Gongsun Qing darted a glance at them in a nonchalant manner, gave them a little nod, then went back to her cultivation.
Soon, Tao Shuang and the others struck up a conversation with the Shi siblings.
Shi Xun asked, "Hey, do you remember Feng Wu, that top student in the written exam? Maybe she'll be the dark horse of the physical tryout."
"Hahahaha." Tao Shuang and the others guffawed.
Shi Xun frowned. "Why are you laughing?"
Tao Shuang said, "You're not from the imperial capital, so you probably don't know this: Feng Wu lost her cultivation ability for good."
"But hasn't she recovered after so many years?"
"Of course not. How can one recover a lost ability? Feng Wu is going to spend the rest of her life a cripple, but she just won't accept it. She just had to force her way into this exam. Is she asking for humiliation or what?"
"That's so true. Feng Wu got excellent marks in the written exam because she's always been bright. It's no surprise that she got the top score, but when it comes to the physical tryout... well, she better hide herself well."
"That's so true. Unluckily for her, we have the toughest terrain this year, Proud Snowfield. We can withstand the cold by activating our spiritual essence, but Feng Wu... I don't think she can stand it."
"She may not be able to walk out of Proud Snowfield alive in seven days."
Everyone was discussing Feng Wu animatedly. Chaoge was infuriated by everything she heard. She wanted to rush out and beat up everyone who was trashing Feng Wu behind her back. Feng Wu stopped her and shook her head with a smile.
"We talk about other people behind their backs and we get talked about the same way. Big deal." Feng Wu shrugged.
Moreover, she had deliberately concealed her true capability so that she could take advantage of the way everyone underestimated her. She couldn't care less about their comments.
But Chaoge cared. She was the hot-headed one. Feng Wu could only shake her head with a wry smile. But Chaoge always obeyed Feng Wu. Since Feng Wu had stopped her, she would suppress her anger no matter what.
No one noticed that Gongsun Qing, who was supposed to be cultivating, hadn't been paying any attention to it at all this whole time. Her mind had wandered off the moment she heard Feng Wu's name.
"Feng Wu, I thought I would have a chance to face you in combat, but here you are, still a cripple. I can kill you as easily as stepping on an ant!" Gongsun Qing smirked.
Everyone stopped talking and stared at Gongsun Qing in bewilderment. That was so arrogant. Gongsun Qing sounded as aloof as a princess!
"Can you?" A quiet voice came from behind the snowdrift.
"Who's there?!" Gongsun Qing was astonished!
Someone had been hiding there and she hadn't noticed at all? She only became aware of the person once they spoke! With a wave of Gongsun Qing's hand, a gust of wind struck the snowdrift!
The snow toppled onto Feng Wu like a thick wall! Feng Wu snorted. She didn't need to do anything, for Little Phoenix had opened its beak.
Whoosh. A fireball charged at Gongsun Qing, right for her face. Orange-red flames filled the air and columns of fire flew around like blazing dragons, frightening everyone.
They were shocked!
"What bird is that?!"
No one noticed Feng Wu and Chaoge, for Little Phoenix had drawn all their attention. But Little Phoenix turned all its attention on Gongsun Qing!