An invisible tension then descended upon the Imperial Capital. Even with the New Year approaching, this atmosphere did not lessen in the slightest.
This year, far too many surprising things had happened in the Imperial Capital, making it far more dramatic than any year prior.
The unexpected failure of the Centennial Star Festival.
The complete coback of the second young master of the National Guardian General's Mansion, once known as the "Civil Servant's Rice Bowl."
The imnse glory brought upon the National Guardian General's Mansion!
The creation of the Princess of Vulture and the Seven-Colored Marquis!
The favor shown to Xu Luo by Phoenix, the Fengyue Tower Master, and the mysterious Young Master Feng...
The major incidents that shook the Imperial Capital, where the warehouses of seven or eight prominent families were plundered clean!
The string of strange events at Pri Minister Wei's Family, the destruction of the Wei Family's seventy-eight large shops across the Imperial Capital, and Madam Wei taking her own life in sha and fury after her affair with a servant was exposed...
The 'Letter' incident, which was rumored in hushed tones throughout the upper circles...
It could be said that every single one of these events gave people plenty to talk about.
In the eyes of many, this was the year of the National Guardian General's Mansion's Xu Family... and especially the year of its second young master, Xu Luo!
After all, what could be more astonishing than Xu Luo's transformation?
A young man once so frail that he frequently fainted had, in a matter of months, beco a Martial Artist who was second to none among his peers.
Though he had only made a move a few tis, each instance was nothing short of dazzling!
Even Wei Yun, the Instructor from True Martial Academy—an expert who had reached the level of a Tier Eight Great Sword Master years ago and was now a Ninth Rank Peak Great Sword Master—had used sixty percent of his strength and only managed to give Xu Luo a minor injury.
When word of this got out, countless people beca intensely curious about the lofty, mysterious, and powerful Hidden Sects!
It was rumored that the reason for Xu Luo's incredible transformation was a dicine his mother, who hailed from a sect, had obtained by returning to her order.
Otherwise, to this day, Xu Luo would have remained that sickly weakling, that good-for-nothing, that "Civil Servant's Rice Bowl" of the past!
Unfortunately, these great sects were called Hidden Sects for a reason—they were mysterious and aloof. How could an ordinary person ever be fortunate enough to catch their eye?
Sects were hidden from the mortal realm and stood above it, yet they influenced it at every mont.
The day before the True Martial Academy's break began, the Seventh Princess found Xu Luo and unhappily told him that she had to leave.
"My imperial father contacted a great sect for . They sent soone to examine my constitution and said I could enter the sect as a Registered Disciple of the Sect Leader..."
The Seventh Princess looked at Xu Luo reluctantly as she spoke. "I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you."
Xu Luo's heart ached with reluctance, but he was also a bit surprised. He suddenly recalled sothing Phoenix, who had quietly departed, had once said.
"You see the power of the throne... as far too simple!"
'Could it be... that the Royal Family really has the shadow of a sect behind it?' Xu Luo shook his head slightly, unwilling to dwell on such questions. He looked up at the peerless beauty before him.
"Qiqi, having the opportunity to enter a sect is actually a good thing. Besides, you'll beco a direct disciple of the Sect Leader..."
"A Registered Disciple!" the Seventh Princess stressed, then looked at Xu Luo. "Do you really think entering a sect is a good thing?"
"Haha, at the very least, it will make you stronger than you are now, won't it?" Xu Luo said with a smile.
"To be honest, I know that while my imperial father appears to shower your family with favor, he's actually always been wary. I don't want to be caught up in that. Maybe you're right; joining a sect might be a good thing for after all." The Seventh Princess gave a playful smile. "At the very least, I won't have to deal with an endless line of suitors for the next few years."
"Hm? People still dare to have designs on you?" Xu Luo said, raising an eyebrow.
"Pri Minister Wei has been working tirelessly lately trying to arrange a marriage for his son. I suspect my imperial father grew so weary of his pestering that he decided to send to the sect." The Seventh Princess spoke softly, lifting her head to gaze at Xu Luo with her beautiful eyes. "No matter what, Qiqi will always belong to Brother Xu Luo. No one can ever change that!"
Xu Luo gently pulled the girl into his embrace. After a mont of silence, he said, "Practice the Shadow Shaking Heart thod and the Shaking Light Step diligently. Don't let anyone discover any flaws."
"Mhm," the girl humd softly, resting her head on Xu Luo's shoulder. "I heard Phoenix left, too. You poor thing. Soon, you'll only have Sister Lianyi left..."
The corner of Xu Luo's mouth twitched. The few won he was close to were all incredibly sharp. They rarely showed it, but their casual, little barbs left him feeling utterly helpless.
"Tee-hee, I'll stop teasing you. I have to go now, so be sure to miss , okay? When I co back from the sect after completing my training, you'd better not let Qiqi defeat you!" The girl lifted her head from his embrace and said with a charming laugh.
As if not wanting Xu Luo to see the tears welling in her eyes, the girl vanished from his sight without so much as a single glance back.
Xu Luo stood in his small courtyard, staring blankly for a mont. Then he said lightly, "Aren't you tired after being up in that tree for so long? We've been neighbors for a while now; no need to be so shy. If you'd like, you can co down for a chat. I... have so decent tea."
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
At Xu Luo's words, several figures leaped down from the surrounding trees.
A girl who looked to be eighteen or nineteen, with delicate features and fair skin, was the first to speak. A faint smile played in her almond-shaped eyes. "It seems Junior Brother Xu discovered us long ago. You're quite skilled!"
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