The Luoyun Sect, once the foremost of the Five Great Sects, produced countless Monstrous Talents.
Although it has declined somewhat in recent years, its reputation remains resounding, incomparable to ordinary small sects.
The old woman looked at her with genuine sincerity: "Girl, believe me, you are Little Xi's savior, and this old body will never harm you! Only the Luoyun Sect is your best choice."
"Miao Miao thanks the Senior for the guidance!" Hearing advice is wise, Miao Miaomiao was not the stubborn type.
The old woman nodded slightly: "Their Stronghold is in the south of the city. Hurry up, you should still make the registration time. If you miss it, come back to me, and this old body will personally send you there."
"Thank you, Senior, I will take my leave now."
"I'll go with you!" Yuan Xi hurriedly followed.
Watching the backs of the two, the old woman smiled gently: "For such an anomaly, I fear only that person can teach them."
*
South of the city, on the main street.
Yuan Xi, following behind Miao Miaomiao, looked ashamed: "Miao Miao, I'm sorry!"
Looking at this somewhat simple Girl, Miao Miaomiao smiled: "Why apologize? You didn't do anything wrong."
Yuan Xi pinched the corner of her dress: "But, I really want to become a fellow disciple with you..."
"It's alright~~ Even if we can't be fellow disciples, we'll be friends later."
As they spoke, the two arrived near the new disciple registration area of the Luoyun Sect.
Not far away, a black-clothed youth stood on a stool, cupping his hands like a megaphone, shouting vigorously: "The last luxury Flying Boat heading to the Luoyun Sect is about to depart! Fellow Daoists who have not yet boarded, please hurry and buy your tickets!
The last trip, miss it and wait another three years... Don't miss this opportunity! If you wish to become an immortal, reach the Luoyun Peak, and it will carry you soaring to the Nine Heavens..."
Miao Miaomiao quickly walked over: "Senior Brother, where do I register?"
"Oh, no need to register, just buy a ticket to board! We depart once everyone is here. Direct route, guaranteed no transfers."
"How much is the ticket?"
"What class do you want?" The black-clothed youth enthusiastically began to introduce: "We have the miserable class, the economy class, and the tycoon class. The Spirit Stone prices for each class are different: ten, twenty, and fifty..."
Without waiting for him to finish, Yuan Xi stuffed a small bag of Spirit Stones toward him: "One tycoon class ticket."
"Got it!" The black-clothed youth beamed, accepted the Spirit Stones, and handed a blackened wooden token to Miao Miaomiao: "This is your voucher, keep it safe! I'll take you to board now."
"Mm," Miao Miaomiao took the wooden token, turned to Yuan Xi, and said, "Alright, you should go back! We'll meet again if fate allows."
"Take care then." Yuan Xi nodded, watched the other walk away, and then reluctantly turned to leave.
Soon after, led by the youth, Miao Miaomiao arrived at a dilapidated courtyard overgrown with weeds.
In the center of the courtyard rested a tattered Flying Boat covered in patches. The flagpole was broken, the deck was full of cracks, and there was a huge Hole at the stern, looking as if it had been bitten by some monstrous beast.
Miao Miaomiao frowned tightly: "Senior Brother, isn't your Flying Boat a bit..."
"Don't worry, although its appearance is slightly lacking, it's actually very comfortable! Uh, wait here for a moment, I'll go call one more person, and we'll take off once we're full!" With that, the guy ran off without looking back.
Miao Miaomiao stood in place, gazing at the Flying Boat in deep thought.
...Three days passed in a blink, and the Flying Boat was still parked in the same spot.
Miao Miaomiao asked for the three hundredth time: "Senior Brother, when exactly will we take off?"
"Soon, soon! Wait for me to call one more person. —The last luxury Flying Boat heading to the Luoyun Sect is about to depart! Hey, Fellow Daoist, want a ticket?"
Miao Miaomiao: "..." Why did this feel like encountering a scalper outside a train station?
Fortunately, half a day later, the Flying Boat finally took off successfully.
Miao Miaomiao, sitting in the first-class cabin, counted: including the Pilot, there were only seven people in total, two of whom were just helpers.
"Kuku Kuku~ Boom!" The moment the Flying Boat started, the deafening noise startled Miao Miaomiao.
She looked at the rolling Black Smoke rising from the stern, feeling a bit scared: "Senior Brother, are you sure we'll reach our destination alive? Won't this crash halfway?"
"Impossible! I'm an old driver with eighteen years of driving experience." The Pilot looked confident, "And don't let the appearance fool you—although our Flying Boat is old, broken, slow, noisy, and leaky, its quality is absolutely top-notch!"
In other words, it has no advantages other than being durable? Miao Miaomiao was speechless, suddenly feeling like she had boarded an unlicensed taxi.
"Thump clatter~" Just then, a strange noise sounded, and the Flying Boat began to shake violently.
The Pilot shouted at the top of his lungs: "Everyone hold on tight!"
Miao Miaomiao tightly gripped the handrail beside her, her heart pounding: "Brother, what's going on now?"
"Oh, it's just a little bumpy, that's normal, don't worry about it."
"Really?" Miao Miaomiao's eyes widened, "But I think I just saw a part fly out!"
"Don't be nervous, those are all useless parts, they won't affect normal flight."
Miao Miaomiao: "I weakly ask, is it still possible for me to get off now?"
"Huh? What did you say? The wind is too loud, I can't hear you..."
Currently at an altitude of ten thousand meters, getting off was impossible.
The Flying Boat swayed and rocked in the sky as if drunk, swaying and rocking, rocking and swaying, rocking rocking, swaying swaying, swaying and rocking, rocking and swaying...
From beginning to end, Miao Miaomiao had one BGM looping in her head: "What is daddy's daddy called...?"
After being tossed around like this for a full half a month, they finally reached their destination.
The moment she stepped off the Flying Boat, Miao Miaomiao felt like her brain matter had been thoroughly mixed. If she opened her Skull Cap and sprinkled some chili powder on it, countless children would cry from envy.
The situation of the other passengers was even worse; some were lying on the ground vomiting uncontrollably, and two had been nauseous the entire way.
Before they could recover, a White-Bearded Old Man appeared above, stepping on an auspicious cloud: "The entrance assessment will be held in two days. Please arrange your own accommodation!"
With that, he floated away gracefully.
There was a small town below the mountain offering lodging. Miao Miaomiao casually chose an Inn that looked relatively nice and immediately fell asleep.
She had been thoroughly worn out by that broken Flying Boat these past few days; she needed to catch up on sleep.
When the day of the assessment arrived, Miao Miaomiao woke up early.
After washing up and dressing, she put on the newly bought Black Dress, looked in the mirror, and a satisfied curve appeared at the corner of her mouth: "Look at this little appearance, even I'm tempted! Mwah~"
Leaving the Inn, she walked up the long Stairway. By now, hundreds of people had gathered in the central square.
They were all whispering to each other, bustling like a marketplace, seemingly discussing the assessment.
Miao Miaomiao forcefully joined the chat group of the three people next to her: "Hello everyone, Old Irons, what are you discussing so intensely? Include me!"
You're quite forward! The person next to her rolled his eyes dramatically: "What else would we be discussing? The assessment content, of course."
"Is that so~" Miao Miaomiao nodded, casually grabbed the Melon Seeds from his hand, cracked one, and said, "Then do you know what the assessment covers? Is it hard? Any inside information?"
"Hah, the Luoyun Sect's assessment hasn't changed for hundreds of years. Among the Five Great Sects, it's the simplest, most direct, and also the most brutally terrifying!"
Hearing this, Miao Miaomiao's expression changed, and the Melon Seeds in her hand instantly lost their flavor: "What? Don't tell me we have to be castrated too?"
"Nonsense! The Luoyun Sect's assessment is to enter the Heart-Questioning Pool! The longer you stay inside, the better you are considered."
Miao Miaomiao raised an eyebrow: "That simple? Isn't that just like soaking in a hot spring?"
"Simple? You must be dreaming. The water in the Heart-Questioning Pool inflicts Heart-Devouring Pain; most people can't bear it. For someone like you, not to look down on you, if you can last half an incense stick's time, I'll kneel down and call you 'Mother'!"
"I..."
"Alright, everyone quiet down!" A White-Bearded Old Man interrupted Miao Miaomiao's speech. His tone was indifferent, "I believe you all know the assessment content, so I won't elaborate.
However, before the assessment, there is one more thing you must do."
With that, he waved his hand, and a disciple carrying a stack of documents stepped forward.
"You have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to read this carefully. Sign only after you have considered it."
Miao Miaomiao quickly scanned it: "...I voluntarily participate in the Luoyun Sect assessment, entering the Heart-Questioning Pool, and all consequences are unrelated to the Sect."