Chapter 541 - 323: Beginning
Chapter 541: Chapter 323: Beginning
In the morning, while Xu Yang was still in his room meditating and absorbing Spiritual Qi, Sun Tao came looking for him to share the news: Celestial Strategy Academy had announced the date for the Secondary Dragon Ascension selection.
The two made their way to the stele tower, which was already crowded with disciples from nearby Sects. Sure enough, the Academy had published the date—the selection was set to take place in seven days.
"It’s finally starting!" Sun Tao said with a hint of excitement.
Months had passed since they left the Purple Sun Sect and rushed to Yunzhou City. The Secondary Dragon Ascension was finally upon them.
The disciples from the various Sects around them shared in the excitement. By entering Celestial Strategy Academy, they would gain access to abundant resources, achieving both fame and fortune. The atmosphere across the entire Dragon Ascending Street grew tense. Everyone calmed their minds to adjust their states and accumulate their momentum.
That evening, Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan both returned to the Purple Sun Sect’s residence.
Seven days later.
A sea of people surged before the colossal gate towers of Celestial Strategy Academy. Dragon Ascending Disciples from various Sects arrived one after another. By the time Xu Yang and his group arrived, they found that it wasn’t just the participating candidates; many Martial Artists from Yunzhou City had also gathered.
At a glance, it was an absolute ocean of bodies. The crowd easily numbered in the tens of thousands, filling the ground and the skies above. Fortunately, a designated open space had been reserved for the disciples participating in the Dragon Ascension Selection, so they could head straight there.
"Go on," Bai Shaoling and Yue Zhong said, halting their steps without offering any further words of encouragement or instruction.
Having cultivated to this Realm, none of them were children anymore. They all had their own convictions, which couldn’t be swayed by just a few words. Xu Yang and the others cupped their fists in respect to the two seniors before taking large strides into the candidate zone.
Two thousand three hundred geniuses from all over Yun Province stood together. Even though everyone was restraining their auras, the collective pressure they formed was unimaginable. Those whose Spirit and willpower were not robust enough already found it difficult to breathe.
Behind the gate towers, the White Jade Steps were shrouded in clouds and mist. Several Celestial Strategy Academy students with formidable auras guarded the mountain gate, barring anyone from entering.
"Why aren’t we allowed inside?" someone asked in confusion.
According to past conventions, the candidates participating in the Dragon Ascension should have already ascended the White Jade Steps to the White Jade Plaza at the peak, waiting for the selection to begin. No one could answer his question, as the students guarding the gate remained completely silent.
"Brother Xu, Brother Sun, I’ll take my leave first to find my friends. If you need any help, just ask. Those friends of mine are quite capable." Upon entering the standing area, Jiang Fan parted ways with Xu Yang’s group. Li Chuyang and the others also dispersed one by one, each seeking out their own allies.
"Brother Xu, Brother Sun, over here!"
Xu Yang and Sun Tao quickly located Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei, who were standing alongside seven or eight others. The person leading this group had piercing eyes and sharp eyebrows, his posture as tall and unyielding as a mountain. It was none other than the tenth-ranked genius on the Lingyun List, Gu Qingfeng.
An unapproachable coercion emanated from his body, forcing everyone within a ten-foot radius—aside from his fellow Sect members—to keep a wide berth. When Xu Yang and Sun Tao approached, Gu Qingfeng merely gave them a cool glance without saying a word. His fellow disciples reacted much the same way. Their deal with Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei wasn’t to protect anyone, but specifically to face off against either Huo Xiaochen or Lin Jingyu.
Xu Yang and Sun Tao approached Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei. After exchanging a few words of Han Xuan, the crowd ahead suddenly parted to both sides as a group of a dozen people walked over. Leading this group were Huo Xiaochen, Lin Jingyu, and the Kong Family’s fourth young master, Kong Cheng.
"That’s a lot of people!" Zhang Jun’s expression instantly changed.
Within this group of a dozen, aside from Huo Xiaochen, Lin Jingyu, and Kong Cheng, there were actually three other geniuses who also ranked on the Lingyun List. A full six Lingyun List geniuses—this was the combined lineup of two Thousand-Year-Old Noble Families.
As Xu Yang cast his gaze over them, besides some unfamiliar faces, he spotted disciples from the Iron Sword Sect—all carrying massive black swords on their backs—as well as disciples from the Yellow Maple Valley. Huang Xiao, Luo Ying, and the other Yellow Maple Valley disciples who had traveled from Fufeng County to Yun Province together with them now wore entirely indifferent expressions, as if they didn’t even know Xu Yang and Sun Tao.
During the journey here, they used to converse frequently. Even after arriving in Yunzhou City, the two Sects would regularly visit each other. But ever since the Lingyun List was published and Lin Jingyu was crowned as its eleventh-ranked genius, everything had changed.
"Brother Gu, do you truly intend to make enemies out of Brother Lin and me?" Huo Xiaochen directed a sharp gaze at Gu Qingfeng. Given that he had long declared his intention to snipe Xu Yang, Liu Rumei, and their group, anyone daring to help them was effectively slapping him in the face.
"Make enemies out of you? As if you are worthy," Gu Qingfeng replied evenly.
As soon as he spoke, the eyelids of the surrounding crowd twitched wildly. Gu Qingfeng was simply too arrogant, completely looking down on Huo Xiaochen and Lin Jingyu.
"I’m just earning some academy credits. If you know what’s good for you, one of you will sit out the fight later. I don’t want to waste my energy. But if you insist on looking for trouble and cutting off my credits, don’t blame me for being ruthless," Gu Qingfeng delivered this direct warning to Huo Xiaochen and Lin Jingyu. Although his job was only to block one of the two, if Liu Rumei and Zhang Jun were eliminated by the other and failed to enter Celestial Strategy Academy, the credits they promised him would never materialize.
"We all possess Root Bone Perfection. Just how much stronger do you think you are? You’re far too arrogant." Huo Xiaochen was infuriated. To think there was someone even more arrogant than him, daring to threaten both him and Lin Jingyu at the same time. Did Gu Qingfeng truly believe himself to be a Spirit Bone Celestial Pride?
"There is a gap even between those with Root Bone Perfection. Otherwise, why are you only ranked fourteenth while I am tenth?" Gu Qingfeng said, pointing at Liu Rumei and Zhang Jun beside him. "In short, I don’t care what grievances you have. I’m guaranteeing the safety of these two. Whoever dares to sever my credit supply, I’ll sever their legs."
His imperious manner caused the veins on Huo Xiaochen’s forehead to bulge, filling him with the urge to attack right then and there. However, he knew he couldn’t make a move now and was forced to strictly suppress his anger.
"Such arrogance. For the sake of a few credits, aren’t you afraid that Brother Lin and I will join forces and eliminate you?" Huo Xiaochen scoffed coldly.
"Just two live-in sons-in-law. What is there to fear?" Gu Qingfeng sneered.
As soon as these words were spoken, even Lin Jingyu, who had maintained a calm expression all along, lost his composure. They were merely engaged in political marriages, not marrying into the brides’ families as matrilocal husbands. Of course, marrying a woman to climb the social ladder and acquire resources was, in the eyes of outsiders, no different from being a live-in son-in-law.
"Haven’t you also been recruited by the Qin Family? Does that not make you a live-in son-in-law as well?" Kong Cheng, the fourth young master of the Kong Family who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up.
The surrounding crowd suddenly came to a realization. No wonder Gu Qingfeng was willing to offend both Huo Xiaochen and Lin Jingyu for a few credits—he had actually become a subordinate of the Qin Family. Everyone in Yunzhou City knew that the Qin Family and the Xiao Family had been warring for years, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides. While others feared the Thousand-Year-Old Noble Families backing Huo Xiaochen and Lin Jingyu, the Qin Family did not. Earning credits while simultaneously being a thorn in their enemies’ sides—why wouldn’t they do it?
"I am not like them. I am merely cooperating with the Qin Family; I haven’t become a toyboy living off a woman," Gu Qingfeng laughed.
"He’s here!" someone suddenly shouted.
Unable to bother with their verbal dispute any longer, the crowd hastily looked up toward Celestial Strategy Academy. They saw a figure with an overwhelming aura, wreathed in the Power of Heaven and Earth, walking directly through the air. The man wore a brocade robe trimmed with gold thread, his flowing long hair cascading down his back. He appeared to be only around thirty years old. This was the long-renowned Chu Nanguai.
Chu Nanguai’s gaze was as sharp as lightning. Sweeping his eyes over everyone in the plaza, he barked coldly, "Anyone who is not participating in the selection, retreat a hundred meters and clear the area."
These words instantly stirred a commotion in the plaza. Whether they were Dragon Ascending Disciples or simply spectators, everyone’s expression shifted. From Chu Nanguai’s tone, it seemed the selection was going to take place right here.
Ignoring the crowd’s reaction, Chu Nanguai formed his fingers into a sword shape and traced a massive circle, enclosing the disciples of the various Sects within it.
"The line I’ve drawn is the boundary. Those knocked out of the circle are eliminated. Those who concede are eliminated. Once someone concedes, no one may attack them further, or they too will be eliminated. Begin," Chu Nanguai announced indifferently.
The crowd was entirely dumbfounded. Were over two thousand three hundred candidates supposed to engage in a massive free-for-all? Having waited for months, only for Chu Nanguai to establish such a rule—it seemed far too much like child’s play.
"Chu Nanguai, what are you doing? With so many people brawling at once, do you have any idea how many will die?" someone shouted.
Chu Nanguai looked impassively in the direction of the voice and said, "Those afraid of dying can withdraw right now. If you want to participate in the selection, you play by my, Chu Nanguai’s, rules. I will give you ten breaths of time to consider."
A wave of unrest swept through the disciples of the various Sects, their faces turning green. In a free-for-all involving more than two thousand people, even a Spirit Bone Celestial Pride could be beaten to death, because an attack could come from literally anyone.
Xu Yang’s expression darkened. The very thing he had feared had come to pass: Chu Nanguai was indeed going entirely off script. With this method of selection, even if Xu Yang exposed the entirety of his talents, he couldn’t guarantee he would pass.
"Senior Chu, may I ask what happens if someone is killed during the combat?" another person inquired.
The people present came from varying backgrounds. If someone from a small, insignificant place was killed, it would be brushed off. But if Noble Family Members from a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family were killed, retaliation would be a certainty.
"In battles between Martial Artists, casualties are inevitable. Of course, everyone should try their best not to deal fatal blows. As the saying goes, show mercy when possible. I do not encourage killing your opponents, but the choice is yours. Also, if you feel you cannot win, don’t stubbornly hold on. There is no shame in conceding," Chu Nanguai replied.
He seemed to have answered, but in reality, he hadn’t said anything substantial. His meaning was clear: Celestial Strategy Academy wouldn’t punish you for killing someone, but whether you faced vengeance afterward was entirely your own problem.
"This is an excellent rule!" Huo Xiaochen looked coldly toward Xu Yang and the others, not bothering to conceal his murderous intent.
Zhang Jun and Liu Rumei’s expressions shifted. Huo Xiaochen’s killing intent was directed primarily at the two of them.
"Brother Xu, it would be best for you to withdraw on your own accord," Lin Jingyu said flatly.
Under these rules, even if he and Huo Xiaochen were blocked by Gu Qingfeng, the rest of their group could easily eliminate Xu Yang and his friends.
Xu Yang remained silent. He could not possibly withdraw. Celestial Strategy Academy didn’t just offer abundant resources; more importantly, it possessed a complete Martial Dao inheritance. Even if it meant exposing all his talents, he was determined to enter Celestial Strategy Academy.
"I withdraw!"
Finally, after a period of internal struggle, someone decided to drop out of the Dragon Ascension Selection. While entering Celestial Strategy Academy was crucial, their life was far more important. As long as they were alive, there would always be hope for their Martial Dao.