The tense atmosphere gradually subsided after Dai Huabin left, his face still filled with suppressed anger. His disheveled carriage, nearly overturned, was pulled away by his servant, leaving deep wheel marks on the stone road.
The brown-haired teenager who had almost become a victim let out a sigh of relief, then bowed respectfully to Xu Jiujiu. "Thank you, Your Highness. You saved my life."
Xu Jiujiu gave a brief nod. "You had the courage to stand up against injustice. That's commendable. But next time, be more careful. Dai Huabin is not someone you can afford to offend."
Tianyu, who had been silently observing, felt something was off. "Sister Jiujiu, why was he so bold even though he knew you were a princess?"
Xu Jiujiu looked in the direction Dai Huabin had gone. "The White Tiger Clan is one of the Empire's Three Great Families. Their Martial Soul is rare and powerful, so they often feel entitled." Her eyes glinted coldly.
When they arrived at the ceremony grounds, hundreds of students were already lined up in neat rows. A grand stage was adorned with the academy's banners, with the teachers standing proudly atop it.
The Headmaster, Lao Jun, an old man with a long white beard, stepped forward. His voice echoed powerfully without the aid of any tools.
"Welcome, new students and esteemed guests!" Lao Jun began his speech with commanding presence. "Today is a special day, where we welcome a new generation that will carry on the tradition and honor of our Academy."
Tianyu listened carefully to Lao Jun's speech, but the atmosphere around him told a different story.
A girl in the front row was fiddling with her hairpin, her eyes watery as she fought off overwhelming drowsiness.
Two male students behind Tianyu whispered nonstop, occasionally glancing and subtly pointing at someone.
Surprisingly, even Xu Jiujiu—usually composed—showed signs of boredom. Her slender fingers tapped against her sleeve in an increasing rhythm, as if counting down to the end of the speech.
After an hour, Lao Jun finally concluded his speech. The students let out a weak cheer, more out of relief than enthusiasm.
After the ceremony, the students were divided into groups for orientation. Coincidentally, Tianyu and Dai Huabin ended up in the same group.
Dai Huabin threw a sharp look at Tianyu. "So you're the greenhorn staying at the royal pavilion?" he sneered. "What's so special about you that Princess Xu Jiujiu decided to protect you?"
Tianyu replied calmly, "I'm just a new student like everyone else."
Dai Huabin gave him a scornful glance. "I don't care about that. I heard Princess Xu Jiujiu say you're quite talented. I want to see for myself if you're really that good."
His voice was full of challenge, and several students around them began turning their heads, drawn by the rising tension.
Tianyu stared at Dai Huabin without flinching. "If you want to test me, let's do it tomorrow during the placement test. This ceremony ground isn't the right place for a fight."
For a moment, silence hung between them. Dai Huabin glared at Tianyu threateningly, but Tianyu ignored him.
"I'll let you off for now. But remember—tomorrow during the test, you'll regret this."
Dai Huabin walked away, leaving his threat hanging in the air. Some students around them exchanged glances—some with sympathy for Tianyu, others with curiosity, as if wondering whether this newcomer was truly as capable as Princess Xu Jiujiu claimed.
Tianyu let out a quiet sigh. "I just got here, and I've already made an enemy."
Xu Jiujiu, who had been watching from a distance, approached with calm steps. "Are you alright?" she asked, her eyes scanning Tianyu's expression.
Tianyu nodded. "I'm fine. But it looks like tomorrow will be harder than I thought."
Xu Jiujiu gave a faint smile. "Dai Huabin is stubborn, but he's not unbeatable. If you really are as talented as I suspect, you'll be able to handle him."
Tianyu frowned. "Why are you so sure about me? I haven't even shown you what I can do."
Before Xu Jiujiu could respond, the sound of a large bell rang out, signaling the start of group orientation.
That night, Tianyu sat cross-legged in his room, both palms resting on his knees. A gentle flow of energy circulated through his body as he practiced the Zhao Tian Jue technique. Though confident he could place first in tomorrow's test, he continued training relentlessly. For him, this wasn't just preparation to face Dai Huabin—but for a much greater battle ahead.
"His true enemies weren't arrogant children like Dai Huabin, but the gods who sought to claim his fate," he thought, eyes closed.
In a hidden corner of the room, Qian Renxue observed him intently. Her sharp eyes caught every subtle shift in the energy surrounding Tianyu.
"Not bad," she murmured inwardly. "He's nearly mastered Zhao Tian Jue. All he needs now is real experience to perfect it."
Soon, dawn would break, and the placement test would begin in the morning. Tianyu took a deep breath, then opened his eyes.
The sun rose gently, its first rays lighting up the grand ceremonial field. The morning air was filled with excitement and anticipation. The new students had gathered, their faces a mixture of joy and anxiety. Tianyu stood among them.
The ceremonial field had been turned into a testing arena. Since this test was meant for new students—most of whom didn't even possess a spirit ring—the arena was fairly simple, allowing spectators to watch from close by. Teachers stood around the arena, ready to observe and assess each participant.
Headmaster Lao Jun once again stepped forward, his voice echoing across the field.
"Good morning, new students! Today, you'll be taking the placement test that will determine your class and the resources you'll receive based on your talent."
The students began to buzz with excitement, some exchanging competitive glances. Tianyu remained calm, his eyes scanning the surroundings carefully. Suddenly, he felt a sharp gaze from the side—Dai Huabin was staring at him with a triumphant smile, as if already certain of his victory today.
"Your first test will be a measurement of your soul power. It's been three months since you awakened your Martial Souls. The academy wants to see how much you've developed your spiritual strength since then."
One by one, the students were called up to test their Martial Soul power using a special crystal. This crystal was the same type used during Martial Soul awakening to gauge innate spirit power—but this version had an upper limit of level 20.
A student with a Wind Sword Martial Soul made the crystal glow a bright green, earning praise from the teachers. Others only managed a faint glow, their faces falling with disappointment at the mediocre results.
When Dai Huabin's turn came, the atmosphere around the stage shifted immediately. Students loyal to the White Tiger Clan erupted in cheers.
"Dai Huabin! Dai Huabin!" they shouted enthusiastically.
With confident strides, the son of the White Tiger Duke stepped onto the stage. His eyes radiated certainty as he placed his right palm on the gleaming test crystal.
Bzzzt!
The crystal reacted violently. A golden light flared, far brighter than any student before him, illuminating the entire testing area. Its brilliance was so intense that some students had to squint.
"Spirit power at level 11!" the examiner called out, his voice trembling with admiration. "And he's already obtained his first Spirit Ring!"
Gasps of awe and murmured whispers filled the air.
"No surprise, he is the direct descendant of the White Tiger Duke..."
"Look at the raw strength of the White Tiger Martial Soul!"
"Level 11 at his age? That's insane!"
Dai Huabin smiled smugly, deliberately seeking out Tianyu among the crowd. When their eyes met, he lifted his chin slightly in a gesture of arrogant superiority.
His followers quickly surrounded him as he stepped down from the stage, showering him with praise and admiration. Some even dared to throw scornful looks at Tianyu, as if to show how insignificant he was compared to a true noble like Dai Huabin.
Even the teachers present praised Dai Huabin as one of the most talented students since the academy's founding.