"Master, am I hallucinating because I miss Xiao Fengxi too much?" Wei Yu looked up and asked Ling Luo Yi. Suddenly, she saw the small white ball on Ling Luo Yi's shoulder and exclaimed joyfully, "Xiao Fengxi! You're awake! I just came out of my room and saw that the Primordial Fruit beside you was gone. I was afraid you wouldn't have enough, so I got some from my place."
As Wei Yu spoke, she raised the bright red, star-glowing fruit in her hand.
Xiao Fengxi looked at Wei Yu's earnest expression and was a little touched. Just as it was about to say something, it heard Wei Yu say, "However, since Xiao Fengxi, you're awake, I'll take it back."
Then, Xiao Fengxi watched as Wei Yu put the Primordial Fruit back into her storage ring.
Wei Yu looked at Xiao Fengxi, who remained silent, and felt confused. She asked, "Xiao Fengxi, what's wrong? Why aren't you speaking?"
Xiao Fengxi opened its mouth, unsure of what to say.
Wei Yu became a little anxious and asked Ling Luo Yi, "Master, what's wrong with Xiao Fengxi? Did it get stupid from sleeping too long?"
Ling Luo Yi knew why Xiao Fengxi wasn't speaking and said, "Wei Yu, Xiao Fengxi just woke up and is still a bit disoriented. Give it some time to collect itself."
"Oh. Alright, I'll give it the gift after it wakes up properly," Wei Yu said, not doubting Ling Luo Yi's words at all.
Hearing about the gift, Xiao Fengxi quickly wanted to say thank you, but then it heard Ling Luo Yi say, "Okay."
Xiao Fengxi drooped its head, dejected.
"Xiao Fengxi, let me tell you, we're all very happy that you woke up. We've also prepared a gift for you. I'll give it to you later when you're feeling better." Wei Yu looked up at the dejected Xiao Fengxi and believed Ling Luo Yi's words even more.
Xiao Fengxi whimpered, wanting to say it could receive it now, but it was afraid Wei Yu would think it was even more abnormal, so it didn't dare to speak.
Guangyue and Chensha, watching the two mischievous individuals, looked at Xiao Fengxi with pity. They both knew why Xiao Fengxi wasn't speaking but still chose to tease it.
Wei Yu was one thing, as that was her nature. Now, even the Master was bullying it.
Poor Xiao Fengxi.
The rabbit and the snake shook their heads in unison.
"Alright, you two can go play. I'm leaving now."
"Okay."
Ling Luo Yi's divine sense clone returned to her main body. After a period of adjustment, Ling Luo Yi opened her eyes.
Gu Yuncheng, seeing that she was alright, also felt relieved. However, thinking about what had just happened, Gu Yuncheng couldn't help but worry and asked, "Luoluo, your divine soul was suddenly impacted, and you almost lost stability. Did something happen?"
"Asu, I'm fine now."
Ling Luo Yi hadn't told anyone about the Fengxi Bracelet, including Gu Yuncheng, but she didn't want to lie to him, so she said this.
Gu Yuncheng knew Ling Luo Yi had secrets and respected her, not prying into them, even though he knew she would tell him if he pressed. However, he would never do anything that made her feel forced.
"Luoluo, it's good that you're alright."
Ling Luo Yi knew Gu Yuncheng's concern and said, "Asu, believe me, I will always be by your side."
"Luoluo, I know. But Luoluo, if you are in danger, I can't guarantee what I will do. So, Luoluo, don't put yourself in danger."
Hearing this, Ling Luo Yi met Gu Yuncheng's gaze, looking at his unyielding eyes. After a long moment, she said, "Asu, I'll try my best."
Ling Luo Yi had always treated danger as nothing, often getting injured, and many times, as long as she felt it was worth it, she would gamble with her life. But she could afford to gamble, while Gu Yuncheng couldn't. He had already experienced many near-death partings.
Gu Yuncheng knew this was the most she could promise and conceded. After all, as long as he was there, danger wouldn't reach Ling Luo Yi.
Gu Yuncheng quietly withdrew the barrier without anyone noticing.
After today's competition, it would be the top ten ranking matches, but Ling Luo Yi's first place was already secured.
After the elder announced the list of the top ten, the day's competition concluded.
As Ling Luo Yi and the other members of the Ling family were preparing to return to the Ling mansion, someone called out to her. It was President Lin from the Alchemist Guild.
"Greetings, President Lin."
"Greetings, Patriarch Ling, and Miss Ling."
"May I ask why President Lin has called for me?"
"Miss Ling, it's like this. After tomorrow's ranking matches, there will be an alchemy competition. I wonder if Miss Ling would be interested?"
"Participate? Then I'm not interested."
The second to last day of the genius selection was for various professional competitions. The participants were alchemists, artifact refiners, and other professionals from various factions, though most were only first-tier.
Ling Luo Yi had no interest in such competitions.
"No, no, no," President Lin shook his head and said, "I wanted to invite you to be a judge for the alchemy competition."
"A judge?"
"It's like this," President Lin explained. "For fairness in such competitions, judges are selected from various factions based on their high rank. Miss Ling, you know that before you, there was only one fourth-grade alchemist in the Tianwu Kingdom, and the rest were basically first or second grade. Therefore, I would like to invite you to serve as a judge for the alchemy competition."
"Alright."
President Lin was very pleased to hear Ling Luo Yi agree and said, "Then I'll trouble Miss Ling."
"It's no trouble. By the way, President Lin, how is the alchemical formula I gave you last time?"
Speaking of this matter, President Lin gave a wry smile and said, "Miss Ling, I've been working very hard on this. However, I can still only refine low-grade pills, though the medicinal toxicity is much reduced."
"Miss Ling, for alchemists to improve takes a lot of time. I don't need to tell you that, do I?"
"Miss Ling, I know that, and I'm not discouraged. I believe that after a few more attempts, I'll be able to refine mid-grade pills."
The detoxification pill for removing medicinal toxicity required at least high-grade to be effective, but Ling Luo Yi did not dampen President Lin's confidence.
"Keep working hard. If an alchemist doesn't practice alchemy for a long time, they will regress."
"Yes." President Lin bowed to Ling Luo Yi and then left.
The other members of the Ling family waited at a distance so as not to disturb their conversation. After seeing President Lin off, Ling Luo Yi was about to walk over when she heard another voice from behind her.
"Miss Ling, please wait!"
Ling Luo Yi looked at the person walking towards her. It was the person sitting next to the Emperor, someone whom even the Emperor treated with great respect.
"May I ask who you are?" Ling Luo Yi did not bow, her tone calm and questioning.
Elder Qu did not mind that Ling Luo Yi did not bow and smiled, saying, "This elder is an elder from the Longqing Country branch of the Ancient Spirit Academy. My surname is Qu. Miss Ling can call me Elder Qu."
"Does Elder Qu have something to discuss?"
"It's like this. Our Dean had given the Ling family five enrollment quotas annually. This elder is here to ask if the Ling family has decided on this year's candidates?"
"When is Elder Qu leaving?"
"Naturally, I will wait until after the genius selection to leave with the top eleven from Tianwu, tentatively scheduled for the twenty-third of this month. Please have the selected disciples from the Ling family wait outside the North City Gate by the end of the Si hour on that day."
"Understood, thank you, Elder Qu."
Elder Qu looked around and, seeing few people nearby, suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Miss Ling, this elder has something to ask. How much truth is there to the rumors circulating outside?"
"Elder Qu, rumors cannot be fully believed?"
Ling Luo Yi emphasized the word 'fully,' and Elder Qu understood some of it.
Seeing that Elder Qu understood, Ling Luo Yi said, "Elder Qu, you can achieve the position of elder, so you must be a wise person."
Elder Qu slightly bowed and said, "I understand."