Suddenly her eyes fell on a white staff leaning against the house by a bench. The top was missing, and it was clear that it had been broken.

"What happened to that staff?" she asked curiously.

"It's broken and it's none of your business. Leave before I kill you.” the man replied angrily.

Lily didn't give up because if she failed and got back to Elder Mage Grimwald, he would kill her on the spot because she had scolded him over earlier. It was either him or this naked crazy man and she went with the second choice. She remembered that she had 7x of The Old Man's Staff which also happened to be white so maybe she could use one of them to negotiate with him.

She took one out and showed it to him and said, “I have this. I know it's not special but maybe you can substitute it.”

"Where did you get it from?" the man asked suddenly, sounding surprised.

His voice had changed to a softer tone.

"I found it by a rock in a forest when I had to pee." Lily lied, playing coy.

Suddenly she felt his hand grasp the staff and say, “Thank you. I take it as compensation for disturbing me.”

Lily looked at him and knew that staff meant something special to him.

Suddenly her smile turned into a sly fox, and she said, "I have more if you're interested."

The man looked at her in surprise and asked, "Can you give me those too?"

Lily smiled prettily at him and replied, "Something for something."

"Wait here." he said and walked around the house and a moment later he came back wearing a white hanfu that she knew from the wuxia world.

In his hand lay a beautiful white enchantress dress that looked like twinkling stars.

He also had a white staff with him which was not the same as the one she had given him.

“These here for all the ones you have. Wait, you can also have this book that I can no longer use.” He said taking out a white book and placing them all on the table.

"Okay, but you also have to accept that book from Elder Mage Grimwald, otherwise we don't have a deal." Said Lily and pouted.

"Yes, of course my lady." said the man smiling kindly at her but in her eyes, she could see greed.

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Why were all stutters so cunning and two-faced.

She took out 6x wands and the black book and put them on the table. The man took all the staffs and cheered ecstatically and ran into the house with them. Lily stood back surprised and had no idea what had just happened. She had traded some crappy staffs for these three things that she had an idea were unique. She took them into her inventory and looked at Fergus who was just as confused as her.

"You are incredible." he said with admiration because that man was Sage Zengzi who was one of the wisest deities.

"Thanks. I can teach you a little when we have time.” Lily replied, smiling proudly.

They walked around the house but as they were about to leave the man came out and walked towards them.

"I happen to be in need of a disciple. Is it something you are interested in?” he asked, smiling kindly at her.

It probably sounded cool to others, but Lily wanted nothing to do with him.

Firstly, he was a cunning old man, secondly, he walked around naked and thirdly, he reeked of alcohol.

"No thanks. I have to go now." she answered and turned but suddenly heard a voice:

Congratulations. You are now Sage Zengzi's disciples.

Argh, she thought she had heard wrong and turned around to see the man smiling widely at her.

"Perfect, but first you have to pass a test." he said.

What the hell is he talking about?

He had just forced the system to accept her but still she must pass a test first.

Wasn't the order wrong?

"Can we do it another time as I'm busy." she politely declined, but suddenly heard a voice:

Your test will start shortly. If you run away you will be punished. If you fail you will be punished.

Okay, I give up, she shook her head and sighed.

She had already accepted that the system was screwing with her, and she would soon break down. She wondered how Ace and the others could stand it.

"I'm ready." she said.

Sage Zengzi smiled and moved his right hand, and suddenly a wall of countless black playing cards appeared behind him floating in the air.

He turned to the cards and said to her, "Tell me how many there are?"

When Lily heard that she knew it was a trick question and if she answered 1000, he would say there were 2000 even though there were actually 1000 etc. She looked at Fergus who shook his head because he couldn't help her. She looked back at the cards and couldn't see how many there were so she could either guess a random number or give up.

If she failed, she would be punished and had yet to experience that yet. The sooner the later it should happen.

"I give up because there are infinite." she said and sighed.

"Correct." said Sage Zengzi waving his right hand and the cards disappeared.

"Huh?" Lily exclaimed because she was confused.

Was giving up now an answer you could use?

If so, she would try it in the future.

Nice, well played Lily, she praised herself.

Sage Zengzi turned to her and gave her a black flute and a black book and said, "The flute is your reward and this book you must give to Elder Mage Grimwald."

Lily saw that it was the same book she had just given him. He was probably a fast reader and suddenly admired him and now saw him in a different light.

She bowed gracefully to him and said, “Thank you very much master. I promise not to disappoint you.”

"Now go and hand over that book." Sage Zengzi said, waving her away with his right hand.

You must return the book to Elder Mage Grimwald. Countdown 10 min.

Damn, she felt cheated.

There really were no warnings with this rotten system.

She looked at Fergus, Violet and Sapphire and said, "We have to leave now." for she only had 10 minutes to reach Elder Mage Grimwald.