Yanluo Wang was the nickname the disciples in the labor class had given to Elder Yan.

It was all because he simply didn’t treat the Outer Sect as human beings. The slightest dissatisfaction would lead to him beating, kicking, cursing, and humiliating them. Even Yu Yingshu, ten days ago, had ice-cold water splashed on her bed for oversleeping.

At that time, Yu Yingshu had just transmigrated and was in a daze, absorbing the memories of this body—it wasn’t that she wanted to be lazy.

But truth be told, there weren’t many old memories to speak of.

To sum it up simply, it was just one sentence: she grew up in an orphanage, was adopted by Vast Mist City because she possessed a spiritual root, and had taken the teaching examination twice a year for a total of eighteen times, yet never achieved any results.

She had also spent nine years on the mountain practicing the basics.

After transmigrating, she quickly identified her ally for the winter teaching—Wen Dongyang.

This guy was fierce and determined, with an aura that kept strangers at bay, much like a local gang enforcer. He clearly wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

However, all her plans went unused. Before the winter teaching even began, she had already awakened her System and made up her mind not to enter the inner sect.

But what about her cooperation with Wen Dongyang? Words spoken were like water spilled—they couldn’t be taken back. And with the System’s restrictions, she couldn’t lie. What if this guy asked for the reason? How would she answer?

Could she tell the truth and reveal the System?

She had no choice but to cooperate with him and do him a favor in the process.

…………

The teaching examination itself was an extremely risky affair. A group of mortals fighting Vampires—it was easy to imagine the mortality rate would be absurdly high.

Thus, during the assembly marking the end of the teaching examination, the small square was sparsely dotted with many empty spots.

The remaining people varied in age and height, with significantly more males than females, all rubbing their hands together to keep warm.

They were all orphans, specifically sought out by Vast Mist City for their spiritual roots, just like Yu Yingshu.

Early winter, with no snowflakes yet in the sky, but the temperature had already dropped in advance—the same was true inside the Secret Realm.

Yu Yingshu, still in her tattered clothes that she hadn’t had time to change out of, hugged her shoulders and shivered as she looked around. She couldn’t find Wen Dongyang’s figure, likely because his results were exceptionally outstanding and he had already moved into the inner sect.

Every year, at most ten people could pass the winter teaching. With someone who had achieved double the standard appearing so rarely, wouldn’t the elders be scrambling to take him as a personal disciple?

“To walk the path of the Immortals, courage, wisdom, unwavering faith, determination toward the Dao, and… luck—none of these can be lacking. Every year, I say these words once.”

The voice arrived before the person. Elder Yan descended gracefully from the sky, his wide white robes billowing without wind, fluttering loudly, leaving the Outer Sect disciples in awe.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Safely landing on the platform, Elder Yan cleared his throat, his expression turning stern as he suddenly snorted coldly: “My Vast Mist City is not some righteous sect, nor do we have any pity for mortals. This is how we recruit new disciples. Every one of your senior brothers and sisters started in the Outer Sect, accumulating courage, tempering their bodies, and preparing thoroughly before making a stunning debut in the teaching examination… We have maintained this tradition for over a thousand years, and it will never change… So, those who lack the courage and bravery to pass the examination yet still wish to idle away their days in hopes of attaining Immortal fate—it’s better to give up such thoughts early and leave the mountain!”

As the elder spoke, he was clearly looking at Yu Yingshu.This girl has been in the sect for so many years, yet she has achieved nothing. Judging by her current state, it seems she intends to waste many more years.

What does this mean?

Does she think this place is a shelter?

Looking at her innate talent, within two or three years, her sea of consciousness will close off, making it impossible for her to reach Foundation Establishment and completely miss her chance at immortality. Given the sparse spiritual energy of this world, even the most talented individuals need at least a year to achieve Foundation Establishment.

After nine years with no results, this girl clearly has nothing to do with the term "good talent." So, if nothing changes, she should be persuaded to leave this year...

As for how she'll survive outside after being expelled, what does that have to do with me?

The other Outer Sect disciples were also muttering similar thoughts in their minds.

Those selected and brought into the Secret Realm of Vast Mist City were all orphans with spiritual roots and talent for cultivation. It could be said they were far superior to ordinary mortals.

Opportunities like this were hard to come by, so even though the teaching examination had an extremely high mortality rate, they were all willing to fight for it. Those who didn't participate this year simply found the topic didn't align with their preparations, so they could only wait and try again next year.

As for those who didn't seek immortality, their memories had already been wiped by the soul shifting great technique, and they were sent down the mountain to continue living as ordinary people—they didn't lose out either. The basic training in the Outer Sect at least tempered their bodies, making them far stronger than mortals. Three or five burly men wouldn't be able to get close to them.

But what about Yu Yingshu, this wilted and frail girl who neither sought immortality nor seemed to cultivate seriously, only wanting to linger in the Secret Realm?

How much do you love wiping tables, sweeping floors, washing clothes, and cooking?

She had long become the laughingstock of everyone.

Some who failed this winter teaching, upon seeing this skinny, dirty girl, suddenly regained boundless confidence and prepared for next year's teaching examination.

As for Yu Yingshu herself, she paid no mind to these strange gazes. She kept her head down, just like the original owner of this body, striving to remain invisible and praying no one would ask her any questions.

But the more she feared something, the more likely it was to happen.

"Yingshu, lift your head," Elder Yan on the platform called her name directly, his voice low and imposing. "Do you think you can live in Vast Mist City for the rest of your life?"

The other attendants immediately and openly fixed their gazes on the girl. However, bound by strict rules, they didn't dare laugh out loud, though the corners of their mouths curled up.

"No."

For this question, Yu Yingshu could still answer immediately.

But she also knew the real difficulty lay ahead.

Sure enough, Elder Yan snorted coldly and said, "Then why did you take no action during this winter teaching?"

"Elder, I did contribute," the girl replied, her eyes darting around, making it obvious to anyone watching that she was lying.

Yet Yu Yingshu wasn't lying.

She was just thinking about how to respond later without violating the System's rules.

"Then tell us, what exactly did you contribute?" Elder Yan pressed further.

Yu Yingshu frowned and clicked her tongue.

This was tricky. She definitely couldn't tell the truth.

Otherwise, not only would her collaboration with Wen Dongyang and helping him become a personal disciple be exposed, but it would also invite more questions.

It might even reveal that she possessed a System or was a Transmigrator.

Unless... she lied and covered it up? But that would mean failing the mission, and all the effort she had put in over the past six days would go to waste!Alright, let's give it a shot! At worst, I'll just forfeit the reward and start over from scratch.

The girl took a deep breath, as if steeling her resolve. But to an outsider, that brief pause seemed more like she was fabricating a lie.

"In order to fill my stomach, I begged on the streets, stole bread from a small shop, and then got chased while running away like crazy. At the very least, that should count as completing half of the winter teaching mission, right?"

By downplaying the important details, she attempted to deceive the System and slip through—she was chased because she lured the enemy, and as for completing half the mission, Wen Dongyang's success was partly thanks to her efforts anyway.

After speaking, she closed her eyes and waited for a moment before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, the System didn’t send any notification of mission failure.

But soon, she heard the Outer Sect disciples around her unable to hold back their laughter.

Even Elder Yan shook his head helplessly, completely misled by the girl’s "truthful" words, which sounded entirely different from their original meaning: "Chased for stealing… really… But, you don’t think filling your stomach counts as completing half the trial, do you? That’s just the basics! You, you… Ah, forget it, everyone, disperse!"

Under Yu Yingshu’s nervous gaze, Elder Yan ultimately didn’t press further with the next question.

Otherwise, she really wouldn’t have known how to spin her story to fool the System.

But… perhaps this first attempt had opened a new door for her?

The System was just a System, after all. Strictly speaking, it was just an AI, a piece of code. No matter how advanced, could it really discern the art of language?