The Talisman Competition began as scheduled.
Since making talismans was scarcely any easier than refining pills, a great many disciples had entered.
Ming Yun was still among them.
Not far away, Ming Yun wore an utterly aloof expression. Gone was her former pitiful look; she was cold and unapproachable.
However, noticeably fewer people surrounded her than before.
Li Yishi was still among them.
His presence this time was only natural, though, since talisman crafting was the secondary discipline he practiced.
He was also one of the contestants representing the Water Moon School.
Yet he was not with the Water Moon School's group at the moment. Instead, he had sidled up to Ming Yun and was saying something to her.
Before long, the drawing of lots began.
As luck would have it, the Water Moon School was lined up right behind the Azure Tide Sect.
Li Yishi was also standing directly behind Su Jiu.
After drawing her lot, Su Jiu walked straight past Li Yishi. He could not help taking a few extra looks at this girl who resembled Ming Yun so closely, his brows drawing together slightly.
This girl was far too cold. In his view, Ming Yun's words back then had been well-intentioned. After all, she had only tried to persuade her because she wanted her younger sister to acknowledge her ancestors and return to the family.
Who could have imagined that the attempt to acknowledge their kinship would fail and lead to such a terrible scandal?
But that wasn't Ming Yun's fault, was it?
Ming Yun had been misled by that married couple, too. She herself had done nothing wrong.
Yet this misunderstanding had left Ming Yun in such a difficult position.
As for this female cultivator named Su Jiu, she had chosen to watch coldly from the