2804 Silent as a Cicada in Winter



/When the Lunisolar Shrine made its inspection tour, it inevitably became the center of attention and garnered respect wherever it went. The neglect shown by the crown prince and his entourage from the Divine Province was nothing short of infuriating/

Qiao Mu and their companions sat down to eat breakfast at a standard-class table with eight immortals. When Qi Xuanxuan glanced back, she almost burst out laughing.

One of the priests wore a displeased expression as he retrieved an academy desk that appeared somewhat outdated from his inner world. He placed a bench in front of the desk and gestured for the Holy Son to sit down.

She couldn't help but wonder from which dusty corner of the academy's rundown storehouse this man had pilfered the old tables and chairs to fill the seating arrangement…

Despite the Holy Son's handsome face darkening with irritation, he reluctantly took his seat. Before long, the priest arranged the utensils, and an imperial guard entered with a steaming pot of porridge and several dishes.

As a venerable spirit, the Holy Son didn't particularly care whether he ate or not. However, he had developed the habit of eating twice a day—morning and noon—unless he was engrossed in cultivating in seclusion.

The two priests had prepared the meal within the room. After taking a few bites, Holy Son Miyan pushed his spoon away in frustration, unable to continue eating.

His discontent primarily stemmed from the fact that he was sitting at an old desk, surrounded by a crowd of ignorant onlookers, who were openly observing him. He was accustomed to being aloof and haughty and had never been subjected to such mockery before. Naturally, he found this attention and gaze disconcerting.

In a fit of pique, Holy Son Miyan tossed his chopsticks aside, rose from his seat, and was the first to exit the room."

Observing their lord's foul mood, the assembly of priests and imperial guards wisely refrained from uttering a word and swiftly trailed after him.

Miyan couldn't help but smirk inwardly, thinking, "I'll let you all revel in this momentary joy, but your comeuppance will come soon enough."

Upon their arrival at the previous day's training area, Qiao Mu and her companions were met with a gathering of both seasoned and fresh-faced students, all waiting for the mentors to arrive.

Upon spotting Qiao Mu, a wave of fear washed over many in the crowd, causing them to hastily retreat to the sides and create a clear path in the middle. It was as if Miss Qiao were some sort of formidable beast, and everyone eyed her warily.

Qi Xuanxuan shot glares at each of these individuals, thinking to herself, "Our Qiaoqiao isn't a wild beast that goes berserk at the drop of a hat. If you don't provoke her, everything will be just fine."

"Good morning, Qiaoqiao!" The eldest young sir, Qin, emerged from the crowd, waving cheerfully to Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu glanced up at him and noticed Second Qin, looking somewhat befuddled, standing beside her with a neutral expression.

Mo Lian instantly detected Lady Qiaoqiao's grip on his hand tightening and furrowed his brow, firmly holding her delicate hand. He then addressed the people blocking their path with a cold tone, "Excuse us."

The eldest young sir Qin pursed his lips and shuffled aside, allowing Qiao Mu, Mo Lian, and their group to advance to the front and find an empty space to stand.

The senior students from the academy couldn't help but sneak glances in their direction, sizing up their new arrivals discreetly.

Dean Yun arrived at the training area promptly, accompanied by a cadre of scholars and mentors. He gazed down at the spirited students and nodded with a warm smile. "Today's primary task is to assist the new students in selecting their subjects."

During the examination, all participants followed the guidelines specified in the invitation letter.

For instance, alchemists focused on evaluating their pill concoction and forging expertise, akin to engineers.

Conversely, the majority were dedicated cultivators. The assessment for cultivators was relatively straightforward; they only needed to successfully complete the corresponding examination tablet to meet the requirement.