50: How dare a lowly ant criticize Senior Brother Chu!

As Lin Yao followed Liu Ping through the colossal, mountain-like stone gate of Tiansheng Academy, she instantly felt as if she had stepped into another world.

Clouds like light gauze swirled around pavilions and towers, distant peaks were verdant and layered, waterfalls flowed, and immortal cranes danced.

What shocked her even more was the richness of the spiritual energy here; just taking a light breath made her limbs and bones feel indescribably comfortable.

Compared to Furong Town, where she had grown up, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Lin Yao's eyes reflected the glittering, resplendent palaces, and she couldn't help but exclaim softly.

"Is... is this the interior of Tiansheng Academy?"

Seeing her expression, Liu Ping smiled and explained.

"Junior Sister Lin, this is just the outer area of the Academy.

We are going to Jade Balance Hall, where the spiritual energy is several times richer than here."

The closer they got to Jade Balance Hall, the more difficult it became for Lin Yao to suppress her shock.

Along the way, exotic flowers and rare herbs perfumed the air, and the white jade paved roadsides were planted with spiritual plants she couldn't name, emitting a soft, glowing light.

The spiritual energy in the air was so dense it had formed a faint spiritual mist; inhaling a single breath was equivalent to several days of arduous cultivation in Furong Town.

Finally, Liu Ping led her into an extremely spacious courtyard.

The courtyard gate was ancient, carved with complex star runes, with faint streams of light circulating within them.

As soon as she entered, Lin Yao felt a surge of spiritual energy, several times stronger than outside, rush towards her.

She looked around dumbfounded; the courtyard was unimaginably vast, complete with pavilions, waterside platforms, training grounds, and alchemy rooms, its scale even comparable to the entire Chu Family mansion.

Under a giant spiritual plant tree in the courtyard, the spiritual energy had almost condensed into liquid dew drops, rolling on the leaves.

"Is... is this where Utility Disciples live?"

Lin Yao's voice trembled slightly with disbelief; she subconsciously felt that Liu Ping must have made a mistake.

She imagined Utility Disciples would live in crowded, simple bunkhouses; how could they possess such an immortal-like dwelling?

No sooner had she spoken than the door of a quiet room to the side gently opened.

A woman in a light blue, flowing cloud-patterned skirt walked out, subtle yet powerful spiritual energy fluctuations swirling around her.

Just being scanned by her gaze, Lin Yao felt an invisible pressure; this Senior Sister's strength was even above that of the Chu Family Patriarch.

The moment she saw this woman, Lin Yao became even more convinced: Senior Sister Liu Ping, who brought her here, must have mistaken her for someone else.

Her Senior Brother Chu Feng was merely a Utility Disciple; how could he live in the same place as such a person?

Unexpectedly, upon seeing the cool and elegant woman, Liu Ping immediately bowed respectfully, her tone carrying a hint of flattery.

"Senior Sister Su."

She quickly led Lin Qingqing forward and introduced her.

"This young lady claims to be Senior Brother Chu's younger sister, from Furong Town in Qingzhou, named Lin Yao."

Before Liu Ping's words had even finished, the main hall's door was suddenly pushed open from within, and Chu Feng walked out quickly.

"Yao'er? It really is you!"

Lin Yao, however, was completely stunned; her eyes wide, she stared unblinkingly at Chu Feng before her.

Her Senior Brother Chu Feng's appearance hadn't changed much, but his entire demeanor had undergone a tremendous transformation.

His spiritual energy was contained within him, his aura as deep as the sea, making it impossible for her to discern his cultivation level.

"Senior Brother Chu Feng?" Lin Yao's voice was full of confusion, "You, here..."

She pointed to the vast and luxurious courtyard, then to the robes Chu Feng was wearing, her mind a jumble, utterly unable to connect everything before her with the words "Utility Disciple."

Chu Feng saw his sister's expression and instantly understood.

He smiled gently, walked over to Lin Yao, and habitually ruffled her hair.

"Yao'er, this is my residence in Tiansheng Academy." He explained calmly, "I am no longer a Utility Disciple."

Liu Ping, standing nearby, excitedly interjected.

"Senior Brother Chu is now a direct disciple of the Jade Balance Hall Master and Hundred Herbs Courtyard Hall Master, and also the Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall."

"Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall? Direct disciple of two Hall Masters?"

Lin Yao murmured these words, each one like a heavy hammer striking her heart, making her eardrums buzz.

She stared blankly at Chu Feng, unsure how to react for a moment.

The Servant Brother in her mind was now such a prominent figure?

Chu Feng hadn't been home for a long time, and indeed, he had changed a great deal during this period.

He had intended to write home but hadn't expected Lin Yao to arrive at Tiansheng Academy.

"Why did you come to the Academy?"

Hearing this, Lin Yao finally came back to her senses, though her voice still held a trace of daze.

"I came with the Second Elder; it's not just me, but six other Chu Family disciples, all here to participate in the Academy's New Student Enrollment Assembly."

Hearing this, Chu Feng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Did they know he was at Tiansheng Academy, so they brought the younger generation of the Chu Family to try their luck?

In the past, if Lin Yao had come, as a Utility Disciple, he wouldn't have been able to help much.

But now it was different; as long as he spoke, whether it was Hall Master Pei Qingying or Su Muxue, they would surely be able to keep Lin Yao in one of the two Halls.

"From now on, you will cultivate in Tiansheng Academy; it's good to have someone looking out for you."

Hearing this, Lin Yao still felt a bit uneasy.

"I only have Qi Refining Stage Two cultivation now, and I don't know if I can pass tomorrow's assessment."

Hearing this, Su Qingqiu held Lin Yao's jade hand.

"Junior Sister Lin, don't worry, with my husband here, he will certainly ensure you stay."

Lin Yao's eyes instantly widened, and she looked at Chu Feng with an expression of disbelief.

"Husband?"

Chu Feng looked at his sister's still somewhat bewildered expression and couldn't help but chuckle.

He turned sideways and introduced the two.

"This is Su Qingqiu, my wife."

"Wife?"

Hearing this, Lin Yao trembled all over, almost thinking she had misheard.

Although she knew the Chu Family had long ago arranged a marriage alliance for her brother and the Su Family, she clearly remembered that the marriage contract bore the name of Su Qingya, the second young lady of the Su Family; how could it have become... "Su Qingqiu, the Saintess of Shangqing Sect?"

Hearing this, Su Qingqiu's lips curved into a faint arc, her smile cool but with a hint of relief.

She shook her head slightly, her black hair gently swaying in the wind, her voice calm yet firm.

"The title of Saintess is a thing of the past; I am no longer a disciple of Shangqing Sect; I am only his wife."

Lin Yao stared blankly at the two standing side by side, one who was once a Utility Disciple with a Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root, and the other who was once the renowned Saintess of Shangqing Sect, now standing together, like a match made in heaven.

What earth-shattering changes had occurred to Senior Brother Chu Feng?

Seeing her still disbelieving, Chu Feng took her hand and led her inside.

"This is a long story, with many twists and turns; once you're settled, brother will slowly tell you all the details."

Soon, Lin Yao's exclamations could be heard from inside the house.

This couldn't be blamed on her; Chu Feng's experiences during this time were simply too astounding, making her feel as if she were listening to a storyteller... Everyone who came to participate in the New Student Enrollment Assembly was arranged to stay in the Servant Yard.

The Chu Family members and the Tian Family members happened to be assigned to the same courtyard.

When Lin Yao returned from outside, looking somewhat dazed, Chu Yunfeng and the others waiting in the courtyard immediately gathered around her.

"Yao'er, have you seen Chu Feng? Why didn't he come with you?"

Chu Yunfeng's voice was kept low, afraid that the Tian Family members in the same courtyard would overhear and cause trouble.

Lin Yao took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions, and recounted everything she had seen and heard in Jade Balance Hall, as well as Chu Feng's current identity, exactly as it had happened.

The courtyard instantly fell into a dead silence.

The Chu Family members exchanged glances, feeling as if their ears were malfunctioning, as if they were listening to some fantastical tale.

"Ch-Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall?"

"Direct disciple of two Hall Masters? This... how is this possible?"

"I remember Feng'er wrote to us three months ago, didn't he say he was still at Qi Refining Stage One?"

Chu Yunfeng felt his head spinning, his feet a little unsteady; every word Lin Yao spoke felt like a heavy hammer striking his heart.

Pfft!

A blatant scoff instantly drowned out everyone's discussions.

Tian Linger leaned against a corridor pillar, one hand covering her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.

"Lin Yao, I think you've gone mad trying to glorify your Servant Brother, haven't you?"

She strolled closer, her gaze sweeping over the surprised and uncertain faces of the Chu Family members, her laughter growing more triumphant.

"Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall, direct disciple of two Hall Masters, what an outrageous boast.

Which of the ten Chief Disciples of Tiansheng Academy isn't a peerless prodigy, a dragon among men?

Speaking such big words, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue!"

She had heard everything Lin Yao said just now, but she didn't believe it, not a single word.

That good-for-nothing with a Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root would be lucky to remain a Utility Disciple in Tiansheng Academy; to suddenly become a direct disciple of a Hall Master was simply the biggest joke in the world!

"I heard that if you can't pass the Utility Disciple assessment within five years at Tiansheng Academy, you'll be expelled."

Her gaze scrutinized Lin Yao up and down, as if she had already seen through her.

"In my opinion, Chu Feng has already been expelled from the Academy, which is why he didn't come with you."

Not just Tian Linger, even the Chu Family members showed signs of doubt.

Chu Yunfeng's face felt hot; he pulled Lin Yao further into a corner and asked urgently.

"Yao'er, tell me the truth!

Was what you just said real, or just to provoke Tian Linger?"

This news was too shocking and too important; he had to get it clear.

If it was just a young girl's angry fabrication, and the Tian Family spread it, their Chu Family couldn't afford to lose face, and he was even more afraid of causing trouble for Chu Feng.

Lin Yao looked at them, feeling helpless and wronged, but she could also understand their disbelief.

After all, she had been just as disbelieving moments ago.

Just as she was about to explain that all of it was real and couldn't be faked, a gentle knock sounded at the courtyard gate.

Dong dong dong... The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a woman dressed in the attire of an Inner Disciple of Tiansheng Academy standing at the entrance.

The material and patterns of her attire were clearly much more exquisite than those of the Outer Disciples or even the Servant Yard stewards they had seen.

The woman stood tall, with a cool temperament, her beautiful face carrying an inherent sense of aloofness, and her gaze calmly swept over everyone in the courtyard.

"Excuse me, are the people from the Chu Family of Furong Town, Qingzhou, here?"

Chu Yunfeng's heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward a few paces, cupping his hands in greeting.

"This old man is Chu Yunfeng, the leader of the Chu Family this time. May I ask your esteemed name, Fairy, and what brings you to us?"

The woman nodded slightly, as a return greeting.

"My name is Bai Zhixuan, and I am the Chief Disciple of Hundred Herbs Courtyard."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Chu Yunfeng and the Chu Family disciples behind him.

"Entrusted by Senior Brother Chu Feng, I have come to lead you all to Jade Balance Hall for temporary residence, to prepare for tomorrow's New Student Enrollment Assembly, and to avoid crowding with others here."

At these words, the crowd in the courtyard immediately burst into an uproar.

"Chief Disciple of Hundred Herbs Courtyard?"

"Entrusted by Senior Brother Chu Feng?"

"To reside temporarily in Jade Balance Hall?"

In an instant, all the skeptical gazes changed.

Chu Yunfeng suddenly turned his head to look at Lin Yao, his eyes bursting with incredible joy.

The other young men and women of the Chu Family also instantly became excited, exchanging glances, their hushed exclamations almost uncontrollable.

"Could what Yao'er said just now... all be true?"

Chu Yunfeng's beard trembled with excitement; all his previous worries and doubts were instantly scattered.

Tian Linger was first stunned, then carefully scrutinized Bai Zhixuan; she simply refused to believe that Chu Feng could enlist such a person.

"Lin Yao, you Chu Family really went all out to cover up your lies!"

Tian Linger pointed at Bai Zhixuan and asked meaningfully.

"You hired her to put on this act; it must have cost you a lot of spiritual stones, right?"

She laughed, shaking uncontrollably, even walking up to Bai Zhixuan and clicking her tongue.

"To glorify that good-for-nothing Chu Feng, you really went to great lengths, acting as if it were real!

If Chu Feng is the Chief Disciple of Jade Balance Hall, I, Tian Linger, will sweep toilets in Tiansheng Academy for the rest of my life!"

Slap!

A crisp, loud slap, like a clap of thunder, resounded throughout the entire courtyard.

Bai Zhixuan raised her hand and directly slapped Tian Linger, sending her flying off the ground, staggering as she crashed heavily into a corridor pillar behind her, emitting a dull thud.

Half of Tian Linger's face swelled up at a visible speed, a clear palm print appearing, her lip cracked, oozing a trace of blood.

Her ears buzzed, golden stars danced before her eyes, and she was completely stunned by this sudden slap.

However, what frightened her more than the physical pain was a terrifying spiritual pressure, like a towering mountain crashing down, enveloping her.

Foundation Establishment Stage Eight!

"Ugh—"

Tian Linger instantly found it difficult to breathe, her chest feeling as if crushed by a giant stone, her face turning as pale as paper.

Bai Zhixuan's face was covered in frost, her normally cool eyes now flashing with sharp killing intent.

"You ant-like creature, who gave you the guts to presumptuously discuss Senior Brother Chu here?"