Zanxing took a step back: “I’ll choose last. Senior Brothers, please go first.” She couldn’t steal Mu Cengxiao’s opportunity; otherwise, the original world would issue a warning. So there was nothing wrong with being second or third.

Tian Fangfang stroked her chin and wandered around. Zanxing’s gaze fell on Mu Cengxiao.

This young man didn’t seem to be in a hurry. He casually ran his hand over the magical artifacts in front of him, his eyes surveying the swords and sabers hanging on the walls.

He practiced saber techniques, so naturally he should choose a saber.

Xuan Lingzi was also observing Mu Cengxiao and Tian Fangfang. To be honest, every time new disciples entered the armory to choose magical artifacts, as their master, he was always particularly nervous. The reason was simple – people judging people could sometimes misjudge, but weapons wouldn’t. Powerful magical artifacts had their own choices. Most of the time, one could see a disciple’s potential from the matter of selecting magical artifacts.

These three disciples, although their current cultivation couldn’t be considered the most brilliant in the sect, each had their opportunities. Perhaps because they came from folk cultivation backgrounds, they frequently surprised people. He had been at the Taiyan Sect for decades, and this was his first time taking disciples. Naturally, he hoped the disciples he accepted were all the best seedlings, to show those new sects that thought themselves impressive.

While he was thinking, he saw Mu Cengxiao stop in front of a pile of magical artifacts.

Here, at least a dozen magical artifacts were stacked haphazardly – whips, spears, sabers, halberds, everything was there. The young man looked for a while, then bent down and drew out a saber from among them.

Zanxing’s heart stirred – here it comes, here it comes! The important scene from the original work was here!

It was this saber that looked utterly ordinary, even somewhat broken, that later became a divine saber that struck fear into hearts throughout the cultivation world. Because the saber contained hidden restrictions. But Mu Cengxiao used the Xiaoyuan Pearl to unlock the restrictions on the saber, then nourished it with fresh blood, causing this Mieshen Saber to eventually develop an artifact spirit. It would accompany Mu Cengxiao through heaven and earth, slaying demons and gods, reaching the pinnacle of life.

Now the Xiaoyuan Pearl was in her body, yet Mu Cengxiao still drew this saber. Did this mean the male protagonist’s aura hadn’t been affected? So far, was the main plot still developing according to the original work?

Xuan Lingzi saw Mu Cengxiao draw that saber, his gaze showing hidden surprise. He wanted to say something, but ultimately didn’t. On the other side, Tian Fangfang laughed loudly: “This axe is good – it looks very valuable! I’ll take this one, Master!”

Several people turned to look and saw Tian Fangfang holding up a golden axe, walking over with large strides, smiling especially brilliantly. This axe looked both heavy and wide, with an extremely long and large blade. If wielded in hand, it would appear rough and fierce. But whether it was gold-plated or made of pure gold, the entire axe was golden, extremely luxurious, making Tian Fangfang look like a royal kitchen helper who killed fish.

But regardless, these two had chosen magical artifacts that they were satisfied with.

Xuan Lingzi looked at Zanxing: “Zanxing, it’s your turn to choose.”

Zanxing looked around the warehouse filled with hanging swords, spears, sabers, and halberds, her heart sinking.

She had originally thought that she wouldn’t compete with Mu Cengxiao for the protagonist’s aura, letting him choose first, as long as she avoided the Mieshen Saber. But now… the Xiaoyuan Pearl wasn’t responding.

The Xiaoyuan Pearl hadn’t given her any hints.

Whether in the original work or when choosing secret manuals in the Martial Arts Hall before, the Xiaoyuan Pearl had played a huge role. Like a precise detector, it could always discover lost treasures.

But now, no matter how Zanxing tried to activate the Xiaoyuan Pearl, it showed no reaction at all.

“Go on, Junior Sister.” Tian Fangfang looked at her excitedly: “With so many magical artifacts, isn’t there a single one that catches your eye?”

Zanxing thought to herself, there wasn’t. Nothing was more devastating than throwing someone with choice paralysis into a warehouse.

Mu Cengxiao was also holding the Mieshen Saber and staring at her. Under everyone’s gaze, Zanxing walked to the corner, and her eyes fell on a silver staff.

She practiced the “Qing E Nian Hua Gun,” so logically she should choose a staff. Since the Xiaoyuan Pearl wasn’t responding, she would choose for herself. Zanxing positioned herself, reached her hand toward the staff, took a deep breath, and tried to take the staff… couldn’t lift it.

Zanxing was stunned.

This staff looked slender and delicate, appearing even shorter than the iron staff distributed by the sect, seemingly prepared for women. However, the moment she touched it, it felt like a mountain was weighing it down – she couldn’t lift it at all.

She tried twice, but the silver staff didn’t budge an inch. The atmosphere became awkward.

Mu Cengxiao asked: “Can’t you draw it?”

Zanxing withdrew her hand, her palm burning with pain. She said: “It seems… I can’t draw it.”

“Then you have no fate with it.” Xuan Lingzi’s voice came, his expression somewhat mysterious: “In the armory, it appears that masters choose magical artifacts, but in reality, magical artifacts choose masters. That Cengxiao can draw the Mieshen Saber and Fangfang can lift the Qianyang Axe is because the magical artifacts recognized them as worthy to be their masters. If you cannot draw this staff, it only means it’s not your magical artifact. The magical artifact that belongs to you is elsewhere. Go choose another one.”

Zanxing’s gaze dimmed slightly – so this was a mutual selection.

Seeing her remaining motionless, Xuan Lingzi asked again: “Could it be that among so many magical artifacts, there isn’t one you fancy?”

“That’s right, Junior Sister.” Tian Fangfang weighed the Qianyang Axe in her hand with satisfaction and smiled: “The moment I saw this golden axe, I felt like my name was written on it. Find one that you immediately want to hold in your hands – that’s right!”

Zanxing: “…There isn’t one.”

She walked to another weapon that looked like a staff – a long halberd. This long halberd looked unremarkable. Zanxing reached out, trying to pick it up, but still felt it was heavy.

This halberd also couldn’t be drawn in the end.

Next, Zanxing tried in succession: sabers, swords, shields, whips, forks, maces, long hammers, spiked clubs… not a single one could be lifted.

In the end, Zanxing was exhausted and drenched in sweat. The smile on Xuan Lingzi’s face gradually disappeared, and he began to look panicked.

“Master,” Zanxing couldn’t draw anything more, so she simply sat on the ground and wiped her sweat: “It’s no use. I can’t draw a single one. It seems none of the weapons in this armory have any fate with me.”

“No, this shouldn’t be right.” Xuan Lingzi refused to believe reality. “Although your cultivation isn’t very high, it’s not at the bottom either. Even if you can’t draw high-grade magical artifacts, you should be able to lift mid-grade ones. How could you not be able to draw even one?”

“Why don’t we ask Sect Master?” Mu Cengxiao suggested. Probably because he owed her a favor, ever since Liu Yunxin had taken the Xianyu Lingzhi, Mu Cengxiao’s attitude toward Zanxing had improved considerably. While not exactly warm, he no longer gave her cold shoulders.

Xuan Lingzi thought left and right but couldn’t figure out the reason. He could only follow Mu Cengxiao’s suggestion: “Fine, you all come out first. I’ll go to Jinhua Hall to ask the Sect Master why Zanxing cannot draw the magical artifacts in the armory.”

Zanxing nodded.