Chapter 15

At Bai Qingsong's grand birthday celebration, people from the imperial city of Chu and the four major academies and martial halls gathered. However, in the end, the most dazzling person was not from the Bai family, not Bai Qiuxue, but Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian obtained the admission qualification for the Imperial Star Academy, while Bai Qiuxue was to enter the Imperial Academy. However, this was not a happy ending for everyone, as it went against the wishes of a powerful force on the viewing platform, the Yujinxiang family of the imperial city.

An elder from the Ye family was now very unhappy. Since they had come to celebrate Bai Qingsong's birthday, it was all for the sake of the Ye family. Originally, today was supposed to be the day when Bai Qiuxue, with her genius status, severed ties with the Qin family and the Ye and Bai families would be united in marriage.

However, the situation had taken a completely opposite turn.

The elder of the Ye family looked at the excited Qin Chuan and others in the martial arena, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He then glanced indifferently at Bai Qingsong beside him and said, "Have you wavered?"

Bai Qingsong's expression trembled as he looked at the elder of the Ye family. Although he hated Qin Wentian, he indeed had some doubts. If not for the events a few days ago, perhaps what Qin Wentian said would be true. Today, Qin Wentian's displayed talent would make the Bai family even more prominent, and the marriage between Qin Wentian and Bai Qiuxue would be a beautiful story.

"Father," Bai Qiuxue also came over, looking at her father with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

"The Ye family will delay the announcement of Wuque and Bai Qiuxue's engagement," the elder of the Ye family said in a low voice, making Bai Qingsong and Bai Qiuxue's expressions stiffen. Qin Chuan's words today had disgraced Bai Qiuxue. If the Ye family took over the engagement now, it would be criticized, and people would say that the Ye family was taking in someone abandoned by the Qin family.

"But..." Bai Qingsong's expression was grim. They had now completely fallen out with the Qin family. If they lost the support of the Ye family, they would find it difficult to stand in Tianyong City. Moreover, Qin Wentian had deeply humiliated Bai Qiuxue. If the Ye family did this now, combined with the performance of the various academies and martial halls, it would be a devastating blow to Bai Qiuxue.

"No buts. I will arrange everything properly. The Qin family will become history," the elder of the Ye family said in a soft voice, a cold light flashing in his eyes, making Bai Qingsong and his daughter sigh inwardly. The Ye family was not easy to deal with and would certainly not treat them as the Qin family had.

"Qiuxue, you must work hard in your cultivation," Bai Qingsong said to himself. Bai Qiuxue seemed to understand her father's gaze. She clenched her fists tightly. Today, the Ye family had delayed the announcement of the engagement. In the future, she would make the Ye family regret their actions today, and she would also make the Qin family and Qin Wentian regret.

Turning her gaze, Bai Qiuxue and others looked back at the martial arena. The elder of the Ye family, seeing the smug expressions of the Qin family, said coldly, "Just showing some talent and becoming so smug. No wonder the Qin family has declined generation after generation since Qin Wu, and still doesn't know to repent. Pitiful."

Qin Chuan's expression suddenly stiffened. The decline of the Qin family was well-known to the major forces in the imperial city. If the emperor wanted the Qin family to fall, how could they not fall? The Ye family rose to power at this time, with the emperor deliberately supporting the Ye family and suppressing the Qin family, stepping on the Qin family to rise. However, the emperor did not appear publicly.

"Star affinity exceeding nine stars, the first star soul communicating with the third heaven, Ye Wubai is no more than that. Saying such words now, isn't it laughable?" Qin Chuan stared at the elder on the viewing platform, responding coldly.

"Ridiculous," the elder of the Ye family's eyes remained calm, without a ripple. He said casually, "When Ye Wubai was fifteen, he had already opened the second star gate and condensed the second star soul, which came from the third heaven's martial destiny star. At fifteen, Qin Wentian was probably still meditating to enhance his star affinity, trying to communicate with the third heaven's martial destiny star. How can he compare to Ye Wubai?"

The calmness in the elder's voice left no room for doubt, making the crowd shudder. Meditation can enhance star affinity, so many people delay communicating and condensing star souls to communicate with higher-level martial destiny stars. Bai Qiuxue and Qin Wentian were probably no different. They indeed seemed to be inferior to Ye Wubai.

"Ye Wubai is too dazzling, beyond reach," many people thought. He was a prodigy with the potential to reach the Yuanfu realm before the age of twenty.

Qin Chuan could not refute the elder's words, as Qin Wentian's cultivation had just begun.

No one knew that Qin Wentian's first star soul came from the fifth heaven's martial destiny star, and he had only condensed his star soul and reached his current level in a few days.

"However..." At this moment, the elder of the Ye family continued, looking at Qin Wentian, "Qin Wentian has extraordinary talent and has awakened his star soul, making him worth cultivating. I think the most suitable place for him is not the Imperial Star Academy, but the Divine General Martial Hall of Chu Kingdom."

"No," Qin Chuan firmly rejected, "Qin Wentian will choose which academy to join himself. It's not up to the Ye family to dictate."

Some people with broad knowledge narrowed their eyes. The Divine General Martial Hall, a martial hall specifically for training military elites in Chu Kingdom, was a sharp weapon of Chu Kingdom. Many military leaders, big and small, came from the Divine General Martial Hall, a purely military martial hall not open to the public. Only outstanding young people from the military could enter.

In the past, Qin Wu dominated Chu Kingdom, intimidating the feudal lords. Besides his overwhelming martial power, another important reason was that he controlled the Divine General Martial Hall. The Divine General Martial Hall was the first to be reorganized when the current emperor took action against the Qin family. Now, the Divine General Martial Hall was firmly under the emperor's control. How could Qin Wentian enter?

"Hmph, in the past, the ancestor of the Qin family, Qin Wu, was loyal to the country and developed the Divine General Martial Hall. Now, the descendants of the Qin family have forgotten their ancestors and are unwilling to join the military and enter the Divine General Martial Hall. It's a disgrace to their ancestors," the elder of the Ye family said coldly. At this moment, Mo Shang was also extremely displeased, not expecting the Ye family to have such a sinister move.

"Qin Wentian has already agreed to join our Imperial Star Academy. Now, Ye Mo, you want him to join the Divine General Martial Hall. What's your intention?" Mo Shang's voice was cold.

"Qin Wentian has not officially joined the Imperial Star Academy, so he is still a free agent and not part of the Imperial Star Academy," Ye Mo looked straight at Mo Shang and said calmly, "Therefore, his future is still undecided. Moreover, sending him to the Divine General Martial Hall is not my intention."

As he spoke, a cold smile appeared on Ye Mo's lips. He glanced at Leng Ying beside him, who understood and stood up, taking a few steps forward. He took out an imperial edict from his chest and smiled coldly at Qin Chuan, saying, "This is the emperor's edict. Should I read it, or do you want to read it yourself?"

Qin Chuan's expression stiffened. The current emperor had finally stepped in to deliver a fatal blow to the Qin family.

It turned out that Ye Mo and Leng Ying had come to Tianyong City not for Bai Qiuxue, but for the Qin family. Qin Wentian's display of talent had only embarrassed the Ye family but would not hinder their mission.

"You read it," Qin Chuan felt a chill in his heart.

Leng Ying smiled coldly and said, "The emperor's edict: In the past, Qin Wu had remarkable achievements, his military prowess renowned. The previous emperor, in recognition of Qin Wu's achievements, bestowed him the title of Martial King, but it was still insufficient to honor his contributions to the country. Now, as the Qin family gradually declines, I deeply feel guilty towards Martial King. Today, I issue this edict: All outstanding talents in the Qin family will be directly taken to the Divine General Martial Hall by Leng Ying for cultivation. Any outstanding members of the Qin family's private army can also be taken by Leng Ying to the Silver Feather Knights for training, to be selected and executed by the Ye family and Leng Ying together."

The people from the Qin family, upon hearing the content of the edict, trembled with anger. What a fine way to honor Qin Wu's past achievements! This was clearly a way to cut off the Qin family's roots, taking away their talented youth and allowing Leng Ying to take their private army into the Silver Feather Knights. This would leave the Qin family with no hope.

"If our ancestors have spirits, they would also thank the emperor's great kindness," Qin Chuan, extremely angry, said sarcastically.

Chu Kingdom had a population of millions, with countless family forces. The state was the strongest force, but it would not interfere in the affairs of families within Chu Kingdom. However, the Qin family was different. The Qin family was a military family, belonging to the state. Therefore, the imperial palace of Chu Kingdom could directly issue edicts to the Qin family, and obeying the edicts was their duty.

Qin Wentian, standing beside Qin Chuan, also felt a wave of sorrow. This time, the Ye family and Leng Ying were clearly well-prepared. They had encountered Qin Wentian's display of talent by chance, but the Ye family would not let this opportunity pass.

"In the past, the emperor used the title of Martial King to exile the Qin family to Tianyong City. Now, he is preparing to use a similar 'favor' to deprive the Qin family of their hope," Qin Wentian thought. If the Qin family resisted, it would be considered disobedience to the emperor's edict, and the people Leng Ying brought would come into play.

What should the Qin family choose? Continue to obey the emperor's edict, or—rebel!