Fei Xue lived up to her name, as cold and proud as snow. Her arrogance was palpable; as she passed by the crowd of disciples, she didn't even spare them a glance, as if in her eyes these disciples were no different from trash.
Ouyang Ye was different. Her popularity within Yunxia Sect stemmed largely from her lack of airs and her willingness to help others. Arriving here, she smiled and greeted everyone.
"Disciple."
True Being Fei Xue called out, speaking indifferently, "Don't waste your time."
Ouyang Ye gave an acknowledging sound and followed her master into the courtyard.
"Their aptitude is mediocre; they are destined for a life of mediocrity. Why waste time with them?"
Ouyang Ye pursed her lips and replied, "Master, they are my friends."
"Friends?"
True Being Fei Xue shook her head disdainfully. "They are not qualified to be your friends. Associating with them will only lower your status and might even implicate you. You are a heaven-favored daughter. Your future friends must be the same. Only by befriending those who are your equals will it be beneficial to your cultivation path."
True Being Fei Xue had always prioritized benefits above all else.
Ouyang Ye found this attitude quite distasteful.
However, a master was still a master. No matter how much Ouyang Ye disliked it in her heart, she couldn't voice it, especially since True Being Fei Xue had good relations with her family.
"And that fellow surnamed Gu. Before you went into seclusion, you promised me you would cut off all contact with him. Why did you go to the Spirit Seclusion Garden in the back mountains the moment you emerged?"
Ouyang Ye very much wanted to say that Gu Qingfeng was not her sweetheart.
She had tried explaining before, but no matter how she put it, True Being Fei Xue didn't believe her; instead, the more she explained, the worse it seemed.
Worried that her master might cause trouble for Gu Qingfeng, Ouyang Ye could only promise to cut ties with him.
After emerging from seclusion, she heard that Gu Qingfeng had actually become an inner disciple. Moreover, she heard that fellow had not only defeated Li Can but also mastered the Flaming Thunder Technique to its Great Perfection. This couldn't help but pique her curiosity. She had wanted to go ask what was going on, but unfortunately, when she went to the Spirit Seclusion Garden, she hadn't seen Gu Qingfeng.
"Disciple, I advise you to give up on this ridiculous, childish infatuation at first sight. Don't harbor any illusions. He failed his Foundation Establishment; he is destined to be a cripple for life. Even mastering the Flaming Thunder Technique to Great Perfection cannot change that fact. Don't be fooled by his impressive defeat of Li Can; it's merely due to the mutated crippled body from his failed Foundation Establishment. His strength is only enough to bully ordinary disciples. Against the Chief Disciples of the Twelve Courtyards, he would be utterly defenseless."
"Master, please don't say things like 'failed Foundation Establishment means he's a cripple' anymore. I don't like hearing it."
Whether Gu Qingfeng was a cripple or not, Ouyang Ye didn't know and didn't want to know. She only knew that Gu Qingfeng had agreed to impersonate the Chiyan Young Lord to help her. Moreover, after coming to Yunxia Sect, Li Sen and Li Can had both gone to cause trouble for Gu Qingfeng, which made Ouyang Ye feel very guilty.
"You are still young and inexperienced in the world. When you grow up, you will understand that everything I say today is for your own good. You are a heaven-favored daughter with a bright future..." True Being Fei Xue continued, but Ouyang Ye was no longer in the mood to listen. She quickened her pace and entered the main hall.
The main hall was occupied by several Elders, with Ren De presiding.
This old master not only oversaw the inner gate examinations but also presided over all major and minor sect competitions and contests, including, of course, the competition for the Chief Disciples of the Twelve Courtyards.
Seeing True Being Fei Xue arrive with Ouyang Ye, Elder Ren De stroked his white beard and chuckled, "Just now, this old man and the others were discussing whether Miss Ouyang would participate in this year's competition for the Chief Disciples of the Twelve Courtyards. To think you've arrived..."
Ouyang Ye was a genius. Not only did she possess a Five-Colored Spiritual Root, she also had a bloodline. Now she had even established a Colored Foundation. Her potential was immense, and her future achievements were immeasurable. On the very day she entered the sect, True Being Fei Xue had proposed directly making her a personal disciple of Yunxia Sect's Nine Halls. However, this proposal was opposed by Ren De.
The iron-fisted and impartial Ren De always insisted on fairness and justice. No matter how good one's aptitude, they must follow Yunxia Sect's rules. True Being Fei Xue had held a grudge about this matter. Seeing Ren De now, she spoke coldly and arrogantly.
"A year ago, my disciple already possessed the qualifications to compete for the Chief Disciple position of the Twelve Courtyards. It's just that she was unwilling to use her bloodline power. This year, my disciple has established a Colored Foundation, and her mastery of martial arts, spells, sword techniques, and formations has all improved. Even without using her bloodline power, securing the position of Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards would be as easy as turning her hand."
None of the Elders present objected to this point. During last year's inner sect grand competition, they had all witnessed how Ouyang Ye, with her Innate Sixth Stage cultivation, combined with her seamless mastery of the Four Arts of the Immortal Path, defeated a disciple at the second stage of Foundation Establishment.
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from outside.
Everyone was puzzled and looked over. They saw two people walking into the courtyard.
One was a short, fat man with a large head and ears. The other was a tall, slender young man dressed in white, casually eating a Red Leaf Monster Fruit, a faint smile playing on his face.
Everyone knew the short, fat man; he was the inner sect's Chief Steward, Fei Kui.
As for the young man in white, everyone also recognized him—it was Gu Qingfeng.
"Gu... Gu Qingfeng?"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng, Ouyang Ye was quite surprised. After not seeing him for over a month, this fellow didn't seem to have changed at all.
He was still the same person.
Lacking the youthful vigor one would expect, he instead carried a calm, almost twilight-like aura.
The smile at the corner of his mouth was still that gentle, casual, and carefree one.
It seemed nothing had changed at all, even the robe he wore was the same one she had found for him at the First-Class Villa.
"Well, if it isn't Sister Ouyang! Long time no see."
Gu Qingfeng squinted with a smile. Taking a closer look, he seemed pleasantly surprised. "You've established your Foundation, huh... and a Colored Foundation at that. Not bad! Not bad at all. You have a bright future."
"You... what are you doing here?"
After finishing the Red Leaf Monster Fruit, Gu Qingfeng tossed the pit into his storage bag, wiped the corner of his mouth, and smiled. "Signing up to compete for the Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards, of course. What else?"
Signing up to compete for the Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards?
Ouyang Ye wondered if she had misheard. Not just her, but True Being Fei Xue in the hall, including Elder Ren De, found it hard to believe.
"You? You dare aspire to compete for the Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards?"
True Being Fei Xue rebuked sharply, "What qualifications do you have?"
"What's this?" Gu Qingfeng glanced at Fei Kui beside him and asked, "Does this thing require qualifications?"
Fei Kui shook his head in response. "Any inner disciple is qualified to sign up to compete for the Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards."
"Oh, I thought one had to undergo a tribulation and become an immortal to qualify for competing for the Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards."
Fei Kui could tell the young master was deliberately mocking True Being Fei Xue. He smiled knowingly and said, "Perhaps in some people's eyes, one really does need to undergo a tribulation and become an immortal to qualify for competing for the Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courtyards."
"Fei Kui!"
True Being Fei Xue's expression turned furious as she shouted, "I think you've grown tired of living!"
"You know what, I really am getting a bit tired of living..."