Bai Shan ultimately failed to achieve his wish.
Xu Yi easily dismissed him with a few words.
It wasn't until Xu Yi closed the door on him that Bai Shan stood outside, his face filled with bewilderment.
He seemed to have failed again.
Xu Yi was not as easy to talk to as he had imagined; in fact, she was quite difficult.
Normally, Xu Yi greeted everyone with a smile before speaking, appearing very approachable. However, only by interacting with her directly did one realize that Xu Yi's true nature was completely different from what her outward appearance suggested.
Bai Shan bit his lower lip and glanced back at Xu Yi's room before leaving indignantly. He would not give up.
Shortly after he left, a figure flashed past in the shadows of a corner.
Bai Shan's affairs were soon put aside by Xu Yi.
Because the next day was the first day of April, meaning they would have to start working towards the April rankings again.
When Xu Yi next attempted to ascend the tower, she learned that a record was left after passing the tower for the first time, allowing one to choose to start from that recorded level on the second attempt.
The vast majority of Kunlun Academy disciples chose this method to save time and take on more missions.
However, Xu Yi considered it and did not do so. She chose to start anew.
Although it would consume more time, each attempt at the tower was a learning opportunity for Xu Yi.
Xu Yi believed she did not need to waste more time on missions that were not helpful to her. It would be better to focus entirely on ascending the tower, perhaps even reaching a higher level.
Just as people speculated that Xu Yi would be crazily accepting missions, she chose to proceed steadily.
Teachers Li, Lian, Zhi Ming, and others who paid attention to Xu Yi all nodded with satisfaction upon learning of her choice.
Xu Yi had made a wise decision, and they resolved to cultivate her well.
Then, Xu Yi discovered her difficult days had arrived.
Every time she finished ascending a tower, she would be kept behind by the teacher responsible for that tower for individual instruction, only being released when she was dizzy and her spirits were scattered from learning.
As a result, Xu Yi spent less and less time in Courtyard 44, and even Yu Xiaoyu, Lu Zaiye, and others found it difficult to see her.
One day, just as Xu Yi was released from the Pill Tower by Teacher Lian, she received a message from Yu Xiaoyu asking her to go to the Mission Tower to collect her cultivation resources for the previous month and the current month.
Xu Yi's spirits lifted.
Collecting resources was always the most uplifting thing for body and mind.
When she arrived at the Mission Tower, she ran into two familiar faces.
"Senior Brother Sun, Senior Brother Dai."
Xu Yi greeted the two with a smile.
"Ahem, Xu, Junior Sister Xu."
Upon seeing Xu Yi, Sun Yue's expression immediately changed.
He replied awkwardly and attempted to pull Dai Sheng away immediately.
However, Dai Sheng was unwilling to give up the opportunity to befriend Xu Yi. While resisting Sun Yue's pull, he smiled and responded, "Junior Sister Xu, what a coincidence. Are you also here to accept a mission? You're late; the good missions have all been taken. If you don't mind, you can team up with us."
Sun Yue's eyes were almost spitting fire.
He already did not want to see Xu Yi, and if he had to team up with her, he might not be able to eat, sleep, or cultivate peacefully.
Fortunately, Xu Yi refused.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother Dai, but I am not here to accept a mission; I am here to collect my stipend."
Xu Yi had no intention of taking on a mission, especially since she was already short on time. Every assignment given to her by a teacher felt like a mountain, crushing her. She dared not slack off at all.
"So, Junior Sister Xu hasn't collected her stipend yet. You must be here for the first time. Luckily, I can lead the way for you."
Dai Sheng replied very earnestly.
"Then I will trouble Senior Brother Dai."
"No trouble at all, this way."
Sun Yue still frowned, dragged along by Dai Sheng, accompanying Xu Yi to collect her stipend.
He remained silent for the entire journey. By the time Xu Yi finished collecting her stipend, he was eager to leave but was still firmly blocked by Dai Sheng.
"Junior Sister Xu, where are you heading now? We can travel together."
Dai Sheng ignored Sun Yue's murderous glare and persistently tried to foster a connection with Xu Yi.
Just as Xu Yi was about to find a place to brush them off, she heard someone call her name. She turned her head and her eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Senior Brother Yue?"
Yue Hantian was very happy to see Xu Yi and strode up to her, his voice loud and clear, "Junior Sister Xu, are you also here to accept a mission? Why don't we team up and look out for each other."
Sun Yue and Dai Sheng exchanged glances upon hearing Yue Hantian's words, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
Yue Hantian's attitude towards them was not usually like this.
Dai Sheng subtly signaled Sun Yue.
See, he knew Xu Yi was not ordinary. Even someone like Yue Hantian was actively seeking her company. What were you being difficult about?
Sun Yue's brow was furrowed, and he remained silent, but his gaze was fixed on Xu Yi and Yue Hantian.
"No need to trouble you, Senior Brother Yue. I am here to collect my stipend and am just about to leave."
Xu Yi smiled, secretly anticipating Yue Hantian's next response.
"Is that so..." Yue Hantian feigned distress, then gritted his teeth and said to Xu Yi, "Junior Sister Xu, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. How about we find a quiet place to sit down and talk?"
It's finally here.
Xu Yi's eyes brightened slightly. She knew Yue Hantian must have a reason for seeking her out.
Her encounter with Sun Yue and Dai Sheng was accidental, but Yue Hantian's appearance here was likely deliberate.
She had seen someone hiding in a corner using a transmission disk earlier, and not long after, Yue Hantian arrived. This was definitely not a coincidence.
But what exactly did Yue Hantian want to discuss with her?
Curiosity piqued, she decided to agree.
"Then please accompany me, Junior Sister Xu."
Yue Hantian made an inviting gesture and then turned back to cast a cold glance at Sun Yue and Dai Sheng.
Sun Yue and Dai Sheng immediately froze in place. They understood this was Yue Hantian's warning to them.
"Senior Brother Sun, Senior Brother Dai, I will be leaving with Senior Brother Yue now. Thank you both for today."
Xu Yi cupped her hands towards them and walked out of the Mission Tower with Yue Hantian.
Not long after they exited the Mission Tower, Xu Yi saw two figures in the distance walking towards them.
Yue Hantian recognized one of the figures and explained to Xu Yi, "That female cultivator is Teacher Nalan of our Kunlun Academy. As for that man, I don't recognize him."
Xu Yi glanced at the two and immediately looked away, her brow furrowing.
The faces of these two felt somewhat familiar?
Had she seen them somewhere before?
But she had no recollection at all.
Teacher Nalan?
Nalan?
Nalan!
Xu Yi's mind went still. She suppressed the urge to look up again and searched her memory for relevant information.
She had indeed not seen these two before, but she had seen people who looked remarkably like them. To be precise, she had seen their ancestors.
One of Liu Jinghong's confidantes, Nalan Qingci.