[+5 Emotional Value.]
[+1 Emotional Value.]
[+2 Emotional Value.]
One after another, messages began to appear in Yun Jin's mind, tallying up her emotional harvest.
"What did I even do to trigger this?"
Shrugging, she resumed her snack hunt.
Meanwhile, Sect Master Zhao Wuji—after contributing a few points of Emotional Value himself—frowned deeply. After all, Yun Jin had arrived with Ye Danxia, so he had at least some impression of her. He vaguely remembered that the two seemed close.
But Yun Jin's Five Spirit Roots were the lowest possible grade. Now, she seemed mentally deficient too.
"Even for Danxia's sake, we can't accept such trash."
He'd have to console Ye Danxia later when Yun Jin inevitably failed.
Just as that thought crossed his mind...
Yun Jin moved.
Zhao Wuji assumed she was finally going to follow the diagram and begin the sensing posture, so he turned to look.
What he saw left him speechless.
Yun Jin pulled a packet of sunflower seeds from her bag with visible delight, lazily plopped herself down beside a nearby pillar, and leaned against it like she was settling in for a nap. She shifted around a little, seemingly searching for the most comfortable position. Then, with the greatest serenity, she began cracking seeds.
Crunch.
Crunch.
In the silence of the plaza, the sound was unusually loud and clear.
Zhao Wuji shot to his feet, his face thunderous.
Unbelievable. What unbridled arrogance!
How infuriating!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Tianxing Sect. Yet this girl not only failed to cherish it, she was blatantly making a mockery of the entire sect!
Many disciples who were doing their best to sense spiritual energy were distracted by the sound. They turned to look. And when they saw what Yun Jin was doing, all of them froze.
Even if she couldn't sense spiritual energy, was this her solution—giving up entirely?
[+10 Emotional Value.]
[+5 Emotional Value.]
[+20 Emotional Value.]
[+5 Emotional Value.]
In just a few seconds, the value in Yun Jin's mind shot up to 500.
Munching happily, she mused: "This is easier than I thought."
From the side, Ye Danxia's gaze flashed with barely concealed satisfaction.
"So much for her defiance. Pathetic."
Then again...
With such a chaotic five-spirit root, sensing spiritual energy was near impossible. Yun Jin must have realized this, which was why she had simply given up.
Ye Danxia put on a worried expression and called out, "Yun Jin, don't be like this! Even if you're only a five-spirit root and barely able to sense spiritual power, I already promised to take you in as my maid and bring you into the sect. Please, don't throw your life away like this!"
Yun Jin glanced at her, popped another seed, and kept chewing.
Getting no response, Ye Danxia's expression stiffened. She bit her lip, then walked up and reached out, trying to pull Yun Jin to her feet. "Xiao Jin, don't be like this! We're sisters. It hurts me to see you like this. I…"
Still playing the pitiful flower.
Thwack.
A sunflower shell smacked her cheek.
Ye Danxia froze, clutching the shell in disbelief.
Still stunned, she saw Yun Jin's eyes brighten.
[+50 Emotional Value!]
That was the highest single gain she'd received since the system activated!
"Does the protagonist generate more Emotional Value?"
Delighted, Yun Jin cracked another seed and—pah—spat the shell right onto Ye Danxia's face.
The scene was comical enough that soft chuckles rippled through the crowd.
[+80 Emotional Value!]
Yun Jin beamed. "Oops, sorry. Not sure why, but these shells seem to really like your face."
Another shell flew.
Ye Danxia even tried to dodge this time, but somehow, it curved mid-air and landed squarely in her hair.
[+90 Emotional Value!]
Yun Jin smiled sweetly. "What a rare hair ornament! So that's what you were aiming for, Danxia? You should've told me sooner."
Ye Danxia's face turned an ugly shade. She stomped her foot. "Xiao Jin! I was just trying to help. How could you treat me like this?"
Yun Jin rolled her eyes. "Your kind intentions? I really can't afford them. Since you think I'm ungrateful, why are you still here? Or do you want a few more seed shells as accessories?"
"You…" Ye Danxia's eyes reddened. "Xiao Jin, what happened to you? Why are you treating me like this?"
As her eyes welled with tears—
On the platform above, Zhao Wuji felt a strange ache in his heart. His eldest disciple, Ruan Jun, was also glaring at Yun Jin in outrage. How dare she bully such a sweet girl like Danxia!
Zhao Wuji couldn't step in directly, but his voice grew icy. "Ruan Jun, that Yun Jin is arrogant and disruptive. Go and expel her on my behalf."
The other peak masters voiced no objection.
Only the drunk-seeming elder stirred, opening one eye and drawling, "Sect Master, are there rules against eating during the sect trials?"
Zhao Wuji replied coldly, "The elder who created the rules never imagined someone could be this shameless."
"So there's no such rule, then?"
Zhao Wuji's face darkened. "She disturbed others' cultivation. Is that not enough?"
The elder shrugged. "From what I saw, she didn't bother anyone. That girl approached her."
Zhao Wuji stared at the old man for a long moment, then said coldly, "Peak Master Lin, you've held status in our sect for many years. I've given you face out of respect. But do you really believe that as Sect Master, I no longer have the authority to expel a disciple?"
The old man's expression shifted slightly. He said no more.
Zhao Wuji snorted and barked, "Ruan Jun, what are you waiting for?"
Ruan Jun snapped to attention and strode over.
He gave Ye Danxia a look of sympathy. "Junior Sister, don't let this kind of person get to you. You were born to soar through the heavens like a phoenix. She's just a clown seeking attention. I know you value emotions, but someone like her will never be on your path. Leave her to me."
He called her "Junior Sister" so naturally, as though she already belonged to him.
Ye Danxia felt a flicker of pride. She glanced at Yun Jin, only to find her still lounging as if none of this concerned her. Ye Danxia narrowed her eyes.
Hmph.
Then I'll truly stop holding back. Let Yun Jin learn her place.
Ruan Jun turned to Yun Jin, face dark as thunder.
"Yun Jin. Do you admit your mistake?"
Yun Jin cracked a seed and looked at him with a curious expression.
"Oh? A supporting male lead."
In her past life, Ye Danxia had joined the sect master's tutelage. He had taken in five male disciples before her. As the only female disciple, blessed with heaven-defying talent, she had become their darling from the start. Admired by her master, adored by her senior brothers, Ye Danxia was like springtime incarnate in the Tianxing Sect.
Too bad...
Ruan Jun and the others were only side characters.
The true male lead? He was still reigning in the Demon Realm.
Yun Jin blinked innocently. "Senior Brother, I did make a mistake."
Ruan Jun narrowed his eyes.
She admits it?
Too late now.
Yun Jin nodded earnestly. "I was wrong not to share. Here, have some seeds, everyone!"
[+20 Emotional Value.]
Yun Jin sighed.
Male side characters really gave less than heroines.
Ruan Jun's face turned black. "Do you think I care about a handful of rotten seeds? Yun Jin, your attitude during the test was abominable! By my master's order, I hereby expel you from the Tianxing Sect. Leave immediately!"
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "Abominable attitude? Where do you get that? Senior Brother Ruan, don't go making baseless accusations."
Ruan Jun's anger surged. He pointed at her. "With your laziness, even ten years wouldn't be enough for you to learn the most basic cultivation arts! Our Tianxing Sect will not waste resources on trash like you!"
Yun Jin gasped in mock horror. "Senior Brother Ruan, are you saying that such a garbage technique actually takes effort to learn?"