The surrounding chatter and ridicule grew louder, but Xu Chunniang stood where she was, unmoved by winds from all directions, as though she had heard nothing.
It was nothing more than trash talk. She had heard plenty of it growing up. All of that was hollow; only strength was real.
The assessment continued. New disciples constantly took the stage, drawing the attention of those below, and their focus gradually shifted away from Xu Chunniang.
Still, they all remembered that an Ugly Girl named Xu Chunniang had chosen Spiritual Plant Cultivator, the filthiest and most exhausting profession.
The assessment lasted an entire day, continuing until the hour of the Rooster. At last, all the new disciples had finished. According to the requirements, disciples who failed to meet the standard in two consecutive spell castings were deemed unqualified and would be sent down the mountain along with the first batch of eliminated disciples.
Xu Chunniang stretched lazily. It was finally over. After standing all day, she was somewhat tired, but fortunately, she had passed the assessment without mishap.
The next day would be the new year. All the new disciples who had been kept on could go to Zhang Donglai to collect their new-year benefits: twelve spirit stones as cultivation resources for the coming year.
"I merely missed the assembly today, yet Zhang Donglai wanted to drive me out of the sect."
Xu Chunniang narrowed her eyes. She had not forgotten how she had been deliberately made things difficult for before the assessment.
Tomorrow, she would have to go through Zhang Donglai to collect her spirit stones from the Affairs Hall. It would likely not be easy for her to receive them smoothly from him. But these were benefits the sect issued to every new disciple. She would not give them up.
Early the next morning, Xu Chunniang arrived at the Affairs Hall. The hall had shed its usual desolation and was bustling with people, all of them new disciples who had come to collect spirit stones.
Ever since entering the sect, these new disciples had kept their nerves taut and cultivated diligently because of the year-end assessment. Having passed it, they all relaxed considerably. Quite a few disciples who had performed well in yesterday's assessment were even currying favor with Zhang Donglai.
"Steward Zhang, in the new year, I hope you'll look after me." A perceptive disciple proactively offered two spirit stones, hoping to make his days in the sect easier.
"Of course, of course." Zhang Donglai's face was piled with smiles as he casually accepted the disciple's tribute. "You're Chen Lin, right? I remember you demonstrated the Wood Shield Technique yesterday."
Chen Lin was overjoyed. He had not expected the steward to remember his name. "That is indeed this humble one. If Steward Zhang has any use for this humble one, please feel free to command me."
Zhang Donglai was even more pleased. "Not bad. I'll remember you. Once the new disciples' two-year protection period ends, feel free to come to me and choose Contribution Missions."
At this, the other disciples immediately cast envious, jealous looks at Chen Lin. With Steward Zhang's words, he would at least not have to worry about Contribution Missions.
For a time, quite a few quick-witted disciples began offering Zhang Donglai "tributes" as well, hoping to leave a good impression on the steward and make their lives in the sect somewhat easier.
But many disciples could not bear to offer up two spirit stones as an Attendant. After collecting their own share, they simply left.
Xu Chunniang watched it all unfold with cold eyes. Since she had already offended Steward Zhang, even if she handed over all her spirit stones this year, it would be useless. Not to mention, she had no intention of offering even half a spirit stone as "tribute."
The line moved quickly, and soon it was her turn.
The moment Zhang Donglai saw her, the smile on his face vanished, and his hands stopped moving.
When the disciples behind noticed that the line had suddenly stopped, they all craned their necks to look ahead.
"What happened? Why has Steward Zhang stopped handing out spirit stones? Could it be that they've all been distributed, and we have to come back tomorrow?"
Another person nudged him and whispered, "How could the spirit stones be gone? Don't you see that female cultivator? She's clearly the one Steward Zhang nearly drove out of the sect yesterday for being late. I'd wager she offended Steward Zhang before."
"So it's her!" The people around them showed looks of realization. "That Ugly Girl who used the Spiritual Rain Technique!"
"Hehe, now there's a show to watch. Serves her right for being blind enough to offend Steward Zhang!"
Xu Chunniang took out her Disciple Token and handed it over. Neither servile nor overbearing, she said, "Please register it. I am here to collect this year's spirit stones."
"You want to collect spirit stones?" A trace of contempt flashed through Zhang Donglai's eyes as he drawled, "There are none left. Come back tomorrow."
There were no spirit stones left? How could it be such a coincidence? So many people ahead of her had received theirs, yet there were none precisely when it came to her.
Xu Chunniang did not need to think to know that Zhang Donglai was deliberately making things difficult for her. She tightened her grip on the token, not moving an inch.
Seeing Xu Chunniang occupying the spot without budging, the disciples behind knew perfectly well what was going on, yet one after another, they turned on Xu Chunniang.
"Ugly Girl, if you're not collecting spirit stones, could you please move aside? Even if you aren't collecting them, we still need to."
"Truly, ugly people make the most trouble. Can't you move out of the way?"
"Exactly! You're wasting our time. Didn't the steward say there are no spirit stones left? Hurry up and get lost!"
Xu Chunniang turned around and spoke calmly.
"Didn't you all just hear it? Steward Zhang said there are no spirit stones left. Then there is no need for you to keep lining up either."
The crowd looked at her as though she were a fool. Anyone could tell that Steward Zhang was only targeting her. Her being unable to collect spirit stones did not mean they could not collect theirs.
"What? Do you think I'm wrong?"
Xu Chunniang's voice remained steady as she gazed coldly at the disciples standing in the long line behind her.
"The spirit stones each year are issued by the sect. Steward Zhang merely keeps and distributes them on its behalf. If he says they are gone, then they must be completely gone. Otherwise, would he not be openly withholding sect resources?"
Zhang Donglai's expression changed slightly. Withholding sect resources was a serious crime. Even as a steward, he would not come out well if such a charge were pinned on him.
He had never intended to withhold this Ugly Girl's spirit stones. He had merely planned to delay giving them to her for three to five months. Yet he had not expected her to say such things, leaving him riding a tiger with no way to dismount.
If he truly skipped over her and distributed spirit stones to the other disciples, it would confirm the suspicion that he was "withholding sect resources." If he stopped distributing spirit stones to all the remaining disciples, damaging his reputation among them would be a small matter; delaying the sect's affairs would be the real problem.
After weighing the matter, Zhang Donglai's face darkened further. This Ugly Girl was quite the schemer!
He sneered. "Look at my memory. I put those spirit stones in another Storage Bag. Here are this year's spirit stones for you. Count them carefully."
After confirming the amount, Xu Chunniang put away the spirit stones. Just as she was about to leave, an eerie threat came from behind her. "I'll let you prance around for two years. After that, there'll be plenty of time for you to cry!"
One day, he, Zhang Donglai, would make this little thing who did not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth understand that some people were not people she could afford to offend so easily!
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