Chapter 508 - 223: Refuse to Join! Too Proud! _6
A person with a treasure will incur guilt, that’s the logic here. When real danger strikes, can this female cultivator withstand it? Can she truly resist the invitations from sect leaders?
Don’t take the soft approach, sometimes a harder one is needed.
The woman simply scoffed: "Don’t attribute your cowardice to me. With this kind of talent, would anyone even dare oppose me?!"
The woman pridefully stepped forward as Yuchi helplessly shook his head.
Yuchi then stepped back two paces.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you have already done your part to warn her..."
"Yes, nothing more can be done."
While the disciples were talking, the woman had already reached the talent testing area, which was surrounded by an array whose specifics were unclear. However, under the array’s glow, the woman’s talent was quickly revealed.
Indeed, it was a seventh-grade talent.
"How about it?"
The woman proudly looked at the crowd, focusing on a red-clothed Yuchi, "Doesn’t my talent have the potential to start a new sect? Can’t I establish my own sect? Do I have to depend on others? And you, do you even deserve to have me? What are you thinking?"
Yuchi had no intention of responding, noticing clearly her arrogance. In a fair environment, this arrogance would be acceptable, but is cultivation fair? Hardly.
As expected, things progressed exactly as Yuchi anticipated.
Others were shocked upon seeing her talent, after all, a seventh-grade talent was rare; most sect leaders have talents only up to this level, marking her as a very promising disciple! Instantly, there were exclamations, and many cast envious glances her way.
The woman was satisfied seeing the envy directed at her, just as she had wanted. Nearby, people from the Immortal Island showed up, and indeed, the organizers offered a substantial amount of Spirit Stones worth ten thousand silvers!
However, things soon became uneasy. Some sect leaders in the crowd started private exchanges. Quickly, as she left the array, these leaders approached to recruit her into their sects.
Would the woman agree? Of course, she refused.
She repeated her stance: You don’t deserve to have me; I can manage perfectly on my own.
One sect leader after another, growing impatient, wondered if she was here just to show off, unwilling to join any sect—how foolish!
"Guess she hasn’t figured out the organizers’ intentions yet."
Yuchi observed her with a cloud of arrogance and internally mused: "The organizers have this public talent testing as a way for disciples to reevaluate and choose a sect, creating a transaction between disciples and sects. For instance, if Miss Shanlan were no longer fond of me, she could get tested and directly choose a preferred sect."
"The primary goal of the talent testing array is this discretion, a secondary purpose to assess general talent, providing visitors some perks, and boosting the popularity of the Immortal Ascension Championship."
"A knife meant for chopping vegetables was taken onto the street—a misuse—and then boasting about handling challenges well!"
Yuchi shook his head; such situations were abundantly clear in past lives, whether between countries or simple business deals. No pure fairness exists; power pressures are frightening, respect is earned, often through strength.
This woman hadn’t matured yet.
In Xufu Town, she might be like a family starting its clothing business, grateful for a few good designs, then causing a stir for peaceful coexistence with merchant associations, that’s pushing it too far.
Peaceful coexistence requires a foundation of equal power, without which peace is a joke.
"Ultimately, until the strength to protect oneself is achieved, don’t flaunt ambitions; keep them inside. Silence is best, except with those closest. Otherwise, nine out of ten will ridicule upon knowing your ambitions." Yuchi indulged in some gossip.
Huo Yuluo: How could I not love Sect Leader Senior Brother!
Yuchi:... Good Yuluo!
As words exchanged, the woman gradually found it overwhelming.
Why didn’t her gaze match others’, why wasn’t there respect or coaxing from sect leaders; instead, they intended to oppress her!? Even the looks were wrong... What was different about their gaze at her...
The woman started to panic.
"Join our sect."
"Our sect is the better choice."
"Choose our sect."
"Come to us."
Invite after invite came, initially she could refuse calmly, but as refusals accumulated, others’ glares turned hateful. One force’s hate might not be an issue, but collective hatred from groups can be trying. If she didn’t choose a sect, with no group sheltering her, she might be in danger.
"We suggest selecting a sect," an organizer muttered as they stepped out.
The woman dared not speak.
Head lowered.
Finally, steeling herself, she hurried towards Yuchi amidst strange glances and bowed: "Can I join your sect!"
Yuchi: "..."
The Ascension Gate’s other disciples: "..."
Wow, what were you doing earlier?
Her thought was simple: joining a larger sect means losing her voice, better to join a smaller one where she could still have a say; it was the only feasible option.
Once she grew strong, she could leave the sect, who then could stop her? Not this young Red-clothed Sect Leader, wearing a mask yet clearly young.
Yuchi: Young man? Did the young man steal rice from your family—to deceive the youth is wrong!
Would Yuchi actually agree?
Dream on, he shook his head with a laugh: "Our sect can’t house such a deity as you."
Without second thoughts, Yuchi outright turned her down.
Instantly, other disciples relaxed.
A joke, taking you in right now would make the Ascension Gate a target, would it not be foolish to invite this trouble for a senseless person? Not being stupid.
"Haha, in the Ascension Gate, aside from me, all the junior sisters are stronger!" Shen Qinghan proudly claimed.
"Great mindset." Yuchi gave a thumbs-up.
Young Qinghan nodded tearfully.
Upon hearing Yuchi’s rejection, the woman was incredulous; accepting her would boost their reputation immensely, bringing many benefits! And her seventh-grade talent—shouldn’t that be compatible with their small sect!
"Apologies, truly not possible." Yuchi still shook his head.
"..."
"You’ll regret this!" the woman said bitterly.
Earlier, what were you thinking... Watching the woman leave, Yuchi added: "I have plenty of regrets..."
At the very least, when Han Meiren left before, I should’ve held onto her once more.
Han Meiren weeps.