As Qin Xiu was about to leave, the Pavilion Master of the Starseizing Pavilion looked at him with eyes full of regret and longing. But compared to the Heavenly Profound Sect, she had at least not offended this divine body.
“Young Master Qin, please do honor me with a visit to the Starseizing Pavilion if you ever have time.”
She blinked, her eyes misty and enchanting like the moonlight. “The Starseizing Pavilion will surely not disappoint you.”
Qin Xiu shuddered slightly. He had nearly been surrounded by her two maids earlier, so he replied perfunctorily, “Sure, sure.”
There was nothing left to clean up at the Yun family. Nothing worth his attachment.
“Even if my father returns, he can come find me directly in the capital once he hears the news.”
Besides, once in the imperial capital, the broader world would give him more opportunities to investigate his father’s whereabouts.
Yun Nishang followed closely beside Qin Xiu, her heart still filled with lingering fear and unspoken warmth.
When Qin Xiu had made his request to the Royal Princess, she couldn’t deny that she had felt nervous…
Now that Qin Xiu had awakened a divine body, his future was limitless. Countless women would surely throw themselves at him.
Not to mention the elegant Royal Princess, even the Pavilion Master and her two stunning maids were all women of unrivaled beauty.
Was she still worthy of him now?
She had even thought of retreating.
But Qin Xiu had held her hand tightly, and the only request he made before leaving was to bring her along.
After enduring eighteen bitter years, the man who had suddenly shocked the world by awakening a divine body had not abandoned her. For such a man, she would be willing to die without regret.
“Yun Nishang, you’re such a fool! Don’t ever think that way about Qin Xiu again.”
Her eyes reddened as she scolded herself sweetly in her heart.
The Royal Academy had already prepared carriages. The convoy flew the banners of the Great Li royal family, guaranteeing an unobstructed journey ahead.
As the wheels stirred up clouds of dust, Jiang Qianhe’s hand trembled uncontrollably. He could hardly resist the urge to slap himself.
He had prepared such a grand reception, convinced that with the Water Radiance Spirit Body first and the divine body to follow, the Heavenly Profound Sect’s fortune would peak. In the end, he got nothing but empty hands…
The Grand Elder stood awkwardly to the side. “Sect Master, it was my mistake. I’m willing to accept punishment.”
Jiang Qianhe gave a bitter smile. “Punishment? What kind of punishment could bring that divine body back to us? If there were such a thing, I’d have the entire Heavenly Profound Sect line up to take it.”
“Forget it. A divine body is unparalleled in this world. Whether we gain it or not depends on fate. Clearly, the Heavenly Profound Sect wasn’t fated this time…”
This was a divine body!
And the worst part was, it wasn’t a matter of fate. The Heavenly Profound Sect had indeed had a chance—but they had ruined it with their own hands.
As the royal convoy faded into the distance, the Grand Elder was simmering with suppressed rage. Then his gaze fell on Yun Xuerong, who lay limp like a pile of mud in front of the Yun estate. His face darkened further.
“What do we do with her?”
Jiang Qianhe’s eyes flashed with hatred, but it slowly faded.
He hadn’t struck her down earlier, and now that Qin Xiu had left, killing Yun Xuerong would serve no purpose.
He couldn’t swallow this grudge, but not because of Qin Xiu—because of the Royal Princess and the royal family backing her.
Jiang Qianhe’s tone remained indifferent, but with a flick of his finger, a healing pill landed in front of Yun Xuerong.
“I know you’re full of resentment. I, too, am not happy today.”
“You deceived the sect. That’s a crime worthy of death, but I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself.”
“Your spirit body isn’t bad. From now on, train hard under your master. Show the world that being a personal disciple of the Heavenly Profound Sect is no less than being a princess of Great Li. Understand?”
Yun Xuerong devoured the pill ravenously. Color finally returned to her bloodied, dirt-stained face.
“Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you for sparing me!”
“From now on, I swear my life to the sect—I would die a thousand times for it!”
She hadn’t expected to survive.
In fact, she owed it to Qin Xiu choosing the Royal Academy instead.
She understood the Sect Master’s intentions clearly. As her injuries healed, the regret and humiliation she had just endured turned into surging hatred.
Qin Xiu, I begged you so humbly earlier, yet you wouldn’t even give me the slightest chance.
“How am I worse than Yun Nishang? You wouldn’t even take me as a concubine. So what if you’re a divine body? You’re still a blind fool!”
Yun Xuerong’s face twisted with hatred. She knew that the more powerful the constitution, the harder the growth. The divine body was no exception.
If she pushed herself, with the Water Radiance Spirit Body, she might yet take revenge one day.
“I must move quickly. In three to five years, the difficulty of developing a divine body might work in my favor.”
“Just wait, Qin Xiu. I swear I’ll take my revenge. Who says my spirit body can’t compare to your divine body?!”
…
The Royal Academy’s convoy departed from Lingqu City. On the road to the nearest city, Qin Xiu and Yun Nishang enjoyed the scenic views together—rare moments of peace and joy. This chapter was copied from novelping(.)com without permission.
Unbeknownst to them, far away at the Royal Academy, an old man with silver hair in black robes was already fuming.
“What did you say?! The teleportation array at Lingqu City was destroyed? We’ve lost connection to the main formation in the capital?!”
His beard and hair flew in rage. In front of him, the commander of the royal guards knelt on one knee, clearly aware of how serious this was.
“The Starseizing Pavilion wouldn’t have gone this far. It must have been the work of the Heavenly Profound Sect.”
“Destroying a teleportation array is tantamount to sabotaging the empire’s infrastructure. Is Jiang Qianhe trying to rebel?”
The guard commander spoke nervously, “Dean, the teleportation array in a nearby city is still functional. We’ve already prepared it for your use.”
“If you go in person, even the Heavenly Profound Sect must give some respect.”
The old man exploded, “Respect? My ass! By the time I get there, Jiang Qianhe would’ve already taken the boy back to his sect!”
And the Royal Princess had gone with an imperial token. Jiang Qianhe should have known what that meant.
Yet he still destroyed the teleportation array. It was a direct challenge to the royal family—an open break over this spirit body!
If he could do that, who’s to say Jiang Qianhe wouldn’t activate the sect’s grand protective array to keep them out when they arrived?
The old man was full of anxiety and worry.
“To make Jiang Qianhe flip the table like this, just how powerful is that spirit body?”
In the entire empire, only he and the emperor could command fear from Jiang Qianhe. With the Water Radiance Spirit Body already boosting his sect, and now a top-tier spirit body on top of that, could the royal family still suppress the Heavenly Profound Sect?
“No! I must go myself. If I let a peerless spirit body fall into their hands, how can I face the emperors of past generations?”
As he spoke, his figure vanished and reappeared at the Royal Academy’s teleportation array.
“Activate it immediately—”
At the same time, thousands of kilometers away, the Royal Princess was already activating the array in the nearby city.
“Once we’re back at the academy, say nothing of this for now. Let me have a bit of fun teasing that old stubborn mule.”
The Royal Princess’s lips curved playfully, her brows filled with joy. She was clearly in high spirits.
One of the Royal Academy elders beside her hesitated and advised softly, “Your Highness, this might not be appropriate. The dean is quite old…”
“What’s inappropriate?”
The Royal Princess pouted adorably, “He’s always so strict with me. Today, let him experience a bit of fear and worry for once.”