[Hahaha, I knew there had to be a mistake!] Zhao Bai laughed in relief for a long while, then suddenly realized that something was off.
Wait a minute, did I mix up monthly and annual?
Doesn’t that mean…
The joy on Zhao Bai’s face gradually turned to horror.
[Well, then, I have no choice but to reveal it early. This was originally supposed to be announced tomorrow.]
Mingyun Exalted One sighed regretfully, saying, [This year’s Annual Top Ten Operations all go to the Bagpipe Squad. This year’s Annual Best Cultivator is Jiang Qingyi, member of the Bagpipe Squad. The above is the unanimous result sworn to in fairness by the entire Committee of Judges.]
[Wait… but…] Zhao Bai grew anxious.
[No buts. What I’ve just announced is this year’s final result. That’s true fairness.]
With that, Mingyun Exalted One hung up coldly.
After the call ended, Mingyun Exalted One wiped off the makeup on his face, revealing his original fair and tender skin.
Qiao Xiaoxian kicked Mingyun Exalted One by her feet, then sprinkled Corpse Dissolving Powder and strode away.
Assassinating the Emperor was an extremely difficult task.
She dared not act rashly, so she might as well use these so-called judges hiding deep in the mountains as a practice round.
Consider it a New Year’s gift for you, Jiang Ke’er.
On the other side, Zhao Bai naturally had no idea that Mingyun Exalted One was actually Qiao Xiaoxian in disguise.
He now regretted contacting Mingyun Exalted One immensely, and even regretted joining the commentary industry in the first place.
Maybe it would have been better not to make the call at all. Originally, it was just a Monthly Top Ten, but now it had become an Annual Grand Slam.
This was already the biggest blunder and broadcast accident in Shenzhou Cup history.
[So… c-congratulations to Bagpipe Squad and Jiang Qingyi.]
After saying this, Zhao Bai covered his face in despair and ended the broadcast, leaving behind only a powerless sigh.
[This is just too much for me.]
The broadcast ended abruptly, and right afterward, advertisements with slogans like “Ah, a real expert recognizes the scent of Hemostatic Pills~” rang out as the routine commercials started.
And with the end of the program, everything was set in stone.
No matter what, the organizers of the Shenzhou Cup couldn’t take it back; otherwise, it would become an even bigger scandal.
At this moment, the Taiming Sect Members still felt as if they were dreaming.
Little Junior Sister… Annual Best Cultivator?
A tenfold Grand Slam?
That’s way too strong!
At the main peak, Xihe Peak, amidst cheers that filled the world, Yuan Tiangang silently plucked a mushroom from atop his head and put it in his basket, two noodle-like tears streaming down.
Little Junior Sister, have you forgotten something?
But Yuan Tiangang’s sorrow didn’t affect the overall atmosphere.
The mood in the entire Taiming Mountain area was becoming more and more exuberant.
It took Sect Master Yuan Shouyi personally stepping out to temporarily calm the disciples’ excitement.
“I understand how everyone feels, Little Junior Sister has done us proud,” Yuan Shouyi’s weathered face was tinged with a flush, clearly just as moved.
“But since Little Junior Sister has done so well, shouldn’t we work hard too, and not hold her back?” Yuan Shouyi said with a laugh, “I know what you’re all thinking. You want to go in person to cheer her on at the scene… You can, but not yet!”
“When can we, then?” Yuan Tiangang asked urgently, already unable to wait… in every possible way.
“I promise you all,” Yuan Shouyi announced, “If this year’s annual exams see everyone’s average score at B or higher, then our whole sect will go in person to support Little Junior Sister!”
“Little Junior Sister is working hard to qualify for the semi-finals, so we mustn’t slack off. Understood?!”
“Understood!!!”
A tidal wave of shouts echoed through the mountains. Yuan Shouyi swore that in his life, he’d never seen this bunch of brats so fired up—their motivation to cultivate was maxed out.
Qingyi, you truly are the lucky star of all Taiming Sect Members.
As for the tenfold Grand Slam and receiving the Annual Best Cultivator, Jiang Ke’er was actually the last to know.
To qualify for the semi-finals, Bagpipe Squad’s members trained hard every day in the wild, spending their remaining time on stage competing—they had no time to watch TV.
It was only when Emperor Taizong of Tang, face beaming with excitement, came running over and clamored to do an exclusive interview with Bagpipe Squad that Jiang Ke’er found out.
But the interview was declined by Si Lian.
“We’ll talk after we win the championship.” Si Lian didn’t give Li Family Second any face.
“But what if…” Emperor Taizong of Tang felt troubled, believing they should seize Bagpipe Squad’s current fame to hype them up and boost the Demon Race’s sense of pride.
“If we lose this year, then we’ll wait until the year we win to talk.” Si Lian waved her hand, “Save your energy, and let it explode at the right moment.”
“Well… fine,” Emperor Taizong of Tang gave a wry smile and shook his head.
“If you’d come earlier, you wouldn’t have to wait until this year.” Si Lian gave Emperor Taizong of Tang a sidelong glance and then ignored him.
Feeling unwelcome, Emperor Taizong of Tang had no choice but to leave.
After he left, Si Lian frowned, pondering the strangeness of this matter.
She knew very well the habits of those so-called Seven Emergent Venerables.
They paraded their reclusive status, but in reality, were just puppets bribed by the Shenzhou Cup’s organizers.
These people would never bestow such a precious honor on Bagpipe Squad.
But if it was an attempt to build them up just to tear them down, or some other scheme, the cost was far too great—it would be self-defeating a hundredfold for harming the enemy a hundred.
She couldn’t figure it out.
Nor could Jiang Ke’er.
But she had long coveted the Annual Best Cultivator’s prize, and Eggy had been clamoring to taste the award for ages.
Oh, right, Eggy was no longer just an egg.
Though she was still called Eggy, she was now covered in a layer of warm, soft, bright yellow down, and had even sprouted a gorgeous flame-red tail feather on one side—she’d turned into… a furry egg.
“You Jin Wu…” Jiang Ke’er’s mouth twitched. “Do you always grow your fur first?”
“No idea~” Eggy blinked.
“But a voice in my bloodline’s legacy said—‘You can cultivate strength, but beauty lasts a lifetime.’”
Well, that’s true, but if you grow fur before bones, aren’t you still just a big pancake? Are you sure your Jin Wu tribe’s aesthetic sense is okay?
Jiang Ke’er didn’t know how to correct Eggy’s sense of beauty, but it seemed useless to try.
Eggy couldn’t change her own development order anyway.
She could only keep feeding her, silently hoping Eggy would turn into a little chick soon.
“Mama, I want more milk~”
Nutrient-rich milk was still Eggy’s daily staple.
Whenever there were no treasures of heaven and earth to feed her, it was always milk.
Jiang Ke’er handed Eggy a box of milk and opened one for herself, poking in the straws.
Mother and daughter each bit their straws in sync, guzzling down the fresh milk in big gulps, both showing blissful expressions.
“Ah~”
They finished, then let out a long sigh together.
“We have to work hard to grow up!” mother and daughter said in unison.