She is Jianxiu

Si Queyi replied, "I am twenty-three years old this year. Last year I was promoted to the eighth rank, which is why I was able to enter the clan school to listen to lectures."

The students in the Bingzi Room were no exception, as only those who reached this level were qualified to enter the clan school. However, Si Queyi's advancement was too fast. She had only been studying in the Bingzi Room for a few months when she surpassed the students in front and reached the seventh rank first. This inevitably led people to make some dark speculations, thinking that she had been stuck at the eighth rank for many years and was taking advantage of the approaching breakthrough opportunity to enter the clan school to gain a reputation as a genius.

In fact, this conjecture was not without basis. As Si Que Dan Yun grew older, there were no fifth-rank scholars under him who were worthy of being entrusted with important tasks. In recent years, several scholars had been sent out to study, also in order to let them seek opportunities and see if they could find a fourth-rank scholar in their family before Si Que Dan Yun passed away, so that they could become the pillars of the family.

Therefore, the Sique clan has always placed great importance on young geniuses, but unfortunately, such people are rare. If one such person can emerge from the direct line within three to five years, Sique Danyun will personally step in and send him to the upper academy of the academy with a letter of recommendation.

If the child is a genius from a collateral branch, then it is even more remarkable. Often, the benefit of one son can extend to the entire lineage. As the saying goes, "Where there is a will, there are brave men." For this reason, there are many who are willing to take risks and keep their children at home to hone their skills so that they can be sent to the clan school and soar to great heights.

However, these deceptive methods usually don't last long, at least a year and a half, at most three to five years. As geniuses gradually become mediocre, how could the lecturers of the clan school not realize the key issues?

Unfortunately, all the effort and care put into cultivating him over the years has been invested in him. If it weren't for his extremely poor aptitude, he could have made considerable progress with the support of resources over the next three to five years, thus breaking through to graduation and becoming a sixth-rank scholar. If the clan school were to question him, wouldn't it be all bark and no bite?

Today, seeing that Si Queyi has advanced to the seventh rank in less than half a year of study, it is as if he has appeared out of nowhere. Such talent is beyond the reach of even direct disciples, let alone a young junior who has just started out and has no reputation. Si Queyi is making such a big fuss here, is he not afraid of his tongue getting twisted?

The students were filled with suspicion and could not take it calmly. Zhan Yan knew what was going on. He waved and called Si Queyi to his side. He placed two fingers on her forehead and, after examining her, his expression was inexplicably joyful. He smiled and said, "Good, good. She has indeed broken through to the seventh rank. In addition, her foundation is solid and her literary lineage is clear. If she studies diligently in the future, she will surely achieve great things."

She turned back to the front of the stage, took a yellow wooden waist tag and handed it to Si Queyi. She pointed outside and said, "Take this waist tag. You can report to the Yi-Zi Room today. Remember to have your study companion pack your things. The Yi-Zi Room has one lesson every ten days. The tutors are two fifth-rank scholars from my Si Que family. Remember to be very respectful to your tutors and do not disobey them just because you are talented."

Such heartfelt words would not have been revealed to an ordinary student graduating from the Bingzi Room by Zhan Yan. This was because she had paid attention to Si Queyi since he entered the clan school, and she knew that Si Queyi was not the kind of person who hid his cultivation or took shortcuts. Now, after studying for half a year, his progress was all under her watchful eye. If this was not considered a genius, then where else in the Bingzi Room could there be a more outstanding prodigy?

Our ancestor is advanced in years, and after suffering humiliation at the hands of the Suotu family some time ago, he needs the emergence of a peerless genius to appease the people.

She heard that Si Que Dan Yun had come out of seclusion this time and had even put aside his great book-writing project to personally summon the hundred students of the Jiazi Room. This was so similar to the foreshadowing of the Si Que clan's selection of recommended students for the academy two years ago.

That year, the clan selected two geniuses, both direct descendants of the clan. After going to Lijing, no news came back. They must have been lost among the many prodigies emerging from the academy.

Si Queyi accepted the waist token and bowed deeply to Zhan Yanxing with genuine sincerity. As she stepped out of the threshold of Room C from the front door below the stage, she heard a stern reprimand from behind. Startled, she quickly quieted herself and headed towards Room B with the waist token in hand.

"According to Senior Zhao, the ancestor's practice of summoning students from the top-ranking academy shows that he is eager to find talent. This is also a good opportunity for me. If I can get into the top 100 within half a year and be admitted to the top-ranking academy, the ancestor will likely notice me. At that time, with the help of the senior, I can break through to the sixth rank, and the academy spot will definitely be mine..."

"My seniors have thought a lot about me, so I should study even harder and get into the top-tier department as soon as possible!"

Si Queyi was thrilled. After entering the Yi Zi room, he took Zhao Chun's guidance as gospel and studied diligently day and night. As a result, he was unaware of the turmoil caused by Suo Tu Hong's death outside the Si Que family, which eventually became an unsolved case.

Only within the capital, Suo Tu Yi, who was deeply troubled by this matter, gradually began to find some clues.

He closed the door and sat alone in the dark room of the attic. A small bronze furnace, no bigger than a palm, was placed on a low table. Its style was ancient and strange. Although it had some similarities with the creations of this world, Suo Tu Yi was certain that it was definitely not something from the Qianming Realm.

It seems that illegal immigrants have infiltrated the area.

The reason why Suotu Hong died and his soul dissipated was very likely due to the actions of those who illegally crossed over. Unfortunately, before that, he had already sent this strange cauldron to him through someone else. After that person failed to find what he wanted, he would probably not give up easily. He did not want to report this news to the Grand Master. Firstly, the Gushe Academy adhered to the principle of education for all and had no prejudice against those who illegally crossed over. The crime of illegally crossing over to the upper realm was not enough to persuade a second-rank scholar like the Grand Master to take action. Secondly, if this matter were exposed, the cauldron would probably not fall into his hands and would be confiscated by the academy.

Therefore, leaving this item behind was a way of saying that the person was still up to no good and that if he found out that the small stove was with him in the future, it would naturally come to him without him having to search for it.

"But it was this strange thing that caused my brother to lose his life in vain."

Suo Tu Yi lifted the small furnace with one hand. Even with the eyesight of a third-rank scholar, he couldn't decipher the patterns carved on its surface. Like his elder brother Suo Tu Hong, he could only perceive a layer of restraint sealing the furnace. He also tried to use his literary meridians, diverting a wisp of his primordial spirit to pry open the restriction so he could probe inside with his divine sense. Unfortunately, the restriction was watertight; even after trying more than ten times, there wasn't the slightest sign of it loosening.

The person who left this restriction must be at least a powerful figure of the level of a Grand Master!
His face showed horror, knowing that the Suotu family's resources were no match for such a person. At this moment, the originally ordinary small stove became as hot as a death warrant.

"The academy still has the Grand Master in charge. If I don't leave, I still have the Grand Master's protection. But if I leave..."

The worst-case scenario is likely!
Suo Tu Yi broke out in a cold sweat, feeling fortunate that he had heeded the advice of the Grand Master and had not impulsively left Lijing to seek revenge for his brother in Mianzhou City. Otherwise, it would have been hard to say whether he would have been able to return.

Now that he has this small stove in his hands, even Suotuyi himself finds it difficult to say what to do with it.

He was still struggling with his decision and couldn't come up with a definite idea. Without instructions, the Suotu family naturally didn't want to cause any more trouble, so the city of Mianzhou enjoyed half a year of peace.

However, whenever Si Que Danyun thought of the domineering nature of the Suotu family, he would be filled with worry, fearing that one day Suotu Yi would make a comeback and travel thousands of miles back to demand justice.

"In the end, it was because our Sique family was too weak that the Chao family had to step forward to get the people from the Prefect's Office to speak. Otherwise, how could we suppress the Suotu family?"

"A hundred years, a full hundred years, not to mention a third-rank scholar, we haven't even managed to produce a fourth-rank one. This is the current state of my Sique clan. When I, Sique Danyun, die one day, if all this vast wealth, scriptures and books are handed over to you, do you really think you can protect it?"

The crowd below looked embarrassed, saying they were too terrified to accept the honor. Some of the more eloquent ones flattered the ancestor, praising his longevity and good health. Si Que Dan Yun, however, felt no less depressed upon hearing this. He sighed and said, "What's the use of these flattering words? Instead of trying to please me, you should carefully investigate the clan to see if there are any hidden talents. The few students selected from the top-ranked students so far are, in my opinion, far from enough."

The people below remained silent for a long time. After a while, a young man who had been kneeling at the back straightened up and boldly reported, "Ancestor, I know a junior here who just passed the entrance exam for the Jia class the other day. Many people in the clan school say that he has excellent talent and is a rare genius."

"Oh? There are geniuses in the clan school that I don't know about?" Si Que Dan Yun's eyes lit up, and he immediately became interested. He leaned down slightly and beckoned to the man, saying, "What is that junior's name? How old is he? Tell us quickly."

The young man rose from the hall and said with great emotion, "This person's given name is Yi. He is a member of a collateral branch of the Si Que clan in the four towns of Fujian. Since entering the clan school a year ago, he broke through to the seventh rank in just half a year. Now, half a year later, he has entered the top 100 and has been admitted to the first-class room for further study. In my humble opinion, such talent is absolutely top-notch!"

"Si Que Lin, have you really figured out that person's background? Or have you lost your eyes and been fooled by the tricks of that collateral relative, daring to run to the ancestor and spout nonsense?"

Hearing the old man's urgent rebuke, Si Que Lin raised his eyebrows and said with confidence, "I don't know if it's a hoax or not, but I do know that the ancestor can definitely tell the difference between a true prodigy and a fool. Elder Chongwen, are you in such a hurry because you're afraid that Si Que Yi's intervention will ruin your own children's plans?"

The old man's face paled. Having his secret exposed in front of Si Que Dan Yun, he could only silently bury his head, not daring to utter another word. (End of Chapter)