An exception

Three days later.

Song Yueyao returned from Cangyu City looking exhausted. She had completed her mission Provincial Governor and was temporarily relieved of her official duties to return to the Sandalwood Palace to report.

She already knew that Li Hao and the others had returned ahead of schedule and must have already returned to Qing Prefecture by now.

Thinking of the strength Li Hao had displayed, she gritted her teeth inwardly. Having cultivated in the Black White Hall for many years, she had seen all kinds of geniuses, but she had never seen anyone like him before.

This was somewhat of a blow to her.

"Yueyao?"

Just as Song Yueyao was about to return to the Black White Hall to truthfully report Li Hao's situation to her grandfather, she happened to run into Su Yehua, who was passing by outside the palace.

Upon seeing her friend, Song Yueyao slowed her pace. "Sister Su."

The two women are only three years apart in age and have been Sisters for over ten years.

"You're back so soon? Did the mission go smoothly? Did you encounter any Great Demon?" Su Yehua asked gently, noticing Song Yueyao's tired appearance.

Upon hearing the word "Great Demon," Song Yueyao couldn't help but picture the neatly arranged demon corpses on the Mountain Peak, and her expression changed slightly.

"What?" Su Yehua also slightly taken aback. Could it be that they had really encountered Great Demon?

"It's nothing." Song Yueyao shook her head slightly, then suddenly a thought struck her, and she asked, "Sister Su, Li Hao and the others returned already?"

"Um?"

Su Yehua was somewhat surprised. Having known Song Yueyao for so many years, she knew of Song Yueyao's aloof nature, treating outsiders like plants and trees, never caring about them. Why would she ask about the two young masters of the Li Family?

Suddenly, she remembered that the location of the mission the two had received seemed to be Cangyu City as well.

"What's wrong? Did they cause you trouble or give you a hard time?"

Su Yehua thought of one of them, who was usually carefree and liked to sleep in class. She frowned slightly and comforted him:

"He's a young master from a prominent Lineage, after all. He likes to throw tantrums. Don't take it to heart..."

Song Yueyao was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No, something terrible happened in Cangyu City this time. If it weren't for Li Hao's intervention, I'm afraid I might not have been able to return."

"What?"

Su Yehua froze, looking at Song Yueyao with some surprise, wondering if she had said something wrong.

Song Yueyao wasn't surprised by her reaction, thinking that this older sister probably didn't know Li Hao's strength. She then briefly recounted everything that had happened in Cangyu City to her.

After hearing Su Yehua stared at Song Yueyao in disbelief.

"Fifteen Li Realm? Him?"

The image of the boy who had been sleeping soundly in class flashed through Su Yehua's mind. If she remembered correctly, the boy's registered age when he enrolled was... fourteen?

Seeing Su Yehua's shocked expression, Song Yueyao couldn't help but smile, feeling a strange sense of joy in her heart.

It seems I wasn't the only one who was frightened.

The weariness on her face had faded considerably, and she waved to Su Yehua, "I'm going to report for duty now."

After saying that, he turned and drifted away.

Su Yehua snapped out of her daze, a sudden realization dawning on her mind.

No wonder Li Hao never attends classes or participates in the Martial Dao Ranking. With such a level of skill, Li Hao is already able to go on stage and teach others.

But seriously, with such cultivation already, is there any need to enter the Tan Palace Academy?

She was puzzled and decided to investigate when she met Li Hao again.

A few days later, the disciples from Class A Institute had been sent out to participate in the Academy Mission returned one after another.

Su Yehua summoned all her disciples to review their performance in this mission.

Among them, the teams led by the Two Princes performed the best, both choosing the most difficult task worth 15 Academic Credits and receiving full marks from the entire team.

In addition, they also made meritorious contributions in the mission, assisting the Demon Suppression Division in solving major cases, and were awarded one Third Class Merit and one Second Class Merit respectively.

As for the First Class Merit, it's very rare to receive one outside of Frontier war zones.

Even Second Class Merit is quite astonishing.

"Could it be that they also encountered Demon Creature attack on the city?"

Du Qiuyue and Yu Wei were whispering among themselves.

Yu Wei glanced at it, shook his head, and said in a low voice, "I don't think so. It's possible that the Demon Suppression Division is flattering them and transferring the credit to them, or maybe the place they went to is actually part of their own faction..."

"Shh!" Du Qiuyue was startled and quickly silenced him.

Yu Wei also realized he had spoken out of turn; the complex situation behind the Imperial Family was not something they could discuss.

Even if these Two Princes are not favored, they are still of royal blood. Who knows if they might rise to prominence in the future?

Aside from the Two Princes, Wang Han, Li Yun and his sister performed the best. They also took the most difficult task and scored full marks as a team, but they did not receive any additional merits.

The other disciples from various Aristocratic Clan had different expressions. Some whispered among themselves, some admired their strength, while others secretly scoffed, resentful that the other side had gotten points through connections.

Although they are only teenagers, they have already witnessed the huge differences brought about by the disparity in social status. This disparity will help them to read people's expressions and gradually become worldly-wise.

"These two..."

Li Yuanzhao saw Li Yun and his sister receiving praise from their teacher Su Yehua, he appeared calm, but his eyes clearly betrayed his joy.

Li Zhining was alright, but Li Yuanzhao saw that Li Yun's arm was wrapped in gauze, clearly injured, yet he was still slightly pouting, looking leisurely and content. He couldn't help but shake his head.

Given Li Yun's strength and status, the reason he was injured was probably because he was too eager for quick success and overestimated his abilities during the mission.

Compared to Li Yun, who loved to show off, Li Yuanzhao couldn't help but think of Li Hao.

He enjoyed hanging out with Li Hao, not only because of their similar backgrounds, but also because he genuinely admired Li Hao's drive and spirit.

How to describe it? To sum it up using some strange words that Li Hao once used to describe it, it's all about "high-class" or "pretentious."

Always maintaining a calm and relaxed demeanor, as if everything were fleeting.

In Li Hao's words, if we encounter a mountain that's hard to climb... then we'll just Past.

If he only knew how to be lazy, it wouldn't be considered a skill. But this time in Cangyu City, Li Hao single-handedly defended the city and slew Great Demon, making outstanding contributions, yet he remained low-key and didn't make a fuss, as if he had only done a small thing.

In this respect alone, they surpass Li Yun and his group by a great deal.

Even those two princes who pretended to be calm, in Li Yuanzhao's eyes, were far less sophisticated than Hao Ge.

Moreover, even though he had Fifteen Li Realm mark, Li Hao never boasted about it. If he had spread it around like Li Yun, the All Under Heaven would have known about it long ago.

Everyone seeks fame, but Li Hao says that fame and fortune are burdens.

When Li Yuanzhao first heard these words, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Although he couldn't understand them, he just felt... how awesome!

That's why Li Yuanzhao liked to stay by Li Hao's side; he simply loved learning.

"Teacher, where is Li Hao?"

At this moment, Li Yun noticed that Li Yuanzhao was nowhere to be seen beside Li Hao. He frowned, and a sudden feeling of unease washed over him. Had something happened to him?

"Li Hao..."

Su Yehua glanced at the empty seat next to Li Yuanzhao, a complex look flashing in her eyes, and said, "He was exceptionally selected and entered the Black White Hall."

"What?!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the entire Class A Institute.

The noise suddenly turned into a cacophony of voices, like a bustling marketplace, with everyone chattering and clamoring, eagerly asking why and on what grounds.

Jiang Ye, who was standing in the crowd, suddenly broke into a smile.

Even as a prince, I wasn't given an exception, yet a mere son of the Li Family was?

His face darkened, but remembering his teacher's earnest teachings, he regained his composure, though he was furious inside, and a hint of gloom could not be concealed in his eyes.

"Teacher," Jiang Ye spoke, and the rest of the noise seemed to suddenly subside. "Why was he selected despite not meeting the usual requirements?"

Jiang Ye stared at Su Yehua.

Su Yehua immediately sensed the prince's Anger. She Dark Dao to herself, "If you could also reach the Fifteen Li Realm, no, even the Spirit Wandering Realm, you could be exceptionally selected."

Her face remained calm, with a slight smile on her lips:

"Li Hao's cultivation level is higher than yours, and he also made Special Merit during the mission in Cangyu City. Therefore, in order to teach him according to his aptitude, he was allowed to enter the Black White Hall ahead of schedule. If he were still here, we would not be able to teach him, and he would also be occupying one of your Martial Dao Ranking spots for nothing."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, bewildered and confused.

Li Hao's cultivation level is higher than theirs? Could it be that he has already Soul Inheritance?

But... what exactly is this "Special Merit"?

Li Yun and Li Zhining also looked puzzled and somewhat bewildered, both turning to look at Li Yuanzhao.

They both went to Cangyu City, but what about Li Yuanzhao? Why didn't he achieve any merit?

Seeing the gazes cast at him by Li Yun and his sister, Li Yuanzhao simply smiled, secretly pleased. "Want to know? I'm not telling you."

Anyway, Hao Ge told him not to make a fuss. He asked why, and Hao Ge only said that he wanted to enjoy his Easy Duty days a little longer.

However, the matter in Cangyu City is too significant, and it probably can't be kept secret for long.

Li Yuanzhao was filled with anticipation, wondering what expressions the brother and sister would have when they learned about Hao Ge's cultivation level from others.

Following in the footsteps of Ninth Uncle, the Li Family will surely become famous All Under Heaven once again!

Thinking of that scene, he wished time would pass Past so that the news of Cangyu City could spread rapidly.

Meanwhile, in the Sandalwood Palace of the Black White Hall.

Palace Master Song Yufeng sat there, the tea in front of him had lost its steam and gone cold, but he was so engrossed in looking at it that he forgot to taste it.

Beside them, Shen Yunqing, Zhao Zongyuan, Huang Licai, and many other elders of the Sandalwood Palace were present, with only a few elders who had other matters to attend to absent.

Song Yueyao also sat on the chair at the end, sizing up the boy in front of her just like the others.

Li Hao felt the stares from the people around him, as if they were looking at a monkey. He was a little helpless. More than ten minutes had passed without him saying a word. In that time, he could have painted two more pictures.

"I'm very pleased that you've allowed me direct access to the Black White Hall."

"But I don't really like the way we're wasting time like this."

Li Hao coughed and said with a humble and innocent expression.

The way Song Yufeng and the others stared at him like he was watching a monkey finally softened.

More than a decade ago, the death of Li Family Ninth Son shocked the All Under Heaven; the Three Immortalities at the age of nineteen were unheard of.

Unfortunately, they were unable to see his face in person.

Now, seeing this fourteen-year-old Fifteen Li Realm, they Forbidden Zone but want to observe him closely. Could he really have three heads and six arms?

We're both human, so how did this guy cultivate?

Song Yufeng scrutinized him for a long time, becoming increasingly alarmed. He secretly tried to probe Li Hao's cultivation level with his Aura, but found that he could not see through him.

Even with my own level of cultivation, I couldn't detect it. This kid has most likely cultivated some kind of Cultivation Method to conceal his Aura, and has cultivated it to an extremely profound level.

It should be noted that this kind of Cultivation Method usually has very little effect on improving direct combat power, yet Li Hao is only fourteen years old, but he still has to spend time practicing this useless thing, and at the same time he has also cultivated his cultivation to the Fifteen Li Realm. This talent is probably a bit outrageous.

His Majesty bestowed the name upon us... His Majesty's judgment was truly accurate!

Song Yufeng Dark Dao to himself that he felt even more awe towards the imposing figure on the dragon throne.

"You've already reached the Fifteen Li Realm; with such Heavenly Talent, you'd be more than qualified to become a disciple of the Qian Dao Palace."

With a hint of curiosity, Song Yufeng asked Li Hao, "I'd like to ask, why did you choose to come to our Tan Palace Academy?"

The others also looked at Li Hao with curiosity. Was it because of that Signature Technique? Or something else?

Song Yueyao couldn't help but stare intently, waiting for Li Hao's reply.

"The reason...?"

Thinking back to that day, Li Hao recalled, "It was probably that morning when I happened to want to eat a serving of Mianyu Crispy Pastry."

Everyone:""

What?

They had considered various answers, but this was the one they never expected.

What on earth is this Cotton Jade Crisps?

A crispy snack?

People from All Under Heaven want to enter the Tan Palace Academy for various reasons: some want to learn martial arts to avenge their family, some want to become famous, some want to inherit their family business, some want to gain prestige... but I have never heard of it being because of a fried crispy pastry.

A stunned silence fell over the hall. After a moment, Song Yufeng came to his senses and gave a wry smile, "That crispy pastry... it must have been delicious."

"Um."

Li Hao's expression turned serious, and he became somewhat enthusiastic. "If you have the chance, you must try it. Remember to look for the signboard; it's Old Liu Family's in Qinglian Lane."

Everyone was speechless when they saw Li Hao making such a serious recommendation.

The crispy pastries from Qinglian Lane... Song Yueyao murmured to herself, unconsciously memorizing them.

"Isn't it for the Signature Technique of our Sandalwood Palace, the Taiji Qiankun Swordplay?" Huang Licai couldn't help but ask.

He felt that Li Hao's words were too deceptive; what "Oil Pastry"? It was all nonsense.