Chapter 82: Li Zhi'an's Aura is Two Meters Eighty

Cheng Xi grabbed Baohua, "You can talk now?"

Baohua's eyes darted around incessantly; looking clearly guilty, she took to her heels and ran outside.

Yu Xiao:...

She felt she had discovered some incredible secret; this Junior Sister of hers did not seem simple at all.

Cheng Xi walked outside, seeing from afar a person standing in front of her small courtyard, dressed in a dark blue robe, ink-black hair tied high with a purple-gold crown, waist bound by a silk-woven black jade belt, eyes pitch-black; hearing her footsteps, he turned his head, and that pair of glistening peach-blossom eyes fell upon her.

Cheng Xi's footsteps paused slightly, not knowing why her heartbeat quickened a little.

"Why are you here?"

Li Zhi'an looked at Cheng Xi, seeing that she was no different from when she was in Jindu, still in that lazy posture that looked like she had no ambition.

"First, I am on official business; second, I happened to come to see you," Li Zhi'an said slowly, "Are you adapting well here?"

These words were spoken too sincerely; for someone like him who didn't know how to say sweet nothings, dreaming of marrying a wife home was just that—a dream.

Li Zhi'an looked at Cheng Xi, who had a faint smile in her eyes; the shadows of the trees slanted, the scattered light was clear and shallow, and that slight sense of teasing made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Only then did he come to his senses, realizing his words seemed a bit too blunt.

Cheng Xi did not intend to make things difficult for him; seeing his slightly embarrassed expression, she took the initiative to change the subject, "Official business can bring you to the Academy? Does it have something to do with the Seal?"

Aside from this, Cheng Xi could not think of any other reason.

Li Zhi'an nodded, "Recently, demons have been running rampant at the site of the Seal, and there have even been incidents of attacks on the garrison; this matter is quite abnormal, and I have been ordered by the Emperor to investigate it."

"Then have you found anything?"

"Do you know about the Wanxing Sect?"

Cheng Xi shook her head, "What is the Wanxing Sect?"

"It is the passage to the Upper Realm."

Cheng Xi was stunned.

Li Zhi'an's pitch-black eyes gazed at her, "Cheng Xi, the Seal is loosening because the Wanxing Sect is about to open, and the Yunshan Immortal Gathering is about to begin; they are going to compete for those few opportunities to pass through the Wanxing Sect and reach the Upper Realm."

Cheng Xi frowned, "Does reaching the Upper Realm not rely on cultivation and ascension?"

"Only the Upper Realm has ascension; this is the Mortal Realm. Those who awaken their talents here are not considered orthodox Cultivators. They can only determine the outcome through the Yunshan Immortal Gathering; the winners can pass through the Wanxing Sect to reach the Spirit Realm, which is the true world of Cultivators."

Cheng Xi was taken aback; then what was the purpose of her transmigrating here?

Thinking of this, she looked at Li Zhi'an and said, "I haven't heard of this since arriving at the Academy."

"Because of the matter regarding the Seal, the news has been temporarily withheld, but you will know soon enough," Li Zhi'an looked at Cheng Xi, "You have just entered the Academy; those who came with you likely have no chance at this grand event."

Cheng Xi understood; they had only just entered and had not yet officially begun training, so they were not even qualified to step onto the competition stage.

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly heard Li Zhi'an say, "However, this may not necessarily be a good thing; once the Seal is broken, no one can predict what the consequences will be."

Cheng Xi's heart sank; since Li Zhi'an said this, it meant the situation at the Seal was very grim.

She had only just thought about lying flat...

"Are you here to see the Dean?" Cheng Xi asked again.

Li Zhi'an nodded, "Even if the Seal will be opened sooner or later, it is a good thing to be able to buy more time."

Cheng Xi looked at this Li Zhi'an; dappled sunlight fell upon him, his posture relaxed, tall and straight, a clear breeze blowing past, as if snow were falling on clear radiance, like the bright moon over a thousand mountains, an immortal descended to the mortal world.

He clearly had a cold and indifferent face, yet he acted with uprightness and integrity.

Cheng Xi asked again, "How many days will you stay here?"

"It is not yet certain; I must wait for the Dean to return first."

Cheng Xi nodded, "Then where are you staying?"

Li Zhi'an looked at Cheng Xi, "I wonder if your small courtyard has a room?"

Cheng Xi glanced at him, then looked at Baohua, who had snuck inside feeling guilty, "Come in."

Li Zhi'an entered Cheng Xi's courtyard and saw that it was arranged very similarly to the one in Jindu, with a wisteria trellis set up in one corner of the courtyard, and a stone table and stone chairs placed beneath the vines.

"I am staying in the main room; if you don't mind, Prince, would you like to stay in the east wing?" Cheng Xi asked.

Li Zhi'an agreed, "I apologize for the intrusion."

Cheng Xi looked up at him and smiled; Li Zhi'an turned his eyes away slightly.

Baohua carried a tea tray and other items, quickly setting the teacups and such on the stone table; her small frame carrying things a size larger than her body looked very comical.

Li Zhi'an took the items from Baohua's hands and placed the small clay stove on the table; charcoal was already inside, and with a flick of his fingertips, flames rose up.

Baohua carried the copper kettle and set it on the stove, then took to her heels and ran off again.

Cheng Xi could neither laugh nor cry; in an instant, the water in the copper kettle made a slight sound, and she opened the porcelain jar, using a tea spoon to portion out the Spirit Tea into the cups.

Li Zhi'an watched Cheng Xi's movements, which were gentle and unhurried, as if everything that reached her slowed down, gradually calming one's heart.

Boiling water was poured into the teacups, and the fragrance of the Spirit Tea rolled through the air.

"This tea is a bit different from the jar you sent me in Jindu," Li Zhi'an said, looking at Cheng Xi.

Cheng Xi nodded, "The preparation method is different; this jar is more fragrant and rich. I like a stronger taste. Are you used to drinking it?"

"I am fine with anything," Li Zhi'an took a light sip; the tea soup was slightly hot, and once it went down, he felt refreshed and clear-headed, all his fatigue swept away.

Cheng Xi found it very strange; she and Li Zhi'an were not exactly close, and although they were betrothed, the engagement had been made for other reasons, yet at this moment, the two of them sitting here drinking tea was so harmonious.

It was as if they had known each other for a long time, so compatible.

"Li Zhi'an, come out!"

Yan Qingli's voice suddenly appeared outside the courtyard, breaking the silence of the moment.

Cheng Xi gave a light laugh and looked up at Li Zhi'an.

Li Zhi'an's expression turned cold instantly, and he looked at Cheng Xi, saying, "I truly have no relationship with her, and my engagement to you is also serious."

Cheng Xi:...

"Li Zhi'an, my father has something for me to pass on to you, come out quickly!"

At this moment, Yan Qingli's voice sounded grating to Cheng Xi; she stood up and walked toward the exit, saying as she went, "Prince, let's go."

Li Zhi'an strode forward, shielding Cheng Xi behind him; he opened the courtyard gate a step before her and looked up at Yan Qingli, who was standing outside.

Yan Qingli's expression brightened when she saw Li Zhi'an come out, but her face darkened again when she saw Cheng Xi being shielded behind him.

"Li Zhi'an, the item my father asked me to give you is of great importance; it would be best not to let irrelevant people know about it."

The disdain for Cheng Xi in Yan Qingli's words made Li Zhi'an very displeased. "Yan Qingli, Cheng Xi is my fiancée, not some irrelevant person. Since you are so rude to her, I must seriously reconsider the matter of cooperating with Dean Yan. Take the item back with you."

Li Zhi'an closed the courtyard gate without the slightest hesitation.

Cheng Xi:...

In this instant, she felt that Li Zhi'an's aura was nine feet tall!