This news was like a ton of bricks, crashing down on the already gloomy brothers and leaving them completely reeling. Now, what lay heavy on the hearts of Qin Feng and Qin Hu was no longer just gloom, but something more... fear!

’Could such a coincidence really exist in this world?’

Ever since they heard that name, neither of them had slept well. They thought about asking the Second Prince, but they had heard that this noble from the Great Qi Kingdom, Qin Li, was held in high regard by him. If they went, they would likely just be reprimanded. Worse, if it really was the same person, they could be in mortal danger!

Hearing that this Qin Li was also coming to teach at the Advanced Academy, Qin Feng’s gloom deepened. Enduring it was one thing, but if he were to run away now, it would be tantamount to destroying his own future. His life would basically be over.

After thinking it over and over, Qin Feng and Qin Hu decided to endure it for now. They would wait until Qin Li arrived at the academy and see with their own eyes whether or not he was the same person.

They were both certain that even if he were reduced to ashes, they would still recognize Qin Li. Their hatred for him was carved into their very bones.

"Hey, Qin Feng, have you heard? That legendary figure, Marquis Qin Li, is about to arrive. Aren’t you going to check out the commotion? A lot of the girls from our academy have already gone! I even heard that Princess Zhao Qianqian went! Heh, and haven’t you always had a thing for Her Highness..." a male student on good terms with Qin Feng said, trailing off with a sleazy grin.

At the Imperial Advanced Academy, some people’s identities were common knowledge, while others were very low-key and thus seemed much more mysterious. Not many people at the Imperial Academy knew about the disaster that had befallen Qin Feng’s family, and those who did wouldn’t go around spreading rumors. Naturally, Qin Feng and Qin Hu weren’t foolish enough to publicize such a matter.

And Qin Feng did indeed have a thing for Princess Zhao Qianqian. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so completely indifferent to his cousin Mo Feifei. Compared to the princess, Mo Feifei was far too lacking in every aspect.

Ordinarily, Qin Feng also had a very high opinion of himself. His reputation as a genius was not unearned, as he was currently attempting to break through to the Earth Level! And he was only sixteen years old this year! If he could successfully break through and become an Earth Level Martial Artist, he would be considered an unprecedented genius in the Cyan Dragon Kingdom!

As for that Qin Li from the Great Qi Kingdom, he wasn’t even a citizen of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom when he made his name.

’At least, that’s what Qin Feng believed.’

’Originally, I thought that as long as I successfully broke through to the Earth Level and became one of the true top elites of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom, Princess Zhao Qianqian would surely look upon me with favor. At that point, if I pursued a relationship with her, she wouldn’t refuse me!’

For the fiery passion hidden deep in his heart, for the dream of reviving his family, and to one day tear Qin Li limb from limb to avenge his hatred, Qin Feng was indeed working incredibly hard.

His fanatical progress had even spurred the atmosphere at the Imperial Advanced Academy to improve. People have two sides, and Qin Feng had always put up a good front at the Imperial Academy.

"I’m going! Why wouldn’t I? Wait for me." Qin Feng gritted his teeth. ’What’s coming can’t be avoided,’ he thought. ’If it’s not the same person, then my brother and I will have nothing to worry about!’

With this in mind, Qin Feng specifically found a black trench coat to wear. He pulled the hood over his head, obscuring his face.

Qin Feng’s classmate laughed. "Qin Feng, that’s a pretty strange getup. Ha, are you trying to compete with that Marquis who shares your surname to see who can steal the spotlight?"

Qin Feng thought about it and agreed. Dressing so strangely would only attract more attention. He pulled off the hood, revealing his handsome face, and said softly, "Let’s go."

... 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

A large crowd of students had already gathered at the entrance of the Advanced Academy. They all had excited expressions on their faces and were whispering amongst themselves.

Because the academy’s atmosphere was generally relaxed and the rules for students weren’t too strict, even a number of teachers from the Advanced Academy had mingled with the student crowd to watch the spectacle.

However, their feelings toward this arriving Marquis were not necessarily so friendly.

One of them, a man in his forties, seemed to particularly despise Qin Li. Frowning, he complained to the young, beautiful female teacher beside him, "He’s nothing more than an Earth Level, Tier Seven Martial Artist. It’s not like the Empire is short on people with that kind of strength. Celestial Level Martial Artists might be rare, but Earth Level? Hmph. Which one of us senior lecturers at the academy isn’t?"

Indeed, as the Empire’s Advanced Academy, its faculty was the strongest in the entire Cyan Dragon Kingdom. Any given teacher possessed at least the strength of a High Tier Profound Level. And the legendary, elusive headmaster was said to have long ago reached the Celestial Level! He was in closed-door cultivation year-round, and there was no telling when he might break through the Celestial Level and enter the Celestial Shattering Realm!

The middle-aged male teacher who was speaking was named Liang Luo. At forty years old, he had already reached the strength of an Earth Level, Tier Eight! He specialized in a Fire Attribute combat technique and wielded a long blade. He was quite a famous figure at the Imperial Advanced Academy.

It was just that he had a nasty mouth and an arrogant, condescending attitude, so he had offended many people. Most people were unwilling to stand near him.

The young female teacher, on the other hand, had only just arrived at the Imperial Advanced Academy this year. She was also a Martial Artist with Earth Level strength, and her background was extremely mysterious; it was said she came from a powerful family. Coupled with her beauty, many people were eager to flock around her.

The beautiful young female teacher just gave a faint smile. There was something she left unsaid: ’Why don’t you consider Qin Li’s age? If you had the strength of an Earth Level, Tier Seven at sixteen, your ego would have already shot through the roof!’ But such words couldn’t be spoken aloud.

Seeing that she didn’t respond, the middle-aged teacher Liang Luo assumed she agreed with him and couldn’t help but add, "Teacher Yi Ning, I really feel indignant on your behalf. Look, you were always the youngest senior lecturer at the Imperial Advanced Academy, and this kid hasn’t even arrived yet and has already stolen your thunder. But don’t worry, I won’t pay him any mind. I’m firmly on your side, Teacher Yi Ning!"

Yi Ning gave another faint smile, but deep within her bright, clear eyes, a flash of disgust flickered. ’This man is so obnoxious!’

"Wow, Teacher Qin Li’s carriage is here!"

"Hey, it really is! Teacher Qin Li, I love you!"

"Don’t be ridiculous, Teacher Qin Li is mine!"

"..."

As Qin Li’s carriage entered the school gates, the spontaneously organized welcoming party reached its climax. The girls’ frenzied excitement not only startled the teachers and male students in the academy, but also gave Qin Li himself quite a shock.

Peeking through a crack in the carriage curtain, Qin Li was truly astonished by the huge crowd of young faces at the campus entrance. What shocked him even more was the tide-like fluctuation of Primordial Power coming from the crowd!

’This isn’t just a group of star-struck teenagers; these people are the future elites of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom!’

’I’m this popular?’

Qin Li was stunned for a long moment. He wanted to get out and say something—wave his hand, perhaps, and say a few words like "Greetings, comrades! You’ve all worked hard!"—but then he felt it would be rather foolish. ’I’m not the head of state...’ he thought. ’Besides, being so high-profile and ostentatious on my very first day at the Advanced Academy would probably dissatisfy a lot of people.’

Therefore, Qin Li’s stirring heart instantly calmed down. Although the students looked fanatical, they hadn’t completely blocked the road, so Qin Li’s carriage passed easily through the middle of the crowd and headed deeper into the campus.

"Damn, this Teacher Qin Li is way too arrogant! So many people wanted to see him, and he didn’t even show his face!" Qin Feng’s classmate grumbled softly beside him.

But a girl nearby overheard him, shot him a fierce glare, and said, "What do you know? That’s called being cool! If you have what it takes, you can be like that too when you reach Earth Level, Tier Seven at sixteen and hold the title of a Marquis!"

"Exactly! We all know you guys are just jealous of Teacher Qin’s achievements. Wake up! Jealousy is the original sin of decline! You should be working hard to improve yourselves!"

"Yeah, guys should be more broad-minded. No girl likes a petty guy, you know!"

The group of girls chattered on, mercilessly mocking Qin Feng’s classmate until he was speechless. The classmate rolled his eyes in frustration. ’I just complained a little,’ he thought. ’Do you all have to attack me like this?’

After the girls finished, they finally noticed that Qin Feng, who was quite popular in the academy, was also there. Feeling a little embarrassed, they all turned away and started discussing what Qin Li must look like.

Qin Feng felt a small measure of comfort. ’Looks like I still have some status in the girls’ eyes,’ he thought. ’Much more than this guy next to me who just got verbally battered into a daze.’

The students followed the carriage deeper into the campus, but most of the teachers who had come to watch the excitement stayed behind. It would be a bit embarrassing for them to follow along. Their pride wouldn’t allow it.

Liang Luo curled his lip and watched the large group of students’ retreating backs. "I think bringing this person into the Advanced Academy was a mistake! The atmosphere here used to be so good, with everyone diligently cultivating. But the moment he arrives, just look! Look what it’s become! The boys are all jealous to death, and the girls have all turned into love-struck fools, shouting things like... ’Teacher Qin, I love you!’... What... what has this place come to! It’s disgraceful!"

Although Liang Luo’s daily relationships at the academy weren’t great, his words at this moment clearly struck a chord with some. Most of those who agreed with him were other male teachers.

One of them, a well-built male teacher who looked to be in his thirties, sneered, "He’s just an Earth Level Martial Artist. I hear he’s very young? And a great fighter? I don’t really believe it. Earth Level, Tier Seven? Heh. If I get the chance, I’d like to spar with him and see if his Five Elements Physique is really as outstanding as the legends say!"