Door of Luck and Fortune

"I am Ji Luofei," Ji Luofei felt a connection with the woman before her. Had her face not been ruined, the feeling might have been even more evident.

"You truly are from the Ji family..." The woman's voice trembled, not asking but stating with sheer excitement.

By this time, the two men from the Xian family at Gathering Qi Level 6 had struggled to their feet and called out in panic, "Elder..."

"To dare harm a member of my Ji family to this extent, they're seeking death." The woman's emotions had no outlet, and the unfortunate pair from the Xian family spoke up again, immediately reminding her of how Luofei had been severely injured. She turned around in an instant, and two black beams of light shot out.

Ning Cheng and Ji Luofei could only hear two 'puff' sounds from where they stood. The two cultivators at Gathering Qi Level 6 were completely unprepared and were immediately reduced to skeletons. Within a few breaths, the flesh on their bodies had vanished without a trace under the bombardment of the black light.

Ning Cheng drew a sharp breath. He had never killed anyone, but he was always bold and seldom panicked. Yet even he was alarmed by the woman's terrifying method; just a flick of her wrists and two beams of black light had turned two Gathering Qi Level 6 cultivators into skeletons. How powerful must that be? Was this the terror of the Building Foundation Realm?

"What is your grandfather's name? Your parents' names? How did you end up in Cang Qin Country of Ping Zhou?" After killing the two cultivators, the woman seemed unaffected as she continued to question Luofei. She had already slipped a Dan Medicine into Luofei's mouth, while she seemed not to notice Ning Cheng's equally severe injuries.

Ji Luofei hurriedly answered, "My grandfather was Ji Yuanying, my father is Ji Xuanzhang, and my mother is Xiong Qihua. Grandfather brought me to Cang Qin Country, saying that my parents had an accident in Daan Forest."

The woman's eyes reddened, and she could not help but hug Ji Luofei, saying, "Luofei, I am your aunt, Ji Yaohe."

"Aunt?" Ji Luofei looked at Ji Yahe in disbelief. She could hardly believe she suddenly had such a powerful aunt; it all felt like a dream.

Seeing Ji Luofei's daze, Ji Yahe immediately said, "Luofei, hurry and take me to see your grandfather."

"Grandfather Ji has already passed away." Ning Cheng had already figured out the situation and helped Ji Luofei speak up. He also relaxed, knowing with such a powerful aunt, Ji Luofei should have no problem escaping Cang Qin Country.

"And who are you?" Ji Yahe finally turned her attention to Ning Cheng, recalling the unusual relationship he seemed to have with Ji Luofei but had not had the time to ask until now.

Ji Luofei, now recovering from her shock, quickly said, "He is Ning Cheng. My grandfather and Ning's grandfather were good friends. After grandfather passed away, he entrusted me to the Ning family."

Ji Luofei kept her answer simple, not detailing her relationship with Ning Cheng or mentioning his grandfather's passing. Her heart had yet to fully accept this abruptly appearing aunt; the whole thing was surreal.

Ji Yahe understood Ji Luofei's feelings and gently said, "Luofei, when I was taken from Yuanzhou Ji family to Huazhou as a child, I had just started to remember things. Your grandfather must have been my fourth uncle. Years ago, when I returned to Yuanzhou, the Ji family was extinct. I searched everywhere but couldn't find any member of the Ji family. Your grandfather must have fled there from the Ji family disaster. Luofei, from now on, you'll come with your aunt to Huazhou; you will no longer be hunted down."

"Yes, Aunt." A warmth surged in Ji Luofei's heart, and she called out. Her aunt's sudden appearance dispelled her previous confusion.

The aunt before her might not be a direct relative, but the connection was still there. It was Ji Yahe's final words of concern that resonated with Ji Luofei. Perhaps it was the impression left by the first person who provided her with a sense of reliance, Ning Cheng's "Just listen to me" that had profoundly marked her memory.

"Aunt, when Ning's grandfather took me in, there was only Ning Cheng left in the Ning family. If he stays in Cang Qin Country..." Ji Luofei's words trailed off, but Ji Yahe understood and immediately said, "Don't worry, I'll ensure his safety."

Ji Luofei felt relieved. Her aunt seemed very powerful; if she said Ning Cheng would be safe, then he certainly would be.

However, Ning Cheng felt a sinking feeling in his heart. He wasn't as naive as Ji Luofei. Ji Yahe could have simply said she would take him with them, but instead, she said she would ensure his safety, which troubled him. He hoped he was just overthinking.

"Come aboard," Ji Yahe waved her hand, summoning the lotus-shaped flying spiritual artifact and gestured to Ning Cheng and Ji Luofei.

"Is this a flying spiritual artifact?" Ning Cheng asked in astonishment. He was familiar with magical artifacts. He had read the scrolls passed down in the Ning family and knew about the existence of magical artifacts in Yixing Continent, and the various ranks among them. Spiritual artifacts were the most basic level, with treasure artifacts above them, and even higher were spiritual artifacts, followed by true artifacts.

Ji Yahe replied indifferently, "Yes, this is an Upper-Grade flying spiritual artifact."

Ning Cheng looked at the building under the lotus flower, feeling somewhat excited. These were all things of legends, and yet he had encountered them. Not only could he cultivate here, but perhaps one day, he might actually be able to fly in the sky. Without any propulsion, no mechanical structure, just flying solely with the aid of an inexplicable Magical Artifact.

"Luo Fei, was your appearance destroyed by the Xian family? Wait a moment, I will annihilate the Xian family," Ji Yahe's voice turned cold and severe the moment she spoke of destroying the Xian family.

Ji Luofei hastened to reply, "It shouldn't be them. When I was very young, it seemed like there was always someone who had issues with the Ji family. Gradually, the number of people under my grandfather's command began to decrease inexplicably, and finally, one night, someone attacked the Ji family. That was the night my appearance was ruined. Subsequently, Grandpa Ning arrived in time and took me away before my grandfather passed away."

As Ji Luofei spoke, the lotus again arrived at the Cang Qin Academy's challenge platform.

"Sister Yahe, who is this?" Wen Qilue saw Ji Yahe bringing over Ning Cheng and Ji Luofei and asked with confusion.

Ji Yahe pointed at Ji Luofei and said, "This is my niece, Ji Luofei, who had to follow my fourth uncle and ended up in Cang Qin Country. Now, she is the only one left, and I want to take her back to Huazhou."

Wen Qilue didn't say much, and the expressionless male cultivator said, "Since Sister Yahe found your niece and wants to take her away, we must deselect one of these ten people."

The ten seed competitors standing on the platform felt a sudden jolt in their hearts upon hearing this. By now, the ten of them had understood that although they were seed competitors, they were, in effect, already selected. It seemed that the people from the Yixing Academy were averse to trouble and didn't want to waste time on challenges, probably preferring to leave as early as possible.

To say another selection must be made clearly meant asking just anyone among them to step down. No one wanted to leave; only a fool would give up the chance to cultivate at the Five-Star Yixing Academy.

Ji Yahe's gaze swept over the ten people and suddenly pointed at Gu Yiming, saying, "You, step down."

As a Building Foundation Realm cultivator, Ji Yahe had distinctly felt Gu Yiming's spirit tremble when she mentioned Ji Luofei was her niece, which was a sign of apprehension. Regardless of the reason for Gu Yiming's apprehension, she was not concerned with that; she just pointed him out and requested that he leave the selected ten.

Gu Yiming, upon hearing he had to step down, was instantly panicked. Without the chance to go to the Yixing Five-Star Academy, reaching a high level of cultivation would be impossible for him.

With this thought, he braced himself and said with a cupped fist salute, "Respected seniors from Yixing Academy, I am also among the top disciples of Cang Qin Academy, and going to Yixing Academy is the wish of my life. I hope the seniors will act justly..."

Before Gu Yiming could finish, he noticed a shadow appear beside him, and then felt himself being kicked away.

"When told to scram, just scram; what's with all the nonsense?" Gu Yiming, who was now in midair, heard Wen Qilue's icy voice.

"Auntie, there is also Ning Cheng." It was only then that Ji Luofei realized that even though her aunt was a teacher at Yixing Academy, following her aunt so casually wasn't going to be straightforward. Therefore, she quickly brought up Ning Cheng, she had caught on that her aunt had only guaranteed Ning Cheng would be safe but did not mention taking him along.

The decision of Yixing Academy wasn't something anyone would dare to question with idle talk. Even the King of Cang Qin Country seated there, as well as the Dean of Cang Qin Academy, wouldn't dare to stand up and object.

Upon hearing Ji Luofei's words, Wen Qilue frowned, but then he looked at Ji Yahe and said, "Sister Yahe, you found your niece and want to take her away, which is somewhat reasonable. We don't even need to test her spiritual roots. But this boy, if his spiritual roots aren't any good, I'm afraid it won't be acceptable to take him away."

Ji Yahe also frowned, and before she could speak, a man sitting next to the Dean of Cang Qin Academy stood up. His face was a shade of brown, as if he were a piece of rusted iron, extremely unsightly.

"Respected seniors from Yixing Academy, I am Yong Changyan, the Vice Dean of Cang Qin Academy. I also know this Ning Cheng. He had been relying on his status as the young master of the Ning family, treating Miss Luo Fei with either beatings or scolding, and treating her no differently than a maid of the Ning family."

After saying a few brief sentences, the Vice Dean bowed with his fists and then sat down again, without bringing up Ning Cheng's spiritual roots. He obviously wanted Ning Cheng to go to Yixing Academy, he had to test the spiritual roots first.

Ji Yahe's expression immediately turned frosty as she stared at Ning Cheng and said coldly, "Boy, is that true? Daring to make use of Luo Fei as a maid, are you tired of living?"

Ning Cheng was instantly at a loss for words—in his life before his rebirth, it really was like that. How could he explain?

"Seeking death." Seeing Ning Cheng unable to explain, Ji Yahe instantly knew that what Yong Changyan had said was true, and with a wave of her hand, she made to strike Ning Cheng.