Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: What Does It Have to Do With You?
Wang Hu looked up at Celestial City Mountain and said, "Celestial City Academy was founded over 1,300 years ago, even longer ago than the Martial Kingdom itself. In all that time, countless legendary figures have emerged from its halls. Many of them are still active across the East Continent, serving as the true pillars of our Martial Kingdom."
Shen Daoxing murmured, "Leave the East Continent?"
"That’s right. Many masters from Celestial City Academy have ventured beyond the Martial Kingdom and made a name for themselves in the core regions of the East Continent. Countless empires stand there, teeming with hidden masters and emerging experts."
Qin Xiaoyue’s mouth fell slightly open in astonishment. "Countless empires!?"
The Martial Kingdom was only a second-rate nation in the East Continent. The largest neighboring country was the Yan Kingdom, but even that was just a large kingdom, not an empire.
It was hard to imagine what an incredible sight it would be to see several empires existing side by side.
Wang Hu said wistfully, "I hope that one day, you can all venture beyond the Martial Kingdom and see the splendor of the wider world."
He had said these same words to many geniuses who had entered Celestial City Academy, but very few had ever actually left the Martial Kingdom.
A bright glint appeared in He Ku’s eyes.
’Idiot!’
Seeing his reaction, Qin Xiaoyue shook her head. ’That kind of empty, unattainable dream is only fit for an idiot like him. Just getting a foothold in Celestial City Academy is hard enough, and he’s already dreaming of leaving the Martial Kingdom?’
The group started up Celestial City Mountain. The path was crowded with young Martial Artists. The weakest among them were at the Ninth Layer of the Acupoint Opening Realm, and those who had reached the Profound Platform Realm were everywhere. Many of them were stronger than Shen Daoxing.
Wang Hu explained with a smile, "Most students who want to enter Celestial City Academy have to go through a trial. The three of you are special recruits, so you can enter the academy without one."
Hearing this, He Ku breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s great."
You could pick anyone here at random, and their cultivation would be higher than his. This undoubtedly put immense pressure on him.
’Good thing I’m a special recruit.’
Qin Xiaoyue asked, "Teacher Wang, I heard that Celestial City Academy has a special assessment. Regardless of background, cultivation, or aptitude, anyone who passes it can become a student. Is that true?"
’A special assessment!?’
Shen Daoxing and He Ku both looked over.
"You know about this assessment?"
Wang Hu glanced at Qin Xiaoyue and nodded. "On Celestial Capital Cliff, there is a forest of stone statues of the past deans. These statues contain a remnant will from each dean, which is why it’s called the Dean’s Forest. If someone who enters gains the approval of a remnant will, the statue will reveal a path forward. If someone can gain the approval of all the statues and walk out of the Dean’s Forest, they can be admitted to Celestial City Academy, no questions asked. But if they fail, the remnant wills will severely injure their Divine Soul and leave them with a Heart Demon."
"Ever since the Dean’s Forest appeared, not a single genius has ever made it all the way through. Furthermore, everyone who tried had their Divine Soul severely damaged. Most of them ended up dying in depression and bitterness. After a while, not many geniuses dared to attempt it anymore."
He Ku and Qin Xiaoyue were both secretly astonished.
They could only imagine how many chosen geniuses had been buried on that path.
After all, to be acknowledged by every single past dean of Celestial City Academy, how monstrous and terrifying must one’s aptitude be?
The group reached a point halfway up the mountain where the path split in two.
The path to the left was overgrown with weeds, clearly untrodden for years, while the path to the right was well-maintained.
At this point, Wang Hu’s expression became grave. "You must remember, you can only take the right path at this fork. If you make a mistake, your life will be in danger."
Shen Daoxing asked in confusion, "Why is that?"
"It’s not really a secret, so there’s no harm in telling you."
Wang Hu pondered for a moment before saying, "When Celestial City Academy was founded, there was a Sword Institute. The Institute had a Swordsmanship Martial Technique of incredible power. Anyone who successfully cultivated it was unrivaled within their realm. This made the Sword Institute famous throughout the East Continent—its reputation even surpassed that of Celestial City Academy itself. This mountain path leads to the Sword Institute."
"Later, due to some incidents, an internal conflict broke out between Celestial City Academy and the Sword Institute. The Sword Institute gradually declined, and its last few masters broke away from the academy entirely. The two sides once made an agreement: their disciples would compete once every ten years, and the winner would gain the right to use Celestial City Mountain for the next decade."
He Ku couldn’t help but ask, "So who won?"
Wang Hu sneered and said flatly, "Since then, the Sword Institute has never won. In fact, for the last twenty years, we haven’t seen anyone from the Sword Institute show up at all. Those stray dogs probably died long ago and became wandering ghosts."
Shen Daoxing shook his head but said nothing.
’Stray dogs... that’s a bit too fitting.’
Wang Hu said, "In any case, just don’t take this mountain path."
The three of them then followed the right-hand path and ascended Celestial City Mountain.
In front of a massive archway, countless young people were scattered about, creating a lively scene. Most of them were teenagers, around sixteen or seventeen, brimming with youthful energy.
Wang Hu led the trio to the assessment area to register.
The examining teacher was a middle-aged man in a white robe, currently recording student names in a register.
When Wang Hu saw the examining teacher, his brow furrowed slightly. ’Why is it him?’
Shen Daoxing asked, "What’s wrong, Teacher Wang?"
Wang Hu whispered, "His name is Luo Fei. He’s at the Fourth Layer of the Grotto Heaven Realm and has some history with me at Celestial City Academy. I didn’t expect him to be the one conducting the assessment today."
Qin Xiaoyue’s expression turned uncertain. "Teacher Wang, this won’t cause any problems, will it?"
Wang Hu reassured them, "Don’t worry. You’re all special recruits for Celestial City Academy. He definitely won’t make things difficult for you."
With that, Wang Hu walked up to Luo Fei and presented a sheet of white paper. "Teacher Luo, I’ve brought the three special recruits. Please register their names."
Luo Fei glanced at the paper, then gave Wang Hu a mocking look. "Teacher Wang, are you mistaken? I have no record of anyone named Shen Daoxing or He Ku."
’This is bad!’
Hearing this, Shen Daoxing’s brow furrowed.
Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyue couldn’t help but take two steps back, putting some distance between herself and Shen Daoxing.
Wang Hu’s brow tightened. "He Ku possesses Innate Divine Power and is perfectly suited to cultivate our academy’s Great Strength Technique! As for Shen Daoxing, he has awakened a First-class Bloodline. His future is limitless! The vice dean personally named him as someone I was to recruit."
Luo Fei sneered. "I said I don’t see their names, so I don’t see them. If they want to join Celestial City Academy, fine. They can pass the assessment first."
Wang Hu was instantly furious. "You!"
"What? Are you trying to break the academy’s rules?"
Luo Fei shot a cold glance at the three of them. His gaze lingered on Shen Daoxing with particular disdain. "What bullshit Venerable Bloodline? If you want to enter the academy, you’ll go through the assessment like everyone else."
Just then, a figure flickered in the crowd.
Shen Daoxing’s eyes narrowed. It was Xia Chen, a cold smirk on his face.
’So he’s the one pulling the strings behind the scenes!’
Luo Fei wouldn’t dare to make trouble for them on his own, but Xia Chen was Vice Dean Bai Bo’s student. If he had Bai Bo’s backing, there was nothing Luo Fei wouldn’t dare to do.
Wang Hu took a deep breath. "I’m going to see the vice dean!"
"No need to go looking for the vice dean. These were his instructions."
Luo Fei said flatly, "If you’re not willing to take the assessment, then get lost. Don’t waste my time."
Hearing this, Wang Hu’s expression turned extremely ugly.
Faced with the possibility of not being able to join Celestial City Academy, He Ku hurriedly said, "I’m willing to take the assessment."
He had to compromise in order to enter Celestial City Academy.
Luo Fei nodded in satisfaction. "Here is your identification Token. Just survive in the Dark Mountain Range for a month, and you’ll have completed the assessment."
!?"
He Ku froze when he heard this.
The Dark Mountain Range was teeming with demonic beasts and was extremely dangerous. Surviving for a month was out of the question; even ten days would be incredibly difficult.
In the end, He Ku gritted his teeth and accepted the Token.
"The Dark Mountain Range is a very dangerous place."
Just then, a cold voice rang out.
Shen Daoxing followed the voice and saw that the speaker was Mao Cheng, who had also been at the banquet the previous day.
"Daoxing..."
He Ku swallowed hard. Dozens of cold eyes were staring at him, like beasts looking at their prey.
It was obvious the whole Dark Mountain Range assessment was a setup.
Once inside the Dark Mountain Range, the demonic beasts wouldn’t be the most dangerous threat. The most dangerous threat would be the people around him.
Mao Cheng looked at Shen Daoxing and sneered, "What about you, kid? Are you going to take the assessment?"
At that exact moment, Shen Daoxing lunged forward. To everyone’s astonishment, he viciously slapped Mao Cheng across the face. "You dog, what’s it to you whether I go or not?"
CRACK!!
Mao Cheng was sent flying, tumbling five or six times across the ground before he finally came to a stop.
The entire plaza fell silent.
