at ease.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side of the towering mountain gate, a delicate and compact Cloud Vessel sliced through the clouds and mist, speeding toward the Grand Ceremony Plaza.

On board, Long Tao and Xiao Ying, dressed in brand-new disciple robes, sat side by side.

“Hehe, Young Master, what do you think?” Xiao Ying proudly patted the railing of the Cloud Vessel.

“Master said this little Cloud Vessel will be mine from now on! It’s a pity I still don’t know how to pilot it.”

“It’s over,” Long Tao sighed theatrically.

“Looks like in the future I’ll really have to live off you, Xiao Ying.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Xiao Ying’s eyes sparkled.

“If you’re afraid of losing face, I can give things to Miss first, and then have her pass them to you.

That way no one will say anything.”

“Begging things from my own younger sister is even more embarrassing, okay?” Long Tao laughed helplessly, then changed the subject.

“By the way, Xiao Ying, you haven’t experienced the Disciple Recruitment Ceremony before, right?”

“Mm, thinking about it, it’s a bit of a pity. It feels like my cultivation life is missing something. But this time I can personally watch Miss’s process of entering the sect.” She suddenly remembered something, her expression turning serious.

“By the way, Young Master, that man in black I mentioned before—you have to be careful. He’s truly disgusting.”

“You mean the one you said tried to seduce Little Xi with a Charm Technique?”

“That’s right!” Xiao Ying clenched her fists angrily.

“I even reported it to Master, but she said a petty thief who uses Charm Techniques isn’t worth her personal action. He’ll naturally be eliminated during the ceremony.”

Long Tao was not surprised by True Person Zhiying’s reaction.

A great immortal sect like the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect had its own methods for dealing with such crooked practices.

But the thought that the man dared to target his own younger sister was not something he could simply ignore.

Just as he was pondering how to teach that “black-clothed disgusting man” a lesson, a long-familiar voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

【Side Quest Triggered: Searching for the Destiny Luck Thief】

【A certain Destiny Luck Thief has infiltrated the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect’s Disciple Recruitment Ceremony and intends to steal the Destiny Luck of the Child of Destiny, Nan Yuchen. Through the Destiny Luck he has stolen, he has formed a special aura around himself that can attract others at the soul level, producing effects similar to a Charm Technique, though it is less effective against those of higher realms. Please have the Host identify this person as soon as possible.】

【Quest Reward: 1 point of Soul Lamp Value】