Chapter Ninety-Three: The White-bearded Old Man

A gust of wind swept through, carrying away the self-recommendation letter Yulanxing had prepared for Yunsi. It was peculiar how one moment the weather was clear and sunny, but the next moment, strong winds howled accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder.

Yunsi was too preoccupied with retrieving the blown-away letter to pay attention to the sudden change in weather.

In the midst of the crowd, a figure in blue darted about like a lost butterfly.

Yunsi was accustomed to wearing men's clothing in her daily life, always clad in plain monk robes. Even her lustrous black hair had to be reluctantly coiled up and secured with a peach wood hairpin, making her a convincing young lad.

However, today, Yulanxing had put considerable effort into finding her a set of women's clothing to ensure Yunsi could seamlessly enter the Celestial Pavilion. Despite her occasional appearances disguised as a young man, with her slightly delicate features, she could still pass for a pretty boy.

Unfortunately, Yulanxing's thoughtful gesture ended up causing Yunsi a fair bit of trouble. Unaccustomed to wearing women's attire, she struggled to control the flowing skirt. In her pursuit of the recommendation letter, she accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress and tumbled to the ground amidst the crowd.

As Yunsi picked herself up, she found the culprit, the self-recommendation letter, silently lying on the ground in front of her.

Looking up, Yunsi saw the dark clouds dispersing and the sun shining brightly once more.

"Might there be a celestial being here performing such marvelous feats, conjuring clouds and rain?" Yunsi muttered, momentarily dazed.

A sudden darkness descended, blocking out the sunlight from above. Yunsi followed the obstruction with her gaze and saw a white-bearded old man.

The old man gazed up at the sky, stroking his beard as he exclaimed, "This ability to summon clouds and rain is truly remarkable!"

As if sensing Yunsi's gaze, he glanced down and caught sight of the young girl lying on the ground, looking up at him. With just a single glance, he redirected his gaze elsewhere.

Picking up the piece of paper from the ground, the old man examined it closely, occasionally casting his eyes towards Yunsi with a hint of surprise.

Seemingly lost in thought, the old man suddenly spoke up, "You're the extraordinary young talent described here? Capable of controlling fire and water at the age of three, and summoning clouds and rain at eight? Have you already attained the status of an immortal?"

What? Did Yulanxing write that? He must be overestimating me by far!

Yunsi was equally astonished. Controlling fire and water at three, summoning clouds and rain at eight? That's just absurd!

Back then, it took Yunsi half a year to even master a simple water-manipulating technique. As for summoning clouds and rain, she wasn't even close to having the qualifications to learn such advanced skills based on her foundation alone.

Yunsi chuckled awkwardly. "Yes, that's me..."

"It doesn't seem like it at all," the white-bearded old man pinched his beard and scrutinized Yunsi from head to toe, before falling into contemplation once again.

"Back in my day, I was considered one of the most outstanding cultivators, yet I've never heard of anyone with such remarkable talent," the old man mused.

Yunsi scratched her head sheepishly, forcing a smile. "I wouldn't believe it either if I were you."

"It's Master Wen! Master Wen is here!"

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, and all eyes turned towards the source of the commotion. The scene began to spiral out of control as the aspiring students, eager for selection, surged forward like hungry wolves. Each one showcased their unique abilities, hoping to catch Master Wen's attention, believing it to be their chance at a life of luxury and privilege within the Celestial Pavilion.

It was said that as long as one possessed exceptional talent, Master Wen would recruit them into his ranks, granting them boundless wealth and status, along with access to inexhaustible elixirs. This was the ultimate aspiration for those gathered there.