"Qing Hong, Sikou Feng, Jia Xing, Huo Yidan..."
As the Profound Sword Sect's elder continued to announce names, more than a dozen people stepped forward one after another, their faces filled with disbelief and joy. They had thought all hope was lost — yet life truly was full of unexpected turns.
In the middle of the crowd, Gui Lan stood stiffly, fists tightly clenched at his sides.
He prayed silently, desperately hoping his name would be called next.
"Wang Fei!"
The elder's voice echoed across the square once again. But instead of relief, Gui Lan froze. His pupils shrank violently as his gaze instinctively snapped toward Wang Fei, standing not far from him. A buzzing noise rang in his ears.
"Wang Fei? How is that possible?!"
Wang Fei's lips curled into a smirk. Their eyes met, and Gui Lan could clearly see the mockery in Wang Fei's expression.
"How is it?" Wang Fei chuckled proudly. "I told you — I'd enter the Profound Sword Sect. I wasn't lying."
In Half Moon City, Wang Fei had always lived in Gui Lan's shadow. Whenever people spoke of Half Moon City's number one genius, it was Gui Lan's name they praised — never Wang Fei's. Yet now, the tables had turned.
Wang Fei's entrance into the Profound Sword Sect would only widen the gap between them from now on.
Not far away, Gui Yiyi also looked stunned.
"Yiyi," Wang Fei turned his gaze to her, his voice lowering, "there's still time. If you agree to my proposal, the Gui family's crisis will be mine to handle. Even the Witherwood Sect is nothing compared to the Profound Sword Sect."
He lowered his voice further, pride leaking into every word. "Do you know why I was selected despite my low ranking? It's because our Wang Family has an old friendship with a Profound Sword Sect elder. As long as you agree, I can invite that elder to help resolve your Gui family's troubles."
Gui Lan snorted coldly. "So you got in through the back door."
Wang Fei didn't even bother denying it. "So what if I did? Why don't you try getting in yourself?"
He turned his full attention to Gui Yiyi, waiting for her answer with a confident smile. After all, Gui Yiyi's situation was desperate — he was sure she would agree.
Gui Yiyi opened her mouth, hesitation flashing in her beautiful eyes.
In truth, she despised Wang Fei. If it were in the past, she wouldn't even have given him a second glance. But now...
She thought about the Gui family, the crisis hanging over them like a sharp sword. Her decision might decide the fate of everyone back home.
A bitter, helpless smile appeared on her pale face.
There were too many things in this world one couldn't control.
Just as Gui Yiyi parted her lips to speak —
"Gui Yiyi!"
The clear call of the Profound Sword Sect's elder resounded through the air.
"Eh?"
The entire square fell silent.
Wang Fei froze. Gui Lan's eyes widened. Even the Gui family's second elder stood dumbstruck.
Gui Yiyi's delicate lips trembled slightly. Had she heard wrong? Her performance was ranked near the bottom among tens of thousands of participants — how could she possibly be selected?
After a stunned heartbeat, she finally came back to her senses.
She had really... been called!
The excitement rushed through her so fast it made her dizzy.
Turning to Wang Fei, her expression firmed.
"Sorry," she said clearly, "I refuse."
Wang Fei's face twisted as if he had been slapped. His mind couldn't accept the reality before him.
"Impossible! Why? How could she be selected?"
Wang Fei gritted his teeth in rage. He knew all too well how difficult it had been for him to enter the Profound Sword Sect. His family had owed a favor to an elder, a favor they had saved for years, reluctant to spend it lightly.
That favor had been used entirely on him. As for helping the Gui family afterward? That was just empty talk. Once he entered the sect, the Wang Family's connection would be gone. He had lied to Gui Yiyi, confident she had no choice but to depend on him.
Yet now, everything had crumbled.
At that moment, a figure stepped forward from the Profound Sword Sect's ranks.
It was Xuan Yi — the legendary elder known as the strongest in the entire Profound Sword Sect, second only to the three Sect Masters.
A terrifying aura burst out from Xuan Yi's body, crashing down like a tidal wave.
"Why?" Xuan Yi's voice was like thunder. "I am an elder of the Profound Sword Sect! I need no reason to accept a disciple, nor do I owe anyone an explanation!"
The might of a Nascent Soul realm expert descended upon the entire square.
In an instant, countless people felt their bodies stiffen, their breathing turning heavy.
At that moment, everyone finally understood.
The person who had chosen Gui Yiyi was none other than Xuan Yi, the number one elder of the Profound Sword Sect!
The shock in the square was overwhelming.
Who was Xuan Yi?
Although he held only the title of "Elder," his strength and status were comparable to a vice sect master. He was a true pillar of the Profound Sword Sect, a figure countless people could only look up to from afar.
Now, he had personally chosen Gui Yiyi as his disciple!
Countless envious gazes fell on the young girl.
Some thought perhaps it was because of her appearance — but that idea was quickly dismissed as ridiculous.
A Nascent Soul expert had no need to recruit disciples for their looks. If Xuan Yi wanted beauties, he only needed to curl a finger, and countless top-tier beauties would come flocking.
The reason must be something deeper.
Gui Yiyi herself was still overwhelmed.
When her name had first been called, she had been excited enough.
But when she learned that her master would be Xuan Yi, the strongest elder of the Profound Sword Sect, she almost fainted from happiness!
And yet… a question lingered in her mind.
In terms of talent, she ranked among the lowest. In the two trials, her performance was one of the worst. Why would Elder Xuan Yi choose her?
Gui Yiyi tightly gripped the hem of her robes, trying to calm her racing heart.
She understood perfectly what it meant to become Elder Xuan Yi's disciple.
It meant that the Gui family's looming crisis would be resolved with ease.
It meant that her future within the Profound Sword Sect would soar to unimaginable heights.
Not only would she become an official disciple, but with Elder Xuan Yi's backing, she would enjoy a status even higher than 99% of the other disciples — including most inner disciples!
From this moment forward, she was no longer just Gui Yiyi from the small Gui family of Half Moon City.
She was now destined to rise above countless peers and stand proudly at the very pinnacle of the younger generation!