As the laughter continued outside, the sound of a bell rang through the air, signaling that it was time to head back inside. The group of fairies fell silent, all eyes turning toward the entrance of the exam hall.
"Alright, everyone, inside now!" a voice called out from the doorway. It was one of the senior fairies, her tone authoritative yet kind.
Ling Xi stretched, her mischievous grin returning as she glanced at Yunxi. "Looks like the fun's over," she said, her tone teasing. "I guess I'll have to save my toad summoning for later."
Yunxi smiled softly, shaking her head with an amused chuckle. "You're impossible, Ling Xi."
"That's what they all say," Ling Xi replied with a wink, before turning to Little Flower. "Come on, let's go. Don't want to keep Shifu waiting."
Little Flower nodded enthusiastically, scampering after Ling Xi as they made their way toward the hall. Yunxi followed, her serene presence a quiet contrast to Ling Xi's energetic steps.
As they entered the hall, the atmosphere shifted to one of quiet anticipation. The fairies took their seats, all eyes now on the stage where the examiners would begin their final assessments. The room fell into an expectant silence, and Ling Xi couldn't help but glance around, her thoughts racing.
Her eyes briefly met Lian Yuan's across the room. He gave her a small, knowing smile, his eyes soft with affection. Ling Xi returned the smile,
The atmosphere in the hall shifted as the final marks for the spell exams were announced. All the fairies were eagerly awaiting the results, some fidgeting with excitement, others quietly anxious.
"Now, we will announce the results," Lian Yuan's voice rang out, calm yet carrying authority. He stood before the group, holding a list of names. "The top marks in the spell exam this year—first place—goes to Yunxi."
A ripple of applause filled the room, and Yunxi rose gracefully to accept her paper. Lian Yuan smiled warmly at her as he handed it over.
"You did as great as always, Yunxi," he said with genuine admiration. "Keep it up."
Yunxi bowed slightly in gratitude, her smile gentle. "Thank you, Master Lian Yuan."
As Yunxi returned to her seat, Ling Xi's heart beat a little faster. She had done her best, but she wasn't sure where she stood. As Lian Yuan scanned the papers, he looked up at her with a knowing smile.
"Ah, Ling Xi," he said, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness. "You've improved quite a bit. You're in 35th place this time. You've gained 100 marks more than before. Not bad at all."
Ling Xi's eyes widened in surprise, her lips curling into a grin. "Really?" she asked, leaning forward eagerly.
Lian Yuan nodded. "Yes, really. You're not the best, but you've certainly made progress. That's what matters."
Ling Xi puffed out her chest with pride. "100 marks more, huh? Guess I'm a genius after all."
There was a brief moment of laughter from the fairies around her, but Ling Xi didn't mind. She was pleased with her improvement.
Ling Xi clutched her paper tightly in her hands as she rushed out of the hall, her footsteps light but quick. The moment she got the exam results, her mischievous nature took over. She couldn't help herself—she had to run, to get away from the others and her proud moment, even if only for a little while.
"Little Flower, don't follow me!" she called over her shoulder, her voice full of playful mischief. "I need to get to Shifu before he nags me!"
Little Flower, ever the obedient follower, hesitated but then sprinted after her, his small feet barely keeping up with Ling Xi's quick pace. "Ling Xi! Fairies don't run like that!" he shouted, his face a picture of concern.
Ling Xi's laughter rang out, echoing in the hallways of the Heavenly Realm as she turned a corner. She wasn't worried about Little Flower catching up—she knew he'd follow her no matter what.
"Shifu!" she called, as she neared the familiar area where the old man usually resided. The old man with the long beard—her Shifu—was always a mix of strictness and kindness.
At that moment, Lian Yuan stepped out into the courtyard, his eyes twinkling as he watched Ling Xi's antics.
"Ah, Ling Xi," he said, his voice calm, "I see you're running away from your own success."
Ling Xi bounded toward the small, tranquil garden where her Shifu usually spent his time, still clutching her exam paper tightly in her hands. The cool breeze ruffled her hair, but she barely noticed, her excitement bubbling over. She'd worked hard for this moment, and now it was time to show Shifu what she had accomplished.
"Shifu!" Ling Xi called, her voice full of pride and energy as she approached the old man's study area. "I've got something to show you!"
Lian Yuan, who had been calmly reading a scroll, looked up as Ling Xi entered the garden. His eyes softened as he saw the wide grin on her face. He knew her well—this was the moment she had been waiting for.
"Well, what is it, Ling Xi?" he asked, his tone still gentle but with a hint of amusement. "You seem particularly excited today."
Ling Xi's grin grew even wider as she held out the exam paper for him to see. "Look! I gained 100 marks more than last time! I'm in 35th place now!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.
Lian Yuan raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. He took the paper from her hands and scanned it quickly, his expression unreadable at first. Then, he looked back at Ling Xi, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"100 marks more, huh?" he mused, nodding slowly. "That's quite an achievement, Ling Xi. You've worked hard for this, I can tell."
Ling Xi bounced on her feet, her excitement still evident. "I knew I could do it! It's just the start, though! Maybe next time I'll even get into the top 30!"
Ling Xi's eyes sparkled with excitement as she held the exam paper in her hands, hoping for one more bit of good news. "Shifu, can I go to the Grandly Power Show now?" she asked, her voice light and sweet, as if she already knew the answer would be yes.
She couldn't contain her enthusiasm. The Grandly Power Show was one of the most anticipated events of the year—a dazzling display of power and skill, with fairies and immortals from all realms showcasing their talents
No, you can't," he said simply.
Ling Xi's smile faded almost instantly, her face falling as she tried to hide her disappointment. "But Shifu… I worked so hard for the exam, and I passed it! Don't I deserve a little fun?
alking over to where she stood. His expression softened, though there was still a trace of concern in his eyes. "Ling Xi, you are mischievous and naughty. I know you enjoy causing a bit of chaos, but there are consequences. We cannot have you running off and stirring trouble at the show. It will only lead to problems we cannot deal with."
Ling Xi crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "But I promise I won't cause any trouble this time!" she insisted, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
You say that every time, and yet trouble seems to follow you wherever you go. The show is not the place for you to test your boundaries today, Ling Xi. There's always next year."