After a brief silence, Ming Ran snapped out of it. She glared at Song Yao, her voice sharp and shrill. “They've been fighting for so long and were already exhausted! How could you sneak attack them?”
Her shout drew everyone's attention back to the platform.
Jiang Jin looked at Song Yao with disapproval. “Junior Sister Lin, what you did wasn't right. It was an unfair victory. If you really wanted to go to the demon realm, you could have just said so. There was no need to resort to violence.”
With two Heaven-grade disciples speaking up, others immediately nodded in agreement.
Song Yao nodded along as well.
Yes, yes, yes.
Spread the word exactly like that.
It wasn't because she was too strong, but because they were simply exhausted.
Seeing her nod, Ming Ran's expression grew even uglier.
Wait, what?
Is this girl provoking her again?
What on earth does she mean by that?!
“What's going on here?”
A cold, listless voice interrupted the one-sided tension.
Zhu Zhao walked out from behind the Fuguang Platform, her gaze sweeping over the disheveled disciples on the stage.
The cultivator in charge of the spar quickly jogged over and explained in a hushed voice what had just happened.
After listening, Zhu Zhao glanced at Song Yao.
The young girl stood there cradling her sword in her plain white clothes, quiet and serene. Just like her alias, Lin Mu, she resembled a quiet, unassuming piece of wood.
Zhu Zhao couldn't be bothered with their messy squabbles and said decisively, “Get up there and fight another round.”
The faces of the disciples who had been swept off the stage instantly paled.
Others might have claimed they fell because they were exhausted and caught off guard, but they themselves knew just how fierce that sword qi had been.
Even at their peak, they might not have been able to block it.
Fight again?
Wouldn't that be looking for trouble?
It was better to take the easy way out right now.
Almost in unison, the disciples scrambled to their feet and waved their hands frantically. “No more, no more.”
“Let Junior Sister Lin go. We won't participate.”
“Yes, yes, we should give the opportunity to the new disciples.”
Ming Ran didn't even have time to stop them. She could only watch helplessly as they limped away.
The cultivator sneaked a glance at Zhu Zhao. Seeing that she had no objections, he made a note in his register and nodded to Song Yao. “You've passed.”
Song Yao acknowledged him and walked over to stand beside the other selected disciples.
Jiang Jin looked at her, a smile playing on his lips once more as if nothing had happened. He asked casually, “Junior Sister Lin, you haven't attended any classes. How is your grip on the sword so steady? Did the Seventh Elder teach you?”
Song Yao silently shifted a few steps away from him.
What was up with this typical OP protagonist? Why was he always trying to probe her, whether intentionally or not?
She gave a cold, indifferent nod.
Jiang Jin pressed further, “But I recall the Seventh Elder isn't very skilled with the sword. Since you're close to Second Senior Sister and the others, did she teach you?”
Song Yao: “...”
Here we go again.
Losing her patience, she raised her eyelids slightly. “If you won't believe me anyway, why the hell are you asking?”
Jiang Jin: “...?”
Something felt off.
It was as if Junior Sister Lin's sword had just spoken.
He snapped out of it. The girl before him had already returned to her cold, quiet demeanor, as if it had all been a mere illusion.
Zhu Zhao's voice pulled everyone back from their wandering thoughts. “The stationed disciples have already verified that the demon realm we are heading to is only a Grade Two secret realm. It isn't particularly dangerous, which is why we are taking you new disciples who can't even hold your swords properly for some experience. But don't think you can let your guard down just because it's low-grade.”
“Two years ago, a few idiots who couldn't even defeat minor spirits got so distracted staring at some worthless stones in a demon realm that they almost died inside!”
She paused, her voice growing even harsher. “There is only one objective for this trip: capture the demons and rescue the villagers. If anyone delays our progress, they will be left behind in the demon realm to feed the monsters. The sect will not waste a single bit of effort on a coward who fears death.”
“If anyone is scared now, you may back out.”
The six or seven young disciples hung their heads under her scolding, but their eyes shone with unconcealed excitement.
As sword cultivators and spiritual cultivators, they naturally took it upon themselves to save the common people.
Most importantly, Second Senior Sister was leading the team herself.
Second Senior Sister usually didn't even spare them a glance. If they performed well and made a contribution in the demon realm, she might finally look at them with some respect.
“Go back and make your preparations. We set off in one hour.”
“Anyone who is late can pack their bags and get the hell out of the Nine Saints Hall.”
Song Yao's eyes suddenly lit up. She raised her head and met Zhu Zhao's gaze.
Zhu Zhao: “...Except for those who owe money.”
...
Upon hearing the news, the Seventh Elder's hand trembled, causing his cauldron to explode and blow a massive hole in the second floor of the Elixir Pavilion.
Tears streaming down his face, he looked at his newly bought, outrageously expensive cauldron, and then at Song Yao, who was carrying a small pack and preparing to depart. He asked in disbelief, “Why are you suddenly going out to hunt demons? You haven't even attended a single class yet. Is there some mistake?”
Song Yao hoisted her pack a bit higher. “There's no mistake. Don't worry, Master.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Did someone threaten you?”
The Seventh Elder grabbed her pack, deeply worried. “You're a pill cultivator! How can you possibly hold a sword steady? I'll go talk to Zhu Zhao and have them let you off the hook.”
Song Yao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. “I really want to go myself.”
“You haven't learned any spells or mental cultivation formulas, and your soul is still incomplete. How can you go to a demon realm? No, absolutely not, it's too dangerous.”
The more the Seventh Elder spoke, the more panicked he became. “For us pill cultivators, entering a demon realm is nothing short of suicide!”
He Yu poked his head out from the gaping hole on the second floor, his face covered in soot. He helped persuade him, “Master, it's fine. Junior Sister won her spot by defeating those other disciples. Besides, it's only a Grade Two demon realm. It's not dangerous.”
The Seventh Elder whipped around to glare at him. “What do you know? A Grade Two demon realm is still a demon realm!”
After scolding He Yu, he turned back to coax Song Yao. “How about I ask the Second Elder to teach you some swordplay, and we go next time?”
Song Yao found it somewhat endearing and smiled, her eyes curving like crescents. “Don't worry, Master. It'll be fine.”
The girl's eyes were so bright and clear that it was impossible to refuse her.
The Seventh Elder's grip loosened. He shook his head after a long silence. “Sigh, fine, fine. You kids are so stubborn. Wait here for a moment.”
With that, he hurried back into the Elixir Pavilion and emerged with several porcelain vials. “This is for stopping bleeding, this is for neutralizing poison, this is for concealing your presence, and this one can temporarily boost your spiritual energy... Take them all.”
Song Yao stuffed them all into her small pack.
The Seventh Elder went inside once more and slipped a few pastries into her bag. “Don't go hungry. Come back early, and Master will make dumplings for you.”
...
Everyone else had a spatial pouch, so when Song Yao showed up carrying a bulging cloth pack, it drew a few snickers.
Cheng Yue walked over to her side and offered kindly, “Would you like to put your things in my spatial pouch first?”
“It's fine.”
Song Yao secured her sword behind her waist. “It's not heavy.”
Before she could finish her sentence, a hand reached over and unceremoniously snatched the pack off her back, tossing it into a spatial pouch.
Zhu Zhao said coldly, “Bringing so many pills and food—are you here for a spring outing? If pills of this grade attract demons, no one will be able to save you. I'll keep them for you.”
Rate on N.U.
