The bluestone and white jade floor tiles were cold. Mu Zixiao rubbed her numb knees, head bowed as she knelt on the ground.
This was her twelfth year in this world, but her mind had only just regained clarity. Her soul and brain had been incompatible, causing overload and constant overheating, leaving her in a state of shutdown.
It wasn’t until the spiritual energy of Tianquan Hall washed over her that she managed to grasp a sliver of reason from the haze.
“Both girls have mediocre aptitude. Yet Yuanze Xianzun’s destined disciple is among them. Could there be some mistake?”
“What mistake could there be? Are you saying Yuanze Xianzun’s divination could be wrong?”
A red-faced Zhenren sneered, but as he looked at the two girls kneeling in the center of Tianquan Hall, he couldn’t help but frown, muttering to himself, The chosen disciple must be one of these two?
The girl in green robes was pale, as if severely injured, her gaze burning as she stared at the white-robed immortal seated above.
The girl in yellow robes kept her head lowered, timid and submissive, not daring to meet anyone’s eyes—a demeanor that seemed inferior in the eyes of the crowd.
Yuan Yi Zhenren, dressed in Daoist robes that signified his status as sect leader, spoke gently to the two girls. “Do not be nervous. Since you have passed the Duan Chen Cliff and stood out in this year’s entrance selection, the next step is to choose your master. What are your names?”
The girl in green bowed deeply. “This humble girl is named Feng Yuexiang, from Lan Shi Village at the foot of San Ya Mountain, Mu Huai Town, Yinzhou, Qilian Kingdom.”
“Lan Shi Village… the same Lan Shi Village where the celestial anomaly occurred twelve years ago?”
Feng Yuexiang answered crisply, “Yes!”
Sect Leader Zhenren stroked his beard and glanced toward Yuanze Xianzun in the distance, trying to catch his eye, but it was like winking at a blind man—he received no response.
Suddenly, a young man’s voice rang out loudly, “Master, there’s another girl who passed the trial!” As he spoke, he helped a white-robed girl into the hall.
Seeing it was his beloved disciple Tang Yan, Sect Leader Yuan Yi Zhenren hurried over. “Oh, where did this little girl come from? So lovely, yet so severely injured.” With that, he placed a pill into the girl’s mouth.
Just then, the white-robed immortal seated above stood up and looked toward the girl.
The white-robed girl showed no fear. “This humble girl is named Feng Yueying, from Lan Shi Village at the foot of San Ya Mountain, Mu Huai Town, Yinzhou, Qilian Kingdom.”
Feng Yuexiang, Feng Yueying—they sounded like sisters at once.
Feng Yuexiang’s eyes were filled with shock, while Feng Yueying’s were brimming with resentment. It was clear there had been conflict between them during the trial.
Zzzzt… A crackling electric sound echoed in Mu Zixiao’s ears.
“After twelve long years, Microgram is honored to reunite with its master. Microgram detects that we have successfully escaped and arrived together in this alternate world.”
Mu Zixiao’s eyes brightened slightly. The spiritual energy was making her more alert.
“Current environment danger level is high. Detection indicates master’s brain CPU is overloaded, making it difficult to remain conscious. Please calm your emotions and strive to gather more energy.”
Microgram assessed, “Based on heart rate, pulse, and micro-expression predictions: Feng Yuexiang’s emotions are jealousy and annoyance. Feng Yueying’s emotions are anger and sorrow. Surrounding individuals’ energy levels are too high to predict. To protect master’s CPU operation, Microgram will initiate automatic energy cutoff protection.”
With a zap, Microgram seemed to power down, disappearing without a trace.
Microgram’s appearance was undoubtedly a shot of adrenaline for Mu Zixiao. If she cultivated diligently, Microgram would remain active as usual—spiritual energy could sustain an energy entity like Microgram.
Meanwhile, the farce of disciple selection in the Tianquan Hall continued. It was clear that the Feng sisters were at odds, about to engage in a fierce war of words, which only made Mu Zixiao seem even more inconspicuous in the hall.
“What is your name?” A cool, masculine voice jolted Mu Zixiao to her core. “Look up.”
Mu Zixiao felt countless gazes fall upon her. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head.
What met her eyes was a face beyond description, one that even Mu Zixiao couldn’t help but marvel at—it was simply too extraordinary.
The immortal descended the steps unhurriedly. His ink-black hair was tied up with a white jade crown, and his plain white robes, unadorned, exuded a cold, distant, and elusive aura, like the moon. His skin resembled polished jade under moonlight, with a faint, flowing luster. His eyes sparkled like the stars of the nine heavens, and his features were as exquisite as a painting—yet how could any painting capture such reality?
This was what an immortal truly looked like, Mu Zixiao thought, her heart trembling with awe.
It was a face she could never have imagined, one that even modeling software couldn’t replicate.
Ugh, her head began to ache sharply again. It was all because she couldn’t help but analyze what parameters she would use to model such a face, causing her brain to overload once more.
“Child, don’t be afraid. Answer Immortal Yuanze,” the Sect Master said gently, flicking his horsetail whisk.
“My name is Mu Zixiao,” she replied, lowering her head and saying nothing more.
After a long pause, everyone finally realized—that was it? Nothing else? No mention of where she came from or what her aspirations were?
Mu Zixiao’s performance could only be described as wooden, utterly unworthy of being a disciple of Kunlun Sect’s revered Immortal Yuanze. At least in the Tianquan Hall, no one thought she met the requirements.
The crowd’s attention shifted away from Mu Zixiao, refocusing on the Feng sisters.
Far from feeling upset by this neglect, Mu Zixiao breathed a sigh of relief. Being scrutinized by these powerful figures of the cultivation world was truly like sitting on pins and needles.
The Feng sisters were still acting out the story of Cinderella and the wicked stepsister. If not for the public setting, Mu Zixiao would have yawned. It seemed she was just here to make up the numbers.
Feng Yueying, tears welling in her eyes, accused Feng Yuexiang of cruelty and ruthlessness, while Feng Yuexiang argued back with reason, mocking her “innocent little flower” act.
After a heated exchange, Feng Yuexiang was left speechless by the evidence Feng Yueying presented, and the hall’s observers began to understand who the likely candidate was.
Just then, Immortal Yuanze slowly approached the three girls. A faint, woody fragrance filled the air, refreshing the mind.
Feng Yuexiang’s eyes reddened as she pleaded with Immortal Yuanze.
Feng Yueying bit her lower lip, kneeling in the hall with restrained dignity, embodying the resilient heroine.
As for Mu Zixiao, she knelt with a hunched back, head bowed so low that no one could see her expression.
“Thus…” Before the Sect Master could finish, Immortal Yuanze raised a hand to stop him. Instead, he personally helped the dazed Mu Zixiao to her feet. “This child will do. Follow me to Phoenix Peak.”
Mu Zixiao stared wide-eyed at the celestial being before her, her expression one of shock. She even took half a step back.
Why would Phoenix Peak choose her, Mu Zixiao, instead of one of the Feng sisters? Did that even make sense?