Section 8: Heart's Metamorphosis, All Sides Watch

For a moment, Chu Yun felt his heart surging and his blood boiling.

Since his rebirth, he had hatched the perfect Heavenly Fox, become the top student at his coming-of-age ceremony, rescued his foster father, slain the Remnant Wolf, and obtained a spirit weapon. Amidst peril and hardship, he had faced death time and again, altering the trajectory of his fate.

Now, as he officially stepped into Heavenly Song Academy, he looked back. The towering gate seemed to separate the past from the present, his previous life from this one. Outside the gate, his old destiny wailed and roared. Inside the gate lay a new world and every possible future!

Everything was different now.

"To dominate the world, it starts right here. One day, I will make those who come after me look back with reverence, knowing that the Chu Yun of that era walked through this very place! Fate, even you cannot trap me, nor can you stop me!"

His gaze was sharp as a blade, and Chu Yun strode forward, head held high and chest puffed out, moving with the vigor of a dragon and the stride of a tiger.

Beside him, Jin Bihan opened her eyes wide, witnessing the sublimation and transformation of Chu Yun's aura, her own eyes shimmering with wonder. The Chu Yun from before, even after slaying the Remnant Wolf, had carried a certain gloom. It was the pain of his past life, etched deep into his marrow.

But now, ignited by the gate, the passion in his heart erupted like a surging sea. His fighting spirit soared, and Chu Yun felt brave and fearless. A qualitative shift occurred in his spirit, making him look entirely renewed, once again possessing the vibrant vitality of a young man!

Thump, thump, thump...

Rapid footsteps echoed on the mountain path. A senior student of Heavenly Song Academy was running with all his might, drenched in sweat, gasping like a bellows.

He took a familiar turn and arrived at a small courtyard.

Entering, the senior ignored the sweat on his face and bowed his head to report to a handsome young man in the yard: "Chu, Chu Yun has arrived!"

"What? The 'Young Tiger' has finally arrived? Heh, I've been waiting a long time!" The handsome youth was sipping tea; at these words, his hand trembled, and some of the fragrant tea spilled onto his exquisite, embroidered silk robe.

The handsome youth usually cherished his image above all else, but now he didn't care at all, nearly leaping from his couch. Stepping into his wooden clogs and grabbing his folding fan, he headed for the door.

"Good, good, good. A person who earned the title of Spirit Beast Master at thirteen, the strongest freshman in history. I, Hua Ying, must get a good look at him."

"Hey, have you heard? That Chu Yun finally appeared at the Lower Gate Tower!" The news seemed to have grown wings, flying rapidly across the entire Heavenly Song Academy.

"Oh? Is that the guy who publicly rejected the marriage proposal, the one who even dared to turn down the eldest miss, Ning Yiyi?" Some were already rubbing their palms in anticipation.

"To be able to wield the Great Demon Blade at thirteen and slay the Remnant Wolf pirates—truly remarkable. I heard he's already been appointed as the Young Island Master of Shu Family Island. The strongest freshman in history, a title well-deserved!" some exclaimed in admiration.

"Hmph, defeating the Remnant Wolf Pirate Group was just catching them off guard and having the heavens on his side. I want to see what this kid is actually capable of. A title isn't something a mediocre person can just possess." Others felt the urge to challenge him.

In a study, a scholar in green robes was practicing calligraphy.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in." The scholar in green kept his eyes on his brushwork, his strokes upright and dignified, radiating a sense of integrity.

The person who entered was panting heavily. He pushed the door open gently and said, "Senior Yan Que, why are you still here writing? Don't you know? That Chu Yun has appeared at the Lower Gate Tower. The news is spreading like wildfire, and everyone wants to see this strongest freshman in history with their own eyes."

"Oh, I see," the scholar in green replied indifferently.

The visitor was stunned: "Senior Yan..."

"So what if he is the 'Young Tiger'? He is just another scion of a wealthy family. Once he grows up, he will still be one of those high-and-mighty noble lords who exploit us commoners. Just focus on your own affairs." Yan Que didn't even look back.

The visitor blinked, standing awkwardly in place. After a long moment, he retreated in silence.

Once the calligraphy piece was finished, Yan Que slowly set down his brush.

"Chu Yun..." He let out a deep sigh, his eyes flickering with a complex light; clearly, his heart was not as calm as he pretended.

"Hmph! So this is the savage from Shu Family Island who publicly rejected my Ning Family Island's marriage proposal?" Standing on a hidden hillside, Ning Yiyi looked down, her autumn-water eyes reflecting the shadow of Chu Yun.

Though she was only fourteen, she already radiated a unique feminine charm, stunningly beautiful.

Her long, jet-black hair fell straight to her waist. Her heart-shaped face and peach-blossom cheeks were as delicate as a flower. She wore a pale yellow pleated skirt, embroidered with blooming flowers and fluttering butterflies. A gold and jade hairpin adorned her hair, and pearl earrings dangled from her ears. A pair of jade bracelets on her wrists made her skin, white as polished jade, look even more translucent and smooth.

The mountain breeze blew, causing her hairpin and skirt to sway gently, making her look like a vibrant, blooming peach blossom—exquisitely beautiful. If not for the disdain, arrogance, and resentment in her eyes, she would have been perfect.

She gazed into the distance, her eyes filled with contempt and hatred as she looked at Chu Yun.

She truly hated him to the core.

She was peerlessly beautiful, possessed extraordinary talent, and was born into the wealthiest family on Ning Family Island. From birth, she was a true darling of the heavens. As she grew, her reputation for breathtaking beauty only flourished. Her suitors were as numerous as the stars, and countless sweet words had only fueled her pride.

Peerless beauty and a haughty heart—that was her in a nutshell.

When the Ning family first wanted her to marry the young master of Shu Family Island, Chu Yun, they had written to inform her. In truth, she had been utterly unwilling.

In her eyes, what was so good about Shu Family Island? It was located in a remote corner of the All-Star Archipelago, its people were barbaric—it was practically a wasteland!

During the year-end clan gatherings, she had seen her aunt, Ning Qishuang. The wrinkles on her face and the thick layers of powder she wore only gave her a more vivid impression of Shu Family Island. It was a place of treacherous mountains and foul waters, far from civilization, a desolate land waiting to be cultivated.

From the bottom of her heart, she looked down on poor places like Shu Family Island.

She would rather die than marry into that place!

However, the interests of the family were supreme. The requirement for every member of the clan was that even in death, one must die in accordance with the family's interests! Even she, Ning Yiyi, could not exist apart from the family.

Since the family had issued the order, and it was even her own grandfather who had personally proposed the alliance...

Ning Yiyi had bitten her lip until it bled, her eyes brimming with tears, as she wrote her reply: "I obey and comply." In her heart, however, she already hated this suddenly appearing Chu Yun to death. She even resolved that after the marriage, she would use every means at her disposal to seize power and thoroughly discipline the people of Shu Family Island.

But what she hadn't expected was that an accident would occur.

This accident was beyond everyone's expectations. It even caught the Master of Ning Family Island—her grandfather, who always held immense confidence in his own plans—completely off guard.

Chu Yun had actually publicly rejected the marriage alliance!!!

Upon hearing this news, she froze on the spot. Was she relieved to have escaped a disaster? No, there was not a shred of joy; she felt her self-esteem had suffered a massive blow!

Ning Yiyi, a flower-like beauty whose fame spread across the entire All-Star Archipelago, had suitors lining up for streets behind her. To think she had been rejected by such a penniless brat from a backwater land!

A tactful rejection would have been one thing, but he had rejected her so bluntly, without reservation, his tone harsh and unyielding.

This was an insult! A tremendous insult!

Her overwhelming vanity made Ning Yiyi hate Chu Yun to the point of wishing him dead.

To actually look down on me, to actually look down on me! A penniless brat like you, who just happened to stumble upon some dumb luck, dares to look down on me, Ning Yiyi!