Summer had arrived, and under the scorching sun, the Academicians' Court in Star Yearn City was more restless than usual. Fighters were abundant, and conflicts even more so—the moment one stepped onto the training grounds, the sky was filled with clashing Essence Power.
Unlike before, the Essence Power now was several times stronger, the gusts of wind whipping past enough to lift Ji Bozhai’s sleeves.
“I think this ‘Starry Boat Dream’ is easier to use than Thundering Force.”
“Hah, that’s just because your Essence Power is too soft to handle Thundering Force properly. Take this!”
A massive surge of purple Essence Power shot straight toward his face. Ji Bozhai tilted his head expressionlessly, and the stone wall behind him was blasted with a gaping hole.
Chu He and Fan Yao were both startled, quickly retracting their hands and awkwardly saying, “You’re here early today.”
Scanning the field, Ji Bozhai noticed several fighters now wielded high-grade Divine Tools.
Pursing his lips, he said coldly, “Divine Tools are only permitted in the Divine Artifact Hall segment of the Six Cities Tournament. Don’t rely on them too much.”
“We know, we know.” Fan Yao tossed the Divine Tool in his hand. “But you can’t deny how useful these things are. Where does Mingyi get all these clever ideas? The Divine Tools she makes are light, convenient, and amplify Essence Power by a huge margin. With talent like hers, she could make a name for herself even in Sunspire City, don’t you think?”
“True, I even think she’s undercharging—basically just covering costs,” Chu He muttered. “Once she finishes the orders in the courtyard, I’d like to commission two more from her privately.”
Ji Bozhai listened with a frosty expression before striding toward the Artifact Crafting Hall.
Since Mingyi was a woman, Qin Shangwu had set up an Essence Power Array around the Artifact Crafting Hall, forbidding students from wandering freely. Those eager for their Divine Tools to be completed could only cling to the walls, anxiously peering inside.
Mingyi no longer wore those gauzy dresses, instead clad in a simple cyan robe, her hair tied high in a bun—less alluring, more spirited. She focused intently on polishing a component, the rough surface instantly turning mirror-smooth under her earthy-yellow Essence Power.
A chorus of admiration rose from the onlookers on the wall.
Standing at the entrance of the Artifact Crafting Hall, Ji Bozhai said calmly, “I’ve come to collect my item.”
Mingyi looked up with a smile, placing the freshly polished final component into the Divine Tool’s slot before lifting the entire artifact and tossing it toward him.
Despite its apparent weight, it flew effortlessly through the air, landing in his palm with a palpable vitality.
“It has no name—Lord Ji may christen it as he pleases,” she said. “From today onward, this is your Divine Tool.”
The one she had made earlier for Sun Liao had been done half-heartedly, but this one, to justify its price, had been meticulously refined over seven days. She was quite satisfied with the result and believed Ji Bozhai would be too.
Yet the man at the entrance merely gave it a fleeting glance before storing it within his Meridians. “This will only be useful during the Six Cities Tournament.”
Mingyi raised a brow. “My lord won’t practice with it?”
“Why bother?” He scoffed. “Using a Divine Tool to amplify one’s Essence Power—what happens if one day it’s gone? You’d only grow dependent.”
Neither of them was the type to rely on external forces. Both believed that in this world, the only thing one could truly count on was oneself.Mingyi could understand, but: "The Divine Artifact Hall's competition not only tests the strength of the artifacts but also the wielder's proficiency in using them. Sunspire City has always sent Artifact Smiths for this round, but Star Yearn City lacks Artifact Smiths, putting us at a natural disadvantage. If you don’t practice more, there’s no point in crafting these Divine Tools."
"There was never any need to craft them," he said indifferently, his gaze cool. "At least, not for me."
He was clearly here to pick a fight.
Seven days had passed since she entered the Academicians' Court, and he hadn’t shown up once. Mingyi had thought they’d finally let each other be. Who knew that the moment they met again, he’d still be determined to make her life difficult?
With his level of strength, it was understandable that he looked down on those who relied on Divine Tools to enhance their Essence Power. But if even the Divine Artifact Hall challenge in the Six Cities Tournament wasn’t taken seriously, Star Yearn City would have a hard time breaking into the Upper Three Cities.
Not in the mood to argue, Mingyi simply picked up another Divine Tool mold and got to work.
Ji Bozhai held considerable influence in the Academicians' Court. His dismissive attitude toward Mingyi inevitably encouraged others to follow suit. Moreover, as a woman receiving the same treatment as them, Mingyi’s presence alone rubbed many the wrong way. After Bo Zhai left, numerous students came to collect their Divine Tools, only to nitpick and cause trouble.
"This thing is mediocre at best. What’s the point of it?"
"Take it back and recast it. I don’t like it."
Xiuyun, who was assisting her, was fuming. "Back when you placed your orders, you all agreed on the specifications. Now that they’re finished, you suddenly don’t like them?"
A few students sneered, their expressions disdainful. "We don’t like them, so recast them. That’s all."
"You—" Xiuyun stepped forward, ready to argue, but Mingyi pulled her back.
"It seems you’ve misunderstood something," Mingyi said, standing tall and poised before the forging platform, her gaze sharp as a blade. "Divine Tools are crafted because I choose to craft them, not because I’m obligated to force them upon you. If you don’t like them, they’ll be melted down, and you won’t get another chance. There are plenty of others waiting in line."
As if to prove her point, several students hanging on the courtyard wall outside immediately shouted, "Mine first!"
"That lightweight iron looks good—melt it down and forge one for me!"
With a flick of her wrist, the two Divine Tools she had handed out earlier flew back from the students’ grasp and landed on the forging platform.
The two students stared at their empty hands in shock. How could a woman so effortlessly snatch something from them?
They must not have been holding it properly. That had to be it.
Flexing their fingers, the two students scowled. "Headmaster Qin ordered you to forge a Divine Tool for each of us."
"I’m here because your Headmaster Qin begged me to come, not because I clung to the Academicians' Court gates demanding entry," Mingyi replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m doing you a favor, not repaying some debt to your headmaster. Using him to pressure me won’t work. Since you two dislike my Divine Tools, go find someone else to make them for you."
With that, the two Divine Tools, meticulously crafted to suit their Essence Power habits, plunged into the melting furnace.
The students hadn’t expected Mingyi to be so unyielding. Before they could react, their Divine Tools had already turned back into molten metal. Before they could even speak, the door slammed shut in their faces with a resounding bang .
Mingyi muttered under her breath about bad luck, but when she turned, she found Xiuyun staring at her with eyes shining brightly.
"What? What is it?" She glanced down at herself.Xiuyun rushed over and hugged her, exclaiming sincerely, "Wow, you're amazing!"
Previously, there was only one path for women to enter the Academicians' Court—to become Iris Maidens and be chosen by these Fighters. But now Mingyi has forged a second path, one that doesn't require bowing to their whims at all. What a triumphant moment!
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