The faces of Zhuo Shi and the other two elders immediately turned odd, as though they wanted to laugh but were forcing it back.
Because, though it looked like Forsi had raised her pinky toward them, the angle was just slightly off. The true direction… was right beside them.
And that just so happened to be the exact spot where Cai Yue'er was hiding.
"Alright, no need to keep hiding. With that girl's attitude, she must've noticed you already. Otherwise, why would her strike earlier have been angled more toward your position, and laced with space elements specifically to disrupt the surrounding area?"
The one who spoke was Xu Miao—the one who had intercepted Forsi's attack.
Silver light flickered, and a figure appeared before Zhuo Shi. An elderly woman—it was none other than the Silver Moon Douluo, Cai Yue'er.
"Zhuo Shi, what the hell are you playing at? Didn't I tell you to just give that girl nine points and then dump her into the work-study students' section to grind down her arrogance? What's the meaning of this?!" Cai Yue'er demanded.
"What's my meaning? I should be asking you! What did that little girl ever do to you? Her talent is heaven-defying, and you go and slap her with a zero? Don't tell me it's like she said—that you're actually jealous of her?" Zhuo Shi snapped.
"Jealous, my ass! I was trying to temper her! That girl's arrogance is off the charts—if she doesn't get ground down a bit now, once she's inside the academy, she'll be completely lawless. Better she suffer some now than regret later!" Cai Yue'er retorted furiously.
Zhuo Shi snorted. "So you do admit she's arrogant. With that attitude just now, old man here dares bet—if you shoved her into the work-study section today, tomorrow she'd walk straight out the academy gates. That temper of hers? Reminds me of myself back in the day."
Cai Yue'er's ears pricked instantly. Something was wrong. She hurriedly said: "Let me be clear—I set eyes on that girl first. Don't you dare try to snatch her from me!"
"Hmph. You set eyes on her first? With the way you've already soured things between you, I'd say there's no way she'll ever acknowledge you as her teacher. This is what we call: Heaven may forgive a misfortune dealt by others, but bring misfortune upon yourself, and no one can save you," Zhuo Shi sneered.
"Indeed," Xu Miao nodded solemnly. "In fact, the very moment I first saw that girl, I felt an affinity. Clearly, there's a destined bond between us."
"Bullshit!" Cai Yue'er exploded. "Xu Sanshui, you think I don't see through you? If you dare try to fight me for her, believe it or not—I'll beat you so badly you won't be able to live like a normal man anymore!"
"I don't believe it. If you've got the guts, let's settle this right here, blades and all."
At the side, Cang Jingkong stared, dumbfounded. The scene before her looked less like the dignified Elders of Shrek Academy and more like a group of market-stall aunties bickering over vegetables.
And from the looks of it, Elder Xu and Elder Cai might actually start throwing punches. Cang Jingkong hastily excused herself.
Meanwhile, over on Nan Fusheng's side, Tang Wulin still hadn't finished breaking his bloodline seal. It was clear there wasn't enough time left.
Luckily, Mu Chen's junior sister, Shen Yi, was leading them. Thanks to her, they were still allowed to take a make-up exam, even though they arrived nearly three hours late.
Connections really did make a difference. Nan Fusheng sighed inwardly. He himself had never relied on connections—only his own strength. So he looked down on such things. Well, unless he was the one benefiting, of course.
First test—thanks to Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline, they passed directly. Nan Fusheng and the others also earned solid scores, netting eight points.
Second and third tests, they too cleared without trouble. Nan Fusheng picked up eight points in the support test, then a full ten points in the next.
But the fourth test? Same examiner, same problem—Elder Cai.
Since Cai Yue'er had smacked Tang Wulin flying, Gu Yue's impression of her was very poor. And so, she was preparing a little surprise in return.
She focused intently, forming a lotus out of elements. Earth, water, wind, fire—her attention so locked that she didn't notice Cai Yue'er and the two other examiners watching her with strange expressions.
This scene—it looked awfully familiar.
Element control. Forming a lotus. Different order of elements, yes, but the same technique.
Could it be… this Gu Yue also has nine-element control?! Cai Yue'er's eyes widened as she stared fixedly at her.
Gu Yue stretched her hand into the air again, this time summoning the light element. But instead of merging it into the petals, she kept the radiance circling the outside of the lotus. Lifting her head, she looked at Elder Cai—and immediately noticed something strange.
Cai Yue'er was staring straight at her. The moment Gu Yue paused, the elder urged, "Go on, quickly! You can continue, can't you?"
"???"
Gu Yue's face was full of question marks. But if the examiner wanted her to continue… well, don't blame her then.
A silver light flared. In the next instant, the four-element lotus appeared right before Cai Yue'er's face.
"Here, a gift for you!"
"Careful!" Shen Yi cried out.
"This girl's temperament… It's almost identical to that other one," Cai Yue'er muttered.
With a sweep of her sleeve, nine spirit rings rose around her. Behind her, a silver crescent moon appeared. A ray of moonlight fell from it, illuminating the four-element lotus.
The moment it touched, the lotus froze, then slowly unraveled. The four elements separated, disintegrating back into the silver moonlight, scattering into nothingness.
"Not bad, not bad!" Cai Yue'er suddenly laughed. She turned to Shen Yi: "Seems Zhuo Shi finally did something worthwhile. Extending the exams for these little ones—it's paid off. This girl doesn't need to take the rest of the tests. Straight to the Inner Court."
Then she stepped closer to Gu Yue, eyes sweeping up and down appraisingly.
Not bad at all. No, not as dazzling as Forsi, but certainly not poor either.
If she raised this child properly—trained her until she surpassed Forsi Wall—then forced Forsi to recognize her teaching's superiority, wouldn't that girl have no choice but to bow her head and acknowledge her as master?
Besides, this Gu Yue wasn't bad. A little plain in looks, weaker in spiritual power, fewer elements under control—but still a rare talent.
Damn it, the more she compared, the more bitter she felt!
"No, no… calm down, calm down," Cai Yue'er forced herself to relax. Then she smiled kindly at Gu Yue. "Little girl, would you like to become my disciple?"
Gu Yue frowned. She didn't like that gaze—it felt like the woman was treating her as a replacement for someone else.
Hearing the offer, she froze briefly, then immediately shook her head. "No."
"What?!" Cai Yue'er's composure was shattered. What kind of cursed day was this? Two potential disciples in a row, both rejecting her!
"Why not?"
Gu Yue lifted her chin defiantly. "No reason. I just don't want to."
Cai Yue'er's face darkened. But, remembering the ugly fallout earlier with Forsi, she restrained her temper, trying to coax Gu Yue gently instead.
Others around also joined in, persuading Gu Yue not to throw away such an incredible opportunity.
Finally, Gu Yue turned back, looked at Cai Yue'er, and stated her condition:
"Where they are, I will be. We will not be separated. If they can enter the Inner Court too, then I'll go."
"You—you're just like that other girl! Too many demands! You'll be the death of me!" Cai Yue'er finally lost her temper, flinging her sleeve and storming off.
If it had been Forsi who made this demand, she might have considered it. After all, Tang Wulin and the others weren't bad—barely acceptable for Inner Court candidates.
But coming from Gu Yue? That was a step too far. What kind of elder would she be, bowing to a student's conditions just to take her in as a disciple?
Yes, Gu Yue was a rare find. But Cai Yue'er had seen better.
And as she recalled Forsi's mastery of space in the tenth trial, combined with what Cang Jingkong had reported of her terrifying ice element, gravity control, and more, Cai Yue'er only grew more regretful of her earlier choices.
But apologize? Admit fault to those kids? Impossible!