After speaking, Zi He leaped forward to inspect Yang Lingrui.

“Impressive! You’ve reached the eighth level of Gathering Qi in just a few years. You’re nearly catching up to me—truly worthy of being called a genius character by the He Family!”

“Quit mocking me. I’ve only just entered the Eighth Level. It’s nowhere near your peak Ninth Level.”

Yang Lingrui then playfully clasped his hands in a formal salute. “I’ll have to trouble Lord Zi He to guide this ignorant country bumpkin into the imperial capital.”

“Enough with the act! You’re such a drama king!”

Zi He chuckled while scolding him, then turned to lead Yang Lingrui toward the city gates.

“Hail Lord Zhanwei!”

The gate guards uniformly bowed upon seeing Zi He.

Following Zi He, Yang Lingrui bypassed the tedious entry inspections and stepped directly into the city.

The difference from the outside world struck him immediately.

“Double the concentration of spiritual energy across the entire city? What a giant hands effort!”

Yang Lingrui marveled.

Chongtian City’s scale was staggering—it even engulfed three mountain ranges, its total area nearly eight times larger than Qiulu City.

The city divided its twenty districts under the categories “Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow.” They entered through a gate in the Yellow Three District.

While mortals dwelled in the Mysterious and Yellow zones, only cultivators could access the Heaven and Earth districts.

Maintaining doubled spiritual energy across such an immense city was awe-inspiring.

“This is nothing. The Mysterious and Yellow zones are all like this. Earth-level districts have even higher concentrations. You’ve never seen the Heaven-level zones—their spiritual energy stays above fivefold year-round,” Zi He remarked.

Under his guidance, Yang Lingrui reached Yellow One District before transferring via teleportation array to Earth Five District.

True to Zi He’s words, the spiritual energy grew denser here.

Earth-level districts served as living and training grounds for cultivators, containing numerous marketplaces and celestial guesthouses. These occupied the largest portion among the four categories.

Massive formations veiled the area from outside observation.

Chongtian City’s three mountain ranges lay within this zone.

Zi He deftly secured Yang Lingrui a Class B private cave residence at a celestial guesthouse.

Only after entering the cave did Zi He bring up the performance observation event.

“More attendees are coming to Chongtian City than anticipated. With disciples from various factions arriving, I expect live selections during the event. Prepare thoroughly.”

“Understood,” Yang Lingrui nodded.

“Also, barring surprises, my sister should attend this time.”

“Young Miss Li is coming?”

The mention instantly dragged Yang Lingrui’s memories back to that lotus pond years ago.

He hadn’t seen Li Qingwan since that day.

“Hmm, Elder had someone arrange her entry into ChengTian Academy. I secretly visited her several times under official pretenses,” Zi He said.

“Young Miss Li possesses both wisdom and exceptional talent. She must stand out remarkably within the academy,” Yang Lingrui responded.

Though he’d only met Li Qingwan once in the separate courtyard, their brief conversation had revealed her extraordinary nature.

While he admired her greatly, Yang Lingrui harbored no romantic inclinations.

“Outstanding? She’s now among the academy’s ‘Four Great Beauties’ – admirers queue from ChengTian Academy to the city gates. Her fame spreads across the imperial capital.”

Zi He wore a meaningful smile.

“If those suitors knew someone already stole her heart, imagine their reactions?”

He meant to provoke Yang Lingrui, but the young man seriously pondered: “The imperial capital gathers the dynasty’s finest talents. After all this time here, Young Miss Li must’ve found someone worthy.”

“Yang Lingrui! Stop playing dumb!”

“Playing what?”

“Don’t act oblivious! You know exactly who my sister fancies!”

“Should I?”

Bewilderment crossed Yang Lingrui’s face. Having met Li Qingwan only once with no further contact, how could he know?

Under Zi He’s piercing stare, he tentatively pointed at himself.

“Me…?”

Zi He maintained a frosty silence, eyes narrowed.

“But we met just once!”

“Exactly. I never believed in love at first sight – until now.”

Zi He sighed inwardly. Yang Lingrui’s genuine confusion proved his ignorance of the matter.

*Why must this cultivation-obsessed blockhead be so handsome? Poor Qingwan…*

Noticing Yang Lingrui’s troubled expression, Zi He’s resentment faded.

“Forget it. This isn’t your fault. Consider this conversation never happened.”

Zi He gulped wine from his gourd. Four years since the Li Family’s fall. The Zhuhu Dynasty’s protection would shelter Qingwan for eleven more years. If no solution emerged by then…

Yang Lingrui last saw such anguish on Zi He during the Golden Scales Ceremony, after escaping the Su Family’s illusion array.

“Perhaps I could pretend—”

“No!” Zi He cut him off. “Promise me this – if Qingwan ever speaks of this, tell her your true feelings. No lies, no acting.”

“I promise.”

Their discussion ended. Zi He drank alone while Yang Lingrui meditated. When sufficiently drunk, Zi He expelled the alcohol with spiritual power and departed.

Next morning, following Gao Hui’s instructions, Yang Lingrui visited He Shenglai at Wangtian Tower.

The twenty-two-story structure earned its name from the panoramic view of Chongtian Palace at its summit. He Shenglai occupied the twentieth floor. A servant guided Yang Lingrui, bearing his written message.

“Yang Lingrui of Songshan Yang Family pays respects to Lord He.”

“Sit.” He Shenglai didn’t glance up, absorbed in reviewing documents. He motioned to a seat beside his desk.

His cultivation level had reached the perfect realm of eleventh-level Gathering Qi. Compared to years past, his once-sharp aura now lay subdued, spiritual power flowing deep within like tranquil waters.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep