All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 165: A Gathering of Winds and Clouds

While the Academy was abuzz with excitement, Zhanyue remained completely at ease. Others were tense about ‘preparing for exams’, but he had already been guaranteed admission, so naturally, he felt no pressure. However, his encounter with Huang Xueqing made Zhanyue realize that people in this world each had their own opportunities, and one should never underestimate anyone. If the Alchemy Daoist hadn’t mentioned it, how could Zhanyue have imagined that the elf-like girl, even younger than him, was already at the peak of the Sun Profound Realm, with one foot stepping into the Spirit God Realm? It was simply unimaginable.

“This battle is sure to be spectacular,” Zhanyue said, sitting in his courtyard with great anticipation. Not long after, MuMu Lixi arrived, leading the tagalong Nangong Weilai. Nangong Weilai unceremoniously poured herself a cup of tea. The tea at Zhanyue’s place was different from elsewhere; it was fruit tea that Zhanyue made himself, which Nangong Weilai loved. She didn’t like the bitter tea leaves.

“We agreed to savor tea, but you’ve finished a whole pot in no time,” Zhanyue said, feeling a bit distressed. These fruits were all spirit fruits, a product he had developed over a long time. How could it withstand Nangong Weilai drinking it like a beverage?

Nangong Weilai sat on a stone chair, swinging her legs and pouting, “Stingy! And you call yourself the disciple of the Goddess!” That’s right, this girl was jealous, insanely jealous. There was hardly anyone in the world who didn’t revere the Illumination Goddess, unless they had no conscience. This stinky boy was actually the Goddess’s disciple – how could she not be jealous?

Zhanyue had come to understand the significance of the Illumination Goddess to the people of the Myriad Spirits Realm during this time. Those Illumination Towers and Illumination Goddess statues weren’t built for nothing. Perhaps it was in response to people’s worship and expectations that his sister had resolutely decided to become a star to protect the mortal world.

Holy Maiden Lixi stood by with a smile at the corners of her mouth, watching the two. Then she took out a porcelain jar from her spatial ring. “Sister Nangong, here are the tea leaves for this fruit tea. Take it with you, and you can brew it yourself whenever you want. Actually, I prefer lighter tastes, not as fond of sweetness as you are.”

Nangong Weilai happily accepted it, then turned to Zhanyue and said, “You gave this tea to Sister Holy Maiden, didn’t you, you miser? You didn’t give me any, but in the end, it still ended up in my hands.”

Zhanyue smiled awkwardly. It wasn’t that he was stingy, but these fruit teas weren’t easy to make. After he made them, he only gave one portion each to Baizhi and MuMu Lixi. Baizhi quite liked it, but MuMu Lixi preferred other normal tea flavors to fruit tea. She hadn’t used much, and now seeing how much Nangong Weilai liked it, she just passed it on to her.

Just then, a familiar female voice was heard.

Everyone turned around to see a woman in white walking through the courtyard gate. The woman was stunningly beautiful and youthful. In a few steps, she walked up to Zhanyue and threw herself into his arms.

“Baizhi? You’re here?” Zhanyue knew Baizhi was coming back but didn’t expect it to be at this time.

Baizhi had been missing Zhanyue for days, just like a girl in love, with Zhanyue being her entire world. However, when she peeked out from Zhanyue’s embrace, her face flushed red as she finally noticed the two other people in the courtyard.

Nangong Weilai and the wooden MuMu Lixi both looked awkward, admiring Baizhi’s boldness. Nangong Weilai tugged at MuMu Lixi’s clothes, using her eyes to signal to Holy Maiden Lixi, as if saying, “This woman is not easy to deal with, be careful.”

Baizhi’s eyes clashed with Holy Maiden Lixi’s for the first time, an indescribable feeling that Zhanyue found uncomfortable. Baizhi’s cheeks were slightly red as she moved away from Zhanyue and walked over.

“You must be Sister Holy Maiden. I’ve heard about you since I was little. Before, when Zhanyue said he had a good relationship with you, I thought he was just boasting. I didn’t expect it to be true,” Baizhi said with emotion.

“I’ve heard him mention you too,” Holy Maiden Lixi replied, maintaining her composure.

“What did he say about me?” Baizhi squinted her eyes. If Zhanyue had said anything nonsensical, she definitely wouldn’t let him off the hook.

“He said you were an unparalleled genius, especially in your attainments in the Alchemy Daoist. Now that I see you, sister, not only are you exceptionally gifted, but your beauty is also unmatched in the world. You truly are a sight to behold,” MuMu Lixi said.

“In terms of beauty alone, sister, you are the true beauty of the mortal world. There’s no point in discussing such superficial topics.” Baizhi turned to look at Zhanyue and asked, “I don’t like the accommodations Thunder Lord arranged for me. Can I stay here? I see you have quite a few empty rooms.”

“Of… of course you can,” Zhanyue dared not refuse. Right now, his strategy was to speak as little as possible.

“By the way, it’s a long journey from the Thousand Beauties Kingdom to here. Did you come alone?” Zhanyue asked with concern.

“No, I came with Royal Grandmother. She had some business to attend to and left first,” Baizhi explained.

“Royal Grandmother? Is that the Empress’s mother?” Zhanyue asked, puzzled.

“She’s the Empress’s master, the former Empress. She had been in secret seclusion before, and now that her seclusion has ended, she came out to have a look around. She’s been very kind to me,” Baizhi said.

Hearing this, Zhanyue felt relieved. It seemed that both the current Empress and the former Empress had accepted Baizhi’s existence. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have personally accompanied her here.

“You must be tired from your long journey. There are plenty of empty rooms in my courtyard. You all keep chatting, I’ll go prepare a room for you,” Zhanyue found an excuse to leave the courtyard. He really couldn’t stay there any longer.

Watching his retreating figure, Nangong Weilai made a face, “Coward, daring to do but not to face the consequences.”

“Sister, please sit. Let’s chat,” Holy Maiden Lixi pulled Baizhi to sit down. The two engaged in casual conversation, mostly about everyday matters, occasionally probing each other with a few words about Zhanyue. Only Nangong Weilai lay on the stone table, taking out her pet little turtle to play with.

Meanwhile, Mu Fanchen, who had escorted Baizhi to the Academy, sought out the Alchemy Daoist after ensuring Baizhi’s safety. However, the Alchemy Daoist was still avoiding her, refusing to meet. Now he could only discuss some official matters with Thunder Lord.

“Congratulations on breaking through to the True Realm. It’s truly a great fortune for our human race!” Thunder Lord said happily. The former Empress breaking through to the True Realm meant that the human race had gained another high-level expert in the True Realm.

“It was just luck. My talent is limited, and I’m afraid there’s no possibility of further progress,” Mu Fanchen said honestly. She had broken through by using up her lifespan and relying on pills.

Just as the two were engrossed in conversation, a voice suddenly rang out in the sky.

“An old friend has come to visit. Would Thunder Lord come out to meet?”

Thunder Lord’s expression changed, knowing who had arrived. He shook his head somewhat helplessly. “It’s the Jade Family Ancestor of the Azure Wind Realm, Yu Zhitian.”

Thunder Lord and Mu Fanchen walked out. Sure enough, two people were standing in the sky, one treading on air, the other riding a sword. The one walking on air appeared middle-aged, dressed in cyan robes with deep-set eyes. On the back of his clothes was embroidered the character ‘Jade’, and on his forehead was a tattoo of the character ‘Heaven’. This was the Ancestor of the Azure Wind Realm. Beside him was naturally Yu Xuanyi from the Azure Wind Realm. Yu Xuanyi’s poison had already been neutralized, and according to the previous deal with the Eastern Kingdom’s Emperor, he also had a guaranteed admission spot.

“Lord Yu, long time no see. It seems your cultivation has advanced further,” Thunder Lord said with some apprehension.

“Not at all. My small abilities are nothing in front of true seniors and experts. Now that the three elders – the Alchemy Daoist, the Storyteller, and the Ascetic – have entered the world, how can my Azure Wind Realm remain aloof? With the Heaven Book Trial, where young prodigies gather, how can I not bring some juniors to see the world?” Yu Xuanyi said.

As they conversed, powerful auras from other forces began to converge on the Academy Town. It was truly a case of ‘For fame, all young geniuses enter the world; To protect their legacies, old monsters appear one after another.’ The Academy Town was bustling with activity.