Free Web NovelChapter 505: Chapter 218: I Won’t Stop Until I Break the Qi Sea
After bidding farewell to Eunuch Liu, the academy’s opening day finally arrived.
Around a hundred candidates were picked up from the relay station together and escorted to the Imperial City Academy.
The magnificent and grand image he had imagined—of the Imperial City Academy’s pavilions and towers stretching endlessly—did not materialize.
Unlike the Northern Territory Trial Ground, situated within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the Imperial City Academy was built on the summit of a mountain called Mountain Rain Peak.
The candidates were brought to the foot of Mountain Rain Peak. Everyone looked up. The peak was nearly 1,500 meters high. Within the towering Imperial City Mountain Range, Mountain Rain Peak wasn’t particularly prominent, but because the Imperial City Academy was built upon it, the mountain had taken on an air of mystery and legend.
As everyone gazed upward, two great Qi Vortexes materialized in the sky above the summit. Like two giant eyes, they seemed to be watching the crowd below.
"I’m becoming an immortal."
"I’ve become the Martial Champion Scholar. No one is my match anymore."
A moment later, a commotion erupted from the crowd.
Chu Lingguang’s expression grew vivid as well. In his mind’s eye, he saw himself leaving all his rivals in the dust during the Palace Examination. He defeated Yan Zhen and Tuoba Yunhong, strode before the Emperor of Great Yuan, and received the imperial appointment, becoming this year’s Martial Champion Scholar.
The Qiling Governor’s Mansion erupted in celebration.
Along the Canal, Song Boats were docked in a line as long as a dragon. From the bows of the ships, all the beautiful songstresses were crying out his name. Even Du Juan and Liu Qingqing were gazing at him with expressions of pure adoration.
Glory, riches, gold, jewels, and beautiful women—he had everything he could ever want.
A smile gradually spread across Chu Lingguang’s face. But just then, his Sea of Consciousness trembled, and he snapped awake. He looked up at the sky above Mountain Rain Peak again—there was nothing there.
He turned to look at the others.
He saw Yan Zhen’s face was blank with confusion, while Tuoba Yunhong was breaking out in a cold sweat.
’Mental Realm interference.’
’Yan’s Mental Realm seems to be no weaker than mine—perhaps it’s even stronger,’ Chu Lingguang thought in alarm.
Yan Zhen had woken up before he did.
’Xuanyuan Jinkang.’
Chu Lingguang’s thoughts turned to Xuanyuan Jinkang. He hurriedly searched the crowd and spotted him, his face flushed red as he fumbled with his own clothes. ’Looks like this guy is just like me, prone to fantasizing about beautiful women. He’s probably only working so hard to earn a title so he can take on numerous wives and concubines.’
"Xuanyuan, wake up."
SLAP! SLAP!
Chu Lingguang went over, intending to wake Xuanyuan Jinkang by calling to him, but found that it didn’t work. He had no choice but to give him two hard smacks across the face.
Xuanyuan Jinkang tumbled to the ground. He looked dazed for a moment, but then he saw his clothes were half-undone, noticed the state of the people around him, and saw Chu Lingguang standing beside him. The reality of the situation jolted him fully awake. He scrambled to his feet, frantically putting his clothes back in order.
"Hahaha, sword in hand, the world is mine! Who can challenge me?"
"This world is mine."
"Princess, I finally have you."
...
Xuanyuan Jinkang was hardly the one in the worst state. Many candidates with weaker Mental Realms had become completely lost. Some were shouting, believing they had become kings and conquerors. Others were weeping with joy, seeing themselves finally entering Yuanchu Mountain to cultivate after enduring countless hardships.
There were even more extreme cases. One person thought he had become an Immortal Emperor, his Sword Qi tearing across a million li.
Eventually, however, these people slowly began to come to their senses. Some managed to break free of the Illusion Realm and rediscover themselves on their own. Others had to be kicked awake by the escorts, who simply couldn’t stand to watch any longer.
In the end, from Yan Zhen to Chu Lingguang, no one had remained completely undisturbed under the gaze of the two Qi Vortexes. The only difference was that some awoke relatively quickly, while others sank deeper into the illusion and needed outside help to be woken. The most extreme cases even required a beating and a splash of cold water to rouse. Upon waking, one of them was still shouting, "You ants! How dare you offend this Emperor!" which sent the crowd into peals of laughter.
Chu Lingguang couldn’t help but chuckle.
But he also felt a grudging admiration for the man. ’After all,’ he thought, ’that guy saw himself becoming an Immortal Emperor, while I only saw wealth, glory, and beautiful women. Compared to him, my aspirations are far too petty.’
’Of course, it’s possible that the deeper one sinks, the grander the visions become.’
A moment later, the entire area fell silent. Everyone wore a solemn expression. They had only just arrived at the foot of the mountain and had already been taught a harsh lesson. ’What,’ they wondered, ’will it be like inside the academy?’
Just then, one of the men who had escorted them from the relay station addressed the crowd. "The academy is at the top," he announced. "Your opportunities are up there as well. If you want to seize them and distinguish yourselves in the academy, then show us your true abilities. All of you, head up the mountain!"
The man was clad in a black robe, with an ordinary face, and appeared to be around the same age as Guo Wei. A cold aura radiated from him, making him seem like a black Treasure Sword that could cleave iron as if it were mud. His presence alone inspired awe in the crowd.
"We go up by ourselves?" a confused candidate asked.
"If you can’t even make it to the top of a single mountain, then I advise you to return to your respective homes and continue your cultivation. Save yourselves the embarrassment of failing at the academy."
The black-robed man didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he left them with those words before turning and departing with the other escorts, abandoning the candidates where they stood.
"We’ve struggled so hard to get here! Even without an escort, we can make it to the academy. Come on, everyone, let’s go!" one candidate shouted, taking the lead and starting up the mountain path.
"The academy has harsh standards. This is probably another test."
"Hurry up! If we’re the first to reach the summit, maybe there’s a reward."
"Good point! Let’s rush to the top!"
...
None of the candidates hesitated. After struggling so hard to get here, the academy was finally within reach. Who would be willing to give up now and return home to cultivate?
