18 The Case is Solved; Blame the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire!
Dean Yu Qing didn’t know Zi Xunyi’s background, only that she was a distinguished guest of the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground and must be treated with the utmost respect.
“Of course. The new student records are on the bookshelf to your left, on the top shelf, one book per kingdom.”
Following Dean Yu Qing’s instructions, Zi Xunyi went to the bookshelf, pulled out the “Black Horn Empire” record, and quickly scanned through it with her Spiritual Power.
“Not this one.”
She put the record back and took out another, continuing to search for the handsome, fair-faced young man from her memory.
Seeing this, Dean Yu Qing became curious. “What are you looking for, Lady Zi Ji?”
Zi Xunyi, still flipping through the pages, replied, “Just a whim. Are there any promising talents among the new students, Dean Yu Qing?”
Dean Yu Qing pondered. “There are thirteen Mystic Masters among the new students. The highest are two five-star Mystic Masters, one named Huangfu Wenqing from Cloud Heaven Palace in the Gallo Kingdom, and the other named Qi Yuxuan from the Qi Lu family in the north. However, there are also cases of four-star Mystic Masters defeating five-star ones, like student Shan Ben from Back Mountain City in the west, and student Chu Nan from the Great Chu Kingdom in the south. Our Central region, however, still lacks any truly outstanding talents. We’ve been completely outshone.”
Zi Xunyi casually asked, “Why is that?”
Dean Yu Qing shrugged. “The major sects in the Central region have already snatched up all the talented individuals, offering increasingly generous terms.”
Once they joined a sect, they belonged to the sect, in life and death. There was no graduation, unlike the more flexible and independent academies. The support they received was also different.
For top talents, joining a sect provided better cultivation resources compared to studying at the academy. For example, Huangfu Wenqing, even with her advantage of being reborn, wouldn’t have progressed so quickly without the resources of Cloud Heaven Palace.
Zi Xunyi wasn’t interested in this. The prodigies mentioned by Dean Yu Qing were different from the ones she considered true prodigies.
“Among these talented students, Dean Yu Qing, are there any who excel in soul cultivation?”
“Soul cultivation?” Dean Yu Qing looked at Zi Xunyi’s spiritual avatar and pondered. “Those who excel in soul cultivation are usually alchemists. Most of the new alchemist students are Tier 1, with a few Tier 2. None are particularly noteworthy.”
“I see…”
“No, wait. There is one who’s quite impressive in soul cultivation.” Dean Yu Qing recalled the annoyingly handsome face. “He even detected my observation. His soul cultivation should be at the Manifest Realm.”
“Manifest Realm?” Zi Xunyi’s heart stirred. She turned around and smiled. “Could you tell me who that is, Dean Yu Qing?”
“An impudent brat!” Dean Yu Qing said, gritting her teeth. “He’s also from the Gallo Kingdom, like that Huangfu Wenqing. His name is ‘Yan Zhen.’ His Mystic Power cultivation is at the three-star Mystic Master level, second among the new students from the east, but his strength is greater than it appears… Lady Zi Ji, you can check his records yourself.”
“Yan Zhen?”
Zi Xunyi murmured the name, finding it strangely familiar, evoking a sense of closeness.
She put the record back on the shelf and took out the one for the Gallo Kingdom. The first page was Yan Zhen’s.
Zi Xunyi’s pupils constricted. The portrait on the file was the same young man from her dream.
His handsome, innocent-looking face hid a surprisingly… vigorous nature. He had been tireless throughout their night of passion.
“Young City Lord of Martial Tang City… Cultivates Fire Mystic Power… Has repeatedly defeated opponents of higher realms, reaching the top of the Nine Star List as an eight-star Mystic One… Took a three-month leave, leaving as a nine-star Mystic One and returning as a three-star Mystic Master… Defeated the Mystic General-level Silver Moon City Lord with the help of a treasured armor?”
Dean Yu Qing noticed the change in Zi Xunyi’s expression and frowned, wondering if this important guest was interested in that Yan Zhen brat.
“Do you know him, Lady Zi Ji?”
Zi Xunyi looked up and smiled faintly. “The file doesn’t mention his soul cultivation. Dean Yu Qing, could you tell me more about it?”
For some reason, seeing Zi Xunyi’s interest in Yan Zhen made Dean Yu Qing feel uneasy.
—No matter how bad that brat is, he’s still the man Xuan’er chose. If he’s taken by another woman…
—No, no, what am I thinking? This esteemed guest wouldn’t even give Wen Canglan, the second-ranked on the Rising Star List, a second glance. She wouldn’t be interested in that brat.
—But what if…?
After a moment’s hesitation, Dean Yu Qing said truthfully, “To be honest, this boy has a close relationship with my Xuan’er. He’s her student and also her lover. So, I tested him personally.”
Zi Xunyi’s heart sank, a sudden tightness in her chest.
—So he already has a lover? And it’s a student-teacher relationship?
“And the result?”
“Ahem, he has refined the thirteenth-ranked Extreme Flame, the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, so his Spiritual Power carries a sinister aura and a hint of dragon’s might, capable of intimidating others.”
“Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire?”
Zi Xunyi was surprised.
The Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire and the Jade Firmament Violet Fire were polar opposites. The former was a manifestation of negative emotions, possessing the power to corrupt, while the latter was pure and holy, with the power to purify and resist inner demons.
Could it be that the shameful dream last night was caused by the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire?
She was cultivating the Spiritual Union chapter, her soul wandering in search of a kindred spirit. Yan Zhen’s soul fluctuations must have resonated with hers, leading to their encounter in the dream. Normally, it would have been a simple conversation, a meeting of minds, becoming spiritual companions.
However, Yan Zhen possessed the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, his soul tainted with distracting thoughts, influencing the dream’s content and turning it into something… unspeakable.
Zi Xunyi suddenly understood. The case was solved!
“Being able to refine the thirteenth-ranked Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, this student Yan Zhen is indeed extraordinary. The Yu family might have found a good son-in-law.”
Dean Yu Qing sighed softly. “He’s talented, but whether he’s a good son-in-law is another matter. And their secret relationship violates our family rules. Whether my sister, the Clan Head, will accept him is still unknown… Uh, forgive my rambling, Lady Zi Ji. I hope you don’t mind.”
Zi Xunyi smiled faintly. “It’s alright. I’m often alone in the Inner Academy. A casual chat is a welcome change—if I’m not mistaken, the entrance ceremony is about to begin. May I observe?”
“Of course.” Dean Yu Qing thought for a moment, then asked, “Do you want to see Yan Zhen, Lady Zi Ji?”
“Yes. The wielder of the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire… I’m quite interested.”
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