Seeing Jiang WuShang step out of the grand gates of the Bai Palace, Wang Ru gestured toward the waiting carriage.
“Young Master Jiang, get inside.
We will depart now.
We should reach Azure Academy in a short time.” “Alright,” replied Jiang WuShang, stepping inside and taking a seat upon the soft velvet cushions.
As Wang Ru took the leather reins and guided the carriage down the bustling capital roads, passing crowded stone alleyways filled with merchants, she glanced back through the silk curtain.
“Young Master Jiang, can I ask you something?
It’s about you and the Young Miss…” Jiang WuShang leaned back comfortably against the carved wooden interior.
“Ask away.
I’ll try my best to answer truthfully.” “Do you…
like the Young Miss?” Wang Ru asked hesitantly, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“I’m just asking out of curiosity, nothing more.” Jiang WuShang looked out the small carriage window at the passing city views and towering estates, a thoughtful expression resting on his sharp face.
“I can’t give you a simple answer to that, because doing so right now wouldn’t be fair to Bai Lu.” “Why not?” Wang Ru asked hurriedly, tilting her head as the wheels clattering over cobblestones.
“It’s simple—just say yes or no!
I promise I won’t tell her…
and it really seems like the Young Miss likes you!” “If I say yes right now, do you think the Mortal Emperor would accept me as his son-in-law?” Jiang WuShang asked quietly, his dark eyes meeting hers through the gap in the fabric.
“Especially in his current condition, under that strange spell or illusion?” Wang Ru fell silent, her bright expression dimming as she lowered her head.
“That…
would be difficult to say.” “Precisely,” Jiang WuShang said softly, his voice remaining level and calm.
“That’s why I can’t express those feelings yet.
But once I complete the task Bai Lu set for me…
that will be a different story.
Then I can formally propose marriage and clarify my true origins.” Wang Ru smiled warmly from the driver’s seat, a small sigh of relief escaping her lips.
“Young Master Jiang, you really have thought through everything.
We’ve arrived—go on inside.
I wish you the best of luck!” She pulled the leather reins tightly, bringing the horses to a gentle stop near the massive stone gates.
Jiang WuShang jumped down onto the smooth stone pavement, adjusting his robes.
“Thanks, Wang Ru.
Take good care of Bai Lu for me.” “Rest assured, I will look after the Young Miss!” Wang Ru called back with a reassuring nod before turning the carriage around and heading back toward the heart of the city.
Jiang WuShang stood before the grand entrance of Azure Academy, taking in the breath-taking scale of the surrounding grounds.
The outer gates alone were carved from solid white granite, standing as tall and wide as the main fortress gates of the Capital City itself.
Looking beyond the towering threshold, Azure Academy wasn’t just a school—it was an entire self-contained city filled with pavilions, towers, and vast training grounds.
“The Capital City really has a city within a city,” Jiang WuShang muttered in awe, his gaze sweeping over the intricate protective runes engraved into the gateposts.
To survive and thrive here, I’m going to need serious connections, or I’ll get crushed like an ant.
“Brother Jiang!
You’re here!” a familiar voice called out over the ambient noise of the crowd.
Jiang WuShang turned and saw a handsome young man in neat cultivation robes walking over.
A bright smile broke across his face.
“Brother Jun!
You arrived early as well!” Lu Jun grinned, clapping a hand onto Jiang WuShang’s shoulder.
“Let’s go report in.
It’s still early, so there will be fewer interns waiting to register.” “Lead the way,” said Jiang WuShang.
As they stepped across the glowing threshold array of Azure Academy, the ambient spiritual Qi instantly grew several times denser than outside, washing over their skin like a cool mountain mist.
It was a true paradise for cultivators seeking higher realms.
“Brother Jiang, this outer district is known as Azure City, and at the center lies Azure Academy where we’ll register,” Lu Jun explained as they walked along the wide marble pathway.
“Don’t be fooled by the bustling shops around here.
This entire city is protected by a grand grand-tier array designed by the previous Dean—it can withstand three peak-power attacks from a Qi Ocean Realm cultivator!” “It can block three full attacks from a peak Qi Ocean expert?!” Jiang WuShang gasped, looking up at the faint golden barrier shimmering high above the rooftops.
“That powerful?
Are all these shops owned by Azure Academy?” It seems Bai Lu’s explanation left out quite a bit of detail regarding the Academy’s inner workings, Jiang WuShang thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.
I need to find out what’s really happening behind the scenes.
“These shops are set up by the powerful clans of the Capital City and senior disciples of the Academy,” Lu Jun clarified, gesturing toward the multi-story wooden storefronts lining the street.
“They pay a monthly tax directly to Azure Academy—exactly twenty percent of their profits.
If anyone fails to pay for three consecutive months, Azure Academy kicks them out, even if they’re from the Royal Clan!” “So they don’t pay taxes to the Mortal Emperor, but rather to Azure Academy?” “Correct,” Lu Jun nodded, stepping around a group of passing disciples.
“The Mortal Emperor holds immense personal power, but real operational authority in the region rests with the Dean of Azure Academy.
The Emperor is just one man, whereas the Academy boasts multiple Qi Ocean Realm experts.
In an all-out clash, it’s hard to say who would win.” Jiang WuShang nodded thoughtfully, folding his hands behind his back.
Power is shifting toward the Royal Clan’s aggressive factions…
that explains why they dare target Azure Academy’s influence.
The Dean must be aware of this.
I need to dig deeper.
“Brother Jiang, we’re here!” Lu Jun pointed toward a grand marble platform rising in the middle of a massive plaza up ahead.
“Let me register now before the lines form.” They approached the ancient wood registration desk on the elevated platform, where an elder sat leisurely in a carved wooden chair, fanning himself slowly.
“Master Lu, we are here to report as newly recruited interns,” Lu Jun said politely, bowing low, though Jiang WuShang caught a subtle flicker of cold anger in Lu Jun’s eyes as he addressed the elder.
Interesting…
there’s history or bad blood between them, Jiang WuShang noted silently, watching the tension in Lu Jun’s shoulders.
Elder Lu glanced up lazily, his sharp eyes lingering on them for a brief second.
“Hand over your tokens and wait in the center of the arena.
Someone will arrive shortly to assign your teaching duties.” “Understood,” Jiang WuShang and Lu Jun replied together, handing over their bronze intern tokens before walking toward the wide center of the stone platform.
A few moments later, a tall elder with a long white beard and flowing blue robes approached them with a broad, welcoming smile—a smile that felt entirely forced upon closer inspection.
“My name is Mu Wai.
You may address me as Master Mu,” the elder announced warmly, his voice echoing smoothly across the empty platform.
“Greetings, Master Mu,” both bowed respectfully.
“I will now assign your respective teaching assignments,” Master Mu continued, pulling out two heavy wooden ledgers from his spatial sleeve.
“Lu Jun, you will be in charge of Class B6.” “Thank you, Master Mu,” Lu Jun bowed respectfully, accepting a small wooden seal.
“As for Jiang WuShang…
you will handle Class C9,” Master Mu said, his smile tightening slightly around the eyes.
Lu Jun’s head snapped up in utter shock, his eyes widening.
“Master Mu, is there a mistake?!
Jiang WuShang’s talent and trial scores were far higher than mine!
Why is he assigned to Class C9?
He produced the highest recruitment results in the past decade!” Master Mu chuckled smoothly, stroking his white beard with an airy posture.
“We are well aware of his exceptional talent.
That is precisely why we assigned him Class C9—we believe someone of his caliber can handle them.
Besides, the higher-tier classes are already fully staffed.” Without waiting for a response, Master Mu turned on his heel, his robes swishing as he walked away toward the inner halls.
Watching his receding back, Lu Jun’s face darkened with deep frustration, his fists clenching at his sides.
Jiang WuShang nudged his shoulder calmly, his face entirely unbothered.
“Brother Jun, what’s wrong?
Why are you so worked up?” No wonder his smile was so fake, Jiang WuShang thought coldly, a dangerous light flashing in the depths of his eyes.
They know who I am.
The assassins sent to my room last night and this intentional assignment come from the same hand.
“Brother Jiang, you don’t understand how the Academy ranks its classes!” Lu Jun said anxiously, pulling him a few steps aside.
“The intern teaching track is divided into twenty-seven classes across three tiers: Group A (A1 to A9), Group B (B1 to B9), and Group C (C1 to C9).
Group A consists of top-tier talents, while Group C has the lowest potential.
Class C9 is literally the absolute worst, most neglected class in the entire Academy!” Jiang WuShang chuckled softly, a light smirk breaking on his lips.
“So I got the absolute worst class?
That’s fine.” He then smirked slightly, tilting his head.
“Wait, Brother Jun…
Master Mu claimed my talent was ‘so high’ that I was put there.
Does that mean the interns teaching classes C1 through C8 are all legendary geniuses too?” Lu Jun paused, staring at him with deep concern in his brow.
“Brother Jiang…
did you somehow offend someone extremely powerful?” “Me?
No, I’m just a newcomer,” Jiang WuShang replied innocently, throwing his hands up slightly.
“Every single Earth-Rank talent intern is automatically assigned to teach Group A classes!” Lu Jun explained grimly, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Assigning an Earth-Rank talent to Class C9 is unheard of.
Someone is deliberately targeting you!” Jiang WuShang’s smile broadened into a cold, sharp line.
Let them target me.
Someone is practically begging to become my emotional cash cow.
“Brother Jiang, don’t lose heart,” Lu Jun added comforting words, patting his arm.
“You can request a class transfer after the official Intern Assessment in six months.” “I see.
Well then, Brother Jun, let me inspect our classes and meet our disciples,” Jiang WuShang said smoothly, adjusting his sleeves.
“Alright, follow me.” They navigated deep into the eastern wing of the massive facility, where the C-Group classrooms were located.
Unlike the grand marble pavilions near the front, this area was visibly run-down—creaking wooden floorboards beneath their boots, chipped plaster walls, and dusty old desks visible through dusty windows.
Eventually, they arrived at a faded wooden door labeled Class C9.
Inside sat only four disciples—two boys and two girls—all lounging around on old chairs with arrogant, dismissive expressions painted across their faces.
“Brother Jiang, this is Class C9,” Lu Jun said with a heavy sigh, looking into the room.
“My class is in the next building.
I’ll come find you once today’s session ends.
Good luck!” “Thanks, Brother Jun,” Jiang WuShang waved casually as Lu Jun turned and headed off down the hallway.
Jiang WuShang looked at the dilapidated room and the four unruly disciples sitting in total boredom, shaking his head slightly.
What a run-down place…
I definitely need to turn this around.
As he raised his foot and stepped across the dusty wooden threshold, a crisp chime echoed clearly inside his mind.
[Ding!
New System Task Assigned: Recruit Personal Disciples (0/6)] ‘Personal disciples?’ Jiang WuShang questioned internally, pausing his step.
‘What for?
Can’t I just teach them normally and move on to a better class later?’ [Ding!
Host, your Personal Disciples can generate Emotional Points on your behalf when they interact with the world!] Jiang WuShang’s eyes lit up as a dark spark ignited in his mind.
‘Wait, such a great feature exists?!
I can just sit back, let them go out and cause trouble, and passively farm Emotion Points?!’ [Ding!
Clarification: Personal Disciples will earn a 50% bonus pool of Emotion Points for the Host based on their actions and interactions.] Jiang WuShang’s smile turned into a full-blown, wicked grin.
‘So if I score ten points, they passively generate another five for me!
And with six disciples, if they’re all out causing chaos, my passive income of points will be insane!’ He smoothed down his black robes, stepped confidently into the dusty room of Class C9, and reached back, locking the heavy wooden door firmly behind him.