Chapter 117: The Fairy Nüyi

At this moment, the Prince surveying the main hall let his gaze sweep across the crowd, eventually resting on the faces of the many young men in the courtyard. It finally landed on Chu Youcai, causing the Prince to pause for a brief moment before shifting his eyes away. He then spoke, "I have spent over a decade on the battlefields of the Southern Frontier, slaying countless demons. Not once have invaders from other lands dared to set foot on the soil of our Loulan Kingdom. Having returned temporarily due to the Saint King’s summons, I am heartened to see that you have all grown into such outstanding individuals."

"But this is not enough. Those who study martial arts and the Way must possess a relentless drive for improvement and the ambition to be the best. The upcoming recruitment for the Zhu Xian Academy is a rare opportunity that occurs but once in a millennium. Your goal is to secure first place here, and then triumph in the Saintly Trials of the nine provinces of Yanyun. Only then will you have the chance to participate in this once-in-a-millennium sacred gathering."

"The Yan Prince's Manor shall become world-renowned!"

Hearing this, a surge of hot-blooded fervor swept through the crowd. Their father’s words were simple, yet carried a firm, unyielding strength—the imposing, authoritative air of a master of war. They could not help but reveal looks of burning anticipation, eager to prove themselves.

The Prince’s gaze swept over the surroundings and fell upon Chu Yuwang, who had just entered through the gate. His brow furrowed slightly as he said, "In today’s competition, whoever takes first place will be rewarded with a Cursed Treasure to encourage your efforts over the years."

A stir of excitement rippled through the crowd. Cursed Treasures were exceedingly rare; even the First Lady possessed only two, yet the Prince was now offering one as a prize!

In that instant, their eyes filled with expectation and greed.

The Prince continued, "Furthermore, I would like to introduce someone to you all." He gestured toward the Taoist nun beside him. "This is Fairy Nüyi, the Holy Maiden of Penglai Island."

Hearing this, Chu Youcai could not hide his astonishment. Penglai Island was one of the three fabled islands of the immortals across the sea, rumored to accept only female immortals. It was shrouded in mystery and, while perhaps not as famous as the Yan Sect, was certainly not far behind.

He had not expected the Prince to be acquainted with a Holy Maiden of Penglai, let alone be able to invite her to the estate.

Fairy Nüyi swept her gaze across the crowd. Her eyes were clear and penetrating, yet exuded a gentle warmth that washed over everyone. The Crane Forest Flower she held in her hand seemed almost sentient, swaying ever so slightly.

Just then, Chu Youcai felt a jolt as the Fairy’s gaze lingered on him for a brief moment.

His heart skipped a beat. The Fairy’s cultivation was unfathomable—could she have detected the demonic arts within him? He immediately lowered his head.

Fairy Nüyi smiled and said, "Invited by the Prince, I am truly enlightened to see so many brilliant talents in this manor. Since the Prince is bestowing such a precious Cursed Treasure, I shall also present a gift of my own to show my appreciation."

The crowd was overjoyed. Given who Fairy Nüyi was, her gift would surely be of immense value.

They knew their task was to leave a strong impression during the trials. Even in defeat, they must maintain a heroic spirit.

The drawing of lots began. Some were beaming with joy, while others looked furious. There were sixteen young men and women in the manor, with number one paired against number sixteen, and so on.

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd: "I can't believe the Second Young Master got number one! This is a disaster; I drew number sixteen!"

"The Second Young Master just broke through a decade of cultivation; no one in the manor can match him. First place is already his!"

"That is not necessarily true. Have you forgotten the Sixth Young Master? He has come from behind in recent years. During his eight years of wandering, he reportedly visited over twenty immortal sects and was eventually taken as a disciple by an old Taoist. His cultivation might not lag far behind the Second Young Master's."

"Some 'old Taoist.' Rumor has it that man is merely a disgraced disciple from an immortal sect, and he only took him on as a servant to tend the fires. Don't flatter him," someone whispered with a look of disdain.

"Don't count on the Sixth Young Master. He hasn't even arrived yet; perhaps he has forfeited?"

"Haven't you noticed? The Second Young Master is also fashionably late. They all fancy themselves superior and naturally prefer to make their entrance last."

Just then, in the distance, a man in green robes was seen being supported by a maid as he walked in hurriedly. It was indeed the Sixth Young Master, Yan Yudong. Unexpectedly, he was clutching his right eye, appearing to be in great pain.

The crowd scrutinized him closely.

Suddenly, looks of shock appeared on everyone's faces. Yan Yudong’s right eye was covered by a layer of gauze, and around the edges, the skin seemed to be festering, looking hideously grotesque.

Chu Youcai felt a jolt of surprise. The Yan Yudong he knew, while possessing a modicum of talent, was extremely frivolous and disregarded all etiquette. One of his notorious habits was to rudely trail after any lady he encountered while out in the countryside. How could something like this have happened?

The Prince moved with agility, arriving at Yan Yudong’s side in an instant. He asked in a deep voice, "Little Six, what has happened?"

Seeing his father, Yan Yudong knelt down in haste. As he let go, the gauze fell to the ground. Everyone noticed that his right eye was covered by a thick, spiral-like membrane that completely obstructed his vision and emitted a foul stench.

Yan Yudong hesitated, then finally spoke, "I encountered a strange woman, and she suddenly attacked me! Father, you must help me heal!"

Prince Chu turned his gaze to the maid beside Yan Yudong and said, "Tell me exactly what happened."

Trembling, the maid recounted the events.

It turned out that a few days ago, while out, Yan Yudong had encountered a carriage with crimson curtains and elaborate embroidery. Several maids on horseback followed behind, and their beauty had left Yan Yudong spellbound.

He had followed closely, leaning in to catch a glimpse, when he saw the carriage curtains pulled back. Inside sat a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in such exquisite makeup that he had never seen the like.

Dazed and captivated, he had continued to follow the carriage for several miles, unwilling to leave.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped. The young lady inside summoned her maid and said, "Lower the curtains. Who is this arrogant scholar, constantly peeking at us? How rude."

The maid immediately dropped the curtain and turned to glare at Yan Yudong, shouting, "This is the Mistress of Furong City returning to visit her family. This is no place for a country bumpkin scholar to peek as he pleases!" With that, she grabbed a handful of dirt from the road and flung it at Yan Yudong.

Though Yan Yudong had high cultivation, he had been unable to open his eyes in time and was struck by the handful of sand. He rubbed his eyes desperately, but by then, the carriage had long since departed.

Upon returning home, he felt agonizing pain in his eye. A physician was summoned, who discovered a thin membrane growing over his eyeball. By the next morning, the membrane had grown as thick as a copper coin, forming a spiral shape that no medicine could cure.

Hearing yesterday that the *Sutra of Radiance* could dispel calamities, he had others chant it by his side. Having felt a slight improvement today, he had come here.