"Of course, Xiu and the others told me everything. Enough with the pleasantries, listen closely..."

"Oh..."

Instantly, Ye Jingyu felt a white radiance flare at the tip of Chi Yi's finger. Then, as it touched his brow, his head swam, and he finally lost consciousness completely...

When he awoke, his mind was flooded with numerous wondrous Soul Arts. However, Chi Yi's figure had long since vanished. Asking Chi Yi Xiu outside, he learned that the old man had already set off to travel the world...

For the remaining few days, Ye Jingyu devoted himself not to practicing martial arts, but to continuously honing the various Soul Arts taught by Chi Yi. He knew that Qin Yunxiao had already reached the Innate Realm back at White Cloud Villa; at that time, killing him would have been as easy as crushing an ant...

Though he had improved significantly, there was no guarantee Qin Yunxiao hadn't progressed too. Even if he hadn't stepped into the Grandmaster Realm, he must be close. If Ye Jingyu relied on martial arts to defeat him, it was nearly impossible. His own strength could, at best, match an ordinary Innate Martial Master. Against a top-tier Innate Martial Master like Qin Yunxiao, he stood no chance—Dugu Qian was the perfect example...

However, his ultimate trump card was the Soul Arts. With this hidden advantage, his chances of winning were quite high...

Today was the penultimate round of the Martial Examination competition. The Sovereign of Shu Yun Country, Luo Xiaofeng, was still absent. He would only make his appearance during the final match...

Since Ye Jingyu, Qin Yunxiao, and Mu Zhan were all affiliated with the four Young Lords, the examiners for this round could not be the Young Lords themselves. In the end, the examiners appointed were the Minister of War, Wang Zhong, and the General Who Guards the Nation, Xiao Geng...

This young General who had achieved nothing but victory during the Rebellion War...

The two matches were still held separately. The examiner overseeing the contest between Ye Jingyu and Qin Yunxiao was none other than General Xiao Geng...

At noon, Ye Jingyu arrived at the arena wearing a white martial arts uniform, his black hair tied back at the nape of his neck, guided by Luo Ruofeng. Luo Ling'er accompanied them.

Today, she wore a flowing white gauze dress, her raven hair braided into several small plaits. Her large eyes blinked, and her supple skin, catching the crisp winter light, held a faint blush, making her look exceptionally beautiful...

Upon seeing this enchanting figure, Ye Jingyu felt a surge of strength course through him, as if he alone commanded all beneath the heavens...

As soon as they reached the competition grounds, they saw a young man in his early twenties seated above the arena. He wore a purple and gold crown, a magnificent brocade robe, and a blue-and-white sash cinched at his waist. The entire bearing of the man radiated vigor, handsome and dashing...

This was Xiao Geng, the youngest General in the entire Shu Yun Country, personally ennobled as the Earl of Zhongwu by Luo Xiaofeng...

When he saw Ye Jingyu and the others approaching, Xiao Geng immediately rose from his seat, walked naturally before them, a confident smile gracing his lips, and spoke, "Xiao Geng pays respects to the Third Young Lord, Princess Yongle..."

Though he paid his respects, he only bowed, not knelt, following the customs of Shu Yun Country. A Great General holding a noble title like himself was permitted to bow to anyone except the Sovereign...

And Princess Yongle was, of course, Luo Ling'er; Luo Xiaofeng had named her this hoping she would remain forever joyful.

"Hehe, Brother Xiao is too kind..." Luo Ruofeng responded with a faint smile, speaking intimately.

Though young, Xiao Geng was deeply trusted by Luo Xiaofeng and commanded the Cloud Army, one of Shu Yun Country's four great legions. His actual power surpassed that of the Young Lords. Any Young Lord aiming for the throne needed to win over Xiao Geng, yet Xiao Geng had always remained loyal only to the Sovereign...

"Third Young Lord, Princess Yongle, please take your seats here. Your humble general has already prepared them..." Xiao Geng replied with an easy smile, his gaze casually sweeping over Princess Yongle, a flash of light momentarily crossing his eyes...

"Hehe, Brother Xiao is so thoughtful, knowing we were coming in advance..." Luo Ling'er’s face bloomed with a captivating smile upon hearing that chairs were ready. Her silver-bell laughter echoed from her lips...

Hearing this pure, clear laughter, everyone felt as if the grime within their hearts had been washed away, their state of mind becoming significantly brighter...

"Hehe, Princess Yongle praises me too highly..." Xiao Geng seemed somewhat captivated, casting another seemingly casual glance at Luo Ling'er, completely ignoring Ye Jingyu trailing behind them...

Seeing Xiao Geng’s air of untouchability, Ye Jingyu didn't take much offense. The man was young, yet already one of the four great Generals of Shu Yun Country—an unparalleled position. If it were him, he might be even more arrogant...

What truly annoyed Ye Jingyu, however, was how Xiao Geng kept glancing at Luo Ling'er. The clear affection in those looks was unmistakable...

This fellow, he isn't even as handsome as I am, yet he dares to set his sights on Ling'er. Damn it, let’s see how I deal with you later...

Jealousy... was hardly an exclusive domain of women...

Just as Luo Ruofeng and Luo Ling'er were settling into their seats and Ye Jingyu was stretching his limbs, another contingent entered the arena: the First Young Lord and his entourage.

Seeing their arrival, Xiao Geng immediately went to greet them. Although he was the Great General Who Guards the Nation, holding authority above the four Young Lords, his inherent status was slightly lower...

The First Young Lord, Luo Haitian, wore a white brocade robe, a faint smile on his face, though his eyes perpetually held a cold glint...

Behind him, Qin Yunxiao was clad in a light blue silk robe, showing none of the seriousness of a combatant; he looked as if he were merely sightseeing. From the moment he appeared, his gaze locked onto Ye Jingyu, filled with undisguised killing intent...

Ye Jingyu met Qin Yunxiao’s gaze directly, his own eyes sharp with murderous intent. But after only a moment, Ye Jingyu shifted his gaze away, because he noticed another pair of eyes watching him from behind Qin Yunxiao—eyes filled with yearning... and a faint trace of worry...