Princess Anle at the Imperial Academy

Yang An said, “I have to complete the Perfect Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.”

From those fragmented memories,

Yang An had obtained the complete Foundation Establishment technique and also learned that beyond the First Rank Foundation Establishment, there was the Perfect Foundation Establishment. More importantly, he now clearly understood how to forge the Perfect Foundation Establishment.

The so-called First Rank Foundation Establishment

required refining the essence blood of a peak Grade 7 fierce beast, using the spiritual energy within its blood to temper one’s own body!

As for the Perfect Foundation Establishment,

it demanded refining the essence blood of five peak Grade 7 fierce beasts to temper oneself. These five beasts couldn’t be chosen at random—they had to represent the five elemental attributes of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth respectively.

At this stage,

even achieving the Perfect Foundation Establishment wasn’t guaranteed.

There’s an old saying: “The Dao is fifty parts, Heaven changes forty-nine, and humans seize the one.”

Heaven and earth are inherently imperfect.

If all things were to pursue absolute perfection, it would go against the natural order.

The Perfect Foundation Establishment is no exception. Even if one gathers essence blood from the five elemental fierce beasts, only about one or two out of ten can successfully solidify the Perfect Foundation Establishment.

Therefore, a Foundation Pill is also needed to assist,

increasing the chances of success.

The higher the grade of the Foundation Pill, the greater the probability of achieving the Perfect Foundation Establishment.

Once the Perfect Foundation Establishment is completed,

even without forming a spiritual manifestation,

the body will undergo a deeper transformation, and strength could increase by four to five thousand jin (approximately 2,000 to 2,500 kilograms). At that point, even without a divine manifestation, one would be strong enough to contend with ordinary Grade 9 warriors.

Yang An muttered to himself, “The Red-scaled Horned Python my brother-in-law mentioned last time is a peak Grade 7 fierce beast, and it seems to be Fire attribute—definitely top-tier Foundation Establishment material. Just not sure if brother-in-law can take it down.”

By now, the sun had fully risen.

Sunlight streamed through the window. Yang An glanced at Manman, who was drooling while gnawing on the bedsheet, stretched lazily, and quietly slipped out without waking her.

He was preparing to find his brother-in-law, Li Yan, to discuss this matter.

Just as he stepped outside,

Yang An saw Li Yan lifting a stone lock to practice his strength. Thanks to Jiang Chunxi’s intervention to reconnect his meridians, combined with taking a 150-year-old Black Jade Lotus,

Li Yan’s waist injury had healed after a few days.

His realm had also successfully broken through to Grade 7.

Under the early morning sunlight, his bronze skin gleamed. Muscles coiled and bulged like a dark yellow iron tower. He tossed a thousand-jin stone lock five or six zhang (approximately 16 to 20 meters) high and caught it with one hand!

His movements were vigorous and powerful!

Noticing Yang An approaching, Li Yan put down the stone lock and smiled, saying, “Second brother, you’re up early as always.”

They were family, so no need for formalities.

After greeting “Good morning,”

Yang An recounted everything about the Perfect Foundation Establishment to Li Yan in detail.

Li Yan had never heard of the Perfect Foundation Establishment before.

At first, he was stunned, then his surprise turned to joy as he laughed heartily, “It’s one thing not to have known about the Perfect Foundation Establishment before, but now that you do and have this determination, your brother-in-law will definitely give you his full support.”

That was Li Yan.

The family’s most reliable pillar.

Yang An grinned, “Thanks a lot, brother-in-law. Look—the snow on Yunling Mountain has already melted. Since the day is still young, let’s hurry and head into the mountain.”

Yang An was about to go back inside and quickly pack the iron bow and leather armor and other gear.

Li Yan stopped him: “Er Lang, stay home and study well. The academy exam is just a few days away. In these last days, read more poetry. I’m not saying you have to write masterpieces, but at least don’t write about snow again…”

The dark past was brought up once more.

Yang An’s face immediately darkened.

He wished he could go back a few years and strangle his younger self. This time, he was determined to write a piece that would stun everyone at the academy exam—a timeless masterpiece.

To wipe away the shame of the past!

Li Yan paused, then added, “Also, that Red-scaled Horned Python is way too ferocious. Your cultivation isn’t strong enough yet. If you go, you’ll only be a burden. Better let your brother-in-law go alone.”

Me?

A burden?

Yang An glanced at the heavy stone lock in Li Yan’s hand and asked, “Brother-in-law, how heavy is that stone lock you’re holding?”

Li Yan replied, “It weighs about eighteen hundred jin.”

No sooner had he spoken than Yang An lifted it with one hand, snatching the stone lock from him. It was even larger than a millstone.

Mimicking Li Yan’s earlier movements, Yang An’s arm muscles and sinews tightened as he swung it up a couple of times, then hurled it with all his might. The stone lock, even bigger than a millstone by several circles, flew up five or six zhang high, whistling through the air!

But that wasn’t all!

As the stone lock fell, Yang An didn’t dodge or flinch. Instead, he struck a “King Lifting the Cauldron” pose, arms taut, palms pushing upward!

There was a loud “bang!”

He actually stopped the stone lock—over eighteen hundred jin—mid-fall with a raw, unyielding force!

Li Yan was speechless.

He put the stone lock back on the ground.

Yang An, not even out of breath, dusted off the dust on his sleeve and said casually, “Brother-in-law, how was that?”

“Er Lang, be honest—how much strength do you really have now?” Li Yan swallowed hard.

Yang An answered coolly, “Not much, about fifteen hundred jin. But with my innate talent, it’s around five thousand jin.”

He added silently in his mind:

If I fully unleash the “Fate Defying Tai Sui” ability, it’d be about fifteen thousand jin.

Li Yan: …

Impressive, no doubt.

He could even say it was earth-shattering.

Li Yan had never heard of a martial artist with five thousand jin of strength before even condensing a divine image!

When did he ever have five thousand jin of strength? Probably not until mid-level ninth rank at least?

Suppressing his shock, Li Yan was about to praise Yang An properly, but seeing the brat’s smug face, he couldn’t help but give him a smack on the back of the head.

“Stop showing off to me!”

Hearing the noise outside,

Yang Ning rubbed her eyes and came out of the master bedroom. Seeing the two standing in the courtyard, she asked curiously, “What’s going on? Such a racket so early in the morning?”

Li Yan’s face was full of excitement.

He was about to tell her that their Yang family had produced an extraordinary martial prodigy.

But Yang An beat him to it, clutching the back of his head and complaining to his sister,

“Sis, brother-in-law hit me!”

The drowsiness vanished from Yang Ning’s face instantly. Without hesitation, she summoned a rolling pin in her hand, her eyes sharp and fixed on her husband.

Li Yan: !!!

Half an hour later,

A bruised and battered Li Yan, together with Yang An, bought two curly-haired green-maned horses and rode out of Yunzhou City, galloping straight toward Yunling Mountain.

…

At the Imperial Academy,

In the elegant hall reserved for distinguished guests.

Though it was winter, the day was warm and sunny. The courtyard was lush with green grass and blooming flowers, jade-colored stones reflected in the clear pond—a scene of utmost elegance.

Inside the main hall.

Zhang Wenpu, the Doctor of the Imperial Academy in Yunzhou, donned in his scholar’s hat and with a long beard flowing down to his chest, stood respectfully with his hands folded. He asked politely, “Princess, what brings you to the Imperial Academy at such leisure?”

The Anle Princess, her face veiled in crimson gauze, retorted, “Are you implying that I, the princess, am not welcome here?”

“Princess, you jest. You are the brightest jewel of the Great Xia. Surely you may come whenever you wish. Your presence graces our humble academy,” Zhang Wenpu replied with a smile.

“No need for pleasantries,” the princess said coolly. “I have come this time with a matter that requires your assistance, Doctor Zhang.”

“Please, Your Highness, do speak,” Zhang Wenpu said.

Qin Guo’er lifted her eyes and signaled to Lan.

Lan understood immediately and stepped forward, bowing deeply to the Grand Tutor. “Greetings, Grand Tutor. I have a cousin who will be taking the Yunzhou provincial exams in a few days. I humbly request that you reserve him a place at the Imperial Academy.”

The so-called cousin was none other than Yang An.

Zhang Wenpu, who oversaw the imperial examinations in Yunzhou, could easily arrange such a favor with a mere nod.

Yet he did not agree outright.

Instead, he asked Lan, “Is this cousin of yours a descendant of military merit?”

Lan answered, “He is of commoner origin.”

Zhang Wenpu’s face darkened. “If he is a commoner, then to enter the Imperial Academy, he must pass the provincial exam. By regulation, only those ranked within the top thirty qualify for admission.”

“Then let my cousin pass the exam!” Lan said boldly. “Aren’t you the chief examiner for Yunzhou this year, Doctor Zhang? Surely you can decide who passes.”

Zhang Wenpu thought to himself.

If the candidate were from a military family, he could bypass the exam, quietly enroll as an auditor for a few months, then arrange to expel a candidate from a humble background and transfer that student’s enrollment to him.

Such a favor would save face for the princess.

But since he was a commoner,

gaining entry through the exam was far more difficult.

Every year, the top thirty places in the provincial exam were effectively sold off a month in advance—bought up by powerful local clans and officials.

Reserved for their own kin or to curry favor with others.

Now, with the exam only days away, it was impossible to change the arrangements at the last minute.

To do so would offend the local gentry and officials.

Yet not to do so would risk offending the Anle Princess.

Zhang Wenpu hesitated briefly, then reasoned that the princess would only remain in Yunzhou for two or three months until winter passed; come spring, she would return to the capital.

But the local aristocracy would remain.

A strong dragon cannot suppress the local snake.

He could not afford to offend the “local snake,” only the “dragon crossing the river.”

After a moment’s reflection on the stakes,

Zhang Wenpu straightened his back, standing tall and upright like bamboo and pine. With righteous dignity, he swept his sleeves apart and clasped his hands behind his back. “That cannot be allowed. The imperial examinations are the foundation of the state—how can they be trifled with? If you seek to bypass the exam, Princess, you have come to the wrong person!”

“How dare you speak to the princess in such a tone?”

Lan’s eyes turned icy, her full chest trembling.

She was about to draw her sword.

Princess Anle raised her hand gently to stop her. Even before arriving at the Yunzhou Imperial Academy, she already knew that the academy had completely fallen under the control of the powerful noble families.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered to come here in person.

Her phoenix-like eyes lifted slightly.

Qin Guo’er sized up Zhang Wenpu from head to toe and said lightly, “Doctor Zhang, you do have a certain integrity about you.”

Zhang Wenpu bowed proudly. “Thank you for the Princess’s compliment. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. Should the Princess wish to tour the academy, I will arrange for someone to guide you.”

“There’s no rush for sightseeing.”

Princess Anle’s gaze fell on the jade-green tea table before her. With a faint, knowing smile, she said, “Such fine jade, it has the effect of calming the mind and soothing the spirit. Sitting by this tea table while cultivating would surely accelerate one’s progress. Doctor Zhang, this tea table must be quite valuable, yes?”

Zhang Wenpu thought she was simply admiring the tea table.

Not one to fuss over material things, he said, “Since the Princess likes it, I shall present it to you as a gift.”

“Doctor Zhang, you really are generous. Such a treasure given away so easily.” Princess Anle smiled. “It seems the position of a doctor at the Imperial Academy is truly lucrative. When I first arrived in Yunzhou, someone even reported to me, pleading that I inform His Majesty that there is corruption within the academy — selling admission slots to students.”

“I was skeptical at first, but now I think it might be worth investigating.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenpu’s proud expression stiffened.

But knowing he had the backing of a powerful clan behind him, he hesitated before saying, “Princess… if you wish to investigate, then so be it…”

Qin Guo’er pretended to be pondering. “Of course, an investigation must be done. But who should conduct it? The Court of Justice is buried under a mountain of cases and can hardly manage. The Ministry of Justice is a bunch of drunkards and incompetents, always overwhelmed…”

“Ah, I know! Let’s call the Hundred Riders.”

“I heard the Hundred Riders have been rather idle lately.”

The moment the words “Hundred Riders” were spoken, sweat poured down Zhang Wenpu’s forehead.

The so-called Hundred Riders were the veteran soldiers who had followed the Great Xia’s founding emperor through countless battles, earning glorious merits.

After the realm was pacified, these old warriors, having no children or heirs, refused to retire in comfort.

Out of pity for their loyalty and bravery, the founding emperor specially appointed them as imperial guards, directly under the emperor’s command, independent of the Twelve Guards!

They were divided into two units: the Dragon Vanguard and the Martial Vanguard.

The Dragon Vanguard guarded the imperial city and protected the emperor.

The Martial Vanguard oversaw the realm, executing justice swiftly and decisively!

Any official targeted by the Hundred Riders, once proven guilty, no matter how high their rank, would face the ruin of their entire family!

Zhang Wenpu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and forced himself to say, “This matter… shouldn’t warrant the involvement of the Hundred Riders. Besides, they answer only to the emperor. Princess, surely you have not called upon the Hundred Riders…”

Before Zhang Wenpu could finish,

*Clack.*

Lan, standing beside Princess Anle, sneered and pulled a token from her waist, tossing it onto the table in front of Zhang Wenpu.

Zhang Wenpu picked it up and looked closely.

Immediately, his face drained of color.

The token was jet black as ink, with the words “Hundred Riders” written in flowing script on the front. On the back, the name of the Martial Vanguard was inscribed in gilded characters.

Seeing the inscription clearly…

Clutching the scorching token in his hand, Zhang Wenpu didn’t hesitate for a moment and knelt down with a thud. “Princess! Suddenly, I feel like everything can be negotiated!”

Corruption was never a one-man affair.

Ever since the Holy Deposed Emperor declared himself sovereign,

the political landscape had rotted to such an extent—not only was the Imperial Academy in Yunzhou riddled with corruption, but even the academies in the capital, and indeed throughout the entire realm, were no different.

When Zhang Wenpu first entered officialdom,

he was once full of youthful ambition.

Determined to serve the country and its people, loyal to the monarch and patriotic, he vowed to remain pure like a lotus blossoming unstained from the mud, despite the filth of the political arena.

But stepping into this realm of fame and fortune,

he came to realize that lotuses grow in the muck.

Daily, they draw nourishment from the foulest sludge and filth. Even if their outward appearance is radiant and pristine, their core is soaked in decay, impossible to cleanse.

Moreover, the character for “official” (官) consists of two mouths stacked vertically.

If you don’t take bribes, how do you pay tribute to your superiors? How would they favor you? If you don’t take bribes, where does the wealth come from to reward your subordinates? How would they trust you?

The buying and selling of academy admissions

was a matter where “no matter how light the scale, once measured, it’s a thousandfold too heavy”—a tangled web of connections from top to bottom. Who would care?

Who would dare to investigate?

Everyone pretended not to see, and so peace endured.

Now, with Princess Anle suddenly wanting to “turn the tables,” how could Zhang Wenpu bear it?

If the matter escalated,

and the Hundred Riders truly arrived, the great families and regional officials had their own resources to maneuver. They would simply throw out a few scapegoats to escape.

But what about him?

Where could he find scapegoats?

As a Doctor of the Imperial Academy, he was the first to be sacrificed by the powerful!

At the moment of life and death,

Zhang Wenpu’s integrity vanished in an instant.

Kneeling on the ground, he wore a face full of sycophancy and said, “Your Highness, everything can be settled. It’s just about the rankings, right? I’ll take responsibility—Master Yang will definitely be among the top thirty.”

Qin Guo’er said nothing in response.

She merely tilted her head slightly, glancing at the calligraphy and paintings hanging in the hall. “These paintings look quite fine, seemingly the work of a master. They must be worth a considerable sum.”

Zhang Wenpu gritted his teeth, “Top ten…”

“Oh, this brazier on the zither table—I’ve seen it before. It must be an antique from the palace of the last two dynasties.”

“First rank! Top three!”

“No more than that!”

“Please, Princess, spare this old man’s life!”

Zhang Wenpu knelt on the ground, banging his head against the floor three times—bang, bang, bang—his forehead’s cracked, old skin breaking open.

Bright red blood

trickled down from his brow, over the bridge of his nose, and dripped onto the floor.

Qin Guo’er thought to herself,

“Top three is about right. It lets that scoundrel enjoy a few days of success, but not enough for him to truly top the examination. In the end, I still win the bet.”

“Hmph! You filthy dog!”

“Thinking you can beat me, even daring to do shameless things to me!”

“Keep dreaming!”

“From now on, just wait to kneel and lick my feet every day!”

Princess Anle sneered coldly in her heart, while her expression remained unchanged as she said, “Lan, hurry up and thank Doctor Zhang.”

Lan bowed slightly, “Thank you, Doctor Zhang.”

“Don’t dare accept thanks from the Princess!”

Lucky to have snatched a life, Zhang Wenpu’s robe was already soaked through with sweat as he cupped the token in his hands.

Kneeling, he stepped forward respectfully and handed the token back to Lan.

Lan took the token and carefully wiped it several times with a handkerchief before tucking it back at her waist. Her voice was cold as she said, “If this matter reaches a fourth person’s ears, I believe Dr. Zhang understands the consequences.”

Zhang Wenpu kowtowed, “I, your humble servant, have not seen the princess today!”

Princess Anle said, “Rise.”

“Thank you, Princess!”

He knew his life was spared.

Zhang Wenpu relaxed, nearly exhausted, and got to his feet.

The matter of Yang Anguo’s admission to the Imperial Academy was now set in stone.

Next, they had to help him lay the foundation for cultivation.

Princess Anle thought to herself that the perfect foundation materials were still missing the peak seventh-grade fire-element fierce beast’s essence blood and a foundation-laying pill.

The fire beast’s blood was already secured.

After posting the reward notice yesterday, those fools from the Cui family surprisingly accepted the task and were willing to contribute the beast’s blood.

Now, only a top-grade foundation pill was needed.

Qin Guo’er was preparing to head to the Imperial Academy’s alchemy hall to try her luck and see if anyone there could refine a top-grade foundation pill.

If not, they would have to think of another solution.

Princess Anle sighed.

Lan helped her to her feet, when suddenly a cold, clear voice came from outside the door.

“Doctor, you have an honored guest. It’s really inconvenient right now. Please, Chief, wait a moment longer.”

“Wait for what? I don’t have time!”

That voice was so familiar.

Who was it again? Qin Guo’er didn’t even have time to think of the answer.

Clatter.

The door was pushed open from outside, and the wind and snow poured in.

Dressed in flowing white robes, like a fairy from the Moon Palace, Jiang Chunxi entered gracefully, her cloak dusted with snow. Behind her followed a personal attendant, Keke, cradling a jade flute.

Princess Anle’s phoenix-like eyes flickered with surprise.

After Jiang Chunxi stepped in, she saw Qin Guo’er in a red palace dress, who suddenly came to a halt.

Neither Qin Guo’er nor Jiang Chunxi had expected to meet each other here.

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