Since when was Chu Yu yours?

In an instant, the crowd erupted!

A level-ten Spiritual Root!

Su Ying was stunned too. A level-ten Spiritual Root, and a genius like this hadn't even counted as a supporting character in this novel?

[System, is there a bug?]

Ever since this mission began, Su Ying had felt that something was different.

[Host, the main system has reported no bugs,] the system said after running a check.

"Test result: level-ten Spiritual Root!" the senior disciple in charge called out in a singsong voice, his pitch twisting thirteen times in a single phrase, every word stunning the crowd.

Everyone sucked in a breath, looking at the purple-eyed youth and hailing him as a genius.

Disdain flashed through Chu Yu's purple eyes. Level ten was enough to shock them this badly? If he wanted, he could destroy this Spiritual Root testing platform in mere minutes.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Muchen's eyes on the dais, but his expression soon returned to normal. His cool gaze swept over the people below, and he said in a chilly voice, "Silence."

Everyone turned to the man on the dais. Cool and untouched by worldly dust, he had a completely different air from the genius with the level-ten Spiritual Root, but he was also handsome enough to take their breath away.

"Continue the testing," Xiao Muchen said.

[Tsk, tsk, tsk. Blatant jealousy,] Su Ying said.

[You mean the male lead? How is that jealousy?] the system asked, puzzled.

Su Ying explained, [Look, just now, everyone's eyes were on Chu Yu, including the female lead's. That upset Xiao Muchen, so he said "silence" to make everyone look at him before telling them to continue. That's jealousy. Honestly, though, without his male lead halo, Xiao Muchen definitely couldn't measure up to Chu Yu.]

Chu Yu stepped down from the testing platform, satisfaction flickering in the depths of his eyes.

Su Ying wasn't completely blind. He could let her keep one eye for now.

He was the most handsome man under heaven. Even wearing someone else's face, he was still the most handsome man under heaven.

Hearing that, the system added:

[According to the book, the most handsome man in this world isn't the male lead, but the principal male supporting character, Feng Moyuan.]

[So what? No matter how handsome he is, he's still doomed to be a supporting character. Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a miserable end he meets. Too bad I won't live that long. Otherwise, I'd really like to see how that great demon king ends up so wounded by love that he disbands the Demon Realm,] Su Ying lamented inwardly.

As she recalled, Feng Moyuan lost half his cultivation in the end. Heartsick and utterly disillusioned, he disbanded the Demon Realm to protect the female lead's peace. A hundred years of tranquility followed, and the world sang praises of the love between the male and female leads.

Chu Yu frowned. He would disband the Demon Realm for Ling Xian?

Absurd. Impossible!

When he'd looked at Ling Xian earlier, she'd been just like Su Ying: ugly. There was no way he would dismantle the empire he'd fought so hard to build for an ugly woman!

[Host, I have a question,] the system asked again.

[No questions allowed.]

[If you had to choose between Feng Moyuan and Xiao Muchen, who would you pick?] the system asked anyway.

Listening, Chu Yu grew curious too. Between him and Xiao Muchen, who would she choose?

[Tsk, is that even a question?] Su Ying answered without a moment's thought. [Bedding the cold, abstinent type would give me a real sense of achievement, but I'd still choose Feng Moyuan. The original author's description seemed to hint that he's really impressive in that department. Of course I'd pick someone handsome, capable, and full of tricks. A girl's got to think of her happiness~~]

Chu Yu's face darkened, then flushed.

She even knew about that?

Although he'd never tried it yet...

Her reasons for choosing him were bizarre, but at that moment, Chu Yu actually felt the thrill of victory.

Two hours later, the Spiritual Root testing ended.

As a genius with a level-ten Spiritual Root, Chu Yu joined several disciples with high-level Spiritual Roots in becoming Xiao Muchen's disciples.

When it came time to choose senior disciples to guide them, Ling Xian stepped forward first. Her eyes shimmered as she looked at Chu Yu and volunteered:

"Junior Brother Chu Yu, why don't you let me guide you? Unlike the other senior disciples, I also came up from a sect in the Lower Realm. That makes us something like fellow townsfolk."

[No, no, no!] Su Ying frowned and instinctively glanced at Xiao Muchen in the seat of honor. He hadn't moved, or even furrowed his brow. [Damn it, why isn't the male lead jealous?]

[Host, have you gone silly? Right now, the male lead has, at most, a tiny bit of affection for the female lead. He doesn't love her yet. You need to play matchmaker a few more times before he realizes he likes her. Only then will he get possessive,] the system reminded her.

[Oh, right.] Su Ying remembered now.

[Host, a side quest has arrived,] the system said.

Su Ying froze. She had just been about to fight Ling Xian over him. Why had a side quest popped up now?

[Side quest: express your love for Xiao Muchen in front of the female lead to stir her possessiveness. Quest status: automatically accepted. Time limit: one incense stick. Quest rewards: one hundred points and one prize draw.]

[What the hell? Why is there a time limit too?]

[Perhaps the main system has noticed that the female lead's trajectory is a little strange, so it needs a side quest to steer her back.]

Su Ying was speechless with exasperation. This quest wasn't hard for her, but doing it would mean destroying her image in front of that handsome young thing...

After a moment of silent mourning, she prepared to carry out the quest.

Then she heard Ping Qingyun say, "Junior Sister, how can you guide our junior brother?"

"Senior Brother?" Ling Xian's voice was sweet and soft, her watery eyes filled with confusion. "Can't I guide him? But Master said that if I found any junior brothers or sisters I took a liking to this time, I could guide them. Junior Brother Chu Yu and I both came from the Lower Realm, so..."

Su Ying grumbled inwardly, [Who here didn't come from the Lower Realm? Why pick only Chu Yu? Shameless woman. She clearly thinks my Chu Yu is handsome and has started lusting after him.]

System: since when was Chu Yu yours?

"But Chu Yu, he... oh, Junior Sister, his Spiritual Root is so exceptional, and you..."

Su Ying decided it was time.

She immediately hopped out to the side, looking thoroughly righteous and reasonable. "Senior Brother Qingyun, if Junior Sister wants to guide him, let her. It's her choice, so why stop her? Guiding junior disciples will only reduce the time she has to study the Dao with Master, but Junior Sister was never particularly gifted at cultivation anyway. If she doesn't mind having less time to cultivate, you shouldn't worry about it.

"I've never considered guiding any junior disciples, because I'm willing to devote all my time to studying the Dao with Master. As long as I work diligently enough, one day I'll be able to stand beside Master and attain immortality with him. Master, just you wait. One day, I'll walk shoulder to shoulder with you!"

A strange look rippled through Chu Yu's eyes. Walk shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Muchen?

What should he do? Suddenly, he wanted to chop off Su Ying's shoulders. Just then, he heard her inner voice again:

[Ugh, ugh, I've made myself sick. That tender, lovestruck hint should have worked, right? Ah, I'm truly pitiful. Now, not only will Xiao Muchen be disgusted with me, even that handsome young thing won't want anything to do with me.]