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

Nothing happened that night.

The next morning.

Li Zhexian and Zhu Zhuqing left the Star Dou Great Forest and traveled 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 subordinate kingdom of the Heaven Dou Empire.

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

He thought.

Bustling places would have fine wine.

"Sister Zhuqing, have a safe journey."

Li Zhexian smiled as he bid Zhu Zhuqing farewell.

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

Calling her Sister Zhuqing was more like an affectionate tease.

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

Looking at the young man in ragged white clothes, whose carefree and unruly air remained utterly undiminished, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly said:

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

"Hm?"

Li Zhexian looked puzzled.

Why was she bringing that up all of a sudden?

When had he ever said that...

Oh, when they had first met, she had asked why his First Soul Ring was purple.

He had casually made up the line, "Because purple has more charm."

He had never expected that an offhand remark.

Would remain in Zhu Zhuqing's memory.

Li Zhexian 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 to see."

"G-Goodbye!"

With that.

Without even looking at Li Zhexian's reaction.

She turned around and hurried away as if fleeing.

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

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

"Goodbye, Sister Zhuqing."

Li Zhexian's lips curled upward as he hummed a tune and headed down the other road.

He did not feel the melancholy of parting.

Because he knew.

If fate allowed it, they 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.

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

Li Zhexian took out the hides and bones of the Spirit Beasts he had hunted, exchanged them for quite a few Gold Soul Coins, bought a White Mane Colt, and set off 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 overhead.

At the end of the official road appeared a figure riding a white colt.

"Whoa~~"

Li Zhexian pulled on the reins, and the colt reared up, its hooves kicking up clouds of dust.

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

Even from several hundred meters away.

Li Zhexian could still see sunlight spread like gold leaf across the vermilion city walls, while the moat reflected the gilded corners of the walls. It was exquisitely beautiful and lavish.

Anyone who saw it would have to marvel, "What a prosperous city."

Li Zhexian muttered:

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

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 the White Mane Colt.

Li Zhexian arrived at the foot of the city walls.

It was worth mentioning that entering the Imperial City required a fee.

However, after Li Zhexian revealed the aura of his twenty-second-level Soul Power, the guards immediately and respectfully escorted him into the city.

Twenty-second-level Soul Power was nothing special.

But being so young made all the difference.

Li Zhexian smiled and waved to the enthusiastic guards, feeling slightly regretful inside.

Don't novels always say you get looked down on and hassled when entering a city gate?

Why is mine different?

With an amused mindset.

Li Zhexian entered Heaven Dou City.

The moment he stepped into the city.

The noise and prosperity rushed into his sight.

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

Pedestrians passing by stopped in front of the various shops along the street, haggling over prices.

Not far away, steam rose from tea houses and Noodle Shops, shrouding that area in mist.

Elsewhere, a Storyteller in a blue robe struck his Gavel, cupped his hands with a smile, and asked the guests for Reward Money.

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

"What a place!"

As Li Zhexian walked and looked around, his mood grew ever brighter.

Before long.

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

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

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

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

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

The Shop Assistant took the reins and handed them to a nearby servant.

Then he turned slightly to the side and led Li Zhexian inside.

"Young master, you seem unfamiliar with this place. Are you new around here? Would you like me to introduce it to you?"

Li Zhexian smiled as he surveyed the restaurant.

Inside were carved beams and painted rafters, artificial mountains and flowing water. It was refined to the extreme.

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

"Right away!"

The Shop Assistant did not look down on the young man because of his attire.

He had worked in this trade for many years.

He had seen countless people come and go.

Though this young man's clothes were ragged.

His bearing was free and easy, his eyes full of confidence. He was surely someone of remarkable character.

"Young master, would you prefer a private room or the main hall?"

"The main hall. It's livelier."

"Right away!"

The Shop Assistant called out, greeted Li Zhexian, and was about to leave.

"Wait."

Li Zhexian took out a Gold Soul Coin from his robes and placed it in the Shop Assistant's hand.

The Shop Assistant's eyes lit up, and he bowed.

"Thank you, sir!"

Just as Li Zhexian arrived at Heaven Dou Imperial City.

Elsewhere.

Zhu Zhuqing had also finally arrived at Shrek Academy.

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

A fence encircled the village.

Several people had gathered in small groups at the entrance.

Zhu Zhuqing's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of bewilderment flashed across her cold little face.

Was Shrek Academy really this shabby?

A disturbance seemed to have broken out 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 Spirit Rings and one thousand-year Spirit Ring.

At such an age, with such a Spirit Ring configuration, the people in line cried out in astonishment.

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

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

Someone who used strength to bully the weak.

Compared to Li Zhexian, he was as different as heaven and earth.

She did not even spare the blond youth a glance.

Her gaze casually swept over the crowd waiting in line.

Ahead of her stood a black-haired youth accompanied by a girl with a Scorpion Braid.

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.

"Does your family know you came here?"

The girl in the white dress had a clear, pleasant voice.

"They say education should be open to all. As long as I meet the requirements, you have no reason not to accept me, do you?"

The novel will be recommended tonight, so please, dear readers, keep reading!

This little author will definitely write this book well. Your continued reading is this little author's motivation!