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Ling Luo had been in the pharmacy all day, and after nightfall, the senior sister from the pharmacy allowed the two of them to return.
As soon as she exited the pharmacy’s main door, she saw Qin Yuan waiting outside.
“Ling Luo!” Qin Yuan waved at her. “Are you okay?”
Ling Luo shook her head.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yue Liangze walking past them without saying a word.
Ling Luo couldn’t help but press her fingers to her temples.
She had never known what kind of temperament 16-year-old Yue Liangze had, but now she had experienced it firsthand.
He was even quieter than he was when he grew older. If no one asked him anything, he could blend into the surroundings, becoming more easily ignored than air itself.
Air might still be noticed due to changes in its scent, but dust would not.
“Yue Senior Brother…” Qin Yuan peeked at Yue Liangze’s retreating figure and whispered to her, “Yue Senior Brother is okay, right?”
He’s fine!
Ling Luo continued to shake her head.
“You were forbidden from eating today, so I saved some food for you,” Qin Yuan said, handing her a food box. “You can eat it tomorrow when you’re hungry in the pharmacy.”
Ling Luo took the box and said, “Thank you.”
The two of them walked toward the dormitory at the foot of the mountain.
Qin Yuan chatted with her about how the martial arts test went, then suddenly became downcast, saying, “You’re punished with seven days of fasting, so you can’t participate in the martial arts test. What should we do?”
Ling Luo was looking at the colorful glutinous rice cakes in the food box, which also had a faint floral fragrance.
She answered distractedly, “I’ve already qualified through the written test.”
“That’s true, but I saw that your swordsmanship was better than anyone else’s today. It’s such a pity you won’t participate,” Qin Yuan said. “If you did well in both the written and martial arts tests, you might even be chosen by a hall master to be a direct disciple. That would be so much more glorious than being just an inner sect disciple.”
Her words reminded Ling Luo.
In her previous life, she had achieved full marks in both the written and martial arts tests, drawing attention from all sides and becoming a direct disciple of the third hall master. It was with the protection of her backing that she wasn’t taken away when the Xiaoyao Sect came knocking.
This time, however, she couldn’t participate in the martial arts test, and although she would surely enter the inner sect, the distinction between an ordinary disciple and a direct disciple was significant.
If she wasn’t the third hall master’s direct disciple—
She would definitely be handed over to the grand hall master, and her fate would be uncertain.
Ling Luo pinched a piece of the glutinous rice cake between her fingers, chewing it slowly, her tone muffled, “I’ll handle it. You…”
But Qin Yuan was staring at her with wide eyes in shock. “You—you—you—”
Ling Luo blinked at her, confused.
“I didn’t see anything!” Qin Yuan quickly covered her eyes and turned away. “Hurry and eat!”
Ling Luo smiled lightly.
She had come back to life, and she no longer cared about the rules of the Discipline Hall or the strict regulations of the Eastern Island Heavenly Extremes Sect.
But Qin Yuan was different.
When they said fasting was forbidden, it meant no food, not even a sip of water.
Ling Luo only ate one piece, fearing that if she ate more in front of Qin Yuan, she would break down.
After putting away the food box, she said, “Don’t worry about me. Do your best in the coming days. Good luck.”
Qin Yuan peered through her fingers, and when she saw Ling Luo wasn’t eating anymore, she lowered her hands and nodded. “Mm! I’ll definitely go to the inner sect with you!”
Ling Luo didn’t understand why Qin Yuan liked her so much. She had invited her to join many times, and each time she had rejected her, but Qin Yuan wasn’t discouraged. She always smiled and greeted her whenever they met.
It was obvious that Qin Yuan wanted to be her friend, but Ling Luo really couldn’t figure out what attracted her to her.
What was so good about her?
She was solitary, quirky, with a temperament that shifted unpredictably, and a strong inclination toward violence.
However, Ling Luo’s self-evaluation was that she had already become one of the Twenty-Six Devils.
To Qin Yuan, though, Ling Luo was just a quiet, introverted, yet gentle 16-year-old girl.
Especially after seeing her slice through everyone with a sword during the day, Qin Yuan liked her even more. She thought Ling Luo was righteous, kind, brave, and strong.
Clearly, this girl’s ability to judge people was really poor.
The martial arts test only had three days left.
Ling Luo had to work in the pharmacy for seven days, so not only could she not participate in the test, but she would also join the inner sect later than the others.
Yue Liangze didn’t seem to care at all.
He really didn’t care whether he joined the inner sect or not. He hadn’t even taken the test last year, and this year, he only participated to target Xiu Man and Hong Mao.
Yue Liangze was confident that Xiu Man would definitely fail the martial arts test, so he was only there to disrupt the process. He hadn’t expected Ling Luo to interfere, which caused Xiu Man to be punished, and now there was no hope for him to enter the inner sect.
The last day of the martial arts test.
Ling Luo put the medicine box on the wooden rack, then raised her hand to tie up her hair as she said to Yue Liangze, “Hey, I’m going out today. You handle the work yourself, and don’t tell the senior sister.”
Yue Liangze didn’t even look back, responding with a simple “Mm.”
He didn’t care at all where she was going or why she was leaving him with all the work today.
Ling Luo wasn’t surprised by his reaction at all.
Apart from the first day, when they had a brief conversation due to her allergy, the rest of the days had been spent doing their own things. No one initiated a conversation. If there was any interaction, it was Ling Luo giving orders for Yue Liangze to move things or fetch items. He did whatever she said, and after finishing, they would each return to their respective places.
When Ling Luo left, Yue Liangze didn’t even glance at her. He quietly sorted the herbs and did the work for both of them.
He was quite obedient.
At the Martial Arts Hall, the arena.
The martial arts test was held in batches, with outer sect disciples facing inner sect disciples. Both sides used the basic techniques of the Eastern Island Heavenly Extremes Sect.
Whether it was swordsmanship, talismans, or incantations, as long as it was the Heavenly Extremes Sect’s technique, it was fine.
Today was the last day, and the focus was mainly on swordsmanship.
Hall Master Fan was overseeing the test, and two inner sect disciples were sent out:
Though there were three hall masters in the Heavenly Extremes Sect, the Mu family controlled the entire sect, while the other two hall masters were responsible for managing their respective sects.
On the arena, a girl in a platinum-colored sect uniform stood with a sword on her back. Her eyebrows were slender, and her apricot eyes were delicate.
She swept her gaze over the crowd below, her eyes subtly raised, carrying an air of arrogance and disdain.
The people below didn’t even dare to look her directly in the eyes, as her pride and sharpness silently suppressed them.
“Next,” Mu Ya said in a calm voice.
Ling Luo was quite far from the Third Examination Hall, but she used the forbidden Coexistence Spirit spell to occupy the eyes of the Sacred Spirit Birds near the hall. She forced them to fly to the martial arts arena to observe the martial test.
On the eaves of the arena, two or three brightly colored Sacred Spirit Birds were perched. Their bodies were small, but they had long deep blue tails—females with straight tails and males with tails curving into a circle at the end.
These birds only lived in the Eastern Island Heavenly Extremes Sect’s mountain gate and were considered one of its symbols. They usually lived freely in the mountains, and there were disciples who specifically fed them.
At this moment, the vision of these three Sacred Spirit Birds was controlled by Ling Luo, forcing them to look towards the martial arts arena and the people below.
The Coexistence Spirit spell was one of the forbidden magic arts of the immortal sects. It belonged to the curse magic category.
By forcing the occupation of another’s five senses, this spell could be used not only on animals but also on living people. If the possessed person resisted with their self-awareness, they might permanently lose one of their senses or even be killed by the backlash of spiritual energy.
Because of this, it was banned by the immortal sects, and the remaining fragments of its records were destroyed by the twelve great sects five hundred years ago. It should not have existed in the world.
Ling Luo knew this spell because her master, the Third Hall Master of the Eastern Island Heavenly Extremes Sect, had taught her.
Through the Sacred Spirit Birds, Ling Luo saw Mu Ya, who had just knocked another disciple off the stage with a sword.
She stood gracefully on the platform, gazing down at the crowd, and then said, “Next.”
On the viewing platform, Yu Xiu looked a little helpless.
Mu Ya had already eliminated thirty-two people.
She was highly talented, and only the eldest senior brother could surpass her in swordsmanship.
She was usually very proud of herself and, aside from the eldest senior brother and the sect master, no one could control her.
In this martial test, she had been too ruthless.
At this rate, it seemed no one would be able to win a rank against her.
Yu Xiu turned to look at Hall Master Fan and whispered, “Hall Master, should we take her down?”
Hall Master Fan responded slowly, “Let her continue.”
According to the rules, at least one person had to last five moves against Mu Ya before she could be replaced.
Yu Xiu knew that as long as the rule wasn’t broken, Hall Master Fan wouldn’t change anyone.
He looked back at the outer sect disciples below the stage and sighed internally.
They were unlucky to face Mu Ya this year.
Ling Luo observed thoughtfully.
Just like in her previous life, Mu Ya was dominating the arena, ruthlessly defeating the outer sect disciples.
The momentum of the outer sect disciples had been broken repeatedly. By the time the next disciple stepped up to face Mu Ya, they were trembling.
This behavior only deepened Mu Ya’s disdain and contempt.
It wasn’t until Ling Luo’s turn that things changed.
With the sudden explosion of spiritual energy in her body, she defeated Mu Ya with one move, pushing her to the edge of the arena, her foot stepping outside.
After a brief moment of silence, the entire arena erupted in cheers.
The outer sect disciples who had been tortured by Mu Ya earlier were finally relieved, but Mu Ya, from that moment on, harbored a deep grudge against Ling Luo.
There was much history between the two, but Ling Luo didn’t dwell on it, as she noticed that the next person stepping onto the stage was Qin Yuan.
Unlike the previous disciple who was trembling with their sword, Qin Yuan held her sword steadily. She remained calm and seemed very serious.
“Tianyun Sect outer disciple Qin Yuan, please, Senior Sister, guide me,” Qin Yuan said.
Mu Ya raised an eyebrow, glanced up and down at Qin Yuan, then casually responded, “Don’t waste words, I’ll let you have half a move.”
Qin Yuan was understandably angry, but she couldn’t lose her composure or strategy. The more upset she was, the calmer she had to be in her approach.
However, as soon as she made her move, everyone could tell she was destined to lose.
Mu Ya wasn’t one to go back on her word.
After allowing Qin Yuan half a move, she slashed her sword horizontally, unleashing a sharp sword wind.
Qin Yuan was forced to retreat rapidly due to the wind, causing her to lose her form. In that moment, Mu Ya’s sword cut through the tear drop earring hanging by her ear.
The jade-green earring fell to the ground, shattered in two pieces when it hit the floor, having just been grazed by the sword wind.
Qin Yuan’s nose tingled, and her eyes filled with tears.
The match was already decided. Mu Ya didn’t even glance at her properly, merely giving her a side glance and coldly muttering, “Useless.”
“Next.”
Qin Yuan clenched her fists tightly, took a deep breath to hold back her tears, bent down to pick up the broken earring, and muttered, “Thank you, Senior Sister, for the guidance.”
Only then did she leave the stage.
Yu Xiu began to feel a headache coming on.
Fifty or more disciples had already been humiliated and eliminated by Mu Ya.
This year, without Ling Luo, no one was able to last five moves against Mu Ya. According to the rules, Hall Master Fan couldn’t replace her, and in the end, Mu Ya withdrew herself, allowing Yu Xiu to take over.
Ling Luo watched the rest of the martial test unfold.
Unlike her previous life, where she had stepped in to strike back at Mu Ya, this time Mu Ya had bloodily eliminated dozens of people.
Because no one had defeated Mu Ya with a single move this time, it didn’t attract the other hall masters or the Third Hall Master to attend.
Ling Luo released the Coexistence Spirit spell and began to think of another way to contact the Third Hall Master.