Failed Assessments and the Upcoming Saintess Selection

Five years later, the Blazing Spirit Sect’s assessment results noticeboard stood prominently in the sect square.

“Oh, dear,” she sighed, a wave of resignation washing over her. “I’ve failed this assessment yet again. I can only imagine what punishment Master has in store for me this time.”

Feiluo’s small face was etched with dismay as she gazed upon her results displayed on the noticeboard—

Feiluo:

Pill Refining (Fail), Examiner’s Comment: ‘This little one is truly audacious in her alchemy, practically dumping all ingredients into the cauldron in one go, as if deliberately trying to make it explode! A definite failure! Absolutely unacceptable!’

Talisman Crafting (Fail), Examiner’s Comment: ‘Having drawn talismans for countless years, I’ve never before witnessed runes so atrociously rendered that they resemble nothing more than earthworms wriggling across the page!’

Formation Arrays (Fail), Examiner’s Comment: ‘Transforming an enemy-confining array into a deadly killing formation is quite the feat; I’m prepared to declare you a master of chaos!’

Artifact Forging (Fail)…

As her gaze swept over the glaring, bolded ‘FAIL’ stamps emblazoned in crimson, and digested the examiners’ scathing remarks, Feiluo felt an overwhelming sense of worthlessness wash over her.

Ugh~

‘If only I had known, I would never have slacked off during lessons.’

She had, after all, made a firm promise to her Master that if her assessment results were satisfactory, they would finally embark on a journey outside the sect together.

Despite having been Master’s disciple for such a long time, the furthest she had ever ventured from the sect was merely the mundane mortal market at the foot of Blazing Spirit Mountain; she had yet to witness the world beyond.

She couldn’t help but wonder what it would truly be like, if it would genuinely mirror the tales spun in novels—where rakes accost beautiful maidens every ten paces, allowing her to swoop in and play the hero, and divine artifacts, long-forgotten, lay gathering dust on street stalls every hundred steps, just waiting for her to discover them.

Hmm…

‘What if there were simply too many beautiful maidens and divine artifacts to fit within my cave abode? Perhaps I ought to construct a dedicated storeroom just for them.’

As Feiluo’s mind wandered through these whimsical imaginings, a sudden pat on her shoulder startled her.

Turning in confusion, she was met with the sight of a grinning demonic mask looming large before her eyes.

Feiluo gasped, startled, and stumbled back several paces before finally halting, her gaze fixed on the menacing visage.

Standing before her were two maidens, clad in the same Blazing Spirit Sect direct disciple robes as herself.

One maiden possessed a tall, slender figure and an aloof demeanor, her flowing robes unable to conceal her graceful curves.

The other, a maiden of perfectly balanced proportions and a typical youthful build, clutched a demonic mask in her hand, a mischievous grin plastered across her face. This one was clearly a notorious prankster.

Upon witnessing the mischievous glint in the prankster maiden’s eyes, Feiluo’s cheeks puffed out, making her resemble an indignant pufferfish.

Her small fists clenched, she lunged directly at the mischievous maiden, yelling, “You despicable Hua Yingyue! How dare you scare me again! This time, I’ll beat you so thoroughly you’ll be picking up your teeth from the ground! I’ll make sure you can’t step out of the Pill and Medical Hall for three whole days!”

At her words, Hua Yingyue’s mischievous grin widened even further. She deftly sidestepped Feiluo’s incoming fist, then took hold of Feiluo’s small hand, leaning in to whisper playfully into her ear, “This Senior Sister, you see, would much prefer Junior Sister Fei to make Senior Sister unable to get out of bed~”

Hua Yingyue’s warm breath brushed against Feiluo’s ear, her voice a crisp yet slightly cloying murmur that sent an involuntary shiver down Feiluo’s spine.

Feiluo shot Hua Yingyue a sharp glare, then turned to the aloof maiden standing nearby, exclaiming, “Senior Sister Yan, just look at her! That detestable Hua Yingyue is teasing me again!”

Yan Kongqing seized Hua Yingyue by the back of her collar, gently pulling her aside. “Alright, that’s enough mischief,” she said. “Don’t we still have important matters to attend to?”

“Oh, but I simply couldn’t resist,” Hua Yingyue pouted. “Junior Sister Fei is just too adorable when she’s all flustered.”

Hua Yingyue offered no resistance, allowing Yan Kongqing to hold her without complaint.

“Important matters? What important matters?” Feiluo asked in confusion.

Hua Yingyue smoothed out her slightly disheveled robes, then announced, “Junior Sister Fei, have you already forgotten? Your birthday is in just two days!”

As she spoke, she retrieved a vibrantly colored gift box from her spatial artifact and presented it to Feiluo. “Ta-da!” she chimed. “Your birthday present awaits~”

“Thank you, Senior Sister Hua.”

Feiluo accepted the gift box, offering her thanks before posing a curious question. “But my birthday isn’t for another two days, Senior Sister,” she mused. “Why are you giving me the gift today?”

“Why, it’s to prepare for next month, of course.”

“Next month? Is there some grand event scheduled for next month?”

Hua Yingyue cast a surprised glance at Feiluo. “Junior Sister Fei, have you not heard?” she inquired. “The Saintess selection is about to commence, scheduled for next month.”

“The Saintess selection,” Feiluo murmured, a flicker of recollection appearing in her mind. She vaguely remembered her Master mentioning it during a meal. “I recall Master saying this is the very first Saintess selection since our Blazing Spirit Sect was founded!”

“Precisely,” Hua Yingyue affirmed. “Which is why I intend to enter secluded cultivation in the secret realm starting tomorrow! Even if I’m not ultimately chosen as the Saintess, I must at the very least ensure that everyone witnesses my exceptional demeanor during this selection!”

Feiluo nodded in understanding, then turned her gaze to the quiet Yan Kongqing beside them. “Senior Sister Yan,” she inquired, “are you also planning to enter secluded cultivation to prepare for the Saintess selection?”

Yan Kongqing shook her head. “I won’t be participating in the Saintess selection,” she stated. “After all, I am primarily an alchemist, possessing very little combat prowess. Even if I were to compete, I wouldn’t last more than a few rounds.”

As she spoke, Yan Kongqing turned her attention to Feiluo. “Junior Sister Fei, are you planning to enter the Saintess selection?” she asked. “Your cultivation is at the Nascent Soul stage, placing you among the top cultivators of the younger generation within the sect. Should you participate, victory is certainly not out of the question.”

Feiluo thought for a moment.

‘Saintess selection equals rigorous secluded cultivation preparation, followed by battling numerous senior sisters on stage. This would inevitably lead to a drastic reduction in playtime, and quite possibly, getting pummeled by those senior sisters until I’m left gaping and dazed.’

Indeed, the mere thought filled her with a sense of dread.

Feiluo swiftly shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. “The Saintess selection simply isn’t for me,” she declared. “It sounds exhausting, and having to fight a whole host of senior and junior sisters? No, thank you. I’ll pass.”

Yan Kongqing offered no further argument, understanding perfectly the unique temperament of her junior sister.

To put it charitably, she was diligently accumulating strength, biding her time for a future, explosive surge of power.

To put it less charitably, she was a master of procrastination, perpetually inclined to slack off. When lectured, she would confidently retort with a barrage of convoluted logic: ‘More slacking off, less cutthroat competition—that’s how everyone’s restless hearts can find peace. If everyone is tranquil, won’t the world achieve harmony? Therefore, the grand endeavor of slacking off begins with me!’

“Dong~ dong~ dong~”

The resonant peal of the bell signaled the arrival of noon!

Which meant…

It was time to eat!

Feiluo’s eyes lit up with sudden fervor. Clutching her gift, she turned and sprinted towards her cave abode, simultaneously shouting back to Hua Yingyue and Yan Kongqing, “Senior Sister Hua, Senior Sister Yan, I’m off! Master is still waiting for me to return for lunch!”

“Remember to open your gift when you get back!” Hua Yingyue cupped her hands around her mouth, shouting.

“Got~ it~!”

Feiluo’s elongated reply drifted back from the distance.

“Honestly, she’s truly number one when it comes to eating,” Yan Kongqing remarked with a helpless smile.

“But the ‘foodie’ attribute suits Junior Sister Fei perfectly, don’t you think it’s rather endearing?” Hua Yingyue said with a cheerful grin.

Yan Kongqing pictured Feiluo with her cheeks puffed out, eating like a tiny squirrel, and nodded in agreement. “Indeed, quite adorable,” she affirmed.

TL NOTE : There is a significant and unexplained inconsistency regarding the main character, Feiluo. In Chapter 1, Feiluo was explicitly male (referred to as “Brother,” “he,” “him”). In this chapter, which takes place five years later, Feiluo is consistently referred to as female (“she,” “her,” “Junior Sister Fei”). This abrupt change is not explained in the text. I have proofread this chapter under the assumption that the gender change is an intentional, albeit sudden, plot point as the novel is tagged under gender transformation. I have not changed the pronouns back to male, as that could alter the author’s intent.