It was no wonder Bai Jingjing had such a strong reaction.
This was because the competition was in needlework, commonly known as sewing.
This was utterly ridiculous.
Pray tell, what sect or school in this world required needlework skills to become its leader?
Moreover, Ji Mo was a man, a rough fellow. To have him do needlework was clearly singling him out.
Therefore, upon hearing the competition, Bai Jingjing did not hold back, directly accusing them of foul play.
Zhen Zhen's old face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot. She coldly rebuked, "Bai Jingjing, you are being unreasonable, repeatedly spreading rumors and causing trouble. I shall strip you of your..."
Before she could finish, a voice from the direction of the Snow Sect interrupted her.
"Elder Zhen, you are being too harsh. Our Saintess merely raised a question, not caused trouble."
An elder from the Snow Sect spoke up in defense of their own, his words quite firm.
Bai Jingjing now possessed immense luck, which was a treasure to any sect or faction.
To arbitrarily strip Bai Jingjing of her qualification to compete for the position of leader was something that not only the Snow Sect would disagree with, but the Grand Elders within the sect would also not permit.
Zhen Zhen was so angry she was twitching. She truly dared not do anything to Bai Jingjing. She had only intended to threaten her and save face, but she hadn't expected the Snow Sect to be so unyielding, putting her in an awkward position.
She suppressed her anger and offered an explanation: "This is not ordinary needlework. It requires each Saintess to embroider a scene based on their understanding of the Great Dao."
This explanation was somewhat acceptable.
However, Bai Jingjing still felt indignant. While it was a competition of understanding the Great Dao, the quality of the needlework was also crucial.
No matter how profound one's understanding of the Great Dao, it still needed to be displayed through skillful hands. This was extremely unfair to Ji Mo.
Bai Jingjing was about to speak again, but Ji Mo beat her to it.
"Can we, please, switch to another item?"
Ji Hanhan spoke in a high-pitched voice, daring not reveal his true voice.
Zhen Zhen sneered, "Do you think you can just change it because you want to? If you're afraid to compete, then withdraw."
At this moment, Zhen Zhen was filled with smugness. Ji Mo had previously been identified as having a mortal body, a mortal destiny, and bad luck. If he also came in last in this round, he would have no chance at the position of leader.
This needlework competition was specifically designed to target Ji Mo.
"It's not that I'm afraid to compete, it's just that my needlework is exceptionally good, and I fear it would be an unfair victory."
Ji Mo said nonchalantly.
After all, under the pressure of the system, he had learned countless life skills. While he hadn't mastered needlework to perfection, he still had a significant advantage over these Saintesses who only knew how to wield swords and spears all day.
For the sake of fairness and not taking advantage, he kindly proposed to change the item and compete in something else.
An unfair victory?
Upon hearing this, many people in the audience couldn't help but want to laugh.
Are you kidding me?
Don't you have any self-awareness about your own aptitude?
Mortal body, mortal destiny, bad luck – such extremely trashy innate conditions. And you still dare to boast so shamelessly? Where is your face?
"Heh, I've lived for so long, and this is the first time I've encountered such a shameless person. You? If you can win against any one of them, I'll kneel down and kowtow to you."
Zhen Zhen said with a face full of mockery.
A man, how good could his needlework be? Moreover, the most important thing was the understanding of the Great Dao. How could you possibly be a match for the other three?
"How could Jingjing fall for someone so boastful?"
Ling Lan and Ying both shook their heads secretly, considering Ji Mo to be speaking with undue arrogance.
A true strong person must possess humility. In the path of cultivation, those who are arrogant and conceited will never go far.
At this moment, they began to look down on Ji Mo, disliking men who bragged.
Ji Mo stopped speaking. Since someone was eager to kowtow to him, he would fulfill her wish.
The competition began.
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
The Saintesses were all focused, bringing out their best states.
Bai Jingjing emanated chilling energy, and within a thousand-meter radius, snowflakes swirled, and the air was frigid.
She condensed a transparent ice wall, using it as fabric, and countless threads of coldness as her stitches. Her delicate hands acted as needles, meticulously outlining the Dao scene in her heart.
Ying held a small staff, using it as a needle, lightly tapping the void. Ten thousand vibrant flower petals appeared, and soon, the sky became a tapestry of blooming flowers.
Ling Lan's display was the most dramatic.
She used the earth itself as her canvas, the wind as her sculpting tool, and mountains, rivers, and seas were presented one by one.
In comparison, Ji Hanhan was the most subdued.
To everyone's incredulous gaze, they could vaguely see him unhurriedly taking out a small stool to sit on, then taking out cloth and needle and thread, meticulously threading the needle and stitching one by one.
Many people thought Ji Mo's brain was malfunctioning. They were competing on their understanding of the Great Dao, not asking you to actually sew.
Idiot, you're really showing off!
"Great Elder, is Mr. Ji's action also of profound meaning?"
Yan Zhi couldn't understand and quickly asked the Great Elder of the Moon Sect for guidance.
The Great Elder of the Moon Sect's delicate face also revealed a hint of surprise; she was also baffled.
However, she couldn't lose face in front of the younger generation, so she put on a solemn expression and said, "Returning to simplicity, the Dao follows nature!"
Wind, flowers, and snow – the three sides were filled with immortal energy, and Dao principles permeated the air.
The three Saintesses were all giving their all, using every skill they possessed.
As the saying goes, literature has no first, martial arts has no second. Naturally, none of them were convinced by the others, and all wanted to outdo their rivals.
It had to be said that they were all rare geniuses, possessing a deep understanding of the laws of the Great Dao, and their hands were also nimble, presenting their insights into their respective Dao well.
As for Ji Mo's side.
It was peaceful.
There was no radiant treasure light, no surging immortal energy, and certainly no materialized Dao rhythm.
He wasn't even paying much attention, occasionally exclaiming in wonder as he watched Bai Jingjing and the other two, and then stitching a couple of times, very casually.
His demeanor was even more relaxed than the onlookers.
"Is he giving up? What right does such a person have to be a Saintess? It's simply a disgrace to the sect."
Zhen Zhen grew more infuriated the more she looked at Ji Mo, feeling he was deliberately embarrassing himself.
After about half a day.
All four had completed their works.
To be precise, the three girls had finished. As for Ji Mo, no one paid him any mind anymore.
Bai Jingjing completed a snow scene, demonstrating a deep understanding of the essence of snow, earning widespread praise.
Ying had conjured a sea of blooming flowers in the sky, astonishing many.
Ling Lan presented a landscape of vast rivers and mountains, magnificent and grand, displaying a majestic Dao rhythm.
In comparison, Ling Lan's understanding of the Great Dao was slightly superior.
As for Ji Mo's work, even a dog wouldn't look at it.
It was simply a piece of blue cloth with a round yellow object embroidered on it.
It was impossible to tell if it was a large pancake or a fried egg.
"Everyone, please appraise it. How is my 'Azure Sea Rising Bright Moon' embroidery?"
Ji Mo spoke.
To avoid an unfair victory, he hadn't displayed his true abilities, merely casually embroidered a bright moon on the blue cloth.
However, he believed it was slightly better than the other three girls.
To save face for Bai Jingjing and the others, he was too embarrassed to be too ostentatious.
"Let me take a look."
An elder, who had ties with the Moon Sect, took it to examine it.
As a result.
The next second, she let out a startled scream.