Heavens' Laughter

Just like that, a month passed.

During this time, Feng Shen dedicated himself wholeheartedly to mastering two techniques: Shadow Step and Dragon's Roar.

He practiced tirelessly, stopping only when he had perfected them both.

Perfecting both techniques would have taken an ordinary person countless years, but Feng Shen was anything but ordinary.

He was overpowered in his own right, for his Sea of Consciousness was unique—nearly broken in its vastness and depth.

This had always given Feng Shen an unparalleled edge, allowing him to achieve mastery at a pace unimaginable to others.

Although he hadn't cultivated as much as he would have liked, he still strengthened his body through simple exercises and rigorous martial arts practice.

So, despite his low cultivation level, Feng Shen's consistent training had significantly increased his physical strength and overall fighting power.

Naturally, he had also slept, eaten, and tended to all his other needs to ensure he remained in peak condition.

Additionally, Feng Shen found time to indulge in some enjoyment with the servants of the Feng family, always careful to keep his personal attendant—who shadowed him constantly—in the dark.@@novelbin@@

And so, the time in the world of cultivation moved far too swiftly, and at last, the day of the trials had arrived.

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"Hmm~ so this is the famous Soaring Academy?" Feng Shen mused, his eyes drifting over the imposing, open gates and the sprawling grounds beyond.

In his past life, he had never encountered a place like this, nor could he recall having destroyed anything of the sort.

'This must be a relatively new establishment,' the thought struck Feng Shen.

In truth, he had no concrete knowledge about it, nor did he particularly care. In his past life, he had never set foot in any educational institution or similar place.

"It seems we've finally arrived, Second Young Master! I must say, it's quite crowded!" Yùn Yì exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she took in the surroundings.

Dragons soared through the sky while carriages glided effortlessly above. Young men and women also flew on swords, weaving gracefully among the clouds, and many Spirit Beasts served as transport.

A sea of thousands descended upon the academy, adorned in luxurious clothing, although some were clad in simple attire.

The entire Soaring Academy and its sprawling grounds were situated on floating islands, each one connected by elegant bridges that arched gracefully through the air.

'Uh~! I wish I had brought a camera!' Yùn Yì sighed to herself.

If she could've, she would have been snapping countless pictures, eager to capture every breathtaking scene, as this was her first time witnessing such majestic creatures, powerful-looking individuals, and structures.

Sadly, Yùn Yì could only bite an imaginary handkerchief in defeat, her disappointment palpable as she resigned herself to the moment.

'It's fine… I can't let this get me down!'

Yet, refusing to let her spirits dampen, Yùn Yì resolved to commit every detail to memory, determined to etch the vibrant sights and sounds of the academy into her mind, each one a treasure to recall later.

Feng Shen could only roll his eyes in mild annoyance, unable to comprehend why his personal servant was so fascinated by the surrounding spectacle.

To him, the dragons, flying carriages, swords, and Spirit Beasts were little more than inferior modes of transportation, and the academy's structures paled in comparison to what he had seen in the Nine Heavens.

"I just don't get it…" Feng Shen muttered under his breath, rubbing his eyes in exasperation.

"I'm sorry. What did you say? I didn't hear you…" Yùn Yì asked, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment as she glanced at the Second Young Master.

She realized she had let her excitement get the better of her, and the last thing she wanted was to appear overly enthusiastic or strange in front of him.

'Gosh, I'm totally acting like a fool right now!' Yùn Yì screamed inside her head. She felt a sharp twinge of self-consciousness wash over her for having acted so childishly.

"Hmm?" Turning away from his personal servant and back toward the entrance, Feng Shen replied with a casual wave of his hand. "Ah~ nothing important. Let's not linger here. We should head in."

"Alright! Sounds good to me!" Yùn Yì said, her excitement bubbling over as she clapped her hands together.

The prospect of stepping inside the famed academy thrilled her. She envisioned all the wonders that awaited them within.

Despite not being able to cultivate, Yùn Yì was still excited to follow the Second Young Master and experience everything from a spectator's point of view.

As they both began to walk, Feng Shen glanced over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips:

"You know, I still have to pass the trials before I'm accepted, right?"

Feng Shen said this primarily to reign down his personal servant's exuberance; he found her unbridled optimism a bit grating.

Positivity, in his mind, was overrated—almost disgusting. It felt naïve to him, especially in the cultivation world, as harsh and unforgiving.

Putting on a bright smile, Yùn Yì chuckled, "You're too funny, Second Young Master! You're guaranteed to pass! It's a hundred percent! There's no way you could fail! You're the best of the best!"

To her, he was an unstoppable force, and in her eyes, there was simply no one who could measure up to him.

This unwavering belief had colored Yùn Yì's perspective, making it impossible for her to see any flaws in him.

Seeing his personal servant so fanatically devoted to him filled Feng Shen with an unexpected sense of satisfaction.

'It seems my suffering was not in vain…' He thought to himself, reflecting on the sacrifices he had made to show this facade of kindness.

Each moment spent suppressing his natural inclination for sarcasm, disdain, and his own atrocious personality, each smile forced onto his lips, had been a strategic move.

As they both stepped inside, onto the grounds where numerous other people stood around, waiting, it was crowded.

"Stay close to me," Feng Shen instructed his personal servant, his grip firm as he clasped her hand. He didn't want to lose her in the sea of bodies.

With so many people around, it was easy for someone to get separated from their companions or whoever they had come with.

Hearing the words "Stay close to me" and feeling her hand being grasped firmly by the Second Young Master, Yùn Yì couldn't help but nod in response, her cheeks flushing a soft pink.

The warmth of his touch sent a ripple of confusing emotions through her, and she felt a flutter in her chest as they moved together.

'Wait… won't this get me pregnant!?' Yùn Yì's eyes widened in shock as the thought raced through her mind.

She remembered her mother's warnings about how dangerous it could be to hold hands with a boy. Panic surged through her, and she nearly stumbled.

Yùn Yì's imagination began running wild as she glanced at the back of the Second Young Master:

'Will he take responsibility?' Such a question lingered in her mind.

Yùn Yi couldn't help but envision a future where they were more than just master and servant. Her cheeks flushed even deeper.

Unbeknownst to Feng Shen, while his personal servant was imagining a future of them being married, living in the countryside…

He had navigated through the crowd, leading them to the back, where the wall was.

After all, Feng Shen didn't particularly like having his back turned to thousands of strangers, especially in a place teeming with potential threats.

Releasing his grip on his personal servant's hand, Feng Shen leaned against the cool surface of the wall, surveying around the crowd with a calculating gaze.

Taking in the faces, he noticed those who seemed particularly interesting.

'Oh~ interesting… This will be fun~.'

From what Feng Shen recalled about the last soul's memories, many important figures were expected to attend—the heirs of powerful families, clans, princes and princesses from all the Bird Empires, and so on.

As he did that…

Yùn Yì simply looked at her hand, the hand that had been held just moments ago, as she became lost in her own thoughts—thoughts that were hers alone.

The warmth of of the Second Young Master's hand still lingered on her skin…

'Do I have to wash this hand?' Yùn Yì pondered silently. To her, it was as if it were a treasure she wanted to keep.

Washing it filled her with reluctance; the warmth of the touch was still vivid in her memory.

Yet, the nagging worry that the Second Young Master might one day comment on her cleanliness crept into Yùn Yì's mind.

'… It would be best to wash it…'

"Hmm? A bear?" Feng Shen muttered to himself as he caught sight of a towering demi-human bear, its massive frame covered in thick, shaggy fur.

The bear's eyes blazed with a hatred as he stomped toward him, a heavy cannon strapped to his back, swaying slightly with each heavy step.

Everyone around the bear shuffled away.

Those who stood their ground were met with a forceful shove, the sheer size of the demi-human bear forcing them to stumble back.

It was as if a ripple passed through the crowd, parting them like waves in a storm.

Until the bear stopped in place, as he stood directly before the human he had so badly wanted to meet face to face.

"So, you're the human who killed my little friend? I can hardly believe someone so insignificant as a mere human could dare do such a thing!"