Peerless Spirit Master - Chapter 20

The next day, the father and daughter once again made their way toward the Qianshan Minor Sect selection grounds. But today, for some reason, Magical Beasts also appeared on both sides of the street leading to the venue.

People, deterred by the Magical Beasts, dared not gather outside the grounds to watch. As a result, the crowd was much sparser than yesterday.

Even more notably, the beasts’ gazes seemed off.

“Dad, there are so many more Magical Beasts today.”

Ye Guilan couldn’t help but sigh as she looked around. The Magical Beasts all appeared listless, and some even glanced around anxiously.

It seemed as though they were on guard not against people, but against each other.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

Ye He asked. Ye Guilan nodded. “Although the beast roars went on and on, I still fell asleep.”

“That’s good. Maybe they just got tired from roaring so long.”

Ye He glanced over the Magical Beasts, noticing their attention wasn’t on them. With yesterday’s crowds gone, the situation on the grounds was now clear at a glance.

Several large boards had been set up, and many people were gathered around them, searching for something.

“Those with numbers before 9999, check boards 1 to 3. Those after 9999, check boards 4 to 57!”

The father and daughter had no idea why they needed to check the boards-after all, they were both inexperienced. Even more curiously, why was 9999 the dividing line and not another number?

As they drew closer, Ye Guilan looked at the names on the boards. Each name was followed by a different location, as if dividing up the examination rooms.

Ye He’s dark eyes quickly scanned the boards, searching for his daughter’s name.

“Candidate number 9999, Ye Guilan, are you here?”

A voice called out. The father and daughter both looked over. Why was 9999 being singled out?

“This time, the bye goes to number 9999. Ye Guilan-this kid is really lucky.”

“Yeah, the bye number is randomly drawn each time. If only my child were that lucky.”

The father and daughter stepped out from the crowd. Ye He raised his voice, “Here.”

Many people turned their heads to see who the lucky number 9999 was.

Swept by so many gazes, both Ye Guilan and Ye He frowned slightly. Only after hearing the surrounding discussion did they realize what the bye actually meant.

“How nice, she gets to enter the Minor Sect directly without even taking the assessment.”

Ye Guilan raised her eyebrows. Was she being directly admitted?

Ye He hadn’t expected that the bye meant this either. After a moment of surprise, he smiled. “I told you there would be no problem with you entering the Minor Sect.”

The crowd’s attention followed the two of them. Many young people looked at Ye Guilan with an unspeakable envy and jealousy. Each time, there was a fixed spot for direct admission without assessment-whoever was drawn was a lucky one.

The father and daughter, trailed by many gazes, approached the staff member. He glanced at Ye Guilan. “Please show your number plate.”

Ye Guilan took out her plate. After checking it, the man took it back and handed her a new one, with the words “Qianshan” on it.

“Take this. In seven days, just go to Qianshan Minor Sect.”

“Do I go by myself?” Ye Guilan put away the plate and asked. The man replied, “Yes. Bring daily necessities. The Minor Sect cannot be entered or exited at will.”

Ye Guilan nodded, and the man turned and left.

All her previous worries were dispelled in that moment. Ye Guilan truly hadn’t expected such luck to fall on her. Receiving a bye-she was directly admitted.

“Dad, should we go home now?”

She didn’t need to take the assessment, nor did she have much interest in watching others. She planned to go home, use the time to study alchemy, and take a few more Lesser Primordial Pills to build up her strength.

“Do you want to watch the assessment?”

“Not really. Where is the Qianshan Minor Sect?”

“I’ll check the map in a bit.”

The two chatted as they walked back, followed for a long while by envious gazes-everyone sighing at just how lucky they were.

After checking the map, the father and daughter decided not to return home. Qianshan Minor Sect was very far from Abyss Capital; even with the fastest Flying Magical Beast, it would take three days. If they returned to Chunyuan Town and set out from there, seven days wouldn’t be enough.

“Let’s stay in Abyss Capital for a day, then set out for Qianshan Minor Sect. Seven days will be enough from here. Dad will take you to see some other cities along the way.”

Ye Guilan nodded repeatedly. This was also a good opportunity to broaden her horizons.

That afternoon, Ye He went out alone to buy things for Ye Guilan. Sitting in her room, the joy of being directly admitted gradually faded, and Ye Guilan’s brow furrowed.

Getting the bye was indeed lucky, but it would inevitably provoke some criticism.

Thinking of Bai Ruirui, who was hostile toward her, and that troublemaker Liu Ruyu, Ye Guilan couldn’t help but sigh.

The two of them would likely use their family connections to get into Qianshan Minor Sect as well. And Song Haoran… he’d probably make it too.

Ye Guilan couldn’t help but raise her hand to her forehead. They’d all be in the same Minor Sect, bumping into each other whether they liked it or not-there was no avoiding anyone.

Now that she had skipped the assessment by virtue of the bye, who knew what Liu Ruyu, that troublemaker, would stir up, or what new insults Bai Ruirui might come up with?

If all these messy affairs and relationships were just something for people in Chunyuan Town to gossip about, she wouldn’t care-in any case, everyone there knew of Miss Ye’s reputation as a lovestruck good-for-nothing, and she had certainly lived up to it.

But if these things became fodder for gossip inside the Minor Sect, wouldn’t that just be a nightmare?
Ye Guilan’s good mood vanished at the thought. She took out a box of Lesser Primordial Pills and popped a few into her mouth.

“With Liu Ruyu, that troublemaker, even if he doesn’t join the Qianshan Minor Sect and finds out I’m there, he’ll still spread the rumor of me being a lovesick fool.”

Ye Guilan clenched her fist slightly. “If we both end up in the Qianshan Minor Sect, there’s no way I’ll have any peace in the days to come.”

She put a few more Lesser Primordial Pills in her mouth, tilted her head back, and sighed. She should prepare for the worst-not just being ostracized, but perhaps even worse things.

“I’ll just have to take things one step at a time.”

Ye Guilan bit down on the Lesser Primordial Pills in her mouth. The sweet chocolate flavor eased her anxiety a little. She wasn’t afraid of being isolated, nor of being alone, but she was still irritated. Her school life hadn’t even started, and already a dark cloud was looming over it.

That evening at dinner, Ye He noticed his daughter’s gloomy expression and asked with concern. Ye Guilan couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Dad, if I make a mistake in the Qianshan Minor Sect, will I be expelled?”

Ye He frowned. “What kind of mistake would you make?”

Ye Guilan was silent for a moment. “If Liu Ruyu also joins the Qianshan Minor Sect, I can’t guarantee there won’t be friction between us.” At this, Ye Guilan looked up. “If I can’t help but hit him, will it cause trouble for you, Dad?”

Ye He looked at her. “Cause trouble for me?”

“Yes. After all, the Liu Family is a Fifth-Rank Family, and you’re just… a wealthy man.”

Ye He’s brows twitched slightly, his gaze becoming a bit subtle. “Are you worried about me?”

“Of course I’m a little worried. After all… you’ve been the one taking care of me all these years.”

Ye He’s dark eyes flickered a few times. He put down his utensils and lowered his gaze, saying nothing.

“I don’t want to cause you trouble, Dad.”

Ye He’s thin lips moved slightly, and he chuckled. “No matter what you do, you won’t cause me trouble. As for that worthless Liu Family brat, if you want to hit him, go ahead. Just make sure he doesn’t hurt you.”

Ye He picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of meat in his daughter’s bowl.

“Of course, I also don’t want my daughter to be expelled over that good-for-nothing. It’s not worth it.”

Ye He looked at Ye Guilan with a cheerful smile. “It’s fine to fight, just make sure it’s somewhere outside the bounds of the rules.”

Ye Guilan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Alright, I’ll remember that.”

The father and daughter stayed in Abyss Capital for another day. Some examinees had their tests right there, so since they had time, Ye Guilan wanted to see what the Qianshan Minor Sect’s selection was all about.

After watching, Ye Guilan truly realized how lucky she was to have gotten a bye.

This assessment was divided into three parts. The first was a competition, but no one knew what the content would be.

For Ye Guilan, her knowledge of this world was too limited. There was no way she could pass the competition.

The second part was entering a spiritual energy field to test spiritual energy absorption.

The Minor Sects were the pathway to the Four Great Sects. Those without aptitude couldn’t even get through the door; spiritual energy absorption directly tested one’s so-called aptitude.

The father and daughter exchanged glances as they watched.

Getting a bye was truly a blessing.

The third part was the most direct: a test of martial strength.

These three parts were held over several days. After hearing the content of the assessments, the father and daughter turned and left, losing all interest in watching further.

“Dad, if I hadn’t gotten a bye, even if I barely scraped through the first round, I’d definitely be eliminated in the second.”

Ye Guilan stood by the window, watching the crowds on the street outside. Ye He chuckled. “If every assessment was like this, you’d never make it into a Minor Sect.”

Ye Guilan couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s true.”

Ye He walked over and stood beside her, his dark eyes gazing outside. “Guilan, not joining a Minor Sect wouldn’t really affect you.”

“But then I couldn’t get into the Four Great Sects!”

Ye He turned to her. “The Four Great Sects aren’t the only way. With my wealth, I could provide for you comfortably for a lifetime. We…”

“Dad, I want to become stronger.” Ye Guilan looked up at him. “Of course it’s nice to stay in a small town, and with you here, I wouldn’t have to face any hardships. But I can’t rely on you forever. I want to walk my own path on my own strength.”

Ye He hesitated, but Ye Guilan pressed her hand to the spot where her Spirit Seed was. “Now that my Spirit Seed has awakened, I won’t stop. I don’t want to become stronger to hurt others, but so that those who are hostile to me will think twice before making a move. I’m not that easy to bully.”

“You’ve… changed so much.”

Ye He murmured, looking away. “Sometimes I wonder… are you still my daughter?”

Ye Guilan’s heart skipped a beat. “After all, I’ve been through a brush with death. It’s normal to change a little, right?”

Ye He’s gaze shifted back to her face. Ye Guilan smiled. “Dad, you don’t really want to see me acting like before, clinging to Liu Ruyu and doing foolish things, do you?”

“Of course I don’t want you to make the same mistakes as before…”

Ye He was silent for a moment. “The way you are now is good. You won’t do anything foolish again.”

Ye Guilan nodded with a smile. Ye He smiled too. “We’ll leave tomorrow. Get some rest early.”

Ye He walked out, and Ye Guilan let out a long breath where she stood. It’s still better to go to a Minor Sect. If she stayed in Chunyuan Town, stayed by Ye He’s side, she was afraid she’d slip up sooner or later.