After Shadow One disappeared, a strange silence fell within the Enforcement Hall.
The oppressive aura had dissipated, but the formless shock and pressure remained in everyone’s heart.
The air seemed to freeze. Everyone’s gaze, complex and indescribable, was fixed on Song Xunzhen.
Song Xunzhen felt those gazes pricking her like needles.
She knew she was dancing on a tightrope; the slightest misstep would lead to her being utterly shattered.
She had to leave this place as soon as possible, find a quiet place to sort out her thoughts, and study the system that had just saved her life.
She forced a weary look onto her face and said to the three elders:
“Elders, if there is nothing else, this disciple will take her leave. I have troubled the Elders and my fellow senior brothers and sisters today. It is this disciple’s fault, and I will take it to heart.”
Her current appearance, combined with her earlier words, truly made her seem like a young lady from a noble family who had been frightened and was now worried about being scolded at home.
The three elders exchanged glances, reaching a decision in that silent communication.
The leading Enforcement Elder’s tone was gentle, even carrying a hint of reassurance.
“Mm, since today’s matter has been clarified as a misunderstanding, you may go back and rest well. As for compensating Junior Niece Chu Yao for her Magical Artifact, you two can discuss it amongst yourselves.”
He made no further mention of any punishment, not even a single harsh word.
“Thank you, Elder.”
Song Xunzhen gave the elder a polite bow, not sparing another glance for Xiao Che and Chu Yao.
Xiao Che’s probing and frigid gaze, tinged with unwillingness, made her feel as if there were needles on her back.
She turned slightly toward Chu Yao and said in a low, sincere tone, “Senior Sister Chu, regarding the matter of the Magical Artifact, I will find a way to give you a proper resolution tomorrow. I will definitely not delay you from the Grand Competition.”
Chu Yao seemed to have not yet fully recovered her senses. Hearing this, she just nodded subconsciously.
“Oh, alright. Junior Sister Song, you should also rest well.”
Song Xunzhen said no more. Maintaining a calm posture, she turned and walked out of the Enforcement Hall, one step at a time.
Her legs felt a little weak, but her back was held ramrod straight.
The Enforcement disciples standing on both sides subconsciously took half a step back, clearing a path for her and watching her pass with looks of awe.
It wasn’t until she walked out of the heavy main doors of the Enforcement Hall and the warm afternoon sun fell upon her, dispelling the gloom of the hall, that Song Xunzhen felt like she had come back to life.
She didn’t dare to linger, much less look back. After getting her bearings on the direction of the Outer Sect Disciple dormitories, she quickened her pace.
Along the way, she encountered a few fellow disciples. When they saw Song Xunzhen coming from the direction of the Enforcement Hall, their faces showed surprise and curiosity. Some even wanted to approach and strike up a conversation.
But Song Xunzhen met them all with a cold indifference, pretending not to see them as she hurried past.
Her mind was a tangled mess right now; she was in no mood to deal with any probing.
Finally, she returned to the cramped and simple Outer Sect Disciple dormitory from her memories, which contained only a wooden plank bed and a small wooden table.
She shut the door behind her and leaned her back against the cold wood. As if all her strength had been drained, she slowly slid to the floor.
“Hah… hah…”
She gasped for air, her heart still pounding wildly, her palms covered in cold sweat.
It was over. It was really over! She had survived!
The wild joy and lingering fear of having survived a calamity washed over her in alternating waves, causing her body to tremble slightly.
After a long while, she gradually calmed down.
Calm down. I must calm down.
The crisis was only temporarily resolved; bigger troubles were yet to come.
The lie about the Hidden Clan was like a castle in the air, propped up entirely by a one-time trial card.
Countless pairs of eyes would be watching her from now on. The moment her cover was blown, her fate would be even more miserable than the original owner’s.
Right, the system!
The only thing she could rely on now was this system.
Song Xunzhen immediately focused her mind and tried to call out in her head, “System? System, are you there?”
[I am here.] The system responded instantly.
A translucent screen appeared in her consciousness.
The interface was very simple. At the very top, it displayed [Host: Song Xunzhen], and below were several options like [Card Pull], [Inventory], and [Missions].
She first tapped on [Inventory]. It was completely empty, save for a faint glow in one corner.
She focused her consciousness on it, and it displayed [Low-grade Spirit Crystal x 15].
“Fifteen Low-grade Spirit Crystals?” Song Xunzhen was stunned for a moment, then remembered that this was probably all the original owner’s worldly possessions.
According to the system’s rule of 100 Low-grade Spirit Crystals for one pull, she couldn’t even afford a single one.
Poverty, it seemed, was the original sin.
She exited the inventory and tapped on the [Card Pull] interface.
In the center of the interface was a huge card pool engraved with profound and mysterious patterns, labeled [Beginner Card Pool (Available)].
Below were the options [Single Pull (100 Spirit Crystals)] and [Ten-Pull (900 Spirit Crystals)], but both were grayed out and unusable.
A familiar, teeth-grinding feeling washed over her.
As expected, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. This system clearly spelled out two words: “Pay to win.”
She exited the card pull interface and tapped on the [Missions] tab. It was also empty, with no prompts whatsoever.
So, besides providing a card-pulling function, this system had no beginner’s guide, no daily missions, and no check-in rewards? Everything had to be figured out and paid for by herself?
Song Xunzhen felt a headache coming on.
Wasn’t this starting difficulty a bit too high?
But she quickly pulled herself together.
Having it was better than not having it. At least the system had given her a sliver of hope.
An SR card could produce a Divine Transformation Stage guard. What about an SSR card?
What about a UR card?
Could she summon a True Immortal or an even more powerful being?
This thought made her heart race.
If that was the case, then this system’s potential was simply limitless!
The most urgent tasks were to solve two problems:
First, how to maintain the persona of a Hidden Clan’s young lady without being exposed.
Second, how to earn Spirit Crystals as quickly as possible to perform card pulls and obtain real, sustainable trump cards.
The first problem required her to be cautious in her words and actions, to interact with people as little as possible, to avoid discussing any details related to her clan, and to maintain an air of mystery.
At the same time, she had to fulfill her promise to Chu Yao as soon as possible and compensate her with a better Magical Artifact.
This would not only temporarily win people’s trust but might also be an opportunity to earn money.
In the original owner’s memory, Chu Yao’s damaged Magical Artifact was a low-tier Flying Sword, worth about ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals.
To compensate her with a better one, it would have to be worth at least ten thousand Spirit Crystals or more.
And all she had was fifteen.
Song Xunzhen slowly exhaled and pressed her fingers against her throbbing temples.
A penny can crush a hero. The ancients were not wrong.
Wait… card pulls?
Her gaze fell once more on the empty card pull interface.
If the card pool could produce character cards, could it also produce items?
Like Magical Artifacts? Elixirs? Or other valuable things?
This idea lifted her spirits.
If she could pull good items from the card pool, it would not only be the key to maintaining her persona but also her hope for getting rich and exchanging them for Spirit Crystals for more pulls.
It seemed that no matter what, obtaining the first batch of startup capital to perform the next card pull was the top priority.
But what could she do with these fifteen Spirit Crystals?
It was a far cry from one hundred.
Song Xunzhen stood up, walked to the small wooden table, picked up the original owner’s shriveled Storage Pouch, and poured out the Spirit Crystals inside.
The Spirit Crystals emitted a faint glow, containing a sparse amount of spiritual energy.
She held these fifteen Spirit Crystals, her brow furrowed, and began to frantically search the original owner’s memories for any way to quickly earn Spirit Crystals, or for anything valuable she could sell.
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.
Song Xunzhen knew that she didn’t have much time.
Before others, especially Xiao Che, could react and probe her more deeply, she had to gain some real confidence.