Entering the Imperial Capital

Su Lixue hailed from the Su family of Jingyun Peak and had been recommended for enrollment by her clan.

Li Qingwan and Murong Qiuhan, on the other hand, had both been admitted to the academy through special exceptions granted by the Zhuhu Wangchao.

Only Ye Lan came from an ordinary, minor Qi Gathering family, having earned her place by standing out in the academy's open selection.

Except for Li Qingwan, the other three had consistently held places on the Golden Roll for the past three years, which was why they had not appeared here today.

"This truly makes history for Chengtian Academy!"

"Indeed. Before Senior Sister Li entered, the Chess Court had never had a woman rise to the Golden Roll."

"The masters will surely be delighted when they see the list. This is proof of our academy's thriving progress and the driven spirit of its disciples."

"All four Senior Sisters possess extraordinary talent, looking like celestial maidens descended from heaven!"

Each of the four beauties possessed a countenance that could topple cities, yet their distinct personalities fulfilled every ideal fantasy the male disciples held for a Dao companion.

Su Lixue's pride, Li Qingwan's icy detachment, Murong Qiuhan's air of mystery, and Ye Lan's gentle grace-these were the qualities the disciples deeply yearned for.

This was how the vast majority of ordinary disciples perceived the four.

Yet they remained entirely unaware that the connections binding these four women were far more intricate than they seemed.

Ye Lan was born into the North Crow Ye family of Wangyue City, which had once been an Affiliated Family of the Southern Mountain Li family.

When the Li family collapsed, its twelve Affiliated Families were swept into the devastating wake, and the Ye family was no exception.

Left without a patron and surrounded by rapacious enemies, their situation at the time had been perilous in the extreme.

It was only because Ye Lan had personally sought out Su Lixue and quietly maneuvered behind the scenes to link the Ye family to the Su family's network that the crisis was averted.

However, what exact price the Ye family had paid during that transaction remained a mystery.

As for Li Qingwan and Murong Qiuhan, they appeared to share no connection whatsoever. In truth, however, when the proposal was first made within the royal court for Li Yuande to enter the imperial city and publicly demonstrate the Qi-Fall Condensed Origin method, the prime mover had been Murong Qiuhan's grandfather, who held office in the Chongtian Palace.

In four years, Li Qingwan and Murong Qiuhan had met only once, exchanging nothing more than a brief glance without a single word.

Seeing that Li Qingwan had successfully secured her place on the Golden Roll, a faint, barely perceptible trace of joy surfaced between Shen Yue's brows.

He turned and walked over, the surrounding disciples consciously parting to make a path for him.

"Years of bitter cultivation have finally culminated in your name on the Golden Roll today. Congratulations, Senior Sister."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Li Qingwan raised her hands in a courteous salute and replied, "The path of cultivation has never been an easy one. As cultivators seeking the Dao from Heaven, it is only natural to strive without cease. It cannot be considered a hardship."

Hearing those words, Lian Xiaoman, who followed closely behind Shen Yue, stepped forward abruptly.

"Hey! Li Qingwan, must you always maintain this facade of high and mighty detachment?"

She had indeed taken Shen Yue's warning to heart and refrained from gossiping behind Li Qingwan's back, choosing instead to confront her face-to-face.

Li Qingwan merely spared her a fleeting glance, having no intention of offering a reply.

"Xiaoman, do not be insolent!"

Shen Yue rebuked her sharply before turning back to apologize, "Forgive her, Junior Sister. Xiaoman is simply too blunt by nature. Please do not take it to heart."

"Mm."

Li Qingwan gave a flat, indifferent response, turning to depart alongside Feng Linghua.

Once they were out of earshot, Lian Xiaoman muttered with low, resentful indignation, "Senior Brother, she does not appreciate your kindness in the slightest, yet you constantly defend her. I truly feel it is beneath your dignity."

"In talent, aptitude, and appearance, you are second to none in this entire academy, Senior Brother. I refuse to believe that the person she holds in her heart could possibly compare to you!"

"Enough, Xiaoman. Say no more. We should return as well."

Shen Yue's expression grew somewhat despondent as he turned away.

He had originally intended to take his fellow disciples down the mountain for a brief excursion today, but upon learning that Li Qingwan's heart already belonged to another, he completely lost the inclination.

The news of Li Qingwan making the Golden Roll spread rapidly, and before long, the report was delivered to the upper floors of a grand pavilion named Wangtian within Chongtian City.

"Young Master, My Lady, a letter has arrived."

A servant presented the missive. Su Lixue, attired in a deep sapphire-blue gown with skin as flawless as white jade, casually unfurled the parchment.

"So Li Qingwan is attending as well. Is she truly that eager to watch her own ancestor perish with her own eyes?"

"Pfft..."

Seated nearby, Su Lingyun chuckled aloud. "What a way to put it. She merely wishes to bear witness. After all, one does not let precious insights fall into the hands of outsiders. Is it not entirely natural for her to want to observe the ceremony?"

With a slight motion of Su Lixue's fingers, a glaze of frost enveloped the letter, causing it to disintegrate into a flurry of snow.

She turned her gaze toward Su Lingyun, a faint, mocking smile in her eyes. "What? Have you taken a liking to her?"

"Heh. A dying man's descendant, nothing more. Whether she meets her end sooner or later makes little difference. What is there to like or dislike?"

"See? Your tongue is far more venomous than mine."

Su Lixue leaned back against her chair, summoning a lone snowflake to hover above her palm. "No matter how you look at it, she is still one of our academy's 'Four Beauties.' If she fails to catch your eye, what about Murong Qiuhan?"

"I would never take a woman from the imperial palace. Their hearts are far too ruthless, utterly devoid of human warmth."

"Then... what of Ye Lan?"

"A worn-out shoe. There is no need to even speak of her here."

Su Lixue's eyes narrowed slightly as she suddenly sensed a shift in his demeanor, watching Su Lingyun with sudden vigilance.

"I will warn you one final time-do not entertain any designs regarding me. If you dare lay a single finger on me, I will have Father sever your limbs!"

"Sigh... You were not like this when we were children. The more you grow, the less endearing you become."

Su Lingyun rolled his head lazily, adopting an expression of profound disappointment.

"Vile wretch!"

Anger flushed Su Lixue's fair face. She spat out the curse, turning on her heel to storm out of the chamber, leaving Su Lingyun alone on the couch, shaking his head with a quiet sigh.

At the same time Chengtian Academy released its rankings, a male cultivator of entirely ordinary appearance arrived at a point a hundred li outside Chongtian City.

As he made his way forward, he was intercepted by a royal patrol officer who was likewise at the late Qi Gathering stage.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist. I am a patrol officer of Chongtian City executing routine duties. Might I inspect your city entry documents?"

As the imperial capital of the Zhuhu Wangchao, Chongtian City encompassed an immense territory.

To be precise, it was an entire region rather than a mere metropolis; the urban center itself comprised only a fraction of the domain.

This vast expanse housed numerous vital institutions, including the Wangchao Martial Academy, Chengtian Academy, and the High Tribunals.

Consequently, patrol officers maintained unceasing vigil around the clock across the borders of Chongtian City to prevent any individuals with malicious intent from infiltrating the realm.

"Naturally. Please accept it for review, Fellow Daoist."

Yang Lingrui drew forth the official document and handed it across.

The patrol officer scanned the contents before offering a respectful bow. "So you are a Fellow Daoist traveling to attend the grand ceremony. Please forgive my lack of discernment."

"No harm done. The imperial capital is a place of utmost consequence; it is only proper for you to remain vigilant, Fellow Daoist," Yang Lingrui replied cordially.

Drawing from his past experiences, Yang Lingrui had packed several human-skin masks into his Storage Bag-spoils he had retrieved from that rogue scholar cultivator.

By donning a mask and infusing it with spiritual power, he could alter his appearance seamlessly to ordinary sight.

Furthermore, with the concealment arts Elder Yu had placed upon him, no cultivator below the Condensed Origin realm could pierce the disguise unless they possessed highly specialized ocular techniques.

The officer then produced a dark, ink-colored token and presented it to Yang Lingrui.

"If you carry this token and keep your spiritual power channeled into it, you may proceed directly into Chongtian City without further questioning."

"Much obliged."

Securing the token, Yang Lingrui encountered no further obstacles along his path.

As he closed the distance to Chongtian City and the soaring, monumental walls came into view, a familiar figure emerged from the wayside.

"Your timing is precise. I thought I would have to wait out here for a day or two."

Zi He stood there, clad in form-fitting red and black leather armor, a heavy longbow slung across his back.

Yang Lingrui gestured toward his altered features. "You managed to recognize me even like this?"

"Tch."

Zi He pointed toward his own eyes with a sharp grin. "Have you forgotten? I am currently cultivating a specialized pupil technique."

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