Today was Mu Rou's 18th birthday. She was in the prime of her youth, yet she felt exceptionally lonely and cold.
Because this year, her clan didn't summon her back to prepare a banquet for her. Many of her old friends also didn't come to congratulate her.
"Xue Yuan, Ke 'er."
Mu Rou was currently in an elegant courtyard. This was the place she shared with two other girls. Upon seeing the two girls, Mu Rou called out.
"Mu Rou, what's the matter?" The two girls turned and asked Mu Rou.
"Today is my birthday, let's have a meal together." Mu Rou said to Xue Yuan and Ke 'er.
"No need, I have some matters to attend to today. You should spend your time by yourself." Xue Yuan smiled.
"I have matters to attend to as well, I won't be accompanying you." Ke 'er replied as well. She didn't even bid farewell and directly walked out of the courtyard. Seeing this scene, Mu Rou sighed in her heart. Although the two of them were smiling, it was merely a smile on the surface. It was obvious that the other party didn't want to have too much contact with her. Mu Rou had long sensed this.
But even so, she still felt a little disappointed. Chu Ling also lived here in the past, and the relationship between the four of them wasn't bad. Especially between her and Chu Ling, Xue Yuan and Ke 'er liked to go along with them, while Chu Ling was cold and indifferent. Mu Rou didn't mind so much, and was very close to Xue Yuan and Ke' er.
Mu Rou also stood up and left, heading towards the Dreamsky Forest, arriving at a familiar location in the City of Illusions. However, she didn't see Qin Wentian for too long, so she left. If it was in the past, she would have waited a little longer. But today, she was absent-minded, and didn't seem to be in the mood to do so.
At this moment, Xue Yuan and Ke 'er returned to their residence. When they left, they received a picture scroll sent over by the Sky Transport Network.
The Sky Transport Network was one of the three largest networks in the Chu Country. At the same time, it was also the largest transportation network in the Chu Country. They reared many demonic beasts, and as long as one was willing to pay the price, they would be able to send items across countries in a short period of time.
After all, many of the youths from the various academies were far away from their hometowns, and would often need to send letters back home.
This painting was sent from the Emperor Star Academy to Mu Rou, but because Mu Rou wasn't at home, the Sky Transport Network passed it to Xue Yuan for her to deliver.
Xue Yuan and Ke 'er were somewhat curious, but they didn't pay too much attention to it. They brought the painting with them as they went to listen to an Elder's lecture. Although they weren't as close to Mu Rou as they were in the past, they still agreed to help deliver the painting to Mu Rou. They wouldn't lose anything that was given to Mu Rou by the Sky Transport Network. The Sky Transport Network was one of the three largest companies in the Chu Country.
In order to send the items to all the countries, this in itself required a terrifying information network that was familiar with every place and every person.
"Xue Yuan, what is this?" asked Chu Ling curiously when she saw the scroll in Xue Yuan's hand.
"Oh, this was sent over by the Sky Transport Network for Mu Rou. It seems that it was sent from the Emperor Star Academy, but the sender didn't leave their name behind." Xue Yuan replied.
"Emperor Star Academy? Open it and take a look. " Chu Ling spoke to Xue Yuan, causing Xue Yuan to hesitate. This didn't seem too good, but upon seeing Chu Ling's frown, she still opened the painting. Momentarily, a marvelous painting appeared before their eyes. Their bodies involuntarily retreated a step, and even the painting fell to the ground.
Earlier, at the instant the painting was opened, they felt a tyrannical aura, as though the painting was about to imprint itself into their souls.
"What's going on?" The people at the side all came over, staring at the miraculous painting on the ground. They could all sense the aura emanating from it. It was as though this painting wasn't dead, but a true expert wielding an ancient halberd, wanting to destroy everything in its path.
"What a marvelous painting, it must be extremely valuable."
"Mhm, if it's someone who loves to paint, they would definitely collect it." The surrounding people all exclaimed in admiration, while Chu Ling snorted, "It's just a painting."
Chu Ling was thinking in her heart, who was it that actually sent such a painting to Mu Rou?
"What are you guys doing?" At this moment, a middle-aged man walked over. He was none other than the teacher for today's lecture. Upon seeing the crowd gathered together, he couldn't help but walk over.
Momentarily, the crowd parted to form a path. The gaze of the teacher landed on the ground, and he also saw the painting.
"Whose painting is this?" The Elder from the Royal Academy asked.
"Xue Yuan's." Someone pointed to Xue Yuan.
"Can you lend it to me for a while?" The Elder asked Xue Yuan, causing an expression of difficulty to appear on Xue Yuan's face. This painting was given to Mu Rou by the Sky Transport Network, and the instant she agreed to pass it to the Royal Academy, she would have to take responsibility for it. The Sky Transport Network had sought their opinion, and they had voluntarily agreed to pass it to the Royal Academy.
"Xue Yuan, in the future, if you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation, you can look for me." The Elder spoke again, causing Xue Yuan's countenance to stiffen. There was no harm in lending it to him. As an Elder of the Royal Academy, it was impossible for him to lose the painting.
"Mhm." Xue Yuan nodded her head. The Elder smiled as he kept the painting. "Today's lecture is temporarily canceled. Everyone, please disperse for now."
After speaking, he took the painting and hurriedly left, causing the other students to click their tongues in wonder. They surrounded Xue Yuan, asking her what that painting was, and why the Elder of the Royal Academy valued it so highly.
With regards to this news, Mu Rou didn't know about it. Even Qin Wentian himself didn't realize the value of the painting.
After Mu Rou returned to her residence, she discovered that Xue Yuan seemed to be more polite to her than before. Not only that, there was a flicker in her eyes, causing her to feel extremely strange. However, she didn't pay too much attention to it, and spent the rest of the day in disappointment.
Her eighteenth birthday was probably the loneliest birthday she had ever had as far as she could remember.
Maybe it was because of the pressure from her clan, but her father, who had always doted on her, didn't invite her back.
Those major characters were too sensitive to matters related to politics. How could they care about her feelings?
The date of the Jun Lin Banquet gradually approached. The Nine Mystical Palace might stand behind the scenes, Luo Qianqiu might be able to contend for the top ranker position, and the Crown Prince of Snowcloud would also come. Chu Tianjiao's authority would only grow more and more stable. At this moment, the friends of Qin Wentian would naturally be disliked.
That day, the youth standing amidst the snowstorm had rejected the 3rd Prince, Chu Tianjiao's request to be friends!
Today, the students of the Royal Academy didn't know that in the Royal Academy, there were many teachers who were in a state of shock because of a painting sent over from the Emperor Star Academy.
Naturally, they didn't know that the painting originated from the Emperor Star Academy. According to the Elder who received the painting, the painting belonged to Xue Yuan, a student of the Royal Academy. Since they already knew the origins of the painting, they naturally wouldn't investigate further.
Today, the Royal Academy decided to display the painting in the Royal Academy. Not only that, they would invite people from all over to view it, especially those from the weaponsmithing world.
This news quickly spread throughout the Royal Capital of Chu, and on the second day, it had already spread throughout the Royal Academy. A painting belonging to a student of the Royal Academy, Xue Yuan, was a priceless treasure. The Royal Academy actually invited people from all over to view it, causing a huge commotion.
However, Xue Yuan felt extremely uneasy in her heart. That painting didn't belong to her, and if this matter was exposed, she would definitely lose all face and prestige.
Xue Yuan thought that now, she could only try to build up a good relationship with Mu Rou. After they became more familiar with each other, she would return the painting to Mu Rou before telling her the truth.
Mu Rou was baffled. She didn't know why Xue Yuan was so cordial towards her today, and even invited her to view the mystical painting that was on display in the academy. However, she was also very curious about this matter, so she followed Xue Yuan to the exhibition hall.
The Exhibition Hall of the Royal Academy was extremely spacious and grand. In the center of the first level, a painting was displayed. Many people stopped to view it, but they had to maintain a certain distance from it.
Near the painting, there were also old men of virtue and prestige. Although they looked old, there was a unique charm in their eyes, as though they were filled with vigor.
"This painting should be a Divine Imprint. Such a humanoid Divine Imprint, it's definitely a revolutionary creation. I wonder which grandmaster created this."
An old man commented, having an extremely high evaluation of this painting.
"If this painting is classified as a Divine Imprint, this should be a initial-grade 3rd-level Divine Imprint. However, the aura it exudes is extremely extraordinary, and I dare to say that this Divine Imprint has never appeared in the Chu Country before." Another person commented, causing the crowd to be stunned. This painting was actually a Divine Imprint.
"A revolutionary creation, priceless."
More and more people commented, and some of them even asked the Elders of the Royal Academy, "Is this painting for sale?"
"You have to ask the person in question." That Elder was none other than Xue Yuan's teacher. His gaze landed on Xue Yuan as he smiled, "Xue Yuan, are you willing to sell this painting?"
Xue Yuan's countenance froze, as she glanced at Mu Rou who was beside her.
"If we were to sell it, the value of the Divine Inscription Painting would be unimaginable to you," Qin Wentian said. That Elder continued, "Also, how did you obtain this painting? Which grandmaster created it?"
Mu Rou also cast a glance at Xue Yuan, feeling somewhat taken aback. Xue Yuan actually possessed such a valuable painting, causing an uproar.
"The grandmasters from the Star River Association have arrived." At this moment, a voice drifted over, as a few silhouettes walked over. Evidently, they were also here for the painting.
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