The sun rose over the grand walls of *Emperor School*, casting golden light upon its two main sections—the **Ministry Section**, where future scholars and advisors trained, and the **Warrior Section**, where warriors and generals were forged.
Among the thousands of students, two figures stood out:
**Won Zui**, a 17-year-old spear prodigy, known as the fiercest warrior in her class. She had once defeated a *Qi Gathering Stage Level 4* opponent despite being only at **Qi Gathering Stage Level 2**. She was strong, ambitious, and loyal to only one person—her younger brother.
**Won Xiao**, a 14-year-old boy who couldn't cultivate. He had no dantian. No future in battle. Yet, he was feared by those who underestimated him. With **photographic memory** and knowledge beyond his years, he excelled in poetry, painting, alchemy, medicinal plants, refinery, accounting, and strategy.
Despite their differences, they shared a bond that no one could break.
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### **Morning at Emperor School**
The training grounds were filled with students sparring, their weapons clashing as instructors barked orders. In a quiet corner of the school, Xiao sat beneath a tree, flipping through an old scroll.
Zui, fresh from her morning combat drills, approached him, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Still reading?" she asked, smirking.
Xiao glanced up. "What else am I supposed to do? I'm not allowed to punch people like you."
Zui dropped onto the grass beside him. "That's because you'd get killed in one hit."
Xiao rolled his eyes. "And yet, I'm still smarter than you."
Zui smirked. "Oh? Say that again when you can lift a sword without struggling."
Their banter was interrupted by the distant sound of metal clashing. The **selection tournament** for the warrior section had begun. It was a yearly event where students showcased their strength to gain recognition from nobles, generals, and even the emperor's spies.
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### **A Battle to Remember**
As the tournament progressed, students fought fiercely, showcasing their swordplay, footwork, and energy control. But no match had been as intense as the one everyone had been waiting for—
**Won Zui vs. Lei Fan.**
Lei Fan was a top warrior of the school, already at **Qi Gathering Stage 4**. Everyone expected Zui to lose.
She didn't.
With a **single spear thrust**, she shattered Lei Fan's defense, sending him flying out of the ring. Silence fell over the crowd before a deafening cheer erupted.
Xiao, watching from a distance, only smirked. *Zui never loses when it matters.*
But not everyone was celebrating. In the shadows, powerful figures took notice.
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### **A Shadowed Future**
As the tournament ended, a man dressed in the **black robes of the imperial court** approached the school's headmaster. His eyes flickered toward Zui and Xiao.
"The emperor has taken an interest in that boy," he murmured. "Won Xiao… Let's see if he's truly worthy."
The real game was about to begin.