Chapter 31: Was It All an Act Before?

It was precisely because they had witnessed it up close that they were so astonished.

Xiao Jinghuai and Su Yunqi were naturally unwilling to believe it, as they refused to admit that someone else could be superior to them. Subconsciously, they retorted, "Impossible! You are just speaking on her behalf!"

"We are merely stating the facts. Third Prince, launching a sneak attack is not the behavior of a gentleman," one of the youths said, shaking his head. He had once thought Xiao Jinghuai was a reasonable man, but now it seemed that had been nothing more than an illusion.

"Let's go. I don't want to waste any more time." She cast an impatient glance at Xiao Jinghuai, clearly annoyed by his pestering. With that, the three of them left immediately without another word.

This time, Xiao Jinghuai did not dare to strike. He was unsure if Su Yunqing possessed any other hidden treasures; it was better to be cautious. Moreover, they were injured and needed to return quickly to regulate their internal energy. As for hunting magical beasts for profit, they had no interest in participating; they were hardly short of money.

Two days passed quickly, and the trial concluded. Everyone waited with anticipation outside the Star-Moon Forest for Elder Hong to announce the results. Xiao Jinghuai and his companions, who had been forced to withdraw early, could only look on with bitter resentment.

When Elder Hong announced the results, they found them even harder to accept: the first place belonged to Su Yunqing! Anyone could take first place, but not her! It simply could not be her!

While the others were surprised, they did not share the same sense of imbalance. Once the announcement was finished, Xiao Jinghuai said with a cold face, "Elder Hong, I believe this is cheating!"

"Cheating? What else do you have to say?" Elder Hong frowned at him, her eyes filled with impatience.

"Elder Hong must have heard of her history. She couldn't even guide energy into her body before. I don't know how she gained the ability to cultivate, but it is impossible for her to reach the level of first place in such a short time!"

"Therefore, I believe there must be some hidden truth, perhaps she used some sort of magical artifact. If that is the case, it is truly unfair to everyone else!" He spoke every word with apparent earnestness, his conviction unshaken.

Seeing that he was causing trouble again, Elder Hong’s expression darkened. "Why is it you again?"

His face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly forced a smile. "Elder Hong, you misunderstood me before. I am not intentionally looking for trouble; I am stating facts. This matter must be investigated thoroughly, otherwise, it is unfair to the other students!" He did not want to let the matter rest and even attempted to stir up the other students so that the rankings would be invalidated.

He was met with a glare from Elder Hong. "What gives you the right to question my judgment? Besides, I saw it with my own eyes—she did not use any artifacts. She achieved this entirely on her own!"

"No, that's impossible!" He shook his head frantically, as if admitting her ability would turn everything he had done previously into a joke. If Su Yunqing were a genius, why had he broken off their engagement? Wouldn't that make him a laughingstock? Thus, he subconsciously refused to acknowledge it. Naturally, he also refused to admit that he was inferior to her, so he kept finding excuses to convince himself.

"Enough. I don't have time to explain this to you. Now that the rankings are clear, everyone should return and cultivate diligently. Perform well in five months' time; that will determine whether or not you earn the chance to enter the Qingwu Sect!" With that, she left. The crowd followed in silence, none daring to provoke her.

However, most were whispering among themselves, discussing the day's events.

"My goodness, I never imagined she had such capability!"
"Perhaps she was just pretending all along?"
"That’s actually quite possible!"
"Does this mean we underestimated her before?"

Some were surprised, while others felt a lingering fear, even thinking that they should not offend her in the future. If she achieved great success later, she certainly wouldn't let them off. With this in mind, they became serious, not daring to mock her again unless they wanted to ruin their own prospects. Some even stepped forward to curry favor with her, hoping to build a connection. Others watched from the sidelines, wondering if she were truly as formidable as Elder Hong claimed. They observed with a cautious, watchful eye, saying nothing.

Xiao Jinghuai and Su Yunqi, who had previously been the center of attention, were now ignored. Their rankings were low, leading many to suspect they were all talk and no substance, which naturally resulted in fewer sycophants.

The trial was tied to the quota for entering major sects, so in the eyes of many, their chances of getting into a major sect had significantly diminished.

Upon returning to the Fengqi Academy, Su Yunqing found that some students wanted to move in and live with her, but she flatly refused. She found it rather amusing; these people were truly fickle. If you were incompetent and had no value, they wouldn't deign to associate with you, but if there was profit to be made, they would cling to you like taffy, impossible to shake off.

Back at the academy, aside from her daily lessons, she spent almost all her time in her room cultivating.

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the academy's selection match for the major sects arrived. Many students were eager, hoping to stand out and make a name for themselves. Su Yunqing was no exception; she had been waiting for this day and had made extensive preparations.

Fortunately, the Fengqi Academy had strict standards for admission, so there were not many who qualified. The competition did not take much time; a single day was sufficient. The order of the matches was determined by drawing lots, and Su Yunqing drew the fifth spot. The competition was divided into two rounds.

Xiao Jinghuai and Su Yunqi stood together, with Su Yunyue nearby, complaining with resentment, "Sister, look at her. She has been so smug lately!" Seeing the crowd around her, and remembering how Su Yunqing used to be despised wherever she went, she felt a sense of disparity and couldn't stand the sight of it.

"Enough. Her success is a good thing for the Su family," Su Yunqi said, patting her hand with a smile.

It would have been better not to mention it at all; the mere mention made Su Yunyue furious. The thought of how the clan members had been subtly inquiring about Su Yunqing lately made her blood boil. She had been nobody in the Su family before; how could a single trial make her shine so brightly?

She could not let this continue. If things went on like this, her own status would be threatened, and she did not want to be considered a failure of the Su family. Previously, with Su Yunqing as a bottom-feeder, no one thought her own abilities were lacking. But now, it was different. Without Su Yunqing at the bottom, the clan members had started to notice her, and they were even comparing her to that wretch, Su Yunqing!