Chapter 20:
Chapter 20:
“You mustn’t be reluctant to spend. For us, we must be thrifty where we should, and spend where we must…”
“Hurry! Go on! Fine! I’d better go to the Market District with you. You don’t know, some shopkeepers there are truly stingy! They might see you’re young and try to bully you, haggling wildly! Come on! Let’s go! I’ll take you there!”
Zhao Ji excitedly took Shen Qingyi to stroll around the Market District.
The three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The sky was not yet fully bright when Shen Qingyi, dressed neatly with a large bundle on her back, stood quietly at the gate of the Academy.
“Creak!”
The Academy’s gate was pushed open from the inside.
Elder Qi was already dressed neatly, with Qi Linger following behind him.
Seeing Shen Qingyi up so early, Elder Qi couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
“What? Worried I’d take everyone and sneak off without you?”
Qi Linger tugged on Elder Qi’s sleeve.
“Ancestor, of course she was worried we’d leave without her!”
Elder Qi patted Qi Linger’s head.
“Alright, this Xiao Qingyi is not like you, who gets up so late every day.”
“Ancestor! You’re teasing me again! Hmph! I’m ignoring you!”
Qi Linger stamped her foot a little angrily.
Elder Qi chuckled and patted her head.
“Alright, alright! It’s getting late; we should set off.”
The three of them made their way to a small square in the Market District, which was the gathering point for those taking the test today.
When the three arrived, some people were already assembled there.
Some of the younger children hid in their parents’ arms, sniffling with fear.
Aside from the disciples participating in the test, the group heading to the Eastern Domain included escorts and some regional representatives, with Elder Qi serving as the Academy’s representative.
Once Elder Qi arrived, he began chatting with people he knew, while Shen Qingyi and Qi Linger stayed behind him.
The man seemed to be on quite good terms with Elder Qi. Seeing the two behind Elder Qi, he couldn’t help teasing.
“I’ve long heard that Elder Qi Brother had a gifted disciple in his family. Who’d have thought there were actually two promising seedlings? You kept this hidden so deep! Not fair! Not fair!”
The old man’s words drew the attention of several other representatives nearby. Qi Linger was somewhat famous in their region.
Back when she tested as having dual Metal and Fire Spiritual Roots, it caused quite a stir here. The Zedi Sect had tried several times to recruit her, and even some other Sects from the North Binding Realm came seeking her reputation.
Unfortunately, the Qi Family turned them all down.
Even a Golden Core Ancestor from the Zedi Sect personally visited, but the Qi Family’s main branch skillfully avoided it.
Surely the Zedi Sect was unhappy, but the Qi Family Head was clever. Moreover, it was said that a Second Master of the Qi Family was involved in business with a certain family in the Southern Domain.
In the end, the Zedi Sect and the Qi Family reached a mutually beneficial balance, and both sides let the matter drop.
Elder Qi turned to look at Qi Linger and Shen Qingyi.
He smiled and stroked his beard.
“That young lady is not my little genius. She, well, came with me hoping to try her luck. Her name is Shen Qingyi.”
“Oh?”
The old man and the others all looked toward the person Elder Qi indicated.
“So she’s not a Heaven’s Chosen the Qi Family has been hiding, after all. But, surely anyone Elder Qi Brother takes a liking to must be exceptional! This young lady is bright and charming, her eyes clear and penetrating. One look, and you know her future is destined to be extraordinary!”
Once the thin male cultivator said this, the others joined in agreement.
Elder Qi simply smiled without speaking.
Anyone with eyes could tell this was just flattery.
Anyone with cultivation could see Shen Qingyi’s bone age and the complete lack of Spiritual Power fluctuations around her.
However, one thing the man said was not wrong—this little girl’s eyes were indeed very clear. In today’s Cultivation World, such clear eyes were rarely seen.
He quite liked this young girl, but if she missed her chance this time…