Nothing particularly interesting happened next. After Xu Nian gathered those Crystal Cores, he came out of the Jade Cave Heaven.

    Once Leng Yanran announced the candidates who would attend the grand competition in the county capital, everyone dispersed.

    Through this trial, Xu Nian had become the most popular student at Qinglin Academy.

    Walking down the road, fellow students would warmly greet him as Brother Xu Nian, especially the female students, who gazed at him with adoring, infatuated eyes.

    Xu Nian had always been handsome and his stature had become tall and imposing due to the Divine Demon Refining Body cultivation. His performance in the Jade Cave Heaven only solidified his reputation as the number one talent of the academy.

    Thus, it was natural for Xu Nian to attract the adoration of those female students.

    Of course, Xu Nian wasn''t interested in this, not even in Yun Lan and Han Xin, to say nothing of the others.

    In his heart, besides Yan Sisi, at most there was Leng Yanran, who had shared a moment of intimate physical contact with him.

    Within Qingtian Hall.

    Leng Yanran quietly observed the young man before her, with an unmistakable sense of surprise and complexity that was difficult to conceal in the depths of her eyes.

    When she first met him, he had only just advanced to the Star Realm. Now, in a few short months, he had become the foremost individual of Qinglin Academy, a rate of growth even she had never witnessed before.

    "Perhaps, he truly can help me break free from my fate," a daring thought emerged in Leng Yanran''s mind, but as soon as it surfaced, she ruthlessly snuffed it out.

    Her gaze toward Xu Nian became even more complicated for a moment.

    Xu Nian felt somewhat uneasy under Leng Yanran''s stare, and for some reason, he felt that her emotions were a bit off at the moment.

    With his newly awakened Spiritual Sense, Xu Nian noticed the slight struggle hidden deeply in Leng Yanran''s eyes.

    Yet he was puzzled, unable to comprehend what could possibly trouble Leng Yanran, a figure at the Marquis Level.

    "Congratulations on achieving first place in the trial, but don''t get complacent. The upcoming academy competition will be exceptionally fierce, and I hope you can secure a good ranking for Qinglin Academy," Leng Yanran said, ever so cold as usual.

    "Yes," Xu Nian nodded, his expression serious.

    Qinglin Academy might have a respectable reputation in East Field County, but it wasn''t the first, not to mention the talent-filled Tianhen Academy. Other strong contenders, like the Beihai Academy in Beihai City and the Donglin College in Donglin City, were not to be underestimated either.

    In the last academy competition, Qinglin Academy was squeezed to fourth place. If not for the legacy of the Thousand-year-old Academy, they might have lost their title as the second-ranked academy in East Field County.

    Therefore, this time, the academy competition was not just a simple contest; it concerned the thousand-year reputation of Qinglin Academy.

    Xu Nian was slightly startled, not understanding why she would ask such a question out of the blue, but he earnestly replied, "I cultivate to protect the people I care about. Only when I''m strong enough can I prevent them from being hurt in the slightest."

    As he said this, his gaze was exceptionally determined.

    Leng Yanran''s delicate body froze, and her eyes grew complicated.

    Such a reaction made Xu Nian even more puzzled.

    "Then do I count as someone you care about?" Leng Yanran paused before suddenly asking.

    Xu Nian was caught off guard, not expecting Leng Yanran to ask such a question.

    Leng Yanran seemed to feel awkward as well, quickly explaining, "Actually, I just wanted to see if you have me, your mentor, in your heart..."

    "Yes!" However, before Leng Yanran could finish her sentence, Xu Nian interrupted.

    Leng Yanran was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, a natural smile.

    Her stunningly beautiful face bloomed like an ice lotus, both beautiful and sacred.

    Xu Nian couldn''t help but be mesmerized, as he was used to Leng Yanran''s icy appearance, he never imagined her smile could be so beautiful.

    "Cough cough, it''s good you have your master in your heart," Leng Yanran quickly added, seemingly aware that their conversation was becoming somewhat ambiguous.

    Xu Nian also laughed sheepishly, yet he thought to himself, "The you I care about isn''t just because you''re my master, but because you are my first woman."

    Of course, these thoughts were only uttered in Xu Nian''s mind. He dared not say them out loud, for he wasn''t quite that bold yet.

    "Alright, you must be very tired after your trial, go rest. In three days, come find me here. I will prepare something as a reward for you," said Leng Yanran.

    "Reward?" A lecherous smile crept across Xu Nian''s lips as his imagination ran wild with wicked thoughts.

    "Also, in three days, I will personally accompany you to the Qin Family to bring your mother to Qinglin Academy," Leng Yanran suddenly said.

    Upon hearing this, Xu Nian''s expression instantly turned serious, and he sincerely said to Leng Yanran, "Thank you!"

    Having said that, Xu Nian turned and walked out of the great hall.

    Leng Yanran watched the receding figure of Xu Nian, her eyes profound, and her lips once again blossomed with a smile of stunning surprise.

    "If he truly can help me change my destiny, what objection could there be to becoming his woman?"