Emperor Star Academy

The Qin Residence stood proudly in the northern reaches of Sky Harmony City, a formidable distance away from the Bai Residence, spanning nearly a hundred Li. Qin Wentian had hastily departed from the Bai Clan and journeyed throughout the night. By the time he arrived back at the Qin Residence, the sun had already painted the sky with its golden hues.

Since setting foot on the path of cultivation, Qin Wentian's constitution had naturally grown stronger. He felt no exhaustion, despite walking through the night.

Just outside the grand entrance of the Qin Residence, a towering sculpture of the Qin Clan's Ancestor, the valiant Qin Wu, greeted visitors. In stone, Qin Wu held a mighty battle lance while astride a formidable warhorse.

Qin Wu had been the supreme commander-in-chief, wielding the might of Chu Country's army. His name echoed far and wide, his heroic exploits in battle earning him remarkable military honors. He'd even risked his life to shield the emperor from enemy clutches. Yet, as time flowed and emperors rose and fell, successive generations of the Qin Clan, fearing Qin Wu's authority, had been exiled to the remote Sky Harmony City, far from the seat of power. Over time, the clan's influence waned with each new generation.

Gazing at the sculpture of Qin Wu, Qin Wentian couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle. There were undeniable parallels between their stories.

With each step, he entered the Qin Residence. He noticed a commotion as people hurried toward a particular spot. Fueled by curiosity, he stopped a passing maid and inquired, "What's happening?"

"Ah, Young Master Wentian," the maid began, "the Qin Clan's young miss and young master, who returned from the royal capital academies just yesterday, are having their cultivation assessed by the Clan Master today. It's been a year since they returned."

The Chu Country, with its three millennia of history, vast lands, and over a hundred cities, was home to a trillion people. Among its cities, the Chu Royal Capital reigned supreme, not only as the political hub but also as a sacred ground for cultivation. Virtually everyone in the Country of Chu, especially those from powerful clans, sent their most promising talents to the royal capital, aiming to secure a place in prestigious martial academies and colleges.

The Qin Clan was no exception. In Qin Wentian's generation, three others were seen as the future of the clan. To unlock their full potential and raise their cultivation levels, the trio had enrolled in various prestigious martial academies within the royal capital.

"I wonder how their cultivation has progressed since their return from the Chu Capital," Qin Wentian mused as he headed toward the training grounds.

As Qin Wentian arrived at the training grounds, he immediately noticed the imposing figures of the elders with an air of authority gathered there. Atop the arena, the atmosphere was electric, resembling the crackling sounds of wind and thunder, as two young martial artists engaged in an intense spar.

"Qin Zhi," Qin Wentian muttered to himself as he watched one of the participants, a youth in a vibrant yellow robe. Qin Zhi, his contemporary, was clearly dominating the match. With a powerful punch, accompanied by a roar that could rival a hunting tiger, he struck his opponent. The sheer force of the blow sent the other youth hurtling out of the arena, causing a thunderous crash as he landed below.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but marvel, "Ferocious Tiger Leaving the Mountains" was an apt name for that fist technique. From the impact, it seemed Qin Zhi had already reached the 7th level of the Body Refinement Realm. At this level, a martial cultivator possessed strength equivalent to 49 bulls, with fists tougher than steel.

Qin Zhi was a Stellar Martial Cultivator, his Astral Soul taking the form of the Valiant Tiger Constellation, granting him exceptional strength. When combined with the Tiger Roar Fist Technique, his power was truly formidable.

"Not bad at all, but compared to Qin Shang and Qin Yao, his talent still has room for improvement. A year ago, Qin Yao had already reached the 8th level of the Body Refinement Realm. I can only imagine how much she's progressed since then," Qin Wentian mused silently. "And this is just the Body Refinement Realm. When one breaks through to the Arterial Circulation Realm, the body's potential is fully unlocked, allowing for divine strength and godly martial techniques. The power must be astonishing."

"Wentian!" Suddenly, a voice called out, and all eyes turned toward Qin Wentian. It was none other than his foster father, Qin Chuan.

"Foster father," Qin Wentian replied, a wave of emotions washing over him. From his earliest memories, Uncle Black had brought him to the Qin Clan, and the Clan Lord, Qin Chuan, had taken him in as his own. Throughout the years, the love and care he received from the Qin Clan were no different from that given to his biological children.

"As I suspected, news of Autumn Snow forming an innate link with a 3rd Heavenly Layer constellation and condensing her Astral Soul has spread across Chu Country. You were driven out of the Bai Clan, weren't you?" A voice sneered from beside Qin Chuan. It was Qin He, Qin Chuan's younger cousin and the second most authoritative figure in the Qin Clan.

"Enough," Qin Chuan scolded him coldly.

"Brother, you're too naive. With the Bai Clan cozying up to the Ye Clan in the royal capital, rumors suggest that the genius Ye WuQue has proposed a marriage agreement to wed Bai Autumn Snow. Do you really think the Bai Clan will honor their previous engagement with us?" Qin He taunted, causing the onlookers to exchange intrigued and conflicted glances.

Suddenly, the sound of a flute filled the air. Everyone turned to the sky, searching for the source of the enchanting melody. High above, a man in a yellow robe rode a massive eagle through the air.

Qin Chuan furrowed his brows. "Who dares to be so audacious, flying an eagle over my Qin Residence?"

"Teacher!" a female voice exclaimed. Qin Chuan turned to see a young woman standing beside him. He asked her, "Is he your teacher, Yao'er?"

"Indeed, my esteemed teacher," Qin Yao replied with a nod, gesturing for the yellow-robed man to take a seat of honor. She couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension about his visit.

"Yao'er, I've heard rumors about a marriage agreement between the Qin Clan and Bai Clan's Autumn Snow. Is this true?" the middle-aged man inquired, his gaze unwavering.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Yao finally confirmed, "Yes, that's true."

As she finished speaking, a massive eagle descended from the sky, landing on the arena with an impressive flourish. The yellow-robed man smiled coldly before revealing the purpose of his visit, "I'm here today because of this matter. I've heard of Autumn Snow's remarkable talent and have come to extend an invitation for her to join the Royal Academy of the Chu Country."

The spectators were left stunned by this revelation. Autumn Snow had risen to become a true prodigy among mortals. Even the prestigious Royal Academy had personally sent an invitation, a rare occurrence. It was important to note that, despite the size of the Qin Clan, only Qin Yao's talents qualified her for such an offer.

"Why would the academy send you, esteemed teacher, to personally deliver the invitation? Couldn't they have sent it by courier?" Qin Yao asked, puzzled.

"This time, things are different, Yao. Autumn Snow's first Astral Soul is from a constellation in the 3rd Heavenly Layer. Not only did the Royal Academy notice this, but other prestigious academies in the Royal Capital have also learned of it. They've all sent representatives to extend their invitations. It's been decided to hold a recruitment drive in Sky Harmony City at the Bai Clan's residence in two days."

"On Bai Qingsong's birthday?" Qin Yao furrowed her brow, realizing that the birthday celebration was just a pretext.

"Exactly. The birthday celebration is merely a cover. The main purpose is to recruit Autumn Snow. I've heard even the Emperor Star Academy is interested and has sent a representative. That's why I couldn't afford to be careless," the yellow-robed man explained.

Laughter suddenly echoed from the crowd. "Talon, if you knew that my Emperor Star Academy was extending an invitation, why did you bother coming here?"

Talon's expression turned frosty as he turned to the source of the voice. "Mustang!"

"Brother Qin, it's been a while. How is Uncle Qin's health these days?" Mustang approached Qin Chuan with a friendly demeanor.

Qin Chuan returned the pleasantries, "Thank you for your concern, Brother Mustang. My father is in good health, though he finds it difficult to move around these days."

Mustang was a representative from the Emperor Star Academy, and his presence heightened the tension in the gathering. Qin Chuan couldn't help but feel uneasy. Mustang's personal visit was a clear indication of the Emperor Star Academy's interest in recruiting Autumn Snow. It seemed there was little hope of preserving the engagement between Autumn Snow and Qin Wentian.

"Mustang, Autumn Snow can only join my Royal Academy," Talon said firmly, a challenge in his voice.

"Is that so?" Mustang chuckled and took a seat, his gaze sweeping over the spectators before settling on Qin Wentian. He had discovered something interesting while sneaking into the Bai Clan's residence. Instead of finding an expert of the Yuanfu Realm as he expected, he stumbled upon someone else, a young man who had escaped from the Bai Clan. Intrigued, he had followed the youth to the Qin Residence.

"I thought the Bai Clan was hiding a Yuanfu Realm expert, but it turns out this young man here is the one," Mustang thought. Judging by the aura he sensed, this youth's talent was not inferior to Autumn Snow's. It seemed his trip had not been in vain.

The spectators couldn't help but sigh. The Royal Academy accepted only those with outstanding talents, while the Emperor Star Academy was even more selective, recruiting only Stellar Martial Cultivators. Every graduate of the Emperor Star Academy reached at least the Yuanfu Realm, a level of cultivation far beyond the Arterial Circulation Realm. Yuanfu Realm cultivators possessed unimaginable strength and could even hover in the air and fly. They were truly formidable beings.

Now, representatives from both the Royal Academy and the Emperor Star Academy had come to the Qin Residence, all because of Autumn Snow. The fate of the engagement between Autumn Snow and Qin Wentian hung in the balance.