As Mingyi saw his hair, she instinctively shrank her neck, seemingly transported back to her days at the Yuan Shi Academy in Chaoyang City. Shen Tianlin was the nightmare of all fighters in Chaoyang City. No matter how skilled or noble you were, once you entered the Yuan Shi Academy, you had to respectfully address him as “Master” and accept his unpredictable “care.”
He excelled in crafting divine mechanical devices, his masterpiece being a Ghost Gate as large as a house, specifically designed to train fighters’ responsiveness, control, and endurance.
When Mingyi first arrived, she was naive and carelessly passed through the Ghost Gate, even remarking, “This isn’t so difficult. Why is it called the Ghost Gate?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Shen Tianlin threw her back in, activating a mechanism in the process.
“I forgot you’re Mingxian,” he said with a kindly smile. “You’re different from the others.”
The once simple challenge instantly became hellish. Everything moved at least five times faster. Mingyi shrieked as rotten eggs flew at her from all directions. She barely made it through two gates before respectfully kneeling and begging for mercy: “I was presumptuous. Please show leniency, Master.”
Shen Tianlin didn’t relent, waiting until she was covered in bruises before shutting off the mechanism and bringing her out.
After that, Mingyi could face sudden attacks at any time, regardless of what she was doing. Sometimes it was hidden arrows, other times poison packets, and more outrageously, day-old rice wrapped in cabbage leaves or yellow mud from flower beds.
She could handle it once or twice, but the frequency became overwhelming even for someone of her caliber.
Later, she specially prepared gifts and earnestly kowtowed three times at Shen Tianlin’s door: “You’ve made your point, sir.”
Shen Tianlin snorted with laughter: “Ungrateful brat, I see great potential in you.”
Great potential meant being pelted with day-old rice while walking down the street? Mingyi frowned deeply.
“Ordinary fighters can muddle through life, but you’re Mingxian,” Shen Tianlin looked at her, his dark purple eyes full of hope. “Mingxian is someone who can redivide the Qingyun Realm.”
Chaoyang City was the most prosperous yet smallest city with the most treacherous terrain. With 300 days of scorching sun each year, the common people suffered greatly.
To redivide the territory meant always winning and remaining the strongest city.
To always win, Mingxian couldn’t lose.
“Your reactions and control are good, but still lag behind your fighting skills,” Shen Tianlin said. “Become my disciple, and I’ll eliminate your weaknesses.”
“How can anyone be without weaknesses?”
“My disciple won’t have any.”
It seemed absurd. Why should she, a fighter known for her combat skills, join the Divine Artifact Hall?
Mingyi turned to leave.
But Shen Tianlin was serious. He trained her day and night, regardless of wind or rain, whether she was eating or sleeping. Attacks came in the blink of an eye.
Thus, during her years at the Yuan Shi Academy, Mingyi was either fleeing for her life or fighting for it.
However, with Shen Tianlin’s “care,” her reactions and control indeed improved daily, making her victories in competitions increasingly effortless. Year after year, as long as she was present, the other five cities could only compete for second place.
Back then, Mingyi was truly in her prime. Dressed in robes the color of sunrise flowers, she leaped over walls and tiles, her clothes billowing, sleeves cutting through the wind, her face beaming with confidence.
She was the rising sun of the east, the hope of countless people.
But now…
With her dress stained and hairpin askew, Mingyi quickly tore off a piece of gauze, covered her face, and tied it tightly at the back of her head. She turned sideways to avoid the main seats and said somewhat awkwardly to Xiuyun, “I’m going to change my clothes.”
Xiuyun, who had been in high spirits, looked at her sympathetically upon hearing this: “Once you’re in the Tage Platform, it’s not easy to leave. Why change now? Just bear with it.”
Her back stiffened slightly. Mingyi lowered her gaze and pretended to search for something, lying flat on the cushion.
Shen Tianlin’s gaze had already swept over as if looking for someone.
“What seats are those over there?” he asked the Grand Minister of Muxing City.
The Grand Minister glanced over and replied politely, “Those are the elegant seats, for fighters without official positions in Muxing City, or for wealthy merchants and famous individuals to observe quietly.”
In other words, the last seats.
“Oh?” Shen Tianlin smiled, his gaze falling deeply on a certain seat in the last row. “Is that person also from Muxing City?”
Everyone followed his gaze.
Mingyi, lying on the cushion, had just avoided their gaze. Feeling relieved, she also raised her head to look back, wanting to see who Shen Tianlin was referring to.
To her surprise, she found Zheng Tiao sitting two steps behind her. Moreover, Zheng Tiao’s ink-black eyes had been fixed on her for who knows how long.
She was so startled that she hiccupped, quickly covering her mouth.
Noticing the gazes around him, Zheng Tiao looked up and gave a slight bow towards Shen Tianlin’s direction.
“How did he end up sitting here?!” Xiuyun clutched Mingyi’s arm in fear. “It’s Zheng Tiao! Zheng Tiao from Xincao City!”
Yes, yes, I know, and you’re grabbing the arm of Mingxian from Chaoyang City.
Mingyi struggled to press down her hand and said in a muffled voice, “My stomach hurts, don’t move me for now.”
“Oh, sorry.” Xiuyun quickly let go, then seemed somewhat disdainful. “Why do you always miss the excitement? Such a big event and you don’t even want to look?”
Mingyi waved her hand, keeping her head down and not moving.
If she were to get up, that would truly be the biggest excitement.
“Why is Lord Zheng here?” Bao Yuanqi stood up in surprise. “We couldn’t even see you when we went to Feihua City earlier.”
Zuo Ping also glanced at him and stood up, somewhat convinced: “Perhaps he’s here to spar with Lord Ji.”
It was well-known that Zheng Tiao was obsessed with martial arts. Nothing in this world could move his heart except for fighters with strong Yuan Power.
With Zuo Ping’s words, Zheng Tiao smoothly responded: “I came to find Lord Ji and also to join in the festivities. I didn’t expect Master Shen to recognize me from so far away with his discerning eye. It makes me seem abrupt.”
He then bowed to the Grand Minister in the main seat.
The Grand Minister’s eyes lit up, and he said cheerfully: “Not abrupt at all. Bozai had mentioned this to me, but given your special status, the palace servants didn’t dare to rashly invite you to the main seats. Now that Master Shen has recognized you, please come to the main seats.”
Muxing City had been in decline for so many years, and it was rare for their ancestral grave to produce some good fortune in the form of Ji Bozai. Today was originally a day of humiliation, but not only did they have Ji Bozai to intimidate others, but they also had Zheng Tiao from Feihua City attending as a friend. This made him proud and eager to set off firecrackers on the spot.
However, Zheng Tiao bowed apologetically: “Thank you for your kindness, Grand Minister, but I find the scenery here uniquely beautiful. There’s no need to trouble the palace servants to move the seats.”
Such a remote seat, with splashing water in front and grass, insects, and birds behind – what scenery was there to see? Everyone was puzzled.
Ji Bozai, hearing these words, paused slightly, then glanced at him.