It had to be said that Ziying's words perfectly solved everyone's current dilemma.
If Fangrui lost to Guiying, it wouldn't just be her personal face that would be lost.
Ziying thought clearly; as fellow disciples of Lianhua Mountain, she would inevitably be implicated, especially since her cultivation was not as good as Senior Sister Fangrui's.
To be undeserving of one's position was to invite criticism.
Secondly, judging by the lingering gloom on this registered disciple's brow and his monstrous form, it was clear he was someone who had tasted hardship and possessed a sharp temperament. Such a person, with no other reliance, could only rely on his unyielding pride to climb higher. It was hard to guarantee that after challenging Senior Sister Fangrui, he wouldn't turn his attention to her.
Frankly speaking, even if she followed this time and entered the newcomer rankings, she probably wouldn't achieve a very good position. Since that was the case, why not fulfill everyone's wish and exit gracefully?
As expected, the Lord of Lianhua Mountain first looked at her with incomprehension, then after a moment's thought, broke into a gratified smile, giving her a look of approval.
Her young disciple was truly first-class at observing people's expressions and always knew how to please her.
The disciples of Dayanzhen Sect were bewildered, some indignant, and some surprised by her sudden yielding.
Even Liu Jiangfusheng glanced at her because of this.
Ziying knew she couldn't please everyone, but it didn't matter; her target had never been those mediocre and incompetent individuals.
She could sense Senior Brother Fusheng looking at her. She bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing with a pair of rosy hues, and resisted the urge to make any move towards him.
No hurry, don't be anxious...
She calmed her agitated mind, and without changing her expression, used her spiritual power to erase her name from the "Newcomer Rankings" nameplate she had just obtained and handed it to Guiying.
"Nephew disciple Guiying, you are actually no worse than anyone else. Your starting point is not your destination. I look forward to your performance on the Newcomer Rankings." She spoke these generally appropriate words very naturally.
Seeing that his eyes were not convenient and he had no hands to receive it, she approached him without any guard, intending to tuck the nameplate onto his belt.
However, her approach caused Guiying's expression to change drastically. A spiritual limb suddenly extended and retracted from his severed arm, and with a "snap," it flung her hand away.
"Ah—" Ziying cried out in pain, clutching her reddened hand, looking somewhat surprised and stunned.
"Ungrateful wretch!"
The Lord of Jiuntun Mountain above saw this and clenched his fists in anger, glaring fiercely at Guiying, wanting to stand up for her, but lacking the appropriate identity at the moment.
The Lord of Zicao Mountain frowned with her delicate brows, murmuring with a hint of heartache, "Why does she have to be like this?"
After a moment of愣神, Ziying immediately explained in a panic, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have touched you so casually. I just wanted to give you the nameplate, but I didn't know where to put it..."
Guiying pursed his lips, his expression gloomy. He hadn't expected her not to be angry or to speak harshly to him, but instead to apologize to him immediately.
He had always received little kindness from the outside world and didn't know how to react for a moment.
After a pause, he said hoarsely, "Give it to me."
Seeing him awkwardly asking for it, a predatory smile flickered in Ziying's eyes, and she said crisply, "Yes, take it."
He had no hands, but because he had cultivated the "Juling Baodian," he could control his spiritual body. After taking the nameplate and tucking it at his waist, Guiying finally managed to utter, "I'm not used to others touching me..."
"I know, so it's my fault. Don't worry, I definitely won't approach you casually again without your permission," Ziying smiled at him without any reservation, like a warm little sun.
Fangrui disdained her scheming against a mere five-spirit root. Seeing that Liu Jiangfusheng's hand injury had not been treated, she knew that such superficial wounds were not taken seriously by cultivators. However, because she was always concerned about him, she made an excuse to take leave from the Lord of Lianhua Mountain and then descended from the training ground together.
Wei Li observed the entire situation, and no one knew his intentions. The cultivation technique Guiying displayed, "Juling Baodian," was indeed a proper cultivation technique, although it was later popularized by a ghost cultivator, thus becoming widely known.
His second cultivation technique, however, was undoubtedly of an陰邪 (yin-evil) nature, by no means orthodox or righteous. He even found it vaguely familiar...
Could it be related to that stinky woman?
When did she take a liking to such a five-spirit root, and moreover, an arm-severed youth?
His thick, curled eyelashes cast long shadows, and his fiery red robe swayed like flames, with waves of fire flickering in the wind.
"Since someone is willing to abdicate, the participants in this Newcomer Rankings challenge will be changed to Liu Jiangfusheng of Wumei Mountain, Danya of Jiuntun Mountain, Guiying of Jiuntun Mountain, and Fangrui of Lianhua Mountain."
A challenge that had been planned for a long time would be reshuffled, with new people replacing the old.
And the name Guiying would no longer be silent and unknown. He had finally, through his own unremitting efforts, climbed upwards, reaching a place of prominence.
Standing tall, he emerged.
"Are there any other disciples who wish to challenge?"
This shout echoed far away, like a lingering melody, reverberating through the sky.
However, after a long time, there was no response.
"It seems there's only Guiying," a melodious, low voice drifted away.
Whether it was disappointment or emotion, Wei Li's gaze, as penetrating as x-rays, swept over the Dayanzhen Sect disciples below. Wherever his gaze fell, they all lowered their heads and bowed, afraid of being noticed.
"The matter is concluded, disperse."
A purple light shot upwards into the sky and sped away.
After the sect leader left, the dejected disciples also dispersed one after another.
Most of these older disciples had participated in the Newcomer Rankings in previous years and failed to be selected. The newly joined disciples always felt inferior to the true disciples in terms of talent and strength, and dared not even try to challenge.
For who knows how many years, the challenge for the Newcomer Rankings nameplates had become a mere formality, basically pre-determined.
But this year was different. An inner disciple had dared to attempt a challenge and successfully deprived a true disciple of a spot on the Newcomer Rankings. This was undoubtedly an encouragement and motivation for them.
But unfortunately, this momentary surge of emotion was defeated by years of inferiority and self-doubt, and no one dared to take that step.
Therefore, it wasn't without reason that Dayanzhen Sect had always been considered "low-class" by other sects. A sect leader who wasn't like a sect leader, a group of disciples with no aspirations... Gu Junshi felt that Dayanzhen Sect could still persist for so many years without being annihilated, perhaps due to sheer luck.
The training ground was much emptier now, only Guiying remained still. Ziying looked at him standing there motionlessly, somewhat puzzled.
She tilted her head, her clear, smiling eyes guessing, and asked.
"Nephew disciple Guiying, you... you don't know the way, do you?"
But Guiying's expression was stern, and he did not respond to her.
He searched for that person in the crowd, but the chaotic footsteps and the strange, probing, and distancing gazes that were occasionally cast interfered with his senses.
Who is she?
Where is she?
Or perhaps, she... had already left?