On a lavishly decorated carriage, Liu Yin Xiao was preparing to apply rouge to Yu Chun Dao's eyebrows.
His slender, fair fingers held the eyebrow pencil, his black and white eyes clear, presenting a scene like a painting from afar.
But as the scene shifted, Yu Chun Dao's presence made the painting lose its luster.
Liu Yin Xiao was in high spirits. It was rare for him to go out, and he naturally wanted to share more intimate moments with Yu Chun Dao as husband and wife.
However, as soon as he grasped the eyebrow pencil, a peculiar sensation made him daze, and the position of his stroke immediately went awry.
"Husband?"
Yu Chun Dao frowned in confusion. Liu Yin Xiao then snapped back to reality, quickly wiping away the excess mark and sitting beside Yu Chun Dao with a wry smile.
"What's wrong?"
"The first trial has been solved by them."
"So quickly?"
Yu Chun Dao was also surprised.
Although she hadn't expected this trial to stump everyone, she thought it would at least hold them up for a while, allowing them to delay their report.
She hadn't anticipated that in just a few hours, they would have solved the first trial.
This batch of disciples seemed even more outstanding than she had imagined.
"It's my fault for being careless, forgetting that he was among them. How could my little tricks fool him?"
Liu Yin Xiao looked annoyed. He had only just realized the crux of the matter.
He had made a small modification to the jade slip, which most disciples wouldn't notice, but that particular person was no ordinary individual.
Yu Chun Dao suddenly understood, but soon she frowned again.
"I always feel something is not quite right about this. It's a bit unfair to the other disciples."
Kunlun Academy was different from ordinary sects.
Within Kunlun Academy, everything was based on ranking. Disciples with higher rankings enjoyed the academy's best resources.
Lu Zai Ye's participation would undoubtedly cause unpredictable shifts in Kunlun Academy's rankings.
Liu Yin Xiao gently patted her hand, "My dear, there's no need to worry. The Dean had made preparations long ago, and some things are destined to be."
Yu Chun Dao glanced at Liu Yin Xiao in surprise, then quietly nestled into his embrace.
If that was the case, then she didn't need to worry too much.
...
Rong Zhou.
"We're almost there."
Feng Qing Yang stood atop the canopy of trees, his voice carrying through the layers of leaves to everyone's ears.
According to the map, the assessment point was in Mo City, Rong Zhou. Therefore, they had traveled from Shi Zhou to southern Rong Zhou, and Mo City was about ten miles ahead.
"Then let's hurry!"
Bai Shan's face was full of excitement.
He could already envision himself joining Kunlun Academy, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
The others also quickened their pace, and soon Mo City appeared in their sight.
The first city lord of Mo City achieved enlightenment through Confucianism, so Mo City was permeated with a strong scholarly atmosphere. Even the most common shops on the streets were bookstores.
As Xu Yi and the others walked through the streets of Mo City, they quickly drew the attention of the local cultivators.
They sized up Xu Yi and the others with amusement, subtle smiles on their faces, as if they had discovered something novel.
However, when Xu Yi and the others turned to look, they quickly lowered their heads, as if everything was merely Xu Yi and their companions' imagination.
"Are they looking at us!" Bai Shan's eyes widened in anger, gritting his teeth.
When he participated in the sect competition, he had also been observed by many people, but their gazes were mostly filled with admiration and respect. Unlike these Mo City cultivators, whose gazes held a hint of mockery.
"Let's go to the inn first."
Xu Yi stopped Bai Shan, who was about to confront them.
As newcomers, it was best to proceed cautiously. Although they had arrived at Mo City, the second trial was still unknown.
"Understood."
When Xu Yi spoke, Bai Shan immediately responded obediently, drawing scornful glances from two people.
There weren't many inns in Mo City. They had almost circled the entire city before finding a simple inn in the farthest corner.
Upon entering the inn, everyone instinctively frowned.
The inn looked ancient on the outside, and even more primitive on the inside, truly living up to its exterior.
There were no staff members inside, only a shopkeeper leaning against the counter reading a book.
The commotion of their arrival did not affect him. He was engrossed in his book, shaking his head and murmuring.
"Shopkeeper, shopkeeper!"
After Xiong Zhuang Zhuang called out, the shopkeeper showed no reaction. He had to raise his voice and call out again.
This shout actually caused dust to fall from the ceiling, leaving everyone speechless.
"Coming, don't rush."
The shopkeeper, dressed like a scholar, finally approached them with his book.
"Greetings, esteemed guests. May I ask if you wish to stay? All rooms in our inn are vacant, and you may choose any you wish. Apart from accommodation, our inn provides no other services."
The shopkeeper spoke politely, but the meaning behind his words did not convey sincerity.
"No other services besides accommodation? No wonder no one patronizes this inn," Feng Qing Yang muttered.
The shopkeeper's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard Feng Qing Yang's words, or perhaps Feng Qing Yang's words had no impact on him at all.
"Alright, we understand, shopkeeper."
Xu Yi smiled slightly. Mo City felt peculiar everywhere she went, which she found rather amusing.
As soon as Xu Yi finished speaking, the shopkeeper, still holding his book, turned around without hesitation and returned to the counter, resuming his engrossed recitation.
"This shopkeeper is truly..."
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang shook his head, unsure how to describe it.
"Alright, let's find rooms and settle down first."
The group went up to the second floor and found rooms for themselves. Their expressions changed again as they opened the doors.
Bai Shan, not believing it, came out of his room and opened another. It was similarly empty, with nothing else. There wasn't even a wooden bed.
"This can be called an inn!" Bai Shan said with disdain.
However, thinking of Kunlun Academy, he gnashed his teeth silently, and finally, holding his nose, walked into the room. He cast a dust-removal spell and took out a large pile of commonly used items, only then feeling slightly satisfied.
After tidying up the room, he eagerly went to find Xu Yi.
"Sister Xu, you're done tidying up already?"
Bai Shan looked at the lone prayer cushion in Xu Yi's room with some pity.
"Having a prayer cushion for my cultivation is enough."
Xu Yi glanced back at her prayer cushion, not noticing anything amiss.
This prayer cushion, though seemingly ordinary, actually contained a spirit-attracting formation.
Sitting on it to cultivate could achieve twice the result with half the effort.
"No, this is too simple. How about... how about you share a room with me!"
Bai Shan's eyes darted, and he quickly came up with a brilliant idea.
If Xu Yi stayed with him, it would not only bring them closer but also allow him to keep track of her whereabouts, killing two birds with one stone.
"Cough, cough cough!!!"
Xu Yi choked on Bai Shan's astonishing words, her face instantly flushing red.
What nonsense was this unlucky brat spouting!