Elder Mie Yu returned to his quarters and went to the room where Song Yan Ning and Qin Yushen were staying.
He closed the door, set up an Array Formation Restriction, and sat down next to Song Yan Ning and Qin Yushen. "Young Prince, what should I do next?"
Song Yan Ning was about to speak when she realized that someone had tampered with the Array Formation Restriction she had set up. She projected her Divine Sense and saw Xu Mingyue outside the door.
She stood up, went to the door, and opened it. "Is there something you need?"
Xu Mingyue nodded, "May I come in?"
Song Yan Ning stepped aside to let Xu Mingyue enter the room.
After closing the door and resetting the restriction, Song Yan Ning walked over to the table and sat down.
"I have something for you," Xu Mingyue said, obviously having wrestled with the decision for a long time before deciding to approach Song Yan Ning and the others.
The three of them looked at Xu Mingyue, waiting for her to produce the item.
Xu Mingyue took out a sheepskin scroll and handed it to Song Yan Ning. "This is a map of the Tianyu Secret Realm, left to us by our parents." Originally, she had planned to go to the Tianyu Secret Realm with her brother, but their lack of strength and absence of a sect’s backing made the journey impossible. Now that her brother had died, she was even less able to go on her own. Grateful to Song Yan Ning for her kindness, she decided to give the map to her.
Song Yan Ning shook his head. "Since it was left by your parents, you should keep it." They had to head to the Extreme Ice North Domain to rescue someone first, and it was uncertain whether they would return.
Xu Mingyue placed the map in front of Song Yan Ning. "Please, just take it. If it weren’t for you saving me, I would be dead." With her current capabilities, keeping the map was pointless.
Song Yan Ning took the map, made a copy, and then handed the original back to Xu Mingyue. "I’ve made a copy, and I’m giving the original back to you." Since it was left by Xu Mingyue’s parents, it must hold great sentimental value to her.
Xu Mingyue nodded, took the map back, and put it away. "Can we become friends?" Having always relied only on her brother, she had never made any friends.
"Of course," Song Yan Ning nodded. Her impression of Xu Mingyue was favorable.
"Thank you! You’re my first friends," Xu Mingyue joyfully said.
Song Yan Ning smiled.
Xu Mingyue stood up. "I won’t disturb you any further. I wish you success in joining the sect tomorrow." She had no hope of doing so herself; aside from a basic understanding of arrays, she knew little else, and her Spirit Root was a Mixed Spiritual Root.
"Wait a moment," Song Yan Ning suddenly called out, stopping Xu Mingyue.
Xu Mingyue looked at Song Yan Ning.
"Which are you more skilled in? Array, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, or talisman refining?" Song Yan Ning asked. She wanted to help Xu Mingyue, who now had no relatives. If Xu Mingyue could stay at the Tianyi Gate, she would have a place to rely on.
"I am a Second-level Array Master," Xu Mingyue said, somewhat embarrassed.
Song Yan Ning nodded, already forming a plan in her mind.
The next morning, everyone arrived early at the square.
An elder stepped forward, scanned the crowd, and said, "Today is the day you will be evaluated for potential entry as disciples of Tianyi Gate. Please first choose the area of your skill assessment. Those choosing Array, stand in that yellow area; Alchemy, in the green area; Artifact Refining, in the white area; and talisman refining, in the remaining red area."
The crowd glanced around and then moved toward the areas of their chosen disciplines.
Xu Mingyue saw Song Yan Ning head toward the yellow area and paused, surprised. She hadn’t expected Song Yan Ning to choose Array too.