As Qin Chen, Lin Tian, and Zhang Ying prepared to leave, a new group entered the plaza.
Clad in shimmering furs, their demeanor exuded authority, their sharp gazes like those of eagles, commanding respect. The crowd of students parted instinctively, their faces tinged with awe.
This was a group of noble heirs led by Li Qingfeng. Among them were Wei Zhen and Wei Zhao, who trailed behind, their expressions sour as they watched Li Qingfeng bask in the spotlight.
Suddenly, their eyes locked onto Qin Chen, and their faces stiffened.
"Wei Zhen, is that the Qin Chen you mentioned?" Li Qingfeng asked, noticing their gazes, a smile playing on his lips.
"Yes, that's him!" Wei Zhen gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.
Qin Chen, sensing their attention, turned. He met Wei Zhen's icy, murderous stare, then shifted his gaze to Li Qingfeng.
Though Li Qingfeng masked his aura, Qin Chen's keen perception saw through it instantly, recognizing his cultivation.
Their eyes clashed briefly in the air.
"Heh, interesting," Li Qingfeng murmured, intrigued. It was rare for someone to meet his gaze unflinchingly, especially Tianxing Academy's infamous "failure," who had yet to awaken his bloodline after years.
Qin Chen spared him only a fleeting glance before turning away, dismissing him entirely.
"Young Master Chen, that was Li Qingfeng, heir to Marquis Wu'an," Lin Tian whispered. "His cultivation is exceptional—rumored to be just a step from Earth Level, like Wei Zhen."
"Marquis Wu'an holds immense influence in court, so many senior students follow Li Qingfeng," Zhang Ying added.
Just a step from Earth Level? He's already there, Qin Chen thought, but he kept it to himself. An Earth Level martial artist was beneath his notice.
"Enough about them. Let's find a place to sit," Qin Chen said with a smile, leading Lin Tian and Zhang Ying deeper into the plaza.
Every Tianxing Academy student was required to participate in the year-end exam. With over a thousand students across junior, intermediate, and senior classes, the plaza thrummed with noise and activity.
Around the plaza, high-ranking figures from the capital's major factions, including nobles, generals, and royalty, gathered in distinct groups. Tianxing Academy, Great Qi's premier institution, drew the offspring of the elite, and the annual exam was a spectacle, with invitations extended to parents and dignitaries.
"Master Liang, this way, please," Prince Kang said warmly from a high platform, gesturing Liang Yu to a seat beside him.
Zhao Lingshan stood respectfully nearby.
"Master Liang, I hear Marquis Wu'an's heir has also reached Earth Level. Do you think he'll be a match for Lingshan?" Prince Kang asked, noticing Liang Yu's gaze fixed on a corner of the plaza. Following his line of sight, he spotted Li Qingfeng's group and assumed Liang Yu was focused on them.
"Oh?" Liang Yu blinked, caught off guard, then smiled. "Li Qingfeng's talent is remarkable, and defeating him will be challenging for Lingshan. But he's not who I'm watching. I've spotted a young friend."
"A young friend?" Prince Kang frowned, scanning the crowd but finding no standout student. "Who do you mean, Master Liang?"
Someone Liang Yu called a "friend" had to be extraordinary.
"Is Master referring to Qin Chen?" Zhao Lingshan interjected, spotting Qin Chen and feeling a spark of intuition.
Liang Yu's smile deepened, his expression turning solemn. "Lingshan, if you encounter him, treat him with respect and convey my regards."
A flicker of curiosity passed through Zhao Lingshan's eyes, but she nodded dutifully. "Yes, Master." Who is this Qin Chen that Master holds in such esteem? she wondered. She recalled their time at the Artifact Hall, where Liang Yu's attitude toward Qin Chen had shifted dramatically after a private moment. What happened between them?
"Lingshan, who is this Qin Chen Master Liang speaks of?" Prince Kang asked, puzzled.
"Father, he's the Qin Chen from Duke Dingwu's household—Qin Yuechi's son."
"Him?" Prince Kang's brow furrowed. He'd heard of Qin Chen, the illegitimate son rumored to have failed to awaken his bloodline. Why would Liang Yu take interest in such a youth?
Liang Yu smiled enigmatically, his gaze on Qin Chen heavy with meaning.
A month ago, after Qin Chen's visit to the Artifact Hall, Liang Yu had discreetly investigated him. To his shock, the youth who'd astounded him with his artifact-refining prowess was Duke Dingwu's illegitimate son, unawakened in bloodline and on the verge of expulsion from Tianxing Academy. He'd even uncovered the Qin family's internal feuds, learning Qin Chen and his mother had been cast out.
How could such a youth display such extraordinary skill in artifact refining, surpassing even me, a second-grade refiner?
Where did his expertise come from?
With such talent, why was he so suppressed in the Qin family, living worse than a servant?
This boy harbors a profound secret, Liang Yu concluded, a cascade of questions swirling in his mind.
He believed Qin Chen was deliberately playing the fool in the Qin household, concealing his true abilities. Regardless of his motives, the memory of Qin Chen's refining prowess sent a thrill through Liang Yu, even sparking an urge to apprentice himself to the youth.
Thus, when Prince Kang invited him to the exam, Liang Yu seized the chance to observe Qin Chen, hoping to connect without arousing suspicion.
"Brother Kang, you're here too? Come to watch your daughter's exam, eh? With Lingshan's talent, she's sure to shine today!" A flippant voice interrupted. A portly, unsavory-looking man approached, his face wreathed in sycophantic smiles—Prince Qi, Zhao Qirui. Beside him stood a richly dressed woman with sharp eyes and thin lips: Zhao Feng.