In Feng Qi Shi's memory, Mu Xiang was an understanding girl who had expectations for her future. But now, she had suddenly become so indifferent, something he had never anticipated.
"You weren't like this yesterday."
"Before, I always thought it took years to grow up alone. Yesterday, I realized it only takes one night," Mu Xiang said. "I don't mean anything else by saying this; I just want to tell you not to disturb them anymore."
Grow up?
Mu Xiang's words reminded Feng Qi Shi of the selfish Mu An Xiao who only cared about herself.
Now, she was doing something that crossed the line of divinity, disregarding the consequences to save someone. It seemed this could be considered a form of growth for her! Feng Qi Shi thought. He looked at Mu An's back as she cast her spell, swallowed, and said, "Although her growth isn't as fast as yours, she has indeed grown."
"..." Mu Xiang didn't know Mu An Xiao well, so she didn't reply.
The Dagger sighed.
Heavenly Realm.
The moment the bell sound reached Shen Xian's ears, the hand holding the broom trembled. He immediately turned his head to look at Mu An Xiao, who had appeared on the lake. His eyes widened, and he suddenly remembered a celestial being who had practiced demonic arts, was apprehended by the Heavenly Realm, punished, and then banished to the mortal world. His eyes darkened.
"What are you looking at?"
Hearing the voice, Shen Xian quickly turned to Shi Yi, who was walking towards him, and asked, "How is your magic?"
Shi Yi: "Why are you asking this?"
Shi Yi was also known for his laziness in the Heavenly Realm. Every day, he made grand promises to his master, such as "I will cultivate diligently, I will go down to the mortal world to help Senior Brother Feng Qi Shi," and other fine-sounding words.
In reality, he hadn't done anything. So, hearing Shen Xian's question, he felt a pang of guilt. He was afraid Shen Xian would find out and tell their master, who would then demote him to Shen Xian's junior disciple, which wouldn't be fun.
"I'm just asking you, how is your magic?"
"My magic is not bad."
"Not bad," Shen Xian said the two words with certainty.
Shi Yi: "Yes, not bad." His eyes instinctively darted away slightly.
Shen Xian: "Very good."
Hearing Shen Xian's firm affirmation, Shi Yi's heart began to pound wildly. He gently tugged at his sleeve, and looking at Shen Xian's gaze fixed on him, he asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Look," Shen Xian said, moving aside with his broom.
Then, Shi Yi stepped forward, leaned in, and looked at the lake. His eyes widened: "Mu An Xiao!"
"Yes."
Shi Yi didn't realize Mu An Xiao was using demonic arts. Instead, he became agitated, "What are you trying to do?"
Shen Xian was taken aback by the question and stared at Shi Yi, who was inexplicably getting angry. "What do you mean by that?"
"Why are you looking at her for no reason?" Shi Yi was jealous.
Seeing Shi Yi's jealous expression, Shen Xian said frankly, "I don't have such a hobby. She used demonic arts, so she was locked onto by this lake."
"You mean..." Shi Yi processed Shen Xian's words in his mind and exclaimed, "This lake is reporting her!"
"Any celestial being who uses demonic arts will be reflected by this lake. Of course, Mu An Xiao is standing directly below the lake now," Shen Xian explained in detail.
"If other celestial beings see it, Mu An Xiao will be finished."
"Yes, so we need you to use your magic to clear away the image reflected on the lake." Alright.
"How do I clear it?" Shi Yi became nervous because he hadn't learned anything.
Shen Xian, unaware of Shi Yi's true situation, patiently began to explain, "Just use an illusion spell."
"Illusion spell?"
"Yes, this image is temporary. It will disappear once the time is up. During this period, you use your illusion spell to obscure the image on the lake. This way," Shen Xian said, "Mu An Xiao might escape this ordeal."
"What will happen if other celestial beings see it?" Shi Yi grew anxious.
"Mu An Xiao will die."
"Die?" Shi Yi's eyes widened. He then looked down at his hands, which held very little magic, and asked, "Can you…?"
"What do you mean by that?" Shen Xian frowned.
Shi Yi confessed honestly, "I'm sorry, I haven't been cultivating magic much. Recently, I've been... bragging."
"Bragging," Shen Xian recalled Shi Yi's cheerful reports to the elder about his cultivation and looked at Shi Yi's current sheepish and completely changed demeanor. "You mean, you can't do it."
"Mm."
"You..." Shen Xian didn't know what to say to Shi Yi.
Shi Yi said anxiously, "You can definitely do it, right?"
"..."
Shen Xian could indeed perform the spell, but his current status was only Shi Yi's junior disciple, and he hadn't reached the stage of learning this particular magic yet. If he acted, their master would surely notice immediately and appear. But with Shi Yi, it was different. The master would only think he was cultivating and wouldn't come.
At this moment, he felt conflicted.
Seeing Shen Xian's troubled expression, Shi Yi recalled their master's words that if his magic was inferior to Shen Xian's, he would be sent back for re-education. A heavy feeling settled in his heart. He asked, "Why have you stopped talking?" For Mu An Xiao's safety, he was willing to start anew.
Shen Xian: "Logically speaking, I haven't cultivated to this level of magic yet. If I used it, the master would notice immediately."
"Then, I'll say I taught it to you, but..." Shi Yi's eyes darkened, "I didn't learn it."
"If you do this, you'll become my junior disciple. Are you willing?"
"Honestly, since the day I returned with Master, I haven't cultivated properly. Senior Brother Feng Qi Shi cultivated spiritual energy in ten days, while I," Shi Yi gave a bitter smile, "couldn't cultivate anything. From that moment on, I knew I wasn't cut out for it, and I don't know what Master was thinking."
"..." After quickly replaying Shi Yi's words in his mind, Shen Xian said, "You're just too lazy. Master chooses disciples for his own reasons. When you speak like this, you're slandering Master's ability."
"I..."
"Since you know you're not as good as us, you should work harder. Therefore," Shen Xian pointed towards the lake, "you do it."
"Me?" Shi Yi doubted if he could really do it.
Shen Xian saw through Shi Yi's thoughts and said, "You must have remembered all the elements. Now, just practice."
"Can I really do it?" Shi Yi's heart stirred.
"You definitely can," Shen Xian nodded.
In the past, Shen Xian was actually very clumsy. Compared to Shen Yan, he was inferior in many aspects. But to become a role model in Shen Yan's eyes, he was more diligent than any other celestial being.
Gradually, he succeeded.
Thinking about his past experiences and his master's discernment in choosing disciples, he felt encouraged to motivate Shi Yi.
"Okay, I'll try." As Shi Yi spoke and was about to turn, he inadvertently saw other celestial beings approaching, along with the elder and Zhang Yan, and his eyes widened.
Mu Xiang has been changed into a cold and indifferent person, she said that one night of growth was enough. Feng Qi Shi was thinking about Mu An Xiao’s growth. In the Heavenly Realm, Shen Xian was worried about Mu An Xiao, who was using demonic arts. He asked Shi Yi for help, but Shi Yi was lazy and hadn't learned any magic. Feng Qi Shi encouraged Shi Yi to practice. As Shi Yi was about to try, he saw other celestial beings approaching, including the elder and Zhang Yan.