Feng Ninghe was not foolish; she understood Zhang's intentions.
Zhang feared she might be timid and hesitant to compete, hence her gentle persuasion.
Feng Guangyao remained silent, his gaze occasionally flicking towards Feng Ninghe, a deep, inscrutable meaning in his eyes.
It wouldn't be bad to use the Hundred Arena Competition to show everyone how useless Feng Ninghe was.
A waste was still a waste, incapable of inheriting the Feng family.
Only he was qualified to be the Feng family patriarch; Feng Ninghe was only fit to be a decorative canary.
"Auntie is right. Participating in the competition is harmless. If I can't win, I can always run. I'll go and try," Feng Ninghe said.
Her clear voice carried no trace of emotion.
Feng Tongtong's eyes lit up instantly, a hint of malice creeping into them.
She could finally avenge herself and personally defeat Feng Ninghe.
The grudges in her heart could finally be settled!
Zhang's eyes curved, a smile gracing her face. "Ninghe, you have courage. Sparring among the younger generation will benefit you. You are, after all, a disciple of Immortal Xu. You can't always hide behind Immortal Xu and let people look down on you."
The First Elder frowned, a thoughtful expression in his eyes. "Ninghe, are you sure you want to participate in the Hundred Arena Competition? It is a competition, and accidents are common. No one can predict what might happen."
The Second Elder did not support her participation. He warned her in a low voice, "Eldest Miss, you must think carefully. Sometimes, admitting defeat doesn't guarantee your safety. These matters are beyond your control."
Feng Ninghe merely smiled and nodded firmly. "Elders, please rest assured, I know how to handle things."
The elders wanted to persuade her further, but seeing her resolute expression, they knew she had made up her mind and said no more.
It wouldn't hurt to let her try. After all, no one could defeat her. Begging for mercy might be embarrassing, but it was better than losing her life.
"By the way, what is your relationship with the Sixth Master of the Willow Face Pavilion?" Feng Guangyao asked, as if remembering something, his gaze fixed on her, scrutinizing her.
Her response to his question was calm and simple: "No relationship."
"No relationship?" Feng Tongtong was the first to disbelieve, questioning, "I've never seen that Sixth Master publicly acknowledge anyone. He publicly admitted you as his close friend in front of everyone. How can there be no relationship?"
Feng Ninghe simply raised an eyebrow, completely ignoring Feng Tongtong. She was somewhat surprised that Sixth Master would publicly acknowledge her as a close friend. In the end, it was just a chance encounter and a transaction. The Willow Face Pavilion was always mysterious, and this Sixth Master rarely appeared. Everyone thought Feng Ninghe had overstepped her bounds, and it was her good fortune to be friends with Sixth Master. Her silence made Feng Tongtong feel like she had punched cotton, her strength dissipating as it bounced back.
The elders instinctively glanced at Feng Ninghe again, but after a moment, they dismissed their thoughts. Based on Feng Ninghe's standing, it was difficult to establish a connection with the esteemed Sixth Master. He was not someone anyone could easily approach. Even if they, these old bones, were to intervene, they wouldn't gain much favor from Sixth Master. Perhaps, as Feng Ninghe said, Sixth Master's words were merely polite. The elders shifted their focus, chattering about the participants of the Hundred Arena Competition. Feng Ninghe, bored, found an excuse to leave. The Hundred Arena Competition was imminent, and even she needed to prepare.
After leaving the main hall, Feng Tongtong immediately sought out Zhang. "Mother, Feng Ninghe has also decided to participate in the trial. I must defeat her and stand out in the entire Hundred Arena Competition to show everyone my strength as Feng Tongtong!" Feng Tongtong bit her lip, her eyes emitting a faint glow, a few sparks dancing wildly in her pupils.
Zhang affectionately held her hand, gently patting her back in comfort. "Tongtong, I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, I've already sent someone to order pills from the Hundred Elixir Tower. They can help you boost your cultivation at crucial moments. You must enter the top ten in the Hundred Arena Competition to show the entire Li Kingdom how formidable the future Crown Princess is!"
News of Feng Ninghe participating in the Hundred Arena Competition spread like wildfire. To the spectators, it was just another spectacle to watch. However, they also wanted to catch a glimpse of her "demeanor" and see what was unusual about this disciple of Immortal Xu, and how useless the rumored cultivation waste truly was.
Shi Wan. Feng Ninghe was meditating in her room. She had set up a low-level spirit gathering array in her room, and countless spiritual energies were pouring in. As soon as the array was set up, a voice reached her ears.
"The spiritual energy here is so dense." Old Man Xu bared his teeth, a smile on his face, and enthusiastically sat down not far from her, beginning to meditate and absorb spiritual energy. Feng Ninghe did not mind Old Man Xu's arrival.
"Eldest Miss." Just as she was about to close the door, Chi Xia approached her, bowing respectfully. Feng Ninghe's gaze fell upon her. "What is it?" Normally, these maids of Shi Wan would not come to disturb her for no reason.
Chi Xia's face instantly broke into a smile, and she hurriedly said, "Someone from the Willow Face Pavilion has arrived. They say they wish to discuss the Beauty Preserving Pill with you."
"Willow Face Pavilion?" Feng Ninghe unconsciously repeated the three words. She had no bad impression of Sixth Master, and they had no real interaction. It wasn't to the point where they would discuss pills together.
Chi Xia's eyes were full of excitement, staring at her. "Eldest Miss, the Willow Face Pavilion has also sent a carriage to pick you up. In the entire Li Kingdom, very few people have such good fortune." Usually, these cultivators would eagerly go to the Willow Face Pavilion, but she had never heard of the Willow Face Pavilion sending a carriage to pick someone up.
Feng Ninghe hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Since someone from the Willow Face Pavilion has come, I will go and see." As she stepped out of Shi Wan, she saw a figure rushing towards her in a hurry. Feng Tongtong's delicate face was full of displeasure, her tightly clenched lips unable to hide the unwillingness on her face.
Feng Ninghe intended to ignore this woman, but Feng Tongtong quickly blocked her path, her eyes filled with suspicion as she scrutinized Feng Ninghe. "Feng Ninghe, what exactly is your relationship with this Sixth Master?" Her sharp voice carried a strong tone of interrogation, making one's ears uncomfortable.
Feng Ninghe gently rubbed her ears, raised her eyebrows slightly, and slowly uttered a few light words: "What business is it of yours?" In the past, Feng Tongtong had gone to the Willow Face Pavilion and was not only refused entry but also severely mocked by the cultivators heading there. Even now, she dared not go to the Willow Face Pavilion alone, lest she become a laughingstock. She never dreamed that one day, the Willow Face Pavilion would personally send a carriage to pick someone up, and that person would be the cultivation waste, Feng Ninghe.
These simple words infuriated Feng Tongtong. "How is it not my business? That is the Willow Face Pavilion. If you offend them, it will be of no benefit to our Feng family!"
"Which eye of yours saw me offending the Willow Face Pavilion? Are you blind?" She raised her eyebrows, her sharp gaze sweeping over Feng Tongtong.