After that night, Shalman hid in his room, neither eating nor drinking for three full days.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, Yue Jinghua returned from outside in the evening, only to find Shalman had disappeared.
anwhile, Qiu Chuzi had sneaked off with his bamboo basket sowhere into the mountain gullies and wild woods.
Yue Jinghua sighed heavily, her face showing her reluctance as she walked toward the Inner Court.
In the distance, on a certain tree, Qiu Chuzi was gleefully puffing on a water pipe, a sinister smile of successful scheming on his face.
Today was the day of the Xuanji Academy competition.
The Xuanji Academy competition, held once a year, is open to all students below Dark Jade grade. Previous champions cannot participate again. The top eight in individual and top three in team events gain entry to the "Xuan Technique Pavilion" in the Inner Court and receive a Dark Skill Manual of the corresponding grade.
Such rewards are a significant temptation for all students. This year's competition attracted over a hundred skilled participants from within the academy, including Liu Xi, Shaluo, and the city of Polo's number one beauty, Lie Sisi.
The competition in the Inner Court was fiery and intense under the expansive Red Cloud sky.
On the viewing platform, which resembled a millstone, a fierce battle had just ended.
Lie Sisi's slender figure descended from the platform, her hair still neat, her plain clothes fluttering in the wind, her movents capturing everyone's hearts and minds.
Lie Sisi glanced at a specific spot in the stands, her lips curving into a smile upon catching a sowhat passionate gaze.
The number of students who ca to watch the battle was large. The reason being, male students ca to glimpse the graceful figure on the platform, while female students ca for the person who had already advanced to the Dark Earth Realm, Prince Fa Xiao Yi.
Everyone knew that Fa Xiao Yi fancied Lie Sisi, and today he had especially co to support her.
"The next match, Shaluo versus Ding Yuan." Just as the voice fell, a figure darted out from the crowd.
The viewing platform instantly buzzed with commotion.
The Inner Court Commander hosting the competition was also taken aback.
The beautiful-eyed newcor scanned the crowd, and Shaluo, who was late to the platform, turned pale, her teeth clenched in anger: "Shalman, what are you doing here?"
"Taking part in the competition. What, can't students from the Outer Court participate in the competition? Or are you afraid to face ?" Traditionally, students from the Outer Court can participate, but due to numbers and the caliber of students, the Outer Court, which had never had more than three competitors, hadn't registered for the competition in decades.
Liu Xi's expression darkened, and he opened his mouth to stop Shalman, but recalling Shalman's appearance that night, a wave of revulsion surged in his heart.
"Ridiculous, I am one of the top eight champions of the competition, and you think I'd be scared of a waste from the Outer Court. Shalman, do you think last night's dicine wasn't enough, wanting the whole city to see your disgrace," Sha Luo said venomously, her eyes filled with jealousy as she stared at Shalman's restored beautiful face.
Lie Sisi approached Commander Yao from the Inner Court hosting this competition and spoke softly, "Commander Yao, this student from the Outer Court blindly entered the arena, she didn't participate in the preliminaries and doesn't have a recomndation from any Commander. If we agree to her match, it might cause dissatisfaction among the other participants."
The backstory of Shalman as well as the feud between her and Sha Family's mother and daughter were well-known in Polo City. A showdown between stepsisters like this, if publicized, would sound unsavory.
After hearing this, Commander Yao also felt it was reasonable, stepping up on the platform and blocking the Sha sisters, who were ready to draw swords and crossbows.
"Shalman, the Inner Court is always welcoming of participants from the Outer Court in the exams, but since the competition has already advanced to the quarterfinals and you haven't participated in any earlier rounds, directly entering the final eight is unfair to the other competitors. Please leave the platform imdiately, or else, I will have to expel you from the Inner Court."
The students below also started shouting, "Get down, get down imdiately, waste from the Outer Court, still coveting the Inner Court's Dark Techniques."
Without saying another word, Shalman took out an object and threw it to Commander Yao, "This should be enough to prove my qualifications."
Commander Yao took a closer look, exclaiming, "Wan Junhao's contestant badge."
Wan Junhao was one of the top eight contestants of this competition. How did his badge end up in Shalman's hands?
There was no sign of Wan Junhao among the crowd anymore.
By seizing the contestant card of Wan Junhao, one of the top eight contenders, Shalman's qualification was proven.
Commander Yao had no choice but to announce the retention of Shalman's competition qualification, "Intramural sparring should stop at the touch; absolutely no..."
"Hold on," Shalman loudly interrupted, "This inner court competition is a match between and Shaluo. I can do without Dark Techniques, but I have an additional demand. Shaluo, do you dare agree to it?"
"Shalman, whatever tricks you have up your sleeve, just bring it on," Shaluo looked around, not seeing any trace of the giant snake from that night, and felt sowhat relieved. With the competition being in the Inner Court and nurous instructors around, she wasn't afraid of that giant snake becoming violent.
"I have only one condition - compensate with the life of my mother," the words from Qiu Chuzi that night were like cold water splashed into hot oil, startling Shalman awake.
Rembering her mother's tragic death and Liu Xi's heartlessness, her heart grew colder bit by bit.
rely kneeling to apologize, how could it ever be enough? This was only the first step.
Shaluo suddenly felt a chill running down her spine.
"Snake," Shaluo scread, snatching up a green snake as thick as a finger.
Above on the high platform, in an instant, it crawled with various types of little snakes. Yet, to the people below the platform, they saw nothing at all.
Shalman's long hair fluttered in the wind, resembling the Gorgon witch from the myths. Her red lips murmured, and in Shaluo's consciousness, countless little snakes sward around her like a tidal wave.
"Instructor, save ," Shaluo's voice sounded hairy, but the students below only exchanged puzzled glances.
They saw Shaluo crying and crawling on the ground in hysteria, calling for her parents, with nothing at all visible on the competition platform.
"Snake Woman Illusion, I did not expect that Shalman from the Outer Court would master such an advanced illusion," Commander Yao by the side was astoundingly surprised. The Snake Woman Illusion is an Illusion Technique, creating the delusion in soone's mind that they are in a snake cave.
Most ironically, Shalman's mother died in the Hundred Insect Pool long ago, and today Shaluo went insane amidst the environnt of a snake cave.
Eventually, Shaluo fainted and was carried down.
Students of the Inner Court were all astounded, looking at Shalman with peculiar expressions.
"Next," Shalman smiled charmingly, scanning the crowd before her gaze finally settled on Liu Xi's position.
"Shalman, your illusion technique just now was impressive. I happen to know so Illusion Techniques as well. How about I represent the Inner Court and battle against you?" Lie Sisi, flawless more than a white lotus, had already stepped onto the competition platform.
Her appearance instantly drew an overwhelming wave of supportive cheers.
"Let the Outer Court eat shit,"
"They really think our Inner Court has no contestants,"
"Miss Sisi, go for it. Knock that malicious woman off,"
The previous match, for the Inner Court students, was a stark insult.
These young n from prestigious families believed that Illusion Techniques were a lowly and cheap trick. Shalman was just a despicable offspring of a lowly maid.
That so-called waste from the Outer Court students daring to challenge the Inner Court, it was simply a death wish.
Shalman's eyebrows furrowed upon seeing Lie Sisi. Lie Sisi practiced the Fire Dark Skill, which was highly taboo for creatures like snakes. Moreover, she also knew so Illusion Techniques.
While Shalman hesitated, a lazy voice floated inopportunely into the ears of Lie Sisi and the hundreds of Inner Court students present.
"I thought the Inner Court was sothing extraordinary. Turns out they also like to gang up in fights, preferring to bully the few with their numbers," at the outskirts of the spectating crowd, stood a girl half hideous and half beautiful, unbeknownst when she appeared.
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