Lin Piaoxue's arrival had indeed been beyond Xia Wuji's expectations.
Lin Piaoxue had come to Qingyun City specifically to watch him undergo the examination.
Then he remembered what had happened at the Sword Pavilion that day.
A warm current surged through Xia Wuji's heart, and a smile appeared on his face. He said, "Miss Piaoxue came to watch me take the examination. It's my honor."
Lin Piaoxue blinked and said, "Don't call me Miss Piaoxue anymore. It sounds so distant. Everyone in my family calls me Xue'er, so you should call me Xue'er too."
Everyone around them: "..."
What exactly was the relationship between Xia Wuji and Lin Piaoxue?
Everyone knew that Lin Piaoxue had already caught the attention of the higher-ups at Tian Xuan Peak of Azure Star Academy, and that her future was boundless. Even members of the Great Chu Imperial Family had to carefully consider what attitude to adopt when facing her.
"Miss Piaoxue..." Chu Jue, the Twelfth Prince of the Great Chu Imperial Family, called out again with a frown.
Only then did Lin Piaoxue turn around to look at him. "So it's the Twelfth Prince. However, Your Highness should still call me Miss Lin. After all, we aren't that familiar. We should avoid giving people the wrong idea."
Chu Jue: "..."
Everyone: "..."
When Xia Wuji called her Miss Piaoxue, she felt he was being too distant.
When the Twelfth Prince called her Miss Piaoxue, she said they were not that familiar.
Wasn't this a solid slap in Chu Jue's face?
Chu Jue's expression was exceedingly ugly.
Lin Piaoxue paid him no mind. Instead, she looked at the young male disciple from Azure Star Academy and asked, "How should I address you, Senior Brother?"
The man hurriedly said, "Junior Sister Lin, I'm Zhao Cheng, an Outer Court Disciple of Shaking Light Peak."
Lin Piaoxue nodded. "So you're Senior Brother Zhao of Shaking Light Peak. What happened here?"
Zhao Cheng could only brace himself and repeat the lie Chu Jue had fabricated earlier.
Lin Piaoxue responded with an "Mm" and said, "Raising Fierce Beasts is every martial artist's right. But if a raised Fierce Beast suddenly goes berserk for no reason, even injuring and killing people, then such a Fierce Beast should be killed, shouldn't it?"
Chu Jue gritted his teeth and snorted. "My Great Earth Black Bear didn't go berserk for no reason. It was clearly provoked by this Xia Wuji..."
Lin Piaoxue still did not spare Chu Jue another glance. She stared at Zhao Cheng and said, "If Senior Brother Zhao doesn't know how to handle this, I can go find a Senior Brother or Senior Sister from Tian Xuan Peak."
Zhao Cheng instantly broke into a cold sweat. "No need. There's absolutely no need!"
"This Fierce Beast deserves to die!"
"Killing a berserk Fierce Beast is not only blameless but meritorious. I'm willing, in my personal capacity, to reward Xia Wuji with three Yuan Crystals!"
This matter could not withstand scrutiny.
If the truth about his indulgence of Chu Jue's recklessness came to light, he would be unable to escape the consequences.
As he spoke, he hurriedly took out three Yuan Crystals brimming with energy and handed them to Xia Wuji. "Xia Wuji, well done! What our Azure Star Academy values most are brave people who step forward in the face of danger!"
Xia Wuji did not stand on ceremony. Three Yuan Crystals were enough for him to raise his cultivation by another level, so he accepted them directly.
"Then what does Senior Brother Zhao think should be done about the casualties among the Huang Family's guards and the destruction of the estate?" Lin Piaoxue asked.
Zhao Cheng immediately looked at Chu Jue.
Chu Jue's face was gloomy enough to drip water.
"Chu Jue, take out ten thousand taels of gold as an apology. After all, the trouble was caused by your raised Fierce Beast, so you can't shirk responsibility." Zhao Cheng urged him.
Chu Jue gnashed his teeth. Though he was deeply unwilling, he could only brace himself and do as Zhao Cheng said. Then he glared fiercely at Xia Wuji and left dejectedly with his people.
"Junior Sister Lin, then I'll take my leave as well," Zhao Cheng said.
"Thank you for your efforts, Senior Brother Zhao," Lin Piaoxue said lightly.
"I dare not call it an effort. It was what I should have done." After saying this, Zhao Cheng did not dare stay any longer. Besides, he still had to settle accounts with Chu Jue!
The three Yuan Crystals had to be charged to Chu Jue!
For an Outer Court Disciple, this was no small sum!
"Brother Wuji." Lin Piaoxue immediately turned to face Xia Wuji.
Xia Wuji: "..."
The form of address caught him completely off guard.
A brilliant smile bloomed across Lin Piaoxue's face, revealing two shallow dimples. She said, "I've traveled all this way and just arrived in Qingyun City. Aren't you going to invite me in to sit for a while?"
Seeing this, Huang Hu immediately said, "Brother Xia, that's only proper, only proper. You accompany Miss Lin first. I'll go have someone prepare wine and dishes."
Lin Piaoxue said, "Young Master Huang, there's no need to go to such trouble. It's already the dead of night. I'll just go to Brother Wuji's room and stay for a while."
Huang Hu: "All right... all right..."
It was the dead of night, and she was still going to spend some time in Xia Wuji's room. Huang Hu felt there was a great deal of meaning in this, but he did not dare say anything.
Xia Wuji led Lin Piaoxue into his room.
Lin Piaoxue hurriedly closed the door.
Outside, Huang Hu's eyes went perfectly round.
"Big Brother Huang," Xu Lan called out.
Huang Hu abruptly came back to his senses. Looking at Xu Lan, he said, "Sister Lan'er, would you like to come to my room and stay for a while?"
Xu Lan: "Big Brother Huang, it's not appropriate in the middle of the night... We... we should wait until the examination is over."
Inside the room.
Lin Piaoxue had been studying Xia Wuji the entire time. "Brother Wuji, this is for you."
As she spoke, she took out a jade bottle.
"This is a First-tier Peak-grade Spirit Pill called a Spirit Intent Pill that an elder from Tian Xuan Peak gave me. I didn't have it with me before—I left it with my Household. I'm giving it to you now."
Xia Wuji shook his head. "Miss Xue'er, since this was given to you by an elder of Tian Xuan Peak, you should use it yourself. A First-tier Peak-grade Spirit Pill is far too valuable."
Lin Piaoxue directly stuffed the pill into his hand. "Don't worry, I have more. Half for me and half for you. Don't be so polite with me."
"All right, I have to go find the people from Azure Star Academy. After all, with a man and a woman alone together, staying here for the entire night would damage your reputation."
With that, Lin Piaoxue turned to leave.
"Miss Xue'er, wait!" Xia Wuji called out.
Lin Piaoxue, who had reached the door, suddenly turned around.
In the next instant, her pupils contracted. Xia Wuji had actually rushed in front of her, one hand striking toward her chest.
But when that palm landed on her chest, it did not harm her.
"Ah..." Lin Piaoxue cried out instinctively. Her face flushed crimson, even the roots of her ears turning bright red.
After her shock, her first feeling was... so comfortable!
"Don't be afraid. I'm only helping you open your meridians." Xia Wuji's voice rang out.
"Mm-mm..." Lin Piaoxue's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Xia Wuji, and could only let his hand travel over her body.
She marveled inwardly that Xia Wuji's method of opening meridians was so peculiar, making her entire body feel tingling and numb.
"As expected, it's a special constitution—the Ice Spirit Body!"
"It's just that the optimal time for awakening her constitution was delayed. Even if the people from Azure Star Academy help her awaken it now, it will be difficult for her to display the true wonders of this constitution."
"I'll give her a hand!"
Xia Wuji understood now. No wonder Lin Piaoxue, with cultivation at the first level of the Primal Energy Realm, had received a special recruitment invitation from an elder of Tian Xuan Peak of Azure Star Academy.
Xia Wuji's expression grew serious, and wisps of pure energy flowed into Lin Piaoxue's body.
A quarter of an hour later, Xia Wuji withdrew both hands.
After Xia Wuji's manipulation, once Lin Piaoxue awakened her Ice Spirit Body, she would be able to display the constitution's true might.
"How do you feel?" Xia Wuji asked.
Lin Piaoxue said, "At first, it was a little painful, but it gradually became comfortable. More and more comfortable... Brother Wuji, were you helping me cultivate?"
Lin Piaoxue's body showed no obvious external changes, but she felt it intensely. Her body had gained certain benefits she could not yet understand, yet they were immense.
Xia Wuji nodded. "You could say that."
Lin Piaoxue blinked. "So this is what dual cultivation feels like."
Xia Wuji: "...Dual cultivation isn't like this."
Lin Piaoxue blinked and smiled. "Brother Wuji, you're very mysterious. I feel like you have many secrets!"
Xia Wuji said calmly, "Everyone has some secrets."
Lin Piaoxue responded with an "Mm" and said, "Brother Wuji, don't worry. I won't tell anyone that you helped me cultivate. I really have to go now!"
"I'll be at the examination tomorrow to cheer you on!"
After Lin Piaoxue left.
Xia Wuji continued circulating his cultivation method, refining the remaining energy of the Earth Origin Spirit Pill in his body while using one of the Yuan Crystals he had just obtained.
As for the First-tier Peak-grade Spirit Pill Lin Piaoxue had given him, there was no time to use it now, so he put it in his Storage Ring for the moment.
Two hours later.
Xia Wuji had completely refined the energy of the Earth Origin Spirit Pill. More than half the energy of the Yuan Crystal in his hand had also been absorbed, and his cultivation broke through once again.
Seventh level of the Sea of Qi Realm!
By then, the sky had already brightened.
It was time to attend the second examination of Azure Star Academy!
Before you continue