Chapter 41: The Catastrophe of the Heaven’s Kill Pavilion

“Have you heard? A stunning beauty is taking the entrance exam this year!”

“A beauty? How pretty? Prettier than the academy’s top beauties?”

Two senior students chatted idly, sharing gossip. The second one, however, didn’t take it seriously.

The Great Zhou Imperial Academy was the intellectual heart of the entire empire. Any accomplished cultivator, successful official, or wealthy merchant would go to great lengths to establish connections with the academy as a status symbol. The elites of society would stop at nothing to get their children admitted. As a result, almost all of the upper-class youth were enrolled here.

These cultivators, officials, and merchants might not have been particularly good-looking themselves, but thanks to their influence, it wasn’t hard for them to marry beautiful wives. Naturally, their children tended to be quite attractive as well.

Take, for example, General Li’s daughter, Li Changyue, the Honored Prince’s niece, Princess Huailing, or the Grand Secretariat’s granddaughter, Nan Jin. Each was a first-class beauty with countless admirers.

“She’s on a whole different level!” The first student grew excited, frustrated by his inability to properly describe the woman’s charm. “You haven’t seen her. She’s an exceptionally rare beauty—one glimpse, and you’ll never forget her!”

“Hey, hey, she hasn’t even passed the exam yet. How is she already your junior sister?”

“She’s definitely going to pass! If she doesn’t… I’ll help her cheat!”

The other student rolled his eyes. “Do you even know how strict our exams are? Cheat? More like digging your own grave. The Vice Dean personally supervises the exams, and the Dean grades them himself. How exactly do you plan on cheating? With your measly Qi Refining eighth-level cultivation?”

Getting into the empire’s top academy with just Qi Refining eighth-level cultivation was unthinkable in other imperial academies. In their eyes, a Qi Refining cultivator had no right to even apply.

But this was precisely what set the Great Zhou Imperial Academy apart. Great Zhou emphasized law and governance over brute force. Cultivators here weren’t required to excel in combat, which fostered an intense academic atmosphere. Consequently, the academy’s admission standards focused on memory and comprehension rather than cultivation level.

Memory depended on Divine Sense. The stronger one’s Divine Sense, the better their memory.

However, Divine Sense only began developing at the Nascent Soul Stage and could only be trained properly in the mid-to-late Nascent Soul Stage. The academy’s entrance age limit was twenty-five.

If someone could reach mid-to-late Nascent Soul before turning twenty-five, the academy wouldn’t suggest enrolling—they’d recommend joining the Dao Sect as an envoy instead.

Despite his skepticism, the second student grew curious. “What’s this beauty’s name?”

“Jiang Jingxin.”

Passing by, Jiang Li happened to overhear their conversation, and his steps faltered. That name felt incredibly ridiculous.

“You’re talking about a woman with long, silky hair flowing gently, willow-like eyebrows, mesmerizing eyes, and jade-like skin—so breathtakingly beautiful it feels like an illusion, keeping you awake at night?”

The first student’s eyes lit up as if he had achieved enlightenment, finally grasping the full impact of his words.

“Yes, yes! You finally understand!” He was overjoyed but quickly became wary. Was this another competitor?

“Hey, isn’t that the girl you were talking about?”

Following his companion’s gaze, the student saw an ordinary-looking man standing next to his unforgettable beauty. Not only that, but they seemed extremely close!

Jiang Li was surprised to see the Holy Maiden Jingxin standing right before him—without even bothering to change her appearance.

“Human Sovereign Jiang, what a coincidence running into you here. It must be fate!” Holy Maiden Jingxin greeted him with delight.

She had been in a bad mood ever since the upheaval in her sect. Hoping to lift her spirits, she decided to visit places Jiang Li had been to. She hadn’t expected to bump into him here—it was a delightful surprise!

Jiang Li always altered his appearance slightly to avoid recognition. His reputation was too widespread; statues of him could be found all across the Nine Provinces.

Holy Maiden Jingxin, on the other hand, had only traveled outside the Pure Land of the Mortal World for a few years centuries ago. Since she rarely left, few people recognized her, allowing her to use her real appearance without worry.

“So you’re Jiang Jingxin?” Jiang Li found the name suspiciously odd.

“Mhm.” Holy Maiden Jingxin responded softly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. She had, of course, chosen the name with ulterior motives. But who would’ve thought she’d run into Jiang Li here? It was embarrassing!

“What’s your name now?” She didn’t believe Jiang Li would be using his real one.

“Kong Li. As in Kong Rong giving away pears.”

Holy Maiden Jingxin didn’t understand the latter part, but she memorized the name “Kong Li.”

She wanted to be a smart woman—one that her beloved man would admire—so she refrained from asking about the meaning of “Kong Rong giving away pears.”

“Are you here for the entrance exam?” Jiang Li couldn’t understand why she was in the academy.

What was there in the Great Zhou Imperial Academy that would attract a Holy Maiden from the Pure Land of the Mortal World?

Even if there was something worthwhile, she didn’t need to pose as a student.

Holy Maiden Jingxin merely smiled at her fellow examinee, Kong Li, without answering.

Jiang Li coughed. “Just reliving my childhood. That’s all.”

“I remember you entered the academy at twenty. Kong Li, your childhood sure is long.”

Jiang Li wasn’t sure how she knew his admission age, but being exposed so bluntly made him a little embarrassed.

Holy Maiden Jingxin chuckled, letting the matter drop. “Since we’re both taking the exam, why not compete to see who gets first place?”

Jiang Li’s interest was piqued. “Sure. Let’s add a little wager—the loser has to agree to one request from the winner!”

They sealed the bet with a handshake, drawing envious stares from the senior students.

“By the way, has the Mortal World Celestial awakened?”

It had been over two months—she should’ve woken up by now.

“She’s woken up a few times and stays awake longer than before, but she still spends more time asleep than awake. When she does wake, she barely speaks. She just strolls around the Pure Land, stopping at the Immortal Peach Tree the longest.”

“Seems like her condition is still unstable.” Jiang Li added, “I’ve already spoken to Emperor Mengjiang and Emperor Wei. They’ll keep their mouths shut. You guys must keep this a secret too. If word gets out, some old geezer who saw the Mortal World Celestial back in the day might storm into the Pure Land.”

“I understand. But if the Ancestral Master decides to leave, we won’t be able to stop her.”

The two of them casually chatted as they walked off, still in the envious gaze of the senior students.

And then, killing intent bloomed.

“Should we kill that guy?”

“I’ll hire an assassin from Heaven’s Kill Pavilion!”

“I don’t have money.”

“Neither do I.”

“Then forget it.”

“Oh.”

And just like that, in the casual exchange of two penniless students, the catastrophe that would have befallen Heaven’s Kill Pavilion was quietly averted.