Flames of Ambition

54: The Peace and the Mission House

Chapter 54: The Peace and the Mission House

The Headmasters welcomed them warmly and provided enough comfort for everyone. Each of the six had their own cabin—modest, yet more than enough for one person to live in. The others were satisfied with the cabins, except for Fan Qingyou.

As the proud daughter of a Prime Minister, she felt indignant over the small space she was given. She spoke so highly of herself that she failed to consider that four among the six were actually of royal blood—two by birth, and two by proclamation. While she was secretly throwing a tantrum, a certain prince remained silent in his own cabin.

Leng Fu Ting quietly observed his fellow batchmates as they entered the Academy. He had to admit—they were all strong. Strong as individuals, even stronger as a team. But he knew he had a mission far more important than simple cultivation.

He needed to find the Chosen One.

It wasn’t just a name or a legend. The Chosen One referred to a group of people destined to end the endless tension, hatred, angst, and wars that had plagued the cultivation world. From the outside, the world seemed peaceful, but in the borderlands, chaos ruled.

Tensions between powerful countries had become so intense that smaller nations like the Bing Dynasty—his homeland—were being crushed under the weight of their conflicts. The Bing Dynasty sat right in the middle of these powerful forces and was constantly caught in their crossfires.

They needed help. They needed the Chosen Ones—individuals who thought not just for their own country but for the balance of all nations. But that was precisely the problem. Every nation only thought of itself. Even when they claimed to act for their people, they did so selfishly.

No one wanted to lower their pride. No one wanted to fix what was broken.

But Leng Fu Ting, the Crown Prince of the Bing Dynasty, held a different belief.

The prophecy stated that the Chosen Ones would end the strife between nations. That they would carry within them both strength and gentleness—unyielding in battle yet compassionate in peace. Just like the philosophers once said:

> “If you want peace, prepare for a bloody war.”

There could be no peace without hardship.

He had learned this the hard way, trapped once in the middle of a brutal war. Since then, he had sought the answer to a simple question:
How do you truly attain peace?

But no matter how many scrolls he read, how many sages he consulted, or how many hours he meditated, he still didn’t know. Perhaps—just perhaps—if he found the Chosen Ones, he would find his answer.

---

While Zexel and the others passed the last test, Feng Guan Xi returned in shame to the Pingjing Dynasty.

The moment he arrived, his father slapped him across the face.

“You’re useless!” the Emperor thundered, taunting him. “How did Fan Qingyou manage to pass when your cultivation is two levels higher than hers?”

Feng Guan Xi seethed with hatred—especially toward Fan Qingyou. His title as Crown Prince was stripped, and his father declared that the position was now open to all his sons.

The announcement ignited a fierce internal war. Brothers schemed against brothers. Plots unraveled in the palace. Chaos spread, and the civilians suffered the most.

Zexel’s group heard about it days later and couldn’t help but shake their heads.

“How did someone that dumb become Emperor?” one of them muttered.

Under Zexel’s instructions, the ZUGC only assisted civilians, never the nobles. The Pingjing Dynasty now faced conflict both within and beyond its borders.

Feng Guan Xi’s misery deepened. His once-supportive mother, the Empress, turned her back on him. Without his title, he was a pawn to be discarded. His value gone, he was tossed aside like garbage.

But what stung the most was that he was being replaced… and by her.

To him, Fan Qingyou was a tool. Someone who should have bowed before him and given him whatever he wanted. She was a woman—beneath him by status and strength. In his mind, she should have obeyed. Instead, he had been the one used.

It was a reality he refused to accept.

He believed he was far superior to her in cultivation, status, and worth. So why was she the one who passed the test?

He didn’t know that Fan Qingyou had simply been lucky.

---

Zexel walked around Scarlett Academy, familiarizing herself with the grounds and taking note of what she might need. She still needed to earn badges for various cultivation categories.

As she strolled past the northern path, she noticed a large building buzzing with activity. A wooden plaque read:

MISSION HOUSE

Curious, she stepped inside to take a look.

“Welcome to the Mission House. How may I help you?” a warm smile greeted her as she entered.

“How does this mission system work?” Zexel asked politely.

The woman behind the desk began to explain how the Mission House operated.

There were five classes of missions:

Class D

Class C

Class B

Class A

Class S (the highest)

Each mission, once completed, rewarded a certain amount of Scarlett Charms, a currency that could be redeemed at the Item House. These charms could be used to acquire:

Weapons

Armaments

Ingredients

Potions

Armor

Cultivation manuals

Offense and defense items

And more…

The amount of Scarlett Charms rewarded was based on the mission’s difficulty:

Class D = 10 Charms

Class C = 50 Charms

Class B = 500 Charms

Class A = 1,000 Charms

Class S = 10,000 Charms

The difficulty, however, rose drastically with each tier. Most students only dared to take Class B and below. The danger and complexity of Class A and S missions were said to be nightmarish.

Zexel’s eyes gleamed with interest as she scanned the mission board.

So many missions, so many options.

And she loved a good challenge.