Grand Tutor Jia Xun

"You Fenghuang, what is it?"

Qin Jun sat cross-legged on the bed as he asked. He had noticed You Fenghuang before, but he had not expected her to come looking for him on her own.

He was quite curious what kind of face lay beneath You Fenghuang's veil. Was she breathtakingly beautiful, or hideous beyond belief?

"Has Young Master Jun ever heard of the Southern Nether Sacred Cult?" You Fenghuang gave Qin Jun a graceful salute, then asked with a soft laugh. Her alluring figure and heart-tickling voice were absolutely lethal to young men.

The Southern Nether Sacred Cult?

A puzzled expression appeared on Qin Jun's face, making You Fenghuang frown. She had assumed Qin Jun came from some major power, yet he had never even heard of the Southern Nether Sacred Cult.

"The Southern Nether Sacred Cult is a top-tier power in the Land of No Master. Its twelve elders are all Void Transformation Realm experts. Do you know what the Void Transformation Realm is?" You Fenghuang walked over to the table and sat down as if it were only natural, unable to conceal the trace of pride in her tone.

The Void Transformation Realm!

Qin Jun's pupils constricted. Though he had never heard of the Land of No Master, a sect with more than twelve Void Transformation Realm experts was simply fucking insane.

"Of course I know the Void Transformation Realm. Second Master, one of my subordinates, is a Void Transformation Realm expert." Qin Jun raised his brows. He could lose anything but face. He could not show weakness!

You Fenghuang's delicate body trembled. She looked deeply at him, then cupped her fists again. "It seems this little woman underestimated you, Young Master."

Her tone shifted as she said seriously, "Join the Southern Nether Sacred Cult. With your talent, along with that young man possessing Sacred Spirit Root aptitude, the two of you will surely rise above the Gan Yue Kingdom in the future."

So she really was here to poach him.

"I already have a sect behind me, and it is no weaker than the Southern Nether Sacred Cult. I can only appreciate Miss You's kind intentions." Qin Jun politely declined. What a joke. Did someone with the Mythological System need to join a sect?

He was going to become emperor!

A sect no weaker than the Southern Nether Sacred Cult?

You Fenghuang was stunned again. Qin Jun seemed shrouded in layers of mist in her eyes, making it impossible for her to see through his background.

"Since that is the case, this little woman will not force you, Young Master. But would you be willing to befriend me?" You Fenghuang's tone became calm.

"Of course. But since we are becoming friends, could Miss You let me see your true face?" Qin Jun asked with a smile. Seeing You Fenghuang wearing that veil made his mild obsessive-compulsive tendencies itch with curiosity.

You Fenghuang looked deeply at him, then slowly removed her veil. Had her maid been present, she would surely have cried out in disbelief. You Fenghuang rarely showed her true face before those of her generation, much less someone she had only just met.

Even Qin Jun, who was often at Daji's side, could not help feeling stunned by her beauty. You Fenghuang's features were incomparably exquisite, and her beautiful eyes were as tranquil as a deep pool, making her seem even colder and more alluring. In terms of looks, she was not inferior to Daji at all. She simply lacked Daji's seductive charm, though she was a notch more beautiful than Chang Qianqian and Nan Yu Xin.

Seeing Qin Jun slightly dazed, You Fenghuang smiled softly and put her veil back on, bringing him back to his senses.

"Ahem. No wonder Miss You wears a veil. Your beauty really does make people want to commit crimes." Qin Jun gave a fake cough and laughed. His unusual compliment made You Fenghuang find it rather amusing.

"Very well, this little woman shall take her leave. I will not disturb Young Master Jun's cultivation." You Fenghuang rose and saluted him.

"No rush. I do not need to cultivate. How about we have some tea and admire the flowers?"

"..."

"Then how about we chat?"

You Fenghuang turned and left directly, not even bothering to answer. Only after she had left the room did Qin Jun begin to laugh.

He had merely been joking. Although You Fenghuang was very beautiful, the power behind her could not be underestimated. Qin Jun was not about to let lust go to his head.

He had deliberately acted frivolous in order to lessen You Fenghuang's favorable impression of him and make her think less about recruiting him.

"The Southern Nether Sacred Cult... if it is really as powerful as You Fenghuang claims, what is it doing in the Gan Yue Kingdom?"

Qin Jun frowned as he pondered. Let alone twelve Void Transformation Realm experts, just one would be enough to reduce the Gan Yue Kingdom to ashes.

Such a colossal force had come to the Gan Yue Kingdom; it certainly was not merely passing through. After all, You Fenghuang had stayed at Luoya Inn even longer than he had.

Without realizing it, Qin Jun had already begun viewing certain matters from the perspective of the entire kingdom's interests.

After thinking for a while, he cast those distracting thoughts aside. The duel between the two kingdoms was only three days away. His main task now was to keep himself in peak condition so he could make a grand entrance when the time came!

Three days passed quickly.

More and more people entered and left the royal capital's gates, filling every major inn in the city to capacity.

On the day before the duel, the Cang Lan Kingdom's envoys drove their carriages into the city. There were over a hundred people in total, most of them servants. There were five carriages altogether: four carried people, while the remaining one transported goods.

Imperial Guards from the palace were waiting before the city gates. At their head was the court's Grand Tutor Jia Xun, already over eighty years old. His second-level Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation made him appear to be around forty.

"I am Jia Xun, Grand Tutor of the Gan Yue Kingdom. I have come specifically to welcome your kingdom's envoys. His Majesty has already prepared a residence for your kingdom to stay in." Jia Xun smiled as he clasped his hands. The surrounding commoners and cultivators all watched the Cang Lan Kingdom envoys curiously, but no one dared speak loudly.

"Sorry for the trouble, Grand Tutor Jia. Please lead the way."

A detached voice came from the foremost carriage. Jia Xun frowned slightly upon hearing it. The other party did not even get down from the carriage, clearly showing no respect for him, the Gan Yue Kingdom's Grand Tutor.

Within the Gan Yue Kingdom, Jia Xun stood below only one person and above all others. Of course, Great General Nan Meng held equal status to him.

Even so, the other party still did not put him in their eyes. It was clear just how arrogant the Cang Lan Kingdom's attitude was.

To be fair, the Gan Yue Kingdom's national strength was indeed somewhat inferior to that of the Cang Lan Kingdom, but the gap was not great. If war broke out between the two kingdoms, it would be difficult to determine a victor even after several decades. They might even be ambushed by neighboring kingdoms.

Jia Xun waved his hand, signaling the Imperial Guards to lead the way.

Thus, the Cang Lan Kingdom's envoys followed the Imperial Guards toward the center of the city, while the commoners and cultivators lining both sides of the street began to discuss them.

"Isn't the Cang Lan Kingdom being far too disrespectful toward our Gan Yue Kingdom?"

"Exactly. They even dare slight Grand Tutor Jia. They are clearly here with ill intent!"

"They call themselves allies, yet they are more sinister than enemies!"

"The alliance was formed over fifty years ago. Back then, the Cang Lan Kingdom was completely dependent on our Gan Yue Kingdom!"

"It is a pity the founding emperor died so early. Sigh!"

Jia Xun, walking at the front, heard the people's discussions. His heart was also filled with helplessness.

The current emperor truly could not compare to the previous one. Whether in personal strength or ability to govern, he fell short. Still, the current emperor was more ruthless than his predecessor.

"This duel will bring disgrace upon the Gan Yue Kingdom again, and before the entire city's people at that."

Jia Xun thought indignantly. Once the list of Cang Lan Kingdom envoys had been revealed, both the court and the public had been shocked. Yet the duel between the two kingdoms had become tradition, and it had to be held before the citizens of both nations' capitals.

This rule had been proposed by the previous emperor. His original intention had been to keep the Cang Lan Kingdom suppressed, but his descendants had failed to live up to expectations, lifting a stone only to drop it on their own feet.