"Snap, snap."
Lan Qinghe's door was knocked on.
Opening the door, a man in strong attire, holding a long sword, looking like he was in his thirties, appeared in front of him.
"Dragon Eagle Swordsman?"
The man nodded and courteously bowed: "Swordsman Jian Shou of the Dragon Eagle, I have met the sixtieth-fourth master."
"Snow Sword Villa?"
Lan Qinghe had an insight.
Previously, when "Lan Qinghe" had his meridians severely damaged, he had sent a message to the Snow Sword Villa, hoping for healing medicine. Now, half a month had passed, and at least there had been some news.
Before Lan Qinghe could ask, Jian Shou spoke frankly: "According to the rules of Snow Sword Villa, if the offspring who have gone out to train achieve nothing, they bear their own life and death, and the villa will not provide any assistance. In addition, due to the damage to the sixty-fourth master's meridians, the cultivation level has fallen to the first level of refining true qi, the monthly salary has been reduced to the lowest, one gold coin."
Lan Qinghe, upon hearing this, did not feel surprised.
Snow Sword Villa's master, Lu Qingfeng, had ninety-three children. He himself probably couldn't remember all their names. Those children who had no outstanding achievements were left to fend for themselves.
"I understand."
Lan Qinghe said.
Looking at Lan Qinghe's expressionless face, Jian Shou said indifferently: "Miss Seventy-Six has a great lack of resources for cultivation, lacks funds, and is at a crucial stage of competing for the position of Daoist disciple. The steward thinks that this matter should not be let known to Miss Seventy-Six. What is the sixty-fourth master's opinion?"
Miss Seventy-Six, Lu Qingyun, Lan Qinghe's own sister, the true genius of the young generation of Snow Sword Villa. Lan Qinghe's success at Qingyuan Academy would not have been possible without her guidance over the years.
"I believe the sixty-fourth master will understand the reason, and our homing pigeons from Snow Sword Villa will not bother Miss Seventy-Six for such trivial matters. Goodbye."
Jian Shou cautioned before leaving.
The Dragon Eagle Swordsman was one of the powerful martial institutions of the Snow Sword Villa, with a total of eight hundred members, all of whom were strong at least at the third level of refining true qi. Among them, captains, deputy captains, and vice commanders were even at the fourth, fifth, and sixth refining true qi levels.
Such status certainly did not fall below those young masters and misses who had not accomplished anything, so there was no need to act according to their preferences.
"Snow Sword Villa..."
Lan Qinghe watched Jian Shou's figure gradually disappear, looking silent.
Even...
Sorrowful.
As Yi Yingying had said, it was a pitiful reality.
...
Time quickly passed six days.
"It's time."
On the morning of the sixth day, Lan Qinghe tidied himself up a bit, put on a white swordsman's robe, took a sharp sword, and went out.
Before, Lan Qinghe bore the title of the top swordsman of Qingyuan Academy, and many students were flattered when they met him. And now, with him being disqualified from further education and his meridians being damaged by poisoning Northern Zhen, the looks from those students had changed completely.
Although not openly mocking, a sense of disdain in their eyes was evident.
Lan Qinghe, however, remained indifferent to their looks as he walked past them, his upright posture refusing to linger for anyone.
"Lan Qinghe."
At that moment, a voice came from behind Lan Qinghe.
Meng Feifan, an elite disciple of Qingyuan Academy.
"What's up?"
Meng Feifan hesitated for a moment: "Northern Zhen will go to the Ancient City the day after tomorrow, and you have offended him. It won't be peaceful these days. If it's not necessary, don't go out alone."
Lan Qinghe nodded at Meng Feifan.
"Thank you for the information."
After speaking, he turned and left.
"The top swordsman of Qingyuan Academy...what a shame."
Seeing Lan Qinghe leave, Meng Feifan looked rather regretful.
"Meng Feifan, do you believe Lan Qinghe would secretly attack and poison Northern Zhen?"
A woman's voice came from beside Meng Feifan.
"In front of everyone, with clear evidence, and besides, whether there are any suspicious circumstances around Lan Qinghe's poisoning is no longer the focus. The key point is that the assessment instructor from the Northern Moon Royal Academy believes he poisoned Northern Zhen, which is enough to eliminate his path of entering the Northern Moon Royal Academy."
"The instructor from the Northern Moon Royal Academy..."
The woman behind Meng Feifan furrowed her brows, thinking of the close relationship between Northern Zhen and the instructor...
On this basis, perhaps it was no longer important whether Lan Qinghe was the one who poisoned him.
"This is reality."
Meng Fei was silent. His tone was heavy.
......
Dongfang Academy.
One of the three famous academies in Qingyuan City.
When Lu Qinghe arrived at Dongfang Academy, the academy was already bustling early in the morning.
Today was the day of the graduation ceremony at Dongfang Academy.
This year, a total of six hundred and eighty-one students participated in the entrance exam, twelve were admitted, and three entered the top-tier colleges.
Yi Yingying was admitted to Changkong Academy, which was one of the top-tier colleges.
Standing in the crowd, Lu Qinghe quietly looked at the twelve students on the high platform, who were the focus of admiration in the entire Dongfang Academy, and his heart remained calm.
For cultivators, joining a power was extremely important.
In this world, when a cultivator reached the Yuanming realm, they would open up their own Yuan realm within their body. The strength and size of the Yuan realm varied from person to person and had immeasurable effects on a cultivator's practice.
Cultivators with a strong Yuan realm could not only dominate peers at the same level but also possess the ability to kill opponents of higher levels.
Some cultivators with perfect Yuan realms could resonate with the ancient Yuan realms, receive the blessings of the highest ancient Yuan realms, and connect with other cultivators' Yuan realms through special secret methods, forming a myriad of Yuan realms where spiritual communication and rapid cultivation were possible.
For two cultivators with the same talent, whether or not they joined a power would make a huge difference in their future achievements.
A top-tier college was the gateway to joining such a power.
Moreover, if one had talent, their achievements in the top-tier college would definitely not be limited.
These achievements were worthy of envy and jealousy, worthy of any infatuated young girl's admiration. At this moment in life, one had taken a crucial step.
......
Yi Yingying stood at the forefront of the high platform, just like the other two students, bathed in the admiration and discussions of all the students.
Although her appearance was not outstanding, at this moment, she was undoubtedly the most outstanding and popular female student in the entire Dongfang Academy.
Looking at the many disciples filled with admiration below, although Yi Yingying felt proud, she remained appropriately modest and courteous.
However, when her gaze swept around and landed on Lu Qinghe in the crowd, she was slightly startled, then nodded at him with a faint smile.
At this moment, Yi Yingying, the center of attention for all the students, immediately attracted most people's gazes with her nod. Even the man and woman sitting next to her turned curiously.
"Is that... Lu Qinghe from Qingyuan Academy?"
"Yes, it's Lu Qinghe. I heard he has recently turned to studying arithmetic. It seems he has given up cultivation."
Yunzhi, who was by Yi Yingying's side, turned to a man who sat next to her and Yi Yingying, saying, "Biluo, Lu Qinghe once tried to obtain an enrollment quota for the Beiyue Royal Academy. He almost became your junior brother."
"Lu Qinghe?" Biluo glanced at Lu Qinghe in the crowd following Yi Yingying's gaze and said indifferently, "From now on, he and us are in different worlds. What's the point in talking about him?"
Proud.
The pride of a student from Beiyue Royal Academy.
Biluo's words resonated with several others who had been admitted to the top-tier college.
"That's true."
"Lu Qinghe, if he had not wasted his Zhenqi due to his failure at Beiyue, he would have been a decent opponent. It's a pity that from now on, there is a world of difference between us."
One female student, who appeared to be praising Lu Qinghe, said, "Even though he has lost the title of the top swordsman and cut off his path to Beiyue Royal Academy, he is still a remarkable figure who once dominated Qingyuan City. Even now, he stands out among the crowd."
"Yunqi, now that you've been admitted to Xuanji Academy, your future achievements are limitless. If you appreciate him, invite him to be your subordinate. I'm sure he'll be willing."
A male student chuckled and said.
Yunqi replied with a proud smile, raising her chin, "That's enough. Not just anyone can become my subordinate. I'm not interested in Lu Qinghe."
She did not see any qualification in Lu Qinghe for her attention.
Yi Yingying listened to their conversation and coldly snorted.
"Ridiculous. Even though you have been admitted to the top-tier college, right now, even if Lu Qinghe does not use Zhenqi, how many of you can defeat him?"
Yi Yingying's blunt words made Yunqi and others feel a bit uncomfortable, with the male student who had teased Yunqi retorting, "Although right now, when compared to Lu Qinghe, perhaps it's fifty-fifty if we were to fight him, we are advancing by leaps and bounds after entering the top-tier college, while he's stuck in the same place. Sooner or later, we will leave him behind."
"Tang Fei is right. When we reach the third, even the fourth level of Zhenqi, and attain large-scale circulations, even though Lu Qinghe is proficient in sword arts, it will only amount to a single sword."
Yunqi and others echoed his sentiments.
"No one can predict the future. At least for now, you are not his match. When can the weak criticize the strong?"
Yi Yingying's words made Biluo, who had successfully entered the Beiyue Royal Academy, chuckle, "Although Yunqi, Tang Fei, and others are currently inferior to Lu Qinghe, their words have a point."
Biluo's tone was indifferent, but it carried an unmistakable air of superiority.
Lan Qinghe did not enter the Royal Academy of Beiyue, but he succeeded in advancing in his studies. Just for that alone, he is qualified to point the way for Lan Qinghe.
His judgment is beyond doubt!
"Sister Yi Yingying and Lan Qinghe have a close relationship. Could it be that she has the intention to take him in?"
"A true genius cannot be defeated by minor setbacks."
After saying this, Yi Yingying seemed to feel that people with different goals could not work together, and immediately stood up and left the stage.
"A summer insect cannot talk to ice."
Seeing Yi Yingying's rude departure, Biluo coldly snorted and ignored her.
...
"Senior Qinghe."
Yi Yingying came all the way, and the students along the way naturally made way for her, some of them looking at Lan Qinghe with envy and jealousy, especially those who were being valued by Yi Yingying.
Yi Yingying!
As a student of the Higher Academy, there were also many who were willing to be her followers.
"Why did you come down?"
"I've been up there for almost half an hour, and I've had enough of the monkey show."
Yi Yingying always spoke straightforwardly.
"I was planning to say goodbye to Senior Qinghe after the closing ceremony, but unexpectedly I've troubled Senior Qinghe to come and send me personally. At this moment, my regret is almost gone."
"The capital city is a whole new stage, where young and talented people from various cities gather. You must put your full efforts into cultivation, without any hindrances. I don't want to see you being overlooked when I go to the Eternal City someday."
"I believe you won't see that day."
Yi Yingying responded with a smile.
She had a scholarly demeanor that resonated with those who appreciated well-spoken and enjoyable conversation.
If Yi Yingying were a man, with her own charisma, she would definitely be able to make many close friends.
"Senior Qinghe, there are narrow-minded people around here, there's no need to pay attention to them."
"I understand."
They have the right to criticize, but Lan Qinghe is not easily provoked because of that.
If he truly feels uncomfortable, he will challenge and make them yield, with his sword one by one.
Now...
He has the power to do it!
"This is the Senior Qinghe that I know. I hope that he will recover soon, and we will have the chance to fight a good battle in the future."
"Why wait for the future? We can do it now!"
"Now?"
Yi Yingying was slightly startled.
"That is the purpose of my visit!"
Human nature.
Yi Yingying's wish is to have a good fight with him.
A full-fledged battle.
"A sword does not become blunt just because it has lost its true qi."
Yi Yingying listened to Lan Qinghe's solemn but uplifting words, as if understanding something.
The number one powerhouse in Qingyuan Academy.
Always at the top.
Unchanged by setbacks.
"Okay, let's go to the Sword Fighting Platform!"
Yi Yingying nodded heavily.
Efficient, straightforward, and full of heroic spirit.
The two looked at each other, walked side by side, and headed towards the Sword Fighting Platform with big strides.