C21 Mansion Master

Pine needles drifted to the ground, carried by the whispering wind, in the grand pine garden. Yu Yin clenched his jaw as he pushed himself in his cultivation, with Huajun silently observing from the side.

Due to the recent incident, Yu Yin was required to push his cultivation to the brink as punishment. He was intimately familiar with the agony of reaching his limits. He had intended to stop at a reasonable point in his future training sessions, but now, to make amends, he had to exert himself to the extreme.

His anguished screams pierced the air, witnessed firsthand by Huajun as Yu Yin's cries of pain echoed time and again.

The counting continued relentlessly:

71...

88...

94...

100...

After the hundredth count, Yu Yin once again lost consciousness, as darkness enveloped the sky. Huajun, with a complex look on her face, helped him up. She had always taken pride in her talent and diligence, but at this moment, she felt a twinge of guilt.

Back at the small courtyard, Huajun escorted a recovering Yu Yin to his quarters.

Inside the room, the flickering candlelight cast shadows as Zhao Cai and the others quickly rose to greet her. "It's getting late," she told them. "Take out the Origin Energy Balls and begin the test. I'll need to report to the dean afterward."

Upon her instruction, the four of them promptly produced the Origin Energy Balls. Once the results were in, Huajun departed.

After the door closed behind her, Dongmen Ai stowed the Origin Energy Balls and turned to assess Yu Yin. "Judging by your state, did a teacher give you a thrashing?" he inquired with curiosity.

Yu Yin could only offer a wry smile, unable to speak. Wracked with pain, he shakily made his way to the bed and collapsed onto it. Zhao Cai and the others exchanged looks; all but Xia Chen seemed to take a perverse pleasure in his misfortune.

As the candlelight was snuffed out, a profound silence descended.

At dawn, all the instructors from the academy gathered under the guidance of the rotund elder and the stern-faced elder at the entrance to the beach bridge.

"Dean, isn't this a bit excessive?" one instructor questioned. He recalled that previously, they would send only a couple of instructors to welcome the delegation from the Hall of Reincarnation, not like now with both deans in attendance.

The rotund elder replied, "This time, we have a special guest."

The group was momentarily taken aback, deep in thought.

As time slipped by, the red sun ascended. Footsteps echoed through the foggy bridge.

Soon enough, a figure in purple robes and a young man in white, flanked by three men in red, approached side by side.

"Hehe, Brother Wanfeng, how have you been?" The portly elder greeted them warmly, his fists clasped in a traditional gesture of respect.

"Haha, Brother Zuo Xue, Brother Jiang Yi, I trust you've been well?" The elder in purple robes boomed with laughter as he strode forward.

"Brother Wen Wanfeng, I've heard we have a distinguished guest. I brought all the instructors out to welcome them before the break of dawn. May I inquire as to who this esteemed person might be?" Zuo Xue, the fat elder, inquired with a beaming smile.

"This young man is none other than the sole heir of Lord Liu Yuanliang of the Tian Xu Estate," Wanfeng replied, stepping aside to introduce the youth beside him.

The young man, striking with clear brows and eyes as bright as stars, gave Zuo Xue a slight nod in acknowledgment.

It's well-known that the Heavenly Country is divided into eight estates, each governing forty-eight cities. The status of an estate lord is immensely powerful.

Realizing he was in the presence of an estate lord's son, Zuo Xue's eyes twinkled with recognition of the young man's significance.

The long-faced elder, Jiang Yi Wen, offered a slight smile and a fist salute.

"It's an honor to have Young Master Liu visit us. I will arrange for a meal to be prepared immediately."

Liu Ju surveyed his surroundings, his gaze settling on the two men.

"I've heard that the Northern Pine Sealing Academy ranks among the top five of our country's nine Sealing Academies. Studying at home was becoming dull, so I'm fortunate this academy is nearby. I've decided to pursue my cultivation here."

Zuo Xue and Jiang Yi Wen exchanged a brief, knowing look, with Jiang Yi Wen maintaining his smile.

"Young Master, as you're aware, the academy is established by the sovereign, and we dare not flout the rules. May I ask about your talents?"

"Where are my manners? Since the head of our estate has personally come forward, Young Master Liu's talents surely meet the mark," Wanfeng interjected with a chuckle.

"Ah, it seems I've been shortsighted. Please, this way," Jiang Yi Wen said with a self-deprecating smile, gesturing them forward.

The instructors watched the exchange with astonishment; it was the first time they had witnessed the two deans being so courteous to anyone.

The young man led the way, his curiosity piqued as he surveyed his surroundings with great interest. Trailing behind, Zuo Xue, Zhang Yi Wen, and Wan Feng engaged in hushed conversation.

Casting a glance at the young man, Wan Feng murmured, "He was once a student at the Southern Pine Sealing Academy. On the first day of testing, he was dismissed for making inappropriate advances toward a mentor. Bitter, he arranged for someone to break the mentor's legs. Liu Yuan Liang feared the king might hear of it, so he sent the troublemaker here under the cover of night."

"My friends, you may not know this, but years ago, Liu Yuan Liang secretly aided me in my quest for the position of hall master. Reluctantly, I accepted this thankless task. I hope you'll be understanding in the future."

Zuo Xue and Zhang Yi Wen frowned upon hearing this unexpected revelation.

"Brother Wan, this puts us in jeopardy," Zuo Xue remarked.

"Brother Wan, what will we do if the king learns that this man is here?" Zhang Yi Wen inquired.

Wan Feng gave a wry smile. "Liu Yuanliang has only this son. I suspect the king will downplay the incident."

"And if he doesn't? Should an investigation ensue, we'll be harboring a criminal. The leadership at Northern Pine Academy might very well be in jeopardy."

"Liu's strategy to hide someone in this border town is quite shrewd," Zuo Xue said with a cold laugh.

"Liu Yuanliang is no saint, and you both serve under him. Why not endure these five years? In time, his son's fate may turn," Wan Feng suggested, his gaze flickering.

The two men simply looked at him, offering no response.

"It's been years, and the changes in you, Brother Wan, are astonishing," one said.

"Life is full of necessities. Today, I will oversee the testing at your academy as a gesture of repayment."

"You could have kept us in the dark, Brother Wan, but you chose to be forthright. If we were to refuse your request now, it would reflect poorly on our honor."

"Let's leave it at that. He can stay."

"Thank you," Wan Feng expressed his gratitude.

Before the grand palace gates stood a majestic old pine. A white jade table was set upon the expansive ground, with representatives from the four courtyards arrayed in anticipation.

The students from the White Courtyard stood in the third row, with Yu Yin flanked by Dongmen Ai and Ou Lu. Yu Yin's gaze roamed the surroundings, seemingly lost in thought.

Dongmen Ai glanced at him and whispered, "Yu Yin, aren't you excited?"

Yu Yin appeared confused.

"Once we receive the imprint, we'll officially become cultivators. How can you not be excited?"

"It's just a stamp on the forehead. What's there to be excited about?"

"Figures! I asked the wrong person."

Dongmen Ai turned his playful gaze toward Ou Lu and winked.

Ou Lu grinned back at him.

"Excited?"

"Absolutely."

"Haha, me too."

A smug look crossed Ou Lu's face. "Soon, I'll be a bona fide cultivator. Let's see who dares to underestimate me then."

Beside them, Zhao Cai straightened his clothes and admonished with a serious tone, "Ou Lu, mind your manners."

"Such pretense." Huixiao's lips curled into a smile, though her eyes discreetly flickered toward Zhuang Jiujing.

Zhuang Jiujing, for her part, gazed forward with an undisturbed calm, as if oblivious to the attention.

The area buzzed with hushed conversations until someone exclaimed, "He's here!" Silence fell over the crowd instantly.

"What a striking young man," someone remarked quietly, noticing Liu Ju standing next to Zuo Ze.

Zuo Ze surveyed the crowd and began, "This is the Master of the Building Foundation Hall, the Thousand Peak Hall Master. Today, he will personally bestow the level one conjurer's imprint on you. Shortly, the Vice Academy Head will call the names of those who have reached the first level. Those named should come forward and queue up."

Zhang Yi received a booklet from one of the instructors. As Wan Feng settled down with the seal at hand, Zhang Yi opened the booklet and addressed the crowd.

"This roster has been compiled by the instructors from various academies, based on the students' cultivation progress in their respective classes. The names read out belong to students who have achieved the first level."

"For those whose names are not called, you'll have to wait until the end of next month. That's when the ceremony for second-level conjurers will take place, and you'll have the opportunity to receive your imprint then."

"Okay, I'm going to begin calling out names. If you hear your name, please step forward."

"Star Academy Class One, Zhang Kai."

"Star Academy Class One, Hu Manqiao."

"Star Academy Class One, Xiong Hui."

"Star Academy Class Two, Huang Dan."

"Star Academy Class Two, Gongsun Zhi."

"Star Academy Class Two, Gongsun…"