The year 386 of the Winds Era.

The capital city of the Wind Nation is Shangjing, inside the Imperial Spirit Martial Academy.

"Shiu, we... we are not suited for each other." A 17- or 18-year-old young maiden of beautiful facial features softly said this to the young man standing opposite her who was around the same age.

With a blank look, the young man had no idea what she meant.

"I wish that my future husband will be someone who shares the same aspirations and practices Spirit Martial like me, but you…" She hunted her head down at the mention of this, then slowly raised it, deeply gazing at him. She then lowered her head again, with a voice barely audible, "But you, you are not that kind of person, and you'll never be that kind of person, Shiu, I'm sorry…"

Indeed, Shangguan Shiu knew clearly well he could not become the figure she'd described. He had started practicing Spirit Martial at the age of three and trained hard for nearly fifteen years. His cultivation barely advanced from the initial phase of Spirit - the first step, to a slight adept term - the second step. Based on the common sense of Spirit Martial, he was simply unfit to practice Spirit Martial.

However, Pan Mengjun didn't just know him for a day or two, or a year or two. They were childhood sweethearts and grew up together. No one knew his circumstances better than her. Yet, today, she just suddenly blurted out such words.

"Before, you never said such things to me." A bitter smile flashed across Shangguan Shiu's face.

Pan Mengjun was silent for a long time before she slowly said, "Before, my world was very small, with only a few people in it. But since I moved to Shangjing and joined the Imperial Spirit Martial Academy, my world has expanded, witnessing many things I could not even imagine before. Shiu, I'm sorry."

Shangguan Shiu didn't know what to say. He thought he should turn around and leave.

However, his feet remained firmly planted in their spot. After more than ten years of relationship, he couldn't just let it go.

"Shiu, I... I already have someone I like."

With her words, any remaining hope Shangguan Shiu might have had was completely shattered.

His originally shining eyes dimmed. However, he managed to pull a faint smile, nodded, and said, "I understand."

A woman who has changed her affections is like a kite whose string has snapped. She shall only fly higher and farther away.

Shangguan Xiu couldn't bring himself to say an insincere "I wish you happiness." His heart still couldn't bear such broadmindedness. All he could do was swear in his heart: As long as I have an opportunity, I will prove to you that the decision you made today is wrong!

At this time, a horse-drawn carriage drove over and stopped in front of the main gate of the Lingwu Academy.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a young man in his early twenties stepped out.

The young man was tall and elegant, handsome in appearance, dressed in a formfitting black uniform of the Imperial Lingwu Academy. A finely crafted sword hung at his side and he looked elegant and upright, with an impressive presence. A notable scholar badge was pinned onto his chest.

From afar, he spotted Shangguan Xiu and Pan Mengjun standing together. He was a bit startled at first, then walked over to naturally stand beside Pan Mengjun. His hand casually rested on her waist, and with a smile on his face, he looked at Shangguan Xiu and leisurely asked, "Mengjun, who is he?"

With the appearance of the young man, the small bit of guilt on Pan Mengjun's face disappeared instantly. She smiled and replied in a relaxed tone, "Bai Yuan, he's the neighbor from our village whom I often mention and a childhood friend of mine, Shangguan Xiu."

She added quickly to Shangguan Xiu as if fearing a misunderstanding, "Xiu, you should go back now. Don't come to see me again in the future!"

Hearing her words, the young man narrowed his eyes and stared at Shangguan Xiu with an unpleasant expression.

Shangguan Xiu was not yet eighteen years old. He was taller than average but slightly thin. His face could not be described as handsome, but he had a rugged charm. His facial features were deeper than most, with dark eyebrows and narrow eyes, the typical eagle eyes, piercing, dazzling. His nose was high, his lips thin, demonstrating a resolute spirit through his handsome appearance.

What was slightly offensive was his worn-out outfit: a coarse cloth shirt and trousers, and a pair of cloth shoes beneath. There weren’t any patches, but they were quite old. Standing at the entrance of the prestigious and opulent Imperial Lingwu Academy, his attire seemed odd and out of place.

A smirk appeared on the corner of Leng Baiyuan's lips, and he stepped forward to stand in front of Shangguan Xiu. Then, his large hand reached out and grabbed Shangguan Xiu's collar.

His other hand lifted, and at the same time, a white mist emerged from his arm. The mist swirled around his arm, lingering without dispersing. In the blink of an eye, the vapor-like mist condensed into a solid substance, coating his arm with a layer of white armor.

This was a skill of spiritual cultivation, called spiritual armoring, in which the cultivator released their spiritual energy to condense into a solid form outside their body for protection.

Now, Leng Baiyuan lifted his arm, covered with the spiritual armor, seeming ready to strike at Shangguan Xiu's head.

Shangguan Xiu's divine cultivation level was only at the second stage, which was far from being able to perform spiritual armoring. If he were to be hit by Leng Baiyuan's punch, there was a chance his skull could shatter.

Upon sight, Pan Mengjun was startled and her face turned pale. She rushed forward quickly and grabbed Lin Baiyuan's arm, stuttering, "Bai...Baiyuan, what are you doing? Xiaoxiu is my childhood friend!"

Lin Baiyuan just wanted to scare Shangguan Xiu; he hadn't gone as far as to want to kill someone in broad daylight, right in front of the gates of the Imperial Spirit Martial Academy.

"He came to bother you, didn't he?" Lin Baiyuan first smiled at Pan Mengjun. His cold eyes then landed on Shangguan Xiu. He shook his fist enveloped in a spiritual suit, and said word by word, "I don't care if you're Shangguan Xiu or Xiangguan Xiu, if I ever see you bothering Mengjun here at the academy again... Don't blame me for not showing any mercy! Now, get the hell out of here!"

In mid-conversation, he forcibly shoved Shangguan Xiu by grasping his collar, causing the latter to stagger backward several steps before falling on his butt.

Shangguan Xiu sat down quickly, but also rose at a remarkable speed. He stood straight up, without blinking his tiger eyes, fixated on Lin Baiyuan.

Being no fool, of course, he could see that Lin Baiyuan was the one Pan Mengjun was infatuated with.

Seeing his love stolen away by a rival, there was a fire of anger kindling in Shangguan Xiu's heart. When the other party used force against him, his rage exploded.

Shangguan Xiu's eagle-like eyes were naturally sharp when glaring at people. At this moment, he stared angrily at Lin Baiyuan, creating an illusion in the latter's mind. It felt as if he wasn't being watched by a person, but a ferocious wild beast, ready to pounce on him at any moment and sink its teeth into his throat.

He disliked Shangguan Xiu's gaze, and even more so, the spine-chilling feeling it brought along.

He tilted his head, showing a smirk, and, amidst Shangguan Xiu's intense gaze, asked, "What? Boy, you still not convinced?"

Shangguan Xiu didn't say a word, just stared straight at him.

Dammit! Angrily burning inside, Lin Baiyuan cursed inwardly. With no warning, he launched a punch.

His punch, imbued with spiritual armour, was heavy and fast.

Shangguan Xiu didn't even have time to react. The hefty punch hit him smack in the gut.

He groaned from the impact, his body jerked upwards due to the force of the punch, then he thudded down, kneeling onto the ground.

His internal organs felt knotted in pain, crumbling as though they were about to break apart. Blood trickled slowly from the corner of his mouth. Biting his teeth hard, he stifled any groans of pain. He used every ounce of strength left in his legs to prop himself up and stand once again.

It was hard to imagine that he could still stand after being hit by a cultivator's fist in full spiritual armor without any protection. This sight brought a surprise in the eyes of Leng Boyuan. Just as he was amazed, Shangguan Xiu roared angrily, swinging his fist towards Leng Boyuan.

However, Leng Boyuan was not threatened by his staggering punch. By slightly sidestepping, he easily evaded the incoming blow.

Murderous intent surged from Leng Boyuan as he sneered menacingly, "Kid, you're courting death!" As he spoke, he raised his fist, ready to strike once again.

Realizing that Leng Boyuan was serious, Pan Mengjun felt her heart skip a beat. Regardless of how she currently viewed Shangguan Xiu, they knew each other from childhood and shared over a decade worth of emotional bond.

She quickly leaped before Leng Boyuan, blocking him from Shangguan Xiu. With furrowed brows and a panicked tone, she said, "Boyuan, stop fighting!"

Then she turned to Shangguan Xiu, her voice soft almost begging as she coaxed, "Xiu, leave quickly, I beg you..."

Seeing the tears welling up in Pan Mengjun's eyes, Shangguan Xiu gradually loosened his tight fist. His boiling anger cooled down.

He wanted to fight Leng Boyuan, but he currently lacked the strength for it.

Both Leng Boyuan and Pan Mengjun were students from the Imperial Spiritual Martial Arts Academy. They had reached at least the fifth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm, while he was only at the second level of the Spirit Motion Realm. The gap in cultivation was too vast; not something that could be bridged by sheer willpower or determination.

Shangguan Xiu wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth. He would remember this grudge.

Leng Boyuan glanced at Pan Mengjun and then at Shangguan Xiu. Gritting his teeth, he suppressed his anger; the corner of his mouth curling into a sneer. His eyes radiated contempt as he arrogantly remarked, "Shangguan Xiu, you're lucky today. If I see you bothering Mengjun at the Imperial Spiritual Martial Arts Academy again, I won't let you off!" After speaking, the fury on his face disappeared; he loosened his fist and pulled Pan Mengjun close to him. With a smug smile, he said, "Mengjun, let's go! People like him are dime a dozen, the more you care, the more they take advantage. Avoid them in the future."

As he spoke, Leng Boyuan, with Pan Mengjun in arm, strutted past Shangguan Xiu like a cocky rooster, without even a glance at him.

Pan Mengjun turned back several times, wanting to return and check on Shangguan Xiu's injuries, but she ultimately held back and followed Leng Boyuan into the academy.

The students around were pointing and commenting on Shangguan Xiu, laughter echoing through the crowd.

The humiliation was something Shangguan Xiu, a seasoned martial artist, had never experienced before.

He could not recall how he left the academy. By the time he collected himself, he was on a busy, prosperous street.

It was July, the sky was clear and the sun was blazing hot. But Shangguan Xiu's heart was as cold as ice, like he was plunged into an icy cellar.

The moment Leng Boyuan left arm in arm with Pan Mengjun, Shangguan Xiu felt as though an invisible hand had reached into his body, grabbed his self-esteem, threw it on the ground, and smashed it into pieces.