Chapter 23: Rising to the Challenge

Su Tang watched the carriage disappear into the distance, her brows knitting slightly. Just moments ago, he had seemed reluctant to part, yet now he didn’t even spare her a glance. Even fellow classmates knew enough to bid her farewell before leaving. What a stubborn little gentleman he was.

“Let’s go,” Su Tang said softly.

Li Qingtian, standing by her side, responded at once.

…

Su Tang and Li Qingtian made their slow return by donkey cart. By now, the road was growing busier with pedestrians.

At the street corner—

He knew well that Li Guxu was a formidable cultivator at the peak of the Divine Elixir Realm. Had it not been for the lack of advanced cultivation methods, he would have stepped into the Sacred Domain long ago.

An hour passed. With a clear, resounding chime echoing through the air, today’s academy examination came to a perfect close.

But Qingsnow kept her head lowered, surprisingly agreeing with Gu Zhiqiu’s proposal. Clutching the hem of her skirt, she looked exceedingly nervous.

Rui’er was usually Lady Gu Xueqiao’s favorite maid. Seeing her mistress’s expression shift, she hurriedly tugged An’er’s sleeve to stop her from speaking further.

When the door creaked open, the sound seemed to set the whole house quivering. Swordheart, seeing this, immediately scooped me up and stepped aside. Looking back, the house was already collapsing.

Wei Keqing also caught sight of Madam Zhao. In truth, Madam Zhao was a beauty herself, but compared to Wei Keqing, she fell slightly short.

Chang Kang, a subordinate of Deputy Director Sun Zhaoming, was instead relaying Ling Zhiyuan’s orders—an unusual occurrence in itself. Ling Zhiyuan had him accompany the inspection without any prior notice, simply sending Chang Kang to inform them. What, exactly, was he planning?

Aili blushed, and seeing my reaction, became even more pleased with herself. It seemed her method was indeed effective. I had thought she would continue to tempt me, but instead she quickly moved away, straightening her clothes, and at last my blood wasn’t boiling quite as much.

After the first goal, the B Team erupted in cheers, and Yu Haoran looked at Xu Feng with pride.

“Mengrou, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with Father?” Xuanyuan Jia was momentarily stunned, only then recognizing her. He frowned, noticing the odd look on her face.

Dong Yuan felt that the Fifth Lady must have known shame at last and dared not pretend all was well anymore, so her own resentment had not deepened further.

Li Ziyu opened her mouth, truly unsure how to reply. She glanced at Jiang Longxu, wanting to mention her brother’s abduction by a mysterious figure, but felt she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Ye Qing’s assault was never just a single strike; against an opponent with such formidable defenses, he was never stingy with his strength.

Afterwards, Zhao Zhongyao and the relevant staff began inspecting every system of the super spaceship, trying to determine if any component was malfunctioning.

All these years, from the Northern Frontier to the Southern Domain, first the Kui Sect, then this Divine Sect, had clung to Mo Zhiyao like maggots on bone, never letting go, leaving Mo Zhiyao constantly with a chilling sense of danger, as if thorns were pricking his back.

Perhaps, in the end, no one would become the imperial consort, for the notice stated that only by winning the heart of the Eighth Princess could one wed her. Otherwise, one could only wait for fate to intervene.

Wang Chen turned back in surprise to look at him. Though he did not know what was happening, he still reached out: “The Dao of Heaven is vast—pure and unsullied, its force as steady as a mountain—Set!” As soon as the words fell, Wang Chen coughed up a mouthful of blood, yet even so, his finger remained pointed at Tang Ku, who was instantly frozen in place once more.

Everyone stared blankly at Hu Tian, not understanding. Of course! If they knew there was a conspiracy, they should have given up early. But Hu Tian, despite knowing it was a trap, insisted on diving right in. If that’s not madness, what is?