'What do you mean, master?'
After hearing the inexplicable voice in his mind, Tianyu didn't panic. Rather, he asked in shock.
'I mean what I said. That clan brother of yours is already at the Ninth level of Qi Condensation.'
The mature female voice lazily replied again.
'Kid, don't take anyone too lightly. This world is too big and there are all kinds of people. I suggest focusing on your strength rather than on useless things.'
The voice said lightly, intending to lecture Mo Tianyu. After all, she did take him as an unofficial disciple. So, she had to do her best to guide him on the right path.
'Heh…no wonder he had so much pride. So, he entered the Ninth level of Qi condensation?'
However, Tianyu didn't care about that and just clicked his tongue in annoyance.
'But master, didn't you say such crude realms can only take one so far? That a cultivator must possess firm foundations, true talent, and real combat skill? I doubt that guy Zhiran has any of those.'
He asked with cold eyes. Now that he knew the true realm of Zhiran, he didn't like that guy even more.
'That's true!'
The voice replied lazily, for that was the truth. The raw realm was no good.
In fact, in the world of geniuses, cultivation realms were always deceptive, masking the true extent of one's strength.
'See? So, that guy will still suffer at the hands of Wu Zhen. I hope he will learn his lesson.'
Tianyu beamed with a smile at his master's agreement, then finally turned to glance at the petite girl fidgeting nervously behind him.
"Mei Xuan, there's no need to follow me anymore. Like I said before, I didn't save you for repayment."
After Mo Zhiran's sarcastic remark about the girl, Tianyu felt somewhat awkward keeping her by his side.
Now he felt as if he were forcing her to carry his sword out of obligation.
So, after saying those words, Tianyu swiftly took his sword from her hands and turned away before she could even react.
"I think you should focus on your cultivation and enter the inner sect soon."
He said lightly, not giving her a chance to react.
"Wait—"
Only his calm farewell lingered in the timid girl's ears before Tianyu vanished into the crowd.
She couldn't even finish her words.
"..."
For a moment, the petite girl looked lost. But only after a few seconds, her innocent face got dark while her moist eyes were completely filled with bloodlust.
"Damn it, I was this close to getting such a good toy, and someone has to ruin it?"
She mumbled in hatred, completely out of her character. That timid and innocent look of hers was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, her eyes were filled with craziness and bloodlust, just like a demonic cultivator.
'Mo Zhiran, right? Just wait…if I find you alone, I will show you who you have provoked.'
Mei Xuan said in a thick malice while composing her look as she didn't want anyone to find her true nature.
In an instant, she slipped back into that innocent, naive look of hers, the kind that made people want to either bully her or spoil her. It was hard to believe she had another, crazier side.
'Forget it. For now, let's focus on the Inner Sect trial. I have to enter the Inner Sect without drawing too much attention or arousing suspicion. As for Tianyu, heh, it's only a matter of time before he's at my feet.'
Mei Xuan thought and put aside this incident for now. As a spy sent by the Black Lotus Sect to lurk around, she couldn't lose her composure in any situation.
Not to mention, this wasn't even a setback. Just…she was a little annoyed by the nobody who ruined her plan.
***
"Zhiran, if you don't release me right now, believe it or not, I will never talk to you again."
Amid the dense crowd of Outer Sect disciples, in a corner near the arena, Su Ruyue whispered to Mo Zhiran, who was holding her by the waist.
Feeling his roaming fingers and the dense crowd around her, Ruyue was so ashamed that her face was already red all over.
Finally, she couldn't take this anymore and gave an ultimatum to Zhiran in anger. This guy was just too much.
"Oh? Sorry, I forgot."
Mo Zhiran saw that she was at her limits and immediately removed his hands from her waist with a smile.
"Forgive me, Ruyue. I was just too angry and didn't realize what I was doing."
He then quickly apologized as if he really made a mistake in anger.
"Yeah? And those words you said to Tianyu? Are they also in anger? Do you think I'm stupid?"
It would have been fine if Zhiran hadn't apologized. But when he did, Ruyue's anger exploded immediately.
"Mo Zhiran, can't you see your situation? Are you blind? Why are you always so erratic nowadays?"
She said, her voice trembling with frustration.
"Are you taking advantage of my kindness? Can't you see Tianyu and me are just worried about you? Why is your mind always on these kinds of things?"
She sighed.
"You weren't like this before. You would listen to whatever I said. But… now, all your thoughts are on such useless things. And even… even saying such inappropriate words in front of Tianyu."
Ruyue felt a flush of shame as she remembered their earlier interactions.
"Sigh… look, Zhiran, being a Daoist companion is no joke, and it isn't done like this. Although I don't know if you're serious or not, regardless, I am not a prize for you to win in a competition."
She said clearly to Zhiran what she had wanted to say for a long time.
"It's fine that I've known you since childhood and tolerated your shenanigans, even when they're outrageous. But there has to be a limit, you know?"
"What do you think would happen if I were some other girl you didn't know before?"