Wei Congling did not answer, but said, "I advised you not to live here. If you have trouble in the future, I won't help you."
Yet, when Yan Jiaojiao had been unwell just now, she had clearly gotten up. Although she had mocked her, Yan Jiaojiao could tell that she had intended to come over and check on her.
Yan Jiaojiao then smiled, "According to you, they didn't intend to let me off anyway. After all, it was they who arranged for me to be here, and there are quite a few people who dislike me."
The bird that sticks out gets shot. Yan Jiaojiao understood this principle. Her actions before the admission ceremony, though earning her applause, had offended too many powerful figures in the Gonan Academy, so it was to be expected that she would face ostracism and retaliation.
But why was Wei Congling targeted by everyone? To the point of living in isolation in her room, not interacting with others, and constantly staying vigilant – that must be exhausting.
While Yan Jiaojiao was pondering, Wei Congling had already turned over and was facing away from her.
Yan Jiaojiao said no more and returned to her bed, sitting cross-legged to cultivate.
Since taking the God Devouring Grass, the spiritual energy within Yan Jiaojiao's body had loosened considerably. With the foundation of Orange Tier One, the pain of circulating the heavenly cycle had already lessened significantly, allowing her to speed up her progress.
Unknowingly, the sky had begun to lighten. Yan Jiaojiao had been cultivating for more than half the night. When she stopped, she felt a slight fatigue, but it did not affect her cheerful mood, as this cultivation session was far stronger than any previous one.
Yan Jiaojiao got out of bed with a sigh of relief. The woman opposite was still lying on her bed. Yan Jiaojiao did not concern herself with others' affairs and turned to leave the room, taking a walk around the Gonan Academy to familiarize herself with the terrain.
Just as she was about to look elsewhere, she saw Wang Jing Shuang walking towards her, looking extremely displeased. "The Sect Leader wants to see you at the Hall of Discussion. Why are you running around the academy when you have nothing to do? You must be bored to death."
While wandering around, Yan Jiaojiao had also heard some things. She now understood that Wang Jing Shuang was the senior sister who had brought her in. All the initial arrangements were handled by her. Many senior brothers and sisters liked to give newly admitted disciples a tough time to make them obedient.
It was likely that Wang Jing Shuang giving Yan Jiaojiao a laxative last night was for this very reason.
After last night's incident, Wang Jing Shuang was naturally very displeased with Yan Jiaojiao, which was why she had to personally deliver the message. This made her even more unhappy.
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't be bothered to talk to her. In her eyes, Wang Jing Shuang was rather common, not very intelligent, and her cultivation talent was also ordinary. She was no threat, and therefore, Yan Jiaojiao did not need to waste her energy on such petty squabbles.
Without further ado, Yan Jiaojiao turned and headed towards the Hall of Discussion.
"No manners!" Wang Jing Shuang stomped her feet furiously behind her.
Yan Jiaojiao looked back when she heard this. Wang Jing Shuang was once again intimidated by the imposing aura that emanated from her and immediately shut her mouth, not even daring to meet her gaze.
Clearly, she was a coward who bullied the weak and feared the strong.
Yan Jiaojiao ignored her and left directly.
Inside the Hall of Discussion, Yan Jiaojiao saw that all five Sect Leaders were present as soon as she arrived. Shangguan Yuan gave her a meaningful look, and Yan Jiaojiao stood at the entrance.
Luo Guiyuan picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, then stroked the lid of the cup before setting it down and saying to Yan Jiaojiao, "You may come in."
Yan Jiaojiao pursed her lips silently, thinking these people from Gonan Academy were truly pretentious.
Shangguan Yuan sensed her displeasure. As Yan Jiaojiao walked in, he got straight to the point, "We have investigated the matter of the demon race appearing on the assessment grounds and have discussed it."
Yan Jiaojiao stood silently.
Luo Guiyuan then said, "Since you brought it up, we have also called you here to listen."
So, was she supposed to express gratitude?
Yan Jiaojiao coldly met Luo Guiyuan's gaze.
As expected, Luo Guiyuan became displeased again, glaring at the motionless Yan Jiaojiao with dissatisfaction.
Yan Jiaojiao shifted her gaze, pretending not to see.
Shangguan Yuan then said, "Based on the information you provided, we have thoroughly investigated Yan Ruxue and found no trace of demon aura on her. Therefore, we cannot prove she colluded with the demon race, nor can we revoke her assessment results. She can continue to cultivate in the Fire Faction."
Demons had a special aura, just as demons had demonic energy and ghosts had ghostly energy. People who had come into contact with them would retain corresponding traces of their aura.
However, the enchanting woman that night had no demonic aura, and even Yan Jiaojiao, who had been in close proximity to them, had not detected any. Thus, it was not surprising that Yan Ruxue also had no demonic aura on her.
"Can the esteemed Sect Leaders of Gonan Academy only distinguish facts by demonic aura?"
As Yan Jiaojiao's slightly disdainful question arose, the expressions of the Sect Leaders, except for Shangguan Yuan, changed.
"My disciple is being very rude!" Luo Guiyuan was still the first to reprimand her.
Xu Yantao, the Sect Leader of the Fire Faction, was also dissatisfied with Yan Jiaojiao's firm accusation against his new disciple. "Do you have any better methods?"
Yan Jiaojiao certainly did. With her past cultivation, it would have been a small matter to drain Yan Ruxue's memories and examine them one by one, let alone detect deliberately hidden demonic auras.
It was a pity that this was the Yan Jiaojiao of her past life, the thousand-year-old ancestor, not the current Yan Jiaojiao who had barely shed her moniker of uselessness.
Therefore, Yan Jiaojiao could only remain silent at this moment.
Seeing this, Shangguan Yuan smiled easily, "My disciple is just a bit too righteous. She is anxious because she couldn't capture the person who opened the demon realm."
He then said to Yan Jiaojiao, "We have only temporarily ruled out suspicion of Yan Ruxue, but we will continue to investigate the person behind this. If you have nothing else, you may withdraw."
Yan Jiaojiao stood rooted to the spot, unwilling to leave. Seeing that Luo Guiyuan was about to flare up again, Shangguan Yuan's voice deepened, "Yan Jiaojiao, you may withdraw."
Circumstances were beyond her control. Yan Jiaojiao took a deep breath and turned to leave the Hall of Discussion.
They called her here just to anger her, wasting her trip!
Yan Jiaojiao was displeased, but less than a hundred steps outside the Hall of Discussion, she saw Yan Ruxue waiting.
At this moment, Yan Ruxue had regained her usual charming and gentle demeanor. The scar on her brow, a red mark, had been meticulously drawn into a pattern, becoming an ornate embellishment on her forehead, which instead added a touch of allure.
Yan Jiaojiao merely glanced at her and was about to walk past, but Yan Ruxue was not about to let her go. She raised her arm and blocked her directly.
"Jiaojiao, why are you unhappy?" Yan Ruxue asked knowingly, with a hypocritical smile on her face. "Are you bothered because you couldn't frame me?"
Yan Jiaojiao said coldly, "We both know the truth. It's only a matter of time before your evil deeds are exposed to the public."
Yan Ruxue smiled even more brightly, "Then I await your good news."
Her only reply was Yan Jiaojiao drawing out the Purple Smoke from her waist with a "swish."
Yan Ruxue's face immediately turned paler. Her smile froze on her face as she took two steps back. The terrifying and embarrassing memory of that day instantly flooded her mind!