The arrival of several uninvited guests had turned what was originally a low - key disciple selection event into a high - profile one.
For some unknown reason, rumors spread throughout the sect that this disciple selection was actually for choosing the young sect master. As a result, the disciples who had signed up for the selection were all gearing up, while those who hadn't signed up were beating their chests in regret, resentful that they had missed such a great opportunity.
The elders mobilized the idle disciples to renovate and decorate the entire Beast - Taming Sect.
Streamers with blessing words were hung on the eaves and trees. Flags with exotic colors were hoisted on every hall. Even the necks of the spirit beasts were tied with a red - and - yellow ribbon that represented the Beast - Taming Sect.
In the past few days, whenever Shen Qing and Li Xian walked on the paths of the Beast - Taming Sect, they would always be dazzled by those streamers.
Because of the rumors, other sects had sent people over, claiming it was for sect exchanges, but in fact, they wanted to know who would win the position of the young sect master.
The elders couldn't suppress the rumors anymore, so they just let things be.
On the bright side, after the disciples heard this news, they would be more dedicated to the competition, which would also allow other sects to see the elegance of the Beast - Taming Sect's disciples.
However, at the same time, the elders also had to prevent anyone from causing trouble, so the pre - set exam questions had been revised again and again.
Most of the people who came to watch the disciple selection were Shen Qing's acquaintances.
Qing Qing and Jiang Zhiyun came from the Green Wood Sect, while He Xianyin and He Zhaoxue came from the Clear Sound Valley.
What surprised Shen Qing was that the Azure Cloud Sword Sect not only sent Elder Yaoyue with Hong Chaoyang and Qi Nian, but also True Person Hengling and Pei Xuanjing.
Shen Qing pulled Hong Chaoyang aside and whispered, "How did they get out? According to the schedule, they should still be at the bottom of the cliff."
When it came to this matter, Hong Chaoyang's expression became a bit strange.
She glanced in the direction of Pei Xuanjing and the others and said awkwardly, "You don't know. After you all went down the mountain, somehow, after these people heard the news that you were engaged, they went crazy and fought with each other at the bottom of the cliff."
"The sect master was afraid that something bad would happen, so he went to the Carefree Peak himself to invite True Person Hengling to handle this matter."
"As a result, these people seemed to have gone mad and revealed all the things that Lin Yibai had done before, including the small pills that Lin Yibai had given them. The sect master had someone check them, and it was found that those small pills were full of demon worm eggs."
"With True Person Hengling pleading on their behalf, and all three of them having fatal injuries from the fight, the sect master had no choice but to let them out first, but he sealed their cultivation."
Saying this, Hong Chaoyang showed a look of disgust and hugged her arms, shivering.
The person in charge of checking the pills was Elder Yaoyue. Hong Chaoyang thought it was fun and dragged Qi Nian to Elder Yaoyue's cave.
As a result, they saw a scene they would never forget in their lives.
Qi Nian even retched beside her, which piqued Shen Qing's curiosity.
"What did you see? Tell me quickly!"
Hong Chaoyang covered her mouth. "I saw that after those black pills were cut open, they were full of white eggs. Some of the eggs had even hatched into worms. Since the worms couldn't find a place to parasitize, they fought with each other. The scene..."
Shen Qing understood.
It was a bit like cultivating gu worms. All the gu worms were put into a sealed urn and made to fight until only one was left, and that surviving one was the king of the gu worms.
Shen Qing thought she could accept such a scene.
After all, she had seen the tragic situation in the Spiritual Spring Secret Realm, so her psychological endurance had improved a lot.
So when Hong Chaoyang pestered her to ask about the Spiritual Spring Secret Realm, Shen Qing hesitated and refused to say clearly, for fear of scaring her.
After greeting Elder Yaoyue, Shen Qing went to find Qing Qing and Jiang Zhiyun.
True Person Hengling was originally sitting beside Elder Yaoyue. When he saw Shen Qing bowing to Elder Yaoyue and affectionately calling her uncle, he thought Shen Qing would also come to pay respects to him, so he sat upright, with a cold and aloof expression on his face.
During this period, he had reflected on himself in his cave, and his mind had become much clearer. At first, when he saw Lin Yibai's face that was so similar to his master's, he thought Lin Yibai was the reincarnation of his master.
Coupled with the fact that some of her actions and expressions were exactly the same as his master's, he had developed some other feelings for Lin Yibai.
As a result, he had neglected many of his other disciples, especially Shen Qing.
After Lin Yibai left, he even felt that many of his previous actions had been a bit crazy.
He had even dug out half of Shen Qing's spiritual bones for Lin Yibai, almost ruining Shen Qing's path to immortality.
So, he rarely felt a bit of awkward guilt towards Shen Qing.
The reason he felt awkward was that True Person Hengling had been high - and - mighty for thousands of years. As the number one person in the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, he naturally couldn't have any stains.
Even if he wanted to take the initiative to talk to Shen Qing, he had to put on a cold look.
It seemed that only in this way could he cover up the mistakes he had made.
True Person Hengling had a good plan. When Shen Qing came to pay respects, he would soften his attitude, give Shen Qing a way out, and then let Pei Xuanjing and the others apologize to her properly. Then this matter would be over.
Before, Shen Qing had left the Carefree Peak in a fit of anger because of Lin Yibai.
Now that Lin Yibai was gone, there was no reason for her to be awkward.
There were no wrong parents in the world, and the same was true for a master.
But unexpectedly, Shen Qing walked straight past him as if she hadn't seen him.
True Person Hengling almost couldn't maintain his expression.
Elder Yaoyue picked up her teacup, blew on the hot air, and sipped the tea leisurely.
In fact, she had been keeping an eye on True Person Hengling's reaction from the corner of her eye. When she saw his expression crack, Elder Yaoyue almost burst out laughing.
Good job, Shen Qing. This is exactly how you should treat such a scumbag.
Shen Qing's idea was very simple. After she left the Carefree Peak, she had nothing to do with the people there.
Even though she had said before that she would respect True Person Hengling as a senior, Shen Qing really couldn't do it.
Since she couldn't act the part, she might as well just turn a blind eye.
"Humph, ridiculous."
True Person Hengling gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sentence as if to save face.
But Elder Yaoyue ignored him and just focused on sipping her tea.
He had thought that his disciples would say a few words for him, but all three of them seemed to be in a daze, their eyes tightly fixed on Shen Qing's departing back.
At this moment, True Person Hengling felt an inexplicable anger rising in his chest.
His attitude towards Shen Qing had changed to: You ignore me now, but you'll be out of my reach in the future.
Shen Qing left all those annoying people behind and happily came to the courtyard where the Green Wood Sect's people were resting.
She had thought that Qing Qing and Jiang Zhiyun would be happy to see her, but as soon as she entered the door, Shen Qing felt that the atmosphere was a bit off.
"What's wrong with you two?"
Jiang Zhiyun had said before that she and Qing Qing had a very good relationship, but unexpectedly, the two little sisters were sitting on the left and right sides of the room respectively.
"Did you two quarrel?"
Seeing the two of them sitting awkwardly, Shen Qing wanted to help break the ice, but then she saw Qing Qing's eyes instantly turn red.