Parting, Arrival at Heaven Dou Imperial City, Zhu Zhuqing Meets Ning Rong

Nothing happened that night.

Early the next morning.

Li Zhixian and Zhu Zhuqing left the Star Dou Great Forest and set out along the official road toward the Heaven Dou Empire.

About half an hour later.

At a fork in the road.

The two were about to part ways.

Zhu Zhuqing's destination was Shrek Academy, located in a small village near Suotuo City in the Balak Kingdom, a vassal state of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Li Zhixian, meanwhile, was headed for Heaven Dou Imperial City.

He figured.

A prosperous place would have good wine.

"Safe travels, Sister Zhuqing."

Li Zhixian bid Zhu Zhuqing farewell with a smile.

He was the same age as Zhu Zhuqing, at most a few months older.

Calling her Sister Zhuqing was more of a teasing, affectionate nickname.

Zhu Zhuqing had resisted it at first, but she had grown used to it by now.

Looking at the young man in ragged white robes, still as carefree and unrestrained as ever, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly said:

"Li Zhixian, you said purple had more charm, didn't you?"

"Hm?"

Li Zhixian looked puzzled.

Why bring that up all of a sudden?

When had he ever said that...

Oh, when he had first met Zhu Zhuqing, she had asked why his first soul ring was purple.

He had casually made up an excuse: "Because purple has more charm."

He had not expected that offhand remark.

To remain in Zhu Zhuqing's memory.

Li Zhixian was just about to say, "I made that up, Sister Zhuqing. Don't take it seriously."

But Zhu Zhuqing continued:

"N-next time we meet, I'll wear purple for you."

"F-farewell!"

With that.

Without even looking at Li Zhixian's reaction.

She turned around and hurried away as if fleeing.

Perhaps because she was walking too quickly, she even twisted her ankle.

With his sharp eyesight, Li Zhixian could see that even Zhu Zhuqing's fair, swanlike neck had turned red.

"Farewell, Sister Zhuqing."

The corners of Li Zhixian's lips curled up as he hummed a tune and headed down the other road.

He felt none of the sorrow of parting.

Because he knew.

Those fated to meet would meet again.

The Star Dou Great Forest was roughly eight hundred kilometers from Heaven Dou City.

The route passed through Fasno Province, Balunbu City, and Sunset Forest.

At Bolun City, the closest city to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Li Zhixian exchanged the hides and bones of the soul beasts he had hunted for quite a few Gold Soul Coins, bought a white-maned steed, and set out on his journey.

He traveled and enjoyed himself along the way.

Half a month later, Heaven Dou City finally came into view.

The blazing sun hung high in the sky.

A figure riding a white steed appeared at the end of the official road.

"Whoa~~"

Li Zhixian pulled on the reins, and the white steed reared up, its hooves kicking dust high into the air.

He took a swig of wine, casually wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked at the majestic city several hundred meters away, sprawled across the horizon like a giant beast.

Even from several hundred meters away.

Li Zhixian could still see sunlight spreading over the vermilion city walls like gold leaf. The moat reflected the gilded corners of the walls, making the sight exceptionally magnificent and splendid.

Anyone who saw it would have to exclaim, "What a flourishing city."

Li Zhixian murmured:

"I hope Heaven Dou Imperial City has wine worthy of my taste."

Along the way.

He had sampled the wine of every city he passed through.

But unfortunately, not a single one was worthy of being poured into his Clear Spring Wine Gourd.

Leading his white-maned steed.

Li Zhixian arrived beneath the city walls.

It was worth mentioning that entering the imperial city required a fee.

However, after Li Zhixian revealed the aura of his twenty-second-level Soul Power, the guards immediately ushered him into the city with great respect.

Twenty-second-level Soul Power was nothing special.

But being so young made all the difference.

Li Zhixian smiled and waved to the enthusiastic guards, feeling a little disappointed inside.

Don't novels always say that people get looked down on and hassled at the city gates?

Why is mine different?

With an amused mindset.

Li Zhixian entered Heaven Dou City.

The moment he stepped inside.

The bustle and prosperity rushed into his sight.

Golden ginkgo leaves fluttered down from the trees lining both sides of Vermillion Bird Street.

Passersby stopped before the various shops on either side of the street, haggling over prices.

Not far away, steam billowed from tea houses and noodle shops, shrouding that entire area in mist.

Elsewhere, a storyteller in blue robes struck his wooden clapper, cupped his hands with a smile, and invited the patrons to reward him.

Beneath a stone bridge, a painted pleasure boat drifted slowly past, carrying wealthy young masters drinking and making merry.

"What a place!"

Li Zhixian walked and looked around, his mood growing more pleasant by the moment.

Before long.

He found the finest restaurant in Heaven Dou Imperial City—Shanxiang Restaurant.

It was said to be a renowned top-tier dining establishment in the Heaven Dou capital, with every kind of exquisite delicacy imaginable.

"Well, you're a new face, young master!"

The waiter greeting customers spotted Li Zhixian from afar, immediately slung a white cloth over his shoulder, and approached with a broad smile.

"Just leave the horse with me, young master. I guarantee it'll be fed nice and full."

The waiter proactively took the reins and handed them to a nearby stable hand.

Then, turning slightly to the side, he led Li Zhixian inside.

"Young master, you look unfamiliar, so you must not know this place well. Would you like me to introduce it to you?"

Li Zhixian smiled as he looked over the restaurant.

Inside were carved beams and painted rafters, artificial hills and flowing water. It was lavishly refined in every detail.

"Yes, I'm from outside the city. Bring me all your specialties, and two jugs of your best, strongest wine."

"Right away!"

The waiter did not look down on the young man because of his ragged clothes.

He had worked in this trade for many years.

He had seen countless people come and go.

Though this young man was poorly dressed.

He possessed an easygoing bearing and confident eyes. He was surely someone of exceptional character.

"Would you prefer a private room or the main hall, young master?"

"The main hall. It's livelier."

"Right away!"

The waiter called out, gave Li Zhixian a greeting, and was about to leave.

"Wait."

Li Zhixian took out a Gold Soul Coin from his robes and placed it in the waiter's hand.

The waiter's eyes lit up, and he bent at the waist.

"Thank you, sir!"

Just as Li Zhixian arrived at Heaven Dou Imperial City.

Elsewhere.

Zhu Zhuqing had finally arrived at Shrek Academy as well.

It was called an academy, but it had been built in a tiny village with only around a hundred households.

A ring of fences surrounded the outskirts of the village.

A few people had gathered in twos and threes at the village entrance.

Zhu Zhuqing's delicate brows knitted slightly, and a trace of astonishment flashed across her cold face.

Was Shrek Academy not a little too shabby?

There seemed to be some kind of disturbance ahead.

After a young man paid ten Gold Soul Coins to register, he was told that he did not meet the requirements and that the registration fee would not be refunded.

The young man and his father protested angrily.

At that moment.

An older blond youth stepped forward and released two hundred-year soul rings and one thousand-year soul ring.

At such an age, that kind of soul ring configuration caused the people in line to cry out in surprise.

His surging Soul Power pressed down on the father and son, forcing them to yield.

A trace of disgust flashed deep within Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes amid the crowd.

Someone who bullied the weak by relying on strength.

Compared to Li Zhixian, he was worlds apart.

She did not even spare the blond youth a glance.

Her gaze casually swept over the crowd waiting in line.

Ahead of her, a black-haired boy and a girl with a scorpion braid stood together.

And at that moment.

A beautiful short-haired girl in a white dress was undergoing the test.

This beautiful girl seemed to have caught the old man's attention.

"Do your family know you came here?"

The girl in white had a clear, pleasant voice.

"They say education knows no distinction. As long as I meet the requirements, you have no reason not to accept me, do you?"

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