The sudden voice startled Meng Dongxing, and he turned to see his sister, Meng Qingxue, stepping out of the courtyard.
"Sister, are you okay?" Meng Dongxing's face lit up with joy upon seeing her.
"What could possibly happen to me?" Meng Qingxue shot back coldly. "The only trouble I have is you, running around causing problems all day!"
Meng Dongxing hesitated, then frowned and turned his glare back to Jiang Chen. "Sister, I heard rumors that you became Jiang Chen's maid. What's going on? Did he use some underhanded trick to deceive you? If that's the case, I, Meng Dongxing, will fight him to the end!"
Meng Qingxue sighed, her tone indifferent. "This was my own decision, and it's none of your business. Since you've broken through to the Qi Protection Realm, you should focus on improving yourself. Go to the Lingyun Tower and strive to become an inner academy student instead of embarrassing yourself here!"
Meng Dongxing stared at her incredulously. "Sister, how can you—"
"Enough!" Meng Qingxue interrupted, her eyebrows furrowing. "What, have you grown wings now? Are you refusing to listen to me?"
Meng Dongxing's face flushed red. He turned his gaze back to Jiang Chen and spat venomously, "Jiang Chen, you better not bully my sister! If anything happens to her, even if it costs me my life, I'll never let you go!"
After throwing that final threat, Meng Dongxing cast a hateful glare at Jiang Chen and stomped away.
---
"Jiang Chen, thank you," Meng Qingxue said softly, her tone much gentler now. Her beautiful eyes carried a hint of gratitude as she looked at Jiang Chen.
Even she hadn't expected the Supreme Yin Destiny Body that had troubled her for over a decade to be stabilized so effortlessly by Jiang Chen.
"You're my maid now, so naturally, it's my duty to save you." Jiang Chen waved his hand dismissively, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Life in the outer academy has become a little dull. Should I go to the inner academy to have some fun?"
"You really want to enter the inner academy?" Meng Qingxue asked, her tone carrying a mix of surprise and curiosity. "The inner academy students receive far better cultivation resources. More importantly, the Lingyun Martial Academy holds many treasures left behind by its ancestors."
She continued, her voice dropping slightly as if sharing a secret. "For example, the Sword Mark Hall in the inner academy allows students to comprehend sword intent from ancient traces left by past masters. Many students have made great breakthroughs there."
Meng Qingxue's tone grew more serious. "Also, the Nine Prefectures Martial Tournament of the Great Xia Kingdom is coming up soon. Only inner academy students are eligible to participate. Those who excel in the tournament can earn the right to enter the Yanhuang Martial Academy, the greatest martial holy land in the entire Great Xia Kingdom. Beyond that lies an even vaster world!"
Jiang Chen's eyes gleamed with interest. "Oh? That sounds far more interesting. If that's the case, I'll head to Lingyun Tower and become an inner academy student."
Without further delay, Jiang Chen and Meng Qingxue walked together toward Lingyun Tower, the gateway to the inner academy.
---
At Lingyun Martial Academy, any outer academy student who wished to advance to the inner academy had to undergo a test at Lingyun Tower.
When Jiang Chen and Meng Qingxue arrived, Lingyun Tower was already surrounded by a large crowd of students, all eager to watch the latest challenges.
Among the crowd was none other than Meng Dongxing.
Seeing Jiang Chen approach with his sister, Meng Dongxing's expression darkened. "Jiang Chen, so you're planning to challenge Lingyun Tower?" he sneered.
"That's right," Jiang Chen replied with a faint smile. "The outer academy is boring. I'm planning to go to the inner academy to play around for a while."
His words carried an air of casual arrogance, as though entering the inner academy was nothing more than a game to him.
Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Is he serious? Lingyun Tower is no joke!"
"Yeah! Only those who make it through all the trials can become inner academy students. Many fail after the first level."
"This guy is either incredibly strong or completely insane!"