A Grand Ceremony and a Painful Lesson

Stepping onto the lotus platform, as they crossed the sea of clouds, they saw the true appearance of the Xuan Nv Sect.

As the sight follows a ray of morning light that penetrates the sea of clouds and shines on the square of the Xuan Nv Sect, one can see that in the center of the circular square, four tall ice crystal pillars are carved with exquisite murals, marking out an area. The huge area seems to be made of ice crystals, with a smooth surface without the slightest flaw. At this moment, it is shining and reflecting the morning light from the sky.

In the very center of the grounds, a colossal, transparent crystal stood silently suspended in mid-air, revolving and drifting up and down like duckweed upon the water. It emanated a soft, mysterious glow, yet pulsed like a beating heart, as if imbued with a vibrant life force that dispelled the solemn atmosphere, infusing the entire plaza with a touch of vitality.

Encircling the crystal were nine colossal glazed lamps, each burning with a brilliant sapphire flame. These flames swayed gently in the breeze, yet remained unextinguished.

Around the plaza, tiered spectator stands ascended in layers, every seat completely filled. As Lin Mo cast his gaze, he saw nothing but beautiful women, a sight that left him utterly dazzled and thoroughly indulging his eyes.

At this moment, the sect’s high-ranking officials had already gathered upon the elevated platform directly in front of the plaza. Draped in pristine white immortal robes, their sleeves fluttered gracefully, like celestial maidens descending from the Ninth Heaven to gaze upon the mortal realm.

Leading them was a middle-aged female cultivator of stern and composed demeanor. Her features were as exquisite as a painting, and her eyes held an undeniable authority. This was none other than the Great Elder of the Xuan Nv Sect, Immortal Qing You.

Beside her stood several other elders. Some held horsetail whisks, others gently caressed jade pendants, all possessing an extraordinary presence.

A lotus platform slowly descended, landing on the open space between the plaza and the spectator stands.

Below, several people were waiting. Three or four individuals simultaneously extended their hands; light, seemingly spiritual energy, emanated from their palms, slowly guiding those standing on the lotus platform to a gentle descent. The lotus platform beneath their feet then gradually dissolved into nothingness, yet a residual breeze lingered, softly supporting them until their feet touched the ground.

With a crisp chime of bells, a person stepped forward before the crowd and announced loudly, “I am Deacon Gao. Behind me stands the Xuan Nü Sect’s ultimate treasure—the Test Stone, capable of distinguishing the grade of one’s spiritual root by color. That you have reached this place signifies you are paragons among people. Now, form a single file line and follow me into the arena. After listening to the Great Elder’s address, the official test will begin!”

‘The Great Elder?’

‘Lin Mo felt a flicker of confusion. Typically, shouldn’t the highest leader—the Sect Master—be the one to speak at such a moment?’

‘And… was the test truly going to be conducted before such a massive audience?’

Before Lin Mo could ponder further, the group had already formed a line and, led by Deacon Gao, slowly made their way into the plaza.

As they officially stepped into the very center of the plaza, Lin Mo immediately felt thousands upon thousands of gazes converge upon them. These stares were direct, unapologetic, as if they wished to strip them bare with their eyes.

Such piercing gazes caused Liu Ruyan to unconsciously grow nervous. She whispered to Lin Mo, “Wan’er-jie (TL Note: Wan’er is a common Chinese nickname for girls, and ‘jie’ means older sister), I’m so nervous.”

Liu Ruyan instinctively reached out to take Lin Mo’s hand, but remembering that Lin Mo disliked physical contact, she immediately withdrew her small hand. She then restlessly picked at her fingernails.

Her docile and adorable demeanor seemed to alleviate Lin Mo’s PTSD somewhat. He was no longer as terrified as he had been initially. Gazing at the timid little girl, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pity.

He couldn’t help but offer comfort, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid~ Come, close your eyes. Your ‘sister’ will tell you a good method.”

Liu Ruyan didn’t understand why Lin Mo wanted her to close her eyes, but she was obedient, and promptly shut her eyes.

“Ruyan, do you like puppies?”

“I love them! I have a big yellow dog at home; he’s so well-behaved and cute!” Liu Ruyan immediately thought of the big yellow dog at home who would wag its tail and wait for her by the schoolhouse door every day.

“In that case, just imagine that all these people sitting here are fluffy big yellow dogs, their tongues lolling out, their big, watery eyes shining at you, wagging their tails, eagerly hoping to pass the sect test and become new members~”

Following Lin Mo’s words, countless adorable big yellow dogs suddenly appeared in Liu Ruyan’s dark world, their front paws resting on the railings, tails wagging rapidly, barking “Woof, woof!”

Suddenly, the tension in her heart seemed to gradually dissipate amidst those incessant “Woofs.”

Only happiness, only anticipation remained.

“Wan’er-jie! It really works!” Liu Ruyan opened her eyes in surprise, wanting to give Lin Mo a big hug. However, remembering Lin Mo’s previous words, she restrained herself, merely flashing a sweet smile. “I’m truly not nervous at all anymore!”

“Right? That’s good then. My method is super effective~” Lin Mo’s eyes and lips stretched into a broad, brilliant smile.

Faced with this smile, Liu Ruyan couldn’t help but stare in a daze. Despite possessing a cold and exquisitely beautiful face, when she smiled, it was so innocent and carefree, as bright and captivating as spring sunshine—though her physique was too robust to seem truly feminine, it nonetheless instilled in Liu Ruyan a sense of reliability.

‘Wan’er-jie is so beautiful, and so gentle…’

‘For some reason, as she kept looking, Liu Ruyan felt her face grow warm.’

‘How strange. Why is my face hot? Could it be… a cold or a fever? But that didn’t feel right; she didn’t feel unwell at all, only that her heart was beating incredibly fast, incredibly urgent.’

Having successfully comforted Liu Ruyan, Lin Mo, conversely, couldn’t help but remain nervous himself. After all, the method he‘d just used was only suitable for innocent, carefree children.

Given the scale of this disciple recruitment, the Xuan Nv Sect clearly placed immense importance on it. Could someone like him, who had merely been ‘squeezed in,’ truly stand here?

The grand scale… how to describe it? It was like agreeing to go to a KTV (TL Note: KTV is a karaoke box, a common form of entertainment in East Asia.) to sing and relax, only to be dragged onto the stage of “We Are All Singers” (TL Note: A popular Chinese reality singing competition.) and told to relax by singing in front of a national audience.

This was utterly ridiculous.

‘Was it really appropriate for him to participate in such a grand disciple-acceptance ceremony? Shouldn’t he just find an excuse to make his exit?’

Lin Mo felt something was amiss, yet out of trust for Yang Po Po, he suppressed this doubt within his heart.

Though Yang Po Po could be muddled at times, she wouldn’t be so muddled about something as crucial as this, would she?

‘Right! He couldn’t doubt Yang Po Po. She had helped him so much; how could he still harbor suspicion? What was that saying? “Do not use one you doubt; do not doubt one you use.” Since he had entrusted Yang Po Po, he would trust her completely!’

‘Oh!’

‘That’s right, he was a man! His spiritual root would definitely not meet the Xuan Nü Sect’s requirements, so he would surely be eliminated, and then he could naturally make his exit!’

‘Exactly! That must be it.’

Lin Mo lifted his head, his gaze fixed resolutely on the Test Stone.

He secretly vowed in his heart that he would absolutely showcase his ‘true’ abilities in this test, ensuring he was thoroughly kicked out!

Once the system awakened, he would make it big and strong!

Or he would cultivate immortality himself, and make it big and strong!

Immortal Qing You slowly rose to her feet. Her voice was clear and cold, yet imbued with authority, like the sound of nature itself. “Today, the grand ceremony of the Xuan Nü Sect commences. All disciples present have undergone layers of rigorous selection—”

“Great Elder… this selection was quite simple; there weren’t layers of rigorous trials… we’re short on new recruits…” an elder beside her whispered discreetly.

“Ahem, ahem… Everyone, the selection doesn’t necessarily begin with the Xuan Nü Sect itself. Rather, for all of you to have witnessed the mundane and the splendor of the mortal world, yet still possess a firm Dao heart, and come to the Xuan Nü Sect to embark on the path of cultivation with us—is this not a passing of various trials in itself! Therefore, let us now welcome your final trial!”

Thunderous applause erupted like a tidal wave, stirring fervent emotions among the crowd. Even several of the accompanying girls couldn’t help but shed tears.

“Great Elder, what an excellent recovery; truly worthy—”

“Second Elder, inform the treasury: Fourth Elder will voluntarily forgo her spirit stones for five years.”

‘The Fourth Elder was instantly on the verge of tears, feeling utterly helpless. ‘I was merely being rigorous! If you have a problem, direct it at me, but don’t touch my stipend!’ she thought.’

As Immortal Qing You’s words faded, the atmosphere in the plaza grew increasingly tense.

The deacons began to guide the disciples, one by one, towards the Test Stone.

Each disciple placed their hand upon the Test Stone. The crystal then emitted different colored lights based on their spiritual root, thereby assessing their cultivation talent.

“Fan Yao, blue, low-grade. Disqualified.”

“Zhao Yue, dark blue, mid-grade. Qualified.”

“Ji Xue, purple! High-grade! Qualified!”

…

There was much joy and much sorrow. Some bounced with excitement, while others were dejected and disheartened.

Remarkably, the sharp-tongued woman from earlier actually possessed a “high-grade” spiritual root. Moreover, she was immediately accepted as a personal disciple by an elder.

At this moment, she resembled a victorious rooster, strutting off the stage with her head held high, chest puffed out, backside swaying, and a smug, cat-like walk.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to approach Lin Mo, deliberately giving him a scornful look and a soft huff. “How about that? A high-grade spiritual root! And accepted by an elder on the spot. Remember my name, commoner: Ji Xue—a being you can only look up to in the future~”

Ji Xue gloated, looking at both Lin Mo and Liu Ruyan, her gaze filled with disdain.

‘Watching Ji Xue, Lin Mo couldn’t help but feel that if she had a tail, it would surely be wagging so high it touched the heavens.’

However, since she was merely here to show off, and he had already made her suffer a loss earlier, Lin Mo didn’t bother to argue. Instead, he didn’t stint on praise, saying, “Truly impressive!” Lin Mo gave a thumbs-up. “To possess a high-grade spiritual root means you’ll have no worries on your path to immortality!”

Even Liu Ruyan, who had been hiding behind Lin Mo, stepped out to genuinely praise, “Sister Ji Xue is so amazing!”

Ji Xue paused, taken aback. Why was this their reaction?

‘Shouldn’t it be sarcasm?’

‘Shouldn’t it be passive-aggressiveness?’

‘Shouldn’t they be stubbornly trying to save face?’

The first praise she had ever received came from her opponents, the very people she had just humiliated.

“Irrelevant chatter can wait until after. Next test subject, Liu Ruyan, please come forward for testing!” The deacon, looking at the jade slip in their hand, urged.

“It’s my turn! Wan’er-jie, I’m going up.”

“Go, go!” Lin Mo cheered.

Noticing Ji Xue still standing dumbfounded, Lin Mo couldn’t help but feel a little strange. He waved a hand in front of her, asking, “Hey, are you alright? Why are you spacing out? Oh~ were you perhaps stunned by my beauty?”

Lin Mo grinned impishly, yet his face was so flawlessly perfect that even when he acted so roguish, he remained incredibly handsome.

However, Ji Xue was not spaced out for that reason.

“Why… why did you praise me? Aren’t we rivals?”

‘Hmph, you praise this person, and they’re still not happy!’

“Then… should I curse you instead?”

“Commoner, do you wish to die?” Ji Xue’s eyes narrowed, but more than threat, they held confusion. “Who allowed you to praise me? What is your objective! What do you want to do! What do you want from me?!” Ji Xue’s tone suddenly grew agitated.

‘Offering courtesy without reason is either a trick or a theft.’

The faint ache from the wound on Ji Xue’s back made her regard Lin Mo with even greater vigilance.

“Let me think, what do I want from you?” Lin Mo mused.

“Is it money? Jewels? Or spirit stones?” Ji Xue sneered coldly. ‘Sure enough, it’s always like this. Everyone wants her things, and only her things.’

Seeing Ji Xue so wary and aggressive, Lin Mo no longer felt like maintaining a peaceful front. A playful impulse surged, ‘Why not tease her a bit? It might help relieve my own tension too.’

Moreover, with so many people watching, she wouldn’t dare kill him, nor even lay a hand on him.

Thus, Lin Mo’s lips curved into a slight smile. Unlike his previous innocent and carefree grin, this one was like a gentle spring breeze. As he smiled subtly, the crimson hue of his lips, like a blooming rose, adorned his enchanting, almost demonic face, making him utterly captivating.

Even Ji Xue, despite her vast experience, found herself momentarily mesmerized.

Lin Mo extended a slender index finger, gently lifting Ji Xue’s chin, his eyes glinting with an inscrutable light. Then he softly spoke, “I just want to see you smile. Is that not allowed?”

‘Lin Mo has a problem!’

‘Lin Mo definitely has a problem!’

‘Otherwise, why would her heart beat so fast?’

At this moment, not even rouge could conceal the rising blush on Ji Xue’s face. For some reason, she wanted to flee.

She wanted to turn and run, without stopping for a single moment.

But her royal dignity would not permit her to do so.

It was a flash of golden light, dazzling and brilliant like the scorching sun, that finally restored Ji Xue’s rationality. She directly seized Lin Mo’s finger, speaking with a slight stammer and rising anger, “Com-com-commoner! Who, who gave you permission to touch me?!”

With that, she immediately twisted Lin Mo’s finger, breaking it.

‘Holy crap!’

Intense pain instantly shot through him!

Lin Mo suddenly snapped awake! ‘Damn it, I forgot! I forgot that these women are all incredibly skilled!’

He finally understood why the female leads in those idol dramas were always so delicate and weak. If they were as fierce as this demoness, twisting someone’s finger without hesitation, what kind of romance could they even have?

If the male lead had his finger broken in the first episode, or was directly crippled, a romance idol drama would turn into a crime procedural.

To still fall in love with someone after that, what else could it be but perversion?

‘But it served him right; why did he have to provoke her…’

‘He‘d almost forgotten, the people here were no less ruthless than Qiu Yue!’

‘Empress Ruyan! Your gentleness has deceived me!’

Thereafter, at the cost of one broken finger, Lin Mo silently established his tenth survival rule: Never flirt with any woman!