77. Special Admission

Chapter 77: Special Admission

Three days later.

Song Yueyao returned from Cangyu City, looking exhausted. Her role as a Patrol Envoy was temporarily relieved, and she was back to report to the Palace.

She had learned that Li Hao and the others had returned ahead of time and should already be in Qingzhou by now.

Thinking about the power Li Hao had displayed, she couldn't help but clench her teeth. After studying in the Black and White Hall for so many years and seeing countless geniuses, she had never encountered anyone like him.

It was a bit of a blow to her.

"Yueyao?"

As Song Yueyao was about to head back to the Black and White Hall to report Li Hao's situation to her grandfather, she ran into Su Yehua, who was passing by outside the hall.

Seeing her friend, Song Yueyao slowed her steps, "Sister Su."

The two were only three years apart and had known each other for about ten years, like sisters.

"Back so soon? How did the mission go? Did you encounter any big demons?" Su Yehua asked softly, noticing Song Yueyao's weariness.

At the mention of "big demons," Song Yueyao couldn't help but recall the mountain top where the demon corpses were neatly stacked, and her face changed slightly.

"What?" Su Yehua was also slightly stunned. Could it be that she really encountered big demons?

"Nothing." Song Yueyao shook her head slightly, then suddenly thought of something, "Sister Su, have Li Hao and the others returned?"

"Hmm?"

Su Yehua was a bit surprised. She had known Song Yueyao for years and was aware of her cold personality, indifferent to outsiders. Why would she be asking about the two Li family young masters? She suddenly remembered that their mission location was also Cangyu City.

"Did they cause trouble for you?"

Su Yehua thought of one of them, usually lazy and often sleeping in class. She frowned slightly and comforted:

"After all, they are young masters of a big family. Don't take their tantrums to heart..."

Song Yueyao was stunned for a moment, then shook her head, "No, something major happened in Cangyu City. If it weren't for Li Hao's intervention, I might not have made it back."

"What?"

Su Yehua was shocked, looking at Song Yueyao in disbelief, doubting she had heard correctly.

Song Yueyao wasn't surprised by her reaction. She figured her sister was unaware of Li Hao's strength, so she briefly recounted what had happened in Cangyu City.

After hearing it, Su Yehua was dumbfounded, staring at Song Yueyao.

"Fifteen-mile realm? Him?"

Su Yehua's mind conjured the image of the young man who slept during class. If she remembered correctly, his registered age at enrollment was... fourteen?

Seeing Su Yehua's shocked expression, Song Yueyao couldn't help but smile, feeling a strange sense of delight.

It seemed she wasn't the only one taken aback.

Her exhaustion seemed to dissipate a bit, and she waved to Su Yehua, "I'll go report now."

With that, she turned and left gracefully.

Su Yehua, coming back to her senses, realized something.

No wonder Li Hao never listened in class or participated in the Martial Path rankings. With his level, Li Hao could be teaching others.

But then again, with such strength, did he even need to be at Tangong Academy?

Curious, she decided to find out the next time she saw Li Hao.

...

A few days later, other Jia Academy students who had been sent on missions also returned.

Su Yehua gathered the students to review their mission performances.

The most outstanding were the teams led by the two princes. Both had taken on the most difficult fifteen-credit missions and received perfect scores.

Additionally, they had made meritorious contributions during their missions, helping the Demon Suppression Department solve major cases, earning third-class and second-class merits respectively.

As for first-class merits, they were rare outside border war zones. Even second-class merits were quite impressive.

"Did they also encounter demon attacks?"

Du Qiu and Yu Wei were whispering.

Yu Wei glanced around and whispered, "I don't think so. Maybe the Demon Suppression Department there was flattering them, or perhaps the place they went to is connected to their backers..."

"Shh!" Du Qiu was startled and quickly hushed him.

Yu Wei knew he had misspoken. The complex political situation behind the royal family was not something they could discuss.

Even though these two princes weren't favored, they were still royalty. Who knew if they might rise to power one day?

Aside from the two princes, the best performances were by Wang Han, Li Yun, and their siblings. They had also taken on the hardest missions and received perfect scores, though without extra merits.

Other aristocratic students had mixed reactions. Some whispered, some admired their strength, and some secretly sneered, believing they were leveraging connections.

Though only in their teens, they were already beginning to understand the vast disparities created by social status. This realization would help them become more discerning and worldly.

"Those two..."

Li Yuan noticed Li Yun and Li Zhining being praised by Teacher Su Yehua. Although they appeared indifferent, their eyes couldn't hide their joy.

Li Zhining was fine, but seeing Li Yun's arm wrapped in bandages, clearly injured yet still smug, he couldn't help but shake his head.

Given Li Yun's strength and status, his injury was likely due to his eagerness to perform during the mission.

Compared to the show-off Li Yun, Li Yuan couldn't help but think of Li Hao.

He enjoyed spending time with Li Hao, not just because of their similar backgrounds, but because he genuinely admired Li Hao's demeanor.

How to describe it? Using some of the peculiar terms Li Hao had once used: "swagger."

Always maintaining a calm and relaxed attitude, as if everything were trivial.

In Li Hao's words, if you encounter a difficult mountain to climb... just go around it.

If laziness were his only trait, it wouldn't be impressive. But in Cangyu City, Li Hao single-handedly defended the city and slew great demons, earning significant merit, yet remained low-key, as if it were a minor task.

This alone surpassed Li Yun and the others by far.

Even those two seemingly calm princes, in Li Yuan's eyes, couldn't match Li Hao's swagger.

And although Li Hao was in the fifteen-mile realm, he never bragged. If he were like Li Yun, constantly boasting, the whole world would have known by now.

People sought fame, but Li Hao said it was a burden. When Li Yuan first heard this, it struck him profoundly. Though he didn't fully understand it, it felt... impressive.

For this reason, Li Yuan enjoyed learning from Li Hao, not for anything else, just pure admiration.

"Teacher, where is Li Hao?"

At this point, Li Yun noticed the empty spot beside Li Yuan and frowned, wondering if something had happened to him.

"Li Hao..."

Su Yehua looked at the empty spot beside Li Yuan, her eyes flashing with complexity, "He has been admitted to the Black and White Hall."

"What?!"

The entire Jia Academy erupted.

The noise was like a market, with everyone chattering, eager to know why and how.

Among the crowd, Jiang Ye, who had been smiling, suddenly felt deflated.

He, a prince, hadn't been given special treatment, yet a mere son of the Li family was?

His face darkened, but recalling his mentor's earnest teachings, he regained his composure, though inwardly seething, his eyes betraying a hint of malice.

"Teacher," Jiang Ye spoke, and the chatter seemed to quiet down, "Why was he given special admission?"

Jiang Ye stared at Su Yehua.

Su Yehua immediately discerned the prince's inner anger. She thought, if you were also in the fifteen-mile realm, or even the spiritual wandering realm, you too would receive special admission.

With a serene smile, she explained: "Li Hao's cultivation level is higher than yours, and he earned exceptional merits during the mission in Cangyu City. To provide appropriate teaching, he was given special admission to the Black and White Hall. Keeping him here would be a waste of a martial path ranking spot."

Everyone exchanged glances, bewildered.

Li Hao's cultivation higher than theirs? Had he reached the spiritual wandering realm?

But... what about the exceptional merits?

Li Yun and Li Zhining were equally puzzled, glancing at Li Yuan.

They had both gone to Cangyu City. What about Li Yuan? Why hadn't he earned any merits?

Seeing their questioning looks, Li Yuan merely smiled slightly, inwardly pleased. Want to know? Not telling you.

Li Hao had advised him not to make a fuss. When he asked why, Li Hao had simply said he wanted to enjoy a bit more leisure.

However, the incident in Cangyu City was significant and wouldn't stay hidden for long.

Li Yuan eagerly anticipated the moment when his peers, especially Li Yun and the others, would learn of Li Hao's true strength.

Their Li family, after Uncle Jiu, would once again make a name for itself!

The thought made him impatient, wishing time would fly so that the news from Cangyu City would spread quickly.

...

Meanwhile, in the Black and White Hall of the Tangong Academy.

Palace Master Song Yufeng sat at the head, the tea before him cold and forgotten as he stared into space.

Beside him were Shen Yunqing, Zhao Zongyuan, Huang Licai, and several other academy elders. Only a few with pressing matters were absent.

Song Yueyao also sat at the end of the row, observing the young man before them like the others.

Feeling the scrutinizing gazes, Li Hao was a bit exasperated. It's been over ten minutes, and no one has spoken. He could have painted two pictures in this time.

"I'm happy to be admitted directly to the Black and White Hall."

"But this delay is not to my liking."

Li Hao cleared his throat, looking both humble and innocent.

The scrutinizing gazes finally subsided.

Ten years ago, Li Jiu of the Li family fell, shocking the world. His three-imperishable feat at nineteen was unprecedented.

Unfortunately, they hadn't seen him in life.

Now, seeing this fourteen-year-old in the fifteen-mile realm, they couldn't help but observe closely. Was there something special about him? How did he cultivate? Song Yufeng, after a long observation, grew increasingly alarmed. He had subtly tested Li Hao's cultivation but found it impenetrable.

Given his level, failing to see through suggested Li Hao had cultivated some high-level concealment technique.

Such techniques often provided little direct combat advantage. Yet Li Hao, at fourteen, had not only mastered this but also reached the fifteen-mile realm. His talent seemed almost too much.

When the emperor granted him a name... his judgment was indeed sharp!

Song Yufeng thought, feeling an added respect for the emperor.

"With your talent, reaching the fifteen-mile realm, even the Dao Palace would accept you."

Song Yufeng asked curiously, "Why choose Tangong Academy?"

The others were also curious. Was it for the unique skills? Or something else?

Song Yueyao also watched intently, awaiting Li Hao's answer.

"The reason..."

Recalling that day, Li Hao smiled, "Probably because that morning, I wanted a piece of Mianyu Xiangsu."

Everyone: ""

What? They had considered many possible answers, but not this.

Mianyu Xiangsu? A crispy snack? People had various reasons for wanting to join Tangong Academy: to learn martial arts for revenge, to gain fame, to inherit family business, to gain prestige... but never for a fried snack.

The hall fell into stunned silence. After a moment, Song Yufeng regained his composure, smiling wryly, "That Xiangsu... must be delicious."

"Yes."

Li Hao replied earnestly, even enthusiastically, "You should try it sometime. Look for the sign in Qinglian Alley, Lao Liu's place."

Seeing Li Hao's serious recommendation, the elders were speechless.

Qinglian Alley's Xiangsu... Song Yueyao mentally noted it down.

"Isn't it for our academy's ultimate skill, the Taiji Qiankun Sword?" Huang Licai couldn't help but ask.

He felt Li Hao's answer was too casual.