A visit

A visit...

Following the annual day of offerings, the Chu Country ushered in a new year, but this time, it was far from peaceful. The citizens of Chu found themselves embroiled in violent conflicts, ranging from minor disputes to intense struggles.

At the same time, the unruly and powerful troops stationed along Chu's borders began to raise flags of rebellion. The sudden surge of unrest, turmoil, and chaos gripped the country of Chu in just a few short days after the new year had begun. The very authority that governed Chu seemed as if it could collapse at any moment.

For those with keen senses, it was evident that a full-blown war would soon engulf the entire country. These events were not the result of overnight decisions; they were the culmination of years of careful planning. Those orchestrating this chaos had prepared meticulously in the shadows. Once the orders were given, the subterfuge would end, and rebel troops would openly attack Chu's cities. They spared the ordinary citizens and Chu troops who surrendered, targeting only the Chu Dragon Guards, directly under the royal clan's command.

In a world focused on cultivation, those who practiced the arts cared little about who held political power in a country. While the royal clan typically wielded the most influence, as long as they didn't hinder the cultivators' pursuits, the cultivators remained apathetic to rulership. However, if the ruler offended the cultivators, their authority would be shaken.

Even as the flames of war raged in Chu's cities, talented youths flocked to the royal capital. Martial academies across Chu had begun recruiting, offering a golden opportunity to the young and gifted cultivators. Their focus was not on who would rule but on securing their own futures.

For the exceptionally talented youths, choosing between enrolling in the Royal Academy or the Emperor Star Academy posed a dilemma. After the merger of the Royal Academy and the Godly General Martial Palace, their strength had reached a level on par with the Emperor Star Academy. The rivalry and competition between the two academies had become common knowledge.

On the outskirts of Chu's royal capital, a gathering of young men and women from Chu had assembled, driven by a piece of news emanating from the capital itself.

The news had reverberated through the city—the elites of the Royal Academy would be visiting the Emperor Star Academy after their merger. This announcement sent shockwaves throughout the royal capital, capturing the attention of countless onlookers. The younger generation of cultivators considered this visit of utmost importance to their futures.

Qin Wentian, who had just concluded his period of seclusion, was among those who had heard the news. While Francis had provided him with valuable resources, they were still insufficient for the cultivation of his Fiend Transformation Art.

Cultivating this technique demanded an astronomically high number of demonic cores, a daunting prospect. However, Qin Wentian had received some good news—he discovered that his body was exceptionally suited for the Fiend Transformation Art. It was as if this particular cultivation method had been tailor-made for him. An unknown sense of excitement seemed to boil within his veins.

Preparing a Divine Inscription Painting and a letter, he dispatched them to the Divine Weapon Pavilion. He believed that his Divine Inscription Painting could help him secure the necessary cultivation resources.

In the center of the courtyard, Qin Wentian drew a deep breath, savoring the fresh air. Suddenly, a white blur shot past, and a blurry silhouette leaped into his arms.

"Did you miss me, little fellow?" Qin Wentian rubbed Little Rascal's head, sporting a smile. The snowy puppy's large eyes gazed at him and playfully licked his face, exuding irresistible adorableness.

"Wentian!" As Qin Wentian emerged from seclusion, Qin Chuan and Qin Yao hurried over.

"Father, Sister," Qin Wentian greeted with a smile, but upon noticing the furrowed brows on his father's face, he couldn't help but inquire, "Father, is something amiss?"

"Wentian, during the days you spent in seclusion, many things unfolded in Chu," Qin Yao began, leading Qin Wentian to a seat before filling him in on the events of the past few days.

Listening to her account, Qin Wentian felt a series of emotional surges within him, which eventually settled into a profound calm.

"It seems Grandpa Qin had made his preparations long ago," he remarked with a sigh. For the past year, he had worked tirelessly, striving to liberate his father and grandfather from imprisonment. But in reality, his intervention had been unnecessary. Even if he had chosen not to act, nothing would have befallen Qin Wu and Qin Chuan.

"Wentian, I was unaware of these plans as well. Your grandpa concealed many things from me," Qin Chuan admitted, his expression marked by a heavy sigh.

"The power struggle left him with no other option. If our ancestor, Qin Wu, had truly been wronged by Chu, then Grandpa's actions were justified. Otherwise, our Qin Residence would have been ruthlessly annihilated. That's what a true hero does," Qin Wentian mused.

"There's something suspicious about our ancestor's death. Given your grandpa's abilities, he wouldn't have been able to persuade so many powers to rebel unless there was something more to the story. Only our ancestor, with his prestige, could have rallied such support," Qin Chuan reflected.

"You're right," Qin Wentian agreed. "Human lives should burn brightly and with a clear conscience. How can anyone tolerate a life as someone else's puppet?" He smiled, his opinion of Chu's royal clan far from favorable.

"Indeed, if our Qin Residence hadn't rebelled, we would have been waiting for our own destruction," Qin Chuan declared, his tone resolute. He didn't attach great importance to their ancestor's loyalty. First, there was the mysterious death of Qin Wu, followed by their Qin Clan's evacuation to Sky Harmony City and the oppression from various powers. It had become a situation of 'kill the hounds after all the hares have been hunted.' Rebelling was a more proactive choice.

Just then, footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard, and Qin Wentian turned to see Fan Le approaching. Fan Le, upon spotting him, shouted joyfully, "BOSS, you've finally emerged from seclusion. Chu Tianjiao intends to visit our Emperor Star Academy today. Rumor has it he's here to take Sister Qin Yao away. This guy's arrogance knows no bounds—he's blatantly trying to provoke us!"

"Snowcloud is equally absurd. Who does Sister Qin Yao think she is to them? Do they believe they can simply take her away by saying so? They even want to use a visit to the Emperor Star Academy as an excuse!" Qin Wentian's heart seethed with anger. Not only had Snowcloud's Crown Prince betrayed Qin Yao, but even if the betrayal had never occurred, she had no intention of being with him. Just because of his status and Snowcloud's pride, did he think he could force Qin Yao into submission?

Qin Wentian couldn't help but mutter, "Who does Xiao Lü think he is?"

"That's exactly what I think. How arrogant can he be? Let's hope our Emperor Star Academy gives them a cold shoulder," Fan Le chimed in.

"Right," Qin Wentian agreed.

"I'm coming too," Qin Yao added, grabbing Qin Wentian's hand.

Qin Wentian smiled at Qin Yao. "Sure, who does the Crown Prince of Snowcloud think he is? How could he be worthy of my sister?"

Qin Yao grinned mischievously. "Yup, my future brother will be much more outstanding than the Crown Prince of Snowcloud."

Qin Chuan watched their interaction with satisfaction. Seeing how close Qin Wentian and Qin Yao had become, he felt genuinely pleased. Even though Qin Wentian was his adopted son, his place in Qin Chuan's heart was no less significant than Qin Yao's. Qin Wentian was like a real son to him.

Chu Tianjiao led members of the Royal Academy to pay a visit. Since it was widely known, the Emperor Star Academy had no reason to decline. Instead, they welcomed their guests with open arms. If there were people trying to provoke them, they could only respond in kind.

In the central arena of the Emperor Star Academy, a large crowd had gathered. Students were engaged in animated discussions. They could see many elite Yuanfu seniors present, a rare sight in the academy's grounds. This showed the immense pressure the new Royal Academy was exerting on the Emperor Star Academy.

In the distance, a group of figures slowly approached. These youths were around 20 years old and exuded an extraordinary aura. As they walked together, a sense of destiny seemed to surround them, radiating a formidable presence.

Those who were aware of the situation understood that these individuals weren't just the elites of the new Royal Academy; they also included experts and prodigies from Snowcloud. Moreover, some elite members of the Nine Mystical Palace were among them.

This added significant pressure on the Emperor Star Academy. Old Gu, seated atop the spectator stand, furrowed his brows as he observed the approaching figures. This time, the situation did not bode well. The Emperor Star Academy would face a challenging task dealing with this entourage.

"Wentian, you're here," Old Gu noticed Qin Wentian's arrival and greeted him with a smile.

Qin Wentian, respecting his teacher, approached and greeted him. "Old man Gu." He then turned to Mustang and bowed respectfully. "Teacher."

"Come, sit beside me," Old Gu chuckled, beckoning Qin Wentian over. The crowd below could only sigh in envy and admiration. Qin Wentian's position within the academy now exceeded even that of the elders. Following the assassination attempt, the would-be assassin, Elder Janus, was swiftly dealt with as a warning to anyone who might dare to harm Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian humbly complied, taking a seat beside Old Gu. "I'll try not to be impolite," he replied.

"I'm actually waiting to see when you will be impolite," Old Gu stroked his beard and laughed. "My granddaughter is quite mischievous. When will you help me rein her in?"

Qin Wentian blinked rapidly, caught off guard. "Er..."

"What, are you unwilling?" Old Gu mockingly feigned anger.

"No, I'm willing, I'm willing," Qin Wentian hastily assured him.

"Haha, if that's the case, then you've agreed. I'll have to inform my granddaughter about this someday," Old Gu continued, causing Qin Wentian to freeze momentarily before letting out a bitter laugh. It appeared he had fallen into a trap.

Old Gu added, "What's wrong with that? In my opinion, Wentian, your temperament suits Miss Mo quite well."

Qin Yao, who had been standing to the side, chimed in. "Yes, your sister agrees with me too."

Old Gu laughed heartily, and his previously knitted brows finally relaxed.

Chu Tianjiao of the Royal Academy was here, hoping to find the Emperor Star Academy's elders in good health. However, their exchange was interrupted by another voice. Old Gu's joy turned to a stern expression as he shifted his gaze to the silhouettes that had just arrived at the base of the spectator stands.

Though these individuals harbored malicious intent, they maintained their etiquette, bowing in the direction of the Emperor Star Academy as a sign of respect to the elders.

Old Gu asked in a clear voice, "May I ask the Third Prince why you're visiting the Emperor Star Academy today?"

Chu Tianjiao responded, "The Crown Prince of Snowcloud, Xiao Lǜ, is here to welcome Qin Yao back to Snowcloud in glory. However, he has faced repeated setbacks due to the interference of the Emperor Star Academy. Therefore, we had no choice but to arrange this visit. We hope that the elders of the Emperor Star Academy won't make things difficult for him, as we don't want to strain the relationship between Chu and Snowcloud. However, I understand that my words alone may not sway your decision. Thus, I've brought some fellow disciples from our sect, hoping to receive guidance and pointers from the Emperor Star Academy."

Chu Tianjiao spoke politely, his words carefully chosen to present a reasonable request on behalf of the Third Prince and the Royal Academy.