Out of Seclusion

After a year, Mo Qingkuang walked out of the valley and returned to the inner court. 

Compared to a year ago, the inner court had more people. Many outer court disciples had successfully joined the inner court through their efforts over the past year. 

Looking at the Qingyun Stele, instead of dropping, his rank had risen from 117th to 95th, with many others ranking behind him now in the 130s. 

The inner court saw new members joining and old members leaving. In the past year, nearly twenty inner court disciples either chose to graduate or unfortunately perished while performing tasks outside. 

This was a normal phenomenon in the cultivation world, and Mo Qingkuang was prepared for it. 

He also went to Han Yan's small courtyard but found she wasn't there. Judging by the state of the courtyard, it seemed she hadn't returned in the past year. 

"Still in seclusion..." Mo Qingkuang muttered to himself. Occasionally, he had missed her over the past year. 

However, the atmosphere among the inner court students felt strange to Mo Qingkuang. 

Many students hurried about. Even familiar faces didn't come to greet him. There were no groups of students discussing cultivation by the roadside. Apart from the sound of footsteps, the entire inner court was unusually quiet and depressing. 

After the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb incident, he had become quite a well-known figure in the inner court. It was impossible that people had completely forgotten about him in just a year. 

"Ancestor, what do you think happened to them?" Mo Qingkuang asked in his heart. 

He could feel that something significant had occurred, causing this situation. 

Mo Fan replied calmly, "Wang Hua has been arrested." 

Yes, just the day before, Wang Hua, the Prime Minister of Tianxuan Empire, was captured by the Empress herself. 

Over the past year, with Mo Fan's repeated guidance in dreams, Zheng Tao and others gradually unearthed multiple pieces of evidence of Wang Hua's collusion with the Blue Flame Empire. 

Wang Hua wasn't a fool and had gradually sensed something amiss. He started planning his escape but didn't realize he had long been under the close surveillance of Fu Qing. 

As he prepared his belongings and arranged his travel documents, ready to depart, the Empress's chariot suddenly descended upon his residence. He knew then that he was exposed and that there was no escape. 

He didn't resist or argue and was apprehended by the Empress, his cultivation abolished, and imprisoned in the dungeon. 

He knew that the Tianxuan Empire wouldn't dare arrest its foremost minister without absolute certainty and irrefutable evidence. 

As someone who is hailed as the most virtuous Prime Minister and having dedicated his life to the country and its people, Wang Hua was revealed to be a traitor. 

Whether it was the citizens of Tianxuan or the officials in the court, they found it impossible to accept. 

However, the mountain of evidence left them no choice but to believe. 

Furthermore, Zhang the Benevolent's confession and Wang Hua's own admissions during the public trial left no doubt. 

Despite their disbelief, the entire Tianxuan had to accept this outcome. 

Wang Hua's impact was immense. The officials seemed to have lost their spirit, showing no interest in their duties. 

The citizens of Tianxuan were mostly crying and angry, overcome with despair, and even questioning the state of the world. 

This was the despair of having their faith shattered. 

He was the role model for officials, the hero of the people! 

Mo Qingkuang, however, felt indifferent. He wasn't originally from Tianxuan, and the notion that Wang Hua was a traitor came from him. 

Being punished for his crimes was only natural. Upon learning of Wang Hua's capture, he felt it was only right. 

Nevertheless, he needed to visit his teacher, Zheng Tao, since this matter began because of him. 

When he arrived at Star Pavilion, not only was Zheng Tao there, but also Hua Ge, Fu Qing, and Fu Qing's disciple Chen Kong. 

Standing behind Hua Ge was a handsome young man. 

"A Grandmaster?" Upon seeing Mo Qingkuang enter, everyone in the room was astonished! 

Everyone present was of high cultivation and keen insight, and they could tell the depth of Mo Qingkuang's cultivation. 

In just one year, Mo Qingkuang had reached the Martial Grandmaster realm. At seventeen years old, such an achievement was unprecedented not just in the inner court but in the entire history of the Tianxuan Empire! It was truly unprecedented! 

Spirit Body cultivation indeed progresses faster than ordinary people's, but breaking through four ranks in a year, including a major realm breakthrough, seems too incredible even for fiction. 

Chen Kong is also a Spirit Body, and now, at the age of twenty, he is only a Third-Rank Grandmaster, which is already considered extremely rapid progress. 

"Greetings, Teacher, Principal Fu, Dean Hua, and Senior Brother Chen Kong." Mo Qingkuang respectfully saluted. 

"You brat, you really gave this old man a big surprise," Zheng Tao said with a laugh, recovering from his shock. 

Over the past year, Chen Kong's progress had been visibly significant, while Mo Qingkuang had been in seclusion, making his exact situation unknown to Zheng Tao. 

As the plan to capture Wang Hua gradually neared its end, Zheng Tao, Fu Qing, and Hua Ge relaxed significantly. On regular days, Fu Qing would often tease Chen Kong, making him quite distressed. 

Zheng Tao had been holding a grudge, waiting for Mo Qingkuang to come out of seclusion and redeem his reputation. Now that Mo Qingkuang was out, he had not only redeemed his reputation but also made a significant mark! 

Reaching the Grandmaster realm, only two ranks away from Chen Kong, and being younger with more potential for development. 

Hua Ge, watching Mo Qingkuang, felt a pang of regret. Now, both Fu Qing and Zheng Tao had Spirit Body disciples who were Grandmaster experts! 

Meanwhile, his own disciple... it was better not to mention. 

Standing behind him was a handsome young man in Confucian robes, appearing about twenty years old. He exuded no trace of true qi, looking as if he had never practised martial arts. 

However, his presence emanated a refined, scholarly aura. His posture was impeccable, his manners flawless, exuding noble elegance. 

Mo Qingkuang nodded. "A year in seclusion has yielded some results. I apologize for any worry caused, Teacher." 

"No worries. Come, have a seat." Zheng Tao smiled warmly, clearly in an excellent mood. "You've met Principal Fu and Dean Hua before. You and Chen Kong aren't meeting for the first time either. Hua Ge, why don't you introduce your disciple?" 

Hua Ge rolled his eyes at Zheng Tao, feeling this was blatant showing off. 

"Han Shu, greet your Junior Brother Mo." Hua Ge twitched his fingers. 

The handsome young man stepped forward and bowed deeply to Mo Qingkuang. "I am Han Shu, greetings, Brother Mo!" 

His bow was exceptionally respectful, and he addressed Mo Qingkuang as 'Brother' rather than 'Junior Brother,' showing utmost respect. 

Mo Qingkuang was surprised and quickly responded, "Senior Brother Han, there's no need for such formalities. I don't deserve this." 

He hadn't expected that this senior brother, whom he had just met, would show him such great respect! 

Could it be that the senior brothers of the Literature Institute were all so polite? 

Before Han Shu could respond, Hua Ge lazily interjected, "You do deserve it! If necessary, he wouldn't hesitate to kneel before you."