Zanxing

Chapter Sixteen - Advancement (2)

The trial has concluded.

At the same time, the cultivators on the mountain, with bamboo baskets filled with flowers on their backs, flew toward the disciples of the Taiyan Sect at Wangxiantai.

The names of the cultivators were inscribed on the bamboo baskets with spiritual energy, so there was no worry about mixing them up.

Immediately afterward, Mushroom Mountain rapidly shrank. The cultivators still on the mountain hadn't reacted when their feet already touched solid ground.

As soon as Zanxing stepped onto the ground, she collided with a punch from Wang Shao, who angrily yelled, "Bitch!"

This punch didn't hit Zanxing; a disciple from the platform waved his sleeve, sending Wang Shao crashing to the ground. The disciple glanced over and said lightly, "Fighting and causing trouble in the trial area is prohibited."

This rule was quite good. Wang Shao could only seethe in silence as he was helped up by Duan Xiangrao, glaring viciously at Zanxing. Zanxing was unbothered.

On the platform, Zi Luo smiled, "The results will be announced in fifteen minutes."

The cultivators below began to buzz with excitement, asking each other, "How many did you pick?"

"Not many, just barely sixteen."

"So many? It seems my friend will definitely be admitted to the sect."

"Too flattering! I just picked them casually. What about you, brother?"

"Ah, I'm embarrassed—only eighteen."

"..."

It was like a lively post-exam discussion.

Those who remained on the mountain, with flowers in hand, still held onto anxious expectations, while those who fell midway or had their flowers snatched wore downcast expressions and left without waiting for the results.

Exam results are always a mixed bag. Hong Su stood outside the gate of the Taiyan Sect, waving at Zanxing from a distance, looking like a parent picking up a student.

Zanxing spotted a familiar face—Mu Chengxiao. The young man stood off to the side, lacking close friends, with only Liu Yunxin waiting outside for him. Zanxing asked, "How many did you pick?"

Mu Chengxiao frowned, "It's none of your business."

What a cold-hearted male lead; Zanxing decided not to engage further.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the disciples on the platform gradually ceased their movements. Zi Luo smiled faintly, stepping forward, "Now we will announce the results."

She extended her delicate finger and casually pointed. Instantly, a wave rippled through the air, revealing a transparent mirror hovering in midair. Countless golden lights flew toward the mirror, solidifying into shining names on its surface. There were exactly one hundred and twenty names.

"Everyone may find their names in the mirror. Those whose names are on the list will henceforth be disciples of the Taiyan Sect."

In an instant, the cultivators surged forward, eagerly searching for their names in the mirror. Those who couldn't read cried out, "Is there a kind person who can help me? I can't read! I'm Tian Datou—can someone check if my name is there?"

It was reminiscent of students checking their exam scores.

Zanxing also planned to look, but just as she took a step, someone grabbed her.

Turning back, she found it was Wang Shao.

Wang Shao's gaze was as though he were staring at a sworn enemy. "Do you really think you'll be on the list?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Zanxing retorted.

"Don't joke around!" Wang Shao shouted angrily. "You're just a waste who barely entered the first level of Qi Refinement using my spirit stones and pills! Even if you refined that demon core and got lucky in the selection, you can't possibly enter the Taiyan Sect. I'm telling you, Yang Zanxing," his eyes were wild, as if trying to convince Zanxing or perhaps himself, "you caused me not to enter the sect. Once I return to Yue City, I will make your entire Yang family pay a painful price! You will regret what you did today!"

Zanxing looked at the frantic Wang Shao, a peculiar feeling stirring within her. These words were originally said by Wang Shao to Mu Chengxiao in the original text. Yet now, he directed them at her. The plot seemed to be following its original trajectory, just with a different target. So, had she altered the storyline or not?

Steadying herself, Zanxing replied to Wang Shao, "I heard that in a hundred years, Yue City rarely produces a sect disciple. When a genius does appear, the whole city will devote its resources and efforts to cultivate and protect them."

"And so what?"

"The reason you are popular in Yue City is not solely because you are the son of the city lord but because you were the first genius to enter the Foundation Establishment stage before eighteen." Zanxing's voice was calm. "Thus, the citizens of Yue City have high hopes for you. Now that you've been eliminated, if I enter the sect, the city will take pride in me. You probably can't take revenge openly."

"Such easy words! Do you think if I can't enter, you can?" Wang Shao shot back.

Zanxing fell silent, pushing through the dispersing cultivators to look up at the floating golden names.

Li Er, eleven flowers... Duan Xiangrao, twelve flowers... Zhao Liu, seventeen flowers... Mu Chengxiao, twenty-three flowers...

Zhanxing took her time, her gaze continuing upward, while Wang Shao reluctantly squeezed in beside her to look.

...Yang Zanxing, twenty-one flowers, ranked sixty-eight.

"It's impossible... impossible..." Wang Shao seemed struck by lightning, trembling, unable to speak.

Zanxing turned back to him, "Now, do you still want my Yang family to pay the price?"

Wang Shao stared at the green-clad girl before him. In the sunlight, the dark marks on half her face seemed to blur in the golden light, and at first glance, she appeared just like the delicate girl from the past. But on closer inspection, she was completely different.

Yang Zanxing had entered the Taiyan Sect. Regardless of her cultivation level, she now had the backing of the sect, and the entire Yue City would be proud to have a sect disciple. No matter how dissatisfied he was or how much he hated her, he couldn't openly attack the Yang family. In a world that respects the strong, power speaks volumes.

The girl wore a smile, stepping forward. Wang Shao instinctively took a step back. Her voice was gentle yet contained an almost imperceptible layer of mockery.

"Young Master Wang, the hopes of the whole village now rest on me." She said, "You're out.