Chapter 8

◎Trial (Major Revision)◎  

“Yan Jun’s class is about to begin. Why are you all still gathered here?”  

The voice of Feng Li Shen Jun sounded abruptly, startling everyone.  

“His Highness the Crown Prince asked Princess Zhuo Ying to help brainstorm solutions for the Yaoguang City matter!”  

A bold female immortal cheerfully explained, clearly enjoying the spectacle.  

As expected, Feng Li Shen Jun’s expression darkened.  

“The affairs of Yaoguang City are handled by the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Censorate. When did it become your place to interfere? If you truly wish to contribute, focus on your cultivation. When you become a Dao Child like Xie Cexuan, then you’ll have your share of responsibilities!”  

The crowd hastily agreed and scattered like startled birds.  

“Follow me.”  

Feng Li Shen Jun walked past Zhuo Ying, and she followed him at a measured pace.  

The two stopped beneath a thousand-year-old plum tree on the western side of the Academy. This area was somewhat removed from the main Lecture Hall, offering peace and quiet. Feng Li Shen Jun stood beneath the tree, his gaze solemn as he spoke:  

“Yan Jun mentioned that you will suffer from Frost Poison in the coming days. I’ve consulted with him—it will be within your tolerance. Practicing the Tai Chi Palm Technique during this period will help suppress the Frost Poison. Can you endure it?”  

Zhuo Ying nodded without hesitation.  

A faint trace of approval flickered in Feng Li Shen Jun’s stern eyes.  

Without further words, he prepared to guide her.  

To his surprise, however, Zhuo Ying had already memorized the entire set of palm techniques. Aside from minor adjustments in breathing, there was little he could correct in her movements.  

The only issue was her frailty.  

She had to pause five times just to complete one set of the technique. If it were anyone else, he would have already scolded them, “Even a farmer’s donkey doesn’t rest this much!”  

Before his ascension, he had been a farmer.  

But he couldn’t say such words to the girl before him.  

Because he knew this was her absolute limit. If she had even an ounce of strength left, she would have poured it out without hesitation.  

“…Enough. Stop for now and rest.”  

Half an hour later, Feng Li Shen Jun waved his hand, signaling Zhuo Ying to sit and recover.  

Had any other Academy disciples been present, they would have been utterly shocked.  

Feng Li Shen Jun’s vocabulary usually consisted of phrases like “Don’t stop,” “Again,” or “If you can’t do it, get out.” Who had ever heard him tell someone to “stop practicing”?  

Drenched in sweat, Zhuo Ying gasped for breath, unable to speak, and could only nod weakly.  

An Academy Envoy brought over a cup of Immortal Dew.  

“Immortal Dew replenishes stamina,” Feng Li Shen Jun explained, then added with a stern expression, “But you can only consume it five times a day. Don’t push your limits.”  

Zhuo Ying felt a pang of regret as her idea was promptly thwarted.  

She had been thinking—if it truly restored energy, couldn’t she just keep drinking it and practice nonstop?  

Once she caught her breath, Zhuo Ying recalled something:  

“Divine Lord, earlier you mentioned the term ‘Dao Child.’ What does it mean?”  

She had heard the term twice before, both times in reference to Xie Cexuan. It seemed to denote a special status.  

Feng Li Shen Jun realized no one had yet explained the Academy’s hierarchy to her and began patiently:  

“Disciples of the Academy are divided into three tiers: Heaven, Earth, and Mystic. Above these tiers are the Dao Children.  

“The so-called Dao Children are the eight most exceptional disciples among the Heaven-tier students, categorized according to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams: Heavenly Qian, Dui Ze, Li Fire, Zhen Thunder, Xun Wind, Kan Water, Gen Mountain, and Earth Kun.”

“Students at the Academy are grouped by millennia-long terms. These eight Dao Children, upon completing their thousand-year cultivation, will be selected by the two halls and six bureaus of the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace to become candidates for inheriting ministerial positions—that’s what Dao Children are. Currently, there are only five Dao Children in the Academy, and Xie Cexuan is one of them.”

So that’s how it was.

No wonder Xie Cexuan, though still an Academy student, bore the title of Young God of War and commanded the Thunderclap Directorate under the Hall of Heavenly Kings.

Zhuoying asked curiously, “Does that mean I’m now considered an Earth-tier student?”

“You’re not. You haven’t even registered in the Immortal Register yet—you’re not even officially enrolled.”

Divine Lord Feng Li gave her a sidelong glance.

“Focus on your cultivation. You even have time to indulge the Crown Prince in his mischief.”

Zhuoying stared absently at the cup of Immortal Dew in her hands.

After drinking it, her depleted stamina did recover somewhat.

Having managed financial affairs in the Barren Sea, she understood that while they distributed this Immortal Dew casually, it was by no means cheap. Like the Heavenly Palace Robes, these were luxuries rare and precious to the outside world.

“Regarding the Yaoguang City incident, while the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace bears some responsibility for oversight failure, we’re not the root cause. The mortal populace isn’t inherently ignorant or malicious—they’re simply struggling for survival, too exhausted to distinguish right from wrong. If the Heavenly Palace could clear its name—”

Divine Lord Feng Li’s frown deepened.

Finally unable to listen further, he interrupted:

“Has the Hall of Heavenly Kings run out of war gods? Or have all the Divine Lords at the Censorate been dismissed? Why should a newly enrolled student who hasn’t even reached Earth-tier worry about such matters?”

“If the heavens collapse, the Celestial Emperor, the Empress of Heaven, and the Divine Lords above will bear it. What does it have to do with you?”

Zhuoying was momentarily stunned.

“But I—”

“Even if you’re a human princess and those mortals are your subjects, they’re also your parents’ people. By coming to the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace as a hostage, you’ve already fulfilled your duty. If they can’t even manage a small city like Yaoguang without your intervention, what worth do those human monarchs have?”

Just yesterday, Fu Yao had accused her of being cold-blooded and indifferent.

Though Zhuoying knew he was wrong, understanding her own correctness was entirely different from having others recognize it.

Apparently, doing what she believed right didn’t require defying universal condemnation.

“Chi Shui Zhuoying of Fusang Academy.”

Beneath the millennia-old plum tree, the majestic Divine Lord stood with hands behind his back, speaking sternly:

“Rest time’s over—back to training. If you delay proper cultivation for trivial matters, don’t blame me for making you run laps around Fusang Academy.”

Crown Prince Fu Yao, passing by after class, happened to hear Divine Lord Feng Li’s words.

Before he could sneer, he saw the girl being ordered to resume training actually break into a faint smile.

Not the insincere kind she usually wore.

This was genuine, heartfelt delight.

This adopted sister of his really wasn’t quite normal.

–

Before the five-day deadline arrived, Zhuoying finally finished skimming through the medical texts Fu Yao had copied from the Celestial Medicine Bureau.

They contained much information about immortal physiology.

Unfortunately, none matched her condition.

During this period, Zhuoying also attempted to examine her Primordial Spirit again. But outside the Upper Purity Glazed Realm, for someone without any cultivation like her, probing one’s Primordial Spirit was as difficult as scaling the heavens.

With this path leading to a dead end, Zhuoying had no choice but to set it aside for now.

Moreover, the duration of her Frost Poison episodes was growing longer, leaving her with increasingly less time for cultivation, and the episodes were becoming irregular as well.

The immortal instructors were busy juggling their duties at the Academy and their official responsibilities, making it impossible for them to be available at a moment’s notice. The only one who could be summoned anytime was Crown Prince Fu Yao, who had lost the bet and was bound by his word.

“…What kind of punishment is mere tribulation? The divine maiden from Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm neglected her duties, causing our Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace to take the blame, and now it’s just brushed aside like this?”

Fu Yao, filled with righteous indignation, slammed his fist heavily onto the table.

Upon hearing this news, the other students at the Academy were also quite indignant.

But at least the culprit had been apprehended and punished—though undergoing tribulation could hardly be called punishment. If she successfully endured it, she might even return with enhanced cultivation.

Fu Yao was so furious his head spun.

“Ask the instructor to excuse me for the next class. I’m going to the Fate Administration Office.”

The lifespan and fate of mortals were all governed by the Fate Administration Office, and the specifics of how an immortal’s tribulation would unfold were also determined by them.

He needed to keep an eye on the Fate Administration Office to prevent the immortals of Mount Sumeru from pulling strings to give their divine maiden special treatment.

If even the tribulation was handled leniently, the thousands of lives lost in Yaoguang City would truly have died in vain.

Just as Fu Yao was about to leave, Zhuoying called out to him.

“I’ll go with you.”

Fu Yao frowned deeply. “You…”

“Divine Lord Feng Li said I should go to the Merit Administration Office to register my Immortal Status, but I’m not familiar with the way, and I can’t ride the wind. Since you’re heading to the Fate Administration Office, you might as well give me a lift.”

Fu Yao let out a cold laugh, his anger flaring.

He had thought Chi Shui Zhuoying was also concerned about this matter and wanted to accompany him. Turns out, it was still all about herself.

“Fine, I’ll take you.”

He couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on this selfish human princess.

Determined to drop her off and leave immediately, Fu Yao carried her swiftly on the wind. He could have used a Celestial Steed, but this was the fastest way.

Along the journey, he heard her cough a few times from the strong wind and frowned slightly.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t yet had the chance to clarify the matter of her Heart Devouring Gu and Frost Poison.

There were too many things demanding his attention, and he’d forgotten about it.

Just as he was about to ask, he suddenly noticed thunder rumbling ahead.

“Five Thunder Technique—Thunderbolt!”

Boom—!!

Fu Yao focused his gaze beyond the gates of the Fate Administration Office and was shocked.

Xie Cexuan was fighting someone at the entrance!

“Xie Cexuan! I am… a Descendant of the Ancestral God, the son of the Eternal Sovereign of Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm. How dare you… lay hands on me…”

By the time Fu Yao and Zhuoying arrived, they saw Xie Cexuan holding a blue-robed immortal lord by the collar.

Scattered around them were several immortals who had been struck down by the Five Thunder Technique. The ground before the Fate Administration Office was pockmarked with craters from the thunder he had summoned.

The Young God of War, clad in crimson robes and golden armor, lifted the seemingly distinguished immortal lord off the ground as if he were a chick. His dark, indifferent eyes showed no trace of fear—it wouldn’t have been surprising if he snapped the man’s neck the next moment.

“Your sister caused the deaths of thousands in Yaoguang City. Death would be a fitting atonement, yet you dare tamper with the fates written by the Fate Administration Office—even if you were the Eternal Sovereign himself, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you.”

Zhuoying, standing nearby, was somewhat taken aback.

Having mostly seen the Young God of War in his usual lazy demeanor since their meeting, she had almost forgotten this was his true self—decisive and ruthless on the battlefield.

Noticing the intrusion of others, Xie Cexuan glanced sideways at them.

His gaze settled on Zhuoying.

Vaguely recalling… the son of the Eternal Life Emperor he currently had by the throat seemed to have a good relationship with the young lord of the Barren Sea.

“Here to save him?”

Fu Yao was about to say “impossible” when he realized the question wasn’t directed at him.

He turned to look at the young woman behind him.

Upon seeing Zhuoying, the emperor’s son named Ting Yun immediately cried out as if grasping at a lifeline:

“Zhuoying, my younger sister! You remember me, right? When you and your senior brother were studying under the Utmost Subtlety Sage, I once visited him! If you deliver a message to Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm for me today, I promise to work with your senior brother to rescue you back to the Barren Sea someday!”

Zhuoying narrowed her eyes at these words.

Of course she remembered.

Hearing that Zhuoying actually knew Young Lord Ting Yun, Fu Yao immediately wanted to knock her unconscious to prevent her from sending word.

Unexpectedly, Zhuoying spoke first:

“It’s not safe to beat him here. Find another place. If anything happens, I’ll help you figure out how to handle it.”

Fu Yao’s raised hand froze mid-air as he couldn’t believe his ears.

Even Xie Cexuan arched an eyebrow.

“Not your beloved senior brother’s good friend?”

When saying “beloved,” Zhuoying wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but his tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

Remembering how in her past life this man had proposed marriage to her to ally with Chen Ye – and how Chen Ye hadn’t immediately refused –

Zhuoying gave a noncommittal hum and adjusted her sleeves.

“Exactly because he’s too good. I’m jealous. Find a secluded spot and kill him.”

Author’s Note:

Chapters 4-8 have been revised with mostly new content. Readers who’ve seen them before, please take another look!