Chapter 41: The Forty-First Day of Slacking Off part 1
Before the Trial of Immortals began, Xu Mofeng would first gather the disciples for a preparatory meeting and the drawing of lots.
Wen Ying left Xiao Sun-sun at home. Despite Xiao Hei’s reluctance, Wen Ying dragged him out from behind the wardrobe and stuffed him into her sleeve, teleporting him back to the Xunxian Sect.
When Wen Ying returned, the preparatory meeting was about to begin.
“Senior Sister Wen!” Lu Xiaojie, upon seeing Wen Ying, waved to her and whispered, “Senior Sister Wen, why haven’t you been practicing lately? Are you busy with something?”
“Mm, a little personal matter,” Wen Ying vaguely replied.
“It must be something incredibly important!” Lu Xiaojie’s eyes were full of admiration.
Wen Ying: “…”
Finishing an entire unfinished novel and making Xiao Hei climb mountains for three days… did that count as an “important matter”?
At that moment, Xu Mofeng took the stage.
After clearing his throat twice, the entire hall fell silent.
“My dear young friends,” Xu Mofeng raised his hand, his face bearing his usual amiable smile, “You should all know that the Trial of Immortals, held once every ten years, is approaching.”
A chorus of agreement arose from below.
Even if they didn’t know before, the recent suspension of classes and tense atmosphere made it impossible not to know the big exam was coming.
Next, Xu Mofeng recited the history of the Trial of Immortals like he was reading from a textbook.
Wen Ying listened half-heartedly. After hearing it fifty-two times, she could almost recite it herself.
It was simply that, a millennium ago, cultivators were all independent practitioners, each cultivating on their own, without the concept of “sects.” As more and more independent practitioners gathered in various places, they gradually spontaneously formed groups for collective cultivation. Because the cultivators practiced different techniques, their strengths also varied, complementing each other and accelerating their cultivation.
As time went by, these groups gradually developed into various cultivation sects, some large and some small. Among them, the five major cultivation sects held the greatest influence—the Xunxian Sect, the Xuantian Sect, the Kunlun Cave, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, and the Wujiji.
To better promote the cultivation of disciples from various sects and allow them to experience the outside world—a necessary step—a hundred years ago, the five sect masters decided to hold the Trial of Immortals every ten years. Disciples from various cultivation sects would gather to exchange skills, with the five major sects taking turns hosting. This time, it was the Xunxian Sect’s turn.
“The purpose of this Trial of Immortals is to exchange and learn from each other and make progress together. You don’t need to worry too much about rankings,” Xu Mofeng said kindly and cheerfully to the disciples.
Wen Ying finally raised her eyelids and glanced at Xu Mofeng, who was putting on an act on stage.
Not worry too much about rankings…bullshit.
If he didn’t care about rankings, would Xu Mofeng have Zhiyin cram before the competition?
Not care about rankings…heh.
Wen Ying sneered. He was truly a master of performance, this Xu Mofeng.
“Before the inter-sect competition, we need to hold an intra-sect competition to select ten people to participate in the inter-sect competition ten days later,” Xu Mofeng continued. “The Trial of Immortals officially begins tomorrow. Today, we will have you draw lots to determine your opponents and the order of the matches.”
【Here it comes! Host, be prepared!】
The system reminded Wen Ying in her mind.
Such a proactive system… Wen Ying vaguely recalled the system from her first reincarnation.
Back then, both Wen Ying and the system were so excited, eager, and raring to go for every task.
Recalling her energetic self, Wen Ying couldn’t help but feel a little wistful and nostalgic.
This energetic system wasn’t bad either. At least it could bring some excitement to her otherwise slacking life.
However… the fact that she was slacking off would never change.
In the Xunxian Sect, although they were all disciples of the same batch, the status of direct disciples and inner disciples was different.
In the previous reincarnations, because Wen Ying and Wen Meng were both direct disciples, they would meet in the first round. But this time, Wen Ying was no longer a direct disciple.
Could it be that the task was complete?
Wen Ying remembered what Xu Mofeng had said to the donkey.
It certainly wouldn’t be that simple.
Sure enough, the next moment, Xu Mofeng said grandly, “In this drawing of lots, direct disciples and inner disciples will be treated equally, drawing lots together, and given more opportunities to showcase their abilities!”
After Xu Mofeng finished speaking, the Enforcement Elder brought out the bamboo slips. Under the guidance of the Order Elder, the disciples went forward to draw lots in order.
The method was extremely simple; a number was written at the base of each slip. The number represented the order of the match, and those with the same number were the opponents.
Wen Ying stepped forward and casually drew a slip.
She glanced at it and casually threw it into her sleeve. Someone would change her slip later anyway.
After the last disciple drew their lot, Xu Mofeng stepped forward again.
“Now, please take out your slips and confirm your order and number once more,” Xu Mofeng announced loudly, “Starting tomorrow, all cultivation is canceled! From tomorrow morning at the time of Chen, after you have eaten breakfast, the Trial of Immortals will officially begin! This slip must be kept safe. If it is lost, you will lose your eligibility to compete. Remember this, remember this!”
【Host, be careful, now’s the time! Don’t take out the slip!】
The system warned again.
Oh.
Wen Ying responded, and then—
decisively pulled out the slip from her sleeve.
Wen Ying had no other intentions; she simply felt that facing Wen Meng was good.
She was too lazy to participate in those useless competitions. She had participated more than fifty times before because of the tasks, and won more than forty times, it was nothing.
This time, she just wanted to throw a rigged match and leave quickly.
Rather than facing an unknown ordinary disciple, it was more convenient to face Wen Meng, one of the acknowledged geniuses, for a rigged match.
However, when Wen Ying took the slip out of her sleeve, she didn’t expect this.
She was sure it was the original slip, but when she pulled it out—
it was a stick.
Thin and long, fairly smooth.
Before Wen Ying could examine the stick closely, the stick in her hand was replaced with a complete slip using a shape-shifting technique.
It was the slip she was familiar with, the one against Wen Meng.
【Task Failed】
Even the task box popped up faster this time.
Wen Ying used the slip to swat away the task bar.
She remembered why the slip had become a stick.
Because, in the spatial pocket of her sleeve, there was a home-wrecking cat.
Wen Ying had carefully sealed other things, so Xiao Hei couldn’t touch them. Only this slip, which she had thrown in later…
Tsk.
This home-wrecking ability would put carpenters to shame.
Its energy was still too abundant. Climbing mountains alone wasn’t enough.
Wen Ying brought Xiao Hei to the Xunxian Sect, having already thought of a way to help Xiao Hei continue to consume his energy.
After the lottery, the preparatory meeting ended.
Leaving the square, Wen Ying grabbed Xiao Hei and came to the forbidden area.
Looking at Xiao Hei’s black cat face, Wen Ying chuckled.
Every hair on Xiao Hei’s body trembled from head to tail.
He had a very bad feeling…
“Xiao Hei, since you’re so energetic, then run more,” Wen Ying said with a smile.
“Meow!” Xiao Hei pricked up his ears, instantly alert.
These familiar words…
He turned his head.
This familiar place…
“Meow (No)!” Xiao Hei cried out miserably.
Wen Ying pretended not to hear.
She lightly tapped Xiao Hei’s butt and threw him into the forbidden area.
“Meow—”
The moment he entered the forbidden area, Xiao Hei’s cry stopped abruptly.
Since he was energetic, he naturally had to run more laps.
The Xunxian Sect wasn’t big enough, and it was easy to bump into people, so after much thought, Wen Ying felt that the forbidden area was the most suitable, large and open.
Wen Ying didn’t do anything special, just cast a spell on Xiao Hei to make him run incessantly.
Clapping her hands, Wen Ying walked out from beside the forbidden area.
【Host, why did you fail again this time… just keep the slip, why did you take it out… Could it be that you have a back-up plan?】
【No, I didn’t.】
Wen Ying answered truthfully.
【Host, your attitude isn’t very good! Only by actively completing the task can we have a chance to escape reincarnation…】
Wen Ying frowned.
Energy was a good thing, but too much energy was annoying.
Wen Ying suddenly stopped.
【System, do you believe me if I say I can shut you up forever?】