Chapter 104: The Male God Collector and the Adorable Fool
The chaos in the imperial capital had finally come to an end. The remnants of the Ye family’s old guard were uprooted by the Qin family with thunderous precision.
Even the guard who had saved Ye Xuan was eventually tracked down and killed in an obscure corner. With this, the Ye family, once a millennial noble house that could rival the Qin family, was utterly wiped from existence.
This purge left a profound impact on the capital. Over ten thousand people were either arrested or executed, leaving many positions vacant. While most were minor roles, a significant number were key positions of power.
Naturally, the Qin family took the opportunity to place their own people in these spots, while other noble families followed suit, taking whatever scraps they could.
This explained why the Qin family’s sweeping purge met little resistance from the other noble houses. Among the beneficiaries, Sheng Junchen, the highest-ranking official in the Ministry of Supervision, became one of the most influential figures in the empire.
It was rumored that countless lives had ended at his hands, including that of a military corps commander who was forced to his death. His name alone sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it.
Sheng Junchen, the “mad dog” raised by the Qin family, was far too dangerous. Many hated him to the core, but their hatred was useless.
Sheng Junchen was deeply trusted by the Qin family and was particularly favored by Qin Ming. As much as people despised him, they could do nothing to stop him.
For now, however, the imperial elite had shifted their attention to another matter: the upcoming Divine Revelation Auction.
Held once every ten years, it was one of the grandest events in the human world, offering rare and valuable treasures—some even of golden quality. This auction attracted the empire’s wealthiest and most powerful, all vying for the chance to claim such treasures.
However, attending the auction was no simple matter. Only those with a coveted invitation could participate.
In the capital, at Qingyang Academy, the excitement was palpable.
While not as prestigious as the Imperial Academy, Qingyang Academy was still among the empire’s top schools, ranked fourth in last year’s Imperial Academy Alliance standings. It was only slightly below the three great academies in terms of strength and heritage.
Outside the female dormitories of Qingyang Academy, an elegantly dressed elder handed a young girl an invitation with a polite smile. “Miss Gu, this is an invitation from my young master. He hopes to accompany you to the Divine Revelation Auction tomorrow.”
The girl, a delicate beauty named Gu Anran, took the invitation with a dazed expression. “But I already have plans for tomorrow,” she murmured absentmindedly.
Nearby onlookers gasped in shock.
“That’s the fourth one, isn’t it?”
“Four invitations to the Divine Revelation Auction!”
Gu Anran, an SSS-grade Blessed Priest and the academy’s top freshman, had only just started her studies but was already a sensation at Qingyang Academy. Her popularity had skyrocketed after a series of remarkable events.
When she enrolled, a mishap during registration caused her to trip and fall, catching the attention of Zhao Haoran, the academy’s top genius and the direct grandson of the academy’s headmaster. Zhao Haoran, an SSS-grade talent himself, fell for Gu Anran at first sight and began pursuing her.
As if this stroke of luck wasn’t enough, Gu Anran later encountered an even more dramatic twist. During a training session at a monster spawn point, her group was confronted by members of a large guild.
When tensions escalated, a young man intervened to save her. That man turned out to be Yang Ling, the future heir of the prestigious Future Guild, one of the top three guilds in the empire.
Yang Ling, captivated by Gu Anran’s charm, also began pursuing her. His efforts were nothing short of extravagant—he relocated the Future Guild’s Imperial Capital branch to be closer to Qingyang Academy, purchasing an entire office building nearby in the process.
But Gu Anran’s “romantic streak” didn’t stop there. Two years ago, Xu Taichu, the top genius of True Dragon Academy and a former national exam champion, led a delegation to Qingyang Academy.
By sheer coincidence, he encountered a lost and bewildered Gu Anran. Struck by her innocence and beauty, he too fell for her and started courting her.
These three suitors, each a paragon of talent, wealth, and prestige, were considered the empire’s “male gods.” Yet, all of them were infatuated with Gu Anran.
Now, as another young master sent an invitation, Gu Anran’s reputation as the “Male God Collector” only grew. Some skeptics suspected her innocent demeanor was an act, accusing her of being a cunning manipulator.
However, anyone who spent time with her quickly realized that she truly was as pure-hearted and naïve as she appeared—a genuine “adorable fool.”
Gu Anran exuded a charm that was hard to resist. Her sincerity, innocence, and playful warmth made everyone around her feel at ease and irresistibly drawn to her. Even her female peers couldn’t bring themselves to dislike her.
In the end, Gu Anran seemed like someone uniquely blessed by the heavens—a foolish yet enchanting beauty who effortlessly captured hearts wherever she went.