163: Chapter 163 Is being unpredictable even considered a qualification assessment?

After Jing Ni was led away by a maid to choose her residence, Zhu Yuyan and Empress Wu walked over slowly.

"The Net of Heaven is not to be feared, but I worry they might cause secret disturbances."

"If they come, we kill them. No need to say more," Su Rui said calmly, as if he didn't take the Net of Heaven seriously at all.

"The Net of Heaven can become Great Qin's sharp blade; its master is certainly no mediocre person," Empress Wu lightly shook her head. "If they had no understanding of you, how would they dare provoke you so easily? There must be a scheme behind this."

Before her words faded, a maid rushed over.

"Hall Master, someone else is requesting an audience, wanting to enter the Martial Hall to cultivate!"

Su Rui paused, then told her to bring the person in.

Nowadays, anyone who still dares to show up must be someone who believes their natural talent is extraordinary.

Not long after, a young girl dressed in a golden skirt stepped into the courtyard.

Su Rui looked up slightly and was momentarily stunned.

One moment it was someone from the Net of Heaven, and the next, someone from the Yin-Yang School?

"Feiyan pays respects to the Hall Master. I wish to join the Martial Hall and listen to your teachings." The young girl curtsied gracefully, her expression composed.

Yan Fei's face remained undisturbed, completely unaware that her identity had long been seen through.

[Ji Feiyan; Nineteen years and six months old; Talent: Ninety-eight; Evaluation: Yin and Yang clear the heart, unfathomable disposition, peerless grace. Recommended to be taken in as a Disciple.]

"..."

"Unfathomable disposition" counts as an Aptitude evaluation?

Su Rui's mouth twitched.

He quickly thought about it; this woman appears dignified and virtuous on the surface, yet her methods are ruthless and decisive—it was quite fitting.

Just as he was about to speak, the maid rushed back again.

"Hall Master, a group of people has arrived outside, claiming to be Great Qin Mohist Disciples, requesting an audience with you!"

What kind of day is this? Guests arriving one after another?

Su Rui felt a slight surprise, then a thought struck him.

"You want to enter the Martial Hall? Fine.

Go and defeat those people outside the gate, and that will count as passing the test."

Yan Fei's heart tightened upon hearing this.

It seemed the other party had indeed seen through her origins.

"How about it? If you don't dare to go, then return to Great Qin," Su Rui's voice was gentle, yet brooks no argument.

"I'll go." Yan Fei was silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly.

She knew that the other party not only knew she was from Great Qin, but perhaps even discerned her true identity.

But as long as there was a sliver of a chance, she would not give up.

Otherwise, if she returned, wouldn't she be ridiculed by her sister for life?

Outside the Martial Hall at this moment.

Yan Dan and his party stood before the gate, their robes dusty and faces weary.

Since stepping into Northern Li, they had barely caught their breath.

First, they rushed to the Sword Heart Tomb only to lose the Water Cold Sword, then hurried to Wushuang City, returned to search the Sword Tomb again, changed course for Snow Moon City, then proceeded to Tianqi, only to find it empty. Now they were back at Snow Moon City, looking disheveled.

This journey had worn them out like tired donkeys.

Even Yan Dan, a man of profound scheming, could barely endure it.

The anger in his heart almost burst through his chest.

If this trip ended up fruitless, it would not only be in vain but would have also wasted a great deal of time.

He was anxiously waiting for the Martial Hall maid to return with a reply.

Beside him, Yan Shisan watched coldly, without moving.

Xie Xiaofeng handed over a flask of wine, while he himself leaned lazily against a stone lion, his gaze sweeping over this group of sudden visitors.

"The one leading them has a deep Foundation."

Xie Xiaofeng lowered his voice.

"Are you going, or should I?"

Yan Shisan replied flatly, took a sip of wine, and immediately frowned.

"There are wine shops everywhere in Snow Moon City; can't you bring something decent?"

"It's good enough that there's wine to drink. My pockets have been empty for a long time; all the silver I brought from the Manor was spent on this journey,"

Xie Xiaofeng let out a wry smile.

Yan Shisan was instantly speechless.

What a poor Sword God!

He muttered inwardly, then his gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked toward the Martial Hall gate.

...

Only to see the young girl who went in to report had already walked out.

"What did the Hall Master say?"

Yan Dan stepped forward upon seeing this, cupped his fists, and inquired.

"Defeat me, and I will naturally tell you," Yan Fei stood before the steps, her expression detached.

Yan Dan was startled, then remembered the rule for entering the hall back then—one must defeat a Disciple of the hall to gain entry.

Just as he was about to speak, Xue Nu beside him subtly shifted her steps.

"Chief, let me try."

Before her words could land, the two exchanged several Moves, and Xue Nu was pushed back several steps by an invisible force, stumbling to the ground.

Yan Dan's expression changed slightly.

"Is this Yin-Yang Art? Are you from the Yin-Yang School?"

His voice was tight, filled with vigilance.

"I used to be," Yan Fei's eyes flickered slightly. "Now, if I win against you, I will be a person of this Martial Hall."

Yan Dan gripped the ink eyebrow in his hand, his expression growing more solemn.

"With your cultivation and age, if you truly belong to the Yin-Yang School, you must hold a high position. It is truly bewildering that someone of your stature is willing to humble herself here."

"Fight, stop with the nonsense." Yan Fei's figure flashed, and she was already closing in.

However, after a few exchanges, her eyes also darkened.

Yan Dan's strength was far beyond expectations.

This duel quickly attracted surrounding onlookers, and the clamor gradually subsided as everyone watched with bated breath.

In a private room of a nearby tavern, Sun Baifa stood leaning on the railing with Sun Little Red.

"This Move set... looks like a Daoist path?"

The old man squinted as he observed.

"Grandpa, you misjudged!" Sun Little Red pouted. "Daoism focuses on the flow of Concept; this sister's attacks are sharp and domineering—it's clearly the methods of the Yin-Yang School!"

"What the clever girl says is reasonable," Sun Baifa chuckled awkwardly.

Yan Dan had profound Internal Energy and a higher Realm, but Yan Fei's techniques were bizarre and unpredictable.

Both sides exerted their full strength, and for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.

"The ink eyebrow swordplay indeed lives up to its reputation; worthy of being personally taught by the Grand Master of the Mohists of the Mohists," Yan Fei's cool voice drifted on the wind, every word clear, seemingly intentional for everyone to hear.

Yan Dan's expression darkened slightly.

"The Yin-Yang School has always liked to use sharp tongues and carry out insidious deeds."

"Less nonsense." Yan Fei's lips curved slightly, and a pair of golden, flowing wings suddenly unfurled behind her back.

"I am the Eastern Monarch of the Yin-Yang School. The Mohist School is currently struggling to survive under pressure in Great Qin, yet you flee to Northern Li to seek another way out? Taste my 'Soul, Oh Soul, Wander Like a Dragon'!"

As the words fell, a Dragon-shaped Qi shot erupted, and Yan Dan concentrated on responding, constantly retreating.

Just as he was fully defending against it, he felt a chill strike the back of his neck.

An alarm instantly sounded in his heart. He swept his ink eyebrow rapidly, but only managed to slice through an afterimage.

Yan Fei had used the momentum of the Dragon's flight to create an illusion behind him, having quietly unleashed the 'Six Souls Dread Curse'.

Yan Dan's face changed drastically.

And Yan Fei showed no mercy; her offensive was like a continuous tide.

Yan Dan, afflicted by the Six Souls Dread Curse, had chaotic Qi and an unstable figure.

"You can instantly cast this technique?"

"Since you recognize this curse, have you practiced the Mohist School's Universal Love Mind-Cultivation Technique to the tenth level?"

Yan Fei suddenly stopped her attack and quietly watched him.

Yan Dan's pupils contracted. After a moment of silence, he turned and left.

When circulating his Qi just now, he already felt a strange churning within his body—the poison of the Six Souls had taken effect, and he needed to suppress it immediately.

Yan Fei did not stop him.

Once this curse enters the body, dissolving it is by no means easy.

Su Rui did not care about Yan Dan's departure.

When Yan Fei returned, he merely nodded and accepted her into the sect.

Yan Fei knew clearly that this action carried a degree of gambling.

She had won half the bet, but only half.

Su Rui had not bestowed any new Cultivation Technique upon her.

This made Yan Fei feel a slight sense of disappointment.

Although she was already proficient in Yin-Yang secret arts, she still hoped to receive some new Legacy.

But any Cultivation Technique originating from Su Rui's hand was an existence that caused shock.

However, when Yan Fei saw Jing Ni, her heart still jolted.

She recognized at a glance that this person was the famous Heaven-rank assassin from the Net of Heaven.

Such a person was actually taught a Cultivation Technique?

Yet she herself had never received even half a pointer.

This left her utterly perplexed.

...

Li Hanyi had been somewhat troubled recently.

The number of women in the Martial Hall was increasing day by day, especially those two girls, Zhu Yuyan and Yin Luoxia. Although they were still young, the feminine intuition of women had already quietly awakened.

If they were any slower, even a fool would probably be able to tell.

This made Li Hanyi secretly anxious, wishing she could turn eighteen overnight.

But this matter could not be rushed. Currently, her only hope was the Hundred Flowers Banquet next March.

Wanwan and Shan Meixian finally arrived.

The two had been rushing along the way, so their pace was naturally not as swift as Zhu Yuyan and Empress Wu.

Traveling day and night without stopping, they arrived at the Martial Hall gate covered in dust. Wanwan was almost in tears.

It was simply too tiring.

"Xian'er, Wanwan, why have you two ended up looking like this?"

Zhu Yuyan was stunned when she saw the two of them.

The girl who was originally as ethereal and beautiful as a Fairy now looked dusty and disheveled, resembling a country bumpkin.

"Master, how dare you ask! It's all because of your precious daughter!"

Shan Meixian spoke with a hint of resentment as soon as she opened her mouth.

All the way, she relied on Wanwan to drag her forward. Her cultivation was insufficient, and she couldn't keep up with the pace at all; she hadn't even touched hot water once.

Wanwan, who cherished cleanliness like her life, could not endure such torment.

Su Rui heard the commotion and rushed over. He was also startled to see the two dusty little girls, but what followed rendered him speechless—

As soon as Shan Meixian saw him, she suddenly bent her knees and knelt on the ground.

"I pay my respects to Father!"

The air instantly solidified.

Su Rui: ...

Zhu Yuyan: ...

Wanwan: ...

Li Hanyi and the other girls: ...

What was going on?

Su Rui's eyes widened, his mind a blank.

Where did such a big daughter suddenly come from?

Zhu Yuyan's expression changed slightly. She quickly pulled Shan Meixian up, thinking the child must have gone mad.

Fearing Su Rui might misunderstand, she quickly explained the matter of the adoption via secret sound transmission.

After hearing it, Su Rui only felt a headache coming on.

Li Hanyi, even more so, stood to the side looking utterly bewildered, quietly watching Su Rui and Zhu Yuyan, then lightly walked to Su Rui's side.

"Ahem, let's have someone take them to wash up first," Su Rui said helplessly.

Zhu Yuyan also felt awkward and quickly pulled the two away from the main hall.

Li Hanyi looked at Su Rui with a hint of grievance, making Su Rui feel uneasy.

"Husband, why don't we go out for a walk?"

Su Rui paused: "Go where?"

"Anywhere is fine. Staying in Snow Moon City all day, I'm about to go stir-crazy."

The surrounding girls rolled their eyes upon hearing this.

Su Rui pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Thank you, Husband!" Li Hanyi immediately beamed, turned around, and cheerfully went to pack her things.

Su Rui shook his head with a wry smile and looked around at everyone: "Aren't you going to practice your skills?"

As soon as the words fell, the girls scattered like startled birds, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, a clear and bright voice drifted from outside the gate:

"This Junior, Moon Invitation, requests an audience with the Hall Master."

Su Rui looked toward the sound and saw a man with refined bearing, looking like a Young Master, standing outside the Martial Hall.