No competition in history had ever seen a student from a small country academy take first place!
So, seeing this year’s rankings, the audience buzzed with intense discussion.
The competition had lasted for eight days, and today was the final day. Today, the rankings would also be rewarded!
The imperial academies had long prepared the competition rewards.
First place: Access to the Weapon Pavilion to select any holy weapon and one holy skill.
Second place: Access to the Library Pavilion to select any holy skill.
Third place: Access to the Weapon Pavilion to select any holy weapon.
Fourth place: A promotion pill matching the recipient’s cultivation level and ten top-grade spirit-returning pills.
Fifth place: A promotion pill matching the recipient’s cultivation level and five top-grade spirit-returning pills.
As the rankings went down, the rarity of the rewards decreased.
The imperial joint competition was held annually, so aside from the top three rewards, the others became commonplace. Given that the competition, barring special circumstances, posed no life-threatening danger, and the respective academies also provided rewards, the hosts wouldn’t offer too many incentives.
It was always like this each year.
After displaying the competition rewards, the supervising teacher said, “Huang Quan, Jing Chen, Feng Jiuyuan, you three may follow the academy elders to the Weapon Pavilion and Library Pavilion. Once you have chosen your rewards, there will be no going back.”
Holy weapons?
Huang Quan pondered. She didn’t need a weapon, but she could choose one suitable for her third brother.
Jing Chen’s expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.
Feng Jiuyuan looked indifferent, his disinterest evident.
A holy weapon? He already had weapons, so what was the use of another? But whatever…
This time, the main purpose of participating in the competition was to explore the ruins, so the ranking didn’t really matter!
After each of the three pondered for a moment, they got up and headed downwards.
Two elders stepped forward, looking at the three of them. “Follow us.”
Huang Quan and the others were going to choose their weapons, and after choosing, they had to return to announce their selections. Therefore, the audience stayed, eager to see what weapons they would choose.
As for the rewards for the three who followed, they had already been prepared and could be handed out directly.
When Nangong Qingle and the remaining six went up to the stage to receive their rewards, she shot a venomous glance at Huang Quan.
She thought she had hidden it well and hadn’t shown any obvious hostility, but she didn’t realize she had long been seen through.
Nangong Qiu, watching Nangong Qingle on stage, lowered her voice and said to Nangong Yi, “Resolve her issues as soon as possible. Did you see the way she looked at Quan Quan?”
Nangong Yi didn’t say much, just nodded.
Seeing him nod, Nangong Qiu was satisfied.
The high priest sitting beside them turned his head to Emperor Qin and asked, “What kind of weapon do you think Huang Quan will choose?”
Emperor Qin replied calmly, “A defensive weapon.”
The high priest raised an eyebrow, but before he could ask why, Emperor Qin’s voice sounded again, “Quan Quan doesn’t need a weapon. Even if she did, she wouldn’t choose for herself. She would choose a defensive weapon for her third brother.”
The high priest didn’t raise his eyebrows again, maintaining his cold and distant celestial demeanor, “He is my disciple; I can prepare these things for him. Huang Quan doesn’t need to do this.”
“When you kept him last time, I had a question in my heart,” Emperor Qin said indifferently, looking at him. “You said you wanted to confirm something, but you and he are in Tianqi and Tianhuang respectively. What is it that needs confirmation from him?”
The high priest frowned slightly, his gaze deepening, “I can’t tell you yet.”
“When it’s confirmed, I’ll let you know.”
Di Qin looked at him. “Since you don’t want to say now, I won’t force you. Just remember, don’t harm him.”
The high priest lowered his eyes, his gaze flickering slightly. “You can rest assured about that.” Hurting Nangong Mian would be like hurting himself.
He couldn’t possibly harm himself.
Di Qin gave him one last look, saying nothing more.
The Armory and the Library stood together in one place, with a small hut nearby. When the two elders led them there, an elderly man with a slightly hunched back emerged from the hut.
The old man handed two keys to the elders and, with a smile, looked at Huang Quan and the other two. “Here to claim your rewards?”
The two elders nodded. “Yes.”
“Go ahead,” the old man said before turning back towards the hut. “Remember to lock the main doors of the pavilions when you’re done.”
“Understood.”
After responding, the two elders led their respective groups to the doors of the Armory and the Library.
Huang Quan and Feng Jiuyuan were heading to the Armory, while Jing Chen was going to the Library. Soon, the three of them parted ways.
The Armory at the Imperial Academy housed numerous weapons. As soon as they entered the first floor, they saw weapons glinting coldly. Each weapon was placed in front of a small plaque detailing its attributes and ranking.
The elder guiding Huang Quan and Feng Jiuyuan explained, “The first floor houses spiritual weapons, the second floor has mystical weapons, and the third floor contains holy weapons. You should head to the third floor to make your selections.”
Huang Quan nodded to show her understanding and followed the elder upstairs.
Feng Jiuyuan, uninterested in selecting a weapon, quickly caught up with Huang Quan. “Huang Quan.”
Huang Quan turned to look at him. “What’s up?”
“Are you really the Crown Princess chosen by Di Qin?” Feng Jiuyuan asked with great curiosity. “Does Di Qin really like you?”
A question mark gradually appeared above Huang Quan’s head. She knew Di Qin liked her, but she had planned to talk to him about it after the competition, maybe even have some fun for a few days. She and Di Qin hadn’t even discussed it yet, so how did Feng Jiuyuan know?
“How do you know?” Puzzled, Huang Quan looked directly at Feng Jiuyuan and asked.
“Haha.”
Feng Jiuyuan laughed out loud at her bewildered expression. “Not only do I know, but it’s likely that the entire Tianqi Empire knows by now.”
“Wait a little longer, and soon the whole world might know that Crown Prince Di Qin loves you.”
Huang Quan: “…” She wasn’t trying to hide it, but was it really that obvious?
“So it’s true?” Feng Jiuyuan looked at her. “You really have that kind of relationship with Di Qin?”
Huang Quan smiled. “What kind of relationship are you talking about?”
“You’re not married yet, so it can’t be a husband-wife relationship. Are you in love with each other?”
“Why should I tell you?” Huang Quan said, turning to continue walking.
If she was going to tell anyone about her feelings for Qin Qin, it would be Qin Qin himself first, not anyone else.
Feng Jiuyuan caught up to her. “Huang Quan, you’re only fifteen. You shouldn’t rush into this. Why not wait a couple more years? You might meet someone even better.”
Huang Quan: “Someone better?”
Feng Jiuyuan: “Like me.”
The elder leading them: “…” Can you please not flirt with the Crown Prince’s beloved in front of an elder from the Tianqi Empire Academy? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report this to the Crown Prince?
Huang Quan turned to look at him, raising her eyebrows slightly. “From what you’re saying, are you interested in me?”
