As soon as the stone landed in her hand, Elder Ling’s voice echoed in her mind with astonishment: "The brow bone of my Earth Spirit Clan! How does he have it?!"

  Brow bone?! Nan Gong Huan’s hand trembled, almost dropping it.

  She knew that Elder Ling came from a special race called the Earth Spirit Clan, but this clan had perished in a catastrophe three thousand years ago. Their uniqueness lay in their cultivation method, which focused on building spiritual platforms rather than spiritual roots.

  Next, Yue Jianqing took out a token and placed it in her hand as well, saying, "In one month, it will be the enrollment period. Take this token and come to the Fengxuan Royal Academy to find me. Of course, you can come earlier if you wish. I’ll be waiting for you at any time."

  Upon seeing the token, the elders collectively gasped!

  That token represented the Moon Sovereign’s authority! To see the token was to see the Moon Sovereign himself! Such a precious item, and he had given it to a young girl?!

  Even more shocking was the fact that the Moon Sovereign had treated her with such courtesy!

  It was as if the sun had risen from the west!

  "Go, go! You must go! Go as early as possible!" Elder Ling was already squirming like a worm in her mind.

  "Senior, you’re too kind. I will definitely go. Also, thank you for your gift," Nan Gong Huan replied gratefully. She knew full well that with just the Moon Sovereign’s words, her admission to the academy was already secured.

  Who would dare to stop her? Who would dare to disrespect her? Doing so would be a direct affront to the Moon Sovereign!

  Yue Jianqing nodded, then glanced around, restoring his usual authoritative demeanor. He snorted coldly and said, "A tree grows because of sunlight, soil, and its strong roots, not because of the birds nesting in its branches."

  What nonsense about the Purple Star and great fortune—he didn’t believe in such things!

  With that, Yue Jianqing turned and left, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. No one dared to refute his words.

  His statement had thoroughly debased Nan Gong Qian’er’s title as the Purple Star, like a slap to her face.

  Seeing Nan Gong Qian’er’s constipated expression, Nan Gong Huan didn’t hide her smile and said, "Qian’er sister, anger harms the body. Take these dandelions to make tea and cool your temper."

  She took out a few common dandelion herbs and enthusiastically stuffed them into Nan Gong Qian’er’s hand, then walked past her toward Ye Wan Jun.

  Nan Gong Qian’er stood there, clenching her fists so tightly that the dandelions were almost crushed.

  The remaining elders exchanged glances, and one of them stepped forward to ask, "Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

  A few other elders also spoke up, but their tone was no longer as enthusiastic as before. Instead, it carried a hint of arrogance.

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  "Come with me! In one month, come to the Fengxuan Royal Academy, and within two years, I’ll ensure you enter the Seven Kingdoms Royal Academy’s sacred grounds!" An elderly woman stepped forward, also handing Nan Gong Qian’er a token.

  This token represented her identity, and the elder was certain that Nan Gong Qian’er would come because Nan Gong Huan had already chosen this path!

  "Thank you, elder. I will definitely keep my promise," Nan Gong Qian’er said, gripping the token tightly. She glanced at Nan Gong Huan with venomous hatred in her eyes. Fengxuan Royal Academy... she would not let that wretch get away with this!

  Seeing her decision, the elders shook their heads and sighed, then left on their mounts.

  Kong Tong Yuer chose to stay with Song Xi Ran. She touched her compass again—it was still broken. Her gaze then shifted between Nan Gong Huan and Nan Gong Qian’er. She wanted to observe these two more closely.

  As the sun set, the trial officially ended, and all the disciples were called back to determine their rankings based on the number of flags they had collected.

  Nan Gong Huan’s seventh team naturally took first place, earning generous rewards. The most valuable among them were ten million spirit herbs and two free passes to the Imperial Glory Auction House.

  The onlookers dispersed, and the story of the two Nan Gong sisters had spread throughout the city, becoming a hot topic of discussion.

  That night, Nan Gong Huan, Ye Wan Jun, and Ye Sang used a teleportation array to head to the capital of Fengxuan Empire, the Imperial Glory Auction House.

  Among the seven empires on the continent, the Fengxuan Empire was one of the most powerful and prosperous.

  Its capital was a crucial hub, well-connected and bustling with activity, known as the City That Never Sleeps. It was also home to the headquarters of various associations, with experts as numerous as the clouds.

  The three of them walked along the wide streets, curiously taking in their surroundings.

  High-level spirit beasts pulling carriages passed by, symbolizing the owners’ noble status. The calls of street vendors and the melodious sounds of huqin and pipa from various shops filled the air.

  The streets were crowded and lively.

  Looking up, they could see several massive pavilions floating in the sky. It was said that these were the aerial gardens belonging to the Eldest Princess, Song Xi Ran.

  "It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the capital," Ye Wan Jun marveled at the night scene before him.

  "This must be your first time here, right, Ah Huan?" Ye Sang asked, turning her head. She had been to the capital several times and naturally took on the role of a guide.

  "Yes, it’s my first time," Nan Gong Huan nodded, feeling like a country bumpkin.

  Although Jianglou City was a large city, it paled in comparison to the capital.

  "Is that the Fengxuan Royal Academy’s outpost?" Nan Gong Huan suddenly noticed a prominent emblem on a pavilion to the left, with the words "Fengxuan Royal Academy" written on the signboard.

  Ye Sang glanced at it and said, "Yes, all the children of the royal and official families gather here every year to head to the academy. They don’t need to take any exams and can directly become disciples of the academy."

  Her tone carried a hint of meaning as she spoke the last sentence.

  In essence, the Royal Academy was established for the children of officials, with the emperor as its backer. Ordinary people who wanted to enter naturally had to pass the academy’s entrance exams.

  Of course, exceptions like Nan Gong Huan, who had received a token from an elder, were rare.

  "So, is the academy quite chaotic inside?" Nan Gong Huan speculated. It was likely that the children of officials would bully the ordinary ones, right?

  For example, the Nan Gong family was a microcosm of this, with its eight branches constantly at odds. Some children would resort to underhanded methods to bully others.

  Ye Sang pursed her lips and replied, "The academy has its own divisions. The officials’ children are on one side, and the ordinary ones are on the other. Occasionally, there are combined classes. But once inside, it’s all about strength."

  "You’re both going to the Royal Academy, so I’m going too!" Ye Wan Jun declared firmly. Last year, Ye Sang had entered the academy with outstanding results. He wanted to follow in her footsteps and prove that he was just as capable!

  "You can go and be at the bottom, so others won’t lose too badly," Ye Sang teased, knowing the difficulty of the entrance exams. It might not be favorable for Ye Wan Jun.

  Ye Wan Jun immediately bristled, "Sis, can’t you wish me some good luck?!"