The elder on the crane’s eyelids twitched. What on earth just flew past?

  "Holy crap, those two are so fast!"

  "Speed doesn’t matter. The faster they run, the greater the pressure. They’ll roll down the mountain eventually!"

  "Why did the steps suddenly crack? Did they step on them too hard?"

  The disciples couldn’t even see the backs of the two figures anymore, and jealousy, envy, and resentment filled their hearts. Unwilling to be outdone, they quickened their pace.

  "Ah Huan, Wan Jun, you should hurry too. I’ll enter the academy through another entrance and wait for you at the summit," Ye Sang said. As a current disciple of the academy, she naturally had a different path.

  She stole a glance at Nan Gong Huan and noticed the look of exasperation on her face.

  "Let’s go," Nan Gong Huan nodded leisurely, walking casually with Ye Wan Jun across the square. It was only Si hour, and they had a full four hours ahead of them.

  Just then, another wave of commotion rose from the crowd.

  "Look! I told you, those two are going to roll down!"

  "They’re rolling down pretty fast."

  "Running so fast is useless. The first stage tests endurance!"

  Did they really roll down? Hearing the noise, Nan Gong Huan and the others looked up and indeed saw the two kindergarten dropouts.

  But they weren’t rolling down—they were running down!

  "What’s the use of long legs? Whoever brings sister to the summit first loves her the most!" The little girl was deeply resentful!

  Just as they were about to reach the summit, this despicable man had taken a step ahead of her thanks to his long legs!

  "I love Huan Huan the most! Huan Huan is mine!" Dong Yan Cuo’s face was dark and fierce, enough to make anyone tremble.

  The two charged through the crowd again, reaching Nan Gong Huan. Dong Yan Cuo scooped her up in a princess carry, while Yun Qingqing, being too short, could only grab her feet. Then, they dashed toward the summit once more!

  They seemed completely unaffected by the pressure of the steps, moving as if on flat ground.

  The disciples were about to explode, being pushed aside repeatedly. Some hadn’t even climbed two steps before being knocked down by the rushing wind!

  "Hey, hey, why is it you again!"

  "You’re really persistent, but next time you roll down, please don’t crash into me, thanks!"

  "Next time you come down, can you take me with you!"

  Ye Sang and Ye Wan Jun were dumbfounded. They just left... just like that...

  "Big sis, I think they’re already waiting for you at the summit," Ye Wan Jun’s eye twitched. Their speed was unmatched.

  "Then you work hard. I’ll head up first," Ye Sang patted Ye Wan Jun’s shoulder and turned to enter the academy through the disciple’s passage on the Cui Gu Heavenly Bird.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  Ye Wan Jun also began climbing. Since they were all going up, he couldn’t fall behind!

  Meanwhile, at the summit.

  The quiet training ground’s edge was filled with noise.

  "Stop arguing! If you keep arguing, I won’t love either of you!" Nan Gong Huan couldn’t take it anymore. She hadn’t even experienced the first stage properly before reaching the summit.

  Especially since her feet, which Yun Qingqing had grabbed earlier, now felt like they’d been run over by several carriages.

  The two finally quieted down, though their eyes still glared at each other.

  Nan Gong Huan handed each of them a stick of candied hawthorn. Dong Yan Cuo’s expression immediately brightened, devouring one stick and then receiving another.

  But the little girl didn’t seem as interested in the candied hawthorn, nibbling at it absentmindedly while her gaze remained fixed on Nan Gong Huan.

  "What’s your name?" Nan Gong Huan asked the little girl.

  Seeing Nan Gong Huan’s attention, the little girl happily replied, "I’m Yun Qingqing."

  "Why are you following me?" Nan Gong Huan was still puzzled. Although this little girl was a descendant of the Giant Spirit God, she didn’t seem to have any connection to the Giant Spirit God herself.

  "Because your power smells so good! I love pure power," the little girl answered honestly.

  Power smells good... Nan Gong Huan was momentarily silent. This little girl was even more obsessed than a spirit beast.

  But, I can’t give you my power.

  "Sister Huan, long time no see," a delicate voice suddenly rang out.

  A familiar voice, a familiar tone, a familiar green tea.

  "Qingqing, Ah Huan, long time no see," an unfamiliar yet familiar voice, with a hint of teasing and a frivolous whistle.

  Nan Gong Huan turned around with a roll of her eyes to see Nan Gong Qian’er and Cui Zhejian standing together, both wearing the academy’s disciple uniforms. She didn’t know how they had met, but they seemed to be on good terms, walking side by side.

  The black spot toxins on Nan Gong Qian’er’s face had been removed by some means, leaving her delicate face radiant and charming. She glanced at Nan Gong Huan’s flawless, stunning face, a trace of jealousy flickering in her eyes.

  "Didn’t your Brother Yu Gong come?" Nan Gong Huan raised an eyebrow. Given Wei Yu Gong’s talent, the academy should have directly admitted him.

  As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Yu Gong walked over from the side, standing next to Nan Gong Qian’er and naturally taking her hand. The two looked very intimate.

  He was also wearing the academy’s disciple uniform, having received an invitation from the Third Prince, Song Que, and smoothly entered the academy.

  "You’re still obsessed with me, aren’t you?" Wei Yu Gong snorted, seemingly disdainful. He instinctively rejected Nan Gong Huan, but when he saw her face clearly, he couldn’t help but be stunned. When had her face recovered?

  Nan Gong Huan’s expression turned strange, and she retorted, "You can insult my character, but don’t insult my taste, thank you."

  A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes. After learning that Nan Gong Qian’er had planted a love curse on her, Wei Yu Gong still chose to stay with her. Was it because of Nan Gong Qian’er’s Purple Star status?

  This remark seemed to insult both of them.

  Wei Yu Gong and Nan Gong Qian’er both darkened their expressions, a surge of anger rising in their hearts.

  Dong Yan Cuo and Yun Qingqing glared at the three menacingly, making them feel a chilling breeze.

  Sworn to protect Huan Huan!

  Sworn to protect sister!

  "Sister Huan, in one month, there’s the Freshmen Dragon and Tiger Competition. Do you dare to face me?" Nan Gong Qian’er suppressed her anger and challenged with a smile. With her master’s help over the past month, she had received abundant cultivation resources, solidifying her peak Second Spirit Life strength and even contracting a powerful spirit beast with her master’s assistance.

  If she claimed to be the second among the freshmen, no one would dare call themselves first!

  Even Wei Yu Gong, with his high talent, was only at the early stage of the Second Spirit Life.

  Confidence spread endlessly in her heart.

  "But I’m not an academy disciple yet. Sister, are you implying that I’ll pass the assessment? Thank you for your blessing," Nan Gong Huan covered her mouth with a delicate laugh, her eyes sparkling alluringly.

  Nan Gong Qian’er’s face darkened, but she maintained her smile. "Sister, with your strength, you’ll definitely pass the assessment."

  "I’m also looking forward to your performance," Cui Zhejian stroked his chin, his gaze still lewdly fixed on Nan Gong Huan and Qingqing, as if brewing some sinister plan.

  Wei Yu Gong’s gaze, however, fell on Dong Yan Cuo. He had just noticed that this man, who had always been protecting Nan Gong Huan from behind, had silver-white hair and a face so handsome it made him feel inferior.

  "Wait, he’s definitely older than sixteen!" Wei Yu Gong suddenly pointed at Dong Yan Cuo. His face looked too mature, completely lacking the youthful appearance of a sixteen-year-old!