Two days passed, Jun Yi Jun Yi rode in the carriage all the way back to Heaven Dou City in just two days, completing a journey that would normally take three days.
After paying the city entrance fee, Jun Yi had the carriage headed to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. Finally, Jun Yi got off the carriage and returned to the place where he had grown up in this life.
"Stop!"
Just as Jun Yi was about to enter the palace, several guards dressed in silver armor and carrying long spears stopped Jun Yi at the door.
"This is a sacred place of the imperial palace. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter at will. Who are you?" one of the leading guards questioned Jun Yi.
"I am Jun Yi, the sworn brother of Your Highness Qinghe. This is the token given to me by Brother Xue, which is sufficient proof of my identity."
After saying that, Jun Yi took out a snow-white jade tablet from his Soul Tool. The tablet had a large "snow" character engraved on it, making it extremely eye-catching.
After receiving the token, the guard examined it carefully and confirmed that it was genuine before returning it. Then, all the guards bowed to Jun Yi.
"Now that I have proven my identity, I will go into the palace first," Jun Yi said with a smile.
Please make yourself at home.
After saying this, the guards made way for Jun Yi and no longer blocked Jun Yi from entering the palace.
Jun Yi entered the palace, and the scene before him felt both familiar and strange. He had not returned to his sect for a very long time. Ever since Qian Renxue sent him to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Jun Yi had never been allowed to return to the palace.
Qian Renxue's explanation was that there was too much infighting and political strife within the palace. Qian Renxue claimed that in order to protect Jun Yi and not waste his cultivation talent, she did not allow Jun Yi to the palace.
But Jun Yi knew in his heart that after Awakening his Martial Soul, he had lost his value in Qian Renxue's eyes. After all, Qian Renxue had already established Xue Qinghe as a person who "serves the country and the people and loves the people like his own children." Therefore, there was no need to let Jun Yi stay by her side to avoid exposing her plans.
Following the route he remembered, Jun Yi arrived at the small courtyard where he used to live. When Jun Yi opened the door and entered the courtyard, he found that the ground was overgrown with weeds, and the stone benches, stone tables, and even the steps were covered with dust, as if no one had cleaned them for a long time.
"It seems that people really do forget you when they leave. My little town doesn't even have anyone to clean it regularly. It seems that Qian Renxue has really given up on me. If my talent wasn't good enough, I might already be dead at her hands."
Looking at his messy little courtyard, Jun Yi couldn't help but feel a little emotional. But no matter what, it was Qian Renxue who saved him and took him to the palace to raise him for five years. Jun Yi felt only gratitude towards Qian Renxue, but what Qian Renxue thought of Jun Yi was unknown.
Jun Yi strolled around his small courtyard, then left and headed towards Xue Qinghe's palace.
As soon as Jun Yi approached Xue Qinghe's palace, he was stopped by the maids guarding the perimeter. "Who are you? Halt! Your Highness Qinghe's palace is a forbidden area; trespassers will be killed without mercy!"
"I am Jun Yi, the sworn brother of Your Highness Qinghe. I wonder if you still remember me, sister? I remember seven years ago, you loved to pinch my cheeks." Jun Yi recognized the maid in front of him as someone who had taken care of him for a while back then, so Jun Yi smiled and chatted with her about the past.
Upon hearing this, the maid paused slightly, thought carefully for a moment, and then nodded as if Satori something, saying, "Are you really Xiao Yi?"
"Hmm," Jun Yi responded softly.
The guard's expression changed swiftly, immediately switching to a warm and friendly tone. " Xiao Yi, you've changed so much! In my memory, you were still a chubby little boy. I can't believe seven or eight years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you've grown into a handsome young man."
Jun Yi gave a wry smile, "I didn't expect that seven years would pass in the blink of an eye, but my sister is still as beautiful as she was seven years ago."
"Hehe, Xiao Yi, your words are still so sweet. Wait here for a moment, I'll go and inform Your Highness Qinghe. I'm sure he'll be very happy to hear that you've returned to the palace."
After saying this, the maid led Jun Yi to wait outside Xue Qinghe's palace. She then went inside to inform Xue Qinghe of the matter. A moment later, she returned to the palace gate and gestured to Jun Yi, respectfully saying, " Xiao Yi, His Your Highness Qinghe is summoning you to his palace. Please come in."
Jun Yi stepped into the palace, a delicate fragrance wafted towards him, Jun Yi.
The palace's decor is simple yet luxurious, exuding elegance and antiquity, giving people a comfortable and warm feeling. However, hidden within this luxurious and elegant environment is a subtle yet sharp edge, and even a mere glimpse of its aura can create a strong sense of oppression.
In this palace, when Xue Qinghe was seen, he was sitting cross-legged on a chair, processing a large number of memorials and documents. When he saw Jun Yi, he put the documents down and looked up at Jun Yi.
A hint of relief flashed in his eyes as he said, " Xiao Yi, why did you suddenly come to the palace? I heard from my teacher that you were studying at the Spirit Hall Academy?"
Jun Yi bowed slightly and said with a light laugh, "Long time no see, Brother Xue Brother Xue. I came here this time to visit you and also to complete the procedures for joining the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Xue Qinghe nodded, "That's wonderful. Father Emperor mentioned you the other day and asked me why I hadn't completed the enrollment procedures for you yet. Father Emperor really values the cultivation of geniuses."
Jun Yi smiled and replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I would also like to apologize to Brother Xue, as I went to the Spirit Hall Academy with Rongrong without permission and became a student there."
Xue Qinghe's expression didn't change upon hearing this; a faint smile remained on his face. "It's alright. As long as you can represent the Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, that's fine. As for where you study, neither Father nor I have any objections."
Xue Qinghe paused for a moment, then continued, "However, since you've chosen to join the Spirit Hall Academy, your main task now is to cultivate diligently, do your utmost to improve your strength, and not disgrace the name of the Heaven Dou Empire. Let the Spirit Hall see that Heaven Dou also has geniuses like you who can stand out."
"Yes, Brother Xue, I understand." Jun Yi nodded in reply.
"In that case, you should go and rest first. I'm very busy right now and can't get away. How about this, I'll write a letter to the three members of the teaching committee at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and have them come and process your enrollment procedures, okay?"
"I'll follow Brother Xue's arrangements."
(End of this chapter)