Because both of them had ID badges, they entered Tianqi Courtyard without any hindrance. However, Ming Qi didn't bring the dire wolf inside, but instead let it rest nearby. After all, it was their first time at Tianqi Courtyard, and as a newcomer, bringing a ferocious beast with them would have been inappropriate.
The dire wolf, however, embodied the true spirit of the wolf, possessing both loyalty and tenacity. Ming Qi simply instructed it, and it quietly crouched at the gate of Tianqi Courtyard, like a guardian beast.
After that, the two of them approached Tianqi Courtyard, one behind the other.
The scenery within Tianqi Courtyard was truly breathtaking. Although it was the scorching summer heat, walking through the courtyard felt refreshingly cool, making the heat vanish completely.
Colorful butterflies fluttered amidst the flowers, and orioles and swallows chirped beneath the sparse shadows. Such a scene was simply impossible to witness in the mortal world. However, after walking for a while, Ming Qi realized something was amiss.
"Xiaoyue, have you noticed anything?"
"Call me Brother Long!"
Yue Qinglong was furious when Ming Qi addressed him like that, and he immediately felt the urge to beat Ming Qi up.
But despite his impulsiveness, he still looked around and asked in confusion, "Why is there not a single person in Tianqi Courtyard?"
Indeed, that was exactly what Ming Qi was talking about. Tianqi Courtyard was so large, with at least hundreds of rooms, yet they had walked around for quite some time and heard no sound at all—not even a sound of voices, not even footsteps.
Could it be that Tianqi Courtyard was deserted?
At this thought, Ming Qi immediately rejected the idea. How could there be no one here? This was a complete joke.
After walking for a while, the two men finally realized something was amiss. They were on the verge of breaking down the doors to look inside, but still, no one was visible.
There was a house here that resembled the villa Ming Qi had seen in his previous life. It was beautifully decorated, a separate courtyard, and as comfortable as it could be. If it were in the real world, it would have been a first-class royal residence.
"Where are the people? Are they all dead?"
Yue Qinglong slumped down beside a lotus pond, completely deflated.
Ming Qi, however, remained remarkably calm, scanning the entire Tianqi Courtyard. It was completely unreasonable that there were no Biyou Sect disciples within the courtyard. There must be people there, that much was certain.
"Hmm? Someone!"
Just as Ming Qi was puzzled, his keen senses suddenly struck him. He sensed someone rushing towards him at breakneck speed.
Whoosh!
With barely time to react, Ming Qi stepped forward, extended his right hand, and grabbed at the air.
This person was incredibly fast, even surpassing Ming Qi's own. Clearly, his strength was far superior, and the punch he delivered was precise, fierce, and merciless.
Parrying with one hand, Ming Qi saw that the person charging towards him was a girl in her twenties. She had large, dark eyes, a round face, and fair skin. She wore the white uniform of a Biyou Sect outer disciple, but above her right chest was a black and white chess piece.
The black and white chess piece was the symbol of Tianqi Academy.
The girl possessed the strength of the seventh level of the Acquired Realm and was clearly furious. Her punch was incredibly powerful.
As she struck, she shouted, "How shameless! Are you picking on us from Tianqi Academy?"
Ming Qi was stunned, confused by what she meant, but the punch had already landed squarely before him, and he had no choice but to fight back. He clenched his right hand, grasping the girl's delicate fist. Then, with a sudden twist of his body, he finally released the force, but he had still managed to pull the girl in front of him.
"Girl, don't start!"
Ming Qi's move was a great show of mercy. If he were facing an enemy, he could easily have thrown them into the lotus pond behind him in the blink of an eye.
Seeing Ming Qi deflect her attack with a single move, the girl was instantly filled with shame and anger. With a sudden tug, she pulled Ming Qi's fist back. With red eyes, she took a few steps back and attacked again.
"Wait!" Ming Qi was momentarily bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.
"Girl, please talk nicely. What if you get hurt?"
At this point, Yue Qinglong finally realized what was happening, but he was completely disloyal as he dodged behind Ming Qi.
"Who's your sister? You're courting death!"
The girl, seeing Yue Qinglong taking advantage of her regardless of the situation, instantly grew furious. Like a raging tigress, she charged forward, clearly determined to fight Yue Qinglong to the death.
"Stop!"
Ming Qi, no longer concerned, immediately intervened.
Although the girl's strength was two levels higher than Ming Qi's, Ming Qi's fundamentals were incredibly solid, and his agility and power were exquisite. He subdued her with one strike.
Seeing she was restrained again, the girl's face flushed with anger, but she could do nothing.
"Why don't you go and cause trouble for other academies? Why have you chosen to pick a fight with us, Tianqi Academy? Aren't we being oppressed enough already?"
As the girl spoke, two tears rolled down her cheeks.
"What's going on? We're newly admitted disciples today, reporting to Tianqi Academy."
Ming Qi quickly explained his purpose to prevent the girl from getting angry again.
As expected, as Ming Qi explained his intention, the anger on the girl's face dissipated considerably, replaced by boundless surprise.
"You said you were new disciples assigned to Tianqi Academy?"
Her tone was filled with disbelief.
"Yes, yes, we're all family from now on. Sister, please don't hit me next time,"
Yue Qinglong said with a grin.
The girl rolled her eyes at Yue Qinglong but didn't say anything else.
"My name is Qiu Ling. Since you've joined Tianqi Academy, come with me to meet the other brothers."
After gathering her composure, Qiu Ling led Ming Qi and Yue Qinglong deeper into Tianqi Academy.
The three of them remained silent throughout the journey, and Yue Qinglong also put aside his playful and frivolous nature, displaying a calm and composed side.
After a short while, the two, led by Qiu Ling, arrived at a loft deep within Tianqi Academy.
Entering the attic, Ming Qi saw six people, three men and three women, all around twenty years old, sitting in the spacious hall. When Qiu Ling opened the door and entered, they all stood up from their meditation.
"Junior Sister Ling'er, who are they?"
Seeing Ming Qi and the others, one of the young men, a man in his early twenties, asked coldly, his eyes filled with hostility.
Ming Qi also noticed that the six people in the room were covered in scars, as if they had just been in a fight. Two even had broken bones.
"Senior Brother Meng, these two are new disciples this year, assigned to our Tianqi Academy."
After hearing Qiu Ling's explanation, Senior Brother Meng's eyes dimmed, and he angrily said, "It's been three years. Three whole years, and we haven't had a single new disciple assigned to our Tianqi Academy. I heard there were thirty-six new outer disciples this year!"
Thirty-six to two—this ratio immediately gave Ming Qi a clue. It seemed that Tianqi Academy wasn't well-received by the Biyou Sect's higher-ups.
At this moment, a pretty girl came over and took out the ID cards for Ming Qi and the other two.
After looking at the ID cards, the girl's expression darkened considerably, seeming extremely disappointed, yet this was all expected.
"Two people at the fifth level of the Acquired Realm, Senior Brother Meng. It seems the Elder Steward is indeed planning to abandon our Tianqi Academy."
Taking the ID cards, Ming Qi pondered for a moment, then said nothing. A flash of light flashed in his hand, and a golden gourd appeared on it.
"My fellow brothers and sisters, this is the reward I received while clearing the levels. Let's help you recover from your injuries first. As for the Tianqi Academy matters, we can discuss them later."
From the actions and words of the several people, Ming Qi could tell that Tianqi Academy seemed to be being oppressed and marginalized by the other academies. Not only were they battered and wounded, but even their daily supply of medicinal pills seemed to be severely limited. Ming Qi even smelled the scent of ordinary herbs nearby; it was clear they were using them to heal their wounds!
Without hesitation, Ming Qi took out the Pei Yuan Dan he'd earned from the challenge, a token of his sincerity in joining Tianqi Academy.
He knew that these people, able to heal with the simplest of herbs yet perseveringly supporting Tianqi Academy, proved their exceptional resolve. Furthermore, within Tianqi Academy, there seemed to be a faith that kept their blood flowing.
"This is the Pei Yuan Dan!"
Qiu Ling eagerly took the golden gourd and opened it, then immediately looked at Ming Qi as if he were a monster.
"You, first place in the challenge?!"
Her tone was filled with shock and disbelief, completely unable to believe that the person standing before her was the one who had achieved first place.
"This guy is incredibly skilled! He was a full stick of incense faster than the others!"
Yue Qinglong had fully unleashed his deceptive skills, claiming that a cup of tea took an entire stick of incense.
However, at this moment, the people of Tianqi Academy didn't care about a stick of incense or a cup of tea. They were simply concerned that such a person had been assigned to Tianqi Academy by accident!
After a long silence, Senior Brother Meng sighed and, without another word, poured some of the Peiyuan Pills from his gourd and distributed them to the others, then handed the rest back to Ming Qi.
After everyone had taken the pills, Senior Brother Meng gestured for everyone to sit down.
The Peiyuan Pills possessed miraculous properties, strengthening the body and accelerating recovery. They were considered top-grade healing elixirs. Ordinary post-natal disciples could hardly afford such high-end healing elixirs. Ming Qi freely offered the Peiyuan Pills, demonstrating his sincerity.
After getting to know each other, Senior Brother Meng Junyi explained the current situation at Tianqi Academy.