A fortnight later, by the time of the assessment that Mao Peilan had mentioned, Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) emerged from her room, intending to head straight to the registration desk to sign up.
As soon as she stepped out, she bumped into Jin Lang, who was also just leaving. It was then she realized that her two neighbors were Mao Peilan and Jin Lang. These two demons, who were on such bad terms, lived so close to each other; how much could they possibly love to hate each other!
"Hey, aren't you the little rabbit who was eating with that cat that day?" Jin Lang also noticed her then.
"Hello, Brother Jin! So we're neighbors!" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) smiled and greeted him.
"Yes, but our schedules seem to be offset. It's been half a year, and this is the first time I've seen you," Jin Lang was quite enthusiastic and proactively offered his communication jade token to add her as a friend.
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) naturally didn't refuse. However, since she rarely appeared, she hadn't contacted any of her friends on it. "By the way, Brother Jin, I want to go to the assessment point to register. How do I get there?" She could have asked this on the communication jade token, but since someone was here, asking in person was more convenient.
"You're participating in this year's assessment too?" Jin Lang was a bit surprised. "Little rabbit, the assessment isn't that simple. How long have you been cultivating in the academy? Going for the assessment now is just asking for trouble."
"I just want to experience it and challenge myself!" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) wouldn't give up just because of his words.
"Alright! Then I'll go with you! I'm signing up this year too, and I must exchange this white token!" Jin Lang said, and then led her toward the registration point.
The assessment registration point was set up in a central plaza within the "Beast Hall," next to the assessment area. Since it was an indoor assessment, only beast-type demons were present here. Indeed, quite a few demons came to register, appearing as a dense black mass from a distance.
Although many demons were registering, they all orderly queued, so the registration process was very fast. The two demons tacitly joined separate queues, and after about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, it was finally Bai Qiushui's (Xiao Wenqiang's) turn.
"Name?" the staff member at the registration desk asked mechanically, without looking up, holding a pen and paper.
"Bai Qiushui," she replied obediently.
Upon hearing her name, the person looked up, surprised to see a familiar demon. "It really is you, girl. Weren't you a new student who just reported half a year ago?" Hu Wantong had a strong impression of Bai Qiushui because only the two of them, demonic cultivators, had shown up that day, followed by a throng of human cultivators. Fortunately, he hadn't continued gambling with Tong Mu afterward, or he would have lost all his pants.
"It's Senior Brother Wantong, long time no see!" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) also beamed, "Senior Brother, I'm just here to join the fun and train myself. Please write my name down!"
Seeing that she was determined, Hu Wantong didn't say much more but still warned, "Although the assessment arena is set up so that you won't lose your life, injuries are inevitable. Don't you cry then!"
"Yes, thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Wantong." Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) saw that her name had been added and bid farewell to Hu Wantong, leaving as many other demon fellow students were waiting to register, and it wasn't a good time to chat.
Jin Lang, who was in another queue, also finished registering. Seeing her, he asked, "Little rabbit, where are you going now?"
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) thought that she hadn't explored much since coming to the academy, so she decided to look around. "By the way, Brother Jin, can students from our Beast Hall go to the Avian Hall or the human cultivators' area?"
"Not now. Only cultivators with red tokens or higher can go. And for us demons with white and yellow tokens, we can't even leave the academy gates," Jin Lang explained. "This rule is mainly to protect students who haven't yet developed sufficient abilities. After all, you need to have adequate self-preservation skills before venturing out!"
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) agreed with this point. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been cultivating diligently all this time. She then said to Jin Lang, "Brother Jin, you're right. I won't go out then. I'll go back and cultivate diligently. There are still half a month until the assessment. The more I cultivate, the greater my chances of passing." With that, she bid him farewell and left.
Jin Lang had originally intended to take the little rabbit around, as who could be better than a dog demon at finding their way? However, since the little rabbit was going back to cultivate, he thought about it and also returned to practice his skills.
The half-month passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the grand hall assessment soon arrived.
Early in the morning, Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) and her two neighbors went out together to draw lots. Although they hadn't agreed beforehand, they set off together when they met.
On the way, Mao Peilan affectionately held her hand and said, "Sister Qiushui, do you think your sister can pass the assessment this year?"
"Of course!"
"Of course not!"
Two voices spoke simultaneously.
Mao Peilan glared at Jin Lang, "You stinking dog, was I talking to you? Why are you so nosy!"
"I wasn't talking to you either! You smelly cat, don't flatter yourself. I was talking to the little rabbit!" Jin Lang retorted, unwilling to be outdone.
"You..." Mao Peilan stopped looking at him, put her arm around Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang), and walked quickly towards the drawing area, saying, "Sister Qiushui, there's a stinking fly buzzing around here, it's so annoying! Let's leave quickly, so we don't spoil our mood."
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) hurriedly looked back, only to see Jin Lang's face as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Upon arriving at the registration area, the two of them, hand in hand, drew their lots. Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) got number thirty-six, and Mao Peilan got number nineteen.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness, we're not in the same group. Otherwise, we'd have to compete, and I couldn't bear it," Mao Peilan patted her chest.
Jin Lang sidled up again, "Little rabbit, what number did you draw? I'm number ninety-one." After seeing their number cards, he also said, "Little rabbit, it's good that you're not with me, or you wouldn't even pass the first round."
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) felt a dark line appear on her forehead. How little did they think of her strength!
The assessment was conducted in groups of twenty, with one winner emerging from each group. These winners would then be placed in a single arena to duel, and the top five would pass the assessment, receiving a change in their token color on the spot.
As they spoke, everyone had drawn their number cards. Then, a deep voice echoed across the entire plaza: "All participants in the assessment, please return to the waiting area. The arena will be raised in ten breaths."