Chapter 41: Mantis Stalking the Cicada (Part 1): Putting on a Vest Part 2

Xie Mei said: “Noted.”

Someone in the crowd whispered: “So lucky, getting asked her name. She’ll get special attention later.”

“Lucky? Her master is Yao’e.”

“Still, that’s a Hall Master. Lucky either way.”

“I froze back there. Only she reacted first to save him. Normal she’d catch the Immortal’s eye.”

“Sigh, wasted a good chance. I’d have jumped too if I thought of it.”

“What can you do? No such fate.”

Onstage, after thanking her, Jiang Min tossed the freshly refined pill to Shang Shan: “Here, for you. Use it for injuries to stop bleeding. In a pinch, it might save your life.”

Shang Shan caught it, tossing it hand to hand from the heat, delighted: “For me? Thanks! What’s it called?”

Jiang Min said: “No name. My own recipe. Call it hemostatic pill or lifesaver, whatever.”

The crowd gasped again. Her own formula too—this genius was terrifying!

Shang Shan said: “I’ll come up with a nice name for you. Brain’s a bit fried right now—can’t think. When I do, I’ll tell you. It’ll be great, promise. You can use it from then on.”

“From then on…” As if the words pained him, Jiang Min paled further, but still said: “Alright. Thanks.”

He stepped down. Shang Shan lingered, tossing the pill to cool it, scanning the crowd as if searching for someone.

As her gaze slid to Mu Qian Tan, it suddenly locked on.

“Hm?”

She stared and stared, unwavering, as if she’d already recognized her.

Mu Qian Tan held her gaze without shifting, quietly checking with her hand that the mask was still in place.

The disguise mask was fine, working perfectly. Even nearby disciples couldn’t tell. So why was she staring this way?

“Immortal, please excuse me.”

A mild, clear female voice came from behind. Mu Qian Tan instinctively stepped aside, and light suddenly brightened before her. A girl in white robes and bright blue horse-face skirt passed by—extremely young, skin snow-white, two silver bells tinkling under her right ear.

At that moment, Xie Mei announced the next examinee: “Qin He.”

Shang Shan waved: “Here! Your turn next!”

Qin He mounted the stage, saluted Xie Mei, gave Shang Shan a faint smile, then went to the table, picked a new furnace, and examined the materials.

To avoid distracting her, Shang Shan fell silent but waved her hands enthusiastically in support. Even through the mask, her eyes sparkled.

Qin He wore dual swords at her waist, an ancient zither on her back, posture straight. Once focused, her sharp gaze swept the herbs. One hand held the furnace while the other precisely selected and added materials, without a hint of hesitation.

After loading them, she cupped the furnace with both hands, slowly infusing spiritual power. Flames kindled gradually, refining the herbs, extracting essences that rolled in the fire, condensed, and finally formed a blue pill.

Throughout, the furnace only shook slightly when the pill formed; otherwise, it remained calm and steady, proof of her pure, thick spiritual power.

Looking at her clean and efficient movements, appreciation appeared between Xie Mei’s brows.

By this point, the fragmented conversations could no longer be suppressed. “It seems she just came over after finishing the sword cultivator exam.”

“She’s terrifying. I’ve seen her taking exams these past few days—music cultivation, sword cultivator, talisman cultivation, pill cultivation. She excelled in every subject, the nightmare of her fellow disciples.”

“I’d only heard my master mention that Tianyu Sect had a genius before, and I didn’t think much of it. After all, the world never lacks geniuses. But I never imagined she’d be talented to this degree…”

“What’s strange about that? Her sister Qin Shuang was the same back then, even more outstanding. If not for being killed by Yao’e, she would have become an immortal by now, renowned far and wide.”

Someone couldn’t hold back their sourness. “It’s exactly because of her sister. Such a promising seedling was cut down. Apart from Yao’e, all the hall masters and the sect master pitied her and gave her extra care. Even those not her master were willing to teach her techniques, so she dabbles so widely. With so many experts teaching her personally, how could she lack skill?”

“Yeah. If she were in some small sect, she might not have these results. On the flip side, if we had Tianyu Sect’s cultivation environment, who knows… Hey! Who?”

“She herself is a verdant pine that would grow tall anywhere. No matter how much water you pour on crooked jujubes like you two, they won’t amount to anything. You can’t learn, but you’re experts at sour grapes.”

The two angrily turned their heads and discovered a stranger woman with delicate features. They were about to retaliate.

But who could have expected the fingers pinching the backs of their heads to suddenly increase their force, nearly drilling into their skulls? In terror, they froze instantly.

How did this delicate woman possess such strength!

Mu Qian Tan twisted her hands inward, forcibly turning their heads back to face the stage. Only then did she say, “Watch what an all-around genius top student looks like.”

Spiritual power surged and then ceased. The furnace flames finally extinguished.

Qin He retrieved the steaming hot pill from the pill furnace and handed it up.

Everyone held their breath, growing tense.

Xie Mei took the pill and examined it briefly before praising, “Excellent.”

The crowd below erupted in an uproar.

“You’re incredible!” Shang Shan was wild with joy. She rushed forward and hugged her, using so much force she nearly lifted her off her feet. “Another excellent! All excellents! I’m so proud of you! Super proud!”

Qin He patted her and smiled. “Alright.”

The area below remained as boisterous as boiling water. The disciples queued behind her who hadn’t yet tested began complaining bitterly one after another.

Qin He’s expression remained calm, as if she took the glory she’d just earned no more seriously than dust. She bent down and picked up the fragments of the tripod furnace that Jiang Min had dropped on the ground one by one. Shang Shan came over to help clean up. Once finished, they descended the stage together and left the exam hall.

Mu Qian Tan released the two in front of her and watched their backs recede into the distance.

She could basically confirm the disguise mask had no issues.

The day after the martial trial fully concluded, the trial began. Mu Qian Tan brought the disguise mask, clothes, and spirit sword to the monitoring point atop the Seventy-Two Fold Outer Mountains, where she waited quietly.

Since this trial was particularly perilous, the sect master and five hall masters all participated in monitoring at the same time. Six watchtowers stood at the edges of the great array enclosing the Outer Mountains, evenly spaced. Hundreds of ravens were also scattered throughout the forest, surveilling the disciples to provide immediate alerts in case of trouble.

The monitoring point held few items: a desk, a record introducing a hundred types of demons from the Outer Mountains, food for the five-day trial period, a vine bed for mental recuperation, and the like. It was quite suitable for secluded cultivation.

After drinking a few cups of tea, Mu Qian Tan picked up the demon record and skimmed it. Her gaze shifted to the window. Sunlight poured from the high peaks, the mist settling to permeate the serene, dark forest below.

Time was nearly up. She picked up the Heavenly Eye Spirit Pearl from the desk and injected spiritual power into it. A snowflake coalesced within the pearl, signifying her arrival at the monitoring point.

After waiting a moment longer, three bell tolls drifted in from outside the window. The trial had begun.

The disciples below should have started entering by now. Descending promptly meant no need to waste time searching for people. Mu Qian Tan quickly donned the disguise mask, changed into the clothes, stuffed some food into her storage pouch, picked up the Heavenly Eye Spirit Pearl, and channeled spiritual power to hasten down the mountain.

Though she needed to follow the female protagonist, she couldn’t neglect her overall monitoring duties. The trial lasted five days, during which candidates could forfeit at any time. If a disciple in her monitoring area triggered a distress signal, it would appear in the Heavenly Eye Spirit Pearl.

By then, she would have joined their team and could find an excuse to step away temporarily and handle it in time.

Moreover, based on the data she’d obtained, very few actually called for help—it wasn’t something one boasted about. Most, realizing their limits, simply retraced their steps and forfeited. The risk of discovery was low.

The deep, dense forest lay ahead. Mu Qian Tan slowed her descent, paused to observe the entrance to the Outer Mountains, pinpointed her direction, and walked over.

The disciples had formed teams of twos and threes in advance. To avoid competing for prey, they scattered immediately upon entering the Outer Mountains. After passing several small teams, she finally spotted two figures walking side by side.

With the trial just underway, the pair was still at ease, chatting as they went, seemingly discussing which demon to hunt this time.

Teams usually formed before entering the Outer Mountains. Mu Qian Tan had planned to approach them then, but given Qin He’s cautious nature, revealing herself too early risked suspicion. It was better to wait for an opportunity after entry.

She followed them at a neither too close nor too distant distance, gradually venturing deep into the woods. Near noon, they finally paused to rest and prepare a meal.

Gripping the spirit sword tightly, Mu Qian Tan pulled out the Heavenly Eye Spirit Pearl to check. No distress signals. She stowed it away.

She slipped back into the underbrush behind her and located a net-shaped trap not far from the pair. The sect had set these to increase difficulty; many varieties existed, and breaking them was generally straightforward with a sharp tool.

Mu Qian Tan weighed the spirit sword in her hand and tossed it to the ground. She positioned herself over the trap and stepped down. Instantly, a net sprang from beneath the fallen leaves, ensnaring her and hoisting her into the tree, where she dangled and swayed.

She reached up to grasp the net rope and shouted at a volume they could hear. “Help!”