Chapter 16: Advancement (2)

Posted byYours TrulyOctober 1, 2023Posted inZanxing

The trial came to an end.

Meanwhile, cultivators on the mountain, each carrying a bamboo basket filled with flowers, simultaneously flew towards the disciples of the Taiyan Sect on the Immortal Viewing Platform.

From the outset, the names of all the cultivators had been engraved on the bamboo baskets using their elemental powers, ensuring there was no need to worry about mistakenly taking the wrong one.

Shortly after, the mushroom mountain rapidly diminished in size, and the cultivators who were still on the mountain had yet to react when their feet were already touching solid ground.

As Zanxing stepped onto the ground, she collided with a punch from Wang Shao, accompanied by the latter’s furious shout, “You scoundrel!”

However, this punch did not connect with Zanxing’s body. One of the sect disciples standing on the Immortal Viewing Platform waved his sleeve, and Wang Shao fell to the ground. The sect disciple cast a glance in this direction and calmly stated, “No brawling or causing disturbances in the trial grounds.”

This rule seemed quite reasonable. Wang Shao dared not speak out in anger and was assisted to his feet by Xiangrao, all the while glaring menacingly at Zanxing. Yet Zanxing remained unfazed.

On the Immortal Viewing Platform, Ziluo smiled and declared, “The results will be announced in fifteen minutes.”

The cultivators below the platform once again became animated. Whether they knew each other or not, they were asking those around them, “How many flowers did you manage to pluck?”

“Not too many, just about sixteen flowers.”

“So many? It looks like our fellow cultivator will surely enter the sect.”

“You’re too kind. I just picked a few casually. What about you, brother?”

“Oh, I’m ashamed, only eighteen flowers.”

“…”

It was like a large-scale answer-sharing session after an exam.

For those who remained on the mountain and successfully picked the flowers, hope still clung to them. As for the cultivators who fell or had their flowers taken away midway, they wore disheartened expressions and didn’t wait for the results. They left on their own.

Announcing the results of the exam always brought a mix of joy and sorrow. Hongsu stood outside the Elemental Gate, waving to Zanxing from a distance. She and Old Niu looked like parents welcoming their child back home after an exam, a mixture of nostalgia and amusement.

Zanxing also spotted a familiar face, Mu Cengxiao. The young man stood alone, not having many friends around, with only Liu Yunxin waiting for him outside. Zanxing asked, “How many flowers did you manage to pick?”

Mu Cengxiao furrowed his brows and said, “It’s none of your business.”

Such a cold and aloof male lead, Zanxing didn’t bother continuing the conversation with him.

After some time had passed, the sect disciples on the Immortal Viewing Platform gradually ceased their actions. Ziluo smiled faintly, approached, and said, “Now, we will begin announcing the results.”

She extended her slender jade-like finger and casually tapped. Instantly, beneath the Immortal Viewing Platform, a layer of ripples appeared, as if a transparent mirror had suddenly materialized in the air. Countless golden lights then flew towards the mirror, solidifying into shining names. From top to bottom, a total of 120 names.

“You can search for your names on the water mirror. Those whose names appear will henceforth be disciples of our Taiyan Sect.”

In an instant, the cultivators rushed forward, eagerly searching for their names on the water mirror. Some who couldn’t read asked, “Could someone kindly check for me? I can’t read. My name is Tian Datou. Please see if my name is there!”

It was reminiscent of the moment when high school students checked their exam results.

Zanxing also intended to have a look. However, she had taken only one step when someone grabbed her arm.

Turning around, she was surprised to see that it was Wang Shao.

Wang Shao’s gaze bore into her as if she were his mortal enemy. He said, “Do you really think you’ll make it onto the list?”

“Why not?” Zanxing countered.

“Don’t joke with me!” Wang Shao bellowed angrily, “You’re nothing but a waste who barely reached the first level  of Qi Refining by relying on my spirit stones and elixirs! Even if you manage to refine that demon pill and sneak into the selection, there’s no way you can enter the Taiyan Sect. Let me tell you, Yang Zanxing,” his gaze seemed somewhat manic, as if he were trying to convince Zanxing or perhaps himself, “you’ve ruined my chances of entering the sect. When I return to Yue City, I will make your entire Yang family pay a painful price for your actions today. You’ll regret everything you’ve done!”

As Zanxing looked at the frenzied Wang Shao before her, she felt a subtle sense of deja vu. In the original story, Wang Shao had said these words to Mu Cengxiao. Yet now, he was saying them to her, and the plot seemed to be following the same course, albeit with a different character at the center. In that case, had she truly altered the plot, no?

Collecting her thoughts, Zanxing gazed at Wang Shao and said, “I’ve heard that in a hundred years, no one from Yue City has become a sect disciple. Once a sect genius appears, the entire city dedicates its resources and efforts to nurture and protect them.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“The reason you enjoyed such prominence in Yue City isn’t just because you’re the lord’s son, but also because you were the first genius to reach the Foundation Establishment stage before the age of eighteen,” Zanxing’s voice remained calm. “So, the people of Yue City had high hopes for you. Now that you’ve been rejected, if I were to enter the sect, Yue City would take pride in me. Your retaliation might not be so straightforward.”

“Speaking so confidently. Do you think just because I might not get in, you can?” Wang Shao retorted.

Zanxing remained silent, pushing aside the gradually dispersing cultivators in front of her and gazing up at the floating golden characters.

Li Er, eleven flowers… Duan Xiangrao, twelve flowers… Zhao Liu, seventeen flowers… Mu Cengxiao, twenty-three flowers…

Zanxing maintained her composure, her gaze continuing upwards, and Wang Shao, unwilling to admit defeat, squeezed in beside her, looking up as well.

…Yang Zanxing, twenty-one flowers, ranked sixty-eight.

“It’s impossible… It can’t be…” Wang Shao was struck dumb as if by lightning, his lips trembling.

Zanxing turned to him and said, “Now, do you still want my Yang family to pay the price?”

Wang Shao stared at the green-clad girl before him. In the sunlight, the black marks on half of her face seemed to blur into the golden rays, making her appear, at a glance, just like the charming girl from the past. However, upon closer inspection, she was entirely different.

With Zanxing entering the Taiyan Sect, regardless of her cultivation level, she now had the sect as her backing. The entire Yue City would hold their heads high because they had a sect disciple. No matter how dissatisfied or resentful Wang Shao might be, he couldn’t harm the Yang family. In a world where strength ruled, that was the reality; might made right.

The girl wore a smile on her face and took a step closer. Wang Shao instinctively took a step back. Her voice remained gentle, but beneath that gentleness, there was a layer of subtle mockery.

“Young Master Wang, now the hopes of the entire Yue City rest on me,” she said. “As for you, you’re out.”