Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The meditation class was taking place in Autumn Frost Court.
Chu Liuyue followed Si Ting and soon arrived at the class.
When they stood outside the door, Si Ting whispered, “Meditation classes are usually a way for us to cultivate our control over the Heaven and Earth Force.”
Chu Liuyue nodded. A Xuan Master’s cultivation was nothing more than these few aspects.
The front door automatically opened as soon as they arrived at the doorway.
A rich voice, belonging to a middle-aged man, called out, “Come in.”
Chu Liuyue entered after Si Ting.
It was a very spacious room. A square-faced man stood at the front of the room.
“Good day to you, Mr. Dongfang,” Si Ting greeted.
Chu Liuyue immediately understood that the man was Dongfang Qing, the meditation class’s teacher.
“You came quickly.” Dongfang Qing nodded with approval. His gaze soon fell on Chu Liuyue with some curiosity. “Are you Chu Liuyue?”
Chu Liuyue bowed. “Good day to you, Mr. Dongfang.”
Dongfang Qing’s eyes rested on her nameplate for a moment. He was going to ask who she had chosen as her teacher. However, he found it inappropriate to do so with so many students present.
He lifted a finger and pointed. “You can sit next to Si Ting!”
Chu Liuyue looked in the direction he was pointing in.
Ten stone platforms had been placed in the room, and a student occupied each of the tables.
A chessboard was placed on each table in front of them.
Almost all the students were staring intently at their own board, thinking hard. Even when they heard the two of them enter, they merely glanced up quickly and directed their attention back to deciphering the Xuan formation on the board.
At the front, two empty stone platforms were in the middle. One obviously belonged to Si Ting, whereas the other was hers.
As she got closer, she saw a distinct character ‘two’ engraved on the stone platform. She glanced at Si Ting’s platform beside hers. It had the character ‘one.’
It seemed that this seating arrangement was based on their mid-term assessment results.
The moment Chu Liuyue stepped onto her platform, a chessboard suddenly appeared on the empty tabletop! The chessboard displayed a Xuan formation!
“Today’s lesson is simple. You will pass as long as you can find these two Xuan formations’ formation eyes.” Dongfang Qing looked at Chu Liuyue with hidden expectations. “The top three students who take the least time will be rewarded separately.”
He wasn’t there during the mid-term assessment, so he wasn’t sure what happened or how Chu Liuyue had come in second place for the Xuan Master assessment. Elder Sun and the others had hyped it up so much, even saying that Chu Liuyue’s talent was not the slightest bit inferior to that of Si Ting.
He wanted to see if that was really the case!
Chu Liuyue looked at the Xuan formation before her. A formation of this level was not difficult for her. She immediately found a way to crack it when she first laid eyes on it. However, she couldn’t pass the level so fast.
Chu Liuyue certainly knew that Dongfang Qing was testing her when she sensed him watching her. She looked at Si Ting and whispered, “Si Ting, how long did you take for the first level?”
Dongfang Qing’s eyes lit up even more. Is Chu Liuyue issuing a challenge to Si Ting?
Si Ting looked at the girl in front of him. From her calm demeanor, he could guess what was on her mind. “One hour.”
Chu Liuyue nodded thoughtfully. According to Si Ting’s current age, he really is doing exceptionally well by reaching such a level.
“Please try to crack the second level as fast as you can. Perhaps, I may even come from behind and surpass you.” Chu Liuyue blinked her eyes at him. She would be able to spend less time here if Si Ting was faster. Otherwise, it would be torture for her if she had to spend a few hours here.
Si Ting caught the crafty look that had flashed across her eyes. He nodded after a moment’s silence. “Okay.”
From behind them, a girl suddenly asked haughtily, “What? Chu Liuyue, are you challenging Si Ting?”
Chu Liuyue turned around and faced the girl, who was about 15 or 16 years old.
The girl had pretty features. As she stared at Chu Liuyue with her almond-shaped eyes, she didn’t bother to conceal her arrogance and hostility towards the latter.
Hostility? A frown appeared on Chu Liuyue’s forehead. I don’t even know the girl. What have I done to deserve this attitude?
Si Yang—who was sitting behind Chu Liuyue—impatiently retorted, “Gu Mingzhu, why are you so nosy? It’s normal for Liuyue to challenge my brother. After all, she’s the second best! This is no place for a third runner-up like you.”
Chu Liuyue suddenly knew who this girl was upon hearing her name.
Second Gu Missy, Gu Mingzhu. Since she was the eldest son’s daughter and a Xuan Master in training, Second Gu Missy was widely adored within the Gu family.
Gu Mingzhu’s expression became more hostile after she was chided by Si Yang. “I merely asked a question. Why are you coming to her defense?”
Si Yang snorted. “You know exactly what you were thinking! If you want to challenge my brother, wait till you get second!”
Gu Mingzhu was so angry that she turned white. Finally, she replied through gritted teeth. “How capable can she be? She came in second without a solid foundation or training. Who knows how she got second.”
A Xuan Master’s cultivation was especially delicate. Even if one had talent, one still might not succeed if they didn’t have patience and a teacher’s proper guidance.
All these years, Chu Liuyue’s life in the Chu family had been worse than a servant. She is now in her teenage years. She discovered her talent as a Xuan Master too late! Her achievement at the last assessment must be a coincidence!
Si Yang was beginning to feel offended. “What? Are you suspecting that Elder Sun and the others were wrong in their judgment?
He came in third!
Gu Mingzhu’s suspicion of Chu Liuyue coming in second was as good as implying that he wasn’t strong enough!
When Gu Mingzhu heard this, she kept her mouth shut. Si Yang always had a way with his words. She couldn’t be bothered with him.
Aggrieved, Gu Mingzhu turned and looked at Si Ting. However, the handsome youth didn’t even glance her way. It was as though he didn’t care about what had just happened.
Gu Mingzhu felt worse with every passing minute as she bit her lip.
Si Ting was a quiet and introverted person with an aloof temperament. However, it didn’t deter Gu Mingfeng. She still held on to a ray of hope after being rejected time and time again. Right now, she felt threatened by Chu Liuyue’s appearance!
A guy like Si Ting had never been interested in anyone before. Nevertheless, when Mr. Dongfang assigned someone to bring Chu Liuyue to class, Si Ting had volunteered! Although he said he had some time because he had cracked the first level, Gu Mingzhu knew better.
When Chu Liuyue spoke to Si Ting earlier, she clearly felt that Si Ting’s attitude towards Chu Liuyue was completely different! This was a woman’s intuition! This also caused Gu Mingzhu to dislike Chu Liuyue even more.
She placed one hand on her chessboard. Her knuckles began to turn white from the strain she was putting on the board. “Chu Liuyue, I dare you to compete with me. If you lose, I’ll take second place; If I lose, I’ll give you the Long Xian Formation! What’s your decision?”
Everyone surrounding them looked up, clearly startled.
It was rumored that the Long Xian Formation was a fifth-level Xuan formation! Being the Gu family’s Second Missy, Gu Mingzhu was indeed generous!
Nobody would refuse this jackpot! However, unexpectedly, there wasn’t a trace of excitement on Chu Liuyue’s face. Instead, she shook her head with a smile and said, “I don’t think so. After all, bullying is something I really don’t like to do.”
