Chapter 1 The Beginning
The first place winner secured thirty-five points, while the second place had twenty-three, a full twelve-point gap!
If this were just an isolated incident, one might overlook it. But looking at the majority of cultivators below, most only scored in the teens!
Where had Bai Shengyi found so many demonic cultivators?
This was not only the question of the numerous participants in the assessment but also the query of Feng Wuya and the others.
After entering the city, Feng Wuya, Chu Tianle, Luo Feihua, Chen Qiyang, and Zhu Wu, who had all made it into the top five hundred this time, coincidentally chose the Chongya Inn. They quickly reunited with Bai Shengyi.
"Shengyi, oh Shengyi, quickly tell us, what did you do? Why do you have so many more points than us?"
Feng Wuya was so curious he was scratching his heart and lungs, incessantly pestering Bai Shengyi. The Reincarnation Brush, having just woken up, became depressed again.
Bai Shengyi saw that not only Feng Wuya but also Luo Feihua and the others were all looking at her. She then explained to everyone the methods she had employed in the illusion.
"That's brilliant!" Chu Tianle gave a thumbs-up.
Luo Feihua picked up the conversation, "Yes, why didn't we think of that? Shengyi, you're too meticulous!"
Zhu Wu and Chen Qiyang also chimed in their agreement.
Bai Shengyi said, "It was also a lucky guess. That's why I spent much less time finding demonic cultivators. If it were purely about strength, I might not have so many points."
Bai Shengyi was quite aware of her own standing. She wasn't favored by fate most of the time, nor did she possess exceptional luck. Moreover, her strength wasn't the strongest among these individuals.
"It seems you have some self-awareness! I thought you had reached the Golden Core stage, which is why you scored even higher than Brother Ximen."
A light snort was heard, and then a square-faced male cultivator walked in.
The moment he entered, he surveyed Bai Shengyi from head to toe with an extremely discerning gaze, then mockingly said, "A blind person, and not much to look at."
"Indeed, not much to look at. But still better than you, a fool," Bai Shengyi replied with a faint smile, not getting angry at his words.
This kind of person wasn't worth it.
"How can you speak so nastily? You're the fool! Your entire family are fools!" The square-faced male cultivator glared at Bai Shengyi unhappily.
Bai Shengyi chuckled, covering her mouth, "Only a fool would be so flustered and jump at the slightest provocation when their weakness is exposed."
She wasn't angry, but she had a short temper. If provoked, she would even dare to retort to a Golden Core cultivator.
"You..."
"Don't get angry and speak nonsense, Brother Li. This lady is my grandmother’s beloved, so please be respectful."
Sun Wuyi ran over from a distance, having overheard the conversation between Li Taiyue and Bai Shengyi. He was so startled that he quickly covered Li Taiyue's mouth, patting and pleading in a low voice, "Daoist Friend Li, don't blabber. We can't afford to offend this woman."
Sun Wuyi felt utterly miserable.
He had met Li Taiyue intending to team up with him after seeing his two brothers eliminated. But who would have thought that during a mere trip to the latrine, this fellow would offend the person they most shouldn't have?
Could time be rewound now?
Sun Wuyi, adopting a subservient posture, bowed to Bai Shengyi and said, "Grandmother Bai, it's been a long time. You're becoming more and more captivating."
"Sun the blind, is it? Your words are also becoming more pleasant to hear. For your sake, quickly take this fool away, otherwise, I can't control my temper."
Bai Shengyi said lightly, flicking her whip.
Sun Wuyi's heart trembled along with the whip. Ever since he was thrashed last time, he felt uncomfortable at the sight of the whip.
He didn't know what dark arts this woman had used. Although he had taken so many pills to heal his internal injuries and the visible wounds had all healed, they were of no use. His bones still ached as they should.
If he hadn't been able to move freely, he would have suspected his bones were shattered at the time.
Thinking this, Sun Wuyi quickly covered Li Taiyue's mouth and retreated, all the while subserviently saying, "Yes, yes, thank you, Grandmother. I'll take him away immediately, lest he taints your eyes, Grandmother."
However, after only a few steps, he turned back alone.
"What is it?" Bai Shengyi asked him.
Sun Wuyi stammered, "It's just… it's just that I wanted to remind Grandmother, um, I just saw Bai Murong with Qing Bu Li, and it seemed they mentioned you."
After saying this, he tiptoed and quickly slipped away.
"Your grandson recognizes you well. He even knows to come and report to you."
Feng Wuya sidled up to Bai Shengyi and grinned, "But that Qing Bu Li, is he from the Qing family? I've never heard of him."
"If you, who are so good at gathering information, don't know, then we definitely don't," Chu Tianle chimed in. "Look at the rankings, Qing Bu Li is third, only two points behind Ximen Hongchun. His strength should not be underestimated."
Furthermore, he was more concerned about another matter. "By the way, where is Sister Li? She's only ranked fifth, what's going on? And since she didn't go look for Bai Murong, why didn't she come back to find us?"
Bai Shengyi and Luo Feihua exchanged a glance, neither of them answering Chu Tianle's question.
Chu Tianle suddenly had a bad premonition. He frowned and asked, "Shengyi, did you and Sister Li have another conflict because of Bai Murong?"
His intention was to say that if that were the case, he wouldn't get involved. However, the tone made it sound like he was blaming Bai Shengyi.
Luo Feihua, standing beside Bai Shengyi, immediately became displeased, her clear eyes sweeping over Chu Tianle.
"Chu Tianle, are you questioning Shengyi? Then before asking Shengyi this question, please go and ask Sister Li what she did. Anyway, this time I stand with Shengyi!"
"I stand with Shengyi too," Feng Wuya quickly added.
Zhu Wu and Chen Qiyang also nodded urgently.
Having spent some time together, they had come to understand each other. People like Daoist Friend Bai generally wouldn't bully others unless provoked. On the contrary, that Bai Murong was too cunning.
Seeing that he was almost on the verge of being attacked and displeased by everyone for a single sentence, Chu Tianle quickly explained, "I didn't mean it like that. I was just asking. Shengyi..." He helplessly appealed to Bai Shengyi.
"Alright, I believe you didn't mean anything else." Bai Shengyi frowned, rubbing her forehead as she smoothed things over. Then, she recounted what had happened earlier to everyone.
She said, "If you encounter Bai Murong and Qin Zhao later, please be cautious. I fear you might be implicated because of me."
"Neither of them is good. But the most dangerous one is you, Shengyi. How about we team up for the fifth trial?" Luo Feihua suggested.
According to the information leaked earlier, the fifth trial was supposed to be a two-person team mode.
When Luo Feihua said this, Chu Tianle was the first to disagree.
"No! Shengyi is my teammate!" He wanted to use the opportunity of teaming up to try and ease the relationship between Shengyi and Sister Li. He felt that Sister Li must have misunderstood some things.