Chapter 029: A New Opportunity

Expelled!

Xu Xuan felt a slight shock in his heart, but his greatest reaction was not disappointment—it was bewilderment and a suppressed, smoldering anger.

At this moment, all the students gathered in the lakeside pavilion were silent as if facing death, their gazes toward Xu Xuan filled with pity and sympathy.

To the youths of the dozen villages surrounding Pinghua Town, entering the Town Academy was a rare and precious opportunity. It embodied the hopes of countless parents; for them, admission meant a chance to rise above their station and bring honor to their families.

Now, there was an unfortunate soul who had been expelled from the Town Academy. How pitiful, how lamentable—a cause for regret.

Standing in the corner of the pavilion, like the moon in the night sky, Yang Xiaoqian’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, a trace of unwillingness flashing in her clear eyes.

Yet, as the person involved, Xu Xuan did not display the expected sense of loss or rage. Nor did he erupt in furious questioning. He simply offered a cold smile, his gaze indifferent, and glanced lightly at the withered old man.

Then he turned and left.

The gaunt elder, tasked with arranging the new students, felt a faint unease under Xu Xuan’s look, but fortunately, Xu Xuan did not ask any questions.

As he turned to leave, Xu Xuan felt a pang of regret. He sighed inwardly: It seems I will disappoint my parents and sister.

In the eyes of the villagers and his family, entering the Town Academy represented glory, success, and boundless prospects. Even before his expulsion, he had looked forward to fulfilling his childhood dreams and living up to his parents’ hopes.

However, after merging memories from two lifetimes, Xu Xuan’s perspective was vastly different. Failing to join the Town Academy brought little sorrow—just some regret.

Even if he could not study at the Academy, with his past life’s memories, given time, he would not lose to anyone within its walls.

Resolutely, he turned, leaping from the pavilion with a swift motion. Lightly touching the surface of the lake, the water rippled beneath him; like a dragonfly skimming water, he floated down to the shore, causing exclamations of surprise among the students.

“What remarkable agility! He can already use the water for support—many fifth-tier body refiners can't even manage that.”

“With such strength, how could he be expelled?”

Amidst the murmurs, Xu Xuan used the “Drift” technique and departed.

He had just stepped outside the Academy gates when he spotted a familiar figure.

“Xu Yuan?”

Xu Xuan paused, surprised, and looked at the elegant, blue-robed youth before him.

“Heh, Xu Xuan, after registration, you should have stayed in the Academy—why did you leave so quickly?”

Xu Yuan’s lips curled into a brilliant smile.

From his smile, Xu Xuan could clearly sense the taste of intrigue: Could this have something to do with him?

But Xu Xuan did not wish to entangle himself further; at this point, any argument was meaningless. With a cold snort, he brushed past Xu Yuan.

“Hmph, Xu Xuan! To offend me—even if your talent shines in this generation of Pinghua Town, you will find every path blocked.”

Xu Yuan’s cold, triumphant voice rang out behind him.

“So it really was because of him…”

Xu Xuan’s heart sank, feeling more and more uneasy.

By rights, the Xu Family held some influence in Yangmu Village, but compared to the Town Academy—a veritable leviathan—they were insignificant.

How could the Xu Family possibly wield enough power to influence the Academy’s decisions?

As Xu Xuan walked back to the village, countless questions troubled him.

Midway, he heard the sound of a carriage approaching from behind.

“Xu Xuan, wait!”

A voice rang out from the carriage—it was Xiao Hong, the maid.

Xu Xuan, puzzled, stopped and turned to see the reserved and graceful Yang Xiaoqian alighting from the carriage.

“Miss Yang, what advice do you have?”

Xu Xuan was visibly surprised; he and the Yang Family’s young lady had little connection.

“Xu Xuan, with your skill, you would be a standout in the Town Academy.”

Yang Xiaoqian’s serene and radiant face was turned toward him, her bright eyes brimming with indignation.

“Thank you for the compliment, but I was still expelled,” Xu Xuan replied flatly, surprised by the girl he had once admired. “So, Miss Yang, did you come just to comfort me?”

“Comfort you? Are you joking?”

Yang Xiaoqian’s lovely face broke into a smile, her chin lifting slightly as if mocking Xu Xuan’s self-importance. “I came to tell you that although you have missed your chance with the Town Academy, there is an even greater opportunity ahead.”

“A greater opportunity?”

Xu Xuan signaled for her to continue, unperturbed by the hint of irony in her tone—it was simply part of her innate coolness and nobility.

“In five days, the hidden ‘Wind Feather Immortal Sect’ of Pinghua Town’s region will begin its once-in-a-decade recruitment.”

Yang Xiaoqian’s lips pressed into a slight smile.

“The Immortal Sect… recruiting disciples?”

Xu Xuan was finally moved.

For body refiners, the Immortal Sect was a near-mythical existence.

In comparison, the Town Academy paled in significance—there was simply no comparison.

Even in his past life, Xu Xuan’s journey of cultivation began in an Immortal Sect.

In short, the Immortal Sect was the ultimate sanctuary for those seeking the Dao.

“Thank you for your reminder, Miss Yang. But… with your talent and aptitude, you surely have a chance to enter the Sect yourself.”

Xu Xuan expressed his gratitude, but his curiosity lingered.

“The Immortal Sect’s recruitment is strict and demanding—the Town Academy cannot compare. Even I have little confidence in gaining entry. That is why I took the Academy assessment first; if I fail the Sect’s selection, at least I have the Academy as a fallback.”

Yang Xiaoqian’s jade-like face was cool as she finished, turning back to her carriage without a trace of emotion.

“If I, Xu Xuan, ever enter the Immortal Sect, I will owe you a debt of gratitude, Miss Yang.”

Xu Xuan clasped his fists in thanks. This news was truly a timely gift, a beacon of hope amid regret and helplessness.

“A debt of gratitude?” The carriage rolled away, leaving Yang Xiaoqian to smile indifferently, unconcerned.

By ordinary standards, she, the heiress of the Yang Family, possessed cultivation, status, and talent far beyond her peers—would she care about the debt owed by a once destitute youth?

“How interesting.”

Xu Xuan narrowed his eyes, watching the carriage disappear.

Truth be told, Yang Xiaoqian’s beauty, demeanor, and talent surpassed most women.

Yet, after merging memories from two lives, Xu Xuan had long lost the naive affection he once felt for her.

The beloved “Li junior sister” of his past life in the Immortal Sect—elegant as a fairy, her beauty and temperament far surpassed Yang Xiaoqian, with a gentler and more touching personality…

At this thought, Xu Xuan paused, shaking his head vigorously. With memories from two lives merged, he nearly confused his own experiences.

Clearing his mind, Xu Xuan hastened home.

His mother welcomed him with pride and joy. “You finished registration, right?”

His father and Hui Lan smiled at him as well.

Xu Xuan was silent for a moment, then calmly recounted what had happened. He did not wish to conceal it.

“How could this happen! With my brother’s ability, how could he be expelled without reason?”

Xu Hui Lan exclaimed indignantly.

His father was stunned, then fell into deep thought, his expression uncertain.

“But, though I was expelled from the Academy, there is still…”

Xu Xuan smiled as he shared the news about the Immortal Sect’s recruitment.

“The Immortal Sect… That’s wonderful! Xuan’er, you must do your utmost to enter the Sect—it’s ten times more glorious than the Academy!”

His father spoke tremulously, recovering from his despair, his face alight with excitement.

Xu Xuan found his father’s reaction peculiar.

Still, the news of the Immortal Sect’s recruitment filled him with joy.

“My own strength is limited, but if I join the Immortal Sect, I will enjoy a superior environment for cultivation. From then on, in this region of Pinghua Town, who among the powerful—like the Xu Family—would dare plot against us?”

With his past life’s memories, Xu Xuan understood the advantages of joining the Immortal Sect.

There would surely be spiritual veins, the concentration of spiritual energy many times higher than ordinary places, and abundant resources—all ideal for cultivation.

Moreover, Xu Xuan was still a mere body refiner; to oppose powerful families like the Xu Family or the Easterns of Huanglong City alone would be unwise.

“But why was I expelled from the Academy in the first place?”

Xu Xuan frowned, suddenly noticing his father’s unnatural demeanor.

“The reason… I may know it,” his father said, taking a deep breath, his expression complex.

“Father, you know why?”

Xu Xuan’s heart tightened.

To be expelled for no reason had been a source of nameless anger. Now, the answer was about to come to light—

(Two chapters updated… Please recommend and bookmark. Everyone’s support is strong, and there will be another chapter tonight.)