"Heavens! A Great Warrior? That little girl is already a Great Warrior? How could she be called the Gu family's good-for-nothing Sixth Miss? Are the Gu family members all blind?"
Those who had heard of Gu Qingli's reputation in Loulan City found it utterly unbelievable. Her notoriety as a useless waste was known citywide—never once had the Gu family refuted it.
"Incredible! A twelve-year-old Great Warrior—now that is true genius! It's downright monstrous!"
"No wonder Lord Dongfang Kunlun of Kunlun City accepted her as his disciple—he clearly saw her brilliance where others did not!"
"Heh, compared to Lord Kunlun, the Gu family are nothing but blind fools!"
The crowd burst into laughter, mocking the Gu family's inability to recognize true talent. Their jeers left the Gu clan members red-faced with embarrassment. Even Elder Mu's aged countenance flushed faintly, his gaze turning complicated as he looked upon the girl slowly approaching.
To think, such a young girl had endured so many years of scorn and contempt without once revealing her strength—what extraordinary self-restraint!
This little one had hidden herself deeply indeed. The power of a Great Warrior, concealed beneath the façade of a mere seven-star warrior—all to make her grand revelation here, on such a public stage. This was no mere display; it was calculated retribution against the Gu family.
"To think the greatest genius of the Gu family turned out to be Gu Qingli—the so-called disgrace. What a savage irony!"
Li Ke'er swayed her seductive figure, her expression mocking, as though enjoying the Gu family's public humiliation. She no longer spared a glance for Gu Qinglin, with whom she had just been fawning moments earlier.
Within, jealousy seethed. She had always been the strongest—ranked a nine-star Spirit Master, unmatched among her peers. Though Gu Qingche was a one-star Great Warrior, she was confident her contracted beast would allow her to defeat him in battle.
But now Gu Qingli had also become a Great Warrior—and judging from the depth of that emerald glow, not a weak one. Li Ke'er could not say with certainty she would prevail. And worse—Gu Qingli was only twelve.
A glint of malice flashed in her eyes.
There could only be one dazzling female genius in Loulan City—and that was her, Li Ke'er.
Especially with the long-standing rivalry between the Gu and Li families.
"Xiaoli, y-you… your strength?"
Gu Qingche was overjoyed, his face alight with unrestrained delight.
"I told you—we'd enter the academy together."
Gu Qingli turned her head and smiled, sweeping away her earlier chill. But from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Li Ke'er's shadowed expression.
At that moment, Senior Bai rose to his feet, his eyes bright with admiration. "Miss, you truly are a hidden gem."
Gu Qingli offered the refined young man a gentle smile. "Thank you, Senior Bai, for speaking on my behalf earlier."
She had always been one to repay kindness and grudge alike.
"It was nothing. Now, go ahead and test your strength."
Gu Qingli gave a light nod. Her hand, fair and delicate as white jade, came to rest upon the glass sphere before her.
The crowd held their breath, all eyes fixed intently upon her.
She activated her battle energy, and it surged into the crystal. In an instant, a brilliant green light burst forth—radiant and dazzling, so intense that those nearby had to shield their eyes.
"This…"
Senior Bai was taken aback. He hadn't expected such a blinding emerald glow. His gaze flickered swiftly to the two instructors who had approached.
This brilliance clearly surpassed the level of a newly-advanced Great Warrior.
"Young lady, your strength is truly remarkable," one of the instructors beamed, stepping forward, visibly pleased. And yet inwardly, he was deeply startled—his spiritual sense couldn't even discern her exact cultivation.
But the hue of that light alone indicated nothing short of a five-star Great Warrior.
Twelve years old… and already a five-star Great Warrior?
This wasn't talent—it was pure monstrosity. Across the entire Divine Valley Continent, such prodigies were as rare as phoenix feathers.