The morning sun shone brightly over the Central Plaza of Blue Mist City. Today was an important day. The Cloudy Mountain Academy, the most prestigious cultivation institution in the region, was holding its annual admission examinations. Hundreds of talented youths from the city and nearby towns had gathered, dressed in their best training robes. Some looked nervous, others full of confidence.
Among the crowd, one figure stood out without even trying.
Mo Qingyan, who had just turned 16, walked with firm, elegant steps toward the registration area. Her long black hair was tied in a simple high ponytail, but a few loose strands fell across her face, framing her dark violet eyes that regarded the world with cold arrogance. She wore a fitted light gray robe that accentuated her slender figure: an extremely narrow waist, small but firm breasts, and above all, a large, round, and well-defined ass that swayed with every step, drawing discreet glances from the young men around her.
She ignored the stares. Her mind was focused on one thing only.
"Peak Qi Refining… completely stuck here for two full years."
Since she began serious training at age 14, she had advanced at a monstrous speed.
Thanks to the knowledge and forbidden techniques she retained from her life as the Immortal Emperor, she had reached Peak Qi Refining in a short time. But ever since then, the wall had been impenetrable. No matter how much she cultivated, how many medicinal pills she consumed, or how many techniques she tried, she couldn't break through to the next realm: Foundation Establishment.
Mo Qingyan clenched her fists slightly as she waited her turn in the registration line.
"This isn't normal. My progress should be much faster. There's something about this body… something that's holding me back."
She had already noticed that her constitution was special. Qi flowed differently through her meridians — smoother, more sensitive, but also harder to control for a normal breakthrough. Additionally, for the past few months she had been feeling a strange sensitivity throughout her entire body: a firm touch on her waist or hips could make her breathing quicken, and at night she had confusing, disturbing dreams that left her wet and frustrated.
Even so, she wasn't worried. Quite the opposite.
"A special physique… that's good. Very good."
Mo Qingyan smiled faintly to herself, wearing that arrogant expression that had already become habitual.
"With the knowledge of a Peak Immortal Emperor and a special physique, I'll be able to ascend much faster than any ordinary cultivator in this mortal world. Once I break through to Foundation Establishment, my progress speed will be terrifying. I just need to unlock this physique. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's the key to breaking this stagnation."
She didn't know exactly what kind of physique she had. She only felt that it was rare, powerful, and… problematic. She suspected it required some kind of specific stimulus or condition to fully activate. In the meantime, she had decided not to force the breakthrough any further. It was better to wait for the right moment.
Her turn at registration arrived.
"Name and age," said the academy disciple in charge of the table, barely looking up.
"Mo Qingyan, 16 years old," she replied in a clear, cold voice.
The young man looked up and froze for a second when he saw her. Her beauty was striking even in a simple robe. He swallowed hard and quickly wrote it down.
"Head to the testing area. The first test is Qi aptitude. Good luck."
Qingyan nodded and walked toward the main plaza where the tests were being conducted.
The place was full of nervous youths. Some had already been rejected and were leaving with their heads down. Others were celebrating small successes. In the center stood several spiritual stone testing platforms, where applicants placed their hand to measure their cultivation level and talent.
Mo Qingyan waited her turn patiently. When it came, she stepped onto the platform with confident strides.
The examiner, an elderly academy member at the Advanced Qi Refining stage, looked at her with curiosity.
"Place your hand on the sphere and release your Qi."
Qingyan obeyed. She placed her delicate palm on the large crystal sphere. She closed her eyes and channeled her energy.
The sphere glowed intensely. First a light blue, then deeper, until it reached a dark blue that was almost black.
The examiner's eyes widened.
"Peak Qi Refining… at 16 years old!
Excellent talent. Very few reach this level so young."
A murmur spread through the crowd. Several gazes turned toward Qingyan with envy and admiration.
She withdrew her hand without changing her expression. Inside, however, she felt a slight frustration.
"Peak… still stuck at Peak. But it doesn't matter. This special physique will be my advantage."
The examiner recorded the results and handed her a jade token.
"Proceed to the second test: basic combat. Demonstrate your practical skill."
Qingyan took the token and headed to the combat area.
There, several stone rings served as evaluation fighting stages. An inner disciple of the academy, also at Peak Qi Refining, waited as her test opponent.
The fight was brief but intense.
Mo Qingyan moved with a precision and elegance that left the spectators stunned. Her strikes were clean, her dodges perfect, and her Qi control far more refined than her opponent's. In less than two minutes, she had disarmed the disciple and sent him flying out of the ring with a controlled strike to the chest.
The head examiner nodded in approval.
"Good fight. You have talent in both cultivation and technique. Congratulations, Mo Qingyan. You have passed the preliminary tests. You are provisionally admitted to the Cloudy Mountain Academy. The official ceremony will be in three days."
Qingyan bowed her head slightly in respect.
"Thank you."
As she walked back home with the jade token in hand, her mind raced at full speed.
"Finally… the academy. There I'll have resources, techniques, and real opponents. I'll be able to investigate this special physique more deeply. Whatever it is, once I unlock it, I'll break through to Foundation Establishment and my true rise will begin."
Mo Qingyan returned home as the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange. In her right hand she held the jade token that confirmed her provisional admission to the Cloudy Mountain Academy. Her expression was serene and cold, as always, but inside she felt a mixture of satisfaction and urgency.
When she opened the door of the modest wooden and stone house, the aroma of freshly prepared food greeted her. Her mother, a woman with a kind face and hands calloused from work, came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a cloth.
"Qingyan! How did it go, daughter?" she asked, her anxiety clearly visible.
Mo Tian, her father, appeared behind her, still wearing his work robe stained with dirt and herbs. His eyes lit up when he saw the jade token in his daughter's hand.
Qingyan raised the token slightly and spoke in a calm but firm voice:
"I was provisionally accepted. I have to return to the academy in three days for the official admission ceremony and the final tests."
For a second, the house fell silent. Then both Mo Tian and his wife burst into exclamations of joy.
"You did it!" her father shouted, stepping forward to hug her tightly. "My daughter is going to enter the Cloudy Mountain Academy! This is incredible!"
Her mother covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes filled with emotional tears.
"Qingyan… my girl… we always knew you were special. From a young age you showed a talent no one else in the family had. With your progress, you'll surely be accepted as a direct disciple of some powerful elder."
Mo Tian nodded enthusiastically, still hugging his daughter.
"Exactly. With your talent, you won't be an ordinary disciple. Some high-level master will take you under his wing. Just imagine! Our daughter studying at the most important academy in the region. This will change the fate of our entire family!"
Qingyan allowed herself to be hugged without resisting, though inside she felt a slight discomfort. Those affectionate hugs from ordinary parents felt strange to the mind of the former Immortal Emperor. Even so, she kept her expression neutral and replied courteously:
"Thank you, Father, Mother. I will do my best not to disappoint you."
Her parents' joy was contagious. Mo Tian immediately decided that this called for a proper celebration.
"Today we're not cooking just anything!" he announced. "We'll prepare a feast. I'm going to invite some of my coworkers. My daughter deserves for everyone to know how talented she is."
Her mother nodded happily and got to work in the kitchen. Mo Tian rushed out to notify his friends. In less than an hour, the small house was filled with people.
Five of Mo Tian's coworkers arrived: men between 30 and 45 years old, all low-level cultivators who worked in the trade of herbs and basic materials. They brought cheap wine, some prepared dishes, and plenty of curiosity.
The main table was set up in the backyard, lit by paper lanterns. The food was abundant: roasted chicken with medicinal herbs, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, bone soup, and several other dishes that Qingyan's mother had prepared with care.
During dinner, the guests couldn't stop looking at Mo Qingyan.
She sat with straight, elegant posture, eating with impeccable manners. Her light gray robe, though simple, hugged her body enough to highlight her figure: the narrow waist, the small but well-formed breasts that pressed slightly against the fabric when she breathed, and especially her large, round ass, which remained noticeably prominent even while seated.
The men tried to be discreet, but their eyes kept drifting toward her. One of them, a burly man named Wang Hu, stared longer than appropriate when Qingyan leaned forward to serve more soup. Another, younger man, visibly swallowed when she crossed her legs.
Mo Tian noticed.
Sitting beside his daughter, he saw how his coworkers cast furtive glances at Qingyan's body. He frowned for a moment, but then sighed inwardly and decided to ignore it. It was impossible to hide. His daughter was becoming far too beautiful. That pronounced ass and that extremely narrow waist attracted attention without her doing anything. Besides, he knew Qingyan was strong. Very strong. No one would dare do anything inappropriate in front of him.
"Let's toast to Qingyan!" Mo Tian said, raising his cup and breaking the awkward moment. "To my daughter's talent and her bright future at the Cloudy Mountain Academy!"
Everyone raised their cups and toasted enthusiastically. The guests congratulated Qingyan effusively, though some did so while their eyes continued to wander over her figure.
Qingyan responded with cold courtesy, smiling only when necessary and speaking little. Inside, the mind of the former emperor watched everything with contempt.
"These ants… looking at me like I'm a piece of meat. If they knew who I was in my previous life, they would be trembling on the ground."
The dinner lasted more than two hours. They talked about work stories, rumors about the academy, and how fortunate the Mo family was to have such a talented daughter.
Qingyan endured it all with patience, eating moderately and responding only when necessary.
Finally, when the night was well advanced and the guests began to say their goodbyes, Qingyan stood up.
"Father, Mother, I'm tired from today. I'm going to rest."
Her mother stroked her hair affectionately.
"Go ahead, daughter. Rest well. Tomorrow we'll prepare everything for your return to the academy in three days."
Mo Tian nodded with pride.
"Sleep peacefully, Qingyan. We're very proud of you."
Qingyan bowed slightly in respect and retired to her small room.
She closed the door carefully and dropped onto the simple wooden bed. The exhaustion from the day — the tests, the fight, the walk, and the long dinner — crashed over her like a heavy wave.
She removed her outer robe and remained in her light undergarments. Her body, still slightly sweaty from the day's heat, relaxed against the cool sheets.
"Tomorrow… I'll start preparing seriously for the academy."
That was her last coherent thought.
Exhaustion quickly overcame her. Mo Qingyan closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep within minutes, her breathing becoming slow and steady.