Xiao Zhantian froze for a moment after hearing this, then abruptly rose to his feet, his face instantly flooded with overwhelming joy.

“The Tianshu Court?”

His voice rose as he spoke, and he slapped his son’s shoulder heavily.

“Good! Good! Excellent! That’s the inner court of Bailu Academy—only a handful are admitted each year, and none but those with peerless talent may enter! My son truly—”

He laughed heartily, the gloom that had hung over him for days seemingly swept away in an instant.

“Father, don’t celebrate just yet. There’s more!”

Xiao Che cut in, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

Xiao Zhantian’s laughter paused. He looked at his son with questioning eyes.

“Oh? There’s news even greater than this?”

“Of course. Vice Dean Bai Yuntian took a liking to me and accepted me on the spot as his direct disciple.”

The study fell silent for a brief moment.

The wild joy on Xiao Zhantian’s face froze. He opened his mouth, as if unsure whether he had heard correctly.

“Di… direct disciple? Bai Yuntian… Court Master Bai? That Nascent Soul True Lord?”

He asked each word with extreme care, barely daring to breathe.

“Yes. Him.”

Xiao Che gave a firm nod.

Xiao Zhantian sucked in a sharp breath. After a long while, he finally let out a long exhale, his voice trembling with barely restrained excitement.

“A Tianshu Court disciple is already one in ten thousand… but a direct disciple—this is truly stepping straight into the heavens! Resources, horizons—utterly different from even ordinary inner court disciples! Che’er, you…”

The look he gave his son was filled with shock and boundless joy.

Xiao Qing didn’t fully understand how powerful a “Nascent Soul True Lord” was, but seeing her father this excited, she knew her brother had gained an incredible opportunity. Her small face flushed red with excitement.

“Brother! You’re amazing!”

Xiao Che smiled and drew his sister close.

“There’s another piece of good news.”

Just as he was about to continue, the door to the study was gently pushed open.

Su Wan stood at the doorway, excitement written all over her face, her eyes slightly red—she had clearly overheard the earlier conversation.

“I only just arrived, and I’ve already heard two astonishing pieces of news.”

She walked in, looking at Xiao Che with a mock-reproachful smile.

“There’s more? If you keep this up, your father’s old injuries won’t be able to contain his happiness.”

Xiao Zhantian laughed loudly, looking more spirited than he had in a long time.

“Hahaha! Wan’er, I won’t hide it from you—after hearing those two pieces of news, I feel like my injuries have already healed halfway!”

He turned to his wife, his eyes full of emotion.

“When did you arrive?”

“When I heard from the servants that Che’er was back, I came over. I stood outside for quite a while—just digesting the first two pieces of news made my heart race.”

Su Wan walked over to Xiao Qing and gently took her daughter’s hand, her gaze lingering on Xiao Che, filled with pride and tenderness.

Looking at his parents’ relieved smiles and his sister’s delight, Xiao Che felt a sudden warmth in his chest.

In his previous life, he had always been alone—when had he ever experienced such warmth, with family gathered together, sharing joy like this?

This feeling… wasn’t bad at all.

He steadied his emotions, kept an arm around his sister’s shoulders, and revealed the third piece of news.

“Also, Court Master Bai agreed that Qing’er can enter the Tianshu Court as well.”

As soon as he said this, both Xiao Zhantian and Su Wan froze, then erupted into disbelief and joy, turning simultaneously to look at their daughter.

Xiao Qing herself was completely stunned, her fingers instinctively tightening around her mother’s sleeve.

“However,”

Xiao Che shifted his tone slightly, “Court Master Bai specifically mentioned that Qing’er’s fire–wood spirit roots are most compatible with the Alchemy Court. How to choose is entirely up to Qing’er herself.”

Xiao Qing’s eyes widened. Her small hands clenched her mother’s sleeve as she looked at her brother, then at her parents. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

The Tianshu Court… that was the place her brother had just described as a straight path to the heavens.

But Court Master Bai had also said the Alchemy Court suited her better…

Xiao Zhantian and Su Wan exchanged a glance, seeing the same mix of excitement and careful consideration in each other’s eyes.

After a moment of thought, Su Wan gently stroked her daughter’s hand, her voice soft.

“Qing’er, this is your opportunity—and your path. The Tianshu Court is indeed wonderful, but since Court Master Bai specifically pointed out that the Alchemy Court matches your spirit roots… your mother thinks his words deserve careful thought.”

Xiao Zhantian nodded, his expression settling as he looked at his daughter.

“Your mother is right. Opportunities are rare, but what suits you best is what matters most. Qing’er, what do you think? No matter which you choose, the family will support you.”

Looking at her parents’ concerned expressions, then at her brother’s encouraging smile, the excitement in Xiao Qing’s heart slowly settled.

She bit her lower lip, her voice small but clear.

“Brother, Father, Mother… I… I want to think about it carefully first. Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

Xiao Che rubbed her head, his tone relaxed.

“This is your choice. Take as long as you need. Once you’ve made up your mind, just tell your brother.”

He paused, then looked at his parents, a complicated expression crossing his face.

“Speaking of which, there’s one more thing.”

The smiles on Xiao Zhantian’s and Su Wan’s faces hadn’t fully faded yet, and both froze at his words.

There’s more?

Su Wan, ever perceptive, felt her heart tighten slightly when she saw her son’s expression.

“Che’er… is this good news, or…?”

“Well… how should I put it,”

Xiao Che rubbed his chin. “At first, it was bad news. But the outcome might be a tremendous blessing for our family.”

This made Xiao Zhantian’s expression turn serious, his posture straightening unconsciously.

“What exactly happened?”

The smile on Xiao Che’s face disappeared completely.

“On the way back, I was intercepted and attacked by the Sun family ancestor.”

The air in the study instantly grew heavy.

Xiao Qing covered her mouth, tears of fear welling up in her eyes.

Su Wan’s face went pale. Her legs weakened, and she instinctively braced herself against the table, her voice trembling.

“Che’er! You… you weren’t hurt, were you?”

Xiao Zhantian shot to his feet, his breathing quickening.

“The Sun family ancestor personally made a move? Then you—”

“I survived by sheer luck.”

Xiao Che raised a hand to calm his parents. “I was gravely injured, on the brink of death. I almost thought I was done for. At the critical moment, a mysterious figure intervened and saved me.”

He paused. The matter of the Qinglian Empress could not be revealed at all.

Otherwise, not only would the Xiao family face utter ruin—even she might not be spared. In a flash of thought, he chose the safest explanation.

“That person… had an incredibly high cultivation. With a single move, they wiped out the Sun family ancestor.”

Su Wan froze, clutching the front of her robe tightly.

Xiao Zhantian’s pupils contracted. He slowly sat back down, absorbing the shocking news.

“With one move… annihilated the mid-stage Golden Core Sun family ancestor?”

“Do you know who this benefactor was? Our Xiao family must offer lavish thanks!”

Xiao Che shook his head, putting on an appropriately puzzled expression.

“I don’t know who it was. They came fast and left even faster. Killed him, glanced at me once, and vanished. I couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman. I only know… they were absurdly powerful.”

His gaze sharpened abruptly as he shifted the topic.

“Father, the Sun family’s pillar has fallen. Now is a once-in-a-lifetime chance—to destroy the Sun family and swallow their territory and assets.”