64 - Dungeon Growth Log

The voice was clear and penetrating, abruptly halting the buzzing discussions. In an instant, the entire alchemy training ground fell silent. Xia Ge lifted her head and saw vague figures on the northern stage. Several disciples in simple alchemy robes sat in the front row. Since she hadn’t squeezed in front to see the results, she was at the far southern end of the spacious training ground and couldn't discern who was up there. However, with seven or eight failed exams under her belt, Xia Ge skillfully understood that the examiner for this test was here to announce the top six, return the pills the participants had refined, and perhaps give some words of encouragement to those who didn’t make it, urging them to try again next time. Mao Qing, experiencing this scene for the first time, wondered aloud, “Huh... will there be someone coming? I thought they would just post the results today...” Still holding a grudge over their previous altercation, Huo Bai mocked, “Everything can't be just as you think.” Annoyed, Mao Qing retorted, “How can you be so petty? I’m not even arguing with you!” Xia Ge interjected, “Shh... they seem to be about to say something.” Huo Bai snorted but said nothing further. Mao Qing glared at him but quieted down as well. The clear voice resumed, spreading across the vast alchemy training ground, “First, we announce the top six in this entry-level competition!” “First place, Huo Bai, for his Red Blood Fasting Pill!” Even though she didn’t know who the first place was, applause erupted around, and Xia Ge joined in, clapping her hands, “Congratulations!” Mao Qing, reluctantly patting her hands, muttered, “Whatever, congrats.” Huo Bai, without a word, glanced at Xia Ge. “Second place, Mao Qing, for her Golden Fasting Pill!” This time, Huo Bai clapped as well. Mao Qing huffed but her expression softened considerably. Successively, the rest of the top six were announced. Each pause was met with timely applause. After the list was concluded, the next step was to distribute the pills refined during the competition to each disciple according to their rank. “Entry-level disciples, please come forward in the order of your ranks!” Being first and second respectively, Huo Bai and Mao Qing naturally stepped forward first. Mao Qing smiled at Xia Ge, “I’ll go ahead.” “Go on then,” Xia Ge waved her off. Just as Huo Bai was about to leave, Xia Ge suddenly called, “Brother Huo, please wait.” Huo Bai stopped, looking at her quizzically. Xia Ge smiled, her gaze sweeping over the white jade pendant at his waist, “Brother Huo, your jade pendant is quite lovely. Where did you get it?” Huo Bai responded with an “Oh,” and said, “I bought it at a nearby market after the last exam out of boredom. Do you like it?” “Yes, it’s a rare piece of fine jade,” Xia Ge chuckled, “With such a beautiful jade, Brother Huo must take good care of it.” “It’s just a piece of jade. If you like it, I can give it to you,” Huo Bai replied, making a motion to remove the jade pendant. Xia Ge quickly interjected, “No, no, I can’t accept that. I just wanted to compliment it. A gentleman doesn’t take what others cherish. Brother Huo, go and get your pill!” Huo Bai paused, looked at her once more, and said, “Then I hope you find a jade you like soon,” before taking his leave. After he left, Xia Ge stretched her neck to peer towards the stage. The young man who had lent her water was still there, a gourd hanging at his waist, amused by how she craned her neck. Knowing her name, he teased, “Xia junior, what are you looking for?” Xia Ge, startled, straightened up and said earnestly, “I’m looking for the beauty of our peak.” Yes, she was looking for her senior sister. “Beauty? Who?” the boy questioned, then realized and laughed, “Hey, you cheeky brat! Don’t be so frivolous!” “Just looking is considered frivolous?” Xia Ge felt wronged, “Besides, I haven’t even seen her yet.” “Hahaha, the top disciple of the first peak—do you think you can see her just because you want to?” The boy laughed, “Stop daydreaming and focus on preparing for your next exam! With your talent, if you don’t blow up the furnace again and take it seriously, you’re bound to pass.” Then he winked at Xia Ge, “Once you pass, I guarantee you’ll see her every day, but by then, you probably won’t want to.” It didn’t take long for Xia Ge to understand what he meant. It was like having the head instructor watching over you all the time? Watching until you couldn't stand it? Very vivid. But... “Brother, that’s not right. Senior Sister is so beautiful, I could never get tired of seeing her,” Xia Ge exaggerated, “If I manage to enter, I'll look at her a hundred thousand times and never get bored.” Just as Xia Ge finished speaking, she saw the boy's eyes widen slightly in disbelief. Before she could ask what was wrong, a familiar soft voice came from behind, “Lu Qie, who’s it that you don’t want to see?” That voice... ...Senior Sister? Xia Ge’s back instantly stiffened. It wasn’t as if she had spoken badly of anyone, but for some reason, she felt nervous, as if she had. Stepping closer, the young man with the gourd at his waist stiffened briefly before reacting quickly, “Haha, Senior Sister, what brings you here... haha, I was talking about... not wanting to see the lecturer.” Gu Pei Jiu ignored the straight-backed Xia Ge beside her and approached the gourd-wearing youth named Lu Qie, “If you keep pretending to be an outer disciple and spouting nonsense here, I’ll have you copy the alchemical formulas.” ...Pretending to be an outer disciple? This guy, who claimed to be too nervous to check his own results... outer disciple? Watching the youth who previously had a smile now wearing an embarrassed expression as if caught playing games secretly at an internet café, Xia Ge’s lips twitched. Your sect sure knows how to have fun. After Gu Pei Jiu finished speaking, she glanced at Xia Ge. Her dark eyes carried an ambiguous hint, and after a moment, she asked softly, “Why aren’t you going forward to claim your pill?” This question was directed at her. Before Xia Ge could respond, Lu Qie, still embarrassed, tried to explain, “Senior Sister…” Gu Pei Jiu spared him not even a glance, “Go copy the Rejuvenation Pill’s formula, twenty times.” Lu Qie: “???” Seeing him frozen in place, Gu Pei Jiu’s deep black eyes flashed at him, “Thirty times.” “Ah!! I’m going, I’m going!!” Lu Qie snapped out of his daze and bolted, disappearing into the crowd within moments, as if his speed rivaled a ghostly escape. Xia Ge watched, awestruck. With the annoying person gone, Gu Pei Jiu turned her gaze to Xia Ge, subtly scrutinizing her, and asked again, “Why aren’t you going forward to claim your pill?” Shadowed beneath her eyes was a faint blue hue, suggesting she hadn’t slept well. She seemed unable to find her usual green hair tie and had settled for a black cord. Still growing, she barely reached Gu Pei Jiu’s chest, short and small enough to be an easy reach for petting her soft hair. —Eyes like Wu Yin. —I’ll show you this world! It’s a beautiful world! Gu Pei Jiu’s heart skipped a beat. She calmed herself, her gaze at the young girl became more scrutinizing. Maybe standing too close. The intensity of the stare seemed to make Xia Ge nervous. She unconsciously stepped back, scratching her head, and pointed at the bustling crowd behind her, “Uh... too many people.” “No problem.” Gu Pei Jiu said, “I’ll take you there.” Before Xia Ge could react, a soft sandalwood scent spread. A cool hand took hers. Covered by the wide sleeve embroidered with red maple leaves, Xia Ge could feel the clear warmth of the hand holding hers, like holding a piece of warm jade, soothing and reassuring. This gentle warmth spread from her hand to her limbs and finally to her heart, making it beat stronger. A warmth that could dispel any unease and lies. Xia Ge, startled, tried to withdraw her hand instinctively. Yet, the hand gripping hers, gentle and warm, was unyielding. “Don’t move,” said Gu Pei Jiu, “I’ll take you up.” Xia Ge hesitated, feeling strangely compelled to obey. She usually hated any form of contact, including hand-holding—an issue from her previous life. Bloody red-and-white robes, the soothing warmth of sandalwood embracing her, and those words. —You need to rest. But if it was Senior Sister...maybe it wasn’t so bad. Xia Ge slowly relaxed. And then tension returned. Wait, going up? Up where? Where to? Gu Pei Jiu led her forward. Wearing her simple alchemy robes, her delicate features and fierce black eyes gave her an ethereal beauty, too striking to look at directly. Xia Ge, trying to pull her hand away, felt it held even more firmly. Someone in the bustling crowd ahead noticed them, stopping in their tracks, instinctively giving way. “Who’s that...” “Such a beauty...” Though curious about the identity of the beautiful girl, mesmerized by Gu Pei Jiu’s noble and aloof aura, the crowd parted, making way. Xia Ge, hand-in-hand with Gu Pei Jiu, saw the path opening before her and felt the eyes of many, giving her the illusion of walking a celebrity red carpet. It truly felt like a delusion. The unusual disturbance quickly caught the attention of the disciples distributing the pills according to ranks at the front. A moment of confusion was followed by a sudden exclamation from one of them, “It’s... it’s Senior Sister!” What was Senior Sister doing here? “Make way, make way... Senior Sister is coming through!” With the inner disciples clearing a path, the way became even wider. Mao Qing, who had just picked up her pill, felt the commotion and turned around, only to see the elegant, straight-backed girl in red and white holding... “Oh my god, isn't that Xia Wu Yin?” Mao Qing’s eyes widened, and she instinctively tugged at Huo Bai’s sleeve, “Hey, look! It’s the legendary Senior Sister of the Alchemy Peak—along with Xia Wu Yin!” However, despite her tugging, Huo Bai didn’t react. Feeling something was off, Mao Qing looked up to see Huo Bai merely shift his body slightly, “I saw.” His voice was indifferent. “...” Mao Qing, failing to find resonance with her eccentric ally, gave up on Huo Bai and excitedly continued by herself, “I knew it! He surely wouldn’t just be left out! Even the Senior Sister is here! Just watch!” Surrounded by surprise, curiosity, and scrutiny, Gu Pei Jiu led Xia Ge up the soft-padded steps onto the stage. For a moment, enveloped in sunlight and shadows, Gu Pei Jiu seemed slightly lost in thought. In her hazy dreams and amidst fleeting lights and shadows, it felt as if someone had also once held her hand, leading her step by step up an endlessly high staircase. Noticing Gu Pei Jiu had stopped, Xia Ge felt confused, “...Senior Sister?” Why stop here? Gu Pei Jiu, with her eyelashes lowered, shook off her distraction and continued forward. “Nothing, let’s go.” Together, they mounted the stage. From its height, the view was expansive; beneath them, the dense crowd of the alchemy training ground looked up, their actions paused, eyes fixed on Gu Pei Jiu, awaiting her words. “First, congratulations to all the disciples who made it to the list.” The girl’s voice was light and ethereal, “Starting today, you are all members of the Alchemy Peak’s inner sect.” A bit puzzled, those below thought that the top disciple of the Alchemy Peak wouldn‘t be here just to say some pleasantries, but they clapped nonetheless. Still holding hands, Xia Ge felt it was slightly inappropriate, wanting to pull her hand back but hesitant to do so. She felt a bit muddled. When the applause died down, Gu Pei Jiu’s voice resounded again, “Next, is the second matter.” Silence fell over the crowd, everyone listening intently. “This year, I will be accepting a specially-admitted disciple.” The girl’s voice remained calm, “You might have heard of them—it’s this person beside me, Xia Wu Yin.” The applause came to an abrupt halt, and silence enveloped the crowd. Xia Ge felt a wave of inexplicable embarrassment. She wanted to retract her hand again, but it wouldn't budge. Helpless, she could only raise her head to look at Gu Pei Jiu, “Senior Sister, I can take the exam again next time...” Goodness, with so many eyes on them, blatantly playing favorites made her feel uneasy. “I recall you promised me before.” Gu Pei Jiu’s gaze remained forward as she spoke softly in a voice only the two of them could hear, “You said you would definitely make it into the top three.” Xia Ge was suddenly flustered, her resolve to withdraw her hand weakening significantly. She averted her eyes, “Um, well, that was accidental...” Since she’d actually blown up the furnace, being suddenly labeled as a special recruit made her even more anxious. Gu Pei Jiu lowered her eyelashes, “Are you feeling guilty?” Xia Ge laughed awkwardly, “No, not really...” But under the dark gaze of Gu Pei Jiu, she eventually lowered her head, “...Actually, a little.” As she struggled with various emotions, she heard Gu Pei Jiu say, “It’s fine.” After a moment of silence, a far more enthusiastic round of applause erupted from the crowd below. Xia Ge blinked in shock. Someone laughed, “Haha, I told you. How could someone who refined the Three-Life Gold Pill be disqualified!” “Our Alchemy Peak has hope! Maybe not for a Heaven-rank, but we might get an Earth-ranked alchemist. Then we’ll make those trash on Sword Peak kneel and lick our boots!” “What are you dreaming about! Without an Earth-ranked formula, you can't just make an Earth-ranked alchemist from thin air!” “Well, someone has to create it first, right?” “Can you?” “I can't, but someone who refined the Three-Life Gold Pill might!” “A special recruit, well-deserved, but still need to practice on controlling the furnace...” “...” The continuous applause and clamorous voices below left Xia Ge stunned. The red-dressed girl holding her hand casually remarked. “Don’t feel guilty.” “You merely lived up to everyone’s expectations.” With the noise from below and migrating geese in the sky, Xia Ge stood on that high place, looking at the girl holding her hand. In that moment, her cold blood warmed, and her once dead heart seemed to beat faintly once more. Author's Note: Ahhh, exams tomorrow (praying to pass, pass, pass, pass! = = Thank you Gu Gui, Da Pao Zai and You Li You Xian for the grenades! Love you all! Reader “.”, fed nutritional supplements 202018-06-28 22:14:10 Reader "愛は私の本能になる", fed nutritional supplements 22018-06-28 21:06:30 Reader "尘落霜残", fed nutritional supplements 12018-06-28 17:21:22 Reader "逆夜jl", fed nutritional supplements 52018-06-28 16:42:29 Reader "135", fed nutritional supplements 102018-06-28 15:21:25 Reader "", fed nutritional supplements 32018-06-28 13:33:11 Reader "biu~biu~", fed nutritional supplements 12018-06-28 10:23:52 Reader "二柱子", fed nutritional supplements 202018-06-28 09:22:45 Reader "暖阳", fed nutritional supplements 102018-06-28 01:36:51 Reader "夏花", fed nutritional supplements 12018-06-28 01:01:16 Reader "丫丫二丫", fed nutritional supplements 12018-06-28 00:28:49 Reader "一只花栗鼠", fed nutritional supplements 52018-06-27 23:30:20 Thank you all for the nutritional supplements! Hugging!