Lin Shuang was at the five-thousand-layer academy by the Yuan River. With a single song, “Into the Dream,” she launched an area-wide attack. Even Elder Wang Heng was slightly affected, though at his peak of entering the Void, he barely let out a yawn.
“Alright, testing is complete. Lin Shuang, stop now.”
With a wave of his hand, he woke up disciples from the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Ten Thousand Monks Sect, his expression darkening. As their eyelids fluttered and they awoke groggily, their expressions changed dramatically. Lin Shuang, however, remained calm, pointing at Meng Zi and saying, “Yes, choose this option for this question.”
Meng Zi smacked his forehead and returned to answer the question. Each time he felt drowsy, the charm on the red string between his fingers would wake him up. In contrast, the disciples from the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Ten Thousand Monks Sect continued yawning and shedding tears even after being awakened by the elder, appearing listless, as if they had stayed awake for seven days and seven nights. The watching disciples felt a chill in their hearts.
[It’s over for the Hundred Flowers Sect.]
The key to victory between the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Clear Water Sect lay in the difference between Kong Miaoke and Meng Zi’s answers. Now, Kong Miaoke’s head bobbed like a chick pecking rice.
“Oh no.”
She was already prone to carelessness, and now with her mind clouded, it was even worse. The knowledge she usually understood became blurred. When faced with similar options, she struggled to distinguish them.
[The Hundred Flowers Sect… is done…]
“Lin Shuang can even use sound techniques to attack? What’s going on with her?”
Kong Miaoke’s curiosity somehow still took precedence at such a time. Although this was a critical moment for answering questions, her mind was like a hundred curious kittens clawing at her heart, making her extremely uncomfortable.
“Is this Mei Xin’s ultimate move, ‘Into the Dream’? Did she specially train for this competition?”
“No way. Although it sounds unpleasant, at least an A-grade mastery of this song requires years of practice to reach perfection. So, Lin Shuang, although an outer sect disciple, must have already been noticed by an inner sect elder and secretly taken as a personal disciple?”
Kong Miaoke imagined a very logical story, explaining away all her doubts about Lin Shuang.
“She must be a secret disciple prepared by the Clear Water Sect for the inner sect competition!”
Kong Miaoke happily stopped writing her answer, “I need to note this down and tell Elder Brother Bian later.”
[…]
[Mother of all.]
[Get a grip, you’re in an exam.]
[I thought Lin Shuang was seriously competing in answering questions, but actually she was taking the opportunity to target the Hundred Flowers Sect and the Ten Thousand Monks Sect, preparing for the next two rounds of team battles.]
[I thought Lin Shuang made Kong Miaoke sleepy, but actually she used the A-grade assessment of ‘Into the Dream’ to trigger Kong Miaoke’s curiosity, causing her to lose focus during the knowledge test…]
[…]
[Carelessness, drowsiness, distraction—three obstacles to the Dao heart. Kong Miaoke is far gone.]
[Lin Shuang… impressive. She’s only at the seventh layer of Condensing Yuan. She won’t be participating in the high-level or Divine Consciousness battles.]
[Thank the Clear Water Sect for not training her in divine consciousness (Shen Shi). I don’t want to face her in a battle of divine consciousness (Shen Shi).]
[Thanks to the Clear Water Sect for sparing my Shen Shi ‘life’.]
In the projections, countless disciples’ comments flew by humorously.
Zhao Keran watched, her eyes sparkling.
Senior sister did it!
Although only at the middle stage of Ning Yuan, she had reached a level that even the senior disciples at the Shen Shi stage wanted to avoid.
Senior sister.
Learn fastest, you deserve it.
Zhao Keran gazed at the image of Lin Shuang in the projection, nodding emotionally.
She also didn’t forget her duty, faithfully narrating, “Senior sister Kong Miaoke of the Hundred Flowers Sect, as predicted by senior sister, has now entered the stage of ‘self-hypnosis.'”
“Senior sister Kong Miaoke is openly losing focus during the exam.”
“Oh, senior sister’s song ‘Into the Dream’ has ended, but the person remains in the dream.”
[…]
[Self-hypnosis?]
“Let’s guess how long the ‘self-hypnosis’ state of senior sister Kong Miaoke, or elder brother Bian and senior sister Zhu from the Hundred Flowers Sect will last?”
Zhao Keran counted on her fingers.
“Will it last through the first round of cultivation exams, or until the end of the entire team battle?”
“Oh, you’ve unknowingly entered senior sister’s three-part ‘Into the Dream’ combo.”
[?]
In the projection, Bian Bochai had already finished answering.
But his charming expression now fell into the trap of literary obsession. Pressing his forehead, he pondered, “Lin Shuang is also skilled in sound cultivation, with such high talent. I can describe her like this in my account of single elites…”
“No, no.”
“This way would be better.”
Bian Bochai was also excitedly adding to his written report.
Beside him, separated by one seat, Zhu Jiao frowned.
“She actually knows ‘Into the Dream.’ Next time we face her, as soon as I see her take out the erhu, I should immediately use the ‘Four Seasons Flower Complete Solution.'”
[…]
[!]
With a buzz, a bell rang loudly.
Disciples from the three sects in the academy put down their pens and papers.
Several exam papers flew into Elder Wang Heng’s palm.
Soon, he revealed a subtle expression, glancing at Lin Shuang in the front row.
The academy stele was instantly updated.
— Clear Water Sect, completed three and a half incense sticks’ time, answered 324 questions correctly.
— Hundred Flowers Sect, completed four incense sticks’ time, answered 323 questions correctly.
— Ten Thousand Monks Sect, completed four incense sticks’ time, answered 268 questions correctly.
Bian Bochai and Zhu Jiao were immediately astonished and regretful.
Kong Miaoke’s ink brush fell to the ground.
The three serious faces from the Ten Thousand Monks Sect remained expressionless, seemingly having already anticipated this.
“Senior Lin…”
Bian Bochai stood up, looking at Lin Shuang with a bitter smile.
“So, you had already planned everything when choosing the cultivation knowledge exam? That’s why you deliberately chose the middle seat in the first row.”
This way, the erhu sound of ‘Into the Dream’ could maximally attack their two sects.
Lin Shuang gave no clear response, merely smiling gently at him, “My apologies.”
“If it weren’t for Elder Shanhai asking me to stand up and test the zither sound, I wouldn’t have done this.”
Supervisor Elder Wang Heng: “…”
“An A-grade,” Lin Shuang sighed, “I had to use my full strength. I only have an A-grade mastery of this song ‘Into the Dream.'”
Don’t believe you!
But in truth, it was Elder Wang Heng who had her participate in the evaluation of the Xian Yin Stone, and once more, it was Elder Wang who removed the Thousand Mountains and Rivers Screen separating the disciples.
From start to finish, she was merely following the elders’ instructions.
What was her fault?!
The three disciples from the Hundred Flowers Sect and the three from the Ten Thousand Monks Sect were left speechless.
Bian Bochai’s mouth twitched, “Senior Lin, I’ve been thinking about how to write your single introduction just now, but I couldn’t figure out how to start.”
“Now I know.”
Lin Shuang raised her eyebrows, listening attentively.
Bian Bochai unfolded his fan, sighing while shaking his head, “Lin Shuang, her wisdom is almost demonic. Only a thousand-year-old fox can match her.”
Meng Zi looked up in surprise.
Lin Shuang’s body trembled slightly.
Huangpu Yuan’s pen, playing between his fingers, fell to the ground with a clatter.
“Oh, ordinary cultivators can give up now. Don’t humiliate yourselves.”
Bian Bochai waved his fan, and inside it, a writing brush swiftly wrote.
[…]
[…]
[At least he finished writing…]
“Clear Water Sect, Hundred Flowers Sect, Ten Thousand Monks Sect, first round of team battle, Clear Water Sect wins!”
Elder Wang Heng looked toward the Hundred Flowers Sect and declared solemnly.
“The second round will be proposed by the Hundred Flowers Sect, which ranked second in the previous round.”
“Hundred Flowers Sect, please set the question.”
Bian Bochai put away his fan, falling silent.
Zhu Jiao and Kong Miaoke also stood quietly, remaining silent for a long time.
Earlier, they had boastfully claimed that the Hundred Flowers Sect would surely win the first round of cultivation knowledge, and then in the second round, when they set the questions, they would definitely choose another cultivation knowledge test again.
But now—the first round of written exam was already lost.
More importantly, they had fallen into Lin Shuang’s trap.
Not only was their spiritual consciousness no longer as clear as at the beginning, but they had also planted the seed of doubt in their hearts—that losing one written exam meant they would lose the second one too, and their confidence was gone.
This influence, originally not within their consideration, could be negligible for knowledgeable and widely-read cultivators.
But now—
“Lin Xiaoshuang, you’re really good at guessing answers.”
Meng Zi grinned at Lin Shuang.
“Earlier, out of 120 questions, at least 80 were within the scope you had me memorize.”
“I remembered the mnemonic and only got one question wrong.”
The three from the Hundred Flowers Sect remained silent.
[…]
Zhu Jiao had no choice but to look at Lin Shuang and sigh.
Then she turned to Supervisor Elder Wang Heng, solemnly declaring, “For the second round of the team battle, we choose—a three-way free-for-all!”
The Hundred Flowers Sect is giving up the written test!
With their spiritual consciousness clouded and Lin Shuang’s answer-guessing techniques in the exam, they had no choice but to give up.
If they took another written test, they would probably lose again.
Elder Wang Heng nodded, giving them a look that said, “You’re wise to do so.”
“The Hundred Flowers Sect sets the question. You have sixty seconds to discuss the restrictions for the free-for-all.”
With a wave of Elder Wang Heng’s hand, the three from the Hundred Flowers Sect were instantly separated by a mountain range rising in the void. They discussed quietly, their voices inaudible to others.
“This round will be a three-sect free-for-all.”
“The disciple who stands last will earn two points for their sect.”
“Additionally, two points will be awarded for each opponent eliminated.”
High defense, surviving, scoring.
Strong attack, eliminating opponents, also scoring.
Very fair.
Lin Shuang nodded.
As Elder Wang Heng spoke, the academy was filled with surging spiritual energy.
As the three from the Hundred Flowers Sect discussed the details, their spiritual energy surged, creating the phenomenon of blooming flowers everywhere.
The Hundred Flowers Sect’s Bian Bochai, Zhu Jiao, and Kong Miaoke all broke through to the seventh layer of Ning Yuan!
[They three have released their suppressed cultivation.]
[I knew it, the three from the Hundred Flowers Sect could have reached the five-thousand-layer level long ago; they must have been holding back.]
As this text floated by, the area where the Ten Thousand Monks Sect was located also experienced a surge of spiritual energy.
Replacing the previous fifth layer of Ning Yuan for the written exam, one of them now displayed the peak of the seventh layer of Ning Yuan.
The other two also broke through from the sixth layer to the seventh layer of Ning Yuan.
[…]
[So cunning.]
[If Lin Shuang had been naive, she wouldn’t know how she died…]
[Fortunately, our Clear Water Sect’s junior sister Lin Shuang is also a thousand-year-old fox.]
[…]
Lin Shuang was flipping through a novel when she saw the other two sects breaking through. Soon, she returned her gaze to the book.
Huangpu Yuan was also reading a novel about a girl disguised as a boy.
—Will she be discovered today?
Who knows how many times he had read it.
Meng Zi was frantically counting spirit stones, muttering.
“Winning first place, Xiao Hong said she’d give us any item from the six-thousand-layer exchange.”
“At least one hundred thousand spirit stones…”
“Winning first place, we can also get a tenth of the rewards from this round of team battle observation. At least another thirty thousand.”
“We must win.”
His spiritual consciousness, previously affected by hypnosis, suddenly shone like spirit stones, washing away the previous negative effects and becoming refreshed and renewed.
“Ding, Xiao Ai reminds you that the next round of battle will start in 33 seconds.”
“Please check your battle equipment.”
Lin Shuang nodded, put down her book, and checked her two broadswords, talismans…
Meng Zi also looked up from his pile of spirit stones, taking out a first-grade flying sword from his spatial bag for inspection.
[Combined move! Water Droplets Form a River—Inflation Technique, here we go again!]
“Won’t the Hundred Flowers Sect stop them?”
“It’s hard. Zhu Jiao can alter the speed of time’s passage. How can they inflate, and even if they do, what can they do?”
“Please check your spiritual consciousness and dantian condition. If insufficient, please adjust with meditation or pills.”
Huangpu Yuan took out several jade bottles, his slender fingers selecting several differently colored pills and putting them in his mouth.
He also gave some to Meng Zi and Lin Shuang.
“Please check your combat mood.”
Lin Shuang closed her eyes and entered a meditative state.
Huangpu Yuan took out a hand warmer and curled up.
Meng Zi scratched his head, “Oops, I just forgot to use my second chance to send a message to Elder Tan. Does the reward still count? This affects my current mood.”
Shui Qiantan, sitting in the spectator seat: “…??”
The other eleven sect elders looked at each other, half-amused and half-exasperated.
“These disciples of the Clear Water Sect this time are really—” beyond description.
Yu Lu Elder of the Hundred Flowers Sect respectfully looked at the puddle transformed from Shui Qiantan.
“Elder Tan, I have to say, you really know how to teach disciples… the methods of annoying people.”
Shui Qiantan: “…”
It had nothing to do with him!
These strange behaviors weren’t taught by him!
“Then let’s see whose technique is stronger—the Hundred Flowers Sect’s time techniques or the Clear Water Sect’s techniques.”
“Our Buddhist Sect’s ‘Lay Down the Butcher’s Knife’ technique isn’t weak either.”
Elder Wunan spoke, striking the wooden fish.
Lay Down the Butcher’s Knife.
No matter how clever Lin Shuang was, it would be useless.
Under certain heavenly-grade techniques, human-grade and earth-grade techniques were destined to be unable to win.
“Pity, Shui Qiantan. Your Clear Water Sect’s true heavenly-grade secret techniques are never easily taught to disciples.”
“If it weren’t for that, they would definitely win today.”
The Clear Water Sect’s true heavenly-grade secret techniques—if Meng Zi were here, he would definitely be thrilled.
Shui Qiantan transformed into water, flowing silently.
Standing beside him, Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu’s expressions were somewhat grim.
The true heavenly-grade secret techniques of the Clear Water Sect were in the exchange items of Zhen Chuan’s six-thousand-layer.
Only those approaching the Shen Shi stage could learn them.
That was something disciples at the Ning Yuan stage couldn’t touch.
The two of them looked at the flowing Elder Tan in the seats, their eyes flashing with fear.
If the disciples’ cultivation was too weak, they might completely lose themselves after transforming into water.
Even techniques like this, even the entering-the-Void-stage elders like them dared not easily attempt.
To this day, their master, Shui Qiantan, spent eight out of ten hours a day transformed into water.
And that time was constantly increasing.
From initially a few hours to most of the day…
They weren’t even sure whether his consciousness was present or not at times.
They also didn’t know whether, in the end, he would completely turn into water…
Green-clothed Duan Wufang looked at the image of Lin Shuang and the three others in the projection and silently sighed.
It’s not that they didn’t want to teach, but they couldn’t.
In recent years, the Clear Water Sect’s ranking in competitions had been low, and this reason was inseparable from that.
Faced with the supreme techniques of other sects, the disciples of Qing Shui Sect could only rely on marginal cultivation methods to fight back. Even if their cultivation levels were equal, their techniques were considered inferior, making it extremely difficult to win. Moreover, disciples from other sects practiced celestial-tier cultivation methods, which accelerated their cultivation progress far more rapidly than the disciples of Qing Shui Sect who practiced ordinary techniques.
But Duan Wufang shuddered at the thought of each disciple turning into water and quickly steadied her mind, not daring to continue thinking.
Finally, the scene in the team battle layer transformed. As Supervisor Elder Wang Heng raised his hand, the nine participants in the battle were instantly transported to an open area outside the academy hall.
Lin Shuang felt something and instinctively reached out, her expression puzzled as she lightly touched her lips with her index finger.
Then, Bian Bochai from Bai Hua Sect loudly declared, “Senior apprentice sister Lin, I’m sorry, but you’re too clever. The rule for this round of chaos battle set by our Bai Hua Sect is—”
“Everyone can only consume three pills.”
“And the three disciples from Qing Shui Sect are not allowed to speak or communicate through spiritual consciousness!”
“Unless I say you may.”
[!]
[…?]
[Can’t communicate during the chaos battle?]
[This… without communication, we lose the greatest advantage of a team battle, how is this different from a solo battle?]
“Sorry, junior apprentice sister Zhao.”
Outside the projection, the senior apprentice sister from Pear Blossom apologized to Zhao Keran.
“Now, Bai Hua Sect will teach Qing Shui Sect a lesson: being too conspicuous is not always a good thing.”
[…]
Zhao Keran, who occupied a corner of the screen, immediately showed a strange expression on her face.
Before the observing disciples and the Pear Blossom senior apprentice could ponder further on her peculiar expression, Elder Wang Heng from the Abyss River team battle layer had already pointed his finger at the ground!
A burning incense stick suddenly appeared, standing upright in the middle of the yellow earth.
He solemnly announced,
“The second round of the team battle, chaos battle—”
But before he could finish, everyone saw Lin Shuang, who had been silenced and forbidden from spiritual communication, suddenly turn around.
Three talisman brushes flew from her sleeve.
At the wooden gate of the academy she had just departed from, she swiftly inscribed a large ink character—cai (talent)!
[!]
Bian Bochai: “!?!?”
Zhu Jiao and Kong Miaoke instantly formed hand seals, “Be careful! Retreat!”
Bian Bochai immediately unfolded his folding fan, hastily retreating as if facing a formidable enemy!
“The chaos battle begins!”
With Elder Wang Heng’s command, Lin Shuang indeed quickly darted out from the academy door!
Her figure was like a sharp sword, slicing through the air and leaving only a shadow.
Meng Zi and Huangfu Yuan almost simultaneously rushed toward Bian Bochai of Bai Hua Sect!
On the open ground surrounded by mountains on all sides, the positions of Qing Shui Sect and Bai Hua Sect continuously drew closer!
Qing Shui……………Bai Hua
………………………
………………………
…………Monk Sect………
“The three sects originally stood in a triangular formation, wary of each other.”
The Pear Blossom senior apprentice immediately explained.
Because Lin Shuang and the others were moving too fast, she couldn’t keep up with Qing Shui Sect’s advance!
“And now, in an instant—”
Zhao Keran looked at her and immediately pulled out several first-tier swift talismans from her sleeve, slapping them onto the Pear Blossom senior apprentice’s mouth!
Pear Blossom: “!”
[?!]
At Lin Shuang’s single word “talent,” the Bai Hua Sect immediately sprang into action.
“Bian Bochai led the retreat, quickly increasing the distance from Lin Shuang, standing behind Zhu Jiao and Kong Miaoke”
“The gap between the two sects rapidly narrowed, almost crossing the Monk Sect’s distance…”
[!!]
Pear Blossom: “…”
She spoke at ten times her usual speed without pausing, almost suffocating.
She couldn’t believe it, her eyes twitching, as she looked down at Zhao Keran, who was wearing an innocent expression.
Touching the talismans on her mouth.
Zhao Keran shrugged, this was all something she had learned from her senior apprentice, “You’re welcome.”
“…”
[Damn, Pear Blossom has risen!]
[The Bai Hua Sect commentary has come alive! Thank you, junior apprentice sister Zhao from Qing Shui Sect!]
[Pear Blossom, keep it up like this!]
Everyone was amused by the interlude, but only for a moment.
Suddenly, in the team battle layer, on a vast white expanse, Zhu Jiao unfolded her scroll!
The three disciples from the Monk Sect also moved!
They practiced the Silent Chant, never speaking, but this meant their vision and spiritual awareness were far sharper than disciples from other sects!
At the sight of the character “cai” (talent) left by the Qing Shui Sect, the Myriad Monks Sect turned in perfect unison toward Bian Bochai of the Bai Hua Sect, who was being shielded by the three disciples!
Chaos battle—three sects battling each other, and the one standing last would gain two points.
The Myriad Monks Sect had previously performed poorly in the competition, ranking third.
This round, they must secure second place and aim for first!
After Lin Shuang left behind the character “cai” (talent), the Myriad Monks Sect immediately acted in unison, forming a cooperative stance with the three disciples of the Qing Shui Sect to attack Bian Bochai of the Bai Hua Sect.
‘I will tell you a piece of intelligence, which relates to whether you can enter the Zhao family’s door.’
‘In exchange, let my Bai Hua Sect remain stationary and be attacked by me for three seconds.’
‘One second.’
‘Deal.’
The previous transaction was vividly remembered.
The retreating figures of Bai Hua Sect suddenly halted.
Led by Zhu Jiao, they turned to face Lin Shuang and the others rushing straight toward them.
Zhu Jiao sighed, “Lin Shuang, my Bai Hua Sect does not betray you. We will remain stationary for one second as agreed.”
Saying so, she let her scroll fall to the ground.
Within one second, flowers of all seasons, layer upon layer, enveloped Lin Shuang and the others.
[Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, instantly rotating!]
[In the blink of an eye, Lin Shuang and the three have passed ten seconds…]
[Just like Wang Jian’s tiger roar layer, where the tiger’s roar lasted an incense stick’s time, it was instantly shortened tenfold!]
The three from Qing Shui Sect, including Lin Shuang, were immediately swept away by the endless flying flowers of the four seasons.
“Lin Shuang, ten seconds of your time have already passed.”
“As I speak, it’s already twenty seconds.”
Zhu Jiao raised her hand, Bian Bochai wielded his fan, and Kong Miaoke’s embroidery frame flew out!
“We have fulfilled our agreement with you and have not betrayed you.”
At this point, Lin Shuang and the three had only reached the middle, but twenty seconds had already passed. Not only had they not managed to attack Bian Bochai of Bai Hua Sect, they hadn’t even touched a single strand of his hair.
They had just approached the midpoint of the Myriad Monks Sect, which was even closer to them than the Bai Hua Sect.
Bian Bochai threw out his folding fan, ready to defend, “Come on, Lin Shuang, let me see your sword!”
But as soon as he finished speaking, everyone saw three streaks of blood spurt out on the arena!
The endless flying flowers of the seasons continued to dance, as if celebrating the bloodshed.
The petals fell to the ground, stained with blood, beautifully.
Bian Bochai’s charming young face was instantly splattered with a warm drop of blood.
“?”
[???]
[Quickly retreat! Zhu Jiao, quickly withdraw your time manipulation technique!]
[The time of the Qing Shui Sect is still accelerating—goodness, what have they done?]
[The endless flying flowers are blocking the view of Lin Shuang and the three, I can’t even see what’s happening in the battle!]
Lin Shuang and the three were enveloped by Zhu Jiao’s flowers, their figures obscured.
But the others were clearly visible in the projection.
Bian Bochai looked down in shock, touching the blood on his forehead and looking at the thin smear on his hand.
He touched his neat robe adorned with forsythia flowers today.
“Huh, this isn’t my blood?”
“Didn’t I get attacked?”
Zhu Jiao’s expression turned serious as she immediately looked toward the Myriad Monks Sect, who were closer to Bai Hua Sect.
Only to see three bloodied monk-robed figures vanishing!
[The Myriad Monks Sect’s Chang Nian has lost 60% of his blood, determined by the Abyss River Nine Thousand as seriously injured, immediately transported to the healing cave dwelling.]
[Please prepare 500 healing spirit stones, teleportation countdown, six, five…]
[The Myriad Monks Sect’s Chang Si has lost 80% of his blood…]
[The Myriad Monks Sect’s Chang Jing has lost 80% of his blood…]
Bian Bochai of Bai Hua Sect: “!”
The three disciples of the Myriad Monks Sect, whose figures were gradually disappearing: “…??”
Time flew, and the four-season flowers gradually withered.
Lin Shuang and the three, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, their sword-wielding figures stepping on the fallen petals, gradually emerged.
Meng Zi still maintained a half-turned stance, his blade slicing to the right, curving downward toward the Myriad Monks Sect.
Lin Shuang and Huangfu Yuan had already turned around, facing directly the Bai Hua Sect ahead.
—Qing Shui (3)
———————Bai Hua (3)
—Monk Sect (0)
The situation of the three sects on the entire arena was clearly visible to the observing disciples.
The projection was silent.
[Wait, I want to rewatch that part!]
[LOL, I just took a sip of water, and the Myriad Monks Sect is gone? Huh? Who’s gonna compensate me for missing the show!?!]
[Zhu Jiao’s move is too obstructive to the view.]
[Ah, today Bai Hua Sect commentary finally rose, but the visuals were bad. The most crucial two seconds were fast-forwarded tenfold by Zhu Jiao… I didn’t see anything, the monks are gone, and Qing Shui Sect got six points? What use are you! Bai Hua Sect projection!]
As she spoke, the Pear Blossom senior apprentice turned around.
Suddenly, on the Bai Hua Sect viewing stand, twelve spirit-forming disciples stood up in unison.
“Everyone, please calm down. We will now reverse the projection’s time.”
“And play back the tenfold accelerated time in slow motion, to see exactly what Lin Shuang and the three did on the arena.”
[!]
Bai Hua Sect has grown.
Because of Lin Shuang!
Suddenly, the team battle trial layer in the video seemed to return to the previous moment.
Zhu Jiao shouted loudly, ‘I won’t betray you, Lin Shuang—’
She then targeted Lin Shuang and the three still in the center of the arena, accelerating their time.
Instantly, Lin Shuang and the three rushed to the left of the Myriad Monks Sect, shortening the distance to Bai Hua Sect by half.
But the moment their time was accelerated.
In that instant, Meng Zi instantly drew two ordinary first-tier swords.
Standing in the middle, he slashed left and right toward Lin Shuang and Huangfu Yuan.
Under Zhu Jiao’s acceleration, in one second, Meng Zi’s aura withered, declining to Qi Condensation, but he quickly took a pill.
Almost as the Myriad Monks Sect was still preparing their moves.
Zhu Jiao had just retracted her seasonal flower book.
The three from Qing Shui Sect—under Lin Shuang’s thrown restriction talisman, isolating everyone’s spiritual sense—secretly completed their transformation!
Lin Shuang: Core Formation Ninth Layer Peak!
Huangfu Yuan: Core Formation Ninth Layer Peak!
Meng Zi: Core Formation Seventh Layer → Qi Condensation Seventh Layer → Core Formation Third Layer (after taking the pill)
In the blink of an eye, thanks to Zhu Jiao’s seasonal technique, they completed their energy-charging combination move!
But Bai Hua Sect was completely unaware, preparing to defend rigorously.
The Myriad Monks Sect, trusting Lin Shuang’s written talent, was preparing to join forces with the Clear Water Sect to attack the Hundred Flowers Sect.
But Lin Shuang, Huangfu Yuan, and Meng Zi suddenly turned sideways.
Simultaneously slashing their sword qi and blade techniques toward the Myriad Monks Sect!
They threw out the Five-Kill Formation Plate!
At this moment, the disciples of the Myriad Monks Sect finally sensed something slightly, their faces showing shock and disbelief, trying to defend, but it was already too late.
Several streaks of blood spurted from their bodies.
Under Bai Hua Sect’s Zhu Jiao’s time acceleration, the speed of Lin Shuang and the three’s sword swings was also doubled!
The Myriad Monks Sect had no time to defend at all.
It hadn’t even begun, and it was already over!
The figures of the three disciples from the Myriad Monks Sect instantly blurred, about to be transported out of this team battle layer.
Sighs.
Silence.
After watching the slow-motion replay, all the disciples observing from the viewing mountain were stunned into silence.
The sound of wooden fish from the Myriad Monks Sect’s viewing mountain instantly disappeared.
Elder Wu Nan on the elder seat had a twitch on his forehead and disappeared from his seat in an instant.
The time when the Myriad Monks Sect disciples were hit and eliminated was less than three seconds, shorter than the six-second countdown for their teleportation!
[…]
[How could Lin Shuang and the others carry out the same attack on the Myriad Monks Sect without spiritual communication?]
[Even in the slow motion, there was no sign of any communication. Lin Shuang didn’t speak, nor did she gesture?]
[Wait, what she wrote was ‘cai’ (talent), right?]
The slow-motion replay ended.
Returning to the present moment.
—Sorry.
In the projection, Lin Shuang stood on a vast white expanse.
Spiritual energy floated in the air, forming large characters.
She nodded apologetically toward the three disciples of the Myriad Monks Sect who were gradually disappearing.
—In the chaos battle, only Qing Shui Sect stood last!
The disciples of Qing Shui Sect on the viewing mountain instantly felt their internal organs tighten.
Their hearts surged with excitement!
Ten years ago, Qing Shui Sect ranked sixth, never making it to the finals, always at the bottom!
For so many years, only other sects had harsh words for them.
But today, finally, they had their moment of glory!
Qing Shui Sect is back in form!
Lin Shuang—a junior apprentice sister from the outer hall—how could she be so outstanding?
She spoke words that made their very hearts tremble.
“Sorry, but in the end, only Qing Shui Sect stands.”
On the viewing mountain, Dao Fa, sitting on a meditation cushion, couldn’t help but savor these words.
He showed a pleased expression.
“Sorry, Myriad Monks Sect, you were just a step ahead.”
The senior apprentice behind Dao Fa also learned.
“Sorry, Bai Hua Sect, let you stand a little longer.”
“Sorry, Shan Hai Sect, let you not even get a chance to appear today!”
“Sorry—”
The disciples of Qing Shui Sect on the viewing mountain were almost beaten up!
To their left was the fifth-ranked Shan Hai Sect from last year, and to their right was the seventh-ranked Yun Yang Sect.
Opposite them was the first-ranked Bai Hua Sect…
“Shut up already!”
“That was an ambush…”
“Pfft, in a chaos battle, that’s called tactics, what ambush?”
“If you don’t fight them in a team battle, are you going to invite them for a meal?”
“If we fight you, we don’t need to give you prior notice?”
“Deception in warfare is acceptable, are you stupid? Do you let evil cultivators notify you before they attack you when you go out!?”
The viewing mountain erupted into chaos.
The disciples of Qing Shui Sect were almost about to clash with other sects.
But in the projection, Lin Shuang was seen shaking the blood off her sword.
Each word was clear, floating above the arena.
—Next time, look carefully at the characters I write.
—Monk Sect, I have already notified you.”
Disciples watching: “?”
Monk Sect on stage: “?”
Bian Bochai of Bai Hua Sect on stage: “?Ah wait, you didn’t attack me! You didn’t write my name!?”
[!]
Lin Shuang casually pointed her wide sword backward toward the shaky wooden door of the academy that was now far away.
There, was the large black ink character she had written—”cai” (talent).
But the character ‘cai’ (才) inside the door forms the character ‘bi’ (闭)—shutting the mouth.
The Silent Chant, not Bian Bochai!
Everyone was stunned!
On the stage, off the stage!
So it was—
From the very beginning, she had told Huangfu Yuan and Meng Zi clearly: “Later, attack the Wanseng Sect practitioners who are cultivating the Silent Meditation!”
From the very beginning, she had clearly informed both the Wanseng Sect and the Baihu Zong exactly whom she would attack!
Yet no one understood, can you imagine how frustrating that is?
The Baihu Zong desperately defended themselves, even aiding her by casting the Temporal Seal to help her eliminate the Wanseng Sect.
The Wanseng Sect, as the target, misinterpreted the clues halfway and still tried to attack Bian Bochai without any defense at all!
Isn’t that ridiculous?
[!]
[…This wasn’t a sneak attack—it was a notification.]
[Yes, a huge notification, I testify.]
[So huge it blinded our eyes!]
Lin Shuang retrieved her broadsword, glanced at the three from Baihu Zong, and arched one eyebrow.
—Shall we continue?
Her silent actions had eliminated the Wanseng Sect,
And seemingly erased the consciousness of Zhu Jiao and the other two from Baihu Zong who were present.
How could she be so cunning, yet so open and aboveboard?
Cunning in the most obvious way.
And yet, they still fell for it.
Bian Bochai from the Baihu Zong looked at Lin Shuang, then turned to Huangfu Yuan and Meng Zi in disbelief.
“I finally understand why you two are still single.”
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
Meng Zi: “??”
“Anyone who travels with Lin Shuang must share her spirit and ideals. Either they’re extremely intelligent, or extremely simple-minded.”
Huangfu Yuan fell silent, lowering his eyelids.
Meng Zi, carrying his blade, nearly jumped up.
Are you kidding? Who are you talking about!
Who’s the simple-minded one here!
Offended, Meng Zi immediately jabbed his blade at Bian Bochai, “You’re the simple-minded one! Your entire sect is simple-minded!”
“You still haven’t figured out Lin Xiaoshuang’s flaw yet!”
“She’s someone who—if something can be done by a tool, she’d never do it herself!”
Just like during the Daoist Disciple Theft Incident, she even made Xiao Ai automatically reply to Qiu Qianqian, Dao Xi, and others for her farewells.
That’s exactly how she is—she exploits tools wherever possible!
Therefore, if there’s already a ‘door,’ she’d never waste time or spiritual energy creating another one!
Even with Meng Zi’s simple mind, following this key point, he immediately figured it out.
The correct answer was clearly ‘Cai’ (talent) plus ‘Men’ (door)!
“This is exactly how Lin Shuang differs from monkeys!”
Lin Shuang, preparing for her next strike, thought: “…”
Huangfu Yuan lowered his head, trying to suppress the smile at the corner of his eyes.
The three ‘monkeys’ from Baihu Zong: “…?”
Finally, the Wanseng Sect’s figure heading for treatment completely vanished.
Though unable to speak, Lin Shuang’s bright eyes fixed upon the Baihu Zong cultivators, her gaze unwavering and intense.
Perfectly clear in her expression.
Now, it’s your turn, Baihu Zong.
Zhu Jiao, Bian Bochai, and Kong Miaoke immediately inhaled sharply, their spiritual energy surging as they braced themselves!
Suddenly, Lin Shuang lowered her head and slapped her spatial pouch.
Huangfu Yuan did the same, and so did Meng Zi.
Instantly, over a hundred erhus appeared densely in this space!
—”Next, welcome to the Hundred-Person Symphony Orchestra.”
With a wave of her hand, Lin Shuang’s spiritual energy condensed into giant glowing characters hovering over the vast land!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage