97: Face slap

On the grass, Lin Xin's voice suddenly rang out, clear and resonant, drawing the side-glances of those nearby.

They had long heard that the Lin and Lu families were like fire and water; now that the direct descendants of the two families were officially clashing, they wondered what sparks would fly.

Zhou Luo turned sideways, looking at her in great surprise.

At this moment, Lin Xin's face was filled with anger. Her beautiful eyes stared at Lu An as she said coldly, "Let him see exactly where the gap between the Lin and Lu families lies."

Lu An smiled without saying a word.

Zhou Luo felt a wave of helplessness. He walked up to her and lowered his voice, "Third Young Miss, I don't have a Magical Artifact to bet with him."

Of course, this was just an excuse.

Firstly, the Lin Family's dignity had nothing to do with him. Secondly, to hide his strength, he had intentionally answered several questions incorrectly and wasn't certain he could steadily win against the opponent.

Zhou Luo didn't want to waste time accepting such low-level challenges for things he wasn't 100% sure about.

"I'll provide it."

Lin Xin's voice sank. A spiritual light flashed on her fair right hand, and a three-foot-long precious sword appeared in her palm.

The sword was silver-white. The entire blade glittered under the sunlight, radiating a sharp Aura.

Golden patterns were branded on the hilt, and a pink sword tassel fluttered down, looking very grand.

This was a Magical Sword, and the faint, sharp Sword Qi alone was enough to show its extraordinary nature.

Unlike Zhou Luo, a strong sense of Family honor made it impossible for Lin Xin to tolerate the other party's mockery.

Regardless of whether she won or lost, she had to accept the challenge; otherwise, if word got out, it would surely make the Lin Family a laughingstock.

Clang—

Lin Xin raised her sword, pointing the tip directly at Lu An. "This is a High Grade Magical Artifact. What will you use to bet?"

As soon as the words High Grade were uttered, everyone was shocked.

They hadn't expected the Lin Family's Third Young Miss to be so generous as to use a First-Order High Grade Magical Artifact as a stake.

Lu An's expression changed abruptly.

Using a High Grade Magical Artifact as a stake was not something he had anticipated.

Meeting those beautiful eyes, Lu An flipped his hand. White light poured from his palm, and a silver-white precious sword manifested within.

However, its Aura was clearly weaker than the other's.

"I only have a Medium Grade Magical Artifact, but I can also put up one bottle of Beauty-Retaining Pills and two bottles of Spirit Ascension Pills," he said forcefully.

Both the Beauty-Retaining Pill and the Spirit Ascension Pill were First-Order Medium Grade Medicinal Pills.

If the Medium Grade Magical Sword was added, it would be equivalent to Lin Xin's High Grade Magical Sword.

Hearing their words, Zhou Luo was slightly stunned, lamenting his miscalculation.

He hadn't expected this bet, nor had he expected the stakes to be so rich.

Had he known, he wouldn't have intentionally answered so many questions incorrectly.

"Fine, I'll make you regret this decision," Lin Xin said with her chin tilted up, looking indifferent.

These words made it seem like she was the one betting; she was even more confident than the person actually involved.

"Hmph, you're the one who should regret it."

Lu An snorted coldly and turned to leave.

After he left, Lin Xin put away her sword and looked at Zhou Luo with a serious expression. "You must win, because you represent the Lin Family."

"Third Young Miss, I can only say I did my best earlier! But... that stake?" Zhou Luo asked tentatively.

"If you win, it naturally belongs to you," Lin Xin said generously.

Zhou Luo's lips curled up as he said righteously, "Don't worry, Third Young Miss. I don't take a mere Lu Family seriously."

Hearing this, Lin Xin's eyebrows shot up.

She thought to herself, You weren't like this just a moment ago.

After speaking, Zhou Luo didn't linger. He turned around and went back to the house to practice.

"Lu An's strength is not weak."

Beside Lin Xin, Wang Yuwei's voice slowly rang out.

She knew Lu An reasonably well. He had been coming here to study for three consecutive years, and every time at the Spirit Pill Gathering, he performed excellently, ranking in the top three every single time.

"Do I have any other choice?" Lin Xin asked back, but then her tone shifted. "However..."

She looked at that tall back, her beautiful eyes flickering slightly. "I don't think he'll disappoint, will he?"

She wasn't certain in her heart either...

But she also couldn't tolerate Lu An showing off and using the Lin Family's reputation to elevate himself!

To give up without even trying was not her style as the Third Young Miss of the Lin Family!

Even if she lost, it was better than being mocked for not even daring to make a sound!

It was just a Magical Artifact. Although it pained her, it was acceptable!

But...

She still hoped Zhou Luo would win!

...

In the afternoon, Zhou Luo appeared again.

By now, some people had already gathered on the grass, Lu An among them.

Seeing him appear, another member of the Lu Family deliberately raised his voice. "It seems my cousin is going to earn a High Grade Magical Artifact today."

"Naturally. A mere Matrilocal Son-in-law actually thinks he has some great ability," Lu An replied, clearly enjoying the praise, a contemptuous expression on his face.

Zhou Luo didn't care at all and silently walked to his designated spot.

"Truly a dog of the Lin Family. No, not even as good as a dog; at least a dog can bark twice."

His silence only fueled their arrogance. The other Lu Family member ridiculed him without concealment, his words as nasty as could be.

Zhou Luo's eyes turned slightly cold.

Indeed, the most annoying things were the flies buzzing in one's ear.

Just as he was about to speak, a streak of green light pierced through the sky and landed in the field.

Zheng Tingtao appeared again.

Lu An and the others immediately shut their mouths and stood in their positions with great respect, bowing their heads in an extremely humble posture.

Seeing this, Zhou Luo sneered inwardly.

Zheng Tingtao stood with his hands behind his back. Once everyone had arrived, he scanned the area, raised his right hand, and gave a light wave.

A pillar of light shot out from his palm and hit mid-air, exploding with a boom into countless points of light, which then instantly converged into a light screen.

On the light screen, everyone's names and their respective scores were written.

Lu An, in the crowd, first glanced at Zhou Luo, his arrogant face full of confidence.

His expression seemed to say: This is the first step in trampling you underfoot.

Then he leisurely looked up, casting his gaze directly at the very top of the light screen.

"First place is definitely mine."

He looked over and abruptly saw the name in the first-place position.

"Zhou Luo, ninety-five points!"

Lu An, who had been smiling, was suddenly stunned. He looked at the name in disbelief, even instinctively rubbing his eyes.

How could this be?

How could he be first?

This was only his first time coming to the Sect! Why was his score so high?!

Lu An felt a chill run through his body, and a storm of shock surged in his heart.

He stared at the text on the light screen in utter shock, completely unable to believe his eyes.

Everyone else saw it too, and a clamor erupted; every face showed an expression of disbelief.

They looked at Zhou Luo as if he were a monster.

Zhou Luo was also confused internally.

Wait.

He had intentionally answered several questions incorrectly, so how was he still first?

For a moment, he couldn't quite process it.

Then he looked at the second-place position.

"Lu An, seventy points!"

Why did second place only have seventy points?

Zhou Luo immediately realized he had miscalculated.

In his eyes, there was no essential difference between the questions in this Written Exam and those of the last Spirit Pill Gathering; since he knew them all, he naturally compared them.

But what he didn't know was that the difficulty of this Sect Written Exam was far higher than the previous entrance trial.

Other people's scores didn't even reach "excellent"; they could barely pass.

And his glaring ninety-five points were like a series of slaps to everyone's faces.

Zhou Luo hadn't expected this result either.

Feeling everyone's intense gazes, he shrugged, quite helpless.

Beside him, Lin Xin also saw the results and was incredibly excited.

Although her score was in the last place, she didn't feel sad at all; instead, the smile on her face didn't fade.

That feeling of joy from fiercely slapping an enemy's face and trampling them underfoot made her feel very happy.

She turned her head and, for the first time, gave Zhou Luo a happy smile.

Zhou Luo was taken aback.

Who would have thought that the usually tsundere and cold Third Young Miss would actually smile like that in front of him one day?

Beside Lin Xin, Wang Yuwei also looked at him with a smile in her eyes.

She thought to herself that this was how it should be; this was the Zhou Luo she knew.

At this moment, Lu An, who was a full twenty-five points behind him, had a livid face. He clenched his hands and gritted his teeth hard.

His previous confidence had vanished, replaced by embarrassment and rage.

"Just wait, just you wait. I will definitely trample you under my feet!"

Lu An's heart roared wildly, wishing he could tear Zhou Luo into pieces.

Ignoring everyone's expressions, Zheng Tingtao spoke up, "In ten minutes, the top six people come to the main hall for the Martial Trial."

With that, he put away the light screen and walked toward the building next to the Pill Refining Room.