Note: It has been ten years since this Chapter, which focuses entirely on the life status of Gui Qinshao and her daughter.

...

Strictly speaking, the Sky Academy also belongs to the Sky Holy Palace dimension. It’s just not within the spatial bounds of the Sky Holy Palace and requires accessing through a particular energy channel. It’s like two relatively isolated system spaces.

The entire Sky Academy covers an area of about a thousand square kilometers, accommodating at most twenty to thirty thousand people.

Now, it only has just over ten thousand people because the rise of Demon Emperor Lanling caused a disruption in the training of successors of the Dragon Temple. Nonetheless, it still holds several hundred young students, thousands of teachers, and over ten thousand related staff members.

In other academies, one teacher might be responsible for dozens of students. However, in Sky Academy, it’s the opposite, with dozens of people serving one student.

Moreover, due to safety threats faced by the Dragon Temple on the ground, many who were initially supposed to study in the Dragon Temple have transferred to the much safer Sky Academy.

The dean of Sky Academy is Gu Ban, but he is rarely within the academy. The Sky Academy is primarily overseen by the Candidate Sky Priest Luo Suo, considered the highest authority in the academy with absolute command.

Among the few hundred students in the Sky Academy, half are children of Sky Holy Palace dignitaries, a third are of the four major Mizhou regions, and dozens are from the royal families of the Human Kingdom.

There exists a very particular chain of disdain within Sky Academy.

The children of the Sky Holy Palace look down on the children of the four Mizhou, and the children of the four Mizhou look down on those from the Human Kingdom royal families.

If not for Lanling’s unexpected emergence, then the future top tier of the Sky Holy Palace would surely come from Sky Academy students.

Within the Sky Holy Palace, there are two very unique members, Ashi Yuanba and Gui Qinshao’s daughter, Gui Ling’er.

Their identities are confidential, but since they are verified not to be part of the Sky Holy Palace, the four Mizhou, or the Human Kingdom’s royal offspring, they are considered to be at the bottom of the Sky Academy’s hierarchy of disdain based purely on identity.

And Gui Qinshao, Ye Jingfeng, Ye Jingyu, and Tutor Niya are also within Sky Academy.

Tutor Niya continues to teach music within the academy, while Ye Jingfeng and Ye Jingyu serve as one of countless servants attending to the daily life of these prodigies. Gui Qinshao has been assigned to the dean’s office, doing the most ordinary textual work.

Suo Lun’s sister, Suo Long’s illegitimate daughter, once a Little Princess Yan Xue, also works in the academy office, responsible for cleaning, changing water for all the fish, and trimming the flowers.

A full ten years have passed; compared to Fu Yan’er and her family within the Sky Holy Palace, Gui Qinshao remains completely unaware of everything happening outside.

The family lives peacefully, albeit humble.

...

If Fu Yan’er has not changed much, Gui Qinshao has undergone significant changes.

Gui Qinshao once refused to grow up, initially protected by her father Gui Xingfu, and later protected by her husband Suo Lun. But when Suo Lun was killed by Zhi Yan, Gui Qinshao, pregnant, was captured by the Sky Holy Palace.

She transformed from one protected into the protector.

She had to protect her newborn child, guard Yan Xue’er, who was only as smart as a few years old, and safeguard Ashi Yuanba, who was just over ten at the time. Thus, she had to instantly mature.

Gui Qinshao used to love wearing the brightest dresses that fully showcased her enchanting figure. She frequently adorned herself with vibrant makeup, captivating like flames.

But now, Gui Qinshao dons the dignified academy uniform, with her once long hair now cut short barely reaching her shoulders. To obscure her allure and charm, she even wears glasses deliberately.

Yet, even so, she remains stunningly beautiful, though it has adopted a different form.

Adding to her previous radiant beauty, she now carries a more mature and mysterious allure.

Even though Gu Ban has repeatedly warned everyone in Sky Academy not to make any rash moves towards Gui Qinshao, numerous high-ranking members and tutors have still expressed their affection for her.

Over time, the slightly air-headed Gui Qinshao has become shrewd and formidable, navigating among a pack of wolves and protecting her family.

Her beauty is simply overwhelming, and in recent years, she truly struggled to cope as some of Sky Academy’s upper echelons began to lose patience, especially the local despot of the Sky Academy, the Vice Dean and Candidate Sky Priest Luo Suo. He realized that to conquer this woman might require more forceful measures rather than just charm.

Thankfully, Ashi Yuanba has grown stronger!

Despite being at the low end of Sky Academy’s hierarchy, he is too brilliant, too exceptional, ascending against the current to become the new genius student in Sky Academy, shining gloriously.

Moreover, two years ago, he successfully won over Gu Ban’s daughter, Gu NianNian.

Since then, Ashi Yuanba has seemed like Gu Ban’s future ideal son-in-law, rapidly elevating his status in Sky Academy. Consequently, he gradually also protects Gui Qinshao and his sister Gui Ling’er.

...

The first Vice Dean of Sky Academy, Candidate Sky Priest Luo Suo, is only fifty-three this year. If no upheavals occurred, with the next generation transitioning leadership at the Sky Holy Palace, he would practically advance to Sky Priest and likely assume the second-in-command position at the Sky Holy Palace.

At fifty-three, in terms of the Sky Holy Palace, it’s definitively the golden age, undoubtedly a youthful talent.

Luo Suo is relatively clear about the occurrences in the Sky Holy Palace. Just yesterday, he received messages from Gu Ban at the Sky Holy Palace: Sub-emperor rises, victory is imminent.

Since then, no further messages were received, as Lanling’s reversal was too swift, instantly turning the tables, directly occupying the entire Sky Holy Palace, leaving Gu Ban no opportunity to send further updates to Sky Academy.

Thus, Luo Suo is pleased, as yesterday’s imminent victory surely signifies accomplished victory today.

And just recently, the Sky Holy Palace sent another message, stating that an esteemed guest will soon arrive, preparing for reception.

Hence, Luo Suo believes that the war is already finished, the Sub-emperor has prevailed.

Thus, he decides to no longer tolerate waiting!

The mysterious, beautiful, sexy, and enchanting Gui Qinshao was sitting at her desk, working diligently.

This woman was in her thirties, at the pinnacle of beauty, like a flower in full bloom. Like a bottle of fine wine, its alluring aroma wafting even through the glass.

Luo Suo was a charming man with a wife and two concubines at home, and more than ten lovers outside. But this was a very restrained outcome, as his charisma was extraordinary, and beauties within the Sky Academy secretly admired this dashing future second priest of the Sky Holy Temple.

He had liked Gui Qinshao for several years, and his affection only grew stronger.

Initially, he was attracted to Gui Qinshao’s radiant beauty, but as she became more reserved and mature, he became even more infatuated. However, Gu Ban repeatedly warned him not to make a move on Gui Qinshao, so he forcefully held back. Now, it seemed there was no need to hold back anymore.

Of course, Luo Suo was an extraordinarily charming and elegant man who would never resort to brute force or drugging. He only used his charm to attract women, but after so many years, he found he was growing impatient.

By evening, the other people in the office gradually finished their work.

Luo Suo walked behind Gui Qinshao and bent down, saying, "I’ll come over to your house for dinner tonight, feel free to make anything, but my favorites are Blue Stem Fragrance, Yuan Beast Claw, and Hundred Flower Dew Wine."

Gui Qinshao replied calmly, "Principal, I haven’t prepared those ingredients at home, and I’m not very skilled in cooking, so it might not satisfy you."

Luo Suo said, "No refusals allowed!"

Then, he looked at her gently and asked, "How’s Ling Er’s health lately? Does the cold symptom still occur regularly? How many more doses of Dragon Flame Dew can she take? When she gets a bit older, I’ll apply for an advanced Dragon Bloodline from above to solve her issue once and for all."

After speaking, Luo Suo left directly, not giving Gui Qinshao any chance to refuse.

...

"Yuanba, let’s break up." A beautiful girl said to Ashi Yuanba, her pretty eyes filled with tears, yet her expression resolute.

She was Gu Ban’s daughter, Gu Niannian.

Ashi Yuanba had already become a twenty-year-old young man, handsome and deep, with a deadly charm for women. If it weren’t for this, he wouldn’t have caught Gu Niannian, the belle of the Sky Academy.

Gu Niannian wasn’t just a belle; she was almost the first princess of the Sky Academy, the object of admiration of countless boys because she was Gu Ban’s daughter, though not born of Ban Ruo.

"Are you sure?" Ashi Yuanba asked coldly.

"I’m sure." Gu Niannian said, "The battle situation of the Sky Holy Temple has changed, you don’t have a future, my father absolutely won’t allow me to be with you. Let’s treat everything that happened before as a fascinating memory."

Then, she walked away resolutely.

Everyone in the Sky Academy thought it was Ashi Yuanba who pursued Gu Niannian, but it was actually the opposite; Gu Niannian pursued Ashi Yuanba actively. Of course, Gu Ban also had a hand in encouraging it. Because two or three years ago, Lanling’s Flame Demon Empire was on the rise, and the Sky Holy Temple intended to raise Lanling to become the Dragon Emperor. So Gu Ban had his daughter pursue Ashi Yuanba, planning an unconventional alliance.

And now, Lanling attacked the Sky Holy Temple. The latest news is that Sub-emperor has risen and Lanling is on the verge of defeat.

Gu Niannian thought this was the last chance for separation and must cut ties early.

"Alright." Ashi Yuanba said coldly, then turned away.

"Don’t blame me for being heartless; blame it on fate’s cruelty." Gu Niannian shouted from behind.

Ashi Yuanba walked away without looking back.

...

"I won’t drink!"

"I don’t want..."

"Go away, you’re the worst..."

From Gui Qinshao’s home came the sharp cries of a little girl.

She was the daughter of Suo Lun and Gui Qinshao, named Gui Ling’er.

When Suo Lun was killed by Zhi Yan, Gui Qinshao was several months pregnant and about to give birth. At that time, Turing Si was killed, her husband didn’t return, and Gui Qinshao suffered a tremendous blow, mentally devastated, leading to fetal unrest.

In the Sky Holy Temple, her daughter Gui Ling’er was born, but from a young age she was frail. Every month, she had cold symptoms that were agonizing.

Each time the cold symptoms flared, she needed Dragon Flame Dew to alleviate them.

Now she was ten years old but looked like she was seven or eight, appearing thin and weak. Of course, her cold symptoms no longer occurred, about a year ago they suddenly stopped, yet Ashi Yuanba told Gui Qinshao to continue pretending they occurred each time, to reassure certain people.

The ten-year-old Gui Ling’er had a very bad temper, spoiled and stubborn, often shouting and yelling.

She was exceedingly beautiful, even prettier than a doll. But her bad temper was a headache for everyone, often bullying Yan Xue’er to tears.

Ye Jingfeng and Ye Jingyu served her like a little empress but to no avail.

This little girl truly inherited both Suo Lun and Gui Qinshao’s character flaws.

Still, she remained Gui Qinshao’s cherished treasure, Ye Jingfeng and Ye Jingyu’s beloved darling, and Ashi Yuanba’s most beloved sister.

...

Note: I’ve sent the first update, thank you all!