Chapter Sixteen: My Beloved Teacher
Before Yun Yi could react, a powerful spiritual force suddenly pressed down on him, rendering him immobile.
Before he could see who had arrived, a middle-aged man in a white Taoist robe appeared before him.
“Qi Xiaotian has broken the rules. I will take him back to the sect for punishment.”
The man cast a cold glance at Yun Yi, then extended his left hand to seize Qi Xiaotian. At the same time, he tossed a pill into Yun Yi’s hand before soaring into the sky.
“This is a healing pill. Give it to him.”
“Yun Yi! We'll be waiting...” Qi Xiaotian opened his blood-stained mouth, hatred burning in his eyes.
Once the middle-aged man had left, Yun Yi regained his freedom.
Looking up at the spot where the man had just flown away, a trace of anger flashed across Yun Yi’s face.
“Sigh.”
He let out a deep sigh, then with a solemn expression, hurried over to Qian Mo and fed him the healing pill.
“Brother Yi...”
“Boss!”
Qian Duoduo and Lei Ling’er watched Yun Yi nervously.
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine!”
Yun Yi gave them a confident smile and began helping Qian Mo refine the pill.
Half an hour later, the unconscious Qian Mo slowly opened his eyes, seeing the three resting and meditating nearby.
“I—I, Qian Mo, am not dead!”
He jumped up from the ground in surprise and shouted.
“Old Qian! You’re okay!”
Qian Duoduo was the first to react, rushing to Qian Mo’s side, looking him over.
Yun Yi also awoke from meditation and smiled at the two lively companions. “How do you feel?”
Qian Mo scratched his head and chuckled, “Everything’s fine! I thought I was about to die?”
“Hmph! You still have the nerve to say that? Because of you...” Lei Ling’er pouted and recounted the whole story to Qian Mo.
“Yun Yi!”
After hearing everything, Qian Mo suddenly shouted and hugged Yun Yi tightly. Yun Yi was taken aback.
“Not like that, man! Don’t!”
He quickly dodged and coughed dryly. “Just remember it!”
Feeling Yun Yi’s troubled little glance, Qian Mo was confused.
“Let’s go! The trial is almost over!”
Four days later, after Qian Mo successfully defeated an experienced disciple, the trial came to an end.
In the sky, Wei Qing sat astride a Qingyan eagle, escorting everyone back one by one.
What puzzled Yun Yi was that Wei Qing’s gaze seemed different when looking at him compared to others—filled with a yearning for talent.
Upon the Qingyan eagle, Wei Qing slowly approached the meditating Yun Yi.
---
Feeling the arrival, Yun Yi opened his eyes, stood quickly, and respectfully cupped his fists. “Elder Wei!”
Unassuming yet composed—very good!
Wei Qing was quite pleased, then looked at Yun Yi and said, “Yun Yi, your performance this time was decent. Are you interested in joining my discipleship?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene erupted. Wei Qing’s strength was formidable—ranking among the top five elders. Many yearned to become his disciple.
“What? Why this kid?”
“Just got lucky?”
“Why wouldn’t you agree immediately?”
Those present didn’t know what Yun Yi had been through in the jungle these past days, so they resented Wei Qing’s offer to Yun Yi.
Yun Yi thought for a moment and replied respectfully, “I have not made up my mind yet. Please forgive me for not giving an answer.”
This caused an uproar nearby, with fingers pointing and curses flying at Yun Yi.
“You’re being ungrateful, kid!”
“If the elder won’t take you, how about me?”
Someone self-recommended with great confidence.
“You? Hmm... keep trying.”
“Yun Yi, I’ll be waiting for your choice.”
After speaking, Wei Qing smiled at Yun Yi and turned to leave, not even glancing at that person beside him.
“What did you just call my big brother?”
Qian Mo turned to glare at him.
Since Yun Yi had saved him, Qian Mo regarded him as his elder brother.
“Hmph! Who do you think you are?”
The other man sneered arrogantly, looking down his nose at Qian Mo.
“Heh heh heh!”
Qian Mo said nothing but threw a punch.
Three seconds later...
“Lord Qian Mo! I was wrong! I shouldn’t have insulted my elder brother! I was wrong!”
The man, now battered and bruised, knelt at Qian Mo’s feet begging for mercy.
“Hmph! Get lost.”
Qian Mo didn’t linger and kicked him away, then walked toward Qian Duoduo.
“Cool, huh?”
“Just so-so.”
Looking at Qian Mo swinging his green hair, Qian Duoduo thought he was handsome but kept quiet.
...
Arriving at the academy square, the senior students and elders of the higher grade were already gathered.
“Now, I will check your contribution points from this trial to rank you. The top ten may freely choose an elder.”
As everyone disembarked from the Qingyan eagle, Mu Hong’s voice rang out.
---
Yun Yi turned and caught Mu Hong’s teasing expression.
“I don’t think I offended her, did I?”
He frowned, puzzled.
In a short time, Mu Hong finished checking everyone’s contribution points, cleared her throat, and began announcing the rankings.
“Sister Lingling! Guess who’s first?”
“No need to guess! It has to be that junior brother Yun Yi!”
Feng Lingling’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“Tenth place: Niu Dafa, 1,000 contribution points.”
...
“Fifth place: Mu Qian, 2,000 contribution points.”
“Fourth place: Qian Duoduo, 3,000 contribution points.”
“Third place: Lei Ling’er, 3,000 contribution points.”
“Second place: Qian Mo, 5,000 contribution points.”
Mu Hong finished and looked at Yun Yi, a sly smile curling her lips. “First place: Yun Yi, 10,000 contribution points!”
The crowd instantly erupted—the 10,000 points were enough to buy a high-quality second-order spiritual artifact!
“But!”
Mu Hong’s tone turned mocking, “However, Yun Yi attempted to kill a fellow disciple during the trial, so his ranking is canceled, and 3,000 contribution points are deducted!”
The crowd was stunned.
“Elder, are you mistaken? My elder brother did that to save me!”
Qian Mo angrily stepped forward and explained to Mu Hong.
“If you defend him again, you’ll be punished too!”
Mu Hong’s gaze swept over the restless Lei Ling’er and Qian Duoduo, and she barked in a stern voice.
“Now, let’s begin choosing elders!”
Yun Yi’s face darkened. Whether he joined a sect or not was one thing, but losing so many contribution points stung deeply.
Soon after, the disciples made their choices. Qian Duoduo and Mu Qian chose Wei Qing; Lei Ling’er chose a veiled female elder surnamed Bing.
The elders quickly selected their outer disciples as well, but Yun Yi noticed all the elders looked hesitant when gazing at him. Yet, no one chose him.
At this moment, Wei Qing wore a bitter smile. Yun Yi’s fate was decided by vote, and since most agreed, his choice held no weight.
By the rules, the ten core elders could each pick only two disciples, and Wei Qing had already been chosen by two.
“Hahaha! What’s the use of high contribution points? Still no one wants you?”
Mu Qian stood next to Mu Hong, his eyes full of arrogance as he loudly mocked Yun Yi.
“You... follow me instead!”
A familiar voice with a familiar scent of wine made Yun Yi turn his head sharply.