An Expected Turn of Events

Ah Bao originally thought that with his high realm, solid foundation, faster True Qi circulation, and more proficient martial skills, no matter what martial skill Mu Xiangli used, he could counter with the same moves.

Reality proved him wrong; his rhythm was now slower. Had his realm not been significantly higher than Mu Xiangli's, allowing him to use stronger True Qi to compensate for his lagging rhythm, he would have already been defeated.

But it did not stop there; the sequence of Mu Xiangli's martial skills was also meticulously arranged. Not only was it smooth, but its power also grew increasingly formidable.

Normally speaking, with Ah Bao's strength, forcibly breaking the moves would be as easy as turning his palm. Mu Xiangli's combo could have been interrupted right at the start, much like many flashy skill chains in games—pleasing to the eye but mediocre in actual combat.

However, to suppress Mu Xiangli to the maximum extent in both body and spirit, Ah Bao had chosen a fighting style that inadvertently created the most suitable stage for him.

When Mu Xiangli once again unleashed the three-strike blade of 【Zhuiming】, Ah Bao knew he could no longer keep up. If he continued to use the same martial skill, he would take at least one blow.

Naturally, there was no need to suffer such an injury. Ah Bao decided to retreat. He stepped back and swung his blade horizontally. This strike unleashed a wave of True Qi that was absolutely not something a cultivator at the First Layer of the Qi Mansion in the Juntian Realm could possess.

The three blade lights of 【Zhuiming】 were instantly crushed. Just as Ah Bao was about to counterattack, Mu Xiangli suddenly shouted loudly, "You cheated! You didn't use the same moves as me, and you even used your realm to suppress me! Where is your martial virtue? Where is your grace? I despise you!"

Ah Bao felt as if he had suffered a mental attack. Being incessantly criticized by Mu Xiangli made him extremely angry, but indeed, he no longer had the face to strike again.

Mu Xiangli had only feared that Ah Bao would be a rogue who would reply, "I never said I would use the same martial skills and realm to fight you." Fortunately, this fellow was very honest. Seeing the other party's slight embarrassment, he coughed lightly twice. "Alright, let's call it a draw."

Ah Bao remained silent, turning his head to look at his master.

Jiang Ning walked over holding her cup of sour plum juice, circling Mu Xiangli a few times as she sized him up from head to toe. "Not bad. You actually managed to make Ah Bao suffer a loss. This Palace indeed sees you in a new light. How about you follow me from now on?"

Without waiting for Mu Xiangli's reply, Xu Wei blocked the way in front of him, smiling as he said to Jiang Ning, "Your Highness has countless talents by your side. This kid has only just entered the martial path and still needs instruction and tempering. Once he completes his studies at the Longwu Academy, he will naturally contribute to Xiyu."

Jiang Ning curled half of her mouth, making a disgusted face. "Don't think I didn't catch the meaning in your words. I was only speaking casually. My Royal Brother attaches great importance to the admissions of the Wenhua and Longwu Academies. If he found out that a good seed was snatched by me before school even started, he would surely lecture me. Forget it, I only came to take a stroll. Now that I'm bored, I shall leave."

Having said that, Jiang Ning took a sip of her sour plum juice through the bamboo straw, handed it to the maid beside her, then clasped her hands behind her back and swaggered away.

Though he did not dare to curse to her face, Mu Xiangli's heart was far from quiet. Looking at Jiang Ning's departing back, he inwardly cursed, *How can you be so idle!*

Despite his silent complaints, it was truly enviable; that was precisely his dream life.

As Ah Bao left, he turned his head to glance at Mu Xiangli, his expression clearly wishing for a rematch. However, since his master did not speak, he remained silent as well.

Just now, when Mu Xiangli and Ah Bao fought, many candidates around had stopped their practice to watch.

After this battle, regarding his top position on the board, most people were thoroughly convinced. Those who remained unconvinced were doubling their efforts.

Standing out like this was not in Mu Xiangli's plans. Seeing himself forced to bear the brunt of the attention, he only wanted to slip away quickly.

"Instructor Xu, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave first today."

Just as Mu Xiangli was about to bid farewell to Xu Wei, someone in the distance suddenly let out a loud shout. Blade Qi swirled and transformed into a gale—clearly, they had successfully executed 【Wujian】.

Xu Wei's eyes lit up. Mastering 【Wujian】 in three days was also a rare talent.

Mu Xiangli recognized the person and was slightly stunned. Wasn't that the person who had struck up a conversation with him on the road earlier? What was his name again?

"Ah, right, it's Hou Yuhong." Mu Xiangli remembered.

However, he did not go over to greet him but prepared to leave. Having met Mu Wanqiu yesterday, and now Hou Yuhong had also passed the assessment today. Those who passed the assessment early would have a relatively free month, allowed to move about the Royal City at will. The Yexun Division would certainly keep a close eye on their movements; he feared that before long, he would have a mission.

Unexpectedly, just as he had anticipated, three days later, he was summoned to the Yexun Division.

When he arrived, Gongsun Zhi and Zhou Yi were both there. Seeing him come, Gongsun Zhi went straight to the point: "Next, you must find a way to approach a person named Fan Rong, a candidate of the Qi Creation department of the Wenhua Academy."

"A person from the Wenhua Academy? Why have me, someone from the Longwu Academy, approach him? Didn't you arrange people in the Wenhua Academy? Furthermore, has this person shown any flaws? Why must we approach him?" Mu Xiangli poured out a stream of questions.

Zhou Yi explained, "Of course we have arranged people in the Wenhua Academy, but time was tight, and we only managed to place one or two. Truly, none of them are in the Qi Creation department. This department is quite unique; I cannot have a scholar run over to associate with someone studying Qi Creation, so we still had to find someone from the Longwu Academy.

From the very beginning, I proposed that the Qi Creation department should be classified under the Longwu Academy, but some believed that Qi Creation and Gong Creation shared many similarities, so it was placed in the Wenhua Academy.

Ultimately, Qi Creation was placed in the Wenhua Academy because the workshops for Gong Creation and Qi Creation were planned in the same area, making manufacturing more convenient and saving manpower and material resources. Thus, the current situation came to be.

As for this person, we currently only have suspicions. This is the dossier regarding Fan Rong. Take it back and look through it."

Mu Xiangli was originally very interested in Qi Creation, and this was also an opportunity to learn. He readily accepted the documents and said quickly, "Alright, I accept this task. No guarantees of completing it, though."

He left immediately after speaking. Once he was far away, Zhou Yi asked Gongsun Zhi, "Did he think we wouldn't hear that word 'No'?"

Gongsun Zhi did not answer, also rising to follow.

"Hey, I am the chief of the Yexun Division!" Zhou Yi was speechless, then muttered to himself, "Is my temper usually too good?"