Watching Si Zhuo’s figure disappear, Luan Ling forced back her drowsiness and resignedly stood up.

Come on, Luan Xiaoling! You can do this!

Her own overly dramatic pep talk made her laugh in embarrassment. Turning around, she headed toward Autumn Garden.

Calling it “Autumn Garden” was really giving this wasteland far too much credit.

A bleak wind swept past, making her shiver slightly as she walked toward the only pavilion in the garden.

Wen Yuan had given her far too many seeds—nearly every variety of fruits and vegetables imaginable. Trying to grow all of them in the same garden clearly required more than simple planting.

When they had been lighting up the area for Senior Sister, Duguxian had casually summoned a snowfall. The ability to alter the weather with a mere wave of one’s hand was considered top-tier magic in the Celestial Realm, because it was directly tied to nature itself.

Being tied to nature meant both vitality and catastrophe—forces even the gods could not fully control. That was why the dragon clans who governed clouds and rain were few in number yet immensely powerful, and why ancient deities like the Lords of Thunder and Lightning had endured for so long.

Luan Ling rambled on internally for just one reason: she really couldn’t do this.

Even though Duguxian had demonstrated it once, she had never been good at this kind of magic to begin with. After such a cursory lesson, how could she possibly master it the way she had learned to wield raw divine power—something she already knew how to do?

As she stood there spacing out, she couldn’t help thinking of the original owner of this body.

Wen Yuan hadn’t been entirely wrong. She really had avoided things she wasn’t good at, relying on her talent and telling herself she could always learn later—yet never finding the right moment to start.

Ironically, the Empress’s strictness had forced her to be more disciplined. Tasks she once hated became things she tackled head-on, simply out of fear of being criticized.

So after all that thinking, she still hadn’t lifted a finger. Great. The pavilion seemed to have glued her down—she couldn’t even stand up anymore…

…

“Hey!”

Luan Ling jolted awake as if resurrected from her deathbed, nearly scared out of her soul.

She looked up at the relaxed culprit and said indignantly, “Hey, buddy, I stayed up all night for the sake of your reputation, and this is how you treat your lifesaver?”

Si Zhuo shrugged. “I told you—strip if you want. If it gets awkward, that’s on me.”

Luan Ling had the overwhelming urge to yank his hair. She had never felt her own face was this punchable before.

“Duguxian sent me to get you. It’s almost dark,” Si Zhuo said, glancing at the empty Autumn Garden. “Looks like you had quite the productive day.”

Luan Ling felt a little guilty. Tasks like these were obviously meant to be dragged out until the last possible moment.

“Let me think,” Si Zhuo said thoughtfully. “Why would the all-around grand champion not want to farm? Is it because fairies never have to work the fields… or because she can’t manipulate natural forces?”

Struck right in her sore spot, Luan Ling jumped up angrily. “I was just too tired, that’s all! Just wait—within seven days, this garden will be brimming with life!”

Immortal plants weren’t like building houses—each one was alive, and cultivating them required time and careful attention.

“Alright. I’ll be waiting,” Si Zhuo said with a smile, watching her storm off.

“Everyone worked hard today.”

In Bamboo Grove Pavilion, Duguxian looked at the scroll where several tasks had been crossed off and nodded approvingly at the students below.

Li Xiao should have responded, but after talking all day, he couldn’t force out another word.

“With so many people in Qilin Hall, it’s impossible to track everyone by sight alone,” Duguxian continued. “So tomorrow, I’ll be teaching divine perception and tracking techniques—along with furniture repair.”

He handed several scrolls to the four students seated on their cushions. “These are reference books on common spells. You can consult me when you start previewing them for finals.”

Please don’t state the tragic reality of modern students so bluntly!

Luan Ling flipped through the beautifully illustrated true heavenly texts, then calmly closed the book.

Every word made sense individually, but together they became utterly incomprehensible.

This was completely different from the basic knowledge she had studied before—far more abstruse.

“Everyone should be fully prepared. Running a business is important, but you’ll also face one quiz and one major exam each term. The situation is not optimistic.”

Says the person who put business first—what right do you have to say that?!

“I have confidence in all of you,” Duguxian said seriously. “If possible, take on some missions outside the academy. They’ll greatly benefit your cultivation.”

“Preferably ones with rewards,” he added solemnly.

Funding research through student prize money—should we call that inspirational?

“Alright, it’s time to absorb moonlight. Find a suitable place to cultivate. I’ll continue my research into the mysteries of fate.”

Clutching her books, Luan Ling left in a daze.

“Everyone,” Li Xiao croaked hoarsely, projecting a map of Qilin Hall’s buildings. “According to the layout, men will stay in Ye River Lodge, women in Cloud Tranquility Lodge. Do not mix them up.”

“Senior Brother,” Luan Ling raised her hand. “There are only four of us.”

Li Xiao coughed, his voice even worse. “There will… definitely be more in the future.”

Zhu Yin glanced at him, her fingers itching toward her flute.

That night, everyone finally had their own rooms—and somehow ended up even more exhausted than the night before.

Academic pressure weighed heavily on these gods in the prime of their youth.

Li Xiao spent the entire night practicing voice-altering magic, resulting in random chicken, duck, and pig noises coming from next door, making it impossible for Luan Ling to focus.

Zhu Yin, mindful of her roommate, practiced barrier magic—but self-study yielded predictable results. Her half-finished barriers flickered on and off, and the intermittent music was even more horrifying, forcing Si Zhuo to get up and read by lamplight.

The two tormented victims swore they’d switch bodies back as soon as possible. At this rate, either their roommates or they themselves would die.

At morning assembly, Duguxian was shocked by the students’ appearances and began questioning whether he’d pushed them too hard.

“Teacher,” a soft, adorable female voice spoke up.

Everyone turned toward Li Xiao in horror.

Tears streaming down his face, Li Xiao continued in that voice. “Please help me return to normal. My mother contacted me via divine sense this morning and thought I’d gone mad from cultivation.”

Honestly, the fact she didn’t think you were a pervert is already generous.

Already numb from the previous night, Luan Ling barely reacted.

Duguxian waved his hand, unable to bear the sight, and dispelled the chaotic magic.

Li Xiao joyfully tested his voice a few times.

“After classes begin today, many immortals will enter the gardens,” Duguxian said, opening his book. “As more areas open, there will be even more during holidays. So today’s lesson is about mastering divine perception more proficiently…”

An hour later, during break, Luan Ling straightened her desk and laid out her scrolls.

As she did, she sensed someone stepping on lotus leaves in Summer Garden. With a snap of her fingers, the offender was instantly wrapped up and tossed back onto shore.

This ability felt tailor-made for her—maybe she could finally avoid all those strange people.

Her naivety was punished almost immediately.

“Help… help me…”

A blood-covered woman struggled to reach the Bamboo Grove’s corridor before collapsing unconscious.

Li Xiao immediately dropped what he was holding and rushed over.

“Someone’s chasing her,” Si Zhuo said, looking up toward the bamboo canopy.

His perception wasn’t as sharp as Luan Ling’s, but his sense of danger surpassed everyone else’s—he had real combat experience.

“She’s… a mortal!” Li Xiao exclaimed. “How could a mortal be in the Celestial Realm?!”

“Hide her first,” Si Zhuo said. Mortal or not, a blood-soaked woman was trouble.

Li Xiao picked her up and vanished. The next instant, a black-clad immortal wielding a sword descended from the sky.

Luan Ling stood and faced the stranger.

“You dare trespass into Qilin Hall? Who are you? Don’t you know weapons are forbidden in the Divine Academy without permission?”

It was oddly thrilling—this was her first time putting on such an act.

The immortal clearly recognized her and hesitated before speaking. “I am Guan Mo, subordinate to Lord Fuli. I was ordered to capture a mortal woman who illegally entered the Celestial Realm. The matter was urgent, so I could not report it in advance. Have you seen her?”

A mortal entering the heavens was almost unheard of. Even if it happened, survival was nearly impossible—something was clearly amiss.

“We haven’t seen any mortals,” Luan Ling said, folding her arms against a pillar. “But you, barging in with a weapon, are highly suspicious.”

Guan Mo hadn’t expected to run into this little ancestor and replied impatiently, “I’m merely carrying out orders. I ask for your cooperation.”

“If we said we didn’t see her, why are you still here?” Luan Ling said arrogantly. She knew this was how this body was meant to be used.

“I tracked her here. She’s only a mortal—she can’t be far,” Guan Mo said coldly. “If you refuse to cooperate, I’ll have to force my way in.”

His hardline stance made Luan Ling hesitate. Then she heard a cough. Si Zhuo looked up at Guan Mo with an unfriendly expression.

Only then did Guan Mo notice him. After a pause, he said, “Princess.”

“You can search,” Luan Ling said. “For a fee.”

Guan Mo looked utterly confused as Zhu Yin swept her fingers across the strings. A price list appeared before his eyes.

“This is Qilin Hall—we’re a reputable establishment. Everyone pays to enter. Why should you get special privileges just to arrest someone?”

“I’m acting in the line of duty,” Guan Mo snapped. “Don’t be unreasonable.”

“If it’s official business, where’s your authorization? Where’s your token?” Luan Ling shot back. “Without them, you must be a spy from the neighboring academy!”

Today, no one was stepping into Bamboo Grove Pavilion.

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