The disciples of Yanmo Peak led the twenty-two selected disciples out in a single file, and the hall became empty once more.
Looking at Zhan Xuehan and then at Min Lanmeng, Nie Wentian stood up and said, "The disciple I have my eyes on is one neither of you will choose, so I'll take my leave."
Nie Wentian had a peculiar habit—he never accepted female disciples. As a result, Baizhan Peak was filled exclusively with males, not even a single female beast among them.
After he left, the atmosphere in Mingguang Palace grew increasingly tense.
Min Lanmeng took a sip from the porcelain cup on the table, her gaze fixed on Zhan Xuehan. Seeing no reaction from her, Min Lanmeng deliberately asked, "Master, you haven't answered me yet—what do you think of Wen Miaomiao?"
Zhan Xuehan, seated calmly, didn't even raise her eyelids. "The rules were set long ago. Are you thinking of breaking them?"
Her words were firm, causing Min Lanmeng to waver, uncertain if Zhan Xuehan would choose someone else. Fearing that further probing might provoke her displeasure, Min Lanmeng's eyes flickered with charm, her voice softening. "Master, you know, my disciples on Qionghua Peak have only reached the mid-Golden Core stage at best. With no one capable of forming a Nascent Soul, I'm very anxious."
She placed a hand over her chest, feigning sadness. "Unlike you, Master, I've been stuck at the Nascent Soul stage for seven hundred years. If I can't break through to the Deity Transformation stage, I have only a hundred years left."
As if overwhelmed by sorrow, tears began to fall from Min Lanmeng's eyes.
Seeing her tears, Zhan Xuehan seemed to soften. Her voice carried a hint of hesitation. "Go back for now. Let me think about it."
Satisfied with the response, Min Lanmeng left.
As Min Lanmeng's figure faded from view, Zhan Xuehan rubbed her forehead, showing signs of fatigue. She quietly asked Su Luowei, "What do you think of those two?"
She didn't specify who, but Su Luowei immediately understood.
Even Xie Hanzhu looked over with interest, curious about Su Luowei's opinion.
Unfortunately, someone was bound to be disappointed.
Without hesitation, Su Luowei replied, "Between the two, I prefer Wen Miaomiao."
Hearing this unexpected answer, Zhan Xuehan frowned slightly. "Why?"
She knew that Meng Shuying had been on Yanmo Peak for three years and was quite favored by Su Luowei. They lived and ate together, with Su Luowei personally teaching Meng Shuying to read and write, treating her like a sister.
Su Luowei, of course, couldn't reveal that having Meng Shuying join Qionghua Peak was a task she had to complete.
After some thought, she spoke calmly, "First, Meng Shuying has been on Yanmo Peak for three years. If I take her as a disciple, it will likely raise suspicions. Second, compared to her, Wen Miaomiao is pure-hearted and simple-minded. Third..."
Pure-hearted and simple-minded?
Xie Hanzhu pondered these words.
Su Luowei's implication was almost blatant—suggesting that Meng Shuying had ulterior motives for wanting to join Yanmo Peak.
Indeed, it seemed like a case of unrequited love.
After hesitating briefly, Su Luowei continued, "Third, Wen Miaomiao's easy ascent to the top of Wenxiantai proves her single-minded devotion to the Dao."
With the reasoning laid out so clearly, Zhan Xuehan understood. Leaning back into the cushion, she closed her eyes and gently tapped her forehead with her fingers, contemplating.
If it were up to her, she would also choose Wen Miaomiao over Meng Shuying. Su Luowei was right; Meng Shuying had been associated with Yanmo Peak, and taking her as a personal disciple could lead to unwanted gossip within the sect.
Besides, just from the brief encounter earlier, Zhan Xuehan could tell that Wen Miaomiao had a natural Daoist constitution, with clear, untainted eyes and an uncorrupted heart. Who wouldn't want a disciple like that?
Min Lanmeng had complained about her unremarkable disciples on Qionghua Peak, but Yanmo Peak was in a similar situation. The only difference was that Zhan Xuehan had a few hundred years left before she needed to worry, so she wasn't as anxious.
Thinking of Min Lanmeng, Zhan Xuehan's expression cooled.
She and Min Lanmeng had never gotten along. When her master was still the sect leader, Min Lanmeng was somewhat restrained. But after her master's passing and her ascension to the position, Min Lanmeng's arrogance grew.
In the early days of her leadership, Min Lanmeng often used her seniority to publicly embarrass Zhan Xuehan. Even the current rule for selecting disciples had been altered during her tenure, with Min Lanmeng and Nie Wentian pressuring her to change it.
When her master was alive, Yanmo Peak always got the first pick of disciples from Wenxiantai. Only after they had chosen did the other peaks have their turn.
Reflecting on these past grievances, Zhan Xuehan's dislike for Min Lanmeng deepened. Fortunately, her recent progress in cultivation had given her the strength to push back, forcing Min Lanmeng to restrain herself somewhat.
Otherwise, even her position as sect leader might have been threatened.
After sorting through these thoughts, Zhan Xuehan quickly made up her mind.
At Qionghua Peak.
After the disciple from Yanmo Peak left, Min Lanmeng suddenly grabbed the teacup beside her and smashed it to the ground with a loud crash.
"Zhan Xuehan, you're deliberately opposing me!" Min Lanmeng fumed.
Her eyebrows shot up, fury blazing in her heart.
In Lan Fang Palace, where four disciples had been standing, two younger ones immediately knelt, trembling in fear at the sight of her anger.
Even after smashing the cup, Min Lanmeng's rage hadn't subsided. She grabbed a nearby vase and threw it forcefully in front of the two kneeling disciples.
In her fury, she inadvertently used her spiritual energy, causing the vase to shatter upon impact. A shard struck one of the disciples, drawing blood.
The two disciples standing by her side exchanged a glance. Finally, Jiang Ye, on the left, stepped forward, kneeling to adjust Min Lanmeng's disheveled skirt and soothingly said, "Master, please calm down."
After tidying up Min Lanmeng's attire, Jiang Ye moved closer, kneeling to massage her legs.
Seeing her disciple's delicate face and respectful demeanor, Min Lanmeng's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized her.
Then she reached out, pinching Jiang Ye's smooth chin with her freshly painted nails.
Her nails dug into Jiang Ye's skin painfully, but Jiang Ye didn't dare move an inch.
"Ah, youth..." Min Lanmeng murmured, her eyes filled with a blend of obsession and fervor as she toyed with Jiang Ye's soft skin.
But her obsession lasted only a moment. The next instant, her expression darkened, and she slapped Jiang Ye hard.
The slap was so forceful that Jiang Ye's head jerked to the side, a bright red handprint quickly appearing on her face.
Ignoring Jiang Ye, Min Lanmeng slowly raised her hand, and Yu Qing, the disciple on the right, immediately fetched a cloth. She carefully supported Min Lanmeng's hand, wiping her palm clean.
Leaning back lazily on the cushion, Min Lanmeng returned to her usual languid posture. "Since Zhan Xuehan chose Wen Miaomiao, I'll take Meng Shuying. I heard she's only fifteen—still very young."
A smile curled on her lips as a thought crossed her mind. She nudged the still-sitting Jiang Ye with her foot. "Go, tell Zhan Xuehan that I'll be taking Meng Shuying as a disciple of Qionghua Peak."
When Min Lanmeng decided to take Meng Shuying, Zhan Xuehan wasn't surprised. She had considered the possibility that Min Lanmeng might refuse Meng Shuying out of spite for her connection to Yanmo Peak.
If she hadn't taken Meng Shuying as a personal disciple, the girl would have remained an outer disciple for now, with the possibility of joining Yanmo Peak later through the sect's selection process.
But by thwarting Min Lanmeng's plans, it was only natural that she would retaliate.
Sighing inwardly, Zhan Xuehan reflected that if Meng Shuying hadn't stopped at the ninety-ninth step but had ascended to the top like Wen Miaomiao, she might have leaned more toward Meng Shuying.
Later, the twenty-two disciples who passed the Wenxiantai test received the news of their assignments.
These young disciples, still innocent at heart, were both envious and genuinely happy for the three selected as inner disciples.
Zhong Shitou, chosen by Nie Wentian, was the son of a farming family at the mountain's base. With a simple appearance and quiet demeanor, he seemed unremarkable. When others teased him, he would blush and struggle to respond.
Seeing his shyness, the other young men and women quickly stopped teasing him and turned to congratulate Wen Miaomiao and Meng Shuying.
Meng Shuying stood alone in a corner. Ever since learning that she would join Qionghua Peak, her face had darkened, exuding a cold aura.
Noticing her icy demeanor, the others guessed she was in a foul mood and decided not to engage her, instead gathering around Wen Miaomiao to celebrate.
Wen Miaomiao, with her easygoing nature, quickly became friendly with everyone. One bold girl, hanging on Wen Miaomiao's arm, playfully said, "I'm so jealous that you were chosen by the sect leader! If only I had your talent, I'd want to go to Yanmo Peak too."
Wen Miaomiao laughed, dimples appearing on her cheeks. "It was just good luck."
The girl added, "But I'm already content with being an outer disciple. Besides, the sect holds a selection every three years. Maybe next time, I can join Yanmo Peak and keep you company."
Hearing them mention Yanmo Peak, someone quietly reminded, "If you go to Yanmo Peak, be careful. The sect leader has a relative there."
Wen Miaomiao blinked in curiosity. "What's so special about that person?"
"That person... doesn't have a good reputation. I can't say much, but you'll find out soon enough." The speaker hesitated before glancing at Meng Shuying.
Though no one said it outright, there were rumors that three years ago, Meng Shuying was sent to Su Luowei because Su Luowei took a liking to her. Meng Shuying was only twelve at the time! Disgraceful!
And it was believed that Meng Shuying only got a spot at Wenxiantai through unsavory means, which was why the sect leader chose Wen Miaomiao instead.
Recalling these hidden stories, the speaker looked at Wen Miaomiao's innocent eyes and felt a pang of concern.
"Just remember, stay away from her."
Wen Miaomiao, confused by the cryptic warning, tilted her head in puzzlement.
The girl clinging to Wen Miaomiao's arm also asked, "Who should we stay away from?"
"Stay away from that person—the sect leader's nephew, Su Luowei."
With the assignments finalized, it wasn't long before someone came to escort the new disciples to their respective places.
Baizhan Peak's disciple arrived first, taking away Zhong Shitou. Then, an outer sect steward led away the remaining nineteen.
After they left, only Wen Miaomiao and Meng Shuying remained in the hall.
Meng Shuying still stood in the corner, her head bowed, her expression hidden.
But the chill emanating from her was palpable, making it clear that she was in no mood for conversation. Wen Miaomiao wisely decided not to approach her.
After about half a cup of tea's time, someone entered from outside.
The newcomer surveyed the hall, their gaze landing on Wen Miaomiao before they said, "You must be Wen Miaomiao."