She was pushed in front of Zi Tianjun, and before she could even bow, she heard several fellow disciples beside her clasp their fists and report, “Greetings, Sect Master, we’ve captured a suspicious person of unknown identity.”
“Sect Master, this demoness is tight-lipped, she won’t say anything.
Should we take her to the punishment hall for interrogation?”
Bao Gu saw Zi Tianjun looking at her and was about to clasp her fists and bow when the cold-faced young man with the sword at her neck spoke in a chilling voice, “Don’t move.”
The sword pressed down, and blood instantly seeped from her neck.
Zi Tianjun waved his sleeve, signaling the disciple to withdraw the sword, and asked, “What’s going on?”
A patrolling disciple at the Golden Core stage stepped forward and said, “Sect Master, I found this demoness acting suspiciously while on patrol, so I approached to question her.
She turned and ran, and I, along with several senior brothers, captured her.”
Zi Tianjun’s mouth twitched slightly, then he looked at Bao Gu and said, “You speak.”
Bao Gu said, “Little Martial Aunt said today is the big exam, and since I was free, she asked me to come over.”
Zi Tianjun’s face tightened as he asked, “Then how did you end up being mistaken for an unidentified person and captured here?”
Bao Gu replied softly, “I haven’t used my identity token in years, so I don’t know where I threw it.”
After years of cultivating her mind, she had developed a calm demeanor, and even her voice was devoid of any waves.
Zi Tianjun’s face darkened, almost dripping with anger.
He scolded, “Nonsense!
As a disciple of Xuantian Sect, you even lost your identity token.
Why don’t you just lose yourself too?”
Bao Gu stood there quietly, her gaze calm, her demeanor composed, showing no trace of panic, as if Zi Tianjun’s scolding wasn’t directed at her.
Facing Bao Gu’s demeanor, Zi Tianjun lost the mood to scold further and said, “Go find Feng Menglong to get a replacement identity token!
You may leave!”
Bao Gu responded, “Yes!”
She clasped her fists and bowed to Zi Tianjun, then turned and walked to the side.
The surrounding disciples looked at Bao Gu in surprise.
Where did this girl come from, not wearing sect attire and even losing her identity token, yet she seemed so unconcerned about it!
Most importantly, the Sect Master seemed to know her!
It’s known that besides the first-generation disciples who survived the Xuantian Sect’s annihilation battle, few could catch the Sect Master’s eye!
A slightly puzzled voice rang out, “Is this…
Bao Gu Junior Sister?”
The disciples quickly saluted, “Greetings, Hua Martial Aunt!”
Bao Gu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Hua Sheng, dressed in a long gown, walking over.
She had already taken off her true disciple attire and was wearing a gown that made her look like an ethereal fairy, her every move exuding an extraordinary aura, indicating her high status in Xuantian Sect.
Of course, her cultivation level wasn’t low either, being one of the few Nascent Soul stage experts in Xuantian Sect, far surpassing Bao Gu, who was captured by fellow disciples at the Foundation Establishment third stage.
Bao Gu nodded slightly and called out, “Senior Sister Hua.”
Hua Sheng chuckled, “It’s been years since we last met, and Bao Gu Junior Sister’s actions are still as unique as ever.”
After speaking, she first went to greet Zi Tianjun, then returned to Bao Gu’s side.
The surrounding disciples, hearing Hua Sheng call her “Bao Gu Junior Sister” and seeing the veiled woman acknowledge it, were astonished, all looking at this famous yet mysterious figure in Xuantian Sect.
When it comes to Bao Gu, everyone in Xuantian Sect knows her.
Some even say she might be the next Sect Master!
The impression of her is mysterious, never leaving her residence yet controlling the largest source of income for Xuantian Sect, personally chosen by the founder, considered a first-generation disciple, yet holding an extremely high status; her intelligence is like a demon, with low cultivation but having saved Xuantian Sect from crises multiple times.
Now, the most mysterious figure in Xuantian Sect was right in front of them, and the disciples who had never seen Bao Gu were all wide-eyed, curiously observing her.
Hua Sheng smiled as she looked at Bao Gu and said, “Bao Gu Junior Sister, after all these years, your demeanor and expression are completely different from before.
If it weren’t for your consistent style, I wouldn’t dare to recognize you.”
Bao Gu, accustomed to silence, listened quietly without speaking.
Hua Sheng couldn’t see Bao Gu’s face hidden by the veil, only her eyes and forehead.
If it weren’t for her unique style in Xuantian Sect and the Sect Master’s particularly lenient attitude, she would have doubted whether the person standing before her was the Bao Gu she knew.
Her demeanor, expression, and aura had all changed, even her eyes had transformed.
Those eyes were ethereal and serene, giving Hua Sheng the illusion that Bao Gu had already transcended worldly matters and entered the path.
Despite only being at the Foundation Establishment third stage, Bao Gu’s aura made Hua Sheng feel as if she had been left far behind.
Hua Sheng originally thought that after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, she could easily surpass Bao Gu, who was still at the Foundation Establishment third stage.
But now, she felt as if she was the one being overshadowed by Bao Gu.
This left Hua Sheng feeling somewhat unwilling.
The time for the big exam arrived, and the drums sounded.
The disciples of Xuantian Sect entered the venue and sat cross-legged.
An open space was left in the middle of Xuantian Square.
Hua Sheng said, “The big exam has begun!”
and turned to leave, taking a seat on a chair placed to the side.
Bao Gu looked around and saw a dozen familiar faces.
These were the disciples who, like her, survived the Xuantian Sect’s annihilation battle and were now considered the first-generation disciples.
Many of these first-generation disciples, like Hua Sheng, had already reached the Nascent Soul stage and had taken on disciples.
With higher cultivation levels and strength, their status had also risen, giving them significant influence within Xuantian Sect, and they had a place to sit in the competition arena.
Hua Sheng, Feng Menglong, Lu Lei, and a dozen other first-generation disciples sat on chairs arranged around the arena, each with several Xuantian Sect disciples in true disciple or inner disciple attire standing behind them.
The chairs in the arena were fully occupied, leaving no place for Bao Gu.
She was about to turn and find a random spot to sit when two disciples in inner disciple attire quickly brought over a chair for her.
She softly thanked them and sat down.
The big exam was essentially a competition among disciples of the same cultivation level.
It was divided into three categories: Golden Core stage, Foundation Establishment stage, and Qi Refinement stage.
First-generation and second-generation disciples participated together, regardless of seniority, only considering cultivation strength.
Disciples participating in the big exam could enter the arena on their own or be challenged.
Xuantian Sect had an unwritten rule that in the big exam, if challenged, one could not refuse without special reasons.
Refusing to fight was considered as surrendering without a fight, which was looked down upon in the sword-fighting, battle-loving Xuantian Sect.
When Bao Gu once abandoned her sword and refused to fight, it caused an uproar, and she was scolded by Feng Yi on the spot!
The ranking in the big exam directly affected the cultivation resources received from the sect.
The winners received rewards, and those with good rankings received significantly more cultivation resources than those with poor rankings.
Pills, spirit stones, and refining materials were just the basics.
If noticed by a sect elder during the competition, one could be taken as a personal disciple for focused training, granted a few magical treasures, and given individual guidance in cultivation, which was more beneficial than ten years of hard work.
Xuantian Sect recruited disciples based on aptitude, and apart from the unique Bao Gu, everyone who entered had exceptional aptitude and a competitive nature.
As soon as the big exam began, they eagerly entered the arena to compete for higher rankings and cultivation resources.
Bao Gu’s wealth surpassed that of the entire Xuantian Sect, and with personal instruction from the demon saint and Zi Tianjun, she naturally didn’t need to compete for these cultivation resources.
Even though she was present, she had no intention of entering the arena, sitting quietly on the side to watch.
Xuantian Square was spacious enough to accommodate several matches simultaneously without feeling crowded.
With Sect Master Zi Tianjun overseeing from above, each competition platform had a first-generation disciple at the Nascent Soul stage overseeing it, ensuring the matches proceeded in an orderly manner.
The Qi Refinement stage disciples’ matches attracted little attention, and the Foundation Establishment stage disciples’ matches also had few spectators, except when a particularly outstanding new disciple entered the arena, drawing some attention.
Most people’s focus remained on the Golden Core stage disciples’ matches.
Bao Gu sat there, her body unmoving, but her eyes swept over the various competition platforms in the arena.
The Qi Refinement stage disciples’ matches were indeed not worth watching.
The Foundation Establishment stage disciples’ swordsmanship and techniques were somewhat immature, with only a few particularly outstanding ones worth watching.
For example, the cold-faced young man who had pressed a sword to her neck earlier had a low cultivation level but was quite skilled with the sword, his strikes sharp and decisive, his sword moves concise and practical, emphasizing the principle of defeating the enemy in one move.
She noticed that this cold-faced young man was Lu Lei’s disciple, a true disciple.
She had only participated in one competition in Xuantian Sect, fighting two matches, one of which was against Lu Lei.
While Bao Gu was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a voice from one of the Foundation Establishment stage competition platforms, seemingly calling her name, followed by an uproar.
She looked up and saw a young man at the Foundation Establishment ninth stage holding a long sword and clasping his fists, facing her.
She was slightly taken aback, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
The young man spoke loudly again, “I am not talented, but I have heard that Bao Gu Martial Aunt can fight Golden Core stage experts with her Foundation Establishment second stage strength.
I wish to challenge Bao Gu Martial Aunt with my Foundation Establishment ninth stage strength.”
He really was challenging her!
Bao Gu didn’t want to move.
She could work her brain tirelessly for a month without feeling tired, but when it came to physical action, she was truly reluctant.
She looked at the disciple on the platform challenging her, his face unfamiliar, about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing true disciple attire, holding a high-quality Golden Core stage water-attribute treasure sword, with a jade pendant at his waist, wrist guards on his hands, and boots on his feet, all Golden Core stage magical treasures.
She guessed he was likely a favored disciple of one of the senior brothers.
Her situation was unique, and logically, no one would challenge her.
Firstly, there was no need to provoke her, the sect’s financial benefactor, and secondly, losing would be embarrassing and might seem like an insult to her, while winning would bring no glory—after all, she was only at the Foundation Establishment third stage.
Now, this disciple had jumped onto the platform to openly challenge her, likely because a first-generation disciple wanted to test her cultivation progress over the years or wanted a junior disciple to humiliate her.
The young man’s voice was loud, using internal energy to project it, so everyone in the arena heard it.
Immediately, the eyes of hundreds of people in Xuantian Sect Square were all focused on Bao Gu.
Xuantian Sect’s style was that losing a match wasn’t shameful; one could train harder and win next time.
Not daring to accept a challenge, however, was shameful.
With hundreds of eyes on her, Bao Gu, even if she didn’t want to move, had no choice but to act.
She stood up, lightly tapped her toes on the ground, and gracefully landed on the competition platform, saying, “I haven’t touched a sword in years.
Are you sure you want to compete with me?”
The young man didn’t say much, just nodded and said, “Compete!”
The previously empty Foundation Establishment competition platform was instantly crowded with people, and some disciples even shouted, “Bao Gu Martial Aunt, are you afraid to fight again?”
The word “again” pointed out her past record.
When she had feared battle and abandoned her sword, these guys hadn’t even entered the sect yet!
Who spread this story to the second-generation disciples?
