Chapter 48: Familiar Face, Escorting Them into the Inner Sect

When the disciples heard this and turned to look, wasn’t that the brawny body cultivator who had been bawling miserably, kicked out of the fifteenth spot, yelling “damn it” every other word?

Word was, this guy used to be called Li Dazhuang, but after entering the sect and getting mocked for his rustic name, he changed it to Li Taihang.

Well, he truly was “Taihang”—the guy even dared to question the elder overseeing the assessment!

But everyone quickly realized what Li Dazhuang wanted to ask.

Tianjizi stroked his beard, having already seen through it all. “I know what you wish to ask. The results of the seventh-ranked disciple have been voided. The rankings for those below naturally move up one spot.”

“The disciple originally ranked sixteenth is now moved up to fifteenth, filling the vacant spot, and is also qualified to enter the inner sect.”

As soon as he spoke, Su Ruoxi’s name disappeared from the Flowing Light Tablet. The names below advanced one rank, and the fifteenth place now showed a new name—Li Taihang.

“See that? You see that? That’s my name up there!”

“I won! My fifteenth place is back! I’m also an inner sect disciple now!”

“It’s been three years! I’m finally in the inner sect!”

“Hahaha, I’m finally an inner sect disciple too!”

“……”

Li Taihang was so excited he repeated “inner sect disciple” over and over again. His heart had died and come back to life—who wouldn’t be that emotional?

Tianjizi spoke up, “Alright, disperse. Disciples who did not pass the assessment may register again in three months. Victors of the assessment, gather at the mountain gate at You hour; someone will escort you into the inner sect.”

“And let this serve as a reminder to all participants—by sect rules, the contents of the assessment trial are not to be disclosed or discussed. Disciples, keep this in mind.”

“Yes, Elder!”

All the disciples responded. Who would dare mention it? No one would even discuss it.

The reason was simple—during the assessment, everyone had been ruthless in their fighting. When it came to snatching identity tokens, grudges were made all over the place.

If not for the fact that no one knew each other’s true identities in the secret realm, there would’ve been blood feuds already.

If you let slip a word and revealed who you were in there, it definitely wouldn’t be fun.

After respectfully seeing off the sect leader and elders, the disciples gradually left the assessment hall.

Ye Qingning had originally planned to leave with Bai Wei, but it was obvious that Bai Wei and that scumbag Qin had things to say to each other.

Being a perceptive person, she of course wouldn’t interfere.

Just as she was about to exit the hall, she was suddenly called out by Yun Mengyao.

“Congratulations, Sister Ye, on winning the assessment and entering the inner sect. I truly envy you for obtaining the secret treasure and taking first place. From now on, I must call you Senior Sister.”

“Sister Yun, you flatter me. It’s a shame—I thought we’d both enter the inner sect together. But with your talents, I’m sure it won’t be long before you make it in.”

Ye Qingning had honed her acting skills in the secret realm.

She also knew Yun Mengyao had been in contact with Ye Hanyue. Her entry into the inner sect would no doubt be known to Ye Hanyue by nightfall, and from there, to the entire Ye family.

Who knows how many people would be mentally crushed once again.

“Then I’ll borrow your good wishes,” Yun Mengyao said with a radiant smile, but her heart was boiling with jealousy.

If someone hadn’t sabotaged her in the shadows, how could she have failed?

Before the assessment, Ye Hanyue had even sent her a voice transmission, confidently saying that Ye Qingning’s heart meridians were incurable—that she had just gotten lucky making it to Foundation Establishment.

She claimed that with Ye Qingning’s condition, there was nothing to fear, let alone worry about her passing the assessment and entering the inner sect.

It seemed Ye Hanyue knew nothing about Ye Qingning. And she herself had underestimated her.

But so what if Ye Qingning entered the inner sect first? Elder Qiu had taken a liking to her and intended to accept her as a disciple. Once she entered the inner sect, she’d become a personal disciple under an elder.

By then, Ye Qingning, just another inner sect disciple, would be nothing in front of a personal disciple. She’d have to bow her head in greeting!

Lin Yue’er, standing beside her, was grinding her teeth in frustration. She couldn’t understand why Yun Mengyao was being so cordial with that dying imposter!

She also suspected that on the day of the underground rift, it had been Ye Qingning—hidden—invisibly snatching the secret treasure that was just within her grasp!

What a fake heiress with defective heart meridians! Lin Yue’er would remember this! Just you wait!

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As the You hour (5–7 p.m.) approached, the golden sunset bathed the sky in brilliant hues like molten gold.

Distant mountains loomed like indigo ink paintings. The evening sun made them look even more lush and majestic. A gentle breeze swept by, carrying the fragrant scent of flowers and grass—it was refreshing and calming.

The so-called “mountain gate” wasn’t the entrance to the sect itself, but a natural barrier between the outer and inner sects. Over time, it had simply come to be known as the “mountain gate.”

To enter the inner sect from the outer one, one had to pass through this mountain gate.

Rumor had it that a reclusive elder lived atop a steep peak by the gate. He was said to be eccentric and disliked socializing, preferring solitude. Somehow, Elder Pei Yin had convinced him to take up this position and guard the gate.

If an inner sect disciple tried to force their way through without a waist token, the consequences were unthinkable.

There was even a tale of a disciple who had neither token, jade slip, nor sound-transmission talisman. He ended up waiting at the mountain gate for days until he finally ran into a passing senior who let him through.

That was why Tianjizi had said someone would escort them—it was impossible to get in without the waist token or an inner sect guide.

When Ye Qingning arrived, there were already more than a dozen disciples waiting.

Some chatted in pairs or small groups. Excitement and anticipation were evident on every face.

Ye Qingning and Bai Wei were late because Bai Wei had just broken up with scumbag Qin—and she was the one who initiated it.

Bai Wei had sobbed while telling her about it. Qin had smashed their love tokens in anger and warned her not to come crawling back crying with regret.

Ye Qingning just didn’t understand how Qin Changsheng could be so full of himself. Every senior in the inner sect was better than that loser!

Look—just take a glance at the few seniors walking toward them now! Their posture, their aura, their faces…

The closer they got, the more familiar they seemed.

“They’re here! They’re here!”

Suddenly, a female disciple shouted excitedly.

As the group approached, another screamed, “Do you see them?! I told you my source wasn’t lying! Manager Qin couldn’t make it, so Senior Brother Shen is personally here to escort us!”

Ye Qingning had already seen their faces clearly.

The leader wore a moon-white robe. With sword-like brows and starry eyes, his handsome face and sharp, blade-like aura made it hard to look directly at him.

Who else could it be but Shen Xuanli?

No wonder he looked familiar earlier. Ye Qingning’s hand was already being tightly squeezed by Bai Wei.

“Ningning, look! It’s Shen Xuanli! He’s the one escorting us into the inner sect!”

Ye Qingning could only shake her head. Just moments ago, this same girl had been crying over her dead love life. Now, seeing Shen Xuanli, she had completely forgotten it all.

Sure enough, when heartbroken women look at beautiful men, it really does help them heal. A handsome face can do wonders for a broken heart.