Chapter 181
Jian Yunlan stepped up to the seedling.
One… two… three…
Three full seconds passed.
The seedling did nothing.
It might as well have been dead.
Everyone, including Jian Yunlan: “?”
By now, even without explanation, the candidates had deduced that Forgetfulness’ growth pattern reflected a person’s character, talents, and destiny.
In short: The plant mirrored the person.
Yet for every previous candidate—whether their plant flourished or withered—results appeared within three seconds.
This time, however, the seedling remained frozen, as if paused.
An awkward silence smothered the hall.
Even the unflappable pavilion masters furrowed their brows. The hot-tempered Sundering Blade Pavilion Master scowled and snapped:
“Is Forgetfulness malfunctioning? Someone check it.”
Attendants nodded and moved forward—
Then chaos erupted.
“Wait!” The Sundering Blade Pavilion Master halted them, pointing. “Look.”
Everyone held their breath.
In the blink of an eye, the seedling began to grow.
Its stem shot upward, sprouting vines that twisted and tangled—until, before everyone’s eyes, they wove into…
…a mouth.
A drooling mouth.
Everyone: “???”
While most were still baffled, the Bright Void Pavilion Master’s eyes snapped open. “Trouble—it’s going to attack the candidate.”
Forgetfulness was known for its gentle nature—never had it attacked anyone, no matter how vile the candidate.
The other three pavilion masters were skeptical—until the vine-woven mouth lunged straight for Jian Yunlan!
He stood too close. Even the swiftest among them couldn’t intervene in time.
The crowd could only mourn silently as the gaping maw descended upon the seemingly defenseless Jian Yunlan.
Crunch—
A crisp sound rang out.
Many shut their eyes, bracing for gore. When they dared to look again, they saw:
The plant’s mouth had pecked open Jian Yunlan’s travel pack.
Everyone: “HUH???”
The pack was large—stuffed with roujiamo—so it took several pecks to tear it open.
The vine-mouth happily rummaged inside before triumphantly fishing out a roujiamo. It settled beside Jian Yunlan, devouring the snack with blissful relish.
“…” The scene was beyond bizarre.
After a stunned silence, the hall erupted.
Li Fugui—the only one who understood—was being led away by a Pill Spirit attendant but kept glancing back, swallowing hard at the sight of the roujiamo.
The candidates buzzed with theories:
“What does this mean? I thought Forgetfulness reflected a person’s character and destiny?”
“No idea. But anomalies signal danger—let’s see what the pavilion masters decide.”
“Those chosen by the pavilions had lush, thriving plants. This one’s hopeless.”
After all, the pavilion masters’ verdicts were final. Even if Forgetfulness reacted uniquely, no selection meant no future.
And this candidate’s plant wasn’t just odd—it was feral, lunging like a starving ghost.
Surely no pavilion would want him.
Then someone sniffed the air.
“Wait…”
“Do you smell that? What is that plant eating?”
“Why… why does it smell so good?”
The irresistible aroma soon had everyone’s eyes locking onto Forgetfulness’ mouth.
The scent… was coming from there?!
*
Meanwhile, on the high platforms…
The pavilion masters sat far enough to observe impartially—so the roujiamo’s fragrance hadn’t reached them yet.
They exchanged puzzled glances, weighing their options.
This was unusual.
The head attendant, mistaking the crowd’s murmurs for impatience, asked cautiously:
“Have the four pavilion masters reached a decision?”
After a long pause, the Jade Mist Pavilion Master shook her head first.
A true swordsman’s potential was unmistakable—this candidate had none.
Soon, the Bright Void and Sundering Blade Pavilion Masters also declined. Jian Yunlan didn’t fit their disciplines.
The Pill Spirit Pavilion Master hesitated.
Forgetfulness’ reaction suggested unconventional talent—perhaps for alchemy. But the risks were too high…
Finally, he too shook his head.
All four pavilions had rejected him.
The head attendant sighed inwardly. Those spurned by all masters could only scrub floors in the sect—their cultivation dreams shattered.
He raised his token to announce the verdict.
On the platforms, the masters chatted idly:
“Boring. No decent candidates today. I’m craving braised pork knuckles,” the Sundering Blade Pavilion Master yawned, slouching in her chair.
Though long past needing food, her cultivation embraced worldly desires—she ate whatever she pleased.
The others disapproved but stayed silent.
“Bad luck for that boy. If the Immortal Lord were here, he might’ve taken him in out of curiosity,” the Pill Spirit Pavilion Master chuckled, patting his belly. “I’m too old to nurture eccentric youths.”
“Few are worthy of the Immortal Lord’s notice,” the Jade Mist Pavilion Master said coldly. “That Forgetfulness is compromised. Replace it.”
“What’s fated cannot be forced.”
The Bright Void Pavilion Master stroked his beard—then flicked a finger.
Below, the plant beside Jian Yunlan was uprooted effortlessly, as if plucked by an invisible hand.
Ten Forgetfulness plants existed in the sect. Losing one was trivial. Leaving it there? Unthinkable.
Below…
The Forgetfulness plant, utterly absorbed in its meal: “Nom nom nom—?”
Nooo! Not now!!!
But it couldn’t resist the Bright Void Pavilion Master’s spiritual power. No matter how much it struggled, the invisible force yanked it higher and higher.
Just before leaving the ground, the plant could hold back no longer. It lunged into Jian Yunlan’s pack, stuffing as many roujiamo into its mouth as possible until its maw was bulging like a chipmunk’s.
Then, with its cheeks stuffed full, the plant was hauled whimpering into the sky.
Jian Yunlan: “…Sir, you’re dining and dashing!”
Luckily, he’d prepared plenty. Even after the plant’s heist, he still had many roujiamo left. Heh.
As he reached to tie his torn pack shut—
He felt dozens of scorching gazes burning into his back.
Jian Yunlan: “?”
Like a wind-up doll, he turned slowly, slowly—
And saw a sea of expectant faces.
At the front was the red-clad girl who’d been chosen by the Jade Mist Pavilion. She should’ve been on her way to receive guidance, but the roujiamo’s aroma had lured her back.
Clearing her throat, she swallowed hard and spoke for the crowd: “Um… classmate, are those roujiamo… for sale?”
“…”
*
Meanwhile, on the high platforms…
The four pavilion masters gathered to inspect the “malfunctioning” Forgetfulness plant, watching as it rose from below.
The plant thrashed wildly.
The Bright Void Pavilion Master frowned, clenched his fist, and amplified his spiritual energy.
The plant, unable to resist, shot upward like a rocket—
Plant: “!@#$%^&—”
The violent ascent left it dizzy and nauseous. No matter how hard it tried to swallow the roujiamo, it couldn’t.
Plant: “Hurk… hurk…”
It gagged uncontrollably, vomiting roujiamo all over the platform.
…The scene was something to behold.
The four pavilion masters recoiled in unison: “Ew—”
What kind of spiritual plant was this?! Not just gluttonous—but gross too?!
…Or was it?
The Jade Mist Pavilion Master, a notorious neat freak, immediately banished the plant to her pocket dimension and prepared to incinerate the “vomit” with a cleansing spell.
But at the last second—she paused.
Wait.
Something was… off.
What was it?
She sniffed the air.
Normally, she’d never stoop to smelling vomit—it should reek of stomach acid.
But instead… it smelled delicious?!
The other three pavilion masters wore equally baffled expressions.
The boldest—the Sundering Blade Pavilion Master—knelt hesitantly, picking up a roujiamo for inspection.
—Though the plant had stuffed it into its mouth, it hadn’t chewed. The roujiamo remained pristine, as if freshly made.
The golden-brown flatbread cradled tender braised pork knuckle, saturated with rich, soy-infused broth. The meat glistened, its marbling perfect, promising juicy, melt-in-your-mouth bliss.
A wave of savory warmth hit her.
