She is Jianxiu

Zhao Chun waited in the house for two days before a servant came to report that Master Fanya, who taught the literature subject, would be giving a lecture at the upper dormitory. There would be no restrictions, and any student of the upper dormitory could attend.

Master Fanya is ranked third, and his status in the Documents Department is probably no less than that of Suotuyi. She has inquired about it in the past few days. The Gushe Academy in Jinlai Kingdom is only one of its branches. This time, the Danqiu Conference will select one person from each of the three paths: Documents, Etiquette and Music, and Martial Arts. If Suotuyi is the candidate for Martial Arts, then Fanya is the obvious choice to participate in the Documents Department.

The two were evenly matched in strength, yet both were highly regarded by the Grand Master and could be considered the backbone of the Gushe lineage in Jinlai Kingdom.

Zhao Chun also took the opportunity to go and observe, to see what the demeanor of a third-rank scholar was like in the Qianming Realm.

She changed her clothes, estimated the time when class would start, and then strolled leisurely toward the lecture hall in the upper dormitory.

She encountered many students along the way, but seeing her unfamiliar appearance, they couldn't immediately recall her background. Most of them just glanced at her and then continued on their way with their heads down.

When they reached a palace with towering walls and upturned eaves, and heard the intermittent sounds of flowing water and music coming from inside, Zhao Chun stepped onto the long steps and stopped in front of the gate.

Looking in from the outside, all you can see is a glazed screen wall in the shape of flowers and birds, carved with lifelike detail and quite elegant. To get inside, you must show your identification token.

The gatekeepers were several academy deacons, who were very polite to everyone. Because Master Fanya was going to give a lecture today, many students from the other two departments had also come. These students from the upper academy were exceptionally talented and had bright futures. Considering this, the deacons did not want to cause any conflict with them. They greeted them carefully and smiled happily.

If the students from the upper dormitory are stationed here for a long time and come and go frequently, the deacons will recognize their faces and there will be no need to go up and ask them to check their identities.

Zhao Chun was not among them, so as soon as she arrived, two academy stewards came over with smiles and asked her, "Today is Master Fanya's lecture, and only students from the upper dormitory are allowed to enter and listen. May we take a look at this student's pass?"

"That's natural."

Zhao Chun nodded slightly, and with her right palm facing upward, a black jade talisman appeared in her hand. A line of small characters was written vertically on it, but it was not the student token that the two stewards were familiar with. Instead, the words "Inner Dormitory Supervisor of the Martial Arts Department" were clearly written, which was obviously the teaching token of the academy's supervisor.

The abbot was taken aback for a moment, then connected the person in front of him with the recent rumors, and his expression changed. He bowed and said, "I did not know that the master had come in person. I have offended you." According to the rules of the academy, a master who can teach in the inner and upper dormitories must have at least the third rank of cultivation. Fan Ya, who is giving a lecture today, is probably no more than that.

Zhao Chun didn't bother arguing with him. She simply put away the talisman, stepped over the threshold, and headed towards the screen wall.

After she circled the screen wall and disappeared behind the door, four or five guards on duty at the gate widened their eyes and surrounded her, asking, "This person looks unfamiliar. Which master is she?"

“That’s strange. Haven’t you heard?” someone explained. “It’s that new master from the Martial Arts Department. I heard he comes from beyond the heavens, not from our Qianming Realm.”

The man who had spoken earlier didn't seem to care. "Who do you think you are? What's so special about this? There are plenty of people from other worlds in the academy. Aren't they all just people with two eyes and one nose? They don't seem to have anything special about them."

The group whispered among themselves, then quickly changed the subject. In their chatter, they failed to notice a figure suddenly appear and brazenly entered through the main gate as if no one else was there.

When they came to their senses, the man had already disappeared behind the screen wall. One of the deacons frowned and was about to chase after him to stop him, but was immediately stopped by the person next to him, who scolded, "Are you crazy? That's Master Sotu! Are you out of your mind?"

Upon learning that it was Suotuyi who had just entered, the steward breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest in gratitude, saying, "It was him! Thank goodness you stopped me, otherwise I would have been in big trouble today."

Most of the instructors at the academy were strict, with Suotuyi being one of the most severe. The students of the Martial Arts Department were known for their fierce and combative nature, which was not uncommon within the Gushe Academy.

Some people were puzzled, "It's strange. Why don't the senior monks usually come to listen to Master Fanya's lectures so actively? Now two of them have come. Is today's lecture particularly special?"

The deacons guarded the gate, completely unaware of what was happening in the lecture hall.

It is said that after Zhao Chun entered the gate, he went around a huge screen wall that was three zhang high, and then his eyes were suddenly opened up to see a quiet garden with no walls on all sides, except for artificial hills and flowing water.

In the very center of the garden is a lake of moderate size. The water is emerald green and still, like a translucent jade stone embedded in the ground. A small boat floats on the lake, but there is no one on board. It drifts quietly on the water and sails into the depths of the lotus flowers.

She stared at it intently for a moment. In the center of the lake was a platform, with auspicious beast patterns carved on its edges and body. The details differed from those in the Three Thousand Worlds, but the general meaning was similar.

The platform, furnished with tables, cushions, and even books and writing implements, signifies that the master will ascend here to lecture the students when classes begin. Zhao Chun looked around, calculating that the lecture would start in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The students from the upper academy who had come to listen to the lecture had already mostly arrived. They sat around the lake shore, some in groups, and others like Zhao Chun, sitting alone on the stone platform by the shore.

Suddenly, a gasp rang out from the crowd, followed by an uncontrollable uproar.

Zhao Chun heard someone nearby asking, "What's going on? Why is there such a commotion all of a sudden?"

Soon someone answered, saying, "It's Guru Sotu!"

Zhao Chun's heart stirred, and she immediately released her divine sense to explore. Not far from the entrance, she saw a person whose appearance was four or five parts similar to Suotu Hong, but whose height was much taller. He looked to be about twenty years old, with a spirited demeanor and bright eyes!
This is Suotu Yi.

He stood with his hands at his sides, not uttering a word, his eyes shifting slightly before suddenly fixing on Zhao Chun!
Zhao Chun did not avoid him, knowing that Suo Tu Yi's presence here meant that he must know the whole story of his brother Suo Tu Hong and the Heaven and Earth Furnace.

Noticing their eyes meet, Suo Tu Yi smiled coldly, a murderous intent rising in his chest. However, he knew that now was not the right time for him to act. He needed to wait for a suitable excuse to eliminate this person legitimately. After all, Zhao Chun had already entered the academy and had been recognized by the head of the Martial Arts Department. With her achievements comparable to a third-rank scholar, eliminating her completely would not be easy.

As Suotuyi scrutinized her face, pondering how to make his move, Fanya, the host of today's lecture, gracefully arrived.

She appeared ahead of time because she heard that Suotu Yi had come here. She looked surprised and said, "It is actually fellow student Suotu who has come in person. Why didn't you send someone to inform me? It makes me seem impolite for not coming to greet you."

Zhao Chun then saw Fan Ya in person. She had a dignified and majestic appearance and a steady and graceful gait. Although she spoke to Suo Tu Yi in a teasing tone, there was little smile on her face, as if she were really questioning him.

Suo Tu Yi didn't care about that. He just chuckled and glanced at Zhao Chun, saying, "I came here today because I heard that a newly appointed master from my Martial Arts Department has come here. I was curious and had to come and see for myself."

He then praised, "It must be because of the profound knowledge of my fellow student Fanya that even this fellow student who just entered the academy has come here out of admiration. If I were to attend his lectures, I would certainly benefit greatly."

This was just a back-and-forth exchange of flattery. Fan Ya remained expressionless, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry and curiosity as he looked toward the place Suo Tu Yi had indicated.

Zhao Chun thought that there was no way to avoid it, so she might as well pay a proper visit to the two of them. Therefore, she stepped forward and greeted Suo Tuyi's words, nodding and saying, "I have been a student at the academy for less than a month and have not yet had the chance to pay my respects to my fellow students. It is a pity that we met today."

Her demeanor was neither humble nor arrogant, yet she didn't seem like someone who had secretly crossed over from the small cave. Fan Ya's eyes sharpened, and he immediately sensed the undercurrent between Suo Tu Yi and her. He wondered if Suo Tu Yi's sudden visit was because he truly considered her a great threat and had come to investigate in person to see if she could be his opponent.

She thought to herself, "The Danqiu Forum is about to begin, and she chose this time to enter the Martial Arts Department. No wonder Suotuyi was so eager to come and test her."

Unlike the subjects of documents and rites and music, Suotuyi was the undisputed leader in the military affairs subject. This was because he was the only one who could excel in this field. The other third-rank scholar was too old and had suffered a defeat at the previous Danqiu Conference. Logically and emotionally, it was not his turn to participate in the conference. This created the situation where Suotuyi was the only one who could take the place.

Now that Zhao Chun has arrived, will she be able to break this deadlock?

Fan Ya narrowed her eyes, a hint of interest stirring within her. She thought that whichever of the two suffered a setback wouldn't be detrimental to the art of writing. Moreover, she had warned Zhao Chun that if he entered the Martial Arts Department, he would inevitably face Suo Tu Yi. Since he ignored her advice, this outcome was his own doing.

“It’s not a coincidence, I came here precisely for you, my fellow student,” Suo Tuyi said frankly. “You’re willing to join my martial arts path, so you must also be a martial arts enthusiast. Why not give me a try and let me see your true skills?”

Fan Ya's expression brightened. He hadn't expected Suo Tu Yi to directly challenge him to a duel, especially in front of so many students, making it difficult for him to refuse.

She looked up at Zhao Chun and felt that all eyes were on her, making her feel truly trapped in a difficult situation.

"What does Master Zhao think?" Sotu Yi changed his form of address, emphasizing the word "Master," displaying an air of certainty.

Zhao Chun smiled and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Since it was a personal invitation from Master Suotu, how could I bear to refuse? However—"

She suddenly raised her voice, as if she were genuinely hesitant, "There's something I need to make clear beforehand. Is my duel with Guru Sotu going to end with a point?"

"Or should we disregard life and death?" (End of Chapter)