The Unveiling of Ambition

‘Now is not the time to overturn the table.’ Lin Mo understands that neither he nor Mu Qingli has the strength to do so.

One was just a newly initiated Qi Condensation Stage disciple, and the other was a sidelined sect leader. Overturning the table? They weren’t qualified.

Lin Mo, recognizing the peculiarity of the steps, understood immediately: to win this gamble, he had to unleash a desperate ruthlessness precisely when it seemed least necessary! As long as he could bluff his opponents, victory would be within his grasp.

Lin Mo was betting on the value of his own life; he knew that if he threw himself into the fray with reckless abandon, there would inevitably be someone more afraid of his death, someone who would desperately strive to save him.

Before his true gender was exposed, Lin Mo’s talent was hailed as the future hope of the Xuan Nv Sect. Even if he were to attempt something extremely self-destructive, someone would surely intervene or even rush to do it in his stead.

Surprisingly, however, the one who accompanied him in this self-destructive act was Mu Qingli, who, for his sake, was even willing to relinquish her position as Sect Master.

Though Qing You coveted Lin Mo’s talent, she didn’t genuinely desire his death. Lin Mo surmised that if he truly risked his life, Qing You would be unable to restrain herself and would surely intervene.

Yet, Qing You’s reaction ultimately lagged by a beat; Mu Qingli appeared even more swiftly to intervene!

When Lin Mo saw Mu Qingli standing on the steps, a flicker of confusion crossed his face.

But Mu Qingli quickly mirrored his gesture, extending two fingers of her own.

Her usually aloof countenance rarely blossomed, but now a radiant, captivating smile illuminated her features.

That smile, like a warm breeze in early spring, carried the gentle warmth that melted lake ice, blowing directly into Lin Mo’s heart. This enchanting smile, at this moment, bloomed solely for him.

Lin Mo’s heart instantly pounded, his chest thrumming with a drum-like ‘thump-thump’. Ecstasy and exhilaration threatened to burst forth from his very being.

For he knew: the goal of his freedom had drawn another step closer!

His life-risking ferocity, coupled with his hesitant “confession” before ascending the steps, would be more than enough to deeply engrave the image of a “loyal disciple” into Mu Qingli’s heart!

The plan was a success! It was practically perfect!

While Lin Mo rejoiced, Mu Qingli’s heart had long since blossomed with delight.

After observing Lin Mo’s idiotic grin, she cast a provocative glance toward Qing You.

‘Did you see that, Qing You?’

‘This is why you’ll never snatch Lin Mo from me!’

‘He’s fallen in love with me! For me, he’d rather act foolishly! He’d rather risk his life! He just wants to stay by my side!’

Mu Qingli smugly tilted her head, flinging a scornful gaze towards Qing You on the ritual platform.

That look silently declared: “Look! This is my irreplaceable disciple~ Can you take her from me?!”

In a certain sense, Qing You and Mu Qingli shared a rather profound unspoken understanding; a single glance was all it took for Qing You to grasp Mu Qingli’s meaning.

Were it not for Xian Chengyue’s presence, Qing You would have eagerly torn apart Mu Qingli’s “triumphant face” on the spot!

Qing You had indeed miscalculated; she hadn’t anticipated that Lin Wan’er could be so utterly ruthless, daring to disregard life and death! This audacity secretly startled Qing You.

‘Possessing both monstrous talent and this level of ruthlessness… Lin Wan’er, I will have her!’

‘Mu Qingli, don’t celebrate too soon! Lin Wan’er will be mine eventually!’

‘Just you wait, the real show has only just begun!’

“All disciples have completed the ascent.”

As Qing You and Mu Qingli engaged in their silent rivalry, Xian Chengyue, the Hall Master of the Hall of Clarity, spoke with a voice as steady as a mountain, yet resonating like the booming of an ancient bell. The undulating air current rumbled and spread across the Sky Island Plaza. “All disciples, please immediately follow the elders’ guidance and proceed to the Hall of Clarity branch in the Central Plaza. This year’s rankings have been carved onto the stone stele; select your academies in order without error! With the exception of Lin Wan’er.”

With the ascent ceremony concluded, the disciples who had gathered at the entrance to spectate reluctantly dispersed.

However, the crowd had barely moved away before whispers erupted.

Lin Mo’s blood-stained, resolute smile upon reaching the summit, and the elegant, unrestrained demeanor that shone through his disheveled appearance, became the focal point of everyone’s conversations.

“To still dare to climb after all that, what a ruthless individual!”

“So, so beautiful! That appearance was truly so graceful! So captivating! Simply… too handsome!”

“It’s over! Even though she’s clearly a woman, I… I think I’ve fallen for her!”

“I declare Senior Sister Lin my new goddess!”

Waves of adoring whispers, like a delicate spiderweb, quietly spread.

These were all heard by the nearby Mu Qingli! Frost abruptly congealed in her eyes, and her fingers silently clenched.

Although murmurs of conspiracy and curses were also secretly circulating, Mu Qingli heard none of it.

She looked at Lin Mo, her eyes narrowed.

But before she could utter a word, Xian Chengyue’s figure, hundreds of meters away, suddenly blurred!

Before their eyes could even register her movement, she had already crushed the spatial distance like a phantom, her stern, cold silhouette materializing silently just half a step in front of Mu Qingli and Lin Mo!

There was no afterimage, no whisper of wind, not even a single speck of dust disturbed.

It was as if time and space had frozen, and only she moved through it.

‘Her sudden appearance truly startled me! Why do all these high-level cultivators enjoy this theatrical entrance?’

‘By the way, what does she want, getting so close all of a sudden?’

However, upon seeing Mu Qingli respectfully cup her hands, bow to Xian Chengyue, and address her as “Hall Master,” Lin Mo immediately knew this person’s identity was extraordinary!

He promptly knelt and began kowtowing.

“Lin Wan’er, there’s no need for that.” With a wave of Xian Chengyue’s hand, a wisp of clear breeze gently lifted Lin Mo. “This is a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and a healing pill. Consuming them will restore all your injuries as if new, and the remaining medicinal properties will further strengthen your body.”

Having spoken, Xian Chengyue produced a ring in her palm and, using spiritual energy, sent it floating before Lin Mo. “This matter, I handled incorrectly. I was too eager for quick results, which caused you to suffer. This storage ring is also a form of compensation; here, I offer it to you as an apology. After the Hall of Clarity event, I can grant you one request. You may ask for anything you wish.”

Xian Chengyue did not wear a stern expression; her face was exceptionally amiable and benevolent.

Seeing this countenance, Yang Po Po’s face suddenly flashed before his eyes.

‘No.’

“This disciple is terrified! I dare not accept such a grand gift!” He lifted his chin, deliberately exposing his blood-stained face, and cast a resolute gaze towards Xian Chengyue, meeting her eyes.

Lin Mo answered with resounding conviction: “Hall Master! This disciple knows their talent is extraordinary, and if good talent is like fine iron or steel, then without tempering by fire, it will ultimately be but a fleeting illusion! It would merely be a good piece of iron or steel, not a divine weapon! Hall Master Xian’s painstaking effort in making the ascent difficult was merely to better temper this disciple!”

As he spoke, Lin Mo’s hands clenched tightly, his knuckles turning pale from the effort.

No matter how one looked at it, Lin Mo appeared to be a peerless disciple who understood the profound intentions behind the challenge and was profoundly grateful for it!

What was clearly a torment, he had spun into a gracious act of tempering.

Left unchecked, anyone would be moved by his eloquent words.

Lin Mo confidently believed this to be true.

Yet—

“Exceptional talent, exceptional temperament.”

Xian Chengyue’s telepathic message, like a frigid deluge from the netherworld, pierced through his skull with every word:

“Only your ambition is too great! Little whelp—”

“Your tricks might fool Mu Qingli, but do not flaunt them before this Hall Master. Considering this your first offense, I shall not pursue it further.”

These words caused Lin Mo’s mind to explode.

As Lin Mo recovered from his shock, a sudden chill enveloped his fingers!

The bone ring, as if alive, twisted around his finger! Immediately after, a porcelain-white pill flew from the storage ring, piercing into his mouth like an ice-shard!

A warm current of healing instantly surged through his body, yet the bone-chilling fear in his heart froze that warmth solid.

In that instant, Lin Mo felt as though he stood naked in a blizzard.

It was as if he had already been flayed clean by those ancient, placid eyes!

“Though I do not know what you have experienced, pleasant words are far less important than sincerity.”

After this final message settled in Lin Mo’s mind, Xian Chengyue turned her gaze to Mu Qingli, who stood nearby.

Then, she directly grabbed Mu Qingli’s ear. “Sect Master Mu, you and Qing You, come with me.”

Seeing this scene, Qing You glanced at the group of disciples who had already walked away, then gritted her teeth, as if abandoning all struggle. She floated over to Xian Chengyue’s side, obediently lifted her long hair to expose her ear, and allowed Xian Chengyue to give it a sharp tug.

“I entrusted the sect to you, and this is how you manage it? A Sect Master and a Grand Elder, brawling openly in front of everyone? Both of you, come back with me!”

Subsequently, the figures of the three blurred and vanished from their original spot.

Only Lin Mo remained standing alone at the entrance.

The comical scene slightly alleviated his fear, if only by a fraction.

Just a tiny bit.

After all, he had witnessed something he shouldn’t have.

‘Knowing a superior’s embarrassing secrets never ends well.’