In the evening, Suo Ningbing returned to the residence with a slightly relaxed expression on her face and asked Ye Jingyu, "How is my little brother's Martial Enlightenment going?"
"Uh..." Ye Jingyu suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
Suo Ningbing hurriedly said, "It's alright. There may be a turning point in the matter of my little brother inheriting the title, so he doesn't need to push himself too hard."
Ye Jingyu said, "Miss, let's put it this way, do you think Lanling's speed at learning literature and classics is fast?"
Suo Ningbing said, "He's making rapid progress."
Ye Jingyu said, "Then his pace of Martial Enlightenment is even faster, so fast that it has overturned my understanding."
Suo Ningbing said, "Could it be that he's about to complete the first step of enlightenment, the Dragon Force Sensing?"
Ye Jingyu said, "No, he has already completed the second step, Dragon Force Stimulation."
Immediately, Suo Ningbing was completely astonished and murmured, "How, how is this possible?"
Only Lanling knew in his heart that this had nothing to do with talent, but was simply because of the Yao Xing within him.
Whether it was Dragon Force Sensing or Dragon Force Stimulation, he could simply use his consciousness to control the Yao Xing and instantly complete the steps, without any need for the cultivation process.
So, this truly wasn't worth any pride.
...
Early the next morning, Lanling was supposed to learn the third step of enlightenment, Dragon Force Control, with Ye Jingyu. This was to be the last step of enlightenment.
After completing the three steps of enlightenment, it would be time to formally enter into the practice of Martial Arts.
However, an unexpected incident disrupted his routine.
The Royal City Academy sent a letter, a notice of expulsion stating that Suo Lun had been absent for over three months and had been officially expelled.
This matter was very serious because once Lanling was expelled from the Royal City Academy, inheriting the title would become an indefinitely distant prospect.
So, it seemed like a small matter, but it was actually a fatal crisis.
Suo Ningbing anxiously said, "How could this be, Ling? When you came back, I immediately went to the Royal City Academy to ask for leave, saying you needed to stay home to observe mourning for two months, and Suo Lun's tutor had agreed at the time."
Lanling said, "Sister, who did you bribe yesterday?"
Suo Ningbing said, "The King's most beloved brother, Duke Zhi Ting."
Lanling said, "Then it must be that Duke Zhi Ting has already started making moves, so the other party, feeling threatened, struck back immediately, getting the Royal City Academy to expel me as their counterattack."
Suo Ningbing stood up and said, "I'll go to the Royal City Academy right now."
Lanling said, "I'm going too."
Suo Ningbing said, "You should wait at home, sister can handle these kinds of matters."
Lanling said, "No, I'm the only man in the family, I can't just let my sister run around on her own."
Suo Ningbing looked at Lanling for a while, her beautiful eyes softening as she said, "Alright."
So, Lanling boarded the carriage with Suo Ningbing and they both headed to the Royal City Academy.
...
The Royal City Academy was located to the southeast of Zhi Du, spanning an enormous area of over two thousand acres, featuring a beautiful landscape and an imposing presence.
The academy was divided into two parts: the Civilian Academy and the Noble Academy, separated by a river in between, usually as distinct as chalk from cheese.
After entering the academy, Lanling observed that the buildings all had a Western-style architecture. The Noble Academy was dominated by white tones, while the Civilian Academy by shades of grey.
The buildings of the Civilian Academy were numerous but small, and gardens and lawns were sparse.
In contrast, the Noble Academy had fewer buildings, but they were very grand and majestic, with neatly trimmed lawns and flower beds everywhere.
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The Noble Academy occupied sixty percent of the campus, with the Civilian Academy taking up the remaining forty percent. However, the Noble Academy had only just over a thousand students, whereas the Civilian Academy boasted twenty to thirty thousand.
Overall, the Royal City Academy was superior to the royal palace in both size and scenery, which clearly showed the King's regard for the institution.
Indeed, the Royal City Academy deserved the King's attention, as it was the foundation of the Rage Wave Kingdom's administrative system. Almost all civil officials and military leaders came from this academy.
On the surface, the Civilian Academy seemed inferior to the Noble Academy in every aspect, but in reality, its students were the apple of the King's eye, the true disciples of the King.
In recent decades, the rivalry between civilian and noble students had grown increasingly intense, with neither side respecting the other. The noble students looked down on the commoners as lowly, while the civilians considered the nobles prodigal and incompetent.
However, in truth, the Civilian Academy boasted a far greater number of talented individuals in both the literary and martial fields than the Noble Academy.
For reasons known only to the royal family, entering the Noble Academy Branch required passing through the Civilian Academy.
As the noble youths often rode in fine clothing or luxurious carriages, their passage through the Civilian Academy Branch was invariably met with envious and hostile glares. Fueled by this envy, the commoner students united more firmly around the King, hoping to rise above their station sooner rather than later.
When the carriage of Earl Tian Shui passed through the central axis of the Civilian Academy, it immediately attracted scornful, envious gazes.
Of course, many eyes were drawn to the stunning face and voluptuous curves of Ye Jingyu, who rode outside the carriage, radiating intense heat.
"It's that wastrel, Suo Lun, returning," someone said.
"Heaven must be blind to allow such a worthless scion to hold a high position while we, proficient in both letters and arms, struggle so bitterly," another lamented.
"Hmph, the likes of Suo Lun are nothing but parasites to the kingdom, a stumbling block to its greatness. One day, I'll trample him beneath my feet," someone else proclaimed.
"That such a formidable and powerful female warrior like Ye Jingyu has to drive for a good-for-nothing like Suo Lun is simply a waste — a tragedy of the highest order!"
"Don't worry, Suo Lun's days are numbered. The royal family disapproves of him, and he'll soon be expelled from the academy and rendered ineligible to inherit his title. Once he loses his title, he'll have nothing left, even worse off than a beggar on the street," came another voice.
Despite being inside the carriage, these murmurs reached Lanling's ears, and he whispered to Suo Ningbing, "Sister, His Majesty the King is truly calculative and deliberate."
Suo Ningbing nodded with a complex expression. Previously, the nobility was the foundation of the Rage Wave Kingdom's governance. Now, the elite of literary and martial arts from the Civilian Academy were gradually replacing the noble class. King Zhi Bian really was playing a long game.
After crossing the white jade arch bridge over the river, they entered the Noble Academy Branch.
The scene instantly transformed, with green grass and blooming flowers, altogether enchanting. Even the air was filled with an intoxicating scent.
And those coming and going were all dressed in fine clothes.
Upon seeing the carriage of the Earl Tian Shui, someone immediately jeered, "Look, the toad has come back."
Previously, Suo Lun had sought the affections of Princess Zhining despite their difference in status and was mocked as a toad.
"No need to bother with that toad anymore. He's been expelled and won't be able to inherit his title. Someone in the royal house wants to eliminate him," a noble youth declared.
"He got what he deserved for trying to court Princess Zhining, not knowing his place. Even His Majesty the King was enraged," another added.
Lanling frowned slightly and whispered, "Those fools don't realize that if we, the Suo disciples, are expelled today, tomorrow it will be their turn. The royal family's move against the Suo Family is not simply because Suo Lun pursued Princess Zhining, but because the King aims to diminish the power of the noble lords. These noble youths should be our allies, yet they undermine each other."
Suo Ningbing's eyes brightened at Lanling's words. Although her new brother was somewhat naive and bashful, she couldn't deny that his wisdom and vision far surpassed their glib-tongued biological brother, Suo Lun.
"Suo Lun has had many girlfriends in the academy and spent his days among women, so he's quite unpopular with the male students," Suo Ningbing commented. "Of course, due to his promiscuous nature, he's also despised by the girls."
That bastard was like a rat crossing the street, chased by everyone.
Arriving in front of a massive building, Suo Ningbing said softly, "Little brother, wait here in the carriage for a moment. I'll go and find out exactly who wants to expel you and how serious the situation really is."
Lanling nodded, then reached out to help his sister out of the carriage, and at the same time, Ye Jingyu also extended her hand to assist her.
Suo Ningbing was momentarily taken aback but then gently took Lanling's wrist to alight from the carriage.
Her figure was too captivating, and as she bent slightly while stepping down, her curves swayed like willow branches, leaving Lanling speechless with astonishment.
Ye Jingyu caught this and shot Lanling a fierce glare, causing him to blush and quickly avert his gaze.
Suo Ningbing, on the other hand, gave him a sweet smile and glanced at him coyly, almost causing Lanling's heart to flutter uncontrollably.
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