After Ruan Li explained the situation, he introduced them to the instructor who would lead them in the Trial.
“In this Trial, the Academy will send three instructors to lead the team, namely Lan Si, Ji Xuan, and Hu Fei.” Ruan Li pointed to the three people beside him and introduced them one by one.
The eleven people nodded in greeting. The fact that the Academy sent Lan Si as the team’s head instructor meant they really attached great importance to the Selection Trial.
“In the next month, we’re very happy to be your team’s lead instructors.” On Lan Si’s gentle, handsome face was a smile like the spring breeze. Then he blinked at the several people playfully, “But we won’t go easy on you guys.”
The several people were mesmerised by Lan Si’s gentle smile, and they were very grateful that he was the head instructor this time.
Lou Mu Yan, however, weighed him out in her heart. Lan Si definitely wasn’t as gentle as he appeared on the surface. This person was wearing a mask.
“Principal, where are we going for the Trial?” Lou Mu Bai asked.
When faced with Lou Mu Bai, Ruan Li’s attitude was extremely nice, “This time, the Trial site’s set in the Glacial Mountain Range. Aside for the two Trial teams of Yan’zhou Kingdom, the Ten Distinguished Clans of the Eastern Region also have their own trials in the Glacial Mountain Range.”
“They’re participating in the Selection Trials with us?” Lou Mu Bai’s eyes revealed slight surprise.
“No. Their Trial standards and criteria are even harder than yours, but it’s inevitable that your two parties will meet. At that time, keep a low profile and don’t cause trouble.” Ruan Li said seriously. Even the Empire’s Imperial Family didn’t dare provoke the core children of the Ten Distinguished Clans.
“Then is the Trial team selected by the Empire’s Imperial Family going with us?” A student asked.
Ruan Li nodded: “Of course. Your two teams have to compete for those six spots together. For the sake of fairness, all Trial missions are the same.”
“Can we form an alliance with each other?” Fu Chen thought for a bit then asked.
“No matter what methods you use, as long as it doesn’t endanger the lives of the people who participate in the Trials together, then it’s fine.” Ruan Li took a sip of tea and cautioned them: “There were once two teams who participated in the Trials that worked together at the beginning to deal with another team, so you must be careful.
“Of course, you’d all have to work together in the beginning, otherwise what awaits is only elimination.”
Then Ruan Li answered the questions of a few other students. Seeing that they had spent quite some time here, he knocked his finger on the desk and said: “It’s getting late. You should all go back and rest first. Report to the Academy after three days. The three instructors will lead you to the Glacial Mountain Range to join the Imperial team.”
“Yes, Principal.” The eleven people stood up and prepared to leave.
Except the moment Lou Mu Yan turned around, she heard Ruan Li’s telepathic voice.
“Come find me later.”
Lou Mu Yan’s steps paused. Although she didn’t know why the Principal looked for her, but she nodded slightly to indicate that she knew.
After leaving the hall together, Chi Yi Xuan walked to Lou Mu Yan and his eyes were softer than ever, “Mu Yan, let’s team up during the Trial.”
“No need.” Lou Mu Yan was a little surprised by Chi Yi Xuan’s attitude, but didn’t want to have anything to do with him, so she refused without hesitation.
Chi Yi Xuan’s brows furrowed together. He initially thought that after making such a request, Lou Mu Yan would be very happy like usual, and would agree, but he didn’t expect to be rejected.
A sudden panic rose in his heart. Something felt like it had changed. He could potentially be losing something important, but he couldn’t catch onto what this inexplicable feeling was.
“You’d be safer with me.” Although he was dissatisfied by Lou Mu Yan’s refusal, but he urgently wanted to bound himself with Lou Mu Yan from the bottom of his heart, so he said with a stiff expression, holding back his feelings.
Lou Mu Bai’s indifferent eyes were dyed with slight unhappiness. He stood in front of Lou Mu Yan and blocked Chi Yi Xuan’s vision, speaking neither heavily nor lightly: “My little sister naturally has my protection, so I won’t bother Sir Chi.”
After he finished speaking, he didn’t care about Chi Yi Xuan’s reaction and pulled Lou Mu Yan to leave.
When his younger sister loved Chi Yi Xuan so deeply that she would even die for him, that man didn’t cherish it. Now that he discovered how good his treasured younger sister was, he wanted her back. Humph, how could there be such a convenient thing.
Lou Mu Yan casually glanced at Chi Yi Xuan whose face was half-stiff and blue. Her lips raised into a very shallow arc, and she passed him with her eldest brother.
Chi Yi Xuan stared at the backs of the brother and sister leaving, face dark and gaze obscure. Who knew what he was thinking.
“Big brother, the Principal told me telepathically to go and find him just now.” After walking for a while, Lou Mu Yan grabbed Lou Mu Bai’s arm and said.
Lou Mu Bai didn’t know why the Principal wanted to find his younger sister, but it wouldn’t be something bad, “You can go, I’ll wait for you in the small building where you live to go home together.”
“Alright!”
When Lou Mu Yan returned to the hall again, there were only the two brothers, Ruan Li and Ruan Yang sitting on the main seats.
“Principal, did you need me for something?” Lou Mu Yan walked in front of the two and asked with a smile.
“Indeed.” Ruan Li took out two brocade boxes from his interspatial ring, handed them to Lou Mu Yan and said: “These two things are the prizes for the winner of the Earth Class. Do you like it?”
Lou Mu Yan didn’t expect the Academy to give her bonus rewards, but she wasn’t ceremonious either, and opened the box in front of the two.
The inner layer of the first box was made of Millennial Profound Ice, and within there was what appeared to be an aged Seven-Leaf Ginseng.
A hint of joy flashed past Lou Mu Yan’s eyes—she truly was lucky this time.
One of the three main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Purple Monkey Flower, had already been won by her from the last auction and now she obtained the Seven-Leaf Ginseng. Meanwhile she could take advantage of the Trial this time to find the Deep Orchid.
She believed that it wouldn’t take long before she could gather and refine the Spiritual Herbs required for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Once she advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, her strength would greatly improve, and she’d have more confidence for the Continental Tournament for Hegemony.
Lou Mu Yan’s eyes were as bright as the stars, and she clenched her hands into fists tightly, thinking about how she must refine the Foundation Establishment Pill before the Continental Tournament for Hegemony.
She closed the box containing the Seven-Leaf Ginseng, then opened the other box. Inside was a scarlet-gold whip. On the whip, there were faint fluctuations of Spiritual Energy, indicating that it was a Middle-Quality Spirit Treasure.
“I obtained this long whip by accident. I found that you didn’t like using swords too much, so I thought to gift this to you.” Alchemist Ruan Yang who sat next to Ruan Li explained in a good mood upon seeing Lou Mu Yan’s dazed expression when seeing the long whip.
Lou Mu Yan closed the brocade box, thought a moment, then smiled and said: “I thank Principal and Alchemist Ruan for your kindness. Mu Yan accepts. I do indeed need the Seven-Leaf Ginseng, so I will accept, but forgive me as I dare not take this long whip.”
She really did like this scarlet-gold whip, but she shouldn’t accept a reward when it wasn’t deserved. She felt that it wasn’t so simple for Ruan Yang to gift her this Spirit Treasure.
Ruan Yang didn’t expect Lou Mu Yan to reject such benefits. His desire to accept her as his disciple grew even stronger, and a more sincere smile rose on his face, “This Spirit Treasure is a gift for you. Why, do you not like it?”