Yun Jing was idly grinding calming pills into powder and mixing them into calming incense when he sensed her formal visit. He clicked his tongue impatiently.
The little lion, who had only just crouched by his feet, silently edged farther away.
The little Medicine Immortal had just entered the courtyard when she heard that sound and hurriedly backed out without a word.
At the gate, she happened to run into Yuan Tuo returning.
The little Medicine Immortal asked fearfully, "Should I not have stepped through the door with my left foot first?"
Yuan Tuo patted her shoulder reassuringly. "It has nothing to do with which foot you stepped in with. That girl has left. Your task is complete."
"Phew." The little Medicine Immortal sighed in relief. "That's good."
She left, her retreating figure light and cheerful.
Yuan Tuo watched her enviously, then entered with heavy steps.
He reported to Yun Jing, "Master, we have already seen her past the North Sea. She said she wanted to return in her own way."
"Mm." Yun Jing answered carelessly.
Yuan Tuo secretly rejoiced. It had passed just like that? It seemed his master did not find her particularly special—he had merely saved her on a whim.
Then he heard his master command, "Investigate her."
Yuan Tuo: "...Yes."
He had drawn his conclusion far too soon.
Meng Anli crossed the Gobi Desert, forded rivers and lakes, passed through the mortal realm, and continued southward, not daring to stop along the way.
At last, when peach blossoms fluttered through the air, she returned to the heavenly realm, to the town beneath Xuantian Academy.
She entered a teahouse and sat down to rest. Just as she was about to remove her veiled hat, she heard people at the neighboring table talking.
"Today is the enrollment test. Are you really not going to see whether there are any stunningly gifted talents?"
"We still have seven days before enrollment. I'll wait until the very last moment to go. No matter how stunningly gifted they are, we'll meet them eventually."
"That's true."
Meng Anli sprang to her feet and ran outside. How could it be today?
She had calculated that there were still two days left. Had she calculated wrong?
When she reached the entrance, she saw someone dismounting. She stuffed a jade pendant into his hand and swung onto his horse.
"Meng Anli of Chongwu Mountain is borrowing your horse! You can find me in Shen Class at Xuantian Academy!"
Before her words had faded, her figure had already vanished around the corner.
The young man who had dismounted held the jade pendant, too stunned to believe it.
"Did I just get robbed?"
The plaza before Xuantian Academy's gates was a sea of people.
A long line stood in the middle, each person testing the Spirit Testing Stone in turn.
The Spirit Testing Stone could reveal the attribute of one's inner core and the tester's cultivation level.
Only those whose Spiritual Power had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm could pass the first entrance test. Three more tests followed.
The students all lined up on their own, except for the unusual third position. Beside the girl as delicate as a lotus rising from clear water stood a flamboyant young nobleman.
His spirits were high, and his entire body radiated the arrogance of someone who had never suffered a setback.
He was gently comforting the girl. "Wanwan, don't be nervous. You will definitely pass the test."
The crowd murmured among themselves. "That is Chongwu Mountain's Third Young Master, Meng Xiuchen, isn't it? He truly has the spirit of youth—he is even more handsome than the rumors say."
"He treats his younger sister so well. He is far too gentle."
"But isn't his younger sister Meng Anli? Why is there another younger sister? Is she his fiancée?"
"No. His fiancée is Lu Yao. Look, she's right over there."
Not far away stood a young woman dressed in a red martial outfit, her black hair tied high, her features striking and deep-set.
At that moment, her beautiful large eyes were glaring at Meng Xiuchen, blazing with fury.
Her fists were clenched tightly, as though she might rush over and strike him at any moment.
Meng Shiwan turned back and smiled at her, shrinking her shoulders slightly. "Third Brother, why is that sister looking at me like that?"
Meng Xiuchen looked back at Lu Yao, frowning. "She has grown accustomed to having no manners. Don't mind her."
He stepped closer to Meng Shiwan and shielded her completely.
Ripples of tears filled Meng Shiwan's almond-shaped eyes. "Third Brother, you are so kind. But is that sister really all right?"
"She's fine. It's your turn. Go test quickly."
"Mm." Meng Shiwan placed her hand on the Spirit Testing Stone, and the results soon appeared.
Inner Core Attribute: Fire
Level: Golden Core initial stage
The crowd cried out in surprise.
"Golden Core initial stage?"
"So many people just tested at the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet she has directly reached the Golden Core Realm."
"You have to know, even after studying here for three or four years, one might not necessarily cultivate to the Golden Core Realm."
"A genius."
The teacher overseeing the enrollment test was delighted. "With such a high level, why did you only come to the academy now?"
Meng Shiwan smiled shyly.
Meng Xiuchen swelled with pride and said proudly, "She only began cultivating a year and a half ago."
"What?"
The crowd was even more astonished.
"She reached Golden Core initial stage in only a year and a half."
"She is a genius."
"Many people who form a core in a year and a half are already geniuses among geniuses. Not only did she form a core, she even cultivated two more levels."
"How can you prove she cultivated it herself rather than stole it?"
An discordant voice appeared amid the harmonious discussion.
Everyone looked over. It was Lu Yao.
Meng Xiuchen's smile froze as he rebuked her, "Lu Yao, shouting and spouting nonsense like this—what kind of behavior is that?"
Lu Yao stepped forward. "Whether it is proper behavior is none of your concern. I am asking you, where is Anli?"
"Sister," Meng Shiwan began softly, "my sister is ill..."
"You need not call me sister. I do not have a younger sister like you." Lu Yao cut her off, then asked Meng Xiuchen again, "Ill? What kind of illness could keep her sick for over a year and prevent us from seeing her?"
Meng Xiuchen wanted to speak.
Lu Yao quickly continued, "Anli has a fire inner core, and she is also at Golden Core initial stage. Don't tell me you dug out her inner core and gave it to this girl, then locked her away so we could not see her?"
Meng Xiuchen shouted out of control, "Utter nonsense!"
Lu Yao suppressed her anger and said calmly, "You are panicking."
"I..." Meng Xiuchen argued sophistically, "Who is panicking?"
Tears filled Meng Shiwan's eyes. "This sister, I relied on my own hard cultivation. How can you slander me so viciously without any proof?"
"Whether it is slander or not will be clear once you bring Anli out to confront us."
"My sister is ill and cannot receive visitors."
"I have already searched Chongwu Mountain and your residence. I simply cannot find Anli anywhere." Lu Yao anxiously asked Meng Xiuchen, "Where exactly did Anli go?"
Meng Xiuchen seized upon her words. "How dare you search Chongwu Mountain and our residence without permission?"
"I am only asking you." Lu Yao's patience was exhausted. She stepped closer, reaching to grab him. "Where exactly did Anli go?"
Meng Xiuchen violently flung her away. "Enough is enough. With such a lack of manners, how can I marry you as my wife?"
Lu Yao staggered from the throw and cursed, "If not for Anli, who the hell would want to marry a hypocrite like you? If you do not tell me where Anli is today, no one will have an easy time of it."
She cracked her whip.
Meng Xiuchen raised a hand to shield Meng Shiwan behind him.
Grasping his arm, Meng Shiwan turned to the teacher overseeing the test and asked, "Teacher, is this sister from this academy? How does she dare disrupt the enrollment test?"
The teacher admonished her, "Lu Yao, whatever the matter is, discuss it privately. This is the enrollment test."
Lu Yao ignored him and lashed her whip at Meng Xiuchen.
The students in line fled in all directions in fright.
Meng Xiuchen caught her whip. With a flick of his wrist, Lu Yao's whip flew from her hand.
Meng Xiuchen sneered coldly. "Men, take away this madwoman who is bullying my sister."
Two burly men dressed as household guards appeared. Each seized one of Lu Yao's arms and twisted her hands behind her back.
She had no strength to resist.
Yet she still shouted, "Meng Xiuchen, you bastard! You harmed your own sister—you will die a terrible death! Meng Shiwan, you person of unknown origin..."
Meng Xiuchen shouted coldly, "Cover her mouth!"
Just as the guard's large hand was about to cover Lu Yao's mouth, a hoarse shout rang out from behind the crowd.
"Stop!"
Before you continue