As the explanation concluded, the king let out a sigh of relief. "Then this king will grant you two months to familiarize yourself with the academy. How does that sound?" he asked.
Shu Fang's mouth twitched slightly as she glanced at the expressionless Ling Wei, then turned back to the king. "Hear me, I can only leave this academy when I feel like leaving; I won't involve myself with anything royalty," she replied.
Gasps of shock rippled through the assembly, with the exception of Yin Lian, who remained silent.
"May this king know the reason behind Lady Fang's rejection?" the king inquired, curiosity replaced by a hint of annoyance.
Shu Fang felt frustration bubbling inside her. "I am a nature cultivator, but you don't understand... I can't actually cultivate," she said.
Ling Wei smiled lightly at Shu Fang's plight.
Yin Lian raised her brows slightly, intrigued.
Murmurs erupted among the gathered nobles, who were taken aback by Shu Fang's revelation. The king pointed sharply at Shu Fang and then at Elder Tang. "Explain this situation immediately!"
Elder Tang stood up quickly and bowed. "Your Majesty, please remain calm... this... this revelation is sudden for us as well," he pleaded.
"Hmph! She's part of your academy, yet you were completely unaware of this? How is that even possible?" the king slammed his hand down on the table, his anger palpable.
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself." Another elder rose, bowing slightly. "This student, Shu Fang, is destined for greatness. As long as she is alive, she will not be without potential," he asserted.
"Your Majesty," another elder chimed in. "From my own understanding, I believe that this student, Shu Fang, is a golden nature cultivator."
The eyes of everyone present widened in shock, while Shu Fang's lips twitched in annoyance.
"Good observation," Ling Wei murmured, her voice low yet audible to Shu Fang, who responded with a glare that could have pierced through steel.
Yin Lian's attention was fixed solely on Shu Fang from beginning to end, and she quickly noticed the silent communication between the two. She clenched her fist tightly.
The king's anger slowly faded. "Tell me something, Elder Xu," he said.
"Your Majesty, I have conducted extensive research on Nature Cultivators, and in the course of my studies, I stumbled upon an ancient book that contained valuable information regarding Golden Nature Cultivators. According to this text, a Golden Nature Cultivator develops a golden body upon reaching a certain stage in their cultivation. If they haven't achieved that remarkable stage yet, their hair and eyes will transform into gold, signifying their progress in cultivation. Looking at Student Shu Fang's golden hair, it confirms the accuracy of the contents of the book I studied." He explained, casting a glance at Shu Fang. "Student Shu Fang, will you remove your veil and allow everyone to see your eyes to validate my claims?" he said in an authoritative tone.
Shu Fang frowned, about to refuse, but Ling Wei held her hand under the table and offered her an assuring smile. Taking a deep breath, she removed her veil, revealing her breathtaking beauty.
As the onlookers beheld her radiance, heartbeats quickened – each of the four princes exchanged glances, an undeniable desire awakening for the beauty that now captivated them.
Shu Fang opened her eyes, and for just a moment, they flashed gold before returning to a striking transparent golden eyes. Gazing into those enchanting eyes sent chills racing down everyone's spine, even the king's.
"Indeed," Yin Lian murmured.
Shu Fang wasted no time covering her face again with her veil, concealing her beauty once more. A palpable wave of relief swept through the crowd, faces relaxing as they sighed quietly.
"You have witnessed it," Elder Xu continued speaking. "This transformation is perplexing. I don't know which stage one must reach to attain it, but since Student Shu Fang has already undergone this transformation, it suggests that the golden hair and eye transformation isn't a significant feat for a Golden Nature Cultivator. As for the golden body... only a god can achieve that," he explained.
"Idiot," Shu Fang thought inwardly.
"Your Majesty, I read that the Golden Nature Cultivators always face difficulties during their cultivation, as it's quite painful for them when they cultivate like elemental cultivators. Some cannot even endure it, which can lead to the destruction of their cultivating core or even death for the Golden Cultivator. In my opinion, Student Shu Fang was unaware of this, so I believe she couldn't bear the pain and chose to give up on cultivation. However, giving up does not mean that the Golden Cultivator is crippled; that's not true. The power of the Golden Cultivator will unleash by itself at the most critical moment, but the consequences are severe, as a careless move can result in the death of the Golden Nature Cultivator."
The king nodded. "So that's how it is," he said, his mood lightening. "This king will leave her in your care then."
"I will live up to His Majesty's expectations," Elder Xu bowed once again and took a seat.
Queen Yin Lian. "The king called after giving Elder Xu a nod and then faced the silent Yin Lian". The Hermen City hasn't seen a Nature Cultivator in a very long time; I hope Her Majesty won't make things difficult for this king. "he said in a slightly trembling voice".
All eyes turned to Yin Lian.
She sighed and waved her hand dismissively. "I can consider that, but only if you agree to exchange her for someone else," she said in a gentle yet commanding tone.
The king raised his brows, his happiness evident. "Has she taken a fancy to one of my sons? This is wonderful! This is wonderful!" he thought eagerly. "Queen Yin Lian, who do you wish to take?" he asked with a smile.
Ling Wei and Shu Fang exchanged glances, both seeming to think the same thing, their brows furrowed.
"He is a man, and I would like to take him with me," Yin Lian stated.
"Haha! Her Highness has found someone who has captured her attention! This king won't object; I shall betroth him to you!" The king announced with high spirits.
Shu Fang and Ling Wei's brows knitted even more.
"Well... the person I want to take with me... his name is... Han Jun!" Yin Lian declared.
...
*The Academy Library, First Floor...*
The library hall was dimly lit, but Han Jun had no trouble seeing amidst the towering shelves filled with books. The scent of aged paper and polished wood lingered in the air, mingling with the faintest trace of dust that danced in the light beams filtering through the high windows. Rows upon rows of books reached toward the ceiling like sentinels, their spines displaying colors and titles that beckoned for attention. It was a vast cathedral of knowledge, each book a treasure waiting to be discovered.
In the heart of this literary sanctuary, Han Jun stood amidst the labyrinth of shelves, his gaze fixed on the endless sea of volumes before him, lost in thought. "So many books! How will I collect them? Do I take them one by one, or can I carry them all at once? If someone sees me, the consequences would be unimaginable," he murmured to himself.
Suddenly, he felt a light weight on his back. A delicate hand wrapped around his neck, and slender legs encircled his waist, releasing a sweet fragrance that filled his senses. "I miss you already, husband," Li Na's soft voice whispered against his ear.
As she shifted against him, Han Jun caught a glimpse of her fair thigh as she wrapped her legs tighter, sending a thrill through him. Unable to resist, he brushed his hand against her leg. "You followed me here? Did anyone see you?" he asked, concern etched on his forehead.
"No," Li Na replied with a playful smile, her hand slipping inside his clothing, feeling and rubbing his firm chest. Her mouth teased his neck, and the intoxicating scent of her body enveloped him, igniting his desires.
His grip on her thigh tightened as he abruptly turned her around, pulling her to the front. "It won't be much fun if you do it alone," he murmured, holding her waist firmly and leaning in for a kiss. His left hand wandered over her body as heat enveloped them both. The atmosphere grew thick with passion, and in a moment of urgency, he pulled her against the nearest bookshelf, deepening the kiss.
As Han Jun touched the ornate book pillar, a deep crack began to spread slowly across its surface. One by one, the other pillars in the grand library started to crack as well.
Completely unaware of the strange phenomena occurring around him, Han Jun shifted his hand away from the pillar and, in a moment of impulse, grabbed Li Na's waist once again, using his left hand to massage her breast through her clothing.
Just as Han Jun was overwhelmed by a surge of desire, a sudden flash of light erupted between them. An unseen force separated them violently, sending Li Na sprawling backward and leaving Han Jun suspended in the air.
Li Na hit the stone pillar hard, the impact causing her to vomit blood as she felt her bones being compressed by something unseen. Blood trickled from her lips, but she ignored the searing pain radiating through her body and focused on Han Jun, who appeared to have lost consciousness high above. "Hus... husband!" she called out, desperate to reach him, but an unseen force pinned her to the ground, rendering her immobile. Her vision began to blur, and she succumbed to the darkness as she lost consciousness.
In the midst of the chaos, the countless books in the library floated out from their shelves, surrounding Han Jun like a swirling storm. If one were to count them, there would be more than ten thousand books.
One by one, the books opened on their own, the pages fluttering as if stirred by an invisible wind. Suddenly, a brilliant multicolor light erupted from Han Jun's body, and a colossal book, towering as high as a palace gate and large enough to resemble a grand entrance, emerged from within him.