SHOCKING VENOMOUS CONSORT: FRIVOLOUS MISS
18. The Harassment of a Dirty Man

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"Oh, Chuxi, you've arrived." Ling Yuanhong smiled and tried to sound relaxed after wearyly passing through the crowded crowd. “Why are you wearing a hat? Ah, that's true. It's better for you to wear a hat. If other people see your face, it might not be a good thing.”

Ling Chuxi looked at Ling Yuanhong in confusion. Either his brain was damaged due to nature or his brain was damaged after being beaten by him. Since he was now licking it head-on, he must have recognized his voice that night. Ahah! Ling Chuxi realized that it was not brain damage, but rather the awakening of Ling Yuanhong's lustful tendencies. Although he had beaten her viciously and shaved her hair, he did not hold a grudge against her as he was struck by her newly recovered face. He remembered Aunt Wang telling him that Ling Yuanhong had come looking for him when he was not home, but he had not paid any attention to this matter in particular.

"Have you eaten, Chuxi? You'll participate in the assessment later, won't you? Me either. If we both graduate, we can attend White Stone Academy together,” Ling Yuanhong said as he grinned and combed her short hair.

Ling Chuxi was fine and completely speechless. Is Ling Yuanhong an idiot? He seemed to have forgotten how cruel and evil he had been to her in the past when he mercilessly bullied her. Now he was casually trying to flatter and become a scalper. Is this not disgusting? Is this not despicable? Isn't this ridiculous? Even if Ling Chuxi considered accepting the pig invitation, ah, no, ptui, ptui, ptui, ptui. Even if coming to Ling Chuxi had to accept Little White's seduction that was in her arms, that day would never come when she would bow low enough to accept Ling Yuanhong, the dirty bastard!

Ling Chuxi was about to reject Ling Yuanhong, when someone else stepped between them. Ling Yuanhong turned to give a good scolding to the person for interrupting but froze as he found himself staring at Ling Yichen's handsome poker face. Ling Yuanhong was stunned and could only lower his head and move aside gloomily.

"thank you. A buzzing fly sucks.” Ling Chuxi thanked him like that.

“Sama-sama,” replied Ling Yichen briefly with her baritone voice.

Ling Yuanhong was still observing them from afar. There was a lot of anger and anxiety in him because he knew now there was no hope for him to gain Ling Chuxi's affection. Ling Yichen must have seen Ling Chuxi's amazing face and attached herself to it. Whether it was in terms of appearance or ability, Ling Yuanhong knew he was no match for Ling Yichen. He could only look on reluctantly.

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The annual appraisal ceremony this year is just as important as ever. Assessing one's innate talent was crucial to understanding one's Ocean of Qi potential to see if cultivation was something that an individual should pursue. The ability to cultivate Battle Qi was not the only requirement required to pass the assessment. Although some could develop Battle Qi, they might only be able to reach Battle Qi Level 1.2 or 3 for as long as they lived.

The correlation between the longevity of one's cultivation journey and one's innate talent is inseparable. The same old principle of the strong preying on the weak also applies here. Because the Ling clan would invest energy and resources to help those with strong innate talents advance along the path of cultivation, the, there was a need to assess who among them had such talent from the very beginning.

Those who did not pass the assessment would most likely stagnate along their cultivation journey despite all the support the clan could provide. Instead of these events, the clan will encourage them to continue supporting the clan in other affairs by encouraging the individual to find their talent in areas other than cultivation, such as business or management.

Bong! Bong! Bong!

Drum sounded three times.

The whole page was silent.

The five elders of the Ling clan sitting on each of the red wooden chairs lined up on the stage stood as soon as the drums sounded. The First Elder stepped forward to speak to the quiet and excited crowd. He nodded lightly and began to speak loudly and clearly, “The annual appraisal ceremony is here once again. Whatever the outcome, the important thing to remember is that all of you are an important part of the future of the Ling family. You are our pillar. Our mission and glory is to build and prosper the Ling family together!” The words of the First Elder managed to reach every member of the crowd. Clearly, he had used Battle Qi as he spoke.

Comparing the number of participants who passed during the annual appraisal ceremony had always been a method of refined competition between the main family clans of Shi Qu—Lings City, Qins, and Luos. It was a source of additional pressure for the Ling elders.

“The ceremony has already begun. Participating disciples, please step on stage one by one to enter your Battle Qi and add to your Qi Sea.” The First Elder gestured with his hand to indicate the official start of the ceremony.

The stone monument assessed the Qi Sea of each participant. If the monument shines when participants enter their Battle Qi, it signifies that the innate talent possessed by the person is strong enough for them to cultivate. The benchmark for measuring innate talent levels depends on the brightness of the light emitted from the — monument the brighter the light, the higher the amount of innate talent one has.

The deafening drumbeat boomed through the ancestral courtyard once again. Before the ceremony can proceed any further, there is a disturbance. Someone ran frantically through the gate while shouting. “First Elder! First Elder! Oh, this is bad, this is bad!”

The surprised crowd turned to look at the running figure. Some elders frowned at this shrill look during such a formal process. Who makes a fuss instead of behaving well?

“Ling Qiao's. How is your current behavior considered appropriate?” snapped the First Elder as soon as he recognized the troublemaker.

“First Elder, this is very bad. The Qin and Luo families both had many people pass their appraisals. Three for Qin, and four for Luo!” shouted Linq Qiao dejectedly. It is unclear if the intention is for everyone on the page to hear this message, but the volume ensures they do.

The courtyard exploded in a frenzy of whispers and discussions. The expressions on the faces of the participating disciples darkened.

The Second Elder was very upset, blood drained from his face. How dare this stupid Ling Qiao come here to make a fuss right before the ceremony started? This could only have a severe impact on the morale of the Ling clan. Was he stupid, or was he ordered to do so?

“Ling Qiao! What are you shouting blindly about that!” Raung the First Elder. His voice rang out all over the courtyard as loud as a drum. “How do you know the exact number of people who graduated in each family? Even if you do, it's none of our business. After all, the Ling family would stand tall. Our family legacy lives on for a hundred years with our never-ending dignity. Even if fewer of our disciples pass the assessment compared to other clans, it does not signal defeat for us. The Ling clan will be able to rise again and reclaim our glory!” The First Elder had managed to reprimand Ling Qiao and give a spirit awakening speech to all the disciples of the Ling clan at the same time.

Ling Qiao lowered his head and rushed into a corner.

The words of the First Elder managed to calm the crowd. The participants who were being assessed still felt a burdensome pressure growing in their hearts, even though the looming shadow had been dissolved by the speech.

The Second Elder was furious. He had a worse perspective than Ling Qiao now. It was bad enough that Ling Qiao was someone who did nothing but eat more than satiety and lazing around other than cunning and greedy. But for him to come running and shout nonsense at the time of this ceremony was definitely not a coincidence.

"Let's start the ceremony!" The First Elder announced with a commanding attitude. The drum started to sound.

There was silence in the courtyard. Looking at the atmosphere that was very much different from before, Ling Qiao's disturbing explosion still impacted the crowd.

Ling Chuxi stood to the side, calmly cradling Little White. He waited for the Second Elder to announce the order of the participants according to the list of names. As expected, he was the last to be judged.