Chapter 32: Beneath the Water Mirror

Song Zhiyou’s gaze fell on the figure.

The newcomer appeared to be eleven or twelve years old, dressed in a dusty, oversized robe. She stood hidden behind the elder, making it hard to see clearly.

Song Zhiyou didn’t have much of an impression of this person, but someone brought forward by the elder at this time… they should all be in the same boat, right?

As if sensing Song Zhiyou’s gaze, the girl pursed her lips and gave a shy smile.

Before Song Zhiyou could look further, the elders’ hungry gazes turned sharply toward her.

“Yun Mian, would you be willing to join my Zhou Tian Star Palace?”

“Our Zhou Tian Star Palace does not value brute force, only the mysteries of fate. With the Zhou Tian Star Formation to guide your perception of star tracks and deduction of changes, it is most suitable for you!”

“Away with you! Little Yun, don’t listen to this charlatan’s nonsense. Only my Tianyan Sect is the best fit for you.”

“Our sect’s formations are ever-changing. With them, you can communicate the boundless life veins, build an unbreakable city, and lay traps across a thousand miles!”

“How dare you, Tianyan Sect, call others charlatans? I…”

“Young friend Shen, although my Xuantian Sect is not specialized in formations, our internal Dao methods bloom like a hundred flowers, giving you infinite possibilities. Moreover, our Sutra Pavilion houses thousands of formations for your careful study.”

“Wang, how dare you mention that? Half of those thousand formations were stolen from my Tianyan Sect!”

“And also the formation books from my Kuitian Pavilion! Your Xuantian Sect people looted us!”

Elder Wang’s face turned solemn as he said methodically, “Elder Lu, Elder Gongsun, without evidence, you cannot slander.”

The scene descended into chaos, several involved elders furious at Elder Wang’s words.

Song Zhiyou played the fool on the sidelines, but her ears perked up in astonishment. So, the honest-looking, righteous Xuantian Sect actually did such things?

Only after an elder spoke up did the farce stop.

“Enough! Settle your sect disputes in private. Now, it’s up to little Yun herself!”

Thus, they returned to the main topic.

Yun Mian smiled sheepishly at the elders. “I am honored by your esteem, but I already have a sect in mind.”

The elders stopped talking and looked at her expectantly.

Then Yun Mian walked up to Elder Wang. “Elder, this disciple wishes to join Xuantian Sect.”

Elder Wang’s face broke into a smile, and Elder Wei laughed heartily.

The elders from other sects sighed repeatedly, though they had expected this.

Xuantian Sect, despite its shamelessness, was the undisputed number one sect in Qingzhou.

With no hope of recruiting her, the many elders turned their attention back to the water mirrors.

They couldn’t snatch geniuses like Nangong Hehe, but among the remaining candidates, there were still promising individuals. They needed to secure them.

Song Zhiyou and the others had nothing to do for a while, so they gathered together and whispered.

Nangong Hehe was still frustrated. “Daoist Song, why did the elder only come for you after you sold that ‘something-something powder’ for so long? I was just starting my business when the elder took me away?”

Hearing this, Song Zhiyou also grew irritated. “Daoist Nangong, I told you not to sell demon cores, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look—I got caught out too.”

Nangong Hehe refused to concede. “Daoist Song, didn’t you tell me to hit the buyer’s needs? I hit it right on the mark!”

Song Zhiyou sighed in exasperation. “You hit it too well. You nullified the entire purpose of the assessment!”

If Song Zhiyou guessed correctly, this assessment was meant to filter out disciples who could obtain demon cores alone or in cooperation and survive in the valley for three days.

She only provided flour and potions, not direct help, and was still overlooked.

But Nangong Hehe directly sold demon cores to the candidates.

One or two would have been fine, but she had a whole sleeveful… and intended to sell them all.

Nangong Hehe probably understood but still disagreed. “Daoist Yun, why were you brought out by the elder too?”

Yun Mian pursed her lips and said softly, “I did a small business in the valley, and they brought me out.”

Nangong Hehe instantly found a kindred spirit in misery. “Daoist, we’re so unlucky… These elders are making a big fuss.”

As she finished, a flick on her head hit Nangong Hehe.

She looked up and saw Elder Wang, who even glared at her.

“Elder Wang, why did you hit me?”

“Say less! Do you know what she did?”

Nangong Hehe did not know.

When she turned to look at Yun Mian again, Song Zhiyou and Yun Mian had already retreated far away.

Only she and Li Xiaoye remained, staring blankly at each other beside the elder.

Nangong Hehe: “…”

Song Zhiyou sidled up to Yun Mian, also curious. “Daoist, what small business did you do?”

She knew that unless one directly sold demon cores like Nangong Hehe, it was hard to be brought out of the valley directly.

As for herself and Li Xiaoye, they were simply dancing on the bottom line and were conveniently taken out by the elder.

However, Song Zhiyou wasn’t too upset. She had almost sold out her goods.

She just hadn’t seen Song Xiaoqi.

Thinking, Song Zhiyou caressed the magical artifact on her body fondly, producing a crisp clang.

Nangong Hehe and Yun Mian both cast envious glances.

Nangong Hehe touched the little piece of junk in her hand, sighed, and pulled out a few brand-new IOUs.

Finally feeling relieved.

Yun Mian licked her dry lips and remained reserved. “That valley had a swarm of insect monsters. I… I sold some small items I made. When activated, they prevent the insect monsters from detecting their tracks.”

Song Zhiyou understood. It was the same principle as her Guixu Dunshen Water.

Could it be that Yun Mian, like her, had discovered the use of the hidden bee pheromones?

But to bring someone out just for that, ruining their business, the elders were too much!

Song Zhiyou sensed a kindred spirit in Yun Mian at first glance, and now she understood why.

She gripped Yun Mian’s hand tightly. “Sister, I understand you…”

Yun Mian was moved and returned the grip. “Sister…”

A Xuantian Sect disciple nearby couldn’t bear to listen anymore and supplemented.

“Not just that.”

“Junior Sister Yun’s formations not only hide one from the Winged Stingers but also from demon beasts.”

“Candidates carrying her formations snuck behind a first-grade demon beast and stabbed its vital point effortlessly.”

“Junior Sister Yun’s formations are rented out by the breath. One hundred spirit stones per breath, payment first, no credit.”

Their voices couldn’t be heard from the water mirror, but they had figured it out after watching the images for a long time.

Song Zhiyou: “…”

Even more ruthless than her.

And besides, the effect of these formations sounded so familiar…

Song Zhiyou silently looked at Yun Mian.

She was bulging all over, as if hiding a large pile of storage pouches.

Storage pouches filled with spirit stones and magical artifacts.

They looked at each other in silence, then simultaneously turned away and looked at the water mirror.

At this point, aside from the sect elders and disciples, only a few of them remained.

Nangong Hehe and Li Xiaoye also came over, eating sunflower seeds while watching the candidates’ assessment.

The sunflower seeds were generously provided by Song Zhiyou.

Her storage pouch couldn’t hold any more, so it had been hanging at her waist. Now was the perfect time to eat them.

Her gaze fell on each segmented water mirror screen, searching for traces of Song Qingyao.

Finally, Song Zhiyou found her in the upper-left corner segment.

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