Xi Zhenyue's Ambition

Deep within the general's mansion at Black Stone Fortress.

Xi Zhenyue sat upright in his chair, his face calm, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest. News of Xi Lang's death had already reached his ears.

'Dead is dead, a good-for-nothing.' Xi Zhenyue felt no emotion whatsoever; he had never truly cared for his nephew. 'However, he still carried the Xi Family name; dying here is bound to cause trouble... and it conveniently gives those old fogies an excuse.'

The thought had barely formed when a trusted confidant respectfully handed over a communication terminal from the family.

Xi Zhenyue took the document and glanced at it. After a moment, a cold, mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

'Ha, just as I thought.' He sneered inwardly. 'Making a big fuss about Xi Lang's death, saying they'll investigate thoroughly, and trying to delay my return to my clan? A bunch of old fogies, they just want an excuse to keep me trapped in this remote, impoverished place!'

A cold glint flashed deep in his eyes. 'Back then, they ostracized me to this Black Stone Fortress simply because they feared my return would be an eyesore and block the path of their descendants, didn't they?'

Xi Zhenyue's thoughts drifted to the distant Xi Family home of the Xi family. 'The family's ancestor, who was at the Qi Refining Realm, is nearing the end... Before his death, he used all his life's energy to infuse a new Qi Refining expert... That's what they're truly after!'

'A bunch of short-sighted fools!' A surge of intense disdain and irritation welled up within him. 'They're fighting amongst themselves over a Qi Refining Realm spot! Do they really think they can rest easy just by guarding this tiny Great Xia Dynasty?'

Xi Zhenyue's gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the mansion, looking towards a more distant and expansive world.

'This Great Xia Dynasty is too small... this remote continent is too small... the real stage is on the Central Continent! True powerhouses can destroy dynasties with a wave of their hand!'

A flame called ambition burned fiercely in his chest.

'Being trapped in this Black Stone Fortress is like sitting in a well and seeing the sky from the bottom of a well. I must find an opportunity to escape this quagmire and go to a wider world! Only there can I, Xi Zhenyue, truly ride the wind and transform into a dragon!'

At this moment, Dongfang Yueming strolled towards the academy's office area. Before she even reached the door, she saw a group of people surrounding a familiar figure as they strode towards her. It was Gao Hu.

"Brother Hu is awesome! His aura has become even stronger since he came out of seclusion this time!"

"Of course! Brother Hu is one of the top students in our class; getting into the Seed Class is a sure thing!"

Several henchmen showered Gao Hu with obsequious flattery, praising him incessantly.

Gao Hu's face was beaming with undisguised smugness as he basked in the compliments of the crowd. His gaze swept across the room and met that of Dongfang Yueming, who was walking towards him.

'Hmph, Dongfang Yueming?' Gao Hu sneered inwardly, a sense of superiority welling up within him. 'I'm already at the Lesser Flesh Refining! I'm not far from the Major Accomplishment! When the time comes to select the Seed Class, killing a nobody like you will be too much trouble for me!'

A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes, but then, as if he were looking at a pebble on the roadside, he completely ignored Dongfang Yueming and walked past him with his head held high.

"Tsk tsk, Brother Hu is so magnanimous, he doesn't bother with certain people at all!" The underlings immediately added knowingly, making Gao Hu's smile even wider.

Dongfang Yueming didn't stop walking, but her heart remained calm. ' Lesser Flesh Refining... Your aura has become more solid, and your speed has increased considerably. However, compared to my current self, you're still a tiny bit lacking.'

He pushed open the office door and went in, his gaze habitually sweeping around, but he didn't spot that familiar, beautiful figure. 'Teacher Qin isn't here?'

In the office, several professors were chatting together.

"Have you heard? The exchange students from the Great Yan Dynasty have arrived, and they're quite a large group," an instructor said, holding a teacup.

"Sigh, I wonder if anyone from our Great Xia Dynasty will be able to break through the threshold of that ' Martial Arts Holy Land ' this time." Another instructor sighed. "Back then, Gao Hu's older brother, Gao Long, fought his way out of our academy, overcoming all obstacles, and finally succeeded in entering the Holy Land for further study. If he returns now, I wonder what level of cultivation he will have? Blood Replacement Realm? Or even... Qi Refining Realm?"

"Speaking of this," another instructor seemed to have remembered something, with a bit of awe and emotion in his eyes, "Wasn't Teacher Qin Rushuang also a monster who came out of our Great Xia Dynasty? She was so talented that even the Holy Land of Martial Arts offered her an olive branch, but she refused! Then she disappeared, and no one knew where she went. When she came back, she was already an unfathomable powerhouse in Qi training! It's really... incredible!"