Chapter 298: Crushed Spring Snow

As they spoke.

Beneath the Starlight Palace.

A girl in a white dress rode a Starflow flyer, trailing a long fiery wake, her robes fluttering as she approached Jiang Jian from afar.

“Jiang Jian.”

The Starflow flyer halted.

With a sweep of her white skirt, the girl leapt down and looked at Jiang Jian.

Her expression was complex, yet filled with joy.

Jiang Jian lowered his eyes and said, “Yin Yin, thank you for looking after my sister these past days.”

Yin Yin lightly bit her crimson lips and shook her head. “As the daughter of a Prefectural Divine Envoy, helping classmates within my means is my duty.”

Behind her.

Several more Starflow flyers landed in succession.

Besides Jiang Zhao and Zhong Ling.

There were also classmates like Liu Tiezhu and Du Fang.

Clearly.

When the academy relocated.

Yin Yin had brought many of her peers along.

“Jiang Jian, good to see you again.”

Liu Tiezhu strode forward with a smile, as usual, giving Jiang Jian a light pat on the shoulder.

“You’ve become Lord of Yinshan, your name echoing across the surface. Many students from Divine Gift Academies now look up to you—we’re proud to know you.”

Around them.

Indeed, many Divine Gift Academy students gathered, stealing glances at Jiang Jian and whispering among themselves.

Their gazes.

Were mostly reverence, envy, and admiration.

Du Fang stood at the back, watching Jiang Jian, intending to say something.

But then.

Seeing Jiang Jian surrounded by adoring crowds, his expression turned complicated, and he quietly stepped back.

Though Du Fang and Jiang Jian had both been students at Guangling No. 1 High School.

Over the past two years, they’d had almost no contact.

Du Fang’s talent was Level 3 “Martial.”

At this moment.

His spiritual essence had barely breached the Surge Spring realm.

Though already impressive compared to ordinary students.

Compared to Yin Yin, Liu Tiezhu, and others, he was left far behind.

As cultivation advanced.

Differences in resource allocation began to widen the gap in spiritual cultivation.

“Jiang Jian, congratulations on securing Yinshan.”

In contrast, Song Ling, also from Guangling City, stepped forward gracefully and spoke openly.

Jiang Jian smiled back: “Thank you.”

Seeing this.

Du Fang struggled for a moment, then gathered courage, pushed through the crowd, and said, “Jiang Jian, congratulations.”

As soon as he spoke.

He felt a sudden lightness, as if a great weight had lifted.

The next instant.

Jiang Jian did not, as Du Fang had feared, adopt a haughty air and ignore him.

Instead, he smiled just as warmly as he had three years ago.

“Thank you, Du Fang.”

Jiang Jian chuckled, “I still have a few openings for Starfall Palace cultivators. If you’re interested, you can try out.”

Hearing this.

The surrounding Divine Gift Academy students all gasped sharply!

Starfall Palace!

Cultivator positions!

Things they’d never dared dream of!

According to Earth’s laws.

During wartime, the Starfall Palace is the supreme authority of the two planets.

One of its powers is resource allocation across the planets!

Countless aristocratic heirs and official prodigies had exhausted every means, bent every effort, to enter it.

But Starfall Palace positions were far too precious.

They were fixed in number, never to be arbitrarily changed.

Even the lowest rank—“Cultivator”—

Was now nearly impossible to obtain on Earth’s surface.

“Jiang Jian.”

Even Liu Tiezhu’s eyes glowed red. “Do you think I’m qualified for a Cultivator post?”

Beside him.

Du Fang, Song Ling, and others.

Said nothing.

But stared at Jiang Jian with burning hope.

Yin Yin, in her white dress, stood quietly to the side, glancing at Jiang Zhao.

Jiang Zhao noticed, took her hand, and whispered, “Don’t worry—I’ll make sure you get a position.”

Yin Yin shook her head, half-laughing, half-tearful. “You misunderstand. I don’t want a Starfall Palace post—I just want you to remind your brother that the Starfall Palace’s laws are strict. Giving out positions without review might bring trouble.”

As the daughter of a Prefectural Divine Envoy.

Yin Yin didn’t need to apply—she already held a Cultivator post in the Linjiang Pavilion.

Her concern was that Jiang Jian might later face punishment under Starfall Palace law for this.

“I see.”

Jiang Zhao’s expression grew solemn. She looked toward Jiang Jian in the distance.

After hearing Yin Yin’s guess, her mind was clear: she’d rather forgo a Starfall Palace post than let her brother suffer consequences.

Meanwhile.

Jiang Jian looked at Liu Tiezhu and chuckled slightly. “Your Surge Spring cultivation is solid—you’re qualified.”

Liu Tiezhu nodded firmly, said nothing more, and bowed respectfully to Jiang Jian.

Seeing this.

Other academy prodigies—Qi Ming, Lu Tingting, Zuo Lu—

All steadied their composure and stepped forward one by one to congratulate Jiang Jian on becoming Lord of Yinshan.

Clearly.

Their intent was obvious.

They wanted a “Cultivator” position.

Though they didn’t know how Jiang Jian would designate Starfall Palace posts.

But they knew well.

As Lord of Yinshan, ruler of a great wonderland, his status was exalted.

His word was absolute—he would never speak without reason.

Beyond the outer circle.

Students from the other seventeen prefectural states of Linjiang Prefecture all wore looks of envy, cursing themselves for not being Jiang Jian’s classmates.

Some more cunning ones began networking everywhere, trying to connect with Jiang Jian through any possible channel.

“Your former desk-mate Zhong Ling is close to the Lord of Yinshan’s sister—why not ask her?”

“Yes! If we get even one Cultivator post, we’ll be set!”

“Exactly! I heard even a regular Cultivator’s authority exceeds that of a mayor!”

Three girls whispered among themselves.

Zhong Ling’s former desk-mate, surrounded by them, flushed awkwardly and murmured, “Since Zhong Ling transferred to Linjiang Academy, I haven’t spoken to her in ages. If I go now, I doubt I can even say anything.”

Similar scenes unfolded all around.

A few who had connections dared approach Zhong Ling and Yin Yin, whispering quietly.

At this moment.

Jiang Zhao’s expression turned stern. She walked to Jiang Jian’s side, pulled him aside, and whispered, “Giving out Starfall Palace posts without review—won’t that get you in trouble?”

Jiang Jian patted his sister’s arm and said softly, “I’m a Patrol Envoy of Guanxi Pavilion, with ten cultivator slots.”

“But you’re right—if the Star Controlling Palace appoints candidates without review, the punishment will be severe.”

At these words,

Jiang Zhao’s expression shifted slightly. “If punishment comes because of this, it’s better to give none at all.”

Jiang Jian smiled. “The one responsible for reviewing them is me.”

Jiang Zhao froze.

Jiang Jian’s expression remained calm as he continued, “I won’t hand out these cultivator slots lightly.”

“But they serve a great purpose for me.”

With that said,

Jiang Jian turned his head slightly and gave his sister a glance.

Jiang Zhao came back to herself and whispered, “If you’ve made your decision, I trust you.”

Speaking, she set aside her worries, murmured a few more instructions to Jiang Jian, then pulled Yinyin aside and said no more.

(End of Chapter)