It’s just cultivating immortality, who isn’t a favorite of heaven?

The competition between Helan Ci and Song Xu ended in a draw.

The two fought to a draw, and both suffered some injuries. The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Shen family who was presiding over the competition was afraid that something might happen, so when he saw that the two were gradually getting angry, he forcibly ended the competition.

The competition lasted for three days before the final winner was decided.

Helan Ci and Song Xu tied for first place. When Pei Xuan met these two people in a later competition, he decisively admitted defeat and became second place.

Meng Tingwan ranked third. She couldn't withstand Pei Xuan's money-burning style of play.

After the foundation-building cultivator from the Shen family distributed the rewards of the competition to everyone one by one, the meeting of the high-level cultivators also ended.

All the purposes of this coming-of-age ceremony had been achieved, so everyone stopped staying and said goodbye and left with their own disciples.

Cheng Shuyan also said goodbye to the Shen brothers and sisters and left the Shen family alone.

But she didn't expect that when she wandered all the way back to Luochuan Market, she would meet Helan Ci again.

"Fellow Daoist Helan, what a coincidence, I meet you here again."

Still in the same teahouse, Cheng Shuyan looked at Helan Ci who was sitting by the window and spoke first.

He Lanci heard this, but his smile remained unchanged: "Unfortunately, I came here specifically to wait for you."

"What do you mean, fellow Daoist?" Cheng Shuyan was just confused. This person had helped her before, and she didn't feel that he had any ill will towards her.

But his various actions made her feel incomprehensible. To be honest, she didn't think there was anything about her that was worthy of this favored child of heaven's attention.

"The one from the Cheng family has already started her seclusion to build her foundation. With her aptitude, success in building her foundation is inevitable.

Xuanfeng Sect and the Cheng family have already extended invitations, stating that Xie Jingxiu and Cheng Lingshu will hold an engagement ceremony at Xuanfeng Sect in a year. Are you interested in attending?"

Helan Ci looked at Cheng Shuyan, a deep look of inquiry flashing in his eyes.

He remembered that Cheng Shuyan went crazy that time because she heard the news that Xie Jingxiu and Cheng Lingshu were about to get engaged. That was why he waited here on purpose to tell her the news.

He was a little curious about what Cheng Shuyan would do.

Cheng Shuyan saw the inquiry in his eyes. She was silent for a while before responding:

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Helan, for letting me know. However, my cultivation is still shallow. After attending Fellow Daoist Shen's coming-of-age ceremony, I will return to the sect to practice in seclusion. I'm afraid I won't be able to join in the fun."

Helan Ci was a little surprised when he heard this. The smile on his face froze for a moment, then he returned to calm.

"Oh? That's a pity."

"If Fellow Daoist Helan has nothing else to do, I will take my leave."

Since Helan Ci specifically mentioned this matter to her, he must have noticed the reason why she was harboring inner demons, and she didn't want to stay with him any longer.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, please feel free to do as you please."

Helan Ci did not try to persuade him to stay. He just made a gesture of invitation and drank his tea.

……

She didn't know if the man she was about to get engaged to was the Xie Jingxiu she knew. If it was really the same person, then the gap between them was already huge.

Cheng Shuyan felt that time was running out. She had to seize the time to practice and try her best to catch up with the other party.

On the way back, she still chose to take the teleportation array, but there was no teleportation array from Pingshan Market back to the sect, so she had to travel by herself.

She was exhausted from days of traveling. One day, she happened to pass by a mortal town, so Cheng Shuyan entered the city and planned to rest for a day.

It is November now. Snowflakes are floating in the sky. The breeze blows and the snowflakes fall on our bodies, making us shiver with cold.

At this moment, a lot of people gathered on the street. They gathered together and curiously stretched their heads to look towards the innermost circle.

Seeing this, Cheng Shuyan couldn't help but become curious. She spread her spiritual sense and scanned the crowd, and found a little girl in thin clothes kneeling on the ground.

There was a straw mat in front of the little girl, and on the mat was the body of a woman.

She knelt with a sad expression, her eyes already red and swollen from crying for so long.

There was also a piece of paper next to the straw mat, on which were written in crooked handwriting the four words "Selling myself to bury my mother."

"Oh, what a poor child! In this cold winter, wearing such thin clothes, how can his body bear it?"

In the crowd, a woman couldn't help wiping away her tears and felt sympathy for the little girl.

"Yes, it's so cold, the nobles don't go out. Even if this child wants to sell herself to be a maid, it will be difficult!"

The onlookers were all ordinary people who had a hard time making ends meet and naturally could not afford the money.

"Hey, what's all this excitement? Why didn't anyone notify me?"

Outside the crowd, a ruffian-looking man appeared from the street corner with two followers. Seeing the crowd gathered here, he walked straight towards the crowd with his men.

"Brother, I heard that it was a little girl who sold herself to bury her mother. She was only eight years old, and she was a pitiful girl."

Hearing this question, one of his followers immediately spoke to him in a flattering manner.

Upon hearing this, the man slapped the follower on the head with his backhand, his tone very dissatisfied.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? I'm a kindhearted person. If I see a little sister in trouble, I will naturally help her!"

The man's words sounded righteous, but the expression on his face was not one of philanthropy.

When the onlookers saw the man coming, they all showed expressions of disgust.

The man's nickname was Chen Po Pi, and he was a well-known ruffian in the county. He was shameless and lustful, and there was not a single citizen in the town who didn't dislike him.

"Why is this scoundrel here?"

"Alas, if this little girl is targeted by him, I'm afraid she will not end up well!"

"Girl, hurry up and leave! If the scoundrel Chen sees you, he will definitely not let you go. If you fall into his hands, you will be in trouble!"

The people were talking at once to persuade the little girl. Hearing this, the little girl looked up at Chen the scoundrel who was trying to squeeze in. Her eyes struggled for a moment, but she still lowered her head and continued to kneel on the ground.

"As long as he can give me money to bury my mother, he can do whatever he wants to me."

The little girl lowered her head and whispered something, her voice trembling with fear, but she still knelt firmly.

"Hey, kid, why don't you listen? We'll all think of a way to deal with your mother's problem. Hurry up and put away your paper and get up first."

"Yes, yes. At worst, we can help you bury your mother. It will only take a day and we won't charge you any money."

The little girl was moved when she heard this. She raised her head and looked at the two people who were talking. If they helped her, she would find a way to earn money in the future to repay their kindness.

Just as she was about to get up, she heard Chen Puppy's voice ringing out in the crowd.

"Stop, stop, stop! Selling yourself to bury your mother? How can such a lively occasion be without me? Second brother, pay!"

One of his followers took out a tael of silver and threw it next to the little girl without even asking how much it cost.

"Alright, take it and bury your mother. Third brother, follow her. Once she's done burying the person, bring him back to me!"

Although this girl is still young, she has a very pretty appearance and is a potential beauty.

Chen Popi stared at the little girl and couldn't help licking the corner of his mouth. His eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an excited look.