Chapter 26: I Am Merely a Disciple of the Academy

In truth, Ye Nishang had sensed Chu Tianchen’s presence the moment he appeared before the main gate of the Yunhai Academy, though she had not revealed herself immediately upon arriving.

Ever since they parted ways in the Four Directions Forest, Ye Nishang—despite having broken through to the Heavenly King Realm—had found no peace of mind. During her daily cultivation, the image of Chu Tianchen would constantly surface in her thoughts. This was partly due to what had transpired between them, and partly out of an intense curiosity regarding his physical constitution.

That night, the terrifying phenomena he had manifested, coupled with the regenerative power of his body, had left even her—a princess from the Great World—utterly stunned. Furthermore, at that time, she had already attained the Heavenly King Realm, and with the influence of her Innate Primal Spirit, it stood to reason that even a man of equal cultivation would have struggled to endure the toll of that night. Yet, Chu Tianchen, who had just stepped into the Pulse Circulation Realm, had emerged as if nothing had happened.

Of course, that was only what she saw. In reality, Chu Tianchen’s lower back had been quite sore the next day.

"Miss Nishang, do you know him?" Liu Qingfeng asked, his eyes flashing with coldness as he watched Ye Nishang still holding Chu Tianchen’s hand.

Know him? They had been as intimate as two people could be.

At these words, Ye Nishang quickly withdrew her hand. "What business is that of yours?" she replied with icy detachment.

"The Heavenly King Realm! You’ve actually reached the Heavenly King Realm. It hasn't even been a year since you entered the academy, and you’ve already advanced from the Heavenly Martial Realm to the Heavenly King Realm. In all of Yunhai, who else would dare call themselves a genius in your presence?" Liu Qingfeng continued, his demeanor shifting instantly from that of a man in control to a sycophant. "Miss Nishang, would you consider joining our Liu Faction? If you are willing, the position of Vice Master is yours."

One must understand that Liu Qingfeng was the son of the Academy Dean and a rare talent in his own right. For someone of his age to reach the Heavenly King Realm was considered terrifying, even in the Imperial City of the Great Qian. Chu Tianchen’s father and uncles had reached this level around the same age. Yet, in front of Ye Nishang, he still paled in comparison. She was a Heavenly King under the age of twenty—an unprecedented feat in the history of the Great Qian Imperial City.

"Brother, what are you saying? If she becomes the Vice Master, then what about me?" Liu Qingxin frowned, her voice sinking. She currently held that position, and she was shocked that her brother would debase himself so thoroughly for the sake of fawning over someone. But even so, the moment Ye Nishang appeared, even Liu Qingxin—long recognized as the most beautiful woman in the Yunhai Academy—was eclipsed.

Liu Qingfeng was about to continue, but Ye Nishang turned away, her gaze fixed entirely on Chu Tianchen, completely ignoring the siblings. This caused both of them to flush with indignation. Regardless of their status as the Dean’s children or their own exceptional talents, they had never been so thoroughly dismissed, and they were naturally displeased.

Liu Qingfeng, in particular, felt a surge of inexplicable anger upon seeing Ye Nishang protect Chu Tianchen.

"Why have you come here?" Ye Nishang asked.

Her appearance allowed Chu Tianchen to slowly regain his composure. He took a deep breath, realizing his previous actions had indeed been reckless. As Ye Nishang had implied, wasting his strength on someone like Liu Qingxin was not worth it.

"Thank you for stepping in," Chu Tianchen said, ignoring her question. Without another word, he walked toward the registration desk under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

In the next moment, he clenched his fist and crushed the Yunhai Token he had been holding into dust.

"Chu Tianchen of the Chu family from Zhentian City. Pulse Circulation Realm, second layer. I am here to register."

The young man at the registration desk stood frozen. A holder of the Yunhai Token was entitled to direct entry into the Inner Academy—a rule established by the Dean and agreed upon by all the high-ranking officials of the academy. Even if Chu Tianchen was no longer the peerless genius he had been five years ago, the Dean’s decree was meant to be honored. No one expected him to destroy the token and insist on registering from the bottom.

Entering through standard registration meant starting in the Outer Academy. The Outer and Inner Academies were vastly different worlds; in the Outer Academy, one had to earn their own cultivation resources, and there were no masters to provide personal instruction. Everything had to be comprehended on one’s own. While the Outer Academy did have cultivation chambers and a Pavilion of Divine Arts, one had to rely on themselves. Furthermore, the Outer Academy held selections every six months; those who passed could enter the Inner Academy. Entering the Inner Academy meant one was halfway to the Heavenly Martial Realm—a level of strength that would make one a core member of any faction in the Imperial City. For many children from humble backgrounds, this was the ultimate goal.

The young man behind the desk took a long moment to process this. He didn't record Chu Tianchen’s name immediately, but instead looked toward Liu Qingfeng. "Faction Master Liu, do you think we should accept him?"

"If I recall correctly, the threshold for admission to the Yunhai Academy is to be under twenty years of age and at the second layer of the Pulse Circulation Realm," Ye Nishang said coldly. "Is there any requirement he fails to meet?"

"He fails because his family is guilty of treason," Liu Qingxin interjected immediately.

Chu Tianchen’s gaze darkened. "The Chu family is guilty of treason? Who said so? Did the Emperor issue a decree, or has your authority grown so great that you can impose such charges yourself?"

"It’s not me imposing them; everyone says so," Liu Qingxin retorted, frowning.

"Everyone? Who is 'everyone'? If my family were guilty of treason, would I still be standing here today?" Chu Tianchen declared. "Let me state this clearly: the Chu family has never committed treason. If we had, the Emperor would have issued a decree, and the entire clan would have been executed. If I hear any more talk of the Chu family’s 'treason,' the consequences will be yours to bear."

He then turned to the clerk. "So, is the admission process of the Yunhai Academy no longer decided by the institution, but rather by whether this Faction Master Liu nods her head?" he asked with a cold laugh.

The clerk was left speechless.

"Like everyone else, I am merely a student of the Yunhai Academy," Liu Qingfeng said hurriedly, worried about the rumors of his father's position. He didn't want to tarnish his father's reputation at such a sensitive time. He gave the clerk a look, and the man quickly began recording Chu Tianchen’s information.

"Chu Tianchen of the Chu family, report to the Outer Academy in one week!" the clerk said, handing him an Outer Academy token.