While he stood in line, Yan Xiaobao was in a good mood, eagerly waiting for his turn to be tested. The Rong twins stood beside him. Despite already being students of the Royal Academy and permitted entry, they refused to leave until Yan Xiaobao was accepted as well.
The City Lord’s two children standing next to this unknown, strikingly beautiful boy undoubtedly caused a stir, with many noble families speculating about the mysterious origins of this child.
Because all three were aware that his heritage was a secret, Yan Xiaobao and the twins showed no interest in the incessant rumors. Before long, Xu Yue calmly approached the elder—a radiance emanating from within that seed incongruous for soone of his age group.
"What is your na?" The elder asked in a friendly tone. After all, this child had evidently earned guidance from two of the Academy’s high-profile students.
"Yan Xiaobao," ca the clear response.
"Place your hand on the slate," the elder instructed. Yan Xiaobao complied. A second later, the elder placed his fingertips on the sa slate, drawing out so of his Qi. An instant later, letters erged on the surface, prompting Yan Xiaobao to remove his hand.
"Five-star student ranking. Ten-year-old boy." The elder muttered aloud as he recorded the results on a nearby desk. Then, he reached into a pouch and pulled out an emblem. The emblem was small, pentagon-shaped, and adorned with five petals encircling a sun.
"You’re good to go," the elder said, handing the emblem to the child before him. "Spend your years at our academy wisely and stay safe." With a wave of his hand, the elder turned his attention to the next child in line, while the Rong twins led Yan Xiaobao toward the mountain’s entrance.
The entrance was unadorned. The three children passed through a stone pavilion, where Yan Xiaobao noticed his student badge glowing faintly as he stepped inside, though no apparent effect followed. Soon, the strange light disappeared altogether.
"This is the key," Rong Xing explained. "Only individuals possessing a Royal Academy badge can enter the grounds." The Rong twins revealed their own badges, which looked identical to Yan Xiaobao’s.
"The gold indicates you’re an inner disciple of the Capital Royal Art Academy. Teachers have a white emblem," Rong Xing elaborated.
"This is the worst part of the Academy," Rong Ming lanted with a sigh. Glancing to the side, Yan Xiaobao followed his gaze and saw endless stone steps leading to the mountain’s summit.
The three children smiled at each other before beginning their ascent, one step at a ti. Despite being cultivators, the climb taxed their energy. Half an hour in, Rong Ming—bored of the monotony—complained incessantly.
"We have many friends at the Academy, and I’m sure they’ll grow to like you as well," he remarked, his tone both weary and optimistic. "Many of them are commoners, but in this world, strength matters more than lineage. That’s what Father always taught us."
"I usually hang out with Gao Yan, Ma Kong, and Deng Wu," he continued as the trio climbed steadily upward. "Gao Yan’s family is incredibly poor, but his talent rivals mine and Xing’er’s. Father instructed us to look out for him from the start; he’s a truly remarkable individual. Most of the commoners at the Academy look up to him. Ma Kong is from the Ma family. They hold noble status now, but since their title is still recent, most other nobles disdain them. Then there’s Deng Wu. He’s an odd character. The Deng Family is among the top hundred, but Deng Wu is more of a skirt-chaser. He’s been tagging along with us since the beginning, purely for Xing’er."
After thoroughly detailing the backgrounds of different friends, they reached the top of the stairs. Yan Xiaobao took a deep breath.
The summit, which should have been the peak of a mountain, unfolded instead as a bustling city teeming with teenagers. Suspended bridges stretched across its expanse, connecting various peaks. Flying Demon Beasts hovered in the skies, awaiting their masters.
The four mountain peaks were riddled with clusters of small houses, roughly a thousand per peak, which Rong Xing explained were dormitories. Each student resided in their own room. Every peak also had a cafeteria serving free als three tis a day.
To their left were the peaks with dormitories; to the right stood towering buildings. Each structure bore a distinct plaque. One read "Martial Arts Skills Hall," another "Qi Theory Class," and yet another "Cultivation thods."
So peaks had been entirely leveled to serve as training grounds, while others had been converted into battle arenas.
Directly ahead of Yan Xiaobao was a colossal pagoda—the main building of the Royal Academy. It housed the most advanced martial arts techniques and served as residence for all instructors and teachers.
Yan Xiaobao glanced around at the students. So were young and visibly anxious, while others, older and more seasoned, navigated the bustling academy grounds with a sense of comfort and belonging.
This was Yan Xiaobao’s new ho—a place where he could feel joy bubbling inside him. A brand-new world full of adventures awaited his exploration.
"Rong Ming!" A voice called out from nearby, prompting Yan Xiaobao to turn and see a young man rushing toward them.
Yan Xiaobao watched the approaching youth closely as he shouted Rong Ming’s na, his wide grin lighting up his face. The tension in his muscles quickly dissipated, conveying a clear lack of hostility between him and Rong Ming.
"Hey, Gao Yan," Rong Ming greeted the newcor cheerfully as the young man reached them. Seizing the mont, Yan Xiaobao subtly hid behind Rong Xing, observing this boy carefully. Based on the earlier explanations, Gao Yan possessed talent equal to Rong Ming and Rong Xing. Born into an extrely poor family, his gifts were discovered solely because of Lord Rong Liang hosting a martial arts school in Liluo City.
Initially, Gao Yan only noticed Rong Ming—his good friend—but he quickly spotted the pale-haired boy hiding behind Rong Xing. Just as Gao Yan opened his mouth to say sothing, a theatrical voice interrupted him.
"He’s a boy, and you’re a commoner," it said. Though the tone carried a hint of arrogance, its expression of "commoner" felt more affectionate than derogatory.
Yan Xiaobao turned his attention to the newcor, noticing imdiately that this young man was strikingly handso. Though he appeared around the sa age as everyone else, he exuded an air of maturity beyond his years. The tallest of the group, his lean, well-toned physique stood out prominently.
With long hair as dark as coal and eyes resembling two dazzling obsidian gemstones, the youth’s gaze sparkled mischievously. Happiness danced like tiny stars in his eyes, as though the world around him was his playground. His simple black attire—though understated—was undeniably of superior quality. This person was undeniably a young master.
The young master strode gracefully toward the group, presenting a flower to Rong Xing before kneeling before her.
"Ah, the woman of my heart. The long sumr leaves yearning to see you as a parched wanderer craves water in a scorching desert. The sole force driving is the hope of beholding your beautiful face—a vision that lends the strength to live and serve as a slave within your heart."
Yan Xiaobao widened his eyes in disbelief at the new arrival. The words spoken were so over-the-top that Yan Xiaobao couldn’t fathom how anyone could take this person seriously. Yet, what shocked him most was how solemn the young man appeared while declaring his undying love for Rong Xing.
Adding to Yan Xiaobao’s astonishnt was Lan Feng laughing uncontrollably. Phoenix’s laughter couldn’t be contained, as he’d never encountered anyone this dramatic before.
"This is incredible," Lan Feng exclaid, surveying the flamboyant youth. "We need to stay here; the people are amazing." Yan Xiaobao almost retorted that they weren’t here for entertainnt but to cultivate themselves. However, he stayed silent as the newcor turned toward him, his eyes gleaming.
"My na is Deng Wu," he softly announced. "Why not call Brother? You should keep company for a while." He continued with a calculated wink.
Rong Xing swiftly reacted to his flirtation, defensively pulling Yan Xiaobao into a protective embrace while shooting a sharp glare at Deng Wu.
"You said he was a boy, and yet you act like this?" Gao Yan questioned Deng Wu, his expression puzzled as he tried to process this sudden turn of interest from the charming young man.
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