Outside Lingyun Sect.
After the disciple in charge fed Song Qiqi a pill, she had only just opened her eyes when she saw Zhou Ming’an’s anxious face. With a cry of “Wah,” she burst into tears.
“Brother An…”
She was naturally adorable and pure-looking, and now that her face was pale, her tears made her even more pitiful.
Zhou Ming’an had already learned what had happened from the disciple in charge. Looking at Song Qiqi, he asked gently, “Qiqi, don’t cry. Tell me, who exactly is that Shen Yuexi? Why is she targeting you like this?”
Song Qiqi knew she had to hold on to the man in front of her. Sniffling, she put on an expression as though she wanted to cry but was forcing herself to hold it back.
“Brother An, I shouldn’t have hidden this from you. Shen Yuexi is my fellow disciple. Ever since we were children, she has relied on her talent to take away all my cultivation resources. After hearing that Wuyang City’s Sect Grand Selection offered only one spot, she joined forces with others to lock me up. She even wanted to take my spiritual root so I could never threaten her again. But I was lucky. Not long after I disappeared, my fellow disciples found me, allowing me to escape and participate in the Sect Grand Selection. Now that she knows I’m all right, she definitely won’t let me go again.”
The more Zhou Ming’an listened, the more heartbroken he became. He was already filled with loathing for Shen Yuexi, and his anger rose even higher. He immediately promised, “Qiqi, don’t worry. With your talent, you can still enter Lingyun Sect as long as I ask my Master.”
“Really? Brother An, will this cause trouble for you?” Song Qiqi pretended to be considerate.
What a pitiful and kind girl, Zhou Ming’an thought. He comforted her, “With me here, I’ll definitely get you into Lingyun Sect!”
Just then, someone rushed in to report, “Senior Brother Zhou, someone has come looking for Miss Song. They said something happened at Jiuyang Sect.”
Song Qiqi’s face turned deathly pale. She gripped Zhou Ming’an’s hand tightly. “Senior Brother Zhou, help me!”
…
Before long, twelve hours had passed.
After this round, only half of the original one hundred disciples had obtained tokens.
The fifty new disciples were then brought to the Assembly Hall for the selection of Masters.
As soon as they entered the hall, they saw the Sect Master and the five Peak Masters seated at the front, while the new disciples stood in the middle of the hall.
Shen Yuexi vaguely sensed some movement. When she looked up, she saw Lu Aoshuang arrive beside her.
“How did it go? Were you injured?”
Lu Aoshuang shook her head, her sword in her arms. “I just happened to pick my token up off the ground.”
Even Shen Yuexi could only sigh. Good luck was a form of strength, too.
“The selection of Masters begins now.”
After the person in charge called out loudly, they began reading the names for the selection.
“I heard the Second Peak Peak Master is the strictest and most responsible. I rather like stricter people.” Lu Aoshuang then asked curiously, “Yuexi, have you decided which peak you want to join?”
Shen Yuexi glanced over the peaks and said with interest, “That old man from First Peak looks rather amusing. I want to go take a look.”
“Don’t be fooled by First Peak being listed first. It’s actually the weakest peak in Lingyun Sect. Why don’t you come with me to Second Peak…” Lu Aoshuang was halfway through trying to stop Shen Yuexi from making the wrong choice when she heard her own name.
“Lu Aoshuang, fifteen years old, five-element spiritual root.”
Lu Aoshuang had no choice but to stop listening and step forward to pay her respects. “Lu Aoshuang. I intend to join Second Peak.”
With her high talent and excellent spiritual root, she naturally entered Second Peak without a hitch, making the Second Peak Peak Master beam with delight.
Soon, everyone else had finished choosing, leaving only Shen Yuexi.
“Shen Yuexi, fifteen years old, non-elemental spiritual root.”
In an instant, the heated gazes of every disciple in the hall fell upon her, and all the Peak Masters looked her way as well.
Ning Xingzhi was even so nervous that he gripped the arm of his Master’s chair.
Shen Yuexi straightened her back and walked forward. Calmly, she said, “Shen Yuexi. I intend to join First Peak.”
Her words stirred up a tremendous commotion.
According to rumor, the First Peak Peak Master never considered talent or strength when accepting disciples, relying entirely on whether he took a liking to them. His way of teaching disciples was even more peculiar. Every disciple of First Peak neglected their proper duties: some raised flowers and plants, some were obsessed with calligraphy, and some worked as blacksmiths. In any case, they did everything except cultivate, which left them so weak that they dared not participate in the sect tournament year after year.
Several Peak Masters could no longer sit still.
The Peak Masters, who had been composed and self-possessed only moments before, actually began arguing.
The Second Peak Peak Master spoke with a stern expression. “Shen Yuexi, are you certain? Although you have a non-elemental spiritual root, you can at least cultivate, and you also possess a talent for beast taming. As long as you are properly nurtured, you still have hope of making a name for yourself. But if you go to First Peak, your future will probably be ruined. Don’t regret it!”
The implication was that any peak would be fine—but First Peak was absolutely out of the question.
“Even if you don’t choose Third Peak, any other peak will cultivate you properly. But choosing First Peak is indeed rather impulsive. Think it over again. Don’t destroy your future in a moment of rashness.” The Third Peak Peak Master advised her gently.
Ning Xingzhi and the First Peak Peak Master said nothing. They simply gazed straight at Shen Yuexi.
Shen Yuexi’s proud and unyielding bearing was fully revealed. Pressing her lips together, she said firmly, “Peak Masters, I have never regretted a decision I’ve made in my life.”
Ning Xingzhi had been the first person to believe in her and help her. Naturally, Shen Yuexi believed in him as well.
The new disciples all sighed inwardly. Everyone knew that her non-elemental spiritual root was a useless spiritual root. Even if she was fortunate enough to possess a talent for beast taming and could cultivate, she still had a chance to turn things around as long as she chose the right sect. Yet no one had expected her to choose First Peak—the weakest peak, with the most useless disciples who did nothing but lie around. Wasn’t that just making her situation even worse?
The various Peak Masters merely shook their heads in silence, their eyes filled with regret and pity.
At first, Lu Aoshuang had thought Shen Yuexi simply did not understand the situation. But when she saw Shen Yuexi’s determined expression, she instead felt that someone like her would have an unlimited future wherever she went. What was there to fear?
The First Peak Peak Master immediately broke into a delighted grin and ordered Ning Xingzhi, “Good, good, good! My good disciple, Xingzhi, hurry and give your Junior Sister her welcoming gift.”
“Junior Sister, this is Master’s welcoming gift to you.”
As he spoke, Ning Xingzhi stuffed a small wooden box into Shen Yuexi’s hands. He was extremely happy as well. His Junior Sister really was different from everyone else. She had an eye for talent, and he would certainly give her the very best things he had.
As a rule, every disciple who acknowledged a Master received an initiation gift, all of them carefully prepared by the Peak Masters and exquisitely crafted.
When everyone saw that Shen Yuexi had received only a small black wooden box, they tacitly shook their heads.
Sure enough, she had not possessed outstanding talent to begin with, and now she had ended up in such a useless sect without even receiving the attention of her own peak. She was truly going to become a complete waste.
All the disciples had chosen their Masters, and the announcing disciple called out loudly, “Initiation gifts…”
But an unfamiliar woman’s voice interrupted him.
“Shen Yuexi is a murderous fiend! Lingyun Sect absolutely must not accept her!”
Everyone followed the voice and, as expected, saw Song Qiqi walk in. Dressed entirely in white, with a healthy flush on her face, she looked the very picture of gentleness.
The Sect Master sat in the highest seat. He frowned at Song Qiqi. “What do you mean?”
Song Qiqi knelt properly on the ground and kowtowed to the Sect Master and the several Peak Masters one after another. Then she glared at Shen Yuexi with eyes full of hatred.
“I beg the Sect Master and the Peak Masters to investigate this matter thoroughly. My name is Song Qiqi, and Shen Yuexi is my fellow disciple. Some time ago, our sect selected its strongest disciple to participate in Lingyun Sect’s entrance selection. I was the victor, but Shen Yuexi held a grudge against me. While I was on my way to participate in the Sect Grand Selection, she actually killed five of my fellow disciples and my Father with her own hands! How can Lingyun Sect accept someone so vicious and ruthless, so disloyal, unfilial, unrighteous, and corrupt in character?”