Airborne

Airborne...

Atop the transparent crystal lotus, the young maiden, dressed in diaphanous robes that left little to the imagination, sent the hearts of many males in the audience into a frenzied dance. But the moment she unfurled the painting in her hands, all attention instantly shifted to the Divine Inscription Painting.

Once again, it was a Human-type Divine Inscription Painting, so lifelike that it appeared to be in perpetual motion. Its hidden concepts drew people in, immersing them as if they too were part of the mesmerizing scene, their consciousness deciphering its intricate message.

"Another astonishing creation," someone marveled, their voice echoing in a private room. The maiden turned toward the source of the sound, smiling. "Vice-president Zuo, your judgment is impeccable. After missing out on the first painting, I'm sure you won't let this opportunity slip away."

"Vice President Zuo Yin of the Star River Association," the announcement rang out.

On the first level, in a quiet corner, a young lady fixed her gaze on Autumn Snow, who had turned deathly pale. "Autumn Snow, is it true that you broke off your engagement with Qin Wentian?"

Autumn Snow's expression grew even uglier. In Qin Wentian's current position, she couldn't even begin to compare. Moreover, the Royal Clan of Chu was currently engaged in a fierce battle against the rebels. The outcome was uncertain, but if the rebels emerged victorious, Qin Wentian's status would surpass that of Chu Tianjiao. Everyone knew that the mastermind behind the rebellion was none other than the Qin Clan.

Sitting beside Ye Zhan, Liu Yan's heart churned with complex emotions. Back then, Ye Zhan had told her that she and Qin Wentian were destined for different worlds. Now, that prophecy had come true, but the roles had reversed. How many people in the Royal Capital knew of Ye Zhan, and how many knew of Qin Wentian?

Murin had become a thorn in Zuo Yin's side due to the matter involving Qin Wentian. The depth of Zuo Yin's dislike for Murin was palpable, and Murin, in turn, harbored a hidden resentment towards the old man. If Zuo Yin resented him because of Qin Wentian, then he wouldn't hold back either. However, Murin was careful not to display this animosity openly. On the surface, he maintained a facade of politeness and frequent apologies.

In the end, the painting was successfully auctioned off to none other than Zuo Yin, who paid an astronomical price for it. As the Vice President of the Star River Association, he possessed numerous innate techniques and Divine Weapons, making it easy for him to acquire the painting through bids.

The act of auctioning Qin Wentian's Divine Inscription Painting stirred great waves in the hearts of many. Numerous individuals with remarkable backgrounds competed fiercely for it.

Autumn Snow left the Heavenly Treasure Tower feeling dejected. She couldn't deny having regrets, especially since Qin Wentian had never looked down on her. It was all her fault; her greed, along with Bai Qingsong's, had squandered everything that could have been hers. Moreover, her current lifestyle was far from ideal. She longed for the simpler days she once shared with the humble youth.

There was another reason for her feelings— the chasm between them was now so vast that she couldn't even muster a trace of jealousy.

"He must hate me and my Bai Clan so deeply that it's seeped into his bones," Autumn Snow bitterly laughed. Time and experiences could work wonders. In just a year, her entire outlook had undergone a significant transformation, something she would have never anticipated before.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian was unaware of the events at the auction house. He had given the Divine Weapon Pavilion full authority to handle the matter, confident they wouldn't mistreat him or cheat him out of his profits. His sole focus was now on cultivation, as he understood that power would grant him status, resources, and authority.

Qin Wentian subjected himself to self-torture in his relentless pursuit of mastering the Fiend Transformation Art. Over the past few days, he had devoted every waking moment to intense cultivation, employing various grueling methods to push himself to new limits. Despite the agony, the results were astonishing. His physique grew ever more robust, and his life force surged, making each breath he took brim with vitality.

Five days flew by, and in the Royal Capital's open plaza, tens of thousands of young hopefuls gathered. These aspiring talents hailed from every corner of Chu, infusing the capital with an electric atmosphere. Despite the turbulent times of war, the determination of these youth to embark on their martial journeys remained unshaken, each yearning for a brighter future.

Yet, keen observers would notice that this year, there were fewer young aspirants in attendance compared to previous ones.

This was because today marked the day when the Emperor Star Academy would "pay a visit" to the Royal Academy.

Five days ago, the Royal Academy's visit to the Emperor Star Academy had sent shockwaves throughout the Royal Capital. The news of the Emperor Star Academy losing four of the battles became a hot topic of discussion among the city's residents. When Qin Wentian responded to their "politeness" with more "politeness," announcing that the Emperor Star Academy would visit the Royal Academy in five days, it drew even more attention to the upcoming event. People eagerly anticipated the response of Qin Wentian, the Jun Lin Banquet champion, and wondered how the newly established Royal Academy would prepare to face these challenges.

Winning wouldn't be easy for the Emperor Star Academy. Even if Qin Wentian won his fight, what about the other four battles? Currently, within the Emperor Star Academy, a discussion was underway with Qin Wentian, Old Gu, Mustang, Elder Thousand-Hands, and a few others present.

Old Gu massaged his temples, clearly feeling the weight of the situation. "This is such a headache. Which five Arterial Circulation Realm students should we send?"

Qin Wentian, Luo Huan, and Mountain were three of the most outstanding Arterial Circulation Realm cultivators in the academy and would undoubtedly be part of the five challengers. The Jun Lin Banquet had already showcased the pinnacle of Arterial Circulation cultivators, and their performances had been excellent. Luo Huan had excelled, while Mountain had reached the 9th level of Arterial Circulation.

But Old Gu's headache persisted. The Emperor Star Academy had enjoyed great success at the Jun Lin Banquet mainly due to Orchon and Luo Qianqiu. However, Luo Qianqiu had left, and the Ou Clan was now supporting Chu Tianjiao. Orchon had chosen to fade into obscurity. Without them, how could they disrupt Chu Tianjiao's plans effectively?

Among the top nine rankings, only Qin Wentian and Luo Huan belonged to the Emperor Star Academy. After the merger with the Godly General Martial Palace and Royal Academy, they had Chu Chen and Hou Tie, not to mention formidable talents like Shi Jun from the Ten Prodigies and Leng Ya. Although the latter two hadn't made the top nine, Leng Ya's martial prowess couldn't be underestimated.

Old Gu voiced his concerns, "I'm afraid Chu Tianjiao will find an excuse to let Sikong Mingyue fight. If that happens, their team will be incredibly powerful."

Sikong Mingyue and Chu Chen had ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively, while Hou Tie was 6th. If Chu Tianjiao employed underhanded methods to sneak in an unknown Arterial Circulation Realm cultivator from the Nine Mystical Palace, their situation would indeed become very challenging.

Luo Chen approached, nodding at Qin Wentian. "Back in the academy, you and Seventh Night played me, but seeing your strength, I admit my inferiority. I would have lost, no matter what."

Qin Wentian smiled, knowing that polite words meant little to a cultivation enthusiast like Luo Chen. Instead, Luo Chen preferred challenging words and the exchange of pointers. He thrived on accepting challenges.

"Sure, I'm looking forward to it," Qin Wentian replied. "Are all five challengers ready?"

Luo Chen nodded with a confident smile. "Absolutely."

"We currently have only four. I'm still contemplating who should be the fifth challenger," Old Gu admitted with a hint of concern.

A voice, sounding surprisingly weak, chimed in, "Hey, what about me?" The spectators turned to see a portly figure approaching, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Qin Wentian blinked in surprise as he recognized the newcomer – it was Fan Le. He had voluntarily stepped up to participate in the challenge.

Fan Le's audacity caught the attention of the crowd. Mustang's eyes, however, gleamed with confidence. He had been coaching Fan Le over the past few days and was well aware of the rotund youth's true capabilities.

"He should be a worthy addition," Mustang stated with a grin. "Fan Le reached the 8th level of Arterial Circulation a few days ago. While his cultivation base may be somewhat lacking, his extraordinary talent and bloodline power compensate for it. Moreover, he wields psychic force, utilizing his willpower to enhance his telekinesis, making him exceptionally suited for team battles."

Mustang stroked his chin, causing Qin Wentian to raise an eyebrow in surprise. Fan Le had already broken through to the 8th level of Arterial Circulation? Such rapid progress was indeed remarkable.

Seeing Qin Wentian's thunderstruck expression, Fan Le furrowed his brow. "Hey, Boss, don't underestimate this fatty; I'm a genius too."

Mustang chimed in, "This guy is genuinely talented, and his cultivation speed is astonishing. I don't know how he acquired so many Yuan Meteor Stones, but he recklessly absorbed Astral Energy from them, pushing himself to break through to the 8th level. Qin Wentian, nod in agreement. Fan Le's talent was undeniable, though his one major flaw was his extreme laziness.

After Mustang had 'kidnapped' Fan Le, the rotund youth had spent most of his time strictly adhering to the training regimen set by Mustang. Even his sleep hours were precisely scheduled.

"Since we have our five challengers, let's proceed," Old Gu declared.

He whistled loudly, and from the skies, a colossal griffon descended, landing before the crowd.

Old Gu, along with the five challengers, mounted the griffon, and together they soared into the sky. Although their team was missing Luo Qianqiu and Orchon, it was still a formidable force.

Qin Wentian, the celebrated champion of the Jun Lin Banquet, was accompanied by Luo Huan, who had secured the 9th position in the competition. Luo Chen, despite his misfortune in rankings, was unquestionably a formidable fighter. Mountain had broken through to the 9th level, and even the portly Fan Le, with his exceptional bloodline and innate talent, had remarkable potential. Now, they could only wait and see what kind of challengers the Royal Academy had in store for them.

The 8th-grade griffon they rode upon was astonishingly swift. In a matter of moments, they had arrived in the airspace above the Royal Academy.

Heads turned and hearts quivered as countless eyes from the Royal Academy gazed upward. The challengers from the Emperor Star Academy had arrived!

Much like the Emperor Star Academy, the Royal Academy boasted a central arena reserved for significant battles. The griffon touched down in the center of this arena, where Chu Tianjiao and his entourage awaited.

"Chu Tianjiao respectfully welcomes the arrival of our esteemed senior," Chu Tianjiao greeted with a bow towards Old Gu. Beside him stood Xiao Lǜ, and behind them were five figures.

These five figures included Sikong Mingyue, Chu Chen, Hou Tie, and Leng Ya. The final person among them left the six members of the Emperor Star Academy gasping in surprise. Their last opponent was an exquisitely beautiful young woman dressed in elegant white attire, emanating an air of nobility.

"The Little Princess of Chu," a sharp glint flashed in Old Gu's eyes. Chu Tianjiao had truly spared no effort, even managing to secure the assistance of the Little Princess at great cost.

Although the Little Princess rarely made public appearances, Old Gu was well aware of her capabilities. If she had attended the Jun Lin Banquet, she would undoubtedly have been one of the top nine contenders!