Chapter 1540 - Humiliation

Chang Lexing inwardly cried out,

Shit!

He knew better than anyone else here how terrifying of an existence Su Yi was, but it was because of this that he dared not divulge what he knew.

If the sect higher-ups tried to settle the score with Su Yi, they’d inevitably be the ones to suffer in the end!

Just as Chang Lexing was racking his brains for how to prevent that, Ma Xingkong sighed. “Forget it. An insignificant commoner, that’s all. Taking him to task would only lower our statuses!”

Here, he looked at Chang Lexing and ordered, “Go tell him that the Jade Firmament Immortal Sect has no intention of letting an outsider participate in this year’s Seven Stars Immortal Assembly!

“If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll accept this decision and shut up. If he doesn’t, even with A’Ning speaking up on his behalf, he’ll only bring humiliation upon himself!”

Chang Lexing’s expression shifted erratically. He found all of this too ludicrous for words. All that talk, and it turned out this was just about an opportunity to participate in the Seven Stars Immortal Assembly.

Even Immortal Lords had to treat Su Yi with respect. How could he possibly care about something like that?

These old-timers really thought far too highly of themselves!

“Didn’t you hear me? Go! Be quick about it!” shouted Ma Xingkong.

Chang Lexing sighed to himself, but just as he was about to say something, Qian Yu smiled heartily. “How about I go?”

With that, he turned to leave.

Chang Lexing opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, no words came out. Sometimes, there was no dissuading someone from seeking out their own misfortune!

......

“Su Yi, do you understand what I’m saying?” Qian Yu found Su Yi and repeated Ma Xingkong’s orders.

Su Yi remained sprawled out in his chair, disregarding him completely. It was as if Qian Yu weren’t even there.

Qian Yu couldn’t help but lose his temper. He said icily, “You want to use a woman to rise to prominence? I urge you to give up! You...”

Su Yi suddenly turned to look at him. “One more word, and I’ll kill you.”

Qian Yu’s voice came to an abrupt halt.

Especially after he met Su Yi’s distant, profound gaze. Qian Yu felt a chill course through him, as if he’d been plunged into an icy abyss. He could barely breathe. He even felt as if his heart and soul were on the verge of collapse!

“Scram,” Su Yi said softly. One syllable, and he looked away.

Qian Yu turned and fled in horror. It was only after he’d left Su Yi’s room that he roared internally,

Su Yi, one day, I’ll fucking kill you!

His expression was contorted and hideous.

Senior Apprentice Brother Qian, you ought to celebrate that you escaped with your life.

Chang Lexing watched this whole exchange from a distance. He muttered to himself,

If you seek revenge, you’re sure to die an unsightly death!

He made no attempt to warn Qian Yu. It was not that he wanted to see Qian Yu fall; rather he simply didn’t dare to get involved.

......

Sky Tripod Immortal City, a ritual ground.

A’Li stood alone before the examination platform, awaiting the results of her trial.

She was slender and frail, and perhaps due to nervousness, her hands were tightly clenched. It was as if the judgment she was awaiting would determine her fate.

A panel of three judges sat at the far end of the platform. The man at the center, Sun Yunqi, was an elder of the Northern Frost Sword Sect.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He was the primary examiner of this trial.

Before long, one of the higher-ups said expressionlessly, “A low-grade spirit root and middling talent. You fail.”

Uproar followed this declaration. The numerous other young people undergoing this examination all looked at A’Li.

Their gazes contained a wide range of emotions: pity, sadistic glee, sympathy, and mockery, to name a few.

A’Li’s face paled, and her delicate frame went taut. She pursed her lips, and her bright phoenix eyes dimmed.

Like a torch on the verge of burning out.

Before long, another of the higher-ups behind the examination platform said, “Your physique is frail, and you’re innately deficient. You’re not destined to cultivate in this lifetime.”

Uproar ensued. The crowd’s gazes and discussion were like sharp arrows piercing A’Li’s heart.

She quivered slightly, and everything was starting to go black. She bit down on her lower lip so hard the skin almost broke.

Am I really that useless?

Her eyes filled with uncertainty, and her mind buzzed, her thoughts in turmoil.

It was then that the primary examiner, Sun Yunqi, spoke up. “Little girl, you failed this trial. Hurry up and leave.”

One sentence to determine her fate!

Uproarious laughter, pitying sighs, and mockery rang out on all sides.

The young woman stood there alone, unmoving, as if she’d collapsed beneath the weight of this blow.

But then, a slender figure charged into the ritual grounds. It was A’Ning!

Her graceful figure was clad in rainbow raiment, but her beautiful face was unnaturally icy.

“Senior Sun, I watched the entire examination process. My little sister’s results might have been unexceptional, but surely they weren’t that bad?” A’Ning stood beside her sister and shouted.

The uproar disappeared, replaced by deathly silence.

Sun Yunqi furrowed his brow and said with cold indifference, “You’re sticking up for your little sister. It’s understandable, but forgive my bluntness: with your little sister’s attitude, she has no hope of entering even a second-rate sect, let alone passing the trials of the Seven Stars Immortal Assembly!”

A’Ning was furious, and she was just about to say something when Sun Yunqi said coldly, “A’Ning, you’re a core disciple of the Jade Firmament Immortal Sect, a prominent member of the Jing Province’s younger generation. Surely you can tell how poor your sister’s aptitude is?”

A’Ning’s face was ashen with fury, but before she could respond, Sun Yunqi shouted, “Hurry up and take your little sister away. Otherwise, you won’t be the only one to lose face. You’ll bring shame upon the entire Jade Firmament Immortal Sect!”

His words abruptly brought A’Ning to her senses. She realized that she’d slipped up.

In the end, she endured her rage and despondency and whispered to her sister, “A’Li, let’s go. I’ll arrange an even better path for you later!”

But then, A’Li took a deep breath and faced Sun Yunqi and the others, her phoenix eyes seemingly on fire.

A moment later, she bit through her fingertip and wrote on the ground, “It isn’t up to you to decide whether or not I can cultivate! One day, the name A’Li will resound throughout the Immortal Realm!”

Every word was written in fresh red blood. Her handwriting was as sharp and determined as the edge of a sword.

When they saw this line of text written in blood, the examiners were stunned. The onlookers throughout the ritual grounds were flabbergasted.

A’Ning couldn’t help but look excited and gratified. And here she’d been worried that this result would come as a massive blow to her little sister. Now, it seemed it had provoked her will to fight instead!

A’Li disregarded everyone else, grabbed her sister’s sleeve, and walked out of the ritual grounds. Beneath the light of the heavens, her frail figure emanated staunch determination.

But then, mocking laughter rang out. “A mute dares make such brazen proclamations? Ludicrous!”

The speaker was Sun Yunqi, and his face was full of dismissal.

Uproarious laughter filled the entire venue immediately afterward.

“You...” A’Ning whipped around and glared at him.

Sun Yunqi said flatly, “Don’t tell me I was wrong? To tell the truth, if your master hadn’t written a letter requesting that we give your little sister an opportunity, someone of such unseemly talent would never have been allowed to participate in today’s trials!”

A’Ning shook from head to toe. A’Li tugged at her sleeves and looked at her in concern. A’Ning sighed to herself, then led her little sister away.

Behind them were countless jeers and disdainful gazes. Mocking laughter resounded throughout the dome of heaven.

Behind the examiners’ panel, Sun Yunqi coldly watched the sisters fade from view. He chuckled, his voice almost imperceptible, “She’s no more than a World King, yet she dared argue with me. She truly overestimates herself.”

The others beside him couldn’t help but laugh too.

A’Ning’s master was an immortal, but this was Sky Tripod Immortal City, the Northern Frost Sword Sect’s territory!

......

Qian Yu walked into the hall and reported, “Elders, A’Ning and her little sister A’Li have returned.”

“Where is A’Ning?” asked Ma Xingkong.

“Senior Apprentice Sister said she needed some time alone. She’s in her room,” said Qian Yu. He then recounted the report they’d received in full detail.

After hearing the full story, Ma Xingkong and the other Jade Firmament Immortal Sect elders’ expressions darkened. They didn’t care that A’Li had washed out, but Elder Sun Yunqi’s attitude infuriated them!

“He rebuked and insulted a core disciple of our sect in front of the crowd? Sun Yunqi has gone too far!” someone shouted.

“But this is the Northern Frost Sword Sect’s territory. No matter how angry we are, what good will it do?” someone said with a bitter laugh. “Besides, although his words were harsh, Sun Yunqi’s judgment was impartial. He wasn’t wrong. After all, all of us know full well that A’Li’s talent... really is far too unexceptional.”

Ma Xingkong inclined his head. “Tasting humiliation might well teach A’Ning courage. If it does, this setback won’t have been a bad thing for her.”

Before long, the group started on other subjects.

Chang Lexing had been listening in, and he couldn’t help but feel let down.

Senior Apprentice Sister and her sister A’Li suffered such grave humiliation, but they’re... just letting it go!?

Meanwhile——

As soon as A’Li returned, she sought out Su Yi and wrote, “Big Brother Su, I washed out.”

She lowered her head in apparent shame and unease.

Su Yi chuckled and tousled her hair. “They’re to blame for their shortsightedness. Don’t take it to heart.”

But A’Li looked dejected and in low spirits. She kept writing, “I don’t care that they laughed at me, but I feel bad for my big sister.”

Su Yi’s brow furrowed slightly. He sat up straight in his wicker chair and said, “Tell me everything that happened during the examination.”

The young woman already had a bellyful of pent-up grievances, so when she heard that, it was as if she’d found an outlet. She promptly started writing.

Although her account wasn’t exactly detailed, Su Yi could picture what had happened.

A’Li was reserved and cautious by nature. She’d stood alone facing the entire ritual grounds and all those jeers and laughter.

She’d faced the three examiners’ lofty, superior attitudes and Sun Yunqi’s cold mockery! It was easy to imagine how great her humiliation had been.

And she couldn’t even speak. She had no choice but to endure it all!

Su Yi’s gaze silently grew cold and sharp.