On this bright morning, the Azure Ethereal Conclave atop the Great Bamboo Peak was abuzz with excitement. The disciples, in particular, wore broad smiles on their faces, their joy mingling with a tinge of nervousness that was mostly overshadowed by their enthusiasm.
Among them, only the eldest disciple, Song Daren, and his juniors Wu Dayi, Zheng Dalii, and He Dazhi had participated in the previous Seven Pules Martial Gathering of the Azure Ethereal Vapors. As for the younger disciples, Lu Daxin and Du Bishu, they were new recruits taken in by Tian Yixi over the past few decades. And the young duo, Tian Ling’er and Zhang Xiaofan, had never witnessed the grand spectacle that occurred once every sixty years.
Tian Ling’er was the happiest of all. Seizing the moment when her parents, Tian Yixi and Su Ru, were making final preparations, she clung to the most experienced Song Daren, peppering him with questions. “Elder Brother, are there really so many of our fellow disciples participating in the Seven Pules Martial Gathering?”
Song Daren, beaming with evident joy, replied, “Indeed, the Seven Pules Martial Gathering is the greatest event in our sect, and each of our seven branches regards it as the highest priority. Only the most outstanding and capable among us are chosen to represent their respective branches. The grandeur and excitement of the event are beyond description.”
At this point, He Dazhi, who had been listening from the side, sauntered over and winked at Tian Ling’er, grinning. “Little Sister, what you don’t know is that Elder Brother still has more to say!”
Tian Ling’er let out a startled exclamation, ignoring Song Daren’s bewildered expression, and eagerly asked, “What is it, Fourth Elder Brother?”
He Dazhi smiled slyly. “During the great trial, hundreds of fellow disciples gather to watch. When one emerges victorious, standing triumphantly on the stage amidst thunderous applause, the feeling of pride is indescribable. But imagine if a beautiful and young female disciple from another branch, captivated by Elder Brother’s charm, cheers and screams for him—wouldn’t that be an even greater joy in life?” He turned to Song Daren, his face suddenly serious. “Elder Brother, am I right?”
Song Daren’s face abruptly flushed red.
Tian Ling’er noticed this and, puzzled, asked, “Elder Brother, why did your face turn red all of a sudden?”
Song Daren shook his head vehemently, denying, “No, no, I didn’t—”
He Dazhi cleared his throat, noticing that the other disciples, such as Du Bishu and Zhang Xiaofan, had gathered around. The younger ones, like Du Bishu and Zhang Xiaofan, looked confused, but Wu Dayi and Zheng Dalii were smiling knowingly.
He Dazhi continued, “Ah! Second Elder Brother and Third Elder Brother are here too. My memory isn’t as good as it used to be, but during the last great trial, when Elder Brother won two matches and advanced to the third round, there was a particularly beautiful female disciple. Hmm, I can’t remember her name…”
Wu Dayi chimed in, “Ah! I can’t recall clearly either, but it was a lovely girl from the Lesser Bamboo Peak. Her appearance was exquisite, though I can’t quite remember her name…”
Zheng Dalii, with a full smile, added, “The name? We’ve all forgotten, but we still remember the person who clapped the loudest and exchanged meaningful glances with Elder Brother that day.”
“Ah!”
The crowd erupted in exclamations. Tian Ling’er, leading the charge, interrogated, “Elder Brother, which female disciple treated you so kindly?”
Song Daren, flustered, glared at He Dazhi before dryly responding, “N-nothing of the sort. Don’t listen to Fourth Elder Brother’s nonsense. Wen Min from the Lesser Bamboo Peak merely cheered for us out of respect for our mistress.”
“Is that so?” He Dazhi interjected, “Elder Brother, that’s odd. None of us could remember her name, yet you immediately recalled it. It seems that Elder Sister Wen Min had quite the fondness for you…”
The group burst into laughter. Song Daren, realizing he had spoken out of turn, knew he was no match for He Dazhi’s sharp tongue, the most cunning among the Great Bamboo Peak disciples.
With a huff, he said, “Idle chatter, hehe. I’ll go see if Father and Mother are ready.”
Tian Ling’er tried to press further, but Song Daren had already disappeared in a flash, leaving her to grab He Dazhi, her bright eyes gleaming with excitement. “Fourth Elder Brother, tell me, how does Elder Sister Wen Min look?”
He Dazhi chuckled, “Little Sister, haven’t you often accompanied our mistress to the Lesser Bamboo Peak to visit Master Shuiyue? How could you not have met Elder Sister Wen Min, who is Master Shuiyue’s favorite disciple?”
Tian Ling’er shook her head. “When Mother and I go to the Lesser Bamboo Peak, we usually meet directly with Master Shuiyue. I rarely get to know the other disciples. Tell me quickly!”
He Dazhi grinned, “Patience, patience. At the Celestial Peak today, you’re likely to see her during the Seven Pules Martial Gathering.”
Tian Ling’er hummed, her eyes darting as if she had realized something. “No wonder Elder Brother was so energetic this morning. He had ulterior motives!”
The group paused, then erupted into laughter, including Tian Ling’er. The slight tension she felt about the martial gathering had dissipated.
As she looked around, she noticed everyone smiling and in high spirits. But when her gaze fell on Zhang Xiaofan, her heart skipped a beat. Though Zhang Xiaofan was smiling, Tian Ling’er, who knew him best, could see that he seemed distracted.
Taking advantage of the others’ laughter, Tian Ling’er pulled Zhang Xiaofan aside and whispered, “Xiaofan, is something bothering you?”
Zhang Xiaofan hesitated, his lips moving, and his hand instinctively touched his chest. Finally, he said, “Nothing, Elder Sister.”
Tian Ling’er studied him, then asked directly, “What is it? Let me see.”
Zhang Xiaofan hesitated, then took out the object from his robe. Seeing it, Tian Ling’er was even more surprised. “Why are you carrying this black, burnt stick?”
Zhang Xiaofan, seeing her astonishment mixed with a hint of reproach, stammered, “Master gave it to me, saying I should see more of the world. My cultivation is low, and I have no other treasures…”
Tian Ling’er understood, but couldn’t help bursting into laughter. “Oh! Haha, is that so? You’re going to participate in the Seven Pules Martial Gathering with this… this burnt stick? Our sect has already seen a disciple with a dice treasure, but now you… oh, haha, I’m laughing so hard!”
The other disciples, hearing Tian Ling’er’s laughter, came over to ask, and upon learning the reason, they too burst into fits of laughter. Zhang Xiaofan, surrounded by the merriment of his siblings, felt a sudden surge of anger within him.
This intense anger passed in a flash, but it was so strong that it almost suffocated him.
He lowered his head, gripping the ugly burnt stick, feeling the familiar coldness in his palm.
“Tian Ling’er, suddenly serious, said, “I’m sorry, Xiaofan.”
Zhang Xiaofan, startled, lifted his head.
She continued, “I wanted to give you a proper treasure to show off, so you wouldn’t be laughed at. But Mother has been pushing me to train harder, and I forgot.”
Zhang Xiaofan shook his head, “Elder Sister, your training is important. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Tian Ling’er patted his shoulder, smiling, “But it doesn’t matter. Everyone knows your abilities. This time, just go and gain some experience.” She lowered her voice, “If anyone bullies you, come and tell me. I’ll stand up for you.”
Zhang Xiaofan, looking into her kind eyes, believed her. He felt the warmth of her words and the goodwill of those around him.
Yet, what emotion still burned so fiercely within him, what flame raged in his heart, almost choking him?
Tian Ling’er, still smiling, patted his shoulder, whispering, “You know, there are many fun places on the Celestial Peak. This time, let’s sneak off and explore, okay?”
Zhang Xiaofan, gazing at her beautiful face, found himself unable to meet her eyes. His heart was a mix of sweetness and烦恼的情绪。张小凡低头，心中又甜蜜又烦忧，少年心事如百感交集，低声说道：“是，师姐。”
田灵儿展颜微笑，忽然听见身后何大智道：“师父和师娘来了。”
众人转身看去，只见从守静堂中，田不易和苏茹走了出来。田不易一身天蓝长袍，气度颇是庄严，若不是身子稍矮，肚子又稍大了些，倒真有让人肃然起敬的宗师气派。
至于苏茹，则是让众人眼前一亮，平素就姿色过人的她，今天一袭淡绿衣裙，头上玉镂花，金钗头，眉若远山含黛，肤似凝脂白玉，目光如水，红唇带笑，当真是倾倒众生。
宋大仁跟在他夫妇二人身后，面色再正经不过了。只不过众师弟一看见他，个个面上就浮起不大正经、似笑非笑的古怪表情来了。
而在宋大仁身后，黄狗大黄和猴子小灰也跟了出来。小灰现在似乎已经习惯了坐在大黄背上，这时一看见张小凡站在前方，“吱吱吱吱”叫了几声，从大黄背上跳下，窜到张小凡这里，三下两下蹦上了他的肩头。
田不易看了看众弟子，点了点头，道：“走吧！”
说罢，他右手一挥，掌心法诀引处，赤光一闪，他那柄久负盛名的仙剑“赤灵”祭起，赤芒万丈，端的是仙家至宝。
田不易正要踏前，忽然间裤管却被人拉了一下，回头看去，却是被大黄咬住了，只见这只他从小养大的黄狗摇头晃脑，嘴里“呜呜”（咬着裤管）叫个不停，尾巴摇得起劲，一双狗眼更是眨也不眨，直盯着田不易看。
田不易犹豫了一下，嘴里含糊说了一句，但还是袖子一挥，将大黄卷了起来，随即飘身到赤灵剑上，与苏茹打了个招呼，当先破空而去。
苏茹轻笑摇头，对众人道：“你们也来吧！”顿了一下，又对宋大仁道：“大仁，小凡修为不够，你带着他走。”
宋大仁点头道：“是。”
苏茹点了点头，也不见她如何作势，一道淡绿光芒闪过，仿佛与她的衣裳相配一般，载着她直上青天，追着田不易那道赤光而去。
大竹峰众弟子中，吴大义、郑大礼与吕大信修行也没有达到第四层，不能驱御法宝，当下宋大仁走向张小凡，其余的何大智、杜必书与田灵儿一人带着一个，各自上路。
众人之中，田灵儿的法宝是“琥珀朱绫”，何大智修炼的法宝是一枝“江山笔”，倒很合他平素爱书的习性，不过最搞笑的莫过于老六杜必书的骰子法宝了，一经祭起，白光闪处，三颗骰子滴溜溜放大了十倍，在空中转个不停，各种数字轮番出现，若论天下赌具，再也无过于此。
老五吕大信小心翼翼地上前细看，苦着脸向杜必书道：“老六，你这东西该不会从天上掉下来吧？”
杜必书眉毛一挑，嬉皮笑脸道：“五师兄，不如我们打个赌，若是从天上掉下来就算你赢，我就……”
吕大信“呸呸呸”道：“那我还敢赢这个赌吗？”
杜必书一愣，道：“那倒也是！”
宋大仁走到张小凡身前，微笑道：“小凡，你准备好了吗？”
张小凡正要点头，忽然间肩头的猴子小灰却尖叫起来，二人吃了一惊，却见小灰一会手指指天上，一会对着张小凡指指自己，张小凡愣了一下，道：“你也要去？”
小灰立刻咧嘴笑了起来，张小凡犹豫了一下，看了看宋大仁，宋大仁想了想，笑道：“反正师父都带大黄去了，我们也带小灰去吧！”
张小凡心中欢喜，点了点头，小灰更是欢喜不已。
宋大仁转身对其余人道：“我们也走吧！不然迟到了师父又要骂了。”众人答应一声，各自御着法宝走了，田灵儿临走时还到张小凡身旁叮嘱了一句：“小心啊！要抓紧师兄。”
张小凡点了点头，道：“知道了，师姐。”
田灵儿对他笑了笑，法诀一引，琥珀朱绫霞光顿起，破空而去。宋大仁随即祭起了自己的法宝仙剑“十虎”。
他是大竹峰一脉的大弟子，虽然师弟们修炼的法宝不一而同，但他还是修炼仙剑。
“十虎”仙剑呈通体黄色，长四尺，三指宽，在仙剑中体型算是比较大的，不过可惜法宝威力不能以体型来计算。
当下宋大仁把张小凡拉了上来，张小凡以前有过搭乘田灵儿琥珀朱绫的经验，入脚处“十虎”向下一沉，随即稳住，他已不太惊慌，倒是猴子小灰似乎知道什么，紧紧抓住了张小凡的头。
宋大仁微微一笑，道：“小师弟，我们走了。”
说着，他右手法诀向天一指，只听“十虎”仙剑剑身发出一声低低震响，原本平平飘荡在离地一尺的仙剑忽地升高三尺，张小凡下意识地抓紧了宋大仁。
这时，一阵山风吹来，“十虎”剑剑尖缓缓向上翘起，到了约莫有翘起七分，张小凡完全是靠紧拉着宋大仁才不至于掉落下去时，一声尖啸响处，“十虎”笔直向天疾冲而上。
张小凡站在仙剑之上，紧紧抱住宋大仁，心中虽然紧张，但无论如何也舍不得把眼睛闭上。
只见大竹峰青翠的山峰离自己越来越远，忽地眼前一白，一片白茫茫的，竟是穿入了厚厚的白云之中，再也看不清什么东西。
这时上下前后都是茫茫云气，大风呼啸不停，刮脸生疼，张小凡身子微微颤抖，半是紧张，半是激动。
驰骋于青天白云间，这是何等的梦想！
云海茫茫，也不知行了多久，正当张小凡心情慢慢要平复下来的时候，仿佛要再一次的给他惊奇，“十虎”仙剑在破空的尖锐呼啸声中，冲出了云海。
那一片无垠的蓝天，如倒悬的深海，蓝得几乎是纯净的，无边无际，壮观雄伟。
当他们冲出云海，脚下的白云仿佛水花，随着他们的去势泛起长长云气，似乎依依不舍，又如大河微浪，飘起半空，然后再缓缓落下，回到云海之中。
长空如洗，“十虎”仙剑冲天而起，直到离脚下那茫茫云海又有了几乎三百丈的高度，宋大仁才将剑身放平，开始向通天峰方向直行而去。
远处，一座高耸入云，不，高耸入天的雄伟山峰，傲然屹立。那里，白云飘渺处，隐隐有钟声回荡在这苍穹天地。
通天峰，仿佛真的通往青天。
张小凡屏住了呼吸，放眼远眺，无垠的青天下，雄伟的山峰旁，飞舞萦绕着无数道各色光芒，越接近通天峰，这些光芒就越是密集。
张小凡知道那些都是青云门中弟子驱用的法宝，因法宝五行之分而有各种不同颜色，看去五彩缤纷，极是漂亮。
但见这些道光芒如彩石落雨，纷纷涌向那座山峰，景象蔚为壮观。
而他们与“十虎”仙剑一道，也很快融入了这五彩缤纷的洪流之中。
伴着呼啸声，宋大仁带着张小凡御剑落到了一片巨大的广场之上，一落到地上，猴子小灰便东张西望，随即从张小凡肩膀跳下，在广场上跳来跳去，兴奋不已。
张小凡也不去管它，放眼看去，只见这里白玉为栏，仙气阵阵，广场中央有九个大铜鼎，成三三之数摆放中间。最令人吃惊的，便是这广场之上，云气蒸腾，行走时如在云中，使人有成仙的感觉。
张小凡看在眼里，倍觉眼熟，记起这里是当初自己初上青云山时到过的所谓“青云六景”中的“云海”。
五年不见，这里一如既往，没有什么变化，还是那么美丽飘渺，只是今日却比五年前热闹了许多。
广场之上，此刻已是热闹非凡，青云门前来参加七脉会武的弟子们估计都暂时停在这里，远远看去，人头耸动，怕没有数百人。
站在这广场上的人物，多数身着青云门服装，有道有俗，有男有女，其中年轻一辈尤多，英气勃勃之人在所多有，可见这些年来青云门励精图治，大力栽培年轻弟子。
虽然广场上站了数百人，但依然显得很宽敞。
宋大仁举目四眺，忽听远处一个清脆声音喊道：“大师兄，我们在这儿。”
宋大仁与张小凡看了过去，正是大竹峰众人，喊话的不用说是田灵儿了，他们站在广场中间一个巨大铜鼎旁边，田灵儿正对着他们挥着手。
宋大仁应了一声，与张小凡走了过去。
一路之上，张小凡向四周张望，只见广场上其他各脉弟子三五成群地站在一起，个个看去兴高采烈谈论着什么，想来无不是对即将到来的会武大试充满期待吧！
他们走到跟前，站在田灵儿身后的何大智首先道：“大师兄，这一路还顺利吧？”
宋大仁微笑道：“这里又不是第一次来，还能有什么事？”
田灵儿看了张小凡一眼，笑道：“小凡，路上的景色还好吧？”
张小凡回想起刚才在青天之上那壮观到动人心魄的景色，衷心道：“漂亮极了。”
田灵儿嘻嘻一笑，拍拍他的肩膀，道：“以后你自己努力些，等炼了法宝学会了御空而行，让你自己天天飞上青天去看个够。”
张小凡没有说话，但面露笑容，重重点头。
宋大仁向周围看了一下，向何大智道：“四师弟，师父和师娘他们呢？”
何大智道：“我们几人跟着师父、师娘到了这里，接待的长门道兄就把师父、师娘引到上面玉清观去了，说是七脉首座长老要聚会一下，商量一些会武大试的细节。师父吩咐我们就在这里等候。”
宋大仁点了点头，随即招了招手，把众师弟召到身边，向四周看了看，压低声音道：“我怎么看着其他各脉面生的师兄弟好多，你们先来这里一会了，有没有什么消息？”
何大智摇了摇头，道：“我也有这个感觉，看来这些年同门各脉收了不少新人。”
老二吴大义看了一下周围，道：“新人是不少，不过我估计等明日上台比试的，多半还是以前修为精深的各位师兄，毕竟修行经验上还是他们……”
宋大仁忽然叹了口气，道：“二师弟，未必如此，你还记不记得两年前龙首峰派来传信的那个年轻弟子林惊羽？”
吴大义一怔，随即默然，众人相看一眼，都没有说话，只有张小凡心中忽地有一股复杂的情绪掠过，似是欢喜，似是羡慕，仿佛还带了一分嫉妒。
“那厮算个什么东西？”忽然间有人冷冷地道。
众人吃了一惊，却见说话的正是田灵儿，只见她一张俏脸微微涨红，美目圆睁，恨恨道：“他不来参加这次比试也就罢了，若他敢来，最好就叫他遇上我，到时候我再与他分个胜负！”
大竹峰众人面面相觑，老六杜必书一向机灵，反应极快，笑道：“小师妹说的极是，若是真有这么巧，嘿嘿，各位师兄，不若我们来打个赌，看看谁输谁赢……”
“去去去！”站在他身旁的老五吕大信一脚把他踢开。
宋大仁笑了一下，正想说些什么，忽听身后一声轻咳，有一个女子轻声道：“宋师兄，许久不见了啊！”
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