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The situation in Lyuzhou quickly calmed down....

The sealed tavern was opened, and the students came out unharmed.

It was announced that the action was to capture the culprits behind an assassination attempt on the youths from the Northern Wolf Country’s noble families.

The culprits were found, two direct descendants from the Shen Family, filled with immense jealousy.

The motive was rather convoluted. These direct descendants envied the Shen Family youths, who were usually overlooked but had passed the exams for Jiangnan—especially Shen Xue, who had achieved a very high ranking.

Their overwhelming jealousy clouded their judgment, and they absurdly decided to use dark magic to plot against their own cousin.

The Princely Heir of the Murong Family from the Northern Wolf Country noticed that Shen Xue had been cursed with dark magic and, being righteous, intervened.

The young hero, though unable to withstand the treachery of human hearts, ultimately took a strike meant for Shen Xue and was tragically killed by the evil demon from the curse, dying a gruesome death!

The tavern was frozen over to prevent the evil demon from escaping.

Now, after working together with the officials from the underworld, they have captured the extradimensional evil demon summoned by the dark magic, suppressing it in the underworld.

As for the two members of the Shen Family responsible for all this, they are temporarily detained in the dungeons of Lyuzhou.

Inquiries will be made with the Imperial Court, with a request to carry out justice in Lyuzhou itself!

After the details were announced, the cause and effect were as twisted as a storytelling session, and the resolution brought great satisfaction to the public.

Watching the academy safely return to normal, the panic across the whole of Jiangnan nearly dissipated in an afternoon—of course, the most significant factor was the absence of a certain monster’s influence.

As for the incident itself, the opinions among the populace were varied, with most denouncing the two descendants of the Shen Family.

A minority harbored doubts but dared not voice them.

Learning is now valued in Jiangnan, and there is no shortage of important descendants from noble families attempting to usurp the academic seats of their better-qualified younger siblings—a contradiction not unique to Capital City’s noble families but also quite applicable in Jiangnan.

It could almost be described as the most considerable conflict between rising scholars and established magicians.

Given its impartial handling of matters, the academy clearly took the side of the rising scholars.

Long-oppressed descendants suddenly turned the tables, and their conflicts with the established descendants naturally deepened.

Public opinion also sided with them, forcing the established descendants to keep a low profile.

Even in the face of suspicion, they dared not show their faces, given the current climate.

The young nobles from Capital City believed the story to a great extent.

They themselves had experienced it; many auxiliary members in their clans had been given the chance due to their better foundational learning.

Although their families were influential and had a long-term vision to support them, internal dissatisfaction and covert acts of sabotage by some members were not uncommon.

However, most were not as foolish as those from the Shen Family, who had thought of assassinating their already successful younger siblings to take their place.

To put it bluntly, let alone being cruel and foolish, who told them such actions would succeed?

But those who dared to use dark magic in a moment of insanity probably couldn’t be reasoned with using normal human thinking.

Under the laws of Great Jin, gods of evil and dark magic are utterly forbidden. Any noble family found preserving such legacies would face the punishment of family extermination!

If the Shen Family couldn’t provide a clear explanation for this incident, given their family’s size, the Imperial Court would exterminate them without blinking an eye....

To say there were no doubts would be a lie, for after such a significant event was announced, some descendants of noble families noticed that the group from the Northern Wolf Country hadn’t shown up again, which caused some concerned individuals to feel suspicious.

Are they inconveniently absent... or have they already been taken under control by the Jiangnan officials?

Are they unwilling to accept this outcome... or do they know more of the truth?

It’s natural for some conspiracy theories to arise, but overall, these are nothing compared to the previous tidal wave of panic.

The turmoil had quickly subsided, and the entire Lyuzhou had returned to calm within an afternoon.

But this was to be expected, as the Thousand-Faced Fox, who could control memories, was naturally the nemesis of the heart demon.

Inventing a story out of thin air, combined with her innate talents, pacifying the disturbances in Lyuzhou after accomplishing her objectives was all too simple.

Sitting at the highest spot of Observing Stars Tower, Ali looked at Lyuzhou as it was now, feeling the explosive rise in her own Qi fate, and the corners of her mouth curled into a smile.

However, merely managing to control Lyuzhou had increased her Qi fate so terrifyingly that it was almost beyond what she had achieved from obtaining the Crown Prince’s essence. She was close to reaching the standard of a Super First Rank.

If she could take over Jiangnan, she believed she could transform into a legendary being and then... nothing in the world would be immune to her bewitchment!

Nevertheless, she had no intention of acting rashly.

Zi Yue had repeatedly cautioned her before she left not to provoke the other Provincial Government Offices.

Everyone from the Jiangnan Shen Family was formidable, and they had gained the official position of the underworld master.

No one knew what transformation they were capable of, and in a head-on confrontation, even Zi Yue herself wouldn’t dare claim certain victory, let alone Ali herself taking such a risk.

After all, even Wei Gongcheng, a low-ranking warrior who had inherited the underworld master position, had almost led them to a complete annihilation.

For those so-called divine beings under Chen Qing’s command, she remained quite cautious; of course, controlling Chen Qing’s troublesome main gods would have its many benefits.

Like that Mountain Deity, like the Gate Deity outside of Lyuzhou!

With the presence of these two entities, added to Shen Qi’s Thousand Eyes Technique, the entirety of Lyuzhou was under complete control, and she could detect any trace of movement at the first instance.

That was also the reason Zi Yue could leave with peace of mind...

Lazily lying on the balcony of Observing Stars Tower, Ali looked at everything she now possessed and felt an immense sense of fulfillment.

If Zi Yue could successfully obtain the legendary medicine in Dragon Palace, after they had absorbed Chen Qing’s establishment in Jiangnan, at the very least..

. they should have the power to protect themselves from the upcoming terrors.

"Hmm?"

Just as she was contemplating the future, a hurried figure caught Ali’s attention.

The reason she noticed him was not only due to the other’s urgency. In fact, many students from the academy who lived up and down Observing Stars Tower were always rushing about, deeply engrossed in their studies. But this person was different; his evident goal was her...

Ali looked towards the two girls with vacant stares behind her, one being Chen Ying, and the other... was Shen Xue!

"Who is he?"

"Shen Yu," said Shen Xue with a blank expression, "the most valued junior member of the Capital City Shen Family, my own second brother. His foundation in rational studies is even worse than the other two fools, but at least he has some self-awareness. Knowing full well that he couldn’t pass the examination and stay, he left for Yunzhou before the examination had even started, in search of our eldest brother: Shen Yuan! "

"Oh?"

Ali remained cautious in the face of this man who seemed to pose no threat at all, and through the Thousand Eyes Technique, she scrutinized the city gate and instructed Chen Ying, "Go ask the Gate Deity whether any suspicious individuals have entered the city today."

"Yes..." Chen Ying replied at once, "There is a Mirror Jade at the city gate that records the images of the day’s events. Do you need it brought here?"

The Thousand-Faced Fox’s eyes lit up as she quickly nodded and said, "It can record the entire day?"

"Yes..."

"Bring it over!"

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"Have those two idiots gone mad?"

Shen Yu’s eyes were bloodshot; this was a natural emotional response, with no external magical interference, purely fumed by the news he received upon returning to Lyuzhou!

Until half an hour ago, when he heard about the incident at the tavern, he still couldn’t believe it!

Those two bastards!!

He didn’t even know that his two good cousins had such audacity?

To secretly research forbidden spells?

To use such means to harm Shen Xue and then plan to take her place?

The key point was, even if Shen Xue hadn’t been killed, they actually went on to murder a direct descendant of the priestly line of the Murong Family from the Northern Wolf Country!

This was no longer a foolish act of a deranged mind; this was outright madness!

Upon hearing the news, he didn’t even have time to care for Shen Yuan and his mother, who were brown-nosing from behind, and made a beeline for Observing Stars Tower, seeking to find Shen Xue and understand the situation.

To study forbidden magic is a crime that leads to the extermination of one’s entire family!

To kill a foreign envoy, especially a vital member of the Murong Family!

What does this signify?

Although the Murong Family is an ancient panicking family, they are still a millennium-old noble house that the Shen Family cannot afford to offend!

To touch such a high-level sprout, it’s no wonder if they skin and bone the entire Shen Family!

The key is that they are in the right; even the Imperial Court can’t protect us.

Bang!

Reaching Shen Xue’s room, Shen Yu pushed the door open and walked in: "Shen Xue!!"

Inside the room, Shen Xue sat in a corner, pale-faced, obviously a pitiful sight from excessive shock, while beside her, Chen Ying, cold as frost, stared indifferently at Shen Yu who had barged in.

"Dean Chen...." Shen Yu shuddered inwardly and quickly bowed in respect.

He didn’t dare to offend this person; with his idiot cousins having caused such a disaster, it was highly probable that the Shen Family was in trouble.

He absolutely couldn’t go back; staying in Lyuzhou might provide a glimmer of chance for survival, but if he was sent back, he feared death would not be far off!

"What are you doing?" Chen Ying looked coldly at him.

"I..." Shen Yu, feeling uneasy under her gaze, quickly said: "Reporting to the Dean, I heard on the way that there was trouble at the Shen Family, and my heart was anxious.

I was also worried about the safety of my younger sister, so in my eagerness, I acted rashly and interrupted the Dean. Please forgive me."

"Oh?" Chen Ying looked amusedly at him; she was very clear about his background. Worried about his younger sister?

Thinking this, she shook her head at the Thousand-Faced Fox who was quietly standing behind Shen Yu; clearly, this guy wasn’t worth the effort to intervene.

But Ali still approached cautiously, with a pair of pink eyes fixed on Shen Yu.

Shen Yu stiffened, turning as rigid as a puppet.

"Dean?" Chen Ying frowned, feeling that Ali was being too cautious.

Ali’s steps wavered, and her expression grew tired. Using her innate ability frequently in recent days had pushed her close to her limit; indeed, she shouldn’t use it lightly.

Especially since this guy in front of her was a wasted effort.

The memories she read from him matched exactly what he said; he had heard about the trouble at the Shen Family halfway and, in shock and anger, had even abandoned Shen Yuan, his brown-nosing elder brother, rushing over recklessly. He was a pure fool...

Truly a waste of her talent.

It seemed that... she couldn’t continue like this. She had to use her power sparingly; Lyuzhou was stable as Mount Tai, she really didn’t need to be so on edge...

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"Lyuzhou... something happened?"

Outside of Lyuzhou City, Shen Yuan, who was being stopped, stared blankly at Wei Gongzhan: "So... it was you who deliberately had someone bring up that topic in front of Shen Yu, causing him to leave in a panic?"

"It had to be done. If my existence showed up in his memories, we wouldn’t stand a chance," explained Wei Gongzhan. "Brother Shen, the safety of Lyuzhou now... depends on you!"

Shen Yuan: "...."