The setting sun bathed the martial arena in golden light, bringing the sect’s grand examination to its long-awaited conclusion. The stone tiles, smooth and intact just yesterday, were now covered in sword scars and lightning patterns.
The disciples gathered in groups of three and five, helping one another along, fear still lingering on their faces.
Those who had failed on the Path of Inquiry sat dejectedly beside the ruins. As they watched their fellow disciples receive their opportunities, bitterness filled their eyes.
Ji Zhaoxi had also received an opportunity from the Sect Master: a Swordheart Stone. The Second Elder had said that it would allow her to wield the sword several times faster than others in the future.
Her sword had been taken away as well. They said it would be reforged with starfall iron.
She had no idea what starfall iron was, but it was definitely something good.
“Miss Ji, a sword forged from starfall iron is a joy to use. You’ll understand once you try it,” the Second Elder said excitedly.
Back when he was still thin, he had been able to swing a sword, and he had looked quite dashing doing it.
Ji Zhaoxi happily tucked the heavy Swordheart Stone into her arms. Today, she had certainly brought honor to the Ji family. Without thinking, she turned around and started toward the steps leading down from the platform.
She turned too quickly, stumbled, and crashed straight into a familiar embrace.
“Ow…”
The tip of Ji Zhaoxi’s nose struck a hard chest, bringing tears to her eyes.
The moment he was hit, the other person stiffened. Then, a pair of strong hands caught her securely.
Ji Zhaoxi looked up and found herself meeting Wen Shubai’s eyes. They were still slightly red, but completely veiled in tenderness.
The two of them were extremely close—close enough for her to see his faintly trembling eyelashes.
“Junior Sister…”
Wen Shubai lowered his head. His breath brushed over the crown of her head, and his voice was still slightly hoarse as he gently reminded her, “The way down… is over there.”
Ji Zhaoxi’s mind short-circuited. Her face reddened visibly, and she stammered, “I didn’t do it on purpose. You were blocking my way.”
Before Wen Shubai could reply, she turned and tried to leave. She had barely taken a step when she felt something tugging at her.
She turned back in confusion and lowered her gaze.
Wen Shubai’s hand was clamped tightly around her wrist.
Wen Shubai was stunned as well. Had his junior sister been looking at him because she wanted to say something?
Following her gaze, he saw their joined hands. He did not know whether he had yet to come back to his senses or simply could not bear to let go. His hand remained around hers.
A flash of panic crossed Wen Shubai’s face. As if he had been burned, he released her abruptly. His hand froze in midair for a moment before he awkwardly lowered it.
“I’m sorry, Junior Sister. I… haven’t fully recovered my senses.”
The excuse was painfully unconvincing. He did not dare look at her.
“It’s all right.”
Ji Zhaoxi answered softly, then ran off with the Swordheart Stone clutched in her arms.
Wen Shubai remained where he was. The hand that had held hers slowly curled inside his sleeve, the warm touch of her skin still lingering on his fingertips.
The other elders had already left, but the Second Elder was still there. Wen Shubai had to wait for the workers from Drunken Immortal Tower to arrive at the rear mountain. He needed to collect the food containers before returning to the courtyard.
That was why he had witnessed the entire scene.
The Second Elder remained silent for a long while. Everyone said that Shubai was the one most likely to ascend, but why did he always feel that Shubai would never make it?
Liu Fuyin walked calmly along the road, ignoring the two butcher-like idiots beside her.
“Liu Fuyin, now you know how impressive I am, right? I was the first one out of the illusion. There’s nothing I’m afraid of!” Ji Zhaoxi said smugly.
Liuli nodded enthusiastically. “Our Miss was number one!”
She quickly scribbled in her notebook:
【Many disciples of the Skyus Sect are secretly keeping an eye on Immortal Ji. The one watching her most intensely is Liu Fuyin!】
Liu Fuyin snorted.
Ji Zhaoxi imitated her and snorted as well. “You used to love provoking me, didn’t you? Go on, provoke me now.”
“You always seemed so indifferent, as though nothing mattered to you. Who would have thought you had something you were afraid of?”
Liu Fuyin quickened her pace. Ji Zhaoxi hurriedly grabbed Liuli, who was still writing, and followed after her.
“Liu Fuyin, what did you dream about in the illusion? I saw how tightly your brows were furrowed. Don’t tell me it was…”
Ji Zhaoxi paused meaningfully.
“You dreamed about me, didn’t you?”
Liu Fuyin’s body instantly went rigid, but Ji Zhaoxi was so absorbed in her own imagination that she failed to notice anything strange about her.
“I’m so powerful that I must put a lot of pressure on you. You definitely dreamed about me, because I’m the person you fear most.” Ji Zhaoxi deliberately provoked her.
The more Liuli listened, the more convinced she became. “Miss, I think Liu Fuyin must have dreamed about you too. Seeing how powerful you are, she probably can’t sleep at night.”
She continued writing in her notebook.
【Many disciples of the Skyus Sect are secretly keeping an eye on Immortal Ji. The one watching her most intensely is Liu Fuyin!】
Liu Fuyin had thought that Ji Zhaoxi and Liuli had actually discovered something. Now she realized that they were simply idiots.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and she could not be bothered to answer them.
But the fact that Ji Zhaoxi had appeared in her illusion made her extremely unhappy…
The illusion was supposed to reveal the thing a person feared most. At this point, Liu Fuyin felt that something must have gone wrong.
There was no way she could possibly fear an idiot who had burst into tears the first time she saw a silkworm as a child.
As soon as Ji Zhaoxi returned to the courtyard, she began fiddling with her Swordheart Stone.
Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate.
She quickly covered the Swordheart Stone with a blanket before hurrying over to open the door.
The moment the door opened, she saw a crane with its head held high. It was the same crane that had chased her earlier.
Two exquisite boxes sat on the ground. Ji Zhaoxi recognized them at once: the Nine-Turn Resurrection Pill that the Sect Master had given to Senior Brother, and the token for the Cleansing Marrow Pool.
“Did Senior Brother send these?”
Ji Zhaoxi stared at the crane.
The crane stared back.
…
Was she expecting it to answer?
“Gaa—koo—”
The crane cried out once, then flew away.
Ji Zhaoxi stared silently at its retreating figure.
She had no idea what it meant.
Because Ji Zhaoxi had stolen the spotlight today, many disciples of the Skyus Sect were harshly reprimanded.
“A newly admitted disciple is more capable than you. You might as well stop cultivating and spend every day carrying water!”
“Even a disciple without a master can do it. Why can’t you? Have you been slacking off in your training?!”
The one who was scolded most severely was Gu Wuyou.
He had joined several months before her and had once been stronger than her as well. But now, the gap between their cultivation levels was enormous, and his master was furious.
“Just look at Ji Zhaoxi!”
He had grown accustomed to being scolded. Whenever his master berated him, he put on an expression of profound anguish.
Inside, however, his heart was perfectly calm.
Not getting injured today was already the best news.
Besides, he had taken the opportunity to attack Ji Zhaoxi, even though she had dodged it.
