How Righteous Indeed

"Li Yuan, no need for formalities. Sit and speak." Su Wenyuan pointed to the chair beside him, then said to the man, "Manager Chen, he has arrived. If there is something to say, speak freely."

Manager Chen nodded slightly and looked at Li Yuan, getting straight to the point. "Li Yuan, I am a manager of the Dali Temple. I came today because of your father Li Chongwen's case."

He had come for Li Chongwen? Could there have been some new turn in that case?

At that thought, Li Yuan's heart tightened.

"Your father embezzled funds, perverted the law, and colluded with demon merchants. The evidence is irrefutable. By law, he should have been exiled three thousand li to the borderlands for hard labor."

"However, recently, an influential figure at court sent word. In consideration of your father's minor past merits, and because he has acknowledged his crimes and repented, this person is willing to stand surety for him and petition the court for leniency. His sentence might be reduced to dismissal as a commoner, with no possibility of ever being reinstated, or even..."

At this point, he fixed Li Yuan with a heavy gaze. "He may have a chance to atone for his crimes through meritorious service, and perhaps be reinstated in the future."

This was bad. Someone wanted to clear that old thief of his crimes. Li Yuan panicked inwardly, but put on an expression of delighted surprise.

"Oh? Such a thing? May I ask which honored person holds my father in such high regard?"

Manager Chen gave him a long look before slowly saying, "It is inconvenient to reveal this person's identity for now. However, he has one condition."

"A condition?"

"Indeed. He hopes that you will pledge loyalty to him."

Manager Chen stared into Li Yuan's eyes and said word by word, "As long as you agree and swear a heart oath, your father will soon be cleared and released from prison. Wealth and honor will await him in the future."

"You, too, will receive this honored person's full support and training. Your future will be limitless. What do you say?"

The study fell silent at once. Su Wenyuan held his teacup, his eyes lowered, saying nothing, as though the matter had nothing to do with him.

Li Yuan was silent for a moment. The delight on his face gradually faded, becoming calm, even carrying a trace of detachment.

"Manager Chen, the evidence for my father's crimes is conclusive, and the laws of the nation stand as firm as mountains. As his son, I naturally hope my father may receive mercy. But if I must make such a bargain, betray my heart, and swear loyalty to a private faction, then forgive this student..."

He suddenly raised his head, his gaze blazing.

"I cannot comply!"

Manager Chen's expression darkened. "Li Yuan, you had better think this through. That is your biological father. He is trapped in prison now, suffering hardship. Can you truly bear to watch him suffer behind bars, perhaps even die on the road to exile?"

Li Yuan raised his head, his gaze clear. "Manager Chen, it is precisely because this student bears talent that I better understand the responsibility upon my shoulders."

"My father committed crimes and should be punished by the laws of the nation. That is Heaven's principle and public justice. If, for private feelings, I were to engage in such a shabby transaction, would I not disgrace the Academy's teachings, betray the court's expectations, and shame my own conscience?"

"This is not filial piety. It is foolishness."

He paused, then continued, "This student is untalented, but I am willing to devote myself to cultivation, achieve success in my studies as soon as possible, serve the court, slay demons and eliminate evil, and accumulate merit."

"If I achieve something in the future, I will naturally submit a memorial to the court openly and honorably, using my own merits to seek a reduction in my father's sentence. That is the proper path for a son, and it will not fail the grace of my father having raised me."

"As for asking others to look after my father in prison and spare him some suffering, this student will do his utmost. But if you would have me swear loyalty to a private person as a condition and commit such an act of bending the law, then this student absolutely cannot comply."

Manager Chen's expression became utterly dreadful. He had never imagined Li Yuan would be so impervious to oil and salt, and that his words would be so sharp, claiming every inch of moral high ground.

"Good!"

"How righteous indeed!"

Manager Chen laughed in fury, flicking his sleeve as he rose. "Li Yuan, remember what you said today. I only hope you will not regret it someday!"

With that, he hastily cupped his hands toward Su Wenyuan. "President Su, this subordinate takes his leave."

Then he stormed away in anger.

For a time, only Li Yuan and Su Wenyuan remained in the study.

Only then did Li Yuan realize that cold sweat had seeped down his back.

That had been close!

Li Chongwen had nearly found a chance to turn things around. It seemed someone at court had set their sights on him, and they would stop at nothing.

"Sit."

Su Wenyuan set down his teacup and pointed to the chair, a gentle smile on his face. "You handled that well just now."

"Neither servile nor overbearing, reasonable and well-founded. You preserved the bond between father and son while holding fast to your principles, and placed yourself on the side of righteousness. It seems your journey to Divine Martial Pass tempered your character as well."

"This student is ashamed. I merely acted according to my heart." Li Yuan sat down, his mind settling somewhat. It seemed the president supported him.

"One's true heart is the rarest thing."

Su Wenyuan nodded approvingly, then asked, "How has your cultivation progressed since entering the Academy? From your aura, it seems you have already stabilized the Origin Drawing Realm?"

"Yes. This student was fortunate enough to completely stabilize the Origin Drawing Realm the day before yesterday," Li Yuan answered truthfully.

"In just a few months, you went from nothing to a stable Origin Drawing Realm. That is already exceedingly fast."

Su Wenyuan looked at him with profound eyes. "Over this past month, have you made any new discoveries regarding your talent?"

At last, the most crucial question had come.

Li Yuan's thoughts raced. The existence of the Bronze Palace was far too strange, and he did not intend to reveal it for now.

But perhaps he could mention that faint golden current to an appropriate extent.

"In reply to the president, this student has indeed made some discoveries."

Li Yuan carefully chose his words. "After this student drew the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into my body, the energy it transformed into seemed somewhat different from what was described in the Brief Overview of the Nine Cultivation Realms."

"Oh? How was it different?"

"It was more condensed, and carried a trace of extremely faint... golden radiance. When it circulated, it seemed to have a noticeable nourishing effect on the physical body. As for that rainbow-light phenomenon... it has not appeared again since that day."

"This student has also repeatedly examined my body inwardly. I only sensed that deep within my sea of consciousness, there seemed to be a tiny glimmer of light that I could not reach, and I do not know its purpose."

His words were half truth and half lie.

Upon hearing this, Su Wenyuan stroked his beard and pondered. "Golden radiance... a glimmer in the sea of consciousness... truly unusual."

"A ninth-grade mutated talent is inherently beyond ordinary reasoning. You must cultivate diligently, comprehend it carefully, and deepen your connection with your own talent."

"On the second floor of the Academy's Scripture Repository, there are texts concerning rare talents, mutated physiques, and cultivation related to the spiritual sea of consciousness. You may use your credits to consult them. You may gain something from them."

"If there is anything you do not understand, you may ask this old man, or seek guidance from Instructor Liu and Mr. Mo."

"Thank you for your guidance, President."

Li Yuan was delighted. He had long wanted to visit the second floor of the Scripture Repository.

"Mm, that will be all for today."

"Go back and cultivate well. The end of the year is approaching, and the Academy will soon make arrangements. As for your father..."

Su Wenyuan pondered briefly. "The Academy can also look after him to some extent. You need not worry."

"This student understands." Li Yuan rose, bowed respectfully, and withdrew from the study.

As he walked out of the Literary Splendor Court, the night wind was slightly cold.

Li Yuan looked up at the star-studded night sky, his eyes sharp. The road ahead seemed to be growing ever more treacherous and unpredictable.

Yet there was no fear in his heart. Instead, his fighting spirit was stirred.

The cold wind of the twelfth lunar month lent Divine Martial Academy an added air of grim severity.

The year-end examination was a hurdle every student had to face, for it concerned not only credits and resources, but also one's personal evaluation for the coming year.

Within Pivot Star Pavilion, the atmosphere was solemn.

Liu Hongyan wore a neat black martial outfit today, making her appear even more coldly beautiful and imposing.

Her gaze swept across the thirteen pairs of expectant eyes before her.

"The contents of the year-end examination have been decided."

"This year, the Earth Fiend, Mystic Radiance, Yellow Zenith, and Human Realm Classes will undergo a mixed examination, combining team cooperation with individual combat."

She paused, her phoenix eyes sweeping across everyone's faces. "But the examination for our Pivot Star Class will be different."

Different? Everyone's hearts tightened.