The discussions and laughter around her grew louder and louder, but Xu Chunniang stood there motionless, pretending she heard nothing.
It was just some trash talk, she had heard it a lot since she was a child. These were all false, only strength was real.
The assessment was still going on, with new disciples constantly coming on stage, attracting the attention of the disciples below, and their attention gradually shifted away from Xu Chunniang.
But they all remembered that there was an ugly girl named Xu Chunniang who chose the dirtiest and most tiring job as a spiritual plant husband.
The assessment lasted for a whole day, until the hour of You, when the assessment of all new disciples was finally completed. According to the assessment requirements, disciples who failed to cast spells up to standard for two consecutive times were deemed unqualified and would be sent down the mountain together with the first batch of disciples who were eliminated.
Xu Chunniang stretched lazily. It was finally over. She had been standing for the whole day and was a little tired. Fortunately, she passed the assessment without any major problems.
Tomorrow is the new year. All the new disciples who are left behind can go to Zhang Donglai to receive the new year's benefits, which are twelve spirit stones as materials for cultivation in the new year.
"I just missed the gathering today, but Zhang Donglai actually wanted to kick me out of the sect."
Xu Chunniang narrowed her eyes. She had not forgotten the difficulties she had encountered before the assessment.
Tomorrow, she would have to go through Zhang Donglai to get the spirit stones from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. I'm afraid it would not be easy for her to get the spirit stones from him. However, this is a benefit given to every new disciple by the sect, so she would not give it up.
The next morning, Xu Chunniang came to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was no longer deserted as before, but bustling with people coming and going, all of whom were new disciples who came to receive the spirit stones.
Since these new disciples entered the sect, they have been working hard to cultivate because of the year-end assessment. After passing the assessment, they are much more relaxed. There are even quite a few disciples who performed well in yesterday's assessment and are still trying to get close to Zhang Donglai.
"Manager Zhang, please take care of me in the new year." A sensible disciple took the initiative to offer two spirit stones so that he could have a better life in the sect.
"Sure, sure." Zhang Donglai smiled and accepted the gift from his disciple. "Your name is Chen Lin, right? I remember you demonstrated the wooden shield technique yesterday."
Chen Lin was overjoyed. He didn't expect that the steward actually remembered his name. "It's me. If the steward needs me for anything, please feel free to use me."
Zhang Donglai was even more satisfied. "Very good. I will remember you. When the new disciple protection period ends in two years, feel free to come to me to choose a mission."
Upon hearing this, the other disciples immediately looked at Chen Lin with envy and jealousy. With Manager Zhang's words, he at least didn't have to worry about the tribute mission.
For a while, many smart people began to offer "filial piety" to Zhang Donglai, hoping to leave a good impression on the manager and make their life in the sect easier.
However, there were also many disciples who were reluctant to give up the two spirit stones, and left after receiving their own share of spirit stones.
Xu Chunniang watched all this happen coldly. Since she had already offended Manager Zhang, it would be of no avail even if she gave away all her spirit stones this year. Not to mention, she had no intention of "presenting" even a single spirit stone.
The line moved quickly and soon she was at the front.
When Zhang Donglai saw that it was her, the smile on his face immediately disappeared and he stopped what he was doing.
The disciples at the back noticed that the team suddenly stopped moving, and they all looked forward.
"What happened? Why didn't Manager Zhang give out any more spirit stones? Did he run out of them? Do we have to wait until tomorrow to get another one?"
Another person poked him and whispered, "It's not like the spirit stones have all been distributed. Didn't you see that female cultivator? She was the one who was almost late for class yesterday and was kicked out of the sect by Steward Zhang. I guess she must have offended Steward Zhang."
"It's her!" The people around him showed a look of realization, "The ugly girl who used the Spirit Rain Technique!"
"Hehe, this is going to be fun. Let her be so blind as to offend Manager Zhang!"
Xu Chunniang took out her disciple token, handed it over, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Please register and receive this year's spiritual stones."
"Want to get spirit stones?" Zhang Donglai's eyes flashed with disdain, and he said slowly, "There are no more. Come back tomorrow."
The spirit stones were gone? How could it be such a coincidence that so many people had them, but she had none.
Xu Chunniang knew without thinking that Zhang Donglai was deliberately making things difficult for her. She held the token tightly and did not move an inch.
Seeing Xu Chunniang occupying the spot without moving, the disciples behind her knew what was going on and started to get angry at Xu Chunniang.
"Ugly girl, if you don't want the spirit stones, please give them to us. If you don't want them, we will have to take them."
"Ugly people are the cause of trouble. Can you please move aside?"
"That's right, you're wasting our time. Didn't you hear the steward say that the spirit stones are gone? Get out of here now!"
Xu Chunniang turned her head and spoke in a calm voice.
"Didn't you all just hear that Manager Zhang said there are no more spirit stones. So you don't have to queue up anymore."
Everyone looked at her as if she were a fool. They could all see that Manager Zhang was only targeting her. Just because she couldn't receive the spirit stones didn't mean they couldn't receive them either.
"Why, do you think I said something wrong?"
Xu Chunniang's voice remained steady, and she looked coldly at the long line of disciples behind her.
"The spirit stones are distributed by the sect every year. Manager Zhang is only responsible for keeping and distributing them. If he says they are gone, then they are gone forever. Otherwise, isn't he openly withholding the sect's supplies?"
Zhang Donglai's face changed slightly. Withholding the sect's supplies was a serious crime. Even as a manager, he would not be well off if he was charged with this crime.
He had no intention of withholding the spirit stones from this ugly girl. He just wanted to wait for three to five months before giving them back. However, he did not expect her to say such a thing, which put him in a difficult position.
If he really bypassed her and distributed spirit stones to other disciples, he would be suspected of "withholding the sect's supplies." If he stopped distributing spirit stones to the remaining disciples, it would affect his reputation among the disciples, but it would delay the sect's mission, which would be a big deal.
After weighing the pros and cons, Zhang Donglai's face became more gloomy. This ugly girl is really calculating!
He sneered, "Look at my memory. I put these spirit stones into another storage bag. These are your spirit stones for this year. Count them carefully."
After Xu Chunniang confirmed the number, she put away the spirit stones and was about to leave when she heard a sinister threat from behind her, "I'll let you jump around for two years, but later, you'll have a chance to cry!"
One day, Zhang Donglai will let this ignorant little thing know that there are some people whom she cannot offend easily!