Chapter 21: Meeting, But Never Again

“Number 40, Zhao Jianxue!”

A mechanical voice rang out!

Under the gaze of all present.

Zhao Jianxue bit her lip and stepped forward.

Among the 46 students, she was one of the few with a Level 1 talent.

Because her theoretical score was simply too high.

A full 49 points!

Though her talent was Level 1—Flame Flow.

It was the pinnacle of “Art.”

She earned 29 points in Divine Gift.

Her total of 78 points was very high.

So high, in fact,

That it surpassed many students with Level 2 talents!

“Zhao Jianxue…”

At the most radiant spot on the ceremonial stage.

Song Ling gazed at the white-robed girl, her expression complex.

Du Fang smirked and said, “You’ve been overshadowed by her for years at Divine Illumination High—now at last you’ve risen above her.”

Song Ling sighed and said, “Her grades have always been excellent—even with a Level 1 ‘Art,’ she’s surpassed most others.”

“But all of us here are Level 3 talents!”

Du Fang’s expression turned proud, “From now on, we are no longer on the same path as these students.”

He and Song Ling stood, one on each side.

Beside Jiang Jian.

Forming a small circle of Level 3 talents.

Occasionally,

Students would turn their heads and glance this way.

Their eyes filled with envy and longing.

Even the chief examiners and Divine Gift University proctors

Had not come near to disturb them.

“Student Zhao Jianxue, it’s time to choose your school!”

The chief examiner spoke gently, reminding her.

Zhao Jianxue lifted her head, gazing at Jiang Jian not far away, her mind reeling.

Just now,

She finally remembered.

The boy from the Shadow Zone, with a Divine Gift score of 50.

Who he truly was.

Coupled with the sense of familiarity she’d felt when hearing Jiang Jian’s name earlier.

“He… is that one.”

“The husband I signed a Divine Covenant with—to marry him upon coming of age!”

Zhao Jianxue’s mind churned with chaotic thoughts.

Suddenly, she recalled:

When she was ten, her grandfather had told her.

“Jianxue, I’ve arranged a marriage for you.”

The old man, his hair and beard streaked white, stroked the girl’s head, smiling broadly.

The girl chirped, “Grandpa, you were away these past few days—was it to do this?”

The white-haired elder chuckled, “Foolish child, I just returned from the Divine Prayer Hall—just signing the Divine Covenant cost one hundred thousand Alliance coins!”

“But I’m only ten!”

The girl lifted her face, “This is arranged marriage!”

The white-haired elder stroked her hair, his expression complex, speaking slowly, word by word:

“If my divination is correct, this Divine Covenant will ensure the Zhao family’s prosperity for a thousand years!”

His talent was famed throughout Guangling City.

Level 3—“Intent.”

“Reading Qi and Gazing at Men.”

In nearly a century, he had made almost no errors.

Countless people had traveled thousands of miles, spending fortunes, just to beg for one reading from Old Zhao.

Even in Anhezhou and neighboring Luoyingzhou, Old Zhao’s “Reading Qi and Gazing at Men” was nearly universally known.

Even in Anhezhou and neighboring Luoyingzhou, Old Zhao’s talent for “observing people and sensing qi” was nearly universally known.

Zhao Jianxue shook her head hard, snapping out of the memory.

Only then did she recall:

A message she’d ignored days ago.

It had come from the Divine Prayer Hall.

She’d been busy preparing for the exam and assumed it was just an advertisement, so she’d ignored it.

He was busy preparing for the exam and assumed it was just ordinary advertising, paying it no mind.

Zhao Jianxue hurriedly opened her identity device and pulled up the trash folder.

The Divine Prayer Hall’s message lay there, glowing blue.

“February 14, 3227.”

“Divine Prayer Hall Director has completed the ritual!”

“Your Divine Covenant has been successfully dissolved!”

“Attached: Original Divine Covenant (invalidated).”

“Earth Alliance, Guangling City, Divine Covenant No. 785639.”

“Type: Marriage Covenant.”

“Contract Date: Earth Calendar 3210.”

“Contract Method: Blood Covenant.”

“Signatory: Earth Citizen Jiang Jian, citizen ID hidden.”

“Signatory: Earth Citizen Zhao Jianxue, citizen ID hidden.”

“Contract signatory: Earth citizen Zhao Jianxue, citizen ID hidden.”

Seeing this,

Zhao Jianxue turned as pale as paper.

She lifted her head again.

And stared once more at the boy at the very center of the ceremonial stage.

“So my husband… looks this beautiful…”

Zhao Jianxue bit her lip, her expression tangled.

Her grandfather was the person she respected most.

She had never once considered resisting this marriage covenant.

For seven years,

Zhao Jianxue had often imagined

What her future husband might be like.

She had warned herself countless times:

Even if he were ugly,

Even if his talent were abysmal,

She would obey her grandfather and marry him.

He would also obey his grandfather’s words and marry the other party.

“Why did this Divine Covenant become invalid?”

Zhao Jianxue was dazed.

Zhao Chenshuang and the Zhao family head had never told her.

The entire Zhao family assumed Zhao Jianxue would surely enter Divine Gift University.

Her future was boundless.

While Jiang Jian of the Shadow Zone

Was merely dust in the mud.

And Jiang Jian in the shadow zone.

Merely dust in the soil.

This divine covenant was established by the late Zhao Lao.

Now, it has become.

A shackle upon Zhao’s second young lady.

The Zhao family has grown so arrogant.

That they never even bothered to learn Jiang Jian’s theoretical scores.

Instead, they directly dispatched negotiation experts.

At all costs, they must dissolve this covenant.

Because they believe that people from the Shadow Zone can never possess outstanding divine gifts.

Theoretical scores, good or bad, are utterly irrelevant.

Even though Zhao Lao’s final wish came first, the current Zhao family head has always resented his father.

“If only we had investigated a little more back then, learned that Jiang Jian’s theoretical scores were perfect every time.”

“I would never have let Chenshuang take on this task.”

In the Zhao family’s grand hall, the family head sat alone in his chair, staring blankly at the massive screen.

His heart was filled with regret.

Even his expression had twisted!

“Father.”

“I am unfilial.”

“I should not have defied your words!”

The Zhao family head clenched his fists tightly, his face contorted in agony.

“If only this Level-3 divine gift could become my Zhao family’s son-in-law…”

Suddenly.

A flash of lightning struck the Zhao family head’s mind!

He seemed to realize something, sat up straight, and gave orders to his side.

“Pull up the surveillance footage of the eldest young lady at the Inspection Bureau!”

“Yes!”

In the darkness, someone responded.

A few seconds later.

The massive screen above the hall split in two.

One half streamed live footage of Feiguang Terrace.

The other half.

Played back the conversation between Zhao Chenshuang and Jiang Jian!

On screen.

Jiang Jian looked utterly shattered: “To love her is to give her freedom…”

“Right here! Pause!”

The Zhao family head leapt to his feet, his face alight with ecstatic joy!

“The video clearly shows he has feelings for Jianxue!”

Thinking of this,

The Zhao family head had no time to think further—he immediately dialed Zhao Jianxue’s comm.

Feiguang Terrace.

On the ritual platform.

The chief examiner waited patiently as Zhao Jianxue chose her school.

Choosing a Divine Gift University.

After all, it was a major decision.

Many students hesitated for a long time.

Beep!

Zhao Jianxue looked apologetic and said, “Teacher, I have a family comm.”

The chief examiner smiled. “Answer it.”

Zhao Jianxue nodded, activated privacy mode, and accepted the call.

“Jianxue!”

The Zhao family head nearly screamed, “Go find Jiang Jian immediately!”

“He loves you!”

“He has feelings for you!”

“The future of the Zhao family rests in your hands!”

“If you can persuade him to re-sign the covenant,”

“Our Zhao family still has a chance to rise again!”

Hearing this,

Zhao Jianxue’s face turned icy, and she cut him off.

“Father, that’s enough.”

The Zhao family head stared, stunned: “Jianxue, how dare you speak to me like that?!”

Zhao Jianxue said coldly, “You and my elder sister were the ones who dissolved the Divine Covenant, weren’t you?”

In privacy mode,

The identity device’s comm audio was audible only to the bonded user.

“Was it you two, under the pretense of doing what’s best for me,”

Zhao Jianxue’s tone grew colder.

“Who, as my direct guardian, revoked my Divine Covenant before the major exam?!”

“You despised Jiang Jian for coming from the Shadow Zone.”

“You feared he lacked a strong divine gift.”

“And yet you defied Grandfather’s will, acting without my knowledge!”

“This was Grandfather’s decree!”

“Father, I grew up with Grandfather.”

“I’ve told you before.”

“Even if he were an ordinary person, unable to cultivate,”

“Even if he were worthless, hideous beyond measure,”

“I would still marry him!”

“But what did you do?!”

“Fine, you secretly dissolved the Divine Covenant—fine, let it end there.”

“But what are you doing now?!”

“You saw with your own eyes: Jiang Jian’s divine gift is Level-3 ‘Art’—he’s about to soar!”

“So now you’ve changed your minds and want me to go after Jiang Jian?”

“Why?!”

“What do you think I am?!”

“A tool?”

“I’ve never even met him once. I’ve never spoken a single word to him!”

“Regardless of whether he truly loves me,”

“I could never do such a mercenary, vile thing!”

“If such fickle, hypocritical behavior ever appeared in Zhao Jianxue…”

“Just thinking of it makes me sick!”

Saying this,

Before the Zhao family head could speak,

Zhao Jianxue extended her hand and terminated the call.

In the Zhao family hall,

The Zhao family head stared blankly at his identity device, fists clenched, speechless for a long while.

According to Federation law,

Before Earth citizens reach the age of eighteen and become fully adult,

Direct guardians have the authority to participate in the signing or dissolution of their ward’s covenants.

Zhao Jianxue is only seventeen.

She remains under the control of her direct guardian.

Jiang Jian’s situation, however, differs from hers.

Jiang Jian lives in the Public Care Zone.

He is a child raised by the Public Care Center.

Since the age of ten, she has possessed full Earth citizen rights!

Feiguang Platform, the ceremonial dais.

Zhao Jianxue turned off her identity device and walked up to the chief examiner: “Teacher, I’m sorry for taking so long.”

The chief examiner looked at the girl before him and smiled: “Not long, not long.”

Zhao Jianxue, the prodigious young lady of Shenzhao Middle School.

Before the Divine Bestowal Examination.

She was also the top scorer in the Shenzhao District.

Beautiful in appearance, and with a delightful personality.

Extremely likable.

In the eyes of many teachers, Zhao Jianxue was all but certain to pass the Divine Bestowal University entrance exam.

Although now,

she possessed only a Level 1 talent.

Still, she barely passed with a score of 78.

“I choose...”

Zhao Jianxue gazed at the three spectral buildings, her eyes settling on Luoying Academy.

She had not yet finished speaking.

“No choice needed!”

A commanding voice echoed across Feiguang Platform!

A massive shadow descended upon them.

All students, chief examiners, and proctors looked up.

(End of Chapter)