Xu Zimo approached the mission hall, where the young man in charge was momentarily taken aback before hastily placing a pile of wooden plaques on the table for Xu Zimo to choose from.
Observing Little Gui’s overbearing demeanor beside him, Xu Zimo didn't intervene. Instead, he smiled and requested, "Could you show me some of the unrated missions?"
In the True Martial Sacred Ground, missions posted by outsiders sometimes had unknown levels of danger, even to the issuers themselves. Such tasks were categorized as unrated. Disciples who undertook these missions would receive rewards based on the difficulty upon completion.
The young man nodded and produced another stack of wooden plaques, cautioning, "Senior Brother Xu, the danger levels of these tasks are uncertain. Please choose carefully."
Xu Zimo nodded with a smile, sifted through them, and selected one.
The chosen mission detailed that the household of Lord Hu in Ten-Mile Town had been experiencing hauntings recently and sought skilled martial artists to capture the malevolent spirit.
With the plaque in hand, Xu Zimo departed the mission hall. On the way, Lin Ruhu curiously asked, "Brother Zimo, do ghosts truly exist in this world?"
Xu Zimo chuckled and replied, "That depends on your definition of 'ghost.' Naturally occurring ones don't exist, but those created by humans do."
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the True Martial Sacred Ground, Vice-Lord Xu Qingshan and the seven Grand Grand Elders convened.
"Vice-Lord, I believe we should allocate more resources," Sixth Grand Elder Xiao Yuexuan proposed. "Xiao'er has inherited the Empress's legacy and possesses the Soaring Immortal Physique. She is undoubtedly qualified to vie for Heaven’s Will. Perhaps, in this era, our sect might witness the rise of another Empress."
"Sixth Grand Elder, you're letting emotions cloud your judgment," the First Grand Grand Elder interjected. "The Heaven’s Will isn't so easily contested. Moreover, Baili Xiao has only recently joined our sect and lacks a sense of belonging."
"Then what do you suggest?" Xiao Yuexuan inquired coolly.
"Yu'er is the most talented among our current generation, with a Sovereign-aptitude evident to all," the First Grand Grand Elder stated. "He was raised under our watchful eyes, making him a reliable candidate for cultivation."
"I believe my disciple, Xiao Xinghe, is also a strong contender," the Second Grand Grand Elder chimed in.
"Xiao Xinghe is unsuitable. Rumors suggest he frequently spies on female disciples bathing, indicating questionable character," the First Grand Elder retorted with a frown.
The Second Grand Elder fell silent, contemplating defending his disciple.
He was tempted to confess, "I'm the one who peeps at the female disciples bathing; it has nothing to do with my disciple." However, fearing repercussions in his later years, he reconsidered. After all, as the saying goes, "Once a teacher, always a father." Moreover, debts incurred by the father are repaid by the son.
With this rationale, the Second Grand Grand Elder felt more at ease, showing no remorse for implicating his disciple.
"What is your opinion, Seventh Grand Grand Elder?" Xu Qingshan asked, turning to the quietly seated man in the corner.
The Seventh Grand Grand Elder exuded a scholarly aura, resembling a learned gentleman. Dressed in a gray robe with his hair tied in a topknot, he lacked any imposing presence, appearing as an ordinary teacher.
The Seventh Grand Grand Elder smiled and responded, "I find Baili Xiao's talent impressive. If she passes further assessments, she deserves significant cultivation. I've heard that the Divine Sun Sacred Ground has already selected their Holy Son and Holy Daughter, preparing them to compete for the Heaven’s Will. We shouldn't fall behind."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuexuan smiled and remarked, "Seventh Grand Grand Elder, your disciples, the Five Sons of Myriad Arrays, are also exceptionally gifted, not inferior to Xiao'er."
"They are not suitable," the Seventh Grand Elder replied, shaking his head without elaborating.
"The selection of the Holy Son and Holy Daughter must be approached with utmost care," Xu Qingshan mused. "Since we can't reach a consensus, let's organize a competition!"
"I disagree," Xiao Yuexuan objected. "Xiao'er has only recently begun her martial cultivation; such a contest would be unfair to her."
"Sixth Grand Elder, fairness is a relative concept," Xu Qingshan countered. "Moreover, Baili Xiao has inherited the Grand Empress' legacy; she might not be at a disadvantage. I'm not suggesting an immediate competition. In six months, our sect will host the Seven Sacred Grounds Tournament. We can base our selection of the Holy Son and Holy Daughter on the results of that event. After all, we must consider multiple factors, not just innate talent."
Realizing that the competition was six months away, Xiao Yuexuan deemed the timeframe reasonable and agreed.
"I have no objections," the other elders concurred.
After the meeting, Xu Qingshan summoned Xu Zimo to Green Mountain.
"What are your thoughts on the girl named Baili Xiao?" Xu Qingshan inquired.
"She's unremarkable," Xu Zimo replied, understanding his father's implication.
"I've discussed with the Sixth Grand Elder, and we've decided to betroth her to you," Xu Qingshan stated after a brief pause.
"As expected," Xu Zimo mused, recognizing the familiar pattern from his previous life.
In his past life, his first encounter with Baili Xiao was when she inherited the Grand Empress's legacy. He was captivated by her beauty, demeanor, and talent. When his father proposed their engagement, he was overjoyed. Baili Xiao agreed without objection, making everything seem natural.
However, Xu Zimo later realized he was merely a pawn in her game. He became infatuated, constantly hovering around her, while she remained indifferent. Whenever he felt disheartened and considered giving up, Baili Xiao would offer a glimmer of hope, reigniting his feelings.
She manipulated him effortlessly. Being the niece of the Sixth Grand Elder and Xu Zimo's fiancée, she leveraged Xu Qingshan's influence to her advantage. She utilized the sect's resources to strengthen herself.
Once she achieved her goals, she abruptly ended their engagement and ran back to her beloved Chu Yang.
The True Martial Sacred Ground was merely a stepping stone in her ambitious journey. No one anticipated that a girl from a humble village would harbor such grand aspirations.
Reflecting on his bleak past life, Xu Zimo couldn't help but smile wryly.
"She's not my type," Xu Zimo responded, returning to the present.
"Then what is your type?" Xu Qingshan asked.
"I prefer someone who can sing, dance, rap, and play basketball," Xu Zimo replied confidently.