Chapter 19
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Chapter 19: Title
“Um, young master, Sister Ye, do you two… want to put on some clothes first?”
Of the three, Qiao Zhu reacted first. She quickly got dressed, left the medicinal pool, and moved smoothly away. By the time she spoke, she was already at a distance.
Without waiting for Ye Qingshang and Mu Huaiyun to sort things out, she turned and entered the quiet room. Since each room was for one person during quiet cultivation, she avoided the awkwardness, leaving Ye Qingshang and Mu Huaiyun red-faced and staring wide-eyed at each other.
The bottom of the pool was hazy and misty, making it hard to see clearly. Yet some bothersome things, ignoring the situation, were pressed skin-to-skin. Ye Qingshang froze for a moment. When she realized what they were, she wanted to throw Mu Huaiyun out. But since both were completely naked, it would be too embarrassing. After a battle in her mind, she decided to dress first and leave.
Poor Mu Huaiyun, just before falling, had been struck by two bolts of heavenly thunder deep in his soul, so painful he almost spat blood. Now he only wished to lie flat at the bottom of the pool, not caring how the world changed.
With the water swirling around him, he angrily raised a finger and said to the voice in his mind, “You… just wait!”
That night, the so-called peace of mind could not be regained because of the sudden disaster.
*
“Good morning, Sister Ye,” Qiao Zhu greeted her as usual.
“Good morning…” Ye Qingshang replied weakly.
Qiao Zhu smiled, covering her face, then handed her a pill, saying, “Calming Heart Pill, to restore your complexion. I saw you didn’t look well, and I worry others might underestimate you.”
Ye Qingshang replied, “You’re very thoughtful.”
Testing the inner core and cultivation levels was held in front of the Divine Hall. Before they arrived, they heard whispers; a large crowd had gathered.
The selection of spiritual weapons happened every two years. Since the Yunshan Sect had strict rules, its disciples behaved well, and visitors from other sects didn’t make noise. So in past years, there weren’t this many spectators.
Today’s big crowd was likely because of Mu Huaiyun, who had long been revered by the disciples as the admired young master of the Yunshan Sect.
Sadly for them, their young master was lost in thought and ignored the murmurs below.
“The top three are present; the inner core test begins. Please, Mu Huaiyun of the Yunshan Sect, step into the arena,” called Elder Feng, who managed the Divine Hall, loudly.
But Mu Huaiyun looked tired and clearly not focused.
Seeing no response, Elder Feng reminded him, “Young master.”
Mu Huaiyun did not react.
“Young master?”
After being called several times, Mu Huaiyun finally came to his senses and asked, “What?”
Elder Feng’s face turned red with frustration as he shook his head and said, “Since the young master is unwilling to test his inner core first, then by the rankings, let Ye Qingshang of the Frostbite Sect enter the arena.”
The inner core test used the Retroactive Formation. Test subjects entered the formation and cast their highest-level spells. Once the formation recorded the spells, it automatically measured their inner core levels and judged their cultivation strength based on the advanced spells used.
The formation\’s color ranged from white to purple: the stronger the inner core, the darker the color, and the higher the cultivation level, the brighter the light.
Ye Qingshang’s inner core was naturally strong, a rarity in the world. The formation showed the deepest purple for her. But because she was still young, even though she stood out among her peers, her cultivation wasn’t sufficient for the formation, so the light was only average in brightness.
Next was Qiao Zhu. Her inner core and cultivation were slightly below Ye Qingshang’s. The formation showed a red-tinged purple, and the light was a bit below average.
Finally, it was Mu Huaiyun’s turn.
Before he stepped into the formation, several intense gazes followed him. If those disciples had mastered the high-level technique of channeling spiritual power through their eyes, their stares alone might have pushed Mu Huaiyun to the brink of death.
The last time Ye Qingshang felt such intense attention was at the master’s crowning ceremony in her previous life.
The hypocrite was indeed living up to his reputation, she thought with an inward scoff.
If she recalled correctly, Mu Huaiyun’s cultivation test result in his past life had been similar to hers, but for the inner core, the formation had shown a slightly lighter purple.
Inside the formation, Mu Huaiyun clasped his hands and formed a rare seal—likely a secret technique of the Yunshan Sect. As he finished casting, the formation’s color shifted from white to deeper shades, finally stopping at…
Bright yellow!
Ye Qingshang stared in disbelief. She widened her eyes and looked again. The brightness matched hers, but the color was unmistakably bright yellow.
Mu Huaiyun’s inner core level was far lower than in his past life—only half as strong! How was this possible?!
\"Impossible! Why is he so weak?!\" Ye Qingshang blurted out.
Her words instantly ignited the Yunshan Sect disciples below, who erupted in anger.
\"What do you mean? Are you looking down on our young master?!\"
\"Exactly! Our young master is exceptionally talented. Even if his inner core is a bit weak, he’s still number one. You have no right to criticize!\"
\"How rude!\"
Standing in the front row, Qiu Huayi was overwhelmed by the noise. She raised her voice, \"A\’shang, the young master is highly skilled. Maybe you remembered wrong? Your earlier words must have been a slip of the tongue.\"
Then she sent a voice transmission to Ye Qingshang: \"A\’shang, we’re on Yunshan Sect’s turf. Our master hasn’t come. Given the situation, you should back down.\"
Ye Qingshang frowned.
Seeing the conflict escalate, Qiao Zhu moved closer and whispered, \"Our young master has always had a weak inner core. The sect leader traveled far and wide and spent a fortune on rare herbs, but nothing worked. Although he trains hard and his cultivation is high, the sect leader has forbidden us to discuss his inner core.\"
\"He was born with a weak inner core?!\" Ye Qingshang was even more shocked.
Mu Huaiyun, the proud golden phoenix from her past life, had been born with a weak inner core?
The strength of the inner core determined one’s cultivation limit. If Mu Huaiyun’s inner core was weak, his cultivation in this life might stagnate…
What had gone wrong? Why was he…
Mu Huaiyun shouted, \"Ye Qingshang! Enough! Why are you so fixated on a weak inner core? Or are you challenging the Yunshan Sect’s authority?\"
\"You—\"
Before she could finish, Mu Huaiyun turned away. \"Elder Feng, all three of us meet the requirements to enter the Divine Hall. Open the barrier so we can choose our spiritual weapons.\"
\"Yes, young master.\"
Elder Feng removed the barrier to the Divine Hall, and the doors slowly opened.
A powerful wave of spiritual power rushed out, accompanied by the ringing of weapons, echoing through the chamber.
