Volume 1: Femme Fatale Chapter 62: Her Majesty the Queen Personally Arrives

"Gale Step!"

As he executed the technique, Jiang Hao's figure surged like a rising gale. His speed multiplied instantly, moving with the sweeping momentum of wind driving away clouds, rendering him completely elusive.

"Void-Breaking Slash!"

With a single sweep of Jiang Hao's sword, the void-shattering strike cleaved through the air, instantly obliterating the massive boulder before him into fine dust.

Following this rapid sequence of attacks, Jiang Hao put away the Immortal-Slaying Sword and swiftly circulated his spiritual energy to begin condensing spiritual talismans.

Within mere breaths, three spiritual talismans took shape at a visible speed, which he then swiftly linked together under his precise control.

"Bewitching Formation, gather!"

At Jiang Hao's resounding shout, a spiritual formation brimming with immense spiritual power rose from the ground. The space within was wreathed in mist, every inch radiating an eccentric allure that left the mind dazed and disoriented.

"In less than a month, you've actually managed to coordinate this combination of moves so seamlessly, and even drastically shortened the setup time for the Bewitching Formation."

"You raspy brat, you are progressing remarkably fast!" Feng Ling'er praised without a hint of withholding.

"That's only because I have such a great master teaching me!" Jiang Hao put on a flattering smile, though inwardly he felt a sharp pang of heartache: "It's just a pity for my ninety spiritual qi pills, thirty blood-recovery pills, and even the Hundred Spirits Dew I had prepared for Caiyun—they've all been used up."

"Oh, right! Having repeatedly set up spiritual formations these past few days, my soul-restoring pills are also completely exhausted." Thinking of this, Jiang Hao could not help letting out a sigh: "One could say that all those medicinal pills Yu Mei gave me have now been completely squandered by me."

Feng Ling'er saw right through Jiang Hao's thoughts and teased, "Be content, you brat. Just go back and have your Yu Mei replenish your stock later."

"Master, don't talk nonsense!" Jiang Hao's cheeks flushed slightly.

Yet, just as Feng Ling'er had said, with Qin Yu Mei around, Jiang Hao truly wouldn't lack medicinal pills in the future; after all, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion specialized precisely in trading pills.

"Brat, the benefits you've gained from this month of arduous training go far beyond just improvements in spells and spiritual formations." Feng Ling'er pointed at Jiang Hao and slowly continued, "Presumably, your cultivation base has also made some progress by now, hasn't it?"

"Master, truly nothing can be hidden from you." Jiang Hao chuckled and replied, "Over the past few days, I've vaguely sensed signs of a breakthrough in my cultivation."

"Heh, otherwise why did you think you could wield the Immortal-Slaying Sword for the duration of a cup of tea?" Feng Ling'er chuckled softly, then admonished, "However, regarding cultivation matters, impatience must be strictly avoided. Letting nature take its course is always the supreme strategy."

"Mm, this disciple understands," Jiang Hao nodded in acknowledgment.

Although only three days remained before the start of the Azure Cloud Convention, Jiang Hao felt immensely satisfied with the fruits of his arduous cultivation.

***

Jiang Hao knew that without his master's meticulous guidance, let alone pushing his spells to the peak realm, even reaching the threshold of mastery would have been an unattainable dream.

"Someone is coming, your master is no longer convenient to speak." Feng Ling'er suddenly reminded, and abruptly fell silent.

Just as a trace of doubt arose in Jiang Hao's heart, the familiar voice of Nangong Yingying echoed from outside the immortal cave...

"Jiang Hao, hurry and come out! My sister has arrived at Dragon Gate Academy!"

Before her words fully faded, Nangong Yingying had already appeared before Jiang Hao.

"Her Majesty the Queen?" Jiang Hao asked with a trace of astonishment, stepping forward to inquire, "What brings Her Majesty the Queen to the academy?"

Nangong Yingying caught her breath and replied, "I forgot to tell you, before the start of every previous Azure Cloud Convention, my sister always comes to Dragon Gate Academy to inspect the disciples' cultivation progress."

"Right now, my sister is already in our back mountain forbidden grounds. Jiang Hao, come with me quickly!" With that, Nangong Yingying grabbed Jiang Hao's hand and dashed out of the cave dwelling.

"Nangong Yingying, why are you in such a rush?" Jiang Hao asked.

"Can I not be in a rush? The disciples of the Dragon Gate Roll are all gathered there right now, and you're the only one missing!" Nangong Yingying replied while accelerating her pace.

"What is the meaning of this? What are we going to do? Tell me, Nangong Yingying, can you speak clearly?" Jiang Hao's curiosity grew increasingly intense.

"Aiya! You'll know when you get there!"

...

When Jiang Hao was dragged by Nangong Yingying to the plaza in the back mountain forbidden grounds, the disciples on the Dragon Gate Roll were already waiting there.

Everyone turned their gazes in unison as the two appeared, causing Nangong Yingying's face to flush crimson as she instinctively released Jiang Hao's hand.

"Hehe!" Jiang Hao gave an awkward chuckle, and facing those familiar faces, he found himself momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of how to begin.

At this moment, Her Majesty Queen Nangong Xue, dressed in casual attire, stood loftily in the center of the crowd. Beside her stood Vice Dean Sun Ping, Elder Lin Feng, and a masked man.

Today, Nangong Xue's attire was not as ornate as her imperial robes, yet it exuded an air of carefree elegance. Her dark garments outlined her slender figure, displaying her grace to absolute perfection.

Her long hair cascaded freely over her shoulders, gently stirred by the breeze like flowing silk, appearing exceptionally natural. Despite wearing casual clothes, her noble aura remained undiminished, radiating an invisible majesty that compelled everyone around her to cast looks of reverence involuntarily.

Only Xu Changfeng stood at the very front of the disciples, gazing at Nangong Xue with an infatuated look, though the latter seemed long accustomed to it.

***

"Yingying, I never expected that after a month apart, you and Young Master Jiang would have become so close?" Nangong Xue smiled as she walked forward.

"Sister! I didn't... It's nothing like what you're thinking between us..." Nangong Yingying's cheeks burned red, and she dared not raise her head.

"Oh?" Nangong Xue smiled faintly and asked, "Then tell your sister, what kind of relationship is it between the two of you?"

"Sister! You're teasing me again!" Nangong Yingying felt overwhelmingly shy, her hands unconsciously gripping the lapels of her clothes.

"This aloof Queen actually knows how to joke?" Witnessing this scene, Jiang Hao smiled awkwardly and braced himself to step forward, saying, "Reporting to Her Majesty the Queen, the Princess and I share merely an ordinary relationship of fellow disciples under the same guidance."

"Mm, this sovereign understands." Nangong Xue nodded in response, then continued, "Young Master Jiang, this younger sister of mine has been spoiled rotten since childhood. If there has been any discourtesy on her part previously, I ask that you bear with it."

Hearing this, Jiang Hao hurriedly offered a solemn bow. "Her Majesty, you flatter me! Princess Yingying is actually quite lovely."

"Hmph! Jiang Hao, at least you know how to talk." Nearby, Nangong Yingying glanced sideways at Jiang Hao as if issuing a warning.

Seeing this, Nangong Xue smiled softly, then stepped forward and motioned to the assembled crowd. "My purpose in coming here today is to inspect everyone's cultivation progress over the past month. In three days, the Azure Cloud Convention will commence, and I hope to see our Dragon Gate Academy disciples securing a place on the Azure Cloud Roll during this session!"

With that, Nangong Xue turned and instructed Sun Ping beside her. "Vice Dean Sun, you may begin."

"This old subject obeys!" Sun Ping bowed respectfully.

Subsequently, Sun Ping strode forward and announced with a resonant, powerful voice, "Everyone, today's sparring matches follow the rules of previous years. Anyone who manages to remove the mask of the top-ranked 'Shadow' shall be deemed to have succeeded in their challenge."

"Those who succeed in their challenge may subsequently select any spell manual of their choice from the Dragon Gate Academy's Scripture Pavilion."

"Even if the challenge fails, participants may still choose any tier-two or tier-three spiritual weapon from the Dragon Gate Academy's Armory."

"Choose any spell manual at will? There's such a great thing? And even with failure, there are still rewards? As expected of an academy run by the imperial family, these perks are simply unrivaled!" Jiang Hao's face filled with astonishment.

However, the next moment he realized that this sparring event was by no means as simple as it appeared on the surface...