The next morning, Lan Feiying arrived at Lan Mulian’s room at the Rising Phoenix Inn, carrying a box of local pastries.

“You seem unhappy, Sister,” she said, observing Lan Mulian, her brow furrowed with concern.

Although Lan Mulian was wearing her veil and hadn’t spoken a word, Feiying, as her sister, sensed her mood immediately.

“It’s nothing. Just a minor annoyance,” Lan Mulian replied calmly.

Feiying, her curiosity piqued, glanced at her sister, then her gaze landed on the book on the table, a dozen names circled within it. “Have you finalized the list of candidates for the entrance exams?”

Lan Mulian nodded, closing the book. She looked out the window, her voice soft. “The number is mostly set, but I’ll need to assess their talent one last time.”

She turned to her sister. “You’ll need to be tested as well.”

…

At the Mu Manor, Mu Zhi’an sat in the courtyard, gazing at the snow lotuses, a yawn escaping his lips.

He hadn’t slept well last night.

It wasn’t his intention to stay up late, but… for Bai Ruoxi’s cultivation progress, they had engaged in a bit of dual cultivation.

The details weren’t worth mentioning. Those who understood… understood….

“I hope Ye Yu doesn’t cause any trouble. I still need to exploit him a bit more,” he murmured to himself.

He picked three snow lotuses, carefully placing each one in a separate portion of Luminous Soil.

He didn’t need them now, but who knew what the future held?

“Heh.”

A cold laugh came from beside him, and he looked up to see Wei Mengrou, her expression filled with disdain.

He offered her a snow lotus, smiling. “Here, Mengrou. This is for you.”

“I don’t want it,” she replied curtly.

She glanced at him, then continued, “If you had only given it to me, it would be fine. But you gave it to three other women. It has lost its meaning.”

He shook his head. “This one is different.”

She scoffed. “It no longer represents… loyalty in love?”

“Once we reach the Two Polarities Sect, with your beauty, Mengrou, you’ll attract countless admirers. If you show them this snow lotus, they’ll know you’re taken,” he explained.

“I’m not interested,” she replied, her voice flat.

“Just take it. Even if you don’t use it, it’s a nice keepsake, isn’t it?” He took her hand, placing the snow lotus within it.

“If this snow lotus business is exposed, don’t expect me to help you,” she said, accepting the gift, but not forgetting to issue a warning.

“Haven’t you learned your lesson from the auction house?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “That was just a coincidence. If that fool Ye Yu hadn’t shouted my name, my plan would have been flawless.”

And besides, this was different.

Women were reserved creatures. If they received a flower from someone they liked, they wouldn’t go around bragging about it.

Well, unless they were vain and attention-seeking.

But Bai Ruoxi and Lan Mulian weren’t like that.

They would simply treasure the snow lotus, a reminder of him.

As for Ye Lingxuan, she was still wary of him, guarding her sister like a hawk.

She wouldn’t brag about it either.

She might mention it to Ye Qian.

But there was no social media in this era. They couldn’t post photos and share their feelings with the world.

If this was exposed, it would be pure bad luck.

Speaking of which, I should give Qian’er one too. She might not say anything, but she’s probably upset. He thought to himself.

A servant approached, observing them discreetly before speaking in a low voice.

“Young Master, we received a message from the Rising Phoenix Inn. The examiner wants everyone to gather at the sparring arena at the hour of the sheep. It seems she’s going to… assess the candidates’ talent.”

Mu Zhi’an nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. Prepare the carriage. I’ll be there soon.”

It seemed Senior Sister was planning to conduct a preliminary exam to determine their true capabilities.

…

The Two Polarities Sect was a powerful force, even in the vast world of cultivation. And unlike most sects, they remained neutral, not interfering in worldly affairs. Even the emperor couldn’t command them.

They held a sacred position in the Eastern Region.

As a result, their entrance exams always attracted countless aspiring disciples, including the children of nobles, princes and princesses, and geniuses from various cultivation families.

The cultivation families of Tianxuan City were no exception.

Lan Mulian, having finalized the list of candidates, chose the sparring arena as the testing ground.

News spread quickly, and the chosen cultivators gathered, eager to prove themselves.

A crowd of onlookers also arrived, curious to witness the display of talent.

After all, those chosen by Lan Mulian were the best Tianxuan City had to offer.

Huang Manting sat languidly, observing the young cultivators sparring on the platform, their desire to impress evident. She chuckled inwardly.

To be chosen by Lan Mulian meant they were already exceptional.

Their eagerness to spar before the official test, it was clearly for her benefit.

But… she hadn’t even arrived yet. What was the rush?

She turned her head, sensing something, and saw a carriage arriving. Two beautiful young women stepped out.

“Miss Lingxuan, Miss Qian’er, you’re early,” she said, smiling and waving to them.

Aside from Mu Zhi’an, they were also targets. She had grown tired of her servants and followers. Her current interests lay in the talented individuals from other families.

And the one she most desired to conquer was the Mu family’s young master.

Ye Lingxuan smiled politely. “Miss Huang.”

Huang Manting smiled back, about to speak, when Ye Yu, noticing the sisters, his eyes brightening, approached them.

“Lingxuan, Qian’er, what a coincidence! I was just about to visit you at the manor and invite you to come with me,” he said, his voice cheerful.

Ye Qian shrank back, ignoring him.

Ever since discovering that he had been following them, she had lost all affection for him.

Even if he was a genius, she still found his behavior repulsive.

Ye Lingxuan pulled her sister closer, smiling. “We wanted to arrive early for the talent assessment.”

Her smile was polite, but distant.

He didn’t notice, simply pointing towards some empty seats. “It’s a hot day. Why don’t we sit over there? I doubt Senior Sister will arrive so soon.”

“We’re going to chat with Miss Huang,” Ye Lingxuan replied, declining his offer politely. She nodded to him, then led Ye Qian towards Huang Manting, taking a seat beside her.

They’ve been completely captivated by Mu Zhi’an… Ye Yu thought, his expression darkening.

But he couldn’t push them any further, and he wasn’t close to Huang Manting. He reluctantly took a seat nearby.

“Is there room for one more?”

A cheerful voice interrupted them.

He looked up to see Mu Zhi’an standing beside Ye Qian, a smile on his lips.

“Mu Zhi’an…”

He glared at him, then his gaze landed on Ye Qian, her cheeks flushed.

“There’s no one here, Brother Mu. You can sit if you want,” she murmured shyly in response to his question.

He sat down beside her, smiling. “Good afternoon, Qian’er, Lingxuan.”

Huang Manting scoffed. “You’re so cruel, Young Master Mu. No greeting for me?”

But her tone was playful, not angry.

Why does he know everyone? Ye Yu glared at Mu Zhi’an, who was now chatting and laughing with the three women.

Huang Manting was the daughter of the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce’s president. Logically, she should be hostile towards the Bai family, and Mu Zhi’an was close to Bai Ruoxi. Why was he interacting with her?!

He clutched his robe, suppressing his anger.

No matter how charming Mu Zhi’an seemed, it was all just a facade. Once Senior Sister arrived and assessed their talent, they would all see who the true protagonist was.

“He’s staring at you. That’s a scary look,” Huang Manting whispered, noticing the intense gaze directed at them.

Mu Zhi’an, without turning around, gently touched Ye Qian’s hand, making her blush.

While seeing Ye Lingxuan, with her elegance and poise, flustered would be amusing, teasing Ye Qian, with her innocence and sweetness, was also quite enjoyable. He looked at her, her cheeks flushed, then withdrew his hand, smiling.

“Ye Yu and I have some issues, but don’t worry about it. It’s a personal matter. It shouldn’t involve you.”

He could guess what Ye Yu was thinking.

He was biding his time, confident in his talent, believing that once Lan Mulian arrived, he could impress everyone, earning their admiration and praise.

But he didn’t realize that the ability to interact with others, to charm and entertain… it was a talent in itself.

And could his talent, granted by Heaven’s Envy, possibly be inferior to others?

Mu Zhi’an chuckled inwardly.

“Where’s Miss Bai?” Huang Manting asked suddenly.

The Ye sisters both looked at him.

She’s doing this on purpose. He maintained his composure, his voice calm. “She was meditating earlier. She should be on her way.”

“By the way, after the talent assessment, would you three ladies care to join me for tea and pastries at the Tide Sea Inn?” he asked, smoothly changing the subject.

Ye Qian’s frown softened, and while Ye Lingxuan’s expression remained neutral, he could sense her mood improving.

They both nodded politely, and Huang Manting smiled, her charm captivating. “Sure~”

“It’s settled then,” he replied with a smile.

The Ye sisters were so naive. If Ye Yu had even a shred of emotional intelligence, he could have easily won over at least one of them.

But now, he could only watch from a distance, his fury simmering.

What was “Heaven” thinking, choosing such a fool as the “Chosen One”… Mu Zhi’an shook his head inwardly.

He felt a sudden chill, a shadow looming over him.

He turned to see Lan Mulian standing behind him, her moon-white dress accentuating her alluring figure, her veil concealing her face, but her aloof aura, her captivating presence… it was enough to ignite his imagination.

“Senior Sister,” Ye Qian greeted her cheerfully.

“What were you discussing?” Lan Mulian asked, her voice cold and clear.

“Brother Mu invited us to have pastries at the Tide Sea Inn,” Ye Qian replied.

Ye Lingxuan spoke up. “Would you like to join us, Senior Sister?”

Lan Mulian glanced at Mu Zhi’an, a faint smile playing on her lips. “It depends on Young Master Mu.”

Why doesn’t her smile seem as warm as yesterday? He nodded. “Of course, Senior Sister. You’re welcome to join us.”

He paused, then added, “But aren’t you busy? I can bring you some pastries later.”

He was worried about losing control of the situation if there were too many people present.

She looked at him, her gaze intense. “I’m not busy.”

I have a bad feeling about this… He watched her walk towards the platform, her figure graceful and alluring, a sense of unease creeping into his heart.

The crowd fell silent, their gazes fixed on her.

She raised her hand, summoning a small stone tablet.

She channeled her spiritual energy, and a golden light flashed, striking the tablet.

The tablet began to grow, until it towered over them, its surface smooth and black.

“Touch this tablet, and your destiny, your talent, will be revealed.”

She surveyed the candidates, noticing their eager gazes, and smiled. “Who wants to go first?”

Ye Yu clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

His chance to shine had finally arrived!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay