"You can cultivate on your own for now. If you encounter any problems, just tell that kid Ming Yu to come ask me!"
Qin Ning chuckled, "No, I only came to see you this time for this matter."
After Qin Ning finished speaking, he stood up and walked out.
"Young Master Qin!"
Qin Shuyue knew it was not appropriate for her to ask too much about Qin Ning's identity. From Emperor Ming Yong's attitude towards Qin Ning, she could tell that his identity was very special.
In the entire Northern Ming Empire, even that esteemed figure in the Heavenly God Academy was not treated with such deference by Emperor Ming Yong.
"What is it?"
"May I ask why Young Master Qin bestowed such a great opportunity upon my Qin family?" This was the most perplexing question in Qin Shuyue's heart.
Qin Ning had come all this way just for this one matter; it was truly incomprehensible.
Hearing this, Qin Ning was startled. He couldn't tell Qin Shuyue that it was because Qin Tianyuan's culinary skills were so superb back then, having spoiled his palate, that he later imparted the Four Spirits Transformation Scripture to Qin Tianyuan.
And he had also agreed to fulfill any request from Qin Tianyuan, but Qin Tianyuan had never made one.
So today, he wanted to make this matter Qin Tianyuan's request.
If he were to say it, Qin Shuyue would probably think he was insane.
Qin Ning slowly said, "Because... the ancestors of my Qin family are the same as yours, sharing the surname Qin!"
After Qin Ning finished speaking, he walked straight out.
Qin Shuyue touched her head at this moment. What kind of reason was this...?
Sharing the surname Qin?
There were many people with the surname Qin!
At this moment, seeing Qin Ning walk out, Emperor Ming Yong approached with a smiling face to greet him.
"This matter is concluded; I should return now!"
Qin Ning waved his hand, "No need to see me off. As an emperor, you have many responsibilities. Take good care of the legacy left by your ancestors!"
"Yes!"
Emperor Ming Yong respectfully replied.
Qin Ning led the father and daughter, Sheng Dengfeng and Ye Yuanyuan, away.
"Oh, right!"
Qin Ning suddenly stopped, spoke to Ming Yu, and waved his hand, "Ming Yu, come here for a moment!"
"Yes!"
Ming Yu looked at his imperial father and then stepped forward.
Qin Ning pulled Ming Yu aside, and the two whispered something. Not long after, Qin Ning patted Ming Yu's shoulder and then left.
Emperor Ming Yong was even more astonished watching this scene.
After the four of them, Qin Ning included, had left, Emperor Ming Yong asked Ming Yu, "What did Young Master Qin say to you?"
"Reporting to Imperial Father!"
Ming Yu cupped his hands, "Young Master Qin told me... how to unlock the Azure Yang Sword and the Azure Moon Sword!"
Joy shone in Ming Yu's eyes.
Afterward, Emperor Ming Yong's expression subtly changed. He looked at Ming Yu, nodded, and said nothing.
He had understood Qin Ning's intention.
Yesterday, he had instructed his imperial princes that whoever could uncover the secret of the Azure Yang Sword and the Azure Moon Sword would be named Crown Prince.
And today, Qin Ning had also said that for an empire to rise, one emperor was not enough.
Unless, like the ancestors of old, one possessed astonishing talent, unparalleled in the world.
But in this entire Nine Nether Continent, from its appearance until now, there had only been Emperor Ming Yuan.
Qin Ning's meaning was very clear: Emperor Ming Yong alone could not achieve it; he needed to cultivate excellent successors, taking one step at a time, and it would eventually be accomplished.
And now Qin Ning had told Ming Yu how to unlock the Azure Yang Sword and the Azure Moon Sword. Could it be that he meant...?
Ming Yong's gaze towards Ming Yu became more scrutinizing.
He had seemingly... never truly cared about this second imperial prince of his.
Qin Ning was unaware of Emperor Ming Yong's thoughts at this moment.
He only guided Ming Yu because Ming Yu's mother was from the Qin family and his father was from the Ming family.
Qin Ning had to admit that his affection for his grand-disciple had extended to the next generation.
Otherwise, Ming Che's actions alone would have made him kill that guy hundreds of times over, not just three times.
"How do you find cultivating with a whip?"
Qin Ning asked Ye Yuanjuan.
"There's a natural sense of adaptation..." Ye Yuanjuan thought for a moment before replying.
"You are inherently a Nine Revolutions Exquisite Imperial Body. This body possesses both hardness and softness, and it's the same with absorbing spiritual energy; it's even more so with cultivation!"
"Swords are 'harder,' but whips are softer, suiting the feminine yin and softness within a woman, and suiting you best!"
"Oh, right, there's no need to rush into cultivating the Nine Revolutions Jade Body Art. When you encounter any problems, you must ask me!"
Qin Ning reminded her again.
"Yes!"
Ye Yuanjuan then said, "There are still three days until the entrance examination for the Heavenly God Academy!"
"Although Young Master has an outer court token for the Heavenly God Academy, you are now at the third level of the Spirit Sea Realm, which is no longer suitable for the outer court!"
"That's true."
Qin Ning said, "Tell me about the internal structure of the Heavenly God Academy now."
"The Heavenly God Academy has over six hundred thousand people, divided into the outer court and the inner court."
"The outer court is usually where elders or Spirit Children recommend people to the academy, or they can directly bring people into the academy. As long as they pass the examination, they will be admitted!"
"That Tian Zi is one of the Spirit Children, and a top-tier Spirit Child at that. I've investigated, Ling Tian and Chu Ningxi entered the Heavenly God Academy thanks to him."
"Spirit Child?" Qin Ning didn't understand.
"Hmm, outer court disciples are at the nine gates of the realm, while inner court disciples are from the first to ninth levels of the Spirit Sea Realm. Disciples who reach the Spirit Platform Realm become Spirit Apprentices, and those who surpass the Spirit Platform Realm to reach the Spirit Wheel Realm usually have two choices."
"One is to have exhausted their talent, reaching the peak of their potential, and they will choose to become an elder of the academy. The other type has vast talent and the qualifications to reach the Spirit Wheel Realm. After they reach the Spirit Wheel Realm, they become Spirit Children."
"Spirit Children are the elite disciples of the Heavenly God Academy; everyone has the same authority as an elder."
"Of course, within the academy, elders are also stratified. Elders at the Spirit Wheel Realm can only manage the outer court, inner court, and Spirit Apprentices. A portion of elders who surpass the Spirit Wheel Realm, reaching the Spirit Soul Realm, will have the power to influence major decisions of the academy."
"Outer court disciples, inner court disciples, Spirit Apprentices, Spirit Children..."
Qin Ning nodded, his hands clasped behind his head, and said lazily, "It seems like an interesting place."
"Oh, where are Chu Ningxi and Ling Tian now?"
Qin Ning still hadn't forgotten his purpose.
Chu Ningxi and Ling Tian, that man and woman, must pay a heavy price.
But these past few days, what he found strange was: the last time Chu Ningxi was threatened by him in the tavern, she should have told Ling Tian.
That Ling Tian couldn't just remain inactive forever, could he?