Chapter 781: Chapter 257: Ashes Overturns Destiny

The Paperman Servant guided Yang Weida to Tingyou Pavilion, gesturing for him to wait at the entrance.

Yang Weida showed no expression, hurriedly nodded, but anyone could see his nervousness.

He stood at the door, and after just a few breaths, the Paperman Servant received instructions, voluntarily pushed open the door, and signaled Yang Weida to enter.

Yang Weida swallowed his saliva, tidied his collar, and with a feeling of apprehension and nervousness, stepped quietly into Tingyou Pavilion.

Previously, Tingyou Pavilion was nearly destroyed when Sang Le Youling was attacked and assassinated.

But the White Paper Immortal City immediately put in great effort to help Sang Le Youling rebuild the place.

Because the defensive magic array and other aspects were completely changed, it became even safer than before.

Sang Le Youling examined the male concubines who were being promoted, summoning them one by one here.

Yang Weida entered Tingyou Pavilion, ready to bow and pay respect upon seeing Sang Le Youling.

Sang Le Youling was seated cross-legged behind the desk but didn’t look at him, simply plucking the Jiaowei Zither on the table lightly.

The zither’s sound was clear and sharp, instantly reaching deep into Yang Weida’s heart, where he immediately received a thought from Sang Le Youling, instructing him that there was no need for excessive courtesy, just sit down and listen to the music.

Yang Weida nodded repeatedly and obediently complied.

Sang Le Youling plucked the strings with two fingers, gently playing, the sound of the zither monotonous and empty, as if a deep well with no ripples.

Seven Yellow Jade Bells rang successively.

The first bell sounded like ice cracking, the second like withered leaves falling, the third like dripping springs…

Yang Weida quickly became immersed in the music, unable to extricate himself.

He “saw” the flame of the bronze lamp on the table suddenly twist, transforming into a face of panic.

He “saw” his shadow reflected on the blue bricks suddenly twist and elongate, dancing wildly.

He also “saw” under the cold moon, countless fierce ghosts crawling all over his body, constantly scratching at him, gnawing at his body and soul.

Yang Weida experienced this as if it were real, while the expression of Sang Le Youling became increasingly serious.

All illusions within Yang Weida’s heart dissipated, ultimately turning into a sense of impotent weakness, engulfing his entire being, making him feel utterly exhausted, wanting nothing more than to lie on the bed and sleep for three days and nights without moving.

Sang Le Youling’s fingers trembled slightly, plucking the final note.

Yang Weida again received a prompt, instructing him to leave quietly without making a sound.

Yang Weida harbored many doubts, wishing to know whether he had passed the assessment, but he dared not ask. He bowed his head, retreated, and quietly left Tingyou Pavilion.

Inside Tingyou Pavilion, only Sang Le Youling remained seated cross-legged.

A gentle breeze blew, outside the pavilion, the bamboo forest rustled, making the three thousand strands of her hair slightly move.

Sang Le Youling let out a sigh.

Wen Ruanyu emerged from the back hall: “How was it?”

Since Sang Le Youling was assassinated twice, her safety became a top priority in the city defense. White Paper Immortal City was worried that assassins might mix among the male concubines, so Wen Ruanyu was arranged to protect Sang Le Youling.

Yang Weida was brought into the city by Wen Ruanyu, who acted on Sang Le Youling’s instructions, thus paying particular attention to Yang Weida.

Moreover, Yang Weida had suddenly risen in prominence, ranking first on the list, showcasing his talents.

Sang Le Youling sighed: “He has a straightforward background, indeed a traveling cloud merchant from Flying Cloud Country. This time, coming to the City Lord’s Mansion, he volunteered to be a male concubine, hoping to leverage this identity to become a favored person.”

Wen Ruanyu nodded: “Friend or foe, that’s not key. The key is whether he is the crucial person you foresaw in divination, the savior for White Paper Immortal City to pass through the Ghost Tide this time?”

Sang Le Youling shook her head slightly: “Cannot be determined.”

“However, his Yang Energy is indeed abundant, truly deserving the first place among the current male concubines.”

Wen Ruanyu asked: “Compared to Jin Yangzi?”

Sang Le Youling said: “Jin Yangzi is the true inheritance of the Seven Feathers Alliance, also has the incomplete bloodline of the Three-legged Golden Crow himself, Yang Weida cannot compare.”

Wen Ruanyu pondered: “From my point of view, if Yang Weida is indeed this key figure, he is most likely the new master of the Golden Swallow Fork. Only by using the Golden Swallow Fork can one gush out massive Yang Energy, helping Lord City Lord to neutralize enough Yin Qi.”

“Yang Weida is ultimately just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, after much consideration, this is the most likely way he could help our White Paper Immortal City.”

Sang Le Youling: “Given the current conditions, your speculation is most likely. But divination and reality often aren’t that close.”

“I still cannot confirm that Yang Weida is the key savior.”

“Thus, preserving more hope, allowing more possibilities to appear, to avoid missing the true key figure.”

Wen Ruanyu nodded, fully agreeing with Sang Le Youling’s words.

Cangyang Villa.

Upon returning, Yang Weida was immediately bombarded with questions.

Everyone was eager to learn the details of Sang Le Youling’s assessment process to facilitate their own passage through the examination.

Yang Weida himself did not know the exact result. Faced with inquiries, he thumped his chest confidently, claiming he had passed without difficulty.

His words mixed truth and falsehood, emphasizing the miraculous uses of his own divine medicine.

The male concubines wanting to probe the inside information would at least need to buy a box of divine medicine from him.

“Whether or not I passed, just this big sale alone ensures that my trip to White Paper Immortal City was absolutely not in vain!” Yang Weida secured his profits, feeling much more at ease.

Ning Zhuo did not follow the crowd.

For him, he had no interest whatsoever in advancing to the three academies.