After their discussion, Yan Zhen and his beautiful master withdrew from the dream realm together, their consciousnesses returning to reality.
On the couch, master and disciple opened their eyes at the same time. They gazed at each other face-to-face for a long moment before exchanging smiles and slowly sitting up.
As she straightened Yan Zhen’s clothes, Chen Xi said, “Since you already have a plan, Zhen’er, get right to implementing it. We can’t afford to delay with Ling’er and Zi Ji.”
Yan Zhen nodded solemnly. “I’ll head straight to Dean Little Aunt and get her to approve the special exam without delay.”
“Dean Little Aunt?”
“Uh, the Outer Court Dean is Mentor Yu Xuan’s little aunt, so I call her that too.”
“Has the Yu Family approved of you and Mentor Yu Xuan getting together?”
“No, Mentor Yu Xuan was taken back home… I need to get stronger fast so I can bring her out.”
Chen Xi smiled faintly. “The Yu Family of Holy Land Academy—it’s Yu Shizun’s clan, if I recall. Your master happens to know their ancestor. Do you need me to step in and sort this out for you?”
Yan Zhen was well aware of that, but he shook his head anyway. “I can handle it myself, Master. You shouldn’t reveal yourself just yet.”
“Then be careful, Zhen’er. Come to your master if anything comes up.”
“I understand, Master.”
His beautiful master planted a gentle kiss on his forehead. Blushing a little, Yan Zhen left the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
Outside, daylight had fully broken. Yan Zhen freshened up quickly and stepped out the door.
Next door, Huangfu Wenqing emerged right on cue, as if she’d timed it perfectly to join him.
She smiled at the sight of Yan Zhen. “Good morning, Yan Zhen.”
“Morning.” Yan Zhen gave her a curious look. “Heading to class, Wenqing?”
Huangfu Wenqing shook her head. “Dean Yu Qing summoned me. It’s about the special exam.”
“What!?”
Yan Zhen’s expression darkened.
She hadn’t bothered to call him…
—Nice one, Dean Little Aunt. Such a generous chest, but such a petty heart!
“I was just going to nudge the dean on that special exam approval anyway. Let’s go together.”
“Sure~”
The two set off side by side, leaving the dormitories behind as they made their way to Rain Heaven Pavilion, the dean’s residence.
As always, Rain Heaven Pavilion was veiled in a hazy curtain of rain—even in the dry winter, the air hung heavy with moisture.
They arrived just in time to see the new student representatives from the other three districts approaching from different directions. Clearly, they’d been summoned too.
Shan Ben from the West Academy District spotted Yan Zhen and Huangfu Wenqing. He frowned and called out, “Why are there two from the East Academy District?”
Qi Yu Xuan from the North Academy District replied flatly, “Ask the dean.”
With that, he strode first through the rainy veil and into the pavilion.
Chu Nan from the South Academy District glanced at Yan Zhen and Huangfu Wenqing but said nothing as he followed suit.
Shan Ben flashed a thumbs-down gesture and went in third.
Huangfu Wenqing frowned. “What a jerk.”
Yan Zhen shrugged it off. “Some morons won’t learn respect until you beat it into them.”
They brought up the rear, ascending the stairs to the dean’s office on the top floor.
The office door stood open, and Dean Yu Qing’s voice drifted out from within. “Come in, all of you.”
The five filed in one by one and stood in neat rows, not daring to act up.
Everyone except Yan Zhen and Huangfu Wenqing.
In her previous life, Huangfu Wenqing had been a Mystic Venerable powerhouse and the saintess of Evergreen Holy Land. A mere Mystic Ancestor was beneath her notice.
As for Yan Zhen, he felt no fear whatsoever toward the big-boobed, empty-headed Dean Little Aunt. If anything, the cold-faced Grand Mentor Aunt at her side exerted far more pressure.
The two Yu Family elders glanced subtly at Yan Zhen before looking away, though a lingering chill remained in their eyes.
“I’ve called you here today to let you know your special exam applications have been approved. I’ll also explain what the exam entails.”
Dean Yu Qing continued, “This year’s trial is simple: cross the river. Make it safely across the Dragon Gate Great River without falling in, and you pass. Fall in, and you’re out.”
“Those who qualify join the Inner Academy and receive rewards based on their rankings. Failures return meekly to the Outer Academy for more cultivation, awaiting the year-end Dragon Gate Grand Selection to show their stuff—each student only gets one shot at the special exam.”
She paused there before adding, “The special exam begins the morning after tomorrow at nine sharp. Don’t be late, or you’re automatically eliminated. The chief examiner will cover the detailed rules on-site. Just one reminder from me: you’ll be up against not only you standout new students but also plenty of qualifying old students. Their cultivation might lag a step behind, but after a full year honing their skills in the Outer Academy, they’ve got real chops. Don’t take them lightly.”
That final warning—”don’t take them lightly”—made all five of them tense up.
It meant the other examinees were rivals during the crossing. Direct or indirect interference was fair game.
At the thought, Shan Ben shot Yan Zhen a cold smirk.
Yan Zhen could only roll his eyes inwardly. He bore no grudge against Shan Ben; he’d merely shot back when the guy showed up to mock him before.
But Shan Ben despised a mere Three-Star Mystic Master like Yan Zhen, so he targeted him for kicks—the classic bully mentality of the strong toying with the weak, deriving pleasure from the victim’s impotent fury.
Handling guys like that was straightforward: beat them until they feared you. Fail to do so, and they’d stick like gum, needling you everywhere until they got bored.
“That’s all for now. Go back and prepare.”
Dean Yu Qing issued her dismissal. Qi Yu Xuan, Chu Nan, and Shan Ben bowed respectfully and took their leave. Yan Zhen, however, stayed rooted in place, and Huangfu Wenqing remained at his side.
Dean Yu Qing’s face turned frosty. “Do you two have more business?”
Yan Zhen asked coolly, “How is my mentor doing?”
“None of your concern!” Dean Yu Qing snapped, her anger flaring. “Don’t you dare set your sights on our Xuan’er again!”
Yan Zhen turned to Shui Bailan instead.
After a brief hesitation, Shui Bailan replied, “Xuan’er has returned to the Yu Family and entered secluded cultivation. She won’t emerge until she breaks through to the Mystic General Realm.”
“Is that her punishment?” Yan Zhen’s brows furrowed. “Nothing more?”
Shui Bailan averted her gaze. “She also took some family discipline. She’s recuperating now.”
Yan Zhen’s face darkened in an instant. His eyes shifted into eerie vertical slits, flames erupting around him. A crushing pressure surged through the dean’s office—one that belied his status as a mere Mystic Master.
“Yan Zhen…” Huangfu Wenqing startled. “Calm down.”
Dean Yu Qing bristled like a spooked cat. “You think this is whose fault? Still throwing a fit here! You think I can’t deal with you?”
Yan Zhen snorted and withdrew his mystic power. “Before I graduate, I’ll use every method at my disposal to bring her out.”
With that, he turned on his heel and left.
Huangfu Wenqing hurried after him.
Dean Yu Qing planted her hands on her hips, her ample chest heaving with fury.
Shui Bailan’s eyes flickered as she watched them go, deep in thought.
