Translator: AnubisTL
Shan Feier looked skeptical but still smiled and said, "I wish the Sunset Glow Sect success in the grand examination. Thank you, Sect Leader Gu, for taking the time to be interviewed by Wind Cloud Pavilion."
Just as Shan Feier was about to put away the Image Stone and return to submit her work, a series of hurried footsteps echoed.
"Ah—Boss Gu, why didn't you call me when you were eating?!"
Thud, thud, thud—
A large, obese man, much taller and bulkier than the average person, waddled over with his belly protruding. He plopped down on a chair, grabbed two roasted beast legs from the table, and stuffed them into his mouth, bones and all.
Shan Feier was stunned, but what shocked her even more was A Fei's strength.
She instinctively sensed that the Spiritual Power within A Fei was like a surging ocean, endless and overwhelming, akin to a blinding, radiant sun.
Although he was only at the ninth level of the Innate Realm, his strength surpassed any peak Innate Realm cultivator Shan Feier had ever seen.
In an instant, she had an epiphany: the unreliable sect leader wasn't worth interviewing, but this fat man certainly was.
"Excuse me... may I interview you?" she asked timidly, directing her question at A Fei.
"As long as it doesn't interfere with my eating, sure," A Fei replied with a simple, honest tone.
"Are you also a disciple of the Sunset Glow Sect?"
"Isn't it obvious? You're even dumber than me!" A Fei spoke bluntly, as always.
Shan Feier felt a bit awkward but adjusted her mindset and continued, "What are your expectations for this grand examination?"
"I don't have any personal expectations, but Boss Gu told me to try to win the top spot in the second Innate Realm examination while ensuring all our Sunset Glow Sect disciples pass. That's putting a lot of pressure on me," A Fei muttered.
Shan Feier's face darkened. She had thought that a genius like A Fei would speak more sensibly, but it turned out he was just as unreliable as Sect Leader Gu, if not more arrogant.
Not only did he aim to win the top spot, but he also wanted to bring others along with him. Even the prodigies of the Blazing Flame Sect wouldn't dare say such things.
In that moment, she lost all interest.
Just then, the group of elderly cultivators came down. They approached Gu Feng, bowed respectfully, and then sat down to feast heartily.
Shan Feier quickly turned the Image Stone's lens toward them.
"Hahaha, breaking through to the Spirit Nurturing Realm cost the sect leader eight Innate Realm-Breaking Pills. I must perform well to bring glory to the Sunset Glow Sect and ease the sect leader's burden in securing the top spot!"
"Your shovel probably won't cut it. If anyone can help the sect leader, it's my hammer!"
"See this white silk? It's the strongest among us—life and death are decided by it!"
"What's the use of white silk? It's only good for wiping your ass."
"You two are a perfect match—one with a bucket, the other with white silk. Diarrhea wouldn't even require toilet paper!"
"..."
The old men drank, ate, and laughed. When they got excited, they even showcased their Spirit Nurturing abilities.
Shan Feier was dumbfounded. What kind of Spirit Nurturing was this? They looked more like janitors than cultivators. It seemed they weren't here for the examination but to put on a comedy show!
She thought to herself, recorded for a while longer, thanked Gu Feng, and quietly left.
When she returned to the gathering place of the Wind Cloud Pavilion cultivators, Shan Feier was met with a barrage of scolding as soon as she stepped into the room.
"Where the hell have you been? Only coming back now?" The Elder scolded mercilessly, "If you don't want to work, just leave. Our elite group won't miss you one bit!"
"I was just late coming back from an interview," Shan Feier replied with an awkward smile, seemingly unfazed by the scolding, as if she was used to it.
"Which sect did you interview? Did you get any useful information?" The Elder asked expressionlessly, then immediately waved his hand, "Yours can wait. Let's see what the others have gathered first."
The elite group of Wind Cloud Pavilion consisted of forty-eight cultivators.
Except for Shan Feier, everyone else looked spirited as they took out their Image Stones and played the footage from today's interviews.
"Not bad. Although you didn't manage to interview Yan Youlong, the prodigy of Blazing Light Sect, you got his junior brother. This interview is quite good... Yan Youlong is widely recognized as the top contender for the Spirit Nurturing examination... I'm sure everyone will be interested. The sales won't be bad!"
The Elder nodded in satisfaction and handed the Image Stone back. The others cast envious glances at the female cultivator.
Shan Feier pursed her lips and muttered, "An interview conducted in a room? What a great place!"
Hearing this, the female cultivator's face darkened, and the Elder shot Shan Feier a glare. "Let's all congratulate Liu Li for her excellent interview. A round of applause!"
Next, everyone presented their decent works. Shan Feier looked down on the methods these people used to get their interviews, but she couldn't help feeling envious.
Thinking about her own interview, she felt a headache coming on. The situation with Sunset Glow Sect was just too absurd, and she was too embarrassed to bring it up.
"Shan Feier, are you deaf? I told you to take out your Image Stone. Why are you standing there like a log?" Seeing Shan Feier standing there in a daze, the Elder roared.
"I... I lost my Image Stone," Shan Feier hesitated, still lacking the courage to present her interview with Sunset Glow Sect.
"Why don't you lose yourself while you're at it?" The Elder bellowed, "I've put up with you for a long time, three years, a full three years!" Do you know how I've survived these three years?
Always batting your eyes, putting on that cute act, knowing nothing when asked, and not gathering any useful information. But your appetite? That's another story..."
"I only eat once every three days..." Shan Feier said weakly, "Don't worry, Elder. I've eaten today, so I won't waste the group's food for the next three days."
"Still talking back? Either find your Image Stone or pack up and leave!" The Elder glared at Shan Feier, issuing his final ultimatum.
"Ah— Elder, it turns out I didn't lose my Image Stone. It has my interview with Sunset Glow Sect on it."
Faced with the choice of staying or leaving, pride no longer mattered. Shan Feier's eyes lit up, and she handed over the Image Stone with a smile.
Then she covered her eyes, not daring to watch what would happen next.
The Elder shot her a glare and opened the Image Stone, speaking earnestly, "Feier, you really need to get your act together. Keeping you in this group is putting a lot of pressure on me!
Sunset Glow Sect? What kind of sect is that? Never heard of it."
As the footage played, laughter erupted in the room.
At first, the Elder chuckled along, but as it went on, his smile turned excited, and his eyes began to shine.
"Shan Feier!!"
"Elder, please don't drive me away. I'll immediately go and find new interviewees overnight. This time, I'll definitely choose top-tier sects, the powerful ones everyone has heard of," Shan Feier thought the Elder was going to expel her and hurriedly rushed towards the door.
"Come back! Who said anything about driving you away?" The Elder's face darkened.
"This interview... it's very good, very sensational!"
What?
The Elder praised me?
Shan Feier was utterly bewildered.
"Young Sect Leader... outrageous remarks... five hundred elderly cultivators breaking through to the Spirit Nurturing Realm with the Innate Realm-Breaking Pill... the laughable Spirit Nurturing... everything, everything has the elements of a hit!
Cultivators are used to seeing prodigies and powerful sects. Occasionally, watching such a small sect that seeks attention can be a refreshing change!" The Elder's eyes grew brighter.
Finally, he shouted towards the door.
"Someone, come here! Take this Image Stone, tidy up the footage a bit, make a hundred thousand copies, and start selling them tomorrow morning!"
"Elder, how should we title it?"
"Think for yourself! Make it as exaggerated as possible, as outrageous as possible, as eye-catching as possible! Do I need to teach you?"
"Yes!"
...
The next day!
Just as the sky was beginning to lighten, with few cultivators on the streets, the Wind Cloud Pavilion dispatched hundreds of hired children, carrying the overnight copied Image Stones, running through the streets of Tranquil Sky City.
"Wind Cloud Pavilion's latest release, 'The Number One Sect in Cloud Prefecture, Unveiling the Mysteries of the Sunset Glow Sect!'"
"'The Sunset Glow Sect Master Shouts Across the Great Chu Dynasty, "Are You All Here to Compete for Second Place?"'"
"'Sect Leader Gu Smiles Enchantingly, Declaring the Sunset Glow Sect Has Already Secured Two Top Spots in the Exams!'"
"'One of Sect Leader Gu's Classic Quotes: None of This Year's Candidates Are a Match, All of You Here Are Trash!'"
"'Another Classic Quote from Sect Leader Gu: The Strength of Each Sect Is Impressive, the Competition for Second Place Will Be Fierce!'"
"..."
It must be said, the Wind Cloud Pavilion's skill in crafting titles is truly remarkable.
Once this Image Stone was released, even with a price as high as two thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones per copy, it couldn't withstand the tide of curiosity.
It was frantically snatched up!
A hundred thousand copies sold out in just one hour, forcing the Wind Cloud Pavilion to print more like crazy.
Cultivators gathered together, watching, mocking, and cursing incessantly!
The Sunset Glow Sect became famous, and Gu Feng became famous too!
(End of the Chapter)
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