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Join the ServerYun Mian clutched her storage pouch, eyeing Song Zhiyou warily.
“Senior Sister Song, you tricked me. These are clearly resources the sect would have distributed anyway.”
“Just tell me if this isn’t a way to get resources. Besides, the sect only gives one set; the extra five thousand spirit stones I asked for on your behalf.”
“On top of that, the sect also provided the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Pagoda trial opportunity, inner disciple status, and Scripture Library techniques. Give me twenty percent of the pills and spirit stones, and I’ll explain the rest slowly.”
As she spoke, Song Zhiyou slung an arm around Yun Mian’s shoulders, displaying her utter ingratitude.
Yun Mian ground her teeth.
She had rarely met anyone more shameless; today, she had seen it firsthand.
But Song Zhiyou had a point: without her, Yun Mian wouldn’t have gotten those five thousand spirit stones.
Yun Mian reluctantly pulled out a thousand spirit stones and two Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pills from her pouch.
Before she could even warm them up, Song Zhiyou cheerfully snatched them away.
Yun Mian: “…”
But Song Zhiyou didn’t take them for nothing; she carefully explained to Yun Mian the treatment of inner disciples and matters regarding the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Pagoda.
When she finished, the two returned to the water mirror.
Watching the two of them arm in arm, as close as if they were wearing the same pants, Nangong Hehe and Li Xiaoye couldn’t help but widen their eyes.
Especially since they had already roughly guessed what method Song Zhiyou was talking about when she was coaxing Yun Mian.
Song Zhiyou and Yun Mian were completely oblivious.
By now, Yun Mian was completely captivated by the Scripture Library Song Zhiyou had mentioned.
“Can we really choose from the first five floors? And pick two books?”
“Absolutely!”
Yun Mian was delighted. Her smile was no longer shy; her lips parted, barely able to contain her joy.
Song Zhiyou gave her a suspicious look for a moment, then turned her gaze back to the water mirror.
Song Qingyao was no longer in the earlier segment.
It was getting dark. She had eaten something and found a clearing to rest.
Song Zhiyou’s eyes fixed on Song Qingyao, her brow gradually furrowing.
In the scene where Song Qingyao was, occasional specks of green light flickered.
Song Zhiyou wasn’t sure what they were, but from her knowledge, Azure Fang Wolves were pack animals that never forgot a grudge.
Thinking this, Song Zhiyou felt a chill run down her spine as she stared at the green dots.
‘Xiaoqi’s luck is more than just bad.’
But with the elders and higher-level sect disciples around, as long as Song Qingyao activated her token in time, she would be fine.
She would just be eliminated.
If… she didn’t activate it in time, she would almost certainly die.
But what could she do?
She was only at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.
Besides, she had already left the valley.
In the water mirror, Song Qingyao’s vision was limited; she hadn’t noticed the green dots hiding not far away, and was systematically setting up her resting spot according to what the family school had taught.
Finding an elder meant elimination; she couldn’t keep Song Qingyao by her side anymore.
If she didn’t, and Song Qingyao reacted even a second too slow, she would die.
‘If she dies, it’s over. Then there won’t be an out-of-control ice spiritual root that can hurt me anymore, right?’
Compared to Song Qingyao being eliminated and completely out of her sight, this was a choice even a fool could make.
Yet Song Zhiyou’s heart remained restless.
She ran her hand through her already messy hair and moved a few steps to stand beside Lu Wangshu, but her eyes stayed fixed on Song Qingyao’s panel.
“Senior Sister Lu, if you and the elders notice a candidate in danger in the water mirror but she hasn’t activated her token, what would you do?”
“We wouldn’t do anything.”
“But… she’s already in danger.”
“Once you step onto the path of cultivation, you alone decide your fate. We have no right to make choices for her.”
Lu Wangshu took out a comb, smoothed Song Zhiyou’s tangled hair, and tied it into two small buns.
Song Zhiyou frowned. “What if she didn’t have time to activate it?”
“That’s also her fate. If she truly wants to activate it, there’s always a way.”
Song Zhiyou suddenly understood. “Thank you, Senior Sister Lu.”
Patting the little buns on Song Zhiyou’s head, Lu Wangshu withdrew her comb with satisfaction.
“You’re welcome. It’s late now. Since you’ve all passed the assessment, you don’t need to stay here. Go back and rest. When the assessment ends tomorrow, you can return to the sect with us.”
“Alright, thank you, Senior Sister. Goodbye.”
Song Zhiyou waved goodbye to Lu Wangshu. As she looked up, she saw in the water mirror panel that Song Qingyao was surrounded by several Azure Fang Wolves.
She stood in the center of the pack, not activating her token immediately, but gripping her dagger, ready to cast a spiritual technique.
Song Zhiyou averted her gaze and told Li Xiaoye and the other two that they could go back. Then, together with the three, she bid farewell to the many elders and left the arena.
Outside the arena, countless parents were anxiously waiting.
Seeing them come out, they eagerly wanted to ask about what happened inside.
However, they were all held back by Li Xiaoye’s followers.
They didn’t persist and continued waiting outside.
After all, Song Zhiyou and her group weren’t the only ones coming out; they assumed they were the eliminated ones.
Li Xiaoye said spiritedly, “Since we’ll all be fellow disciples from now on, let me arrange things today.”
“You two, based on the guest room I stayed in earlier, book one for each of the three of them.”
Nangong Hehe and Yun Mian’s looks toward Li Xiaoye instantly became friendly.
“Junior Brother Li, in the future, I’ll protect you in the Xuantian Sect!”
That was Nangong Hehe.
“Junior Brother Li, whenever you need any formation plates, I’ll give you a 1% discount.”
That was Yun Mian.
Li Xiaoye didn’t find anything wrong at first, but upon careful thought, his face darkened.
“Wait, Nangong Hehe, if I remember correctly, I’m older than you, right?”
“And Yun Mian, you call Song Zhiyou ‘Senior Sister’ but call me ‘Junior Brother’? You joined later!”
Nangong Hehe said, “We’re all fellow disciples, why be so particular?”
Yun Mian murmured, “Yeah, yeah.”
Li Xiaoye wanted to curse, but Song Zhiyou spoke up.
“You all go back first. I have something to do.”
Hearing this, the group was startled but didn’t ask what she needed to do.
“Do you want me to take your things back?” Yun Mian offered considerately, pointing at the pile of magical artifacts on Song Zhiyou.
Li Xiaoye and Nangong Hehe chimed in agreement.
Song Zhiyou glanced at the clanking artifacts on her body and nodded. “Then thank you.”
This time, Yun Mian was truly stunned.
But Song Zhiyou didn’t pay her any mind.
She picked and chose, removing most of the artifacts, wrapped them in a cloth bundle, and shoved it all into Li Xiaoye’s hands.
Li Xiaoye was flattered.
‘As expected, after going through life and death together, Song Zhiyou trusts me more at crucial moments!’
‘See, she’s handing over all the things she guarded so tightly to me!’
He thumped his chest and promised, “Song Xiaoyou, rest assured, I will keep these safe for you.”
Song Zhiyou said solemnly, “Then they’re in your hands.”
The three waved goodbye to Song Zhiyou.
Song Zhiyou smiled as she watched them leave, then turned and dashed toward Fengling Valley.
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