“What’s going on?” Xiao Che frowned inwardly.

“Maybe exempt admissions are handled separately.” He glanced at his sister. “Let’s go check the registration desks.”

Several registration areas had been set up across the plaza. Banners of the various Courts fluttered overhead, and cultivators dressed as instructors sat behind long tables, busy with paperwork.

A short line had already formed in front of the Alchemy Court’s desk.

When it was Xiao Qing’s turn, she nervously handed over her exempt admission jade token.

Behind the table sat a kind-looking middle-aged female cultivator. She accepted the token, glanced at Xiao Qing, and a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.

“Fire and wood dual attributes… indeed a fine seedling for alchemy.”

She smiled gently and returned the token. “Go straight to the Qingnang Hall at the back and find Instructor Li.”

Xiao Qing let out a quiet sigh of relief. She took the token back and looked at her brother—but didn’t move.

Xiao Che understood immediately. She was afraid of getting lost.

He smiled and headed toward a quieter registration desk at the edge of the plaza.

Behind it sat a stern-faced middle-aged male cultivator.

“What is it?”

“May I ask where to report for the Tianshu Court?” Xiao Che asked calmly.

“Tianshu Court?”

The man looked up and swept his gaze over Xiao Che. Seeing his Foundation Establishment First Layer cultivation, he frowned. “As far as I know, the six disciples of this year’s Tianshu Court have already reported. Which prefecture are you from? If your name is not on the Freshman List, leave at once and stop causing trouble here.”

His voice wasn’t quiet. It immediately drew attention.

Several young cultivators lingering nearby turned to watch, clearly eager for entertainment.

Xiao Che took out the purple-gold token Bai Yuntian had given him and placed it on the table.

The token was smooth and warm to the touch, with spiritual light contained within. On its back was a single ancient character: Tian.

“This was personally given by Court Master Bai.”

The middle-aged cultivator froze for a moment as he stared at the purple-gold token—then burst out laughing.

“Personally given by Court Master Bai? A token?”

He shook his head repeatedly as though hearing the most ridiculous joke.

“I’ve been on duty for over ten years. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize a Tianshu token? Those are made from Yunshen White Jade, unique to Tianshu Peak—pure white throughout. Since when did they turn gaudy purple-gold?”

He looked at Xiao Che as if staring at a con artist, his tone dripping with mockery.

“Furthermore, Court Master Bai is a Nascent Soul Sovereign—rarely seen, even by core disciples. You, a mere Foundation Establishment First Layer brat, dare claim you’ve met him and received a token personally? If you’re going to lie, at least know your place!”

Laughter immediately erupted around them.

“Can’t even fake it properly. Got the color wrong.”

“Must be some backwater bumpkin desperate to enter the Academy. Even dares fabricate stories about a Nascent Soul Sovereign.”

“Just kick him out already. Don’t waste our time.”

Xiao Qing’s face flushed red with anger, her fists clenched tightly—until her brother gave her a steady, calming look.

Xiao Che remained expressionless. He tapped the token lightly with his finger.

“You’re certain… You don’t want to verify it?”

“Verify?”

The man sneered. “A poorly forged trinket that can’t even imitate the right color doesn’t warrant verification!”

“Academy regulations state that all discipline tokens are uniformly refined and recorded with identification numbers. This thing of yours—neither proper jade nor proper metal, wrong color, violating regulations from the start—and you dare use it to deceive?”

Xiao Che looked at him, then smiled faintly—but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Rules are dead. Are you not afraid… that today, those rules might not protect you?”

“Impudence!”

The man’s face darkened as he barked sharply.

“If you continue causing trouble, I will revoke your qualification and blacklist you from the Academy permanently!”

“Deacon Liu, why waste words on a fraud?”

A well-dressed young man pushed his way forward with a sneer. “He might not even have legitimate origins. Just throw him out and let us serious applicants, register.”

“Brother…”

Xiao Qing tugged lightly at Xiao Che’s sleeve, her voice tight. “Maybe… maybe let’s just ask somewhere else…”

Xiao Che patted the back of her hand reassuringly and turned toward the richly dressed youth.

“And you are?”

The young man lifted his chin arrogantly.

“Listen well. I am Xie Feihong, direct heir of the Xie Family of Yunlan Prefecture, inner sect true inheritance of Spirit Stream Sect, admitted to the War Court. And you? What exactly are you?”

Xiao Che looked at him, a faint smile flickering in his eyes.

“Xie Family of Yunlan Prefecture. Inner sect true inheritance. That must mean you’re quite wealthy.”

He shifted tone slightly. “Since you’re so certain this token is fake, how about we make a wager?”

“A wager?” Xie Feihong scoffed. “What are we wagering?”

“Whether this token is genuine.” Xiao Che smiled faintly. “One thousand spirit stones. Dare?”

Xie Feihong’s expression stiffened before he let out a forced laugh.

“One thousand spirit stones? Bold words! I—”

He paused awkwardly, then amended, “I only have five hundred on me!”

A few snickers rippled through the crowd.

The Eastern Continent was a frontier region with relatively limited resources. It wasn’t unusual for noble disciples to carry limited spirit stones when traveling—but in this confrontation, the admission felt embarrassing.

Xiao Che looked at him and chuckled softly.

“Five hundred? That works.”

His tone was casual. “A noble heir. Inner sect true inheritance. War Court freshman… and that’s all you carry?”

The remark struck directly at Xie Feihong’s pride. His face turned crimson.

“Five hundred it is! Let’s see how long your fake holds up!”

“Words alone aren’t enough.”

Xiao Che turned to Deacon Liu. “Since Deacon Liu is so certain this is fake, surely you wouldn’t mind acting as a witness?”

Deacon Liu was cornered.

If he refused, it would make him appear unsure.

He snorted. “Ridiculous! Your private wager has nothing to do with Academy rules!”

“If we’re wagering on the authenticity of a token, it certainly concerns Academy rules.”

Xiao Che didn’t yield. “If you lack the courage even to witness, then your earlier threats about ‘disturbing order’ and ‘permanent blacklisting’ become rather laughable, don’t they?”

Deacon Liu choked on his words.

Xie Feihong, eager to recover face, raised his voice. “Deacon Liu, please bear witness! Let’s see how this fraud explains himself!”

Under the eyes of the crowd, Deacon Liu had no choice but to grit out, “Fine! I’ll witness it! Draw up the agreement!”

Xiao Che said nothing more.

Xie Feihong wore a triumphant grin, already envisioning himself collecting five hundred spirit stones.

Just then—

A soft, alluring laugh drifted over.

“Oh my, Deacon Liu, quite the authority you wield.”

“And you even dare to call the ‘Tianshu True Inheritance Token’ personally bestowed by my grandfather… a fake?”

Everyone turned.

Bai Ling approached in her pink-and-white flowing dress, steps light and graceful.

Her brows lifted slightly as she smiled—not quite smiling—at Deacon Liu.