"Shh, do you have a death wish? How dare you say something like that. We may be Soul Refiners with high status, but it’s best not to get involved in the royal family’s affairs."

After Ye Xuan’s arrival, the entire hall of the Soul Master Tower erupted in discussion. Many Soul Refiners couldn’t help but size him up, their eyes revealing their surprise.

But some Soul Refiners watched Ye Xuan with expressions of clear displeasure.

One young Soul Refiner in a blue robe snorted coldly. "I heard we’ve been waiting here for over half a month just for him. Otherwise, we would have already departed. The nerve of this guy."

"I saw his profile at the Soul Master Tower. He’s only registered as a First Grade Soul Refiner, and he just registered a year ago. To think he’s become one of the five members of the Liuyun Kingdom’s genius team. I wonder if he has real skill or just pulled some strings." Another young man sneered, his tone dripping with jealousy.

"Hehe, that’s entirely possible. I hear he’s on very good terms with Vice President Kuchen. Who knows, right?"

Many people whispered amongst themselves, their gazes toward Ye Xuan unfriendly. These Soul Refiners were mostly around twenty years old and were clearly displeased that Ye Xuan, who had only become a First Grade Soul Refiner a short while ago, was chosen as one of the five members of the genius team.

Many of them had become First Grade Soul Refiners two or three, or even five or six years ago. Now, they were all at the peak of First Grade and had held some hope of joining the genius team themselves. But when the list was announced, they were all left out. They could understand if the spots went to those Second Grade geniuses, but for Ye Xuan, who had only been a First Grade Soul Refiner for just over a year, to also make the list—that naturally infuriated them.

Of course, they only dared to talk about it in secret. If they were actually asked to protest to the Soul Master Tower’s upper management, none of them had the courage.

Ye Xuan heard these voices, but he simply smiled indifferently and paid them no mind.

’Only mediocrity escapes jealousy.’ Ye Xuan had no intention of explaining himself to them, nor did he feel the need to.

"Ye Xuan, you’re quite late."

A pleasant voice suddenly sounded by Ye Xuan’s ear. He turned in surprise to see Teacher Yun Aoxue walking over with a smile.

"Teacher Yun, you..."

Seeing the surprise in Ye Xuan’s eyes, Yun Aoxue gave a radiant smile, as captivating and brilliant as a winter plum blossom. She chuckled softly. "It seems we’ll be traveling together again."

After a moment of surprise, Ye Xuan composed himself and smiled faintly. "So, Teacher Yun Aoxue, you’ve broken through to Second Grade Soul Refiner. I must congratulate you."

"How did you know?" This time, it was Yun Aoxue’s turn to be surprised. She had only just broken through to Second Grade Soul Refiner not long ago. No more than a handful of people in the entire Soul Master Tower knew. She never expected Ye Xuan to see her Soul Refiner cultivation level at a glance. How could she not be astonished?

She had planned to surprise Ye Xuan, but now she was the one who was surprised. She couldn’t help but look him up and down. A casual glance was one thing, but a closer look gave her a shock. She realized she couldn’t see through Ye Xuan’s cultivation at all—not his Soul Refiner cultivation, and not even his Martial Artist cultivation.

"What’s your cultivation level now? You couldn’t have broken through to Tier Three Earth Martial Artist, could you?" Yun Aoxue asked, staring at Ye Xuan in astonishment.

She herself was a Third Layer Earth Martial Artist. It was impossible for a Tier Two Martial Master to hide their cultivation from her; only someone at the same tier would have a slight chance.

Ye Xuan rubbed his nose, saying awkwardly, "Just a fluke, just a fluke!"

He couldn’t very well tell Yun Aoxue that he had actually broken through to Tier Three Earth Martial Artist long ago, and that his cultivation was now the same as hers—Third Layer Earth Martial Artist.

After all, back when he wasn’t even a Tier One Warrior, Yun Aoxue was already a Tier Two, Third Layer Martial Master. Now, after only a little over two years, she had finally managed to break through to Third Layer Earth Martial Artist, while he had easily caught up to her. If she knew, the blow to her pride would be too great.

Even so, Yun Aoxue was still shocked and speechless.

"You brat, fess up. How on earth do you cultivate?"

Her clear, high-pitched shout echoed through the hall, reaching everyone’s ears and drawing all eyes.

Yun Aoxue was only twenty-two this year. A Tier Three Earth Martial Artist and a Second Grade Soul Refiner, she was the goddess in the hearts of many young Soul Refiners at the Soul Master Tower. Countless young men had pursued her, only to be effortlessly rejected. Now, seeing her chatting so warmly with Ye Xuan and acting so intimately, many of the male Soul Refiners’ gazes toward him immediately sharpened, filled with a murderous intent.

"Aoxue, I wonder what could have surprised you so. Why don’t you tell me about it?"

A refined and gentle voice sounded near Ye Xuan. A handsome young man in a purple robe, around twenty years old, was looking at Yun Aoxue with a warm smile.

"It’s nothing." Yun Aoxue clearly had no intention of telling him.

The young man paid her dismissal no mind and continued with his warm smile, "Aoxue, I heard you went to Blue Moon City for two years. I was about to apply for the position of president at the Soul Master Tower there, but then you came back. It seems fate is on our side. We get to attend the Floating Light Assembly together again. Perhaps this is what they call destiny. I hope you won’t reject me again this time. You know, far too many women in the Royal City pursue me, but none of them can catch my eye. Only you, Yun Aoxue, are the object of my, He Xuting’s, affection."

Even when expressing his affections, he did so with an air of refined elegance.

Yun Aoxue frowned. "He Xuting, there’s nothing between us. I hope you’ll stop pestering me."

He Xuting didn’t seem to mind. He turned to Ye Xuan and smiled. "You must be Ye Xuan. I’ve heard much about you. However, being a Soul Refiner is different from other paths. You probably don’t know this, but countless Soul Refiner geniuses emerge in our kingdom every year. Quite a few break through to First Grade before twenty. But many are just flashes in the pan. Very few can continue on the path to break through to Second Grade, or even Third Grade. I hope my words can serve as a reminder for you: be patient and humble. You may not know me. I’m He Xuting, the number one genius Soul Refiner of the Soul Master Tower. Twenty-four years old, at the Peak of Second Grade."

As he spoke, He Xuting extended his right hand directly to Ye Xuan, a faint, gentle smile on his lips.

"Teacher Yun Aoxue, it’s too boring here. Why don’t we go somewhere else?"

Although He Xuting maintained a gentle smile and a polite tone from start to finish, in Ye Xuan’s eyes, he seemed exceptionally hypocritical. No matter how courteous he appeared, Ye Xuan could always sense the deep-seated arrogance and condescension radiating from him. The gentleness he displayed was nothing but a facade, while his core was filled with disdain for Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge someone like that.

Seeing that Ye Xuan hadn’t even glanced at him and was instead walking away with Yun Aoxue, He Xuting’s outstretched hand froze. His face instantly turned ugly. His expression flickered for a moment before he regained his initial gentle smile. "They say you have a unique style, Ye Xuan, and that you don’t put on a false front for anyone. I’ve finally witnessed it for myself today. It’s true what they say: seeing is believing. Such a personality can only be described as untamed and free. I’m impressed. Aoxue, I heard this Ye Xuan was once your student. A great teacher truly produces a brilliant student. Why don’t you introduce us?"

"I don’t think that’s necessary," Yun Aoxue said coolly.

Rejected by both Ye Xuan and Yun Aoxue, the smile on He Xuting’s face still didn’t fade. Instead, he chuckled, "Of course it’s necessary. I heard that Ye Xuan has an extraordinary relationship with Vice President Kuchen. My father, He Zhen, is also a vice president of the Soul Master Tower. What’s more, the three of us are all members of the Liuyun Kingdom’s genius team for the Floating Light Assembly. I’ve admired Vice President Kuchen since I was a child. We should take this opportunity to exchange ideas on Soul Refining. I trust Vice President Kuchen’s judgment; he must have his reasons. He would never pull someone in just to fill a spot if they couldn’t command respect. I’m sure little brother Ye Xuan won’t refuse my request, will he?"

He Xuting’s words carried a hint of goading.

"Not interested," Ye Xuan refused flatly, not even sparing He Xuting a glance.

He Xuting’s eye twitched. Anger seemed to be building up, but he still forced a faint smile. "Could it be that little brother Ye Xuan isn’t confident in himself?"

Ye Xuan said blandly, "Whether I’m confident or not, what the hell does it have to do with you?"

"You..." A furious rage shot from He Xuting’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, forcing himself to maintain his composure. However, the smile on his lips now looked exceptionally unnatural. "Heh, little brother Ye Xuan, you’re young, but you have quite the temper. But why must you speak like that? We are both genius disciples of the Soul Master Tower, representing the Liuyun Kingdom at the Floating Light Assembly. We’re not enemies with some deep-seated hatred for each other. Why not be a little friendlier? Don’t you think I’m right?"

"Oh? I like talking this way. What’s it to you?"

"With an attitude like that, how are we supposed to have a proper conversation?" He Xuting was so angry he was about to burst, but in front of so many Soul Refiners, he still tried his best to maintain his composure.

"Who wants to have a conversation with you? Get lost and go wherever you want, just stop following me."

"You... I was just trying to give you a kind reminder and have a discussion, seeing as we’re both members of the Soul Master Tower. I never thought you’d speak to me like this. Could it be that you’re afraid to talk to me because you obtained your spot through dishonest means!" He Xuting could no longer maintain his composure and sneered repeatedly.

"Heh, now that’s more like it. A thug is a thug, and someone looking for trouble is just looking for trouble. Why pretend to be something you’re not?"

"You! I won’t waste my breath on you. But now, I’m really curious to find out how a little brat like you, who’s only been a First Grade Soul Refiner for just over a year, managed to get this spot."

His face was ashen, his gaze cold, and a sinister smile hung on his lips.