“Of course I know him. That young master of the Mu family is the biggest scoundrel in Tianxuan City. Everyone knows him,” Feiying replied, her eyes narrowing slightly. She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, her red nails gleaming in the sunlight. She glanced at Mu Zhi’an, who was standing near the sparring arena. “But I’m surprised you know him, Sister.”

She turned back to Lan Mulian, her gaze intent. “How did you meet him? I saw him on my way back to the inn last night. He even went to your room.”

“He accidentally sent me a letter through a paper crane, meant for a friend of mine. We chatted a bit,” Lan Mulian replied calmly.

Feiying scoffed, clearly not believing her. “Do you even have any friends, Sister?”

Her words were a bit harsh, but no one at the Two Polarities Sect would dare speak to Lan Mulian like that. And they would all agree that she had no friends.

It was the nature of an ice queen. She was intimidating, unapproachable.

Even those who genuinely desired her friendship would be met with suspicion, their motives questioned.

It wasn’t that Lan Mulian wanted to be an ice queen. It was the image people had of her.

That was why her playful and flirtatious side, revealed only in her letters, was so different from her usual demeanor.

“He has decent talent, but his cultivation is lacking,” Lan Mulian said, changing the subject.

Feiying chuckled. “If you spent your nights in pleasure houses, Sister, you wouldn’t be at Core Formation either.”

“Do you like him?” Lan Mulian asked.

Feiying pondered for a moment, then smiled. “I suppose you could say that. He’s like a little brother to me.”

A little brother who enjoyed teasing and flirting with his older sister.

She quickly changed the subject again. “Have you decided who you’ll choose for the entrance exams?”

The Two Polarities Sect’s entrance exams had two paths. One was to be selected by an examiner, who would personally escort the chosen disciples to the testing grounds. The other was to travel to the sect and participate in the general exams.

Both paths led to the same destination, but there was a significant difference.

The disciples chosen by Lan Mulian had the opportunity to skip the outer disciple stage and become inner disciples directly.

Each examiner had one such spot to offer.

“Did you bring the list of talented cultivators from Tianxuan City?” Lan Mulian asked.

Feiying nodded, handing her a scroll. “Huang Manting, the temptress from the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce, Ye Yu from the Ye family, Mu Zhi’an from the Mu family, Gongsun Cheng, the fourth son of the Gongsun family, and Bai Ruoxi, the Bai family’s young mistress. There are about a dozen other names on the list. I’ve included their backgrounds for your reference.”

“They’re mostly from influential families. They have access to resources and guidance, so their children naturally possess decent talent.”

Lan Mulian scanned the list. Aside from the names Feiying had mentioned, there were about a dozen others. Her gaze lingered on Mu Zhi’an’s name for a moment, then she shook her head.

“His talent is decent, but his attitude is lacking.”

If he had cultivated diligently, he should be at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment by now.

“His past behavior was questionable. But he’s done some remarkable things recently,” Feiying said, hoping to pique her sister’s interest.

Lan Mulian’s eyes flickered, but her expression remained neutral. She looked at her sister expectantly.

Feiying, seeing that her sister wasn’t taking the bait, continued, “He defended a stranger, a woman who was being harassed, and killed the Gongsun family’s third son. It was a huge scandal. Everyone thought the Gongsun family would retaliate.”

“But then they settled the matter discreetly. And soon after, rumors spread that the third son had been killed by a mysterious black-robed man.”

Lan Mulian’s eyes remained calm.

So he shifted the blame onto the black-robed man.

“You’re telling me all this to convince me that he’s not as bad as I think he is?” she asked, seeing through her sister’s intentions.

Feiying smiled sweetly. “I’m simply stating the facts.”

“It doesn’t matter what you say.”

Lan Mulian took a sip of tea. “He doesn’t need my help.”

The Mu family had a guaranteed spot. He didn’t need to compete with the others.

However, she still had to decide who to offer the inner disciple position to…

“Something’s happening,” Feiying said suddenly.

Lan Mulian turned her head to see Ye Yu, who had just emerged victorious from a practice match, pointing his sword at Mu Zhi’an.

“Mu Zhi’an, do you dare face me?!”

He stood on the sparring platform, dressed in black robes, his expression cold, his gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an, who stood in the crowd below.

All eyes turned towards Mu Zhi’an.

He sighed. “Young Master Ye, I’m simply here to observe. I’m not in the mood for a duel today.”

He’d just defeated Ye Yu… why was he challenging him again?

And he hadn’t mentioned the Heavenly Dao Aura. Was he trying to keep it a secret? Or had he given up on it?

As he studied Ye Yu, Bai Ruoxi’s voice echoed in his mind. “He’s almost at Foundation Establishment.”

Mu Zhi’an narrowed his eyes, taking another look at Ye Yu.

His aura… it was different.

He seemed more composed, less arrogant.

But his gaze, when it landed on Mu Zhi’an, was still filled with animosity.

His cultivation speed is insane.

The Chosen One… his destiny was truly remarkable. Even without the Heavenly Dao Aura, he still had other advantages.

“Young Master Mu, Young Master Ye has issued a challenge. Are you going to refuse?” a voice called out from the crowd.

It was Gongsun Cheng, the fourth son of the Gongsun family, sitting on a nearby bench, his legs crossed, a smirk on his lips.

Mu Zhi’an chuckled. “What’s more important, Young Master Gongsun? A duel or a beautiful woman?”

Gongsun Cheng raised an eyebrow. “A beautiful woman, of course. But I heard the Ye family and the Bai family had an arranged marriage. You stole his fiancée, Young Master Mu. No wonder he’s angry. I suggest you accept his challenge. Let him vent his frustration.”

Mu Zhi’an smiled. “Why do you care?”

“Just offering some friendly advice,” Gongsun Cheng replied, shrugging casually.

“Who the hell are you?” Mu Zhi’an retorted, his smile widening.

Gongsun Cheng’s composure crumbled.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at Mu Zhi’an. “I’m not as patient as Ye Yu, Young Master Mu. Even outside the arena, I can’t guarantee I’ll restrain myself.”

It was a blatant threat.

And it was understandable. Gongsun Cheng was at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment. Based on their current cultivation levels, Mu Zhi’an was clearly weaker.

He’d been looking for an opportunity to teach Mu Zhi’an a lesson. According to his elders, his father’s injuries were somehow connected to Mu Zhi’an, as well as the Bai family head.

He didn’t know the details, but this was a chance to get revenge.

As Gongsun Cheng rose to his feet, Bai Ruoxi stepped forward, shielding Mu Zhi’an with her body.

“Protecting your lover, Miss Bai? You just broke off your engagement, and you’re already with the Mu family’s young master? Judging by Young Master Ye’s performance, your taste in men seems… questionable,” Gongsun Cheng said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Shut up,” Bai Ruoxi replied coldly, her bronze sword materializing behind her.

“Planning to fight?”

Gongsun Cheng looked at Mu Zhi’an, who was standing behind Bai Ruoxi. “Hiding behind a woman, Young Master Mu?”

“That’s the plan,” Mu Zhi’an replied with a smile.

“I have a beautiful and powerful Dao Companion to protect me. What about you?”

Gongsun Cheng narrowed his eyes. “You seem proud of that.”

“Who wouldn’t want a powerful and beautiful Dao Companion?” Mu Zhi’an asked, his voice carrying through the arena. “Is there anyone here who wouldn’t want a Dao Companion like that?”

The male cultivators in the arena chuckled. The answer was obvious.

A powerful and beautiful Dao Companion, who wouldn’t want that?

Especially if that Dao Companion was Bai Ruoxi.

Countless young men had pursued her.

Their laughter grated on Gongsun Cheng’s nerves. He glared at Mu Zhi’an. “Mu Zhi’an”

“You’re agitated,” Mu Zhi’an said, sighing.

He wasn’t as composed as his father.

Gongsun Cheng drew his sword, his gaze sharp as he lunged at Mu Zhi’an.

Bai Ruoxi made a gesture with her hand, her bronze sword shooting towards Gongsun Cheng.

He snorted, several layers of faint golden light appearing around him.

It was the Gongsun family’s signature technique, the Golden Bell Shield, impenetrable to anyone below Core Formation.

He reached for Mu Zhi’an, a cruel smile on his lips.

But then, a cracking sound echoed through the arena, like glass shattering.

The bronze sword struck the Golden Bell Shield, shattering it instantly, as if it were made of paper.

*Boom!*

A wave of sword energy slammed into Gongsun Cheng, sending him flying backwards, crashing to the ground.

A stunned silence fell over the arena. The young cultivators stared at Bai Ruoxi, their jaws agape.

She defeated Gongsun Cheng, an eighth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a single strike?

She was invincible among her peers!

As the crowd buzzed with astonishment, Mu Zhi’an’s expression remained calm.

However… it was all an act.

He was just as surprised as the others. He couldn’t help but stare at Bai Ruoxi.

He knew she was strong, but he hadn’t expected her to be *this* strong.

A ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator defeating an eighth-level cultivator with a single strike.

He was starting to believe she was the true protagonist.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay