Missing Thoughts

Chapter 14

Zhongli Shan looked up at Yu Sui as she walked onto the Judgment Platform, a hint of surprise in his eyes. A moment later, he lowered his head and sent a message: "Nangong Sui, the Qingyang County Princess. My sister mentioned she and Gu Gan were childhood sweethearts, their relationship should be quite good."

Yu Sui handed the black box containing the Di Su Tiancheng to Old Man Zhu of the School of Names, saying respectfully, "My father, Nangong Ming, asked me to bring this."

Yu Sheng of the Legalism School said slowly, "One of the Three Yamas of the School of Names, Nangong Ming's daughter?"

Yu Sui looked up and smiled, "My name is Nangong Sui."

The young girl's voice was crisp and sweet, clear and generous.

Mei Chengyu's Listening Wind Ruler glowed faintly. He looked down, his well-defined knuckles flying across the fill-in-the-blanks grid.

Yu Sui's peripheral vision swept over those beautiful dual cultivation hands. She stepped back and stood beside Old Man Zhu, waiting to see the upcoming judgment.

Sha Qian hadn't expected the Qingyang County Princess to appear out of nowhere. He heard Gu Gan's low chuckle and looked back at him unwillingly. Gu Gan returned a provocative gaze.

"It's over, it's over, it's over. My sister descended from the heavens with the Di Su Tiancheng to save Gu Gan from dire straits. This heroic rescue move has caught Sha Qian completely off guard," Mu Mengbai patted Sheng Fei's shoulder, shaking his head and sighing with feigned heartbreak. "If you had told me earlier you had such a beautiful sister, I would have tried harder to help you kick Gu Gan out of Taiyi."

Sheng Fei glared back at him fiercely, "What heroic rescue? Where did that come from!"

Mu Mengbai covered his mouth and fell silent.

Princess Shangyang, watching from the first-floor stands, puffed out her cheeks. She stared at Yu Sui on the Judgment Platform for a long time before finally tilting her head and whispering to the sisters beside her, "What is the Di Su Tiancheng for? How does she have it? Why don't my mother and the others have one?"

The young ladies beside her looked at each other, unable to answer.

Seeing that her sisters couldn't answer, Princess Shangyang's eyes widened. She turned and asked Xun Zhiya, who was not far away, "Xun Zhiya, what mischief are you trying to pull by bringing the Legalism School's treasured item for judgment?"

A young lady beside Xun Zhiya looked displeased at her attitude and was about to retort, but Xun Zhiya stopped her. She said calmly, "As a treasured item of the Legalism School, the Di Su Tiancheng can capture the criminal's Five Elements Qi and Light Core during interrogation. Based on the circulation of the Five Elements Qi, it can determine whether the criminal is lying, thus judging the truth."

"If he is not involved in the theft of the Milky Way Water, the Di Su Tiancheng will be the evidence, and today's judgment will have its conclusion."

Even if there were many doubts about this matter, as long as the Di Su Tiancheng gave a negative answer to the question "Did you steal the Milky Way Water?", Gu Gan would be fine.

The purpose of the Di Su Tiancheng was absolute fairness and justice, an unassailable authority in the eyes of the world.

As Old Man Zhu of the School of Names was opening the box, Mei Chengyu was sending a message: "I was wondering why the Legalism School suddenly relented. So it was in exchange for the Di Su Tiancheng."

Zhongli Shan replied, "It's truly unexpected that the Nangong family would be willing to exchange the Di Su Tiancheng and the Legalism School for Gu Gan."

Mei Chengyu curved his lips slightly, "If this thing fell into the hands of an outsider, the Legalism School would lose face. Yu Sheng would be overjoyed to exchange Gu Gan for the Di Su Tiancheng from the Nangong family."

Zhongli Shan couldn't help but glance at the Judgment Platform, then lowered his head, "What do you mean?"

After replying, Mei Chengyu put away his Listening Wind Ruler, his gaze dismissively falling on the Di Su Tiancheng beside him.

Zhongli Shan received the message: "Truth and falsehood can be manipulated behind the scenes. How dare the Legalism School let others know about such a loophole in the Di Su Tiancheng."

Old Man Zhu opened the box, revealing a golden scale.

Old Man Zhu took it out of the box and placed it on the table.

The scale's bamboo beam was long and slender, with small bronze pans hanging from golden threads at both ends. The pans were black and white, and both sides were engraved with tiny golden Legalism School statutes.

Although it looked small and exquisite, as you gazed at it, you could feel a powerful majesty pressing down, inspiring awe.

Even those in the farthest stands could feel an invisible pressure spreading out.

"Since it is a treasured item of the Legalism School, you shall conduct the interrogation," Old Man Zhu said to Yu Sheng.

Yu Sheng did not refuse.

The Di Su Tiancheng was placed in the center of the table, directly facing Mei Chengyu, who sat between the two sages. He still had a relaxed posture, leaning back in his chair, showing no pressure.

Mei Chengyu was not playing with his Listening Wind Ruler at this moment. He looked at the Di Su Tiancheng before him, one hand resting on the table, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the surface.

Yu Sheng reached out towards the Di Su Tiancheng, his Five Elements Qi flowing into it. The scale remained motionless, but the golden threads holding the bronze pans split into wisps, flying towards Gu Gan on the Questioning Platform, entwining his hands and feet, and injecting into his brow and ears.

Countless Legalism School statutes rotated on the golden threads, characters almost invisible to the naked eye spinning rapidly.

Yu Sui looked at Gu Gan and heard Yu Sheng ask, "Your name is Gu Gan?"

Gu Gan, sitting in the chair, slightly raised his head and answered hoarsely, "Yes."

The scale tilted, the white pan descending with a crisp clinking sound, then returning to balance.

White represents truth, black represents falsehood.

The questioning arena was silent at this moment, no one spoke, all focused intently on the Di Su Tiancheng on the Judgment Platform.

Yu Sheng continued, "Gu Gan, recount the events of the day the Milky Way Water was stolen."

Gu Gan twisted his neck, his gaze fixed on the Di Su Tiancheng ahead, and said slowly, "That night, I received a message asking me to meet at the entrance of the Hanging Moon Cave."

Yu Sheng asked, "Who was that person?"

Gu Gan replied, "I don't know."

The scale tilted towards the white pan, another crisp sound.

Sha Qian sneered and looked over, "How could you not know? If you hadn't exchanged Listening Wind Ruler inscriptions with someone, you couldn't have sent a message. Or perhaps you hid the message in the Earthly Branch Star Sea, so it couldn't be found on the Listening Wind Ruler."

Gu Gan also sneered, "I truly don't know, because it was a message sent without an inscription exchange. Out of curiosity, I went to the appointment, thinking perhaps only someone from the Communication Institute could do such a strange thing."

"If I had hidden the message in the Earthly Branch Star Sea, the people from the Communication Institute would have found out with a single check."

The balance tipped again towards the white pan.

Mu Mengbai, watching from the stands, gaped, "No way, the Di Su Tiancheng ruled this obviously false explanation as true? The Communication Institute can't even bypass the Listening Wind Ruler's inscription to send messages themselves!"

Xue Mushi sat up from the stone steps, scratching his head with some dullness. Xue Jiayue beside him was completely captivated by the trial, muttering softly, "If the Di Su Tiancheng is correct and he's not lying, then is there a problem with our Communication Institute?"

Wei Ren nodded, "If the Communication Institute has a problem, that's a real big problem."

Yu Sui blinked slightly upon hearing this.

Interesting.

If Gu Gan wasn't lying, then someone had cracked Taiyi Academy's communication array.

If he was lying—Yu Sui's peripheral vision swept over the three judges behind the table—then someone here was colluding with Gu Gan. As Gu Gan said, even if the message was hidden in the Earthly Branch Star Sea, the Communication Institute could find it from the three Number Mountains.

Taiyi Academy had twenty-four Saints, with no shortage of those in the Thirteenth Realm. Half of them were involved in maintaining the Six Kingdoms' communication array; tracing a disciple's Listening Wind Ruler message was no problem at all.

Mei Chengyu, who had been watching the Di Su Tiancheng, suddenly looked up, catching Yu Sui peeking.

Yu Sui wasn't flustered and blinked friendly.

Mei Chengyu showed no reaction and went back to playing with his Listening Wind Ruler, seemingly having lost interest, finding nothing fun anymore.

Yu Sui silently withdrew his gaze.

At Yu Sheng's signal, Gu Gan continued, "I arrived at Hanging Moon Cave at Xushi and didn't see the person who was supposed to meet me. They kept sending me messages, telling me to go in."

He paused here, then said with a look of utter frankness, "I admit, out of sheer curiosity as to how someone could send a message without exchanging inscriptions, I broke into the forbidden land."

The white pan continued to emit a crisp sound.

Sha Qian couldn't help but ask, "And then you went in and stole the Milky Way Water?"

Gu Gan seemed to find his words too amusing, a mocking smile on his face, "I didn't see this person, nor did I know where the Milky Way Water was placed. After entering Hanging Moon Cave, I was constantly evading the guards."

The white pan still made a sound.

Sha Qian suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "Then why is the Milky Way Water missing?!"

Gu Gan sneered, "It wasn't me who took the Milky Way Water."

Everyone heard the sound from the white pan.

"You..." Sha Qian was about to press further when Old Man Zhu on the platform spoke, "Things might not be as complicated as we imagine. According to the Di Su Tiancheng's answer, he hasn't told a single lie so far."

Old Man Zhu looked at Yu Sheng, his benevolent expression barely changing, "The Legalist School's Di Su Tiancheng discerns truth from falsehood, knows good from evil, and determines punishment. At this moment, it is Gu Gan's evidence."

Sha Qian turned to Yu Sheng, "Saint Yu, Gu Gan still needs to be interrogated further!"

Yu Sheng's gaze was calm, "But he did break into a Level 1 forbidden land of the Legalist School."

Old Man Zhu said, "We judge one matter at a time. Today's judgment is not about his trespassing into the forbidden land."

Yu Sheng's eyeballs moved, as if glancing at Old Man Zhu.

Old Man Zhu added, "From his words, it seems we should focus on the Listening Wind Ruler. The Communication Institute has not yet given a response. To insist he stole the Milky Way Water is also insufficient evidence."

Yu Sheng asked, "According to you, you want to acquit him?"

Old Man Zhu said, "The results measured by the Di Su Tiancheng do not provide grounds for conviction, so I propose that Gu Gan be acquitted. Can we begin the judgment?"

Yu Sheng lowered the hand he had been raising, and the golden thread of the balance retracted from Gu Gan.

"Yes," Yu Sheng said.

Mei Chengyu was still playing with his Listening Wind Ruler, not even looking up, "Yes."

Old Man Zhu nodded, stroked his chin and long beard, and stood up, "Regarding Gu Gan's acquittal, I make my judgment: I agree."

Yu Sheng also stood up and said, "My judgment is: continue to monitor."

Now there was one vote for, one vote against, and the crucial vote lay with Mei Chengyu. People couldn't help but shift their gaze, looking towards the man on the judgment platform with a relaxed expression.

Suddenly subjected to countless scrutinizing gazes, Mei Chengyu showed no change. He put away his Listening Wind Ruler and, as he stood up, his gaze seemed to sweep over Gu Gan below. His voice, clear and cold like jade striking jade, said, "Continue to monitor."

Yu Sui was the first person on the judgment platform to look at Mei Chengyu. Although Yu Sheng and Old Man Zhu were surprised, they showed no outward reaction.

Following his judgment, the previously silent questioning arena erupted in whispers.

Gu Gan on the questioning platform frowned, his gaze fixed directly on Mei Chengyu. However, the latter was already walking off the platform, meeting Zhongli Shan, who had descended from the stands, under the watchful eyes of many. The two walked straight out.

"You stop right there, this princess!" Princess Shangyang was furious and wanted to chase after him to argue, but her sisters held her back tightly. "The Di Su Tiancheng already determined he wasn't lying, that everything he said was true, and that he didn't take the Milky Way Water. On what grounds are you continuing to monitor him! You come back here and explain yourself!"

Xun Zhiya's fingers, which had loosened under her sleeve, involuntarily clenched again. Her gaze fell on Gu Gan on the platform, with a hint of worry.

"It's over, this isn't how I thought it would go."

Ji Meng, who had thought it was a sure win, was stunned and scratched his head in distress. The man with the black beard beside him also wore a solemn expression.

Those worried about Gu Gan were either silent or troubled.

Only Sheng Fei, whose face had been gloomy and unpleasant since Yu Sui appeared, finally showed some relief.

"This is unexpected. Do Mei Chengyu and Gu Gan have some past grievance?" Mu Mengbai pondered, stroking his chin. "Could Mei Chengyu also like Xun Zhiya? What kind of complicated relationship is this? Ah, this is getting interesting."

At this moment, only Sha Qian could laugh out loud. The gloom that had enveloped him since Yu Sui appeared with the Di Su Tiancheng dissipated after Mei Chengyu made his judgment, and his world suddenly brightened.

"Take him back, continue to monitor," Sha Qian said with a smile to the other Legalist disciples, his expression towards Gu Gan incredibly arrogant.

The saints of the School of Names and the Legalism School left without a word, turning to depart.

Black Beard below saw the Legalism School disciples packing up Di Su Tiancheng. They hadn't even saved the person, and now they wanted to take the item? He rushed towards the platform in a panic.

As soon as Black Beard ran onto the judgment platform, he saw Yu Sui pressing a hand on the box and smiling at the Legalism School disciples who were packing up. "Thank you, older sister, for your help."

The Legalism School disciples looked a bit awkward, but Yu Sui wasn't. She naturally hugged the box to her chest.

Black Beard finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking his foolish county princess would let the Legalism School snatch Di Su Tiancheng too.

The Legalism School disciples who failed to get Di Su Tiancheng walked off the stage dejectedly. They stuck out their tongues at Yu Sheng, who was watching them, with helpless expressions.

Yu Sheng sighed inwardly, Fine.

Yu Sui walked down with the box, calling out to Gu Gan, who was being led away. "Brother Gu!"

Gu Gan looked back. Just as Yu Sui was about to go over, someone grabbed her and pulled her back. The force was so great that she stumbled a few steps before regaining her balance.

Sheng Fei blocked the two of them, his gloomy gaze sweeping over Yu Sui. "Who told you to come?"

Yu Sui looked at Sheng Fei. This was the first time Sheng Fei had spoken to her after their two-year cold war.

Chapter 14 (Page 2/2)

"Third Brother," Yu Sui called out obediently, standing on tiptoe to look past him. "I'll go see Brother Gu first, then I'll talk to you."

She wanted to ask Brother Gu about the Listening Wind Ruler.

Unexpectedly, Sheng Fei directly pulled her away. "That guy can barely save himself. Why are you getting involved?"

"Hey!" Yu Sui twisted her body and looked back.

Gu Gan waved at her from across the crowd, raising his eyebrows and smiling. "Sui Sui, don't worry."

Yu Sui withdrew her gaze. She wasn't too worried, after all, it wasn't a death penalty. It was just a task assigned by Nangong Ming. She had messed up as soon as she arrived, and she wasn't sure if he would withdraw her tuition and send her back to the prince's mansion.

She was pulled away by Sheng Fei. Black Beard followed closely behind, calling out "County Princess" and "Third Young Master," but neither of them paid him any mind.

Xiang Feifei and the golden-robed youth walked up to Ji Meng. She mockingly said, "Is this the reinforcements you brought?"

"The problem wasn't with Di Su Tiancheng," Ji Meng said, scratching his head. "What does Mei Chengyu mean? Have we offended him?"

The golden-robed youth took out the Listening Wind Ruler. "Ask."

Ji Meng: "Where do I ask? Directly ask Mei Chengyu?"

"Asking Zhongli Shan is fine too," the golden-robed youth said. "I don't have Mei Chengyu's inscription."

Ji Meng chuckled. "Great, I don't have Zhongli Shan's either."

Xiang Feifei: "..."

What could they possibly do?

Mei Chengyu and Zhongli Shan, who had already walked far from the questioning arena, had their Listening Wind Rulers lighting up continuously, receiving many messages.

The two walked on the road to the Military School. Under their feet was a path of broken stones, and on both sides were countless towering wisteria trees. It was the season when the wisteria flowers were in bloom. Clusters of purple flowers grew densely together, and fallen flowers carpeted the ground. As they walked, they inevitably stepped on many.

Zhongli Shan was reading messages, most of which were inquiries trying to get information through him. So he asked Mei Chengyu, "Why aren't you looking at your Listening Wind Ruler?"

Mei Chengyu took out his Listening Wind Ruler as he spoke. "I don't need to look to know what's there."

Zhongli Shan put away his Listening Wind Ruler. "I didn't expect you to let Gu Gan remain under observation."

"Old Man Zhu and Yu Sheng are putting on a show, thinking I'll judge innocence based on the outcome of Di Su Tiancheng," Mei Chengyu said casually as he scrolled through his Listening Wind Ruler. "Di Su Tiancheng is no longer absolutely fair and just, and its authenticity cannot be guaranteed. The two old men didn't ask the important questions."

Zhongli Shan: "What would you ask?"

Mei Chengyu let out a cold laugh. "I'd ask if he knows who took the Milky Way Water, where it is, and if the sender of the message knows them. If I asked these, Old Man Zhu wouldn't know how to protect him."

Zhongli Shan nodded. The trial of Gu Gan by Yu Sheng of the Legalism School this time couldn't be called going easy; it could only be called letting him off the hook.

It seemed that the Legalism School, in order to get Di Su Tiancheng back, had decided to turn a blind eye, assuming Mei Chengyu would definitely follow the outcome of Di Su Tiancheng. That's why they said to keep him under observation. Who knew this kid would rebelliously not play by their rules and play his own game?

Zhongli Shan asked, "Do you think the part about the Listening Wind Ruler that Gu Gan mentioned is true or false?"

"Most likely false," Mei Chengyu said. "The inscription is the only pass. Without an inscription, you can't send a sound transmission, unless this person has cracked the academy's communication array."

He added, "Even if there is someone in this world who can crack the communication array of the three schools, they won't live long."

Both of their Listening Wind Rulers hummed.

A message popped up from the four-person group:

Xing Chun: "Eat?"

Cang Shu: "No."

Mei Chengyu: "No."

Zhongli Shan looked at him and asked, "Not eating?"

"Not eating," Mei Chengyu put away his Listening Wind Ruler and parted ways with him at the fork in the road ahead. "Someone just reminded me that there's a newcomer test today. I have to go check it out for my master."

So Zhongli Shan also replied: "No."

Xing Chun: "I'd rather die today than go eat alone."

The time was still early.

As the morning light faded, the sunlight began to warm.

Yu Sui was dragged away by Sheng Fei from the Questioning Arena. The people on the road looked at her with a gaze that seemed to say, "A pair of mandarin ducks forcibly separated."

But Sheng Fei was notoriously difficult to provoke. Apart from Mu Mengbai, no one dared to chase after him, shouting breathlessly, "What kind of rudeness is this? If you hurt my fairy sister, can you afford to pay? Sheng Fei, if you're angry, just hit me, don't take it out on my sister! Stop!"

Sheng Fei didn't hit Yu Sui, he just stared at her coldly.

Yu Sui said softly, "Father sent me. He paid a hefty tuition fee for me and told me to bring Di Su Tiancheng, saying that Brother Gu is in trouble and I should deliver something and stay at Taiyi Academy for two years to study."

"If Third Brother has any complaints, go back and talk to Father."

"I can't make the decisions either."

Sheng Fei became increasingly angry with her few words. Black Beard, who had caught up to them before Mu Mengbai, said urgently, "Third Young Master, the County Princess is a newcomer to the academy and still needs to undergo a talent test at the Hundred Schools Hall. It won't be good if she's late."

Black Beard stepped forward and said, "County Princess, only academy disciples are allowed into the Hundred Schools Hall. I can't go in, so I'll have to trouble Third Young Master to take you there."

Would he be willing to take her?

Yu Sui looked at Sheng Fei.

Sheng Fei sneered, "You need to do a talent test too?"

Yu Sui said, "Then I'll go by myself."

She turned to leave.

Sheng Fei said with a cold face, "Where are you going? This way."

"Oh." Yu Sui obediently turned back and followed him.

Sheng Fei walked ahead, but his mouth didn't stop. "With your talent, you dare to listen to Father and come to Taiyi? Don't blame me for not warning you when you're mocked as a normal practitioner every day."

Yu Sui said, "If you hadn't stood by and watched Brother Gu in trouble, Father wouldn't have sent me here."

Sheng Fei: "..."

Yu Sui added, "I've heard people call me a normal practitioner so many times that it doesn't bother me anymore. It's like how you're called a genius every day, so you don't react when you hear the word 'genius'."

Sheng Fei glanced at her sideways. "Is that the same?"

Yu Sui nodded. "It's the same. I also paid money, a lot of money, more than you all paid. Spending money to get things done is natural. Even if I have no talent, Taiyi has to teach me."

Sheng Fei fell silent.

Perhaps because of the two years of cold war, this foolish younger sister had unexpectedly become sharp-tongued, spewing out a lot of twisted logic.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could become a debater at a famous school.

Sheng Fei said sarcastically, "With your dull brain, you learn things incredibly slowly. Teaching you is a waste of effort."

Yu Sui smoothed her hair. "If they can't teach me, then it's Taiyi's problem, and Taiyi's teachers are incompetent, not that I'm too stupid. Because I paid money, a lot of money."

Sheng Fei: "..."

Are you obsessed with this money?

Sheng Fei laughed angrily, gritted his teeth, and changed the subject. "Stay away from Gu Gan while you're under my nose. Otherwise, I'll either kick you out of the academy or throw Gu Gan out."

Yu Sui sighed. "Third Brother, Father sent me to help Brother Gu. If you ruin Father's plans, I won't be able to help you then."

"Don't try to threaten me with him," Sheng Fei said, completely ignoring her.

Yu Sui looked up at him and asked, "Then why don't you dare to go home, Third Brother?"

Sheng Fei said with a cold face, "I have too much coursework and no time to go back."

Yu Sui said "oh" and nodded. "That's good. I thought Third Brother disliked me, which is why you haven't been back for the past two years."

Sheng Fei's footsteps faltered. His expression was strange, but he didn't look back. After a brief pause, he continued walking forward the moment Yu Sui caught up.

Mu Mengbai was nowhere to be seen. Sheng Fei took Yu Sui to the Hundred Schools Hall, where many newcomers had already gathered.

Some newcomers to the academy, although they had tested their talents, had not officially joined a school. Others had only tested with one or two schools. Not all schools tested talent. To choose the school with the highest talent compatibility, a person usually tested with five or more schools.

Newcomers to Taiyi Academy had a minimum of nine tests, which was the current mainstream and a strong nine schools.

The open-air testing grounds of the Hundred Schools Hall were filled with hundreds of people. This was only the first day, and the tests would last for three days. Some people felt that the first day was too crowded and would wait until the last two days when there were fewer people to test their talents.

There were nine testing rooms in the hall. The doors were open. In the center of the main hall hung portraits of the sect's founder or representative saints. Tests were conducted according to the regulations of each school.

Those responsible for registration were all Thirteenth Realm Masters, and there were also a few Saints present.

Mei Chengyu slowly walked into the Ghost Dao testing room. The portrait hanging in the room was of his master, Sage Chang Gen.

As one of the few Saints in the Ghost Dao School who had cultivated to the "Spirit Transmutation" realm, it was reasonable to hang his portrait for recruitment.

The Thirteenth Realm Master assisting with the registration for the Ghost Dao School was named Zhang Xuanyu. He was recording information on the roster when he saw Mei Chengyu arrive and called out, "You're here at the right time. Help me watch for a bit, I need to pee."

Mei Chengyu sat down at the table.

Currently, the Ghost Dao School had few outstanding individuals in the academy. Many Thirteenth Realm cultivators had died in the war a few years ago, so they were eager to expand their recruitment in the past two years.

Even if talent compatibility is stuck at fifty percent, the Ghost Dao School is willing to accept students as long as they are willing.

Yu Sui was the first to go to the School of Names for testing.

Talent compatibility: ten percent.

Then she went to the Legalism School.

Talent compatibility: ten percent.

Next was the Military School.

Talent compatibility: ten percent.

She bravely tried the Yin-Yang School.

Talent compatibility: ten percent.

No matter which school she tested at, the compatibility was a stubborn ten percent.

Sheng Fei laughed, saying since it was all ten percent, she might as well pick one at random to play around with. There was no need to agonize over it, as she could only learn mediocre techniques no matter which school she chose.

Yu Sui, however, remained very composed. Ignoring the strange looks from others, she happily walked into the testing room of the Ghost Dao School.

The sunlight was strong. Mei Chengyu sat behind the desk, propping his head with one hand, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. He looked up at the person walking in against the light.

Yu Sui said, "I'm here to test my talent."

They both recognized each other, but there were no extra expressions or words.

"Place your hand on it," Mei Chengyu tilted his head, gesturing to an instrument on the corner of the desk. It was a black handprint mold connected to a dial for testing talent.

Yu Sui stepped forward and did as instructed, placing her right hand on the black handprint. After a moment, the dial spun rapidly.

Mei Chengyu stared at the spinning dial and smiled when it finally stopped at the number ten.

Although fifty percent compatibility was acceptable, ten percent meant a normal practitioner, which was unnecessary.

"Talent compatibility, ten percent," Mei Chengyu said. Fearing Yu Sui might not understand, he kindly added, "Too low."

Yu Sui glanced at him and extended her left hand, saying, "Can I try again with my left hand?"

Mei Chengyu lightly raised his chin, not stopping her.

Yu Sui switched her left hand and pressed down, her eyes fixed on the spinning dial without blinking.

Mei Chengyu and Sheng Fei were also watching. Seeing the dial still stop at ten, they both looked at Yu Sui again.

Yu Sui withdrew her hand and shook her head regretfully, "It seems we have no fate."

Sheng Fei walked out, sneering, "I told you to just pick one at random earlier."

Yu Sui gave Mei Chengyu an embarrassed smile and turned to follow Sheng Fei away, saying, "How can something like this be done at random?"

Mei Chengyu didn't pay it much mind. The next person to be tested had already arrived at the desk. But at that moment, everything in the room lost its color, and time slowed to an almost complete stop, as if forcibly frozen by some power. Yet, he could still feel his own heart beating slowly.

Except for Yu Sui and Mei Chengyu, everyone else was frozen in place.

An invisible Qi spread out from the Ghost Dao School's testing room. The entire Hundred Schools Hall, and even the nearby Military Strategy academies, could feel the turbulence of this Five Elements Qi.

People looked towards the Ghost Dao School's testing room one after another.

The ink on the portrait flew out of the paper, rapidly swirling and flying in front of Yu Sui, transforming into a three-dimensional body composed of ink lines. These extremely simple ink lines, however, outlined the majestic posture of a Saint.

Yu Sui's eyeballs moved slightly, but she didn't act rashly.

The ink Saint seemed to whisper something. No one heard his voice, but after he finished speaking, he dissipated. The Five Elements Qi that had swallowed the room's colors receded, and the ink returning to the paper stirred up visible airwaves.

Soon, the Military Strategy academies and the people in the Hundred Schools Hall would witness what Ghost Dao Spirit Transmutation was.

They did not see the Saint Chang Gen, nor did they hear any sound. When they returned to the present world, a consciousness was clearly transmitted into their minds. Everyone received the same message:

My disciple, Nangong Sui.

The Ghost Dao Sage Chang Gen had just accepted a new disciple named Nangong Sui.

When Yu Sui realized this "message" in her mind, she subconsciously looked back at Chang Gen's eldest disciple.

Mei Chengyu sat behind the desk, his posture unchanged. One hand rested on the table, and he squinted at the girl turning back at the doorway against the light. She truly knew how to shine.