Star Luo Royal Academy

Star Luo Royal Academy. Under the moonlight, two small figures gradually drew closer.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly rested her head against Dai Yao's shoulder.

The moonlight was beautiful, and the breeze was gentle. Looking at the pretty face within inch's distance and smelling the faint fragrance of her hair, Dai Yao felt a sense of peace rise within him.

At that moment, he even wished time could stop forever.

Time slipped by, and the night grew late.

The two climbed down from the roof and returned indoors. Dai Yao looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said, "The competition for the throne is incomparably bloody. Those who fail have no right to live."

"Though we are still young and our Soul Power is far behind Dai Yaming's and Dai Weisi's, I believe that as long as we persevere, there will be hope."

Hearing this, the uncertainty on Zhu Zhuqing's face immediately turned into resolve. She replied softly, "Mm."

After that, the two sat cross-legged and entered cultivation.

Only a short while later, Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes. Her cold face was filled with astonishment. "Why... has my cultivation speed increased?"

"It wasn't like this when I was at home. Could it be because of Dai Yao?" She turned to look at him, somewhat suspicious.

Suppressing the doubts in her heart, Zhu Zhuqing continued cultivating.

...Several days passed. Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing treasured every moment. Other than eating and sleeping, they cultivated day and night without pause.

Of course, they slept separately.

Both of their Soul Power steadily increased. Zhu Zhuqing was already close to level ten; before long, she would be able to obtain her First Spirit Ring.

Cultivating beside Dai Yao had greatly increased her cultivation speed, shortening what should have taken over a month to merely several dozen days.

Whenever she finished cultivating, Zhu Zhuqing would gaze at Dai Yao in disbelief a few times. She had no idea what kind of magic he possessed that could increase cultivation speed. Naturally, she would not tell anyone else this secret.

A faster cultivation speed benefited them both. It increased their chances of winning the competition for the throne, so naturally they would not tell others.

Dai Yao, however, had far more to worry about. The Soul Power in his Dantian had been condensed into liquid by the Green Lotus, meaning he required far more Soul Power than others of the same level. Fortunately, the Green Lotus could increase cultivation speed. Otherwise, he would have been depressed to death.

His Soul Power was also gradually approaching the threshold of level twelve.

At last, the gates of the Cold Palace were knocked upon.

A Palace Maid presented two Silk Letters to Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing.

Upon opening them, they found that they were invitations to enroll at Star Luo Royal Academy.

The invitations depicted towering mountain peaks, with an ancient castle standing midway up one of them. The castle walls were weathered and mottled, carrying an air of passing years.

After dismissing the Palace Maid, he woke Zhu Zhuqing, who was still cultivating, and handed her the invitation. "Get ready. We're setting out for Star Luo Royal Academy!"

Zhu Zhuqing smiled lightly and nodded.

...The following evening.

Neigh—

The carriage came to a stop. The Guard turned around and said into the carriage, "Your Highness, we've arrived at the Academy."

The curtain was lifted, and a child emerged. It was Dai Yao.

Star Luo Royal Academy was nearly a hundred kilometers from the Imperial Palace. An Academy's strength was reflected on one hand in its teaching staff, and on the other in its Simulated Environment.

Simulation meant recreating an environment best suited for Martial Soul cultivation. For instance, the ideal environment for a Fire Phoenix was a volcano, while fish-type Martial Souls were best suited to great rivers, lakes, and oceans.

The more Simulated Environments there were, the more space was needed. That was why the Royal Academy had been built a hundred li from the Imperial City.

"It's so beautiful," Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed as she poked her head out of the carriage.

It was dusk. The afterglow of the setting sun edged the mountains in orange-red gold. The tranquil lake, the distant peaks, and the ancient castle on the mountainside created the feeling of a paradise beyond the world.

Thinking that he would be studying here from now on, Dai Yao felt somewhat excited.

Following the attendant's guidance, Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing arrived amid a cluster of buildings.

The attendant explained, "This is where Soul Masters study. It is divided into the teaching area and the dormitory area. As for cultivation, everyone chooses suitable locations in the mountains and lakes behind us."

Just as Dai Yao was envisioning the future, a sinister voice rang out ahead. "Are you the Fourth Prince?"

The man's face was long and narrow, with large eyes and a small mouth. He looked like a mouse.

Dai Yao remained calm and asked, "And you are?"

Hmph—

The man snorted, and Soul Power surged through him. A powerful aura erupted as he underwent Martial Soul Possession. His entire body resembled a large mouse, and two yellow Spirit Rings encircled him.

A two-ring Soul Master. Dai Yao's heart tightened.

Powerful pressure enveloped him, and even the Soul Power within his body could not circulate properly.

"What tremendous pressure. Is this a Soul Grandmaster?" Before they had even exchanged blows, merely from the pressure of the released Martial Soul, he knew that before a Soul Grandmaster, he had no chance to fight back.

With a strange squeak, the first of the Soul Grandmaster's two Spirit Rings lit up. The man burrowed underground, searching below for Dai Yao's position.

Dai Yao could feel a cold aura darting through the earth. The killing intent that occasionally surfaced from below sent cold sweat down his back.

"What should I do?" Dai Yao asked himself, but he could find no answer.

When he turned back, he saw Zhu Zhuqing watching him worriedly as well.

The panic in his heart vanished without a trace. Even though defeat was certain, he decided to face this Soul Grandmaster. He first shielded Zhu Zhuqing behind him, then gritted his teeth and circulated the Soul Power in his Dantian. Just as he was about to undergo Martial Soul Possession, a hand stopped him.

"Leave it to me." A deep, powerful voice sounded.

Dai Yao turned around and saw a man with a fat body and a face as broad as a palm-leaf fan.

The man declared arrogantly, "Dead Mouse, let me have a go at you."

Then his body grew even larger, and his nose extended until he resembled a mammoth. He too had two yellow Spirit Rings.

"Second Spirit Skill, War Stomp!" The man fiercely stomped one foot. The ground suddenly trembled, and the flying dust formed a grayish-brown ring that spread outward in all directions.

The ground suddenly caved in. Mouse crawled out of the hole and spat out a mouthful of Fresh Blood, left utterly disheveled by that move.

He glared viciously at the man who had helped Dai Yao and said venomously, "You damned fatty, you dare meddle in the First Prince's affairs? Aren't you afraid of bringing disaster upon yourself?"

The fat man chuckled. "If the First Prince had come in person, I naturally would have stayed far away. If he wanted to beat up the Fourth Prince, I might even help kick him a few times."

Then his expression turned incomparably gloomy. "But the First Prince isn't here, is he? If you're afraid of getting beaten by me, then get lost already!"

Mouse's lips trembled as his eyes fixed tightly on the fat man, as though he wanted to carve the man's image into his mind.

Finally, he looked at Dai Yao, his tone icy. "Brat, I'll admit defeat today. The First Prince told me to pass on a message: enjoy your time at the Academy..."

Please give a recommendation vote and keep reading. Spring Breeze offers his thanks here!