Xue Lao provided the answer: "She is the legitimate daughter of the Nan Gong family, named Nan Gong Huan. She has had black marks on her face since childhood, and the head of the Nan Gong family has been searching for a way to cure her."

  Of course, Nan Gong Jie Ming had also sought out Xue Lao in the past. He had examined the child but, regrettably, could not determine the cause of her condition. His knowledge was limited.

  It was a pity. Without the black marks, she would have been an exceptionally beautiful child.

  "Such a shame," Song Xi Ran agreed. After all, what woman doesn’t care about her appearance? "I hope she can restore her beauty one day."

  Xue Lao laughed heartily and said, "As the saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover. I’ve also heard that just a few days ago, Nan Gong Huan made a scene at the Spirit Gathering Pavilion, putting many disciples in their place. It was quite impressive."

  "Oh? There’s such a story?" Song Que was also drawn in.

  Xue Lao wore a gossipy smile, stroking his beard as he said, "The ones who suffered the most were those two nine-level geniuses. So, I feel that this year’s disciple trial is going to be quite the spectacle."

  "Indeed, you can’t judge by appearances," Song Xi Ran nodded in agreement. That sense of familiarity lingered in her heart, but she still couldn’t recall where she had seen Nan Gong Huan before.

  However, Song Que’s expression darkened slightly as he said, "If the Purple Star is Nan Gong Qian’er, then Nan Gong Huan might be in for big trouble."

  The existence of the Purple Star affected the fate of their nation, Feng Xuan. No one was allowed to disrespect the Purple Star!

  Xue Lao and Song Xi Ran fell silent. The matter of the Purple Star was indeed not to be taken lightly. The nation that possessed the Purple Star would surely have a bright future and boundless prospects.

  Anyone who dared to harm the Purple Star would have to be prepared to die!

  Meanwhile, Nan Gong Qian’er and Wei Yu Gong had walked up to Nan Gong Huan. With a light smile, Nan Gong Qian’er said, "Sister, during the disciple trial, I won’t go easy on you."

  "If we meet, I won’t hold back either," Wei Yu Gong added coldly. The humiliation from the Spirit Gathering Pavilion a few days ago was still fresh in his mind.

  Seeing the two of them, Ye Wan Jun felt a surge of anger. The thought that he had almost fallen victim to the gu worms made him loathe them even more.

  "If you two are so amazing, why don’t you just fly to the heavens!" Ye Wan Jun sneered, as if he couldn’t throw out harsh words himself.

  Nan Gong Huan smiled gently and said, "Why don’t we make another bet?"

  At the mention of a bet, the expressions of Nan Gong Qian’er and Wei Yu Gong instantly changed.

  The psychological trauma from two days ago still lingered.

  "Don’t bother, A-Huan. They definitely can’t afford to bet," Ye Wan Jun rolled his eyes, unsure if he was using reverse psychology or genuinely mocking them.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  These words pierced their pride like sharp arrows.

  "Who says we can’t afford to bet!" Wei Yu Gong’s face twisted in anger. The memory of those three kowtows made his forehead throb faintly.

  "I’m afraid it’s Sister who can’t afford to bet," Nan Gong Qian’er said with a gentle smile, though her eyes were filled with venom. She gritted her teeth, unwilling to lose face.

  Nan Gong Huan spread her hands and said, "How could I not afford to bet? I’m just worried that some people might back out."

  Nan Gong Qian’er’s chest heaved with anger, filled with resentment and unwillingness. Why had she suddenly fallen behind in every aspect against this ugly girl? Why was this ugly girl stealing her spotlight!

  "We’ve always acted with integrity. Qian’er has a good temper and has been patient with you, but you’ve been arrogant and unreasonable, refusing to change!" Wei Yu Gong pointed at Nan Gong Huan angrily. "Thankfully, I called off the engagement back then, or I would have been stuck with you, and you would have humiliated me!"

  His voice was loud enough to draw the attention of many onlookers. After all, he and Nan Gong Qian’er were the "hot favorites" of this trial.

  But Nan Gong Huan, instead of being sharp and assertive as before, trembled like a frightened little animal. Her eyes glistened with tears as she clutched her chest, looking pitiful. "Why? Why are you treating me like this? I’ve already wished you happiness. Must you slander me like this?"

  Playing the victim—who couldn’t do it?

  In an instant, the crowd’s eyes turned to them, eager for drama.

  Nan Gong Qian’er was almost driven to laughter by Nan Gong Huan’s acting. She trembled with rage. This ugly girl’s words nearly destroyed the persona she had carefully built over the years!

  Just as Nan Gong Qian’er was about to salvage her image, Nan Gong Huan burst into tears again. "Qian’er, Brother Yu Gong, I know you two are deeply in love, and I’ve already stepped aside for you. Why must you still insult me in front of everyone? I truly wish you happiness!"

  As she cried, she grabbed Ye Wan Jun’s sleeve and wiped her tears on it.

  Ye Wan Jun looked at the damp spot on his sleeve, his lips twitching. Couldn’t she have used her own clothes to wipe her tears?

  Those who had heard some of the gossip sighed softly. Nan Gong Huan had already stepped aside and let them be. Why were they still forcing her to play the villain?

  On the judges’ platform, Song Xi Ran and the others were also watching the drama unfold.

  The crowd’s reaction made Nan Gong Qian’er feel utterly humiliated and furious. Wei Yu Gong’s face also paled as he realized he had misspoken, giving Nan Gong Huan the upper hand.

  Nan Gong Huan, while covering her face and crying, secretly stuck out her tongue at the two of them.

  This only infuriated them further, and they almost lunged at her, but their理智 held them back.

  Nan Gong Qian’er’s eyes flashed with malice. Once they entered the forest, she would activate the mother gu worm. She would make Nan Gong Huan beg for mercy on her knees!

  Just as the situation was becoming awkward, the city lord stood up and put an end to the commotion.

  The city lord cleared his throat and announced, "Children, I am delighted to see you all. It’s as if I’m seeing the future of Jiang Lou City..."

  After a long preamble, the city lord finally got to the point: "I believe everyone is already familiar with the rules of the competition. Each of you has been given a red ring. If you encounter a life-threatening situation and wish to end the trial early, you can activate the red ring, and it will take you out. Of course, the red ring can only be used once. Once activated, it means your trial is over."

  "The time limit is three days. We will be monitoring the entire process through the red rings, so please, no cheating. Otherwise, you will be immediately disqualified and your results nullified. The forest is full of dangers, and the judges will not intervene in matters of life and death. Please prioritize your own safety."

  This might sound harsh, but in a world where strength reigns supreme, no one cares about the life of a small fry.

  To ensure fairness and transparency, a large crystal panel had been placed in front of the judges’ platform. Everyone present could monitor the progress of the disciples at any time.

  The objective of the disciple trial was to retrieve flags from marked spirit beasts. The color of the flags varied depending on the level of the spirit beast. Yellow flags were for one-life spirit beasts, blue for two-life, and red for three-life. The winner would be determined by the number and level of flags collected.