### Chapter 396: The Magical Carrot
“Look, that’s the last-place loser out of our sect!”
“Wasn’t she Master Youyue’s direct disciple? How did she end up with a zero score?”
“Yeah, there were so many multiple-choice and true-or-false questions on this test, and she somehow managed to get them all wrong. That’s some wild luck right there!”
“Exactly! We really want to know what method someone must use to be as amazing as her at avoiding all the right answers.”
Talk about Master Youyue’s direct disciple, Mu Jixue, was everywhere in the sect.
This was an immense embarrassment, especially since representatives from all five continents were present.
Yun Zhonghe never imagined Mu Jixue would become famous in such a humiliating way.
Mu Jixue felt thoroughly humiliated, deeply frustrated, and almost shed some “pearls.”
Lin Zhongyu tried to comfort her, saying no one blamed her and suggesting, “Xue-er, you checked it over several times, didn’t you? Don’t do that next time.”
Mu Jixue: “…”
She felt a whirlwind of emotions, unsure of what to say.
What the—!! This can’t be happening!
Even she found it unbelievable. She was incredibly disappointed.
These were straightforward academic questions. Even if she just randomly guessed, she couldn’t have gotten them all wrong!
Mu Jixue began to suspect whether the test papers were graded incorrectly or if points were deducted in error.
It was Spirit Master Peak that organized the written test. Feeling adventurous, Mu Jixue went there to inquire and strongly demanded a review of her exam.
To her surprise, she didn’t answer even a single question correctly!
The correct answers seemed absurdly distant from any normal logic, making her almost hyperventilate.
For example, one of the questions went like this:
“The goal of cultivation is to ( )”
Option one: Attain enlightenment and immortality.
Option two: Eliminate evil and protect the world.
Option three: Serve the sect.
Option four: Diligently practice.
The first option was the ultimate dream for many cultivators, sounding lofty and perfect; the second option fit the role of a cultivator quite nicely; the third was a duty of gratitude toward the sect. Fourth option… Well, it sounded bland and boring. Who sets “diligent practice” as their top goal? Insane!
Especially to Mu Jixue, the mere sight of the fourth option made her cringe.
Her body involuntarily reacted.
After much hesitation, she picked the option that sounded most impressive — attain enlightenment.
But, lo and behold, the correct answer was the fourth option!
Mu Jixue couldn’t believe her eyes.
Diligent practice as the goal?! Was this some kind of joke?
To make matters worse, Yun Zhonghe, Lin Zhongyu, and Su Xiaoxiao all chose the fourth option without batting an eyelid.
Yun Zhonghe explained, “The path of cultivation is long and arduous, spanning centuries. Given the eternal nature of time, aiming only at abstract objectives seems pointless. Only persistent effort leads to tangible progress every day.”
Lin Zhongyu nodded solemnly, “Each person has different paths, but if focused purely on practice, the path will emerge naturally.”
Su Xiaoxiao sheepishly added, “We were taught that during classes. I simply followed what I learned.”
Mu Jixue fell silent, finding it slightly strange but also somewhat logical.
She was thoroughly convinced by Yun Zhonghe and Lin Zhongyu.
A pure heart dedicated solely to cultivation—a rare and pure form of dedication.
Many start grand, but as time passes, the initial passion wavers. Being rigid doesn’t always work.
Simple goals often suffice.
From this incident, Mu Jixue realized something else—these three weren’t entirely bad after all.
They claimed the test was extremely hard and they couldn’t answer anything, yet they ended up with perfect scores!
And she had thought everyone was barely passing!
Cheaters!
So despicable!
Just as Mu Jixue was inwardly lambasting, a cold figure appeared beside them. It was as sudden as a chill, causing shivers down their spines.
“Mas…ster?!”
Mu Jixue’s voice trembled, nearly stumbling over the words.
Indeed, here came Master Youyue, whose face looked like a storm cloud.
With good reason too. Knowing her own student got a zero and was then mocked by Master Linghua (“Hahahaha, White Zhen, is this your apprentice? A zero?!”), who could blame her bad mood?
Especially since Yun Zhonghe stood at the top of the scoreboard, the sole perfect score.
This only fueled Youyue’s frustration. Such talent lost in the hands of an underperforming disciple.
“You…you…aren’t you busy dealing with guests?” Mu Jixue tried stalling, hoping to ease the tension.
But Master Youyue narrowed her eyes, “Considering these results, how can I possibly remain composed?”
Seeing her master ready for battle, Mu Jixue instinctively recoiled, her mind racing with escape plans, but she knew it was futile.
Under her master’s piercing gaze, she felt paralyzed.
Desperately, Mu Jixue glanced pleadingly at Yun Zhonghe.
“Yun Zhonghe, save me…”
Yun Zhonghe sighed internally, not used to her helpless expressions.
“Stop being so cute when you get into trouble. I’m not your boyfriend.”
Even so, looking at her pleading face, he felt a strange sense of “why not.”
If Mu Jixue didn’t develop feelings for any protagonist, it might actually work…
Shaking off the thoughts, Yun Zhonghe decided to step in. After all—he liked her.
He turned towards Master Youyue and said, “Elder, we planned for Mu Jixue to get zero in order to confuse expectations. Random guessing always provides a few correct answers unless you know all the answers.”
Yun Zhonghe was quick-witted, crafting a reasonable excuse instantly.
Mu Jixue was grateful, but suddenly suspected he was implying she was an idiot…
Anyway, escaping punishment was key!
Master Youyue wasn’t completely convinced, her suspicions clear. But the explanation made sense.
No one gets a zero by accident, and her student was smarter.
Mu Jixue sat nervously, “…”
Don’t say it, don’t say it, or she might actually start feeling stupid.
“Why would you choose to do this?” Master Youyue pressed.
“We linked the results to the competition rankings,” Yun Zhonghe explained calmly. “By deliberately lowering our profile, we avoid becoming prime targets in the big competition.”
Mu Jixue was initially notorious. Making her look foolish might reduce unwanted attention.
Reluctantly accepting this, Youyue nodded.
“Do you understand, Snow?”
Mu Jixue’s heart tightened, “Yes, yes!”
“But degrading ourselves isn’t acceptable. So, Snow, listen. If you don’t achieve a good ranking this time, you’ll face punishment. My disciples should never be seen as inferior.”
Mu Jixue paled, “M-master! 😭😭”
Youyue replied sternly, “Enough of that. Go prepare. Perform well in the competition. I’ll leave now.”
Mu Jixue narrowly avoided the worst.
Time passed quickly, leading straight into the afternoon. The big competition in the Secret Realm was set to begin!
Banners waved as drums rolled, revealing the competition’s main objective: retrieve the spiritual herbs, also known as the magical carrots.
Rules were simple and clear—teams earned rankings based on how many they gathered within the timeframe.
If someone faced lethal dangers, they would be forcibly removed from the Secret Realm.
This rule was proposed by the Medicine Peak.
Gathering carrots was monotonous, and the sect usually paid workers to collect them. This year, it became an unpaid test instead, directly tied to rankings.
Two waves of free labor in one event!
Even the wealthiest sects appreciated the cost-saving benefits.
Crowds filled every seat in the viewing area.
Cultivators from the five regions stood or sat attentively, waiting for the competition to start.
Among the crowd, a small golden figure caught everyone’s eye—an adorable fox girl named Hu Chang, sporting animal ears and tail.
She wheeled a little cart filled with snacks, weaving skillfully through the throngs.
The cart brimmed with a variety of treats—nuts, candies, and dried fruits, luring with their scent.
“Hey, want some sunflower seeds? Can’t watch a showdown without munching a few! Only five spirit stones a bag, limited stock, buy fast!”
Like in the Myriad Path Divine Tower days, Hu Chang started peddling again.
Despite her wealth as a princess, she loved this low-key business.
Many representatives from around the five regions hadn’t brought snacks, drawn in by her calls.
When prices were mentioned, though…
“F-five spirit stones per bag? Are your seeds made of gold?”
“I love business, get outta my way!”
Hu Chang’s sales caught the eye of important figures.
Madness? Working business on sacred grounds?
Master Qin noticed but kept quiet, letting it slide.
Under her influence, the viewing area became more festive, like a tea party.
But that was the charm! Formality was boring. Snacks and casual chats were what made watching events fun.
One thing was undeniable—little Hu really was a clever saleswoman.
Her business, however, was far from over.
“Hey, bet on the outcome? Think you can predict who’ll win? Just a harmless wager, capped at a hundred spirit stones.”
Whoa, she was officially setting up a betting ring!
Despite her cuteness, her interests were niche.
Still, everyone present wasn’t just anyone. A hundred spirit stones was pocket money for them.
Suddenly, the betting interest surged.
“What are the odds, Little Fox?”
“Heh, just take a look, sir.”
Hu Chang pulled up Miss Hu Chou, sporting a board detailing the odds for various teams.
Everyone gasped.
Impossible? Did a Transcendent Phase powerhouse really stoop to this?
Hu Chou felt embarrassed but played along, smiling politely.
Working? Sure, it pays spirit stones. Not bad…
Whine whine whine…
Sigh…
