The Su Clan mansion was an island of tranquility in the bustling Azure Dragon City. Elegant pavilions with curved eaves were connected by covered walkways that meandered through meticulously sculpted gardens. Though the Su Clan was a major power within the city, their influence was largely confined to the Azure Province, a far cry from the continent-spanning reach of a behemoth like the Li Clan.
Su Yuexi glided through the corridors, her expression serene, betraying none of the day's minor turmoil. She entered her personal courtyard, where a warm bath was already waiting. Her personal maid, Xia, and her dedicated guard, Xue'er, greeted her with respectful bows.
"Welcome back, Young Miss," they said in unison.
Xue'er, clad in light leather armor with a short sword at her hip, took up a watchful position by the door. Xia, a young girl of fifteen, hurried forward to help her mistress disrobe.
"How was your day at the academy?" Xia asked, her voice light and cheerful.
Su Yuexi's lips curved slightly. "Much the same as always. Jin Feng continues to make a fool of himself, and Wang Lei watches from the shadows like the snake he is."
As the outer sash of the academy uniform was untied, the light silk robe parted. Xia's hands paused for a fraction of a second, her cheeks flushing with a faint pink hue. It was a familiar reaction. Even as a woman, she found the sight of her mistress's body overwhelming.
Su Yuexi's skin was like polished white jade, flawless and luminous in the soft light of the room. Her shoulders were delicate, sloping down to a slender back. As Xia gently slid the robe off, her form was revealed. Her waist was impossibly narrow, a graceful curve that flared into perfectly rounded hips. Her legs were long and shapely, promising both elegance and power. But it was her front that truly stole the breath. Her breasts were full and high, like twin mounds of soft snow, tipped with rosy peaks that hardened slightly in the cooling air. They were a perfect contrast to her slender frame, a testament to a beauty that was both delicate and exquisitely feminine.
Xia swallowed, averting her eyes as she took the discarded robes. *How can someone be so perfect?* she thought, a mix of awe and embarrassment coloring her thoughts.
"Is the water temperature to your liking, Young Miss?" Xia asked, her voice slightly breathless.
Su Yuexi seemed oblivious to her maid's reaction, her mind already elsewhere. After a brief, relaxing soak, she emerged, droplets of water clinging to her jade-like skin. Xia helped her dry off and slip into a simple, comfortable sky-blue dress.
"Xue'er," Su Yuexi said, her voice as clear as a mountain spring. "Come, sit."
The guard approached, her movements economical and precise. "Young Miss?"
"The Soaring Dragon Assembly is approaching," Su Yuexi began, taking a seat at a small table while Xia poured tea. "The competition will be fierce this year. Who do you see as the main contenders?"
Xue'er considered this, her expression serious. "The usual provincial powers will be present. Jin Guang, the Holy Son of the Golden Sun Sect, is said to have reached the seventh stage. Tie Fenghuang of the Ironwood Clan is not far behind. And of course, Chen Hao, the City Lord's son, has access to immense resources. We should also watch out for Mei Lian, the Princess of the Mei Clan. Her clan's reputation for talisman making is known across the entire empire, and she is said to have inherited their formidable talent. There are also whispers of a dark horse from the Silent Stream Sect and that a member of the Grand Xia Royal Family might participate, since their lineage traces back to this province."
Su Yuexi nodded, taking a sip of tea. The names were all expected. They were the designated geniuses of their generation within the province. "And?"
Xue'er hesitated. "And Xiao Chen."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Su Yuexi's lips at the mention of his name. The memory of his calm defiance against Jin Feng surfaced in her mind. "What of him?"
"His rise has been… meteoric," Xue'er admitted. "To reach the fifth stage of Qi Condensation with a commoner's background is unheard of. But is it enough to challenge the likes of Jin Guang?"
"Talent isn't just about cultivation speed," Su Yuexi mused, her gaze distant. "He is diligent, hard-working, and his comprehension of skills is frighteningly quick. He doesn't have the arrogance of the other so-called geniuses." Her smile returned, a genuine glimmer of appreciation.
Seeing that smile, Xue'er's eyes widened slightly but she said nothing. She knew when to remain silent.
"You are forgetting the most important participants," Su Yuexi said, her tone becoming more serious. "The ones who render all our provincial contests almost meaningless."
Xue'er's posture straightened. "The Li Clan."
"Exactly. Li Wei, with the rumored Saint Root, might not be ready for this year as he just awakened. But let's not forget his older half-sister, Li Yating. She is nineteen, but her cultivation is rumored to be even higher than Jin Guang's. There will be others from their clan as well. In the end, the Li Clan is one of the Big Three Clans of the Grand Xia Empire. They can rival the Royal Family itself. Our provincial clans are like fireflies trying to compare their light to the sun."
The weight of those words settled in the room. Su Yuexi's own goal was not necessarily to win the Assembly, but to perform well enough to secure a core disciple position in the Celestial Jade Palace, a sect on par with the Empyrean Sword Sect. She already had the qualifications to enter as an inner disciple, but the status of a core disciple required a display of overwhelming superiority against her peers.
Facing the geniuses of the Azure Province was a challenge. Facing the true dragons of the Li Clan was another matter entirely.
Xia, who had been quietly tidying the room, couldn't help but interject. "But Young Miss, you're the most talented swordswoman in our generation! I'm sure you can defeat them!"
Su Yuexi's expression softened slightly. "There is a difference between us and a true continental power, Xia."
"We will see what the heavens have planned," Su Yuexi said, her voice regaining its usual calm. "For now, that is enough discussion, Xia, prepare my evening meditation incense. Xue'er, continue with your patrols."
"Of course, Young Miss," they both replied, returning to their duties.