While Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice understood completely and benefited greatly, the other students found the content overly obscure. Even though Madam Ye was teaching the most basic level of Third-Tier knowledge, the significant gap in student abilities was evident. Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice were clearly a cut above the rest and seemed to belong in a different class.

Ye Tinglan’s beautiful eyes scanned the confused students. She had hoped for some pleasant surprises but was ultimately deeply disappointed. Consequently, she made the latter half of the lesson much simpler, starting directly from the Fourth-Tier level. It was only then that she saw understanding dawn on everyone’s faces, and Ye Tinglan secretly sighed.

Gu Zhanting believed he was driving the flourishing development of medicine and alchemy in Great Gan. Theoretically, he was right, but sometimes the world is ruthless. While there might be many more ordinary talents, true geniuses remained few and far between.

“That concludes today’s lesson,” Ye Tinglan said calmly. “Class dismissed. Lu Xingzhou, please stay.”

His open retention didn’t draw much criticism; it was quite normal for the top scholar to receive special favor. Daoist Xuanqing left in a huff, while Anuo made a funny face.

Lu Xingzhou asked, “What do you need me for, Madam?”

Ye Tinglan replied, “Don’t you know?”

Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment. “I did need an excuse to cure my leg, but I don’t know why you’re helping me so much.”

Ye Tinglan said coolly, “You’re too bold… Do you realize you’re openly deceiving the Emperor?”

Lu Xingzhou replied, “I’m deceiving the world. Frankly, this is my private matter. What illness I choose to feign has nothing to do with others. To call it ‘deceiving the Emperor’ is a bit of an overstatement.”

“If the Emperor were that reasonable, many regrettable things wouldn’t happen. At the very least, you should consider Sheng Yuanyao. She holds a public office; knowing and not reporting it is also a form of deceiving the Emperor.”

“Then…” Lu Xingzhou pondered, “Aren’t you also involved, Madam? Why would you wade into these troubled waters yourself?”

Ye Tinglan said, “I value talent. How’s that for a reason?”

“You were warning me just a few days ago, Madam.”

“They don’t conflict,” Ye Tinglan stated. “I might as well be frank. I need to keep you close to observe you, so are you willing to further your alchemy studies with me?”

“Madam, what you’re saying makes me think you came to the Alchemy Academy as an instructor just for me.”

“You can think that… and of course, Lu Nuonuo as well.”

Anuo opened her mouth, then closed it. That old woman is too powerful; it’s better not to provoke her.

Lu Xingzhou asked, “Is this just because of the Yama Hall, or is there another reason?”

“I told you, I value talent.” Ye Tinglan said no more, turning to leave. “I’ll give you time to consider. You can refuse.”

Even long after Ye Tinglan had left and Anuo was pushing Lu Xingzhou back, he still frowned along the way, finding Madam Ye’s attitude very strange. In their several interactions, while she appeared affable and willing to communicate, Lu Xingzhou always sensed a detached aloofness, a condescending gaze from a high position, beneath her seemingly easygoing demeanor. It was like… how she interacted with Gu Zhanting.

Although their attitudes differed, they were fundamentally similar. This wasn’t merely the perspective of someone with superior cultivation; it also related to her status, the nature of her cultivation methods, and more. Her so-called affability felt more like a fabricated concession. She was a woman who had long held a high position, surrounded by loneliness, with few people she could confide in. Perhaps her solitude was no less profound than an emperor’s.

Yet, time and again, she had shown him a different attitude, whether through guidance or caution, which seemed out of place… She should have been emotionless, like looking at a lump on the street. This left Lu Xingzhou with a conflicted feeling. Such a powerful and high-ranking woman, who would casually deceive the Emperor, yet she seemed burdened with worries, her true intentions unclear. The Yama Hall alone shouldn’t be the extent of it; she likely held many more secrets.

“Oh? Why are you two still on the road?” Meng Li asked kindly, encountering them halfway. “Dinner has been served for a while. Don’t you want to eat here? The food at the Alchemy Academy is actually quite good, specially prepared by the alchemists to be beneficial for cultivation.”

“Uh, no, Madam Ye kept me back for a few words,” Lu Xingzhou replied. He then asked, “Are you very familiar with Madam Ye, Instructor Meng? The first time I met her was at your home. Did you invite her to be an instructor this time as well?”

“I suppose so,” Meng Li replied. He actually knew a bit more. She wasn’t someone who would typically take up a permanent position at the Alchemy Academy… In the past, she might occasionally give a lecture or two, purely out of her role as the Imperial Advisor offering guidance and expectations to students. It was impossible to imagine her as a regular lecturer. Yet, this time, she had specifically requested it.

Meng Li knew this must be connected to Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice. Perhaps the Imperial Advisor had truly taken a liking to their talent and wanted to interact with them more to see if they could be absorbed into the Holy Land? But sending an elder would have been sufficient for such a matter. Meng Li truly couldn’t guess why the Imperial Advisor would handle this personally or what her specific intentions were. He could only cautiously offer, “Madam Ye’s cultivation and alchemy skills are both top-notch. Since she has finally agreed to teach at the Alchemy Academy, you should make the most of this opportunity.”

Lu Xingzhou asked, “Could you tell me which sect or prominent family Madam Ye belongs to?”

Ye Tinglan had already explained her identity to Meng Li in detail: “She is the sect leader of the Cloud-Hidden Immortal Sect. This sect has remained hidden from the world for many years, so most people haven’t heard of it. I was only able to invite her out of seclusion because of some old connections from my early years.”

“It sounds like an ancient hidden sect… Perhaps they possess many ancient techniques?”

“That’s right,” Meng Li said, patting Lu Xingzhou’s shoulder and lowering his voice again. “The legacy you possess lacks guidance, making self-study difficult. That’s probably the greatest significance of your coming to the Alchemy Academy… By that logic, she is the most suitable mentor for you; I am not.”

“I understand,” Lu Xingzhou said, bowing sincerely. “Thank you, Instructor.”

“Furthermore, you shouldn’t worry too much about Madam Ye. I can assure you she harbors no ill will towards you. However, malice will come from elsewhere, and that’s where you should be more cautious… I’ve heard some whispers that someone might try to suppress you. It’s best to stay within the academy and not venture out easily. Any conflicts within the academy won’t escalate too much.”

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly. “I’m well aware of that.” The Huo family had one member killed, two imprisoned, and Huo Xingyuan demoted because of him. It would be strange if they did nothing and simply watched him rise. Suppression would be mere child’s play; schemes, setting him against a troublesome faction, or even a prince, were all likely tactics.

“My only fear is if they truly remain inactive, because with my current hand, there’s not much I can play. If they’re planning to make a move, then I’ll have weaknesses to exploit… I’m really looking forward to it.”

Anuo, however, didn’t care about any of that; she just wanted to eat. She swiftly pushed Lu Xingzhou to the dining hall, only to find it wasn’t exclusive to the Alchemy Academy but was shared with the Imperial Academy. Some students from the Imperial Academy, being local, went home for meals, but others who lived farther away ate there. The large dining hall gave Lu Xingzhou the feeling of a university cafeteria. However, they had arrived late; most people had already finished, leaving behind messy tables.

Lu Xingzhou immediately noticed one particular area in the sparsely populated dining hall that was bustling with people. Pei Chuyun sat quietly, eating in small bites, appearing cool and indifferent—the perfect picture of a refined young lady. Many male students lingered nearby, who could have finished their meals long ago, but chose to eat slowly alongside her. Amusingly, despite being surrounded by a crowd, the atmosphere remained quiet. Everyone observed the rule of “no talking during meals,” not wanting to be seen as ill-mannered by their goddess. Watching them was like observing a group performing a mime.

When Lu Xingzhou appeared, many nervously watched Pei Chuyun’s expression. Everyone knew that he had “helped Miss Pei find her relatives”; regardless of how great the favor, they at least shared an acquaintance. No one knew what Miss Pei’s feelings were towards Lu Xingzhou… Surely, a celestial figure like Miss Pei wouldn’t be interested in a cripple, would she?

Pei Chuyun merely glanced at Lu Xingzhou, then rose slightly and bowed. “Greetings, Young Master Lu.”

Lu Xingzhou also offered a polite smile. “Hello, Miss Pei.”

After a brief exchange, Pei Chuyun resumed eating, while Lu Xingzhou and Anuo went to get their food. Their interaction seemed to suggest a simple acquaintance. Several long sighs of relief could be heard in the quiet dining hall. Miss Pei was indeed as pure as ice and jade; the previous rumors about an improper relationship between her and Lu Xingzhou were clearly just jealous gossip!

Suddenly, from a corner, a young man in white scoffed, then stood up and walked directly to Pei Chuyun. “Miss Pei, may I have the honor of an introduction?”

Pei Chuyun replied coolly, “Please forgive Chuyun, but I have no desire to meet someone so rude as to disturb others while they eat.”

“But I am different from them, Miss Pei. You will most likely have to know me.”

Pei Chuyun finally looked up at him. He was indeed a valiant young man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. She cast a glance, then lowered her gaze again. “I thought you were a prince. It turns out you’re not.”

The young man in white was speechless.

Someone nearby awkwardly interjected, “Miss Pei, this is Young Master Qi Tuizhi.”

Qi Tuizhi, the top-ranked new talent.

Over there, Lu Xingzhou and Anuo had finished getting their food. The master and apprentice huddled together, eating and gossiping. “No wonder he said you ‘must’ know him. Sister Anuo is now third among the new talents, so if she wants to challenge the first place, she’d really have to know him.”

Lu Xingzhou simply ate his meal.

Pei Chuyun, however, was somewhat surprised. “I thought all Imperial Academy students were literary scholars from the capital. I didn’t expect there would be sect members from outside as well.”

Qi Tuizhi smiled slightly. “Who says sect members can’t take the Imperial Academy exams? We are all citizens of Great Gan, Miss, you’re being too judgmental… I entered the Imperial Academy last year.”

Anuo translated, “What he really means is that he excels in both literary and martial arts.”

Her voice wasn’t deliberately suppressed, and everyone nearby heard it. Pei Chuyun covered her mouth and chuckled softly, like a blossoming hibiscus, captivating the eyes of many onlookers.

Qi Tuizhi’s intentions were exposed by a child, and a hint of annoyance crossed his face, which he quickly suppressed. He said calmly, “In terms of immortal cultivation, you and I are both among the top three new talents. I wonder if you would be willing to spar a little and exchange insights?”

Pei Chuyun finally finished her last bite of food, elegantly wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief, then apologetically said to Qi Tuizhi, “The previous top-ranked new talent was just hunted down. My father specifically advised me that the New Talent Rankings mean nothing and one should not contend for supremacy, especially those of us who have moved up to fill a spot… We should not pride ourselves on it.”

The onlookers could no longer suppress their smiles, and Qi Tuizhi’s composure finally began to crack. His peripheral vision inadvertently swept over Lu Xingzhou, who was simply eating his meal, seemingly oblivious.

Pei Chuyun blinked her clear, doe-like eyes, her face filled with curiosity. “But Chuyun is quite curious: when Ye Wufeng was suppressing his peers, where was Young Master Qi? I thought you weren’t in the capital, but it turns out you were…”