"Hahahaha, that's hilarious!" Wen Longting burst into laughter after they walked away. "The way Ji Fengyan looked so embarrassed was just too funny, hahahaha."
"Xiao Jiu, you don't know if the last time I saw her get the short end of the stick was at the auction... Back then..." Wen Longting talked on and on about what happened at Qi Yeyue Tower.
As Ji Jiuying listened, the smile in her eyes grew more and more obvious, and she burst out laughing, "Xiao Ting~ Is it possible that I was the one back then?"
"Oh, it's you!" Wen Longting hadn't even realized it yet.
"What? That person is you?" Wen Longting asked excitedly, grabbing Ji Jiuying's hand.
"It's me!" Ji Jiuying replied with a smile.
"What a wonderful coincidence! I even told Grandpa I wanted to befriend you, but who knew we'd known each other for so long, hahaha!" Wen Longting hugged Ji Jiuying tightly and exclaimed in surprise.
"Xiaoting, if you don't let go, you're going to strangle me to death!"
"Oh, oh~ I'm just saying what I mean!" Wen Longting scratched her head awkwardly.
This caused a burst of laughter from everyone.
Ji Jiuying recalled her past life, in which she was focused on medical research and had virtually no friends. In this life, however, she has some interesting friends around her, which makes up for the lack of friendship she experienced in her previous life.
"Alright, let's find the Illusionary Spirit Orbs first. Even though we passed, the more the merrier."
“Zhen Pangzi is right.”
The group disappeared into the deep forest, and a quarter of an hour later, the competition was still in full swing.
Some fought fiercely for the Illusionary Spirit Orb, while others were dejected after failing to find any. Ji Jiuying and the others returned to the entrance and watched the people in the mountains below as if it were a show.
"Xiaoting, which of those two teams do you think will get the Illusionary Spirit Orb?" Fatty Zhen asked, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, watching with great interest.
“I guess it’s the team in blue. What do you think, Sister, Big Brother, and Little Nine?” Wen Longting asked after observing carefully.
“I think it should be the team in blue clothes.” Wen Longxiu thought about it and agreed with Ting’er.
“I think it’s the team in black. Look at the team in black, the one holding the token is that person. Don’t be fooled by his random wandering around now, he’s actually setting a trap for the team in blue,” Wen Chuyu said, squinting her eyes.
Ji Jiuying raised an eyebrow. She had to admit he was right, but...
"Neither team will get it!"
Upon hearing Ji Jiuying's words, the others looked at her in confusion.
"You'll find out soon enough," Ji Jiuying said with a mysterious smile.
A short while later, just as the group in black was about to approach the Illusionary Spirit Orb, several figures darted out of the bushes and intercepted it.
As luck would have it, those figures were none other than Jun Linyu and Ji Fengyan's group.
Wen Chuyu and the others gave Ji Jiuying a thumbs up. Brilliant! Truly brilliant! She even found out about this.
Because they were too far away, it was impossible to hear what they were saying. But before long, the groups started fighting.
"When will this match end? I'm starving!" Fatty Zhen said with a worried tone.
"I guess it won't end until all one hundred Illusionary Spirit Orbs have been found," Wen Longxiu guessed.
"Fatty Zhen, with your physique, how can you possibly be starving? But now that you mention it, I'm getting a little hungry too. I really want to eat the hot pot that Xiao Jiu makes!" Wen Longting swallowed hard, her eyes darting towards Ji Jiuying with a cute expression.
Wen Longxiu and Wen Chuyu looked at Ji Jiuying with expectant eyes.
Ji Jiuying poked Wen Longting's head, "Wait until the competition is over."
"Yay~ I love you so much!"
"What is hot pot?" Fatty Zhen asked the two of them, puzzled.
"You wouldn't know this, it's just..." Wen Longting rattled off a whole bunch of things, making Fatty Zhen's eyes light up and his mouth water.
"Little Jiu, I would also like to try your hot pot."
“Okay, come to my house after the competition! My house is at No. 4 Huanan Street,” Ji Jiuying said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Wen Chuyu asked, "Xiao Jiu, you've moved out?"
"Yes, from now on I am who I am, and I have nothing to do with the Ji family. You are welcome to come and visit me anytime," Ji Jiuying said with a smile.
“Okay, okay~ Hehe, don’t mind if Xiao Jiu comes over to freeload.” Wen Longting was the first to answer.
"No, I'd love to!"
······
Another 15 minutes have passed without me realizing it, and it's still not over. Judging by the time, it will probably be afternoon by the time I go outside.
One by one, some people returned to the entrance of the secret realm.
Suddenly, the world spun around, and everyone was back on the original arena.
However, while so much time had passed inside the illusion, only an hour had passed outside.
With a wave of his hand, Yin Han caused the illusion array on the arena to disappear, and the tokens automatically flew into his hand.
Those who failed automatically flew off the stage; watching them fly off was like watching dumplings being dropped into a pot.
One-third of the people were eliminated.
Everyone couldn't help but marvel at how powerful the Grand Preceptor must be, given that his subordinates were all so capable.
"Alright, congratulations to the participants who have passed the test. I'm sure you all know about the third test. As usual, we will determine the winners and losers by drawing lots. In order to determine the rankings as quickly as possible, the arena will be divided into two teams on the left and right sides to compete simultaneously."
Next, all participants, please use your spiritual power to draw bamboo slips, and your opponents will be determined by the corresponding numbers.
The referee pointed to the bamboo skewers on the side and said loudly.
When they entered the illusion array, what happened outside? The person presiding over the competition was no longer the Duke of Ji, but the referee from previous years.
Soon, almost everyone was off the stage with bamboo skewers in their hands.
Ji Jiuying and her four companions found their seats and sat down.
At this moment, Ji Jiuying noticed that there were two more people behind the Empress: Jun Lintian and a young girl. If Ji Jiuying guessed correctly, it should be the Seventh Princess, Jun Buhui.
The Seventh Princess was the daughter of the late Consort Ning. She was later adopted by the Empress and raised by her.
"Do you not regret it? Do you not regret it?" Judging from her name, Consort Ning must be deeply in love with the emperor.
"For the first match, please have contestant number one come up to the left side of the arena, and please have contestant number two come to the right side of the arena."
The referee's loud shout interrupted Ji Jiuying's thoughts.
A burly man stepped up to contestant number one, while his opponent was a petite little girl.
"My name is Zhou Hua!" the burly man said, bowing to the little girl.
"This humble girl is Xiao Si Niang!" The little girl responded to her opponent with a fist salute.
Everyone held their breath, looking at the two on the stage. Zhou Hua was almost three times the size of Xiao Siniang, making everyone feel a chill for Xiao Siniang.
Ji Jiuying looked at the two people on the left arena with great interest. Although Xiao Siniang was thin and small, a closer look would reveal that the aura she exuded was far superior to that of Zhou Hua.
In addition, the people below the stage didn't think much of Xiao Siniang, and Zhou Hua himself was a bit too arrogant. In comparison, Xiao Siniang was more composed.
The outcome of this match was predetermined from the very beginning.
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