It was the official opening day, so early the next morning, all the disciples had gathered in the academy square to await the opening ceremony.
Meng Anli had previously been in the fire-element Shen Class.
Lu Yao had always specialized in medicine and was in the medical Shen Class on the other side.
The two went their separate ways upon reaching the square.
Meng Anli temporarily joined the fire-element Shen Class, planning to tell the headmaster after the opening ceremony that her inner core was now water-element.
When the fire-element Shen Class disciples saw her, they all asked after her with concern.
Meng Anli felt warmth bloom in her heart, yet she could not help feeling puzzled.
Even these classmates cared about her, so why did her father, elder brother, and blood-related younger sister want to kill her?
She promptly cast that question to the back of her mind.
Whatever their reasons, she would have her revenge. Why waste her thoughts wondering what they were thinking?
With that time, she might as well cultivate more.
Standing there, she guided spiritual energy through her body in a slow circulation.
The opening ceremony began. The headmaster spoke first, followed by outstanding masters and outstanding disciples.
Just as Meng Anli completed one small cycle of spiritual energy, she heard the headmaster speaking again.
She thought the headmaster was about to give the closing remarks and announce the end.
Yet the headmaster brought her up instead. "I fear everyone has heard something of what happened in the academy recently. I am deeply grieved by Meng Anli's plight, but the academy is ultimately a place for study and cultivation. Meng Anli has lost her inner core and cannot remain in the fire-element Shen Class."
All the disciples erupted in an uproar and turned to look at Meng Anli.
Some pitied her, some watched for entertainment, and some thought it was only right.
Meng Anli looked at the headmaster. Was he trying to drive her out?
Why had he not said this yesterday? Why insist on saying it in front of all the academy's disciples?
Had he decided it on a whim last night?
Or had someone instructed him to do so?
Meng Anli could think of no one else. It could only be the Crown Prince.
The headmaster avoided her gaze and asked the row of masters below, "Since Meng Anli passed the entrance test and has committed no grave offense, she cannot be expelled at will. Which of you is willing to take her in?"
The masters all lowered their heads. Not one spoke.
After all, there would be tests large and small in the future, as well as competitions with other academies. Who would want a useless person in their class? Would that not drag down the entire class?
Meng Anli understood. She was about to reveal that she already had an inner core.
Just as she was about to speak, the headmaster began calling names. "Master Liu, how about placing her in your class?"
Master Liu repeatedly waved his hands. "Our class is metal-element. She would not understand it, and we are already full. There truly isn't room to squeeze her in."
The headmaster called on another. "Master Zhang, what about your class?"
Master Zhang said awkwardly, "I also sympathize with her plight, but our water class is full as well. There's no place for her. Perhaps you should ask the other masters."
The headmaster truly did ask them one by one.
Meng Anli's expression slowly chilled. This was humiliating her again and again.
She gave up on revealing that she had an inner core.
There was no reason to remain at an academy controlled by the Crown Prince.
She would go to the North Sea and kneel there, begging Yuan Tuo to become her master.
But Lu Yao probably would not be able to bear listening to this.
She looked toward Lu Yao.
Lu Yao's fellow disciples had covered her mouth, while she anxiously flailed her arms and legs.
Her large eyes were reddened with fury. When her gaze met Meng Anli's, her eye rims turned red, glistening faintly with tears.
That was her heartache for Meng Anli.
Meng Anli's eyes grew slightly damp. She shook her head at Lu Yao, then smiled at her, signaling for her not to worry.
Only then did Lu Yao calm down.
After asking everyone, the headmaster looked at Meng Anli with some regret. "Anli, it is not that the academy does not want you. It is simply that no master is willing to take you in. Look..."
Meng Anli was just about to say that she wished to withdraw from the academy.
At that very moment, the Crown Prince straightened his robes. She must have been utterly despairing by now, right?
The Crown Prince strode out smugly, intending to play the hero saving the beauty.
A commanding voice came from afar, drawing nearer. "Then I will be her master. What does the headmaster think?"
Before you continue