Chapter 8: Worthless

Everyone seated here wished for her to embarrass herself. If she were to die of shame because of their insults, it would only serve their malicious intent all the more!

But the more they sought to use public opinion to crush me, the more determined I am not to let them have their way!

Yet, her casual demeanor captivated many eyes.

Especially Yun Yi in the audience, who fixed his gaze on Luo Qingyao on stage for a long moment. A sly smile curled at the corner of his lips. “Well done, girl!”

Even Feng Qingjue on stage, usually cold and indifferent, showed a crack in his gaze. This girl was truly extraordinary!

No wonder the intelligence reports said Yun Yi cared deeply about her...

Meanwhile, beside him, Jade Dragonfly’s cold face flashed with a swift, elusive disdain. A waste is a waste—she must have been terrified!

At that moment, she resolutely decided she would never accept Luo Qingyao as her disciple!

Just then, Queen Wen Yue suddenly stood and raised her hands, signaling for silence.

Soon, the crowd quieted.

Wen Yue, pleased with the authority her presence commanded, cleared her throat and spoke solemnly, “Everyone knows that Luo Qingyao was originally appointed by the previous head of the Jade Pure Palace as the new disciple for the next master. But for fairness, Palace Master Jade Dragonfly has set a precedent and arranged a tournament to select a disciple anew.

The final victor will face Luo Qingyao in a duel; whoever wins will become the new disciple of the palace master!”

As Wen Yue spoke, she cast an affectionate glance at her young daughter, then continued, “After three days of trials, Ruo Shui lived up to expectations, defeating all challengers and becoming the final contender to face Luo Qingyao!”

No sooner had Wen Yue finished than the crowd erupted again, shouting, “The princess will win! The princess will win! Defeat that waste and expel her from Lanxi Kingdom!”

“Waste? You can’t even cultivate. What right do you have to compete with our princess? Just get off the stage and save us all the embarrassment!”

“Exactly, go wherever you find comfort! You want to join Jade Pure Palace, one of the three great powers of the world? You should take a good look at yourself first! Get lost! Get lost!”

Clearly, in their eyes, the beautiful and powerful princess must become the disciple of Jade Pure Palace. As for Luo Qingyao, born without a spiritual root and deemed useless, how could she ever be compared to the princess?

Luo Qingyao remained standing on the stage, silent and unmoving, like a statue carved from stone.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to move or speak, but just as she was about to say something, Jade Dragonfly had secretly intervened, rendering her unable to move or utter a word. She could only stand there.

A cold laugh echoed silently in her heart. Freezing her at this moment must mean they were about to announce the results. They claimed fairness in the competition, yet they had stripped her of even the right to compete!

This was the secret pact between Jade Dragonfly, Palace Master of Jade Pure Palace, and Queen Wen Yue of Lanxi Kingdom.

Together, one overt, one covert, they humiliated her and even sought to destroy her.

Jade Dragonfly was especially detestable, pulling all the strings behind the scenes!

At last, the crowd fell silent once more. Wen Yue deliberately wore a facade of benevolence and justice as she looked at Luo Qingyao, speaking gently, “Young Luo Qingyao, on the basis of fairness and voluntary choice, you now have two options.

First, to compete against Ruo Shui for the sole disciple position of Jade Pure Palace; second, to forgo the opportunity altogether. What is your choice?”

Frozen and powerless, Luo Qingyao could do nothing but inwardly sneer at the farce before her.