Ling Luo stayed in the medicine hall for a day, and only after nightfall did the senior sister of the medicinal chamber allow the two to return.

As soon as she left the main gate of the medicinal chamber, she saw Qin Yuan waiting outside.

“Ling Luo!” Qin Yuan waved to her, “Are you alright?”

Ling Luo shook her head.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Yue Liangze walking past them without a word.

Ling Luo couldn’t help but press her fingers against her temple. She hadn’t known what sixteen-year-old Yue Liangze’s temperament was like, but now she had experienced it firsthand.

He was even less talkative than his grown-up self. If no one actively questioned him, he could transform himself into dust more easily overlooked than air.

Air would still be noticed when its scent changed, but dust would not.

“Senior Brother Yue…” Qin Yuan stole a glance at Yue Liangze’s departing figure and whispered to her, “Is Senior Brother Yue also alright?”

He’s perfectly fine!

Ling Luo continued shaking her head.

“You were forbidden from eating today, so I saved some food for you to eat tomorrow when you get hungry at the medicinal chamber.” Qin Yuan handed her the food box she was holding.

Ling Luo took it and said, “Thank you.”

The two walked toward the dormitory down the mountain.

Qin Yuan told her about today’s martial arts test, and finally said dejectedly, “You’ve been punished for seven days, how will you participate in the martial arts test?”

Ling Luo was looking at the colorful rice cakes in the food box, which still had a faint floral fragrance.

She answered somewhat absently, “The written test score is already enough to be selected.”

“That may be so, but earlier today I saw your swordsmanship was better than anyone else’s. It would be such a waste not to participate.” Qin Yuan said, “If you do well in both the written and martial arts tests, you might be chosen as a personal disciple by someone at or above the Hall Master rank, which is much more prestigious than being an ordinary inner disciple.”

This reminded Ling Luo.

In her previous life, she had scored a perfect double A in both the written and martial arts tests, gaining attention from all sides before becoming the personal disciple of the Third Sect Master. When people from the Xiaoyao Sect came looking for her, she had a patron protecting her and wasn’t taken away.

In this life, she couldn’t participate in the martial arts test. Though entering the inner sect was certain, the difference between an ordinary disciple and a personal disciple was quite significant.

If she were not the Third Sect Master’s disciple—

She would be handed over by the Main Sect Master, and her fate would be worrisome.

Ling Luo pinched a rice cake with two fingers and put it in her mouth, saying with a muffled voice, “I’ll figure something out, you…”

But she saw Qin Yuan looking at her with complete shock, “You—”

Ling Luo blinked at her with slight confusion.

“I didn’t see anything!” Qin Yuan covered her eyes and turned away, “Hurry up and eat!”

Ling Luo smiled gently.

She had been reborn into a second life and didn’t take the disciplinary hall or East Island Tianji Sect’s rules seriously at all.

But Qin Yuan was different from her.

When they said punishment meant fasting, it meant not even a sip of water was allowed.

Ling Luo only ate one, afraid that if she continued eating in front of Qin Yuan, she would break down.

After putting away the food box, she said, “Don’t worry about me. Do your best in the coming days, good luck.”

Qin Yuan looked through the gaps between her fingers, and only after seeing that Ling Luo was no longer eating did she lower her hands and nod, saying, “Yes! I will join you in the inner sect!”

Ling Luo didn’t understand why Qin Yuan liked her so much, inviting her dozens of times despite being rejected, and always smiling and greeting her immediately upon seeing her.

It was clear that Qin Yuan wanted to be friends with her, but Ling Luo truly couldn’t figure out what about herself attracted Qin Yuan.

What was good about someone like her?

Solitary and wayward, with an unpredictable temper, and a heavy murderous intent.

However, Ling Luo’s self-assessment was of herself who had already become the 26th Demon Queen.

In Qin Yuan’s eyes at this time, Ling Luo was just a sixteen-year-old girl who didn’t like talking to people, somewhat introverted but gentle. Especially after seeing her split through the crowd with one sword stroke earlier in the day, Qin Yuan liked her even more, thinking Ling Luo was righteous and kind, brave and strong.

This showed that the girl’s judgment of people was truly poor.

Only three days remained for the martial arts test.

Yet Ling Luo had to work at the medicinal chamber for seven days, not only unable to participate but also entering the inner sect several days later than others.

Yue Liangze didn’t seem to care at all.

He truly didn’t care whether he entered the inner sect or not. Last year he hadn’t even gone to take the test, and this year he only went to target Senior Brothers Xiu Man and Hong Mao and others.

Yue Liangze was certain that Xiu Man would never pass the martial arts test and could only try his luck with the written test, which was why he went to cause trouble.

He never anticipated that Ling Luo would interfere, causing Xiu Man to be punished as well, eliminating his chances of entering the inner sect.

The final day of the martial arts test.

Ling Luo placed the medicine box on the wooden shelf and, while tying up her hair, said to Yue Liangze, “Hey, I need to go out today, you’ll have to do the work yourself and don’t tell Senior Sister.”

Yue Liangze responded with a sound of acknowledgment without turning his head.

He was completely indifferent to where she was going or why she was skipping work and giving him all the tasks that day.

His reaction didn’t surprise Ling Luo at all.

Apart from their conversation on the first day due to the allergic reaction, for the remaining days, they each did their work, neither initiating any topics of conversation. Even when they did speak, it was Ling Luo ordering Yue Liangze to move or fetch things. Yue Liangze did whatever she said, and after finishing work, they each went their separate ways.

When Ling Luo left, Yue Liangze didn’t even glance at her. He quietly sorted the medicinal herbs, doing the work of two people.

Quite obedient.

At the Three Trials Palace, in the martial arts arena.

The martial arts test was divided into batches, with outer sect disciples facing inner sect disciples, both sides using the basic techniques of East Island Tianji Sect.

Whether it was the way of the sword, charm techniques, or incantation methods, as long as they were techniques of East Island Tianji Sect, they were acceptable.

Today was the last day, mainly focusing on the way of the sword.

Hall Master Fan presided, sending out two inner sect disciples, namely:

One of the Third Sect Master’s disciples, Yu Xiu.

The Sect Master’s daughter, East Island Tianji Sect’s young lady, Mu Ya.

Although the East Island Tianji Sect had three sect masters, the Mu family was the main one overseeing the entire Tianji. The other two sect masters each managed their own two sects.

In the martial arts arena, a young woman dressed in white and gold sect attire stood with one hand holding her sword behind her back. With fine eyebrows and almond eyes, she was very delicate in appearance. The corners of her eyes swept upward as she surveyed the crowd below, naturally carrying an air of disdain and arrogance.

The people below didn’t even dare to look directly into her eyes, silently suppressed by that haughtiness and sharpness.

“Next,” Mu Ya said lightly.

Ling Luo was quite far from the Three Trials Palace, but using the forbidden art of Co-existence with Spirits, she occupied the eyes of the sacred spirit birds near the Three Trials Palace, driving them to the martial arts arena to watch the test.

On the eaves of the martial arts arena perched two or three sacred spirit birds with very bright feathers. They had small bodies but long, deep blue tail feathers; the female birds’ tails were straight, while the male birds’ tail ends curled into a circle.

These birds only grew at the mountain gate of East Island Tianji and were also considered one of the symbols of East Island Tianji.

They normally lived freely in the mountains, and disciples would especially feed them.

Now, the eyesight of these three sacred spirit birds was controlled by Ling Luo, forcing them to look toward the arena and the crowd below.

Co-existence with Spirits was one of the forbidden arts of the immortal sects.

It belonged to the incantation series.

Because it was an incantation that forcibly occupied another’s five senses, it could be used not only on birds and beasts but also on living people.

If the occupied party had self-conscious resistance, they might forever lose one of their five senses or die from spiritual power backlash.

Therefore, it was opposed by the immortal sects and forbidden from cultivation. The remaining fragments were destroyed together by the twelve great immortal sects five hundred years ago.

It should not exist in the world.

The reason Ling Luo knew it was because her master, the Third Sect Master of East Island Tianji, had taught her.

Through the sacred spirit birds, Ling Luo saw Mu Ya flick away another disciple with her sword, standing ethereally on the stage, looking at the crowd below and saying, “Next.”

Yu Xiu, on the observation platform, had a somewhat helpless expression.

Mu Ya had already eliminated thirty-two people in succession. Her talent was high, and in the way of the sword, only the Senior Brother could suppress her. Usually because of this, she was arrogant, and no one except the Senior Brother and the Sect Master could keep her in check.

She was being too harsh in this martial arts test.

If this continued, no one would be able to earn a top grade against her.

Yu Xiu turned to Hall Master Fan and said in a low voice, “Hall Master, should we replace her?”

Hall Master Fan unhurriedly said, “Let her continue.”

According to the rules, at least one person needed to last five moves against Mu Ya before she could be replaced.

Yu Xiu felt that before this rule was broken, Hall Master Fan would not replace anyone.

He looked back at the outer sect disciples below, sighing inwardly.

It was their bad luck to encounter Mu Ya this year.

Ling Luo watched thoughtfully.

The scene was the same as in her previous life, with Mu Ya dominating and brutally defeating outer sect disciples.

The spirit of the outer sect disciples was repeatedly crushed, and later those who went on stage to face Mu Ya with their swords were even trembling, which undoubtedly invited deeper contempt and disdain from Mu Ya.

Until Ling Luo took the stage, relying on the spiritual power that exploded within her in an instant, she overwhelmed Mu Ya in one move, forcing her back to the edge of the arena, with one foot outside.

After a brief silence, this triggered cheers from the entire venue.

The outer sect disciples who had been tormented by Mu Ya found it satisfying to watch, but Ling Luo was thus remembered with hatred by Mu Ya.

There were too many grudges between the two, and Ling Luo didn’t reminisce in detail, because she discovered that this time, Qin Yuan was taking the stage.

Unlike the previous disciple whose grip on the sword was trembling, Qin Yuan’s hand was very steady, composed, and appeared very serious.

“Qin Yuan, outer sect disciple of the Tianyun Sect, requests guidance from Senior Sister.”

Mu Ya pressed her eyebrows, looked Qin Yuan up and down casually, and said carelessly, “Don’t waste words, I’ll give you half a move first.”

It was impossible for Qin Yuan not to feel angry inside, but she couldn’t lose her rationality and techniques because of it. The angrier she got, the more calmly she needed to respond.

But as soon as she made her move, everyone knew she was destined to lose.

Mu Ya kept her word, giving her half a move. After that half move, her sword slashed horizontally, creating a sharp sword wind. Qin Yuan inwardly exclaimed at its speed while the sword wind swept near her face, forcing her to retreat rapidly, disrupting her technique. She was then cut by Mu Ya’s sword, breaking the tear-drop ornament beside her ear.

The green tear-drop ornament fell to the ground, having just been swept by the sword wind, and split into two halves when it landed.

Qin Yuan’s nose stung, and her eyes were immediately filled with tears.

The outcome was decided, and Mu Ya didn’t even look at her properly, just glancing from the corner of her eye and snorting, “Useless.”

“Next.”

Qin Yuan clenched her fingers tightly into fists, took a deep breath, forced back her tears, bent down to pick up the tear-drop ornament, and said in a muffled voice, “Thank you for the guidance, Senior Sister.”

Only then did she leave the stage.

Yu Xiu began to feel a headache.

Forty to fifty people in succession had all been humiliated by Mu Ya.

This year, without Ling Luo, no one could last five moves against Mu Ya. Hall Master Fan could not replace her according to the rules, and in the end, Mu Ya herself stepped down, replaced by Yu Xiu.

Ling Luo watched the martial arts test of today completely.

Unlike her previous life, without her participating in humiliating Mu Ya, Mu Ya bloodily tormented dozens of people in a row.

Because the incident of defeating Mu Ya in one move didn’t happen, it didn’t attract other hall masters and the Third Sect Master to the scene.

Ling Luo released the Co-existence with Spirits incantation and began to think of other ways to find the Third Sect Master.