Staring at Du Mu Xing's slender and elegant back, Zhang Ruo Chen revealed a hint of puzzlement on his face, quietly following behind without making a sound.

  The air was left with a faint fragrance wherever Duanmu Xingling walked.

  Under the leadership of Duanmu Xingling, the two walked through a series of halls and arrived at the foot of a cliff in the west courtyard. At the foot of the cliff was a waterside pavilion with a three-story high building, which could be considered elegant surroundings.

  Zhang Ruochen gazed at a three-story pavilion in the distance, and saw a familiar yet beautiful figure. He looked surprised and said, "Huang Shijie, what is she doing here?"

  Zhang Ruochen gazed at Duanmu Xingling.

  "Just wait and see." Du Mu Xing's smile was charming and alluring.

  Only saw yellow smoke dust holding a precious sword, standing on the top of the pavilion, blue long hair flying in the wind, giving people an extraordinary sense of clarity and beauty.

  A twenty-year-old handsome man walked under the attic, seemingly communicating with Huang Yanchen.

  It's him.

  Zhang Ruochen recognized the man under the attic as someone he had seen during the day, who was a senior student from the East Wing and a master with extremely strong cultivation.

  Duanmu Xingling's jade-like hand rested on Zhang Ruochen's shoulder, and she leaned in closer to him, saying in a low voice: "He is the number one master of the Eastern House, Xun Guihai, ranked fourteenth on the Mystic Board. Among the Four Great Houses of the Wuguo Academy, only Luo Shixiong can surpass him."

  Zhang Ruochen stroked his chin and smiled: "How could they have a secret meeting here? Is he in a romantic relationship with Huang Shijie?"

  "How is it possible"

  Du Mu Xingling gave Zhang Ruochen a glance and said, "Xun Guihai is the prince of Zhongdeng State, a medium-sized state in the Great Dry State, which has always wanted to form an alliance with Qian Shui State through marriage, hoping to use Qian Shui State's power to unify the nine states of Lingdong."

  "Qianshui Commandery also intended to form an alliance with Daqan Commandery in order to strengthen its control over the nine commanderies of Lingdong."

  Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood and thoughtfully said: "Could it be that the Daqian Empire's selection is actually Huang Shijie, who has also taken a liking to Xun Guihai?"

  "It's probably like that."

  Duanmu Xingling stretched out her tongue and licked her lips, staring at a man and woman in the distance with an expression of preparing to watch a good show.

  "But today in the martial arts arena, the two of them drew their swords and were on high alert, not looking like they were going to get engaged at all."

  Du Mu Xingling smiled and said: "That's because Xun Guihai only found out tonight that Dust Sister is the princess of Qian Shui Jun Country."

  "How did he know?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

  Du Mu Xing Ling Dao: "I told him."

  "Why did you do this?"

  Du Mu Xing Ling Dao said: "If I don't tell him, we can now watch a good show. If Xun Gui Hai really marries Huang Shi Jie, won't you be able to avoid a lot of trouble?"

  Zhang Ruochen was even more puzzled and said: "What's wrong with me?"

  "You know best yourself" Du Mu Xingling glared at Zhang Ruochen, suddenly making a silencing gesture again, saying: "Don't speak, let's listen to what they have to say"

  In the distance, Xun Guihai stood under the pavilion, wearing a white robe, elegant and extraordinary, with a refined temperament. He held a golden box in his hand and said: "Gunxiang Junzhu, I have wronged you greatly during the day, please do not take it to heart. I have come specially to apologize to you, hoping that you can forgive my rashness. This is a Dan Chen pearl, worth a city, as a gift for my apology."

  Huang Yanchen stood at the top of the pavilion, treading on the flying eaves, and glanced down coldly: "I'm not very familiar with you, why are you apologizing to me? If you really want to apologize, then fight me."

  Xun Guihai smiled and said: "There's no need to fight anymore, I'll announce to everyone tomorrow that I lost to you. From now on, you will be the 14th on the Mystic List."

  "You dare to insult me" Huang Yanchen didn't take it kindly, his face turned even colder.

  "I didn't mean that. In front of the Lord of Huichen County, I am willing to be a defeated general." Xun Gui said with icy politeness.

  Huang Yanzhen said proudly, "Xun Guihai, I know your intention, but I will not agree to an alliance with you. If the Great Dry County really wants to form an alliance with the Thousand Water County, then go and marry one of my sisters or younger sister. After all, I have thirty-six sisters, just choose one at random."

  "Wow"

  As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Yanchen's arms spread out, and he rode the wind to fly away, drawing a beautiful shadow that flew to the top of a crimson great hall in the distance. The figure flashed again, and then disappeared into the night.

  Xun Gui Hai stood under the pavilion, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, muttering to himself: "Huang Yan Chen, since you are the princess of Qian Shui Jun, then I must marry you. Those other princesses, who can compare to even one-tenth of you?"

  Xun Gui Hai also left with a golden box in his hands.

  "Ah, I thought I could watch a good show, what a disappointment." Du Mu Xing Ling sighed and said with some regret.

  "Let's go, let's go back. A woman like Huang Shijie, no one can control her. If Xun Guihai really marries her, he will definitely regret it. Whoever marries her will be unlucky."

  Du Mu Xing Ling Dao said: "You're wrong, Xun Gui Hai will definitely seek marriage with Qian Shui Jun Wang at all costs, and eight or nine out of ten chances of success."

  "Why?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

  Du Mu Xing Ling Dao: "Firstly, Xun Gui Hai is indeed a top-notch talent, ranked 14th on the Mysterious List, and countless geniuses can't even compare to him."

  "Secondly, although Da Qian County is a medium-sized county, it has a half-saint level ancestor. In the face of that half-saint, the King of Qian Shui may agree to the marriage between Xun Guihai and Chen Jie."

  "Dà qián jùn guó yǒu yī wèi bàn shèng" Zhang Ruò chén yǒu xiē chī jīng.

  Translation:

  "The Great Dry County Country has a half-sage." Zhang Ruo was somewhat surprised.

  Du Mu Xing Ling Dao: "Indeed, there was a half-saint who was the ancestor of Xun Gui Hai, but that half-saint did not stay in Da Qian State. Instead, he went to a distant battlefield of human tribes and has not returned for sixty years. It is very likely that he has already fallen."

  "Of course, there is that semi-sacred deterrent power. Da Qian County still has a transcendent status among the 36 counties in Tianmo Ridge, and its comprehensive national strength ranks first among the 36 countries."

  Zhang Ruochen said: "Anyway, it's none of our business. Even if we have to worry, it's Huang Shijie's own affair. We should head back, the quarterly assessment should be over by now."

  The quarterly assessment lasted until late at night before it was completely over.

  Mo Qinglong defeated Cai Chen in his second challenge and became the eighth master of Xi Yuan.

  Si Kong defeated Ju Hailan and became the sixth in the Western House.

  Ji Haoran then dropped down to seventh place.

  Because Zhang Ruochen had defeated Si Kongxuan, so Zhang Ruochen automatically became the fifth in the Western Campus.

  So, the latest ranking of the top ten in the Western Academy is: Luo Shuihan, Huang Yanchen, Duanmu Xingling, Tuomuzi, Zhang Ruochen, Sikong Shu, Ju Hailan, Mo Qinglong, Cai Chen, and Zi Qian.

  They will represent Mugen Academy and enter the intermediate ruins in two months for the exploration exam.

  At the same time, becoming one of the top ten masters in the Western Academy, each quarter can receive two and a half drops of holy true liquid.

  Today is the time to distribute the Semi-Holy Elixir. Thus, Zhang Ruochen obtained two more drops of Semi-Holy Elixir.

  There were twenty-seven drops of Semi-Holy Liquid on Zhang Ruochen's body.

  The quarterly assessment ended, and Zhang Ruochen returned to Longwudian again, temporarily living in Xuanzi No. 1.

  Two months later, it's the intermediate relic exploration exam, and time is quite pressing. If one's cultivation can be improved by a single point, their survival rate in an intermediate-level relic will increase somewhat.

  The intermediate ruins are a place with great opportunities, but also a very dangerous place. Even if the top martial artists enter, they may still die inside.

  After two days of cultivation in the Time-Space Crystal, Zhang Ruochen was always restless and couldn't calm down. He kept thinking about his mother who was far away in Yunwu County, worrying about her situation.

  "No, this kind of cultivation will only lead to madness. It seems I must return to Yunwu County for now, and it would be best if I could bring Mother back to Wushi Academy." Zhang Ruo Chen opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.

  Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself: "I don't know if the war between the four-sided county and Yunwu county has started yet."

  "Xiao Hei, follow me back to Yunwu County." Zhang Ruochen's heart was filled with worry, unable to put down his family ties, and made up his mind to go back once.

  No matter how precious time is, it can't compare with the safety of one's own family members.

  "Alright, you wait for me for a while, I'm going to the library to borrow some more books." Little Black transformed into a black shadow and flew out.

  "I'll go see Fourth Brother first, you find me at his place."

  Zhang Ruochen walked out of Long Wu Hall and bid farewell to Duanmu Xingling before heading straight to Zhang Shaoshi's dormitory.

  Duanmu Xingling learned that Zhang Ruochen was going back to Yunwu County, and a hint of unusual color appeared in her beautiful eyes. However, she didn't say much, only lightly nodding her head, instructing Zhang Ruochen to return early and not miss the intermediate relic exploration exam two months later.

  Zhang Shao immediately closed the gate and showed a worried expression on his face, saying: "Ninth brother, did you kill Prince Huo Xing?"

  Zhang Ruochen looked calm and sat on a chair, pouring white water into the teacup, taking a light sip, and said: "What happened?"

  Zhang Shaochu was like a meat mountain, sitting opposite Zhang Ruochen, and said seriously: "Of course, something big has happened. The four-party state has declared war on the Yunwu state."

  "I received the latest news, within a short span of ten days, the four states have conquered twelve cities on the border of Yunwu State, killing one million soldiers and capturing more than three million civilians. Those captured soldiers and civilians were all reduced to slaves of the enemy state. Just thinking about it makes me extremely angry, I wish I could fight them to the death on the battlefield."

  Zhang Ruochen's eyes sank, saying: "It wasn't said that the war would start at the beginning of next year"

  Zhang Shaochu said: "That is a trick of the Western countries, it is used to confuse the generals of Yunwu country."

  "In fact, they launched an attack on Yunwu County ten nights ago. Under the surprise attack of the troops from Sifang County, three cities on the border of Yunwu County fell overnight. The news was sent back to Wangcheng, and the court was shocked, people were in a state of panic."

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