Send Her Off First

Three days later, the training grounds of Heaven Dou Royal Academy were far livelier than usual.

Xue Qinghe stood beneath the second-floor corridor, having already gone through the exchange roster in her hand once. The last name she had seen a few days ago was now following Ning Fengzhi into the training grounds. Her light-colored dress swayed gently with her steps, while she idly played with a jade token from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in her palm.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had only sent a few Young Spirit Masters this time. Besides Ning Fengzhi, there were also two sect stewards responsible for leading the group. On the other side were people from the Royal Academy and Tiangou Spirit Sanctuary, with Lu Yuan among them.

Ning Rongrong spotted him at once. After Ning Fengzhi finished exchanging pleasantries with several academy teachers, she walked straight over. "You'll let me see your spear today, right?"

Lu Yuan was fastening his wrist guards. He looked up at her words. "You should get a very clear look soon enough."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll find out in a moment."

Ning Rongrong wanted to press further, but the teacher overseeing the exchange had already begun assigning teams.

This was not an official match, merely a mixed sparring session between young Spirit Masters from the three sides. Six people per match, three against three. Being forced out of the arena, voluntarily admitting defeat, or being ruled unable to continue defending by the referee all counted as elimination.

Xue Qinghe did not interfere with the team assignments and merely watched from beneath the corridor. She represented the imperial family in overseeing this exchange today. What she truly wished to see was not which side won, but how these Young Spirit Masters performed in the