Free Web NovelChapter 37: Chapter 37: Phantoms of Past Headmasters
Chen Guanggu was still stunned when several immense rays of light erupted from the Dean’s Forest.
The light was so blinding that no one could keep their eyes open.
Soon after, several figures materialized.
"The sixth dean, the thirteenth dean, and the fifteenth dean..."
When the members of Celestial City Academy saw the phantoms materialize, their faces were etched with shock.
Many of Celestial City Academy’s past deans had appeared. In their time, they were all renowned experts in the Martial Kingdom. Some even held a certain degree of fame across the entire East Continent.
As the deans appeared, the entirety of Celestial City Mountain erupted in a clamor.
A number of Celestial City Academy’s masters emerged from their secluded cultivation, rushing toward the Dean’s Forest. The Elder of the Scripture Pavilion, the keeper of the secret realm, and others hurried over as well, bowing to the figures in the forest.
"Venerable Dean, I never thought I would see you again."
"Three hundred years. It’s been three hundred years since we last met. To think you’ve reached such a realm, you rascal... it’s truly unbelievable."
"A century ago, I heard you went to the Celestial Essence State. Is that true?"
"I went, and I returned. That place harbors a great terror, far beyond what those of our cultivation level can handle."
"I’m currently in seclusion in the Fire Spirit State, which is quite far from the East Continent."
"Over these countless years, our Celestial City Academy has lost so many masters. Now, only we old bones remain."
.....
After appearing, the deans exchanged a few words amongst themselves.
Just then, an even more formidable aura erupted. It wasn’t just the masters of Celestial City Academy who grew tense; even the phantasmal deans wore solemn expressions.
The sixth dean’s voice trembled. "The First Dean... he’s here!"
The First Dean, as he was known, was none other than the founder of Celestial City Academy.
A beam of light flashed, and an elderly man with a full head of brilliant white hair emerged from within.
In that space between heaven and earth, everyone immediately bowed in reverence.
The other phantasmal deans, for their part, showed expressions of indescribable excitement.
The atmosphere on Celestial City Mountain was electric, as if time had rewound a thousand years. The legendary figure had appeared on Celestial City Mountain once more.
"My God!"
"What am I seeing? It’s the first dean of Celestial City Academy!"
"To live to be a thousand years old... what level of the Martial Dao is that?"
.....
Everyone’s hearts surged with emotion, including Vice Director Chen Guanggu and the newly arrived Vice Director Bai Bo.
All Martial Artists cultivate the Martial Dao for two reasons: one is for power, the other for longevity.
Seeing a living example of it right before their eyes, how could they not be thrilled?
"There is no need."
The first dean waved his hand and looked down. "That person’s bloodline imprint is incredibly potent, even containing ancient Daoist patterns," he asked. "Where is he now?"
Only then did the other deans snap out of their stupor, and they all turned to look at the senior leadership of Celestial City Academy.
In that instant, a deathly silence fell over Celestial City Mountain.
Chen Guanggu, in particular, had turned pale as a sheet.
The sixth dean frowned and demanded, "What happened? Where is the one who passed through the Dean’s Forest?"
Chen Guanggu took a deep breath, bowed to all the deans, and recounted what had just transpired.
"What!?"
Some of Celestial City Academy’s top masters stared daggers at Chen Guanggu. No one had imagined he would drive Shen Daoxing away just to force a Cultivation Technique out of him.
’To be able to pass through the Dean’s Forest... what kind of terrifying master must he be!?’
If the phantoms of the deans weren’t present, they might have already seized Chen Guanggu for interrogation.
The gazes of the phantasmal deans grew cold, causing beads of sweat to form on Chen Guanggu’s forehead.
The thirteenth dean shook his head and sighed. "A bloodline imprint like his, containing Daoist patterns, is a once-in-a-lifetime sight. It suggests an ancient heritage. Furthermore, for someone so young to possess two streams of Sword Intent is truly extraordinary. It proves his comprehension is astounding. This young man’s future is limitless."
Hearing this, Chen Guanggu’s knees went weak, and his heart felt as if it had stopped beating.
’A person so highly praised by the thirteenth dean... could he possibly be mediocre?’
’I didn’t just fail to recruit such a genius into Celestial City Academy; I drove him right into the arms of the Sword Institute.’
Chen Guanggu hung his head. "I was wrong."
Just then, the first dean waved his hand. "Bearing such a bloodline is not necessarily a blessing. Our Celestial City Academy failing to recruit him is not necessarily a curse. Fate is a wondrous thing."
"After leaving the Martial Kingdom, I rarely involved myself in the academy’s affairs. That my last wisp of consciousness is now dissipating is also the will of heaven... Do as you see fit."
The first dean turned, gave a nod to the other deans behind him, and his phantom gradually faded away.
"The rest is up to them. We should go, too."
The deans exchanged complicated glances, and their phantoms slowly dissipated.
"We respectfully bid you farewell, Deans!"
All the masters of Celestial City Academy bowed respectfully in the direction where the phantoms had vanished.
Soon, the Dean’s Forest returned to its former tranquility.
Chen Guanggu turned to face the others. "It is my fault that Shen Daoxing joined the Sword Institute. I am willing to accept any punishment."
Bai Bo sighed. "I understand your reasoning, but you were far too hasty. If we had waited until Shen Daoxing completely lowered his guard, how could he have refused to hand over the Cultivation Technique then?"
Chen Guanggu said nothing, turning to walk toward the Criminal Law Hall.
"Wait."
Just then, an old man with wrinkled skin and shadowy eyes spoke up. "I don’t believe this is Vice Director Chen’s fault. Rather, the blame lies with Lin Haitao of the Sword Institute. If he hadn’t interfered, Shen Daoxing would be like a fish in a barrel for our Celestial City Academy. How could he have dared to withhold the secret of his Heart Method?"
This was Ge Long, the Elder of the Scripture Pavilion, who harbored a deep resentment for the Sword Institute.
At his words, many people nodded slightly in agreement.
Celestial City Academy had dominated the Martial Kingdom for ages. From their perspective, forcing a student to surrender a Heart Method was a trivial matter.
"Now that Shen Daoxing has joined the Sword Institute, we shouldn’t punish Vice Director Chen. Doing so would only make our academy a laughingstock for letting a genius slip through our fingers. Besides, while Shen Daoxing’s aptitude is decent, it’s uncertain if he’ll ever amount to anything. Is he truly more important than Vice Director Chen? I think not. He isn’t even worthy of being mentioned in the same breath."
Ge Long continued his analysis. "On the contrary, we should issue a decree. We’ll say that Shen Daoxing is trash, a reject our Celestial City Academy cast aside. We must let the world know that no matter how great a genius or prodigy he may be, to our Celestial City Academy—an institution teeming with geniuses and prodigies—he is nothing but worthless trash!"
Hearing this, many were taken aback and showed a hint of hesitation.
Ge Long pressed on. "If we punish Vice Director Chen today, aren’t we admitting defeat? Since its founding, Celestial City Academy has been the greatest academy in the Martial Kingdom. When have we ever lowered our heads to anyone? If we do so now, countless factions will rush to sponsor the Sword Institute and Shen Daoxing. This is a time for us to be unyielding."
"Furthermore, think back to what the first dean said. It might be for the best that Shen Daoxing didn’t join our academy. By not joining us, he has become our enemy. All we need to do is leave his corpse on Celestial City Mountain during the next confrontation. That will surely become a celebrated tale for our Celestial City Academy."
After hearing Ge Long’s detailed analysis, Bai Bo was the first to nod. "He’s right. If we admit fault, the repercussions will be severe. But if we kill Shen Daoxing during the next conflict, it will greatly enhance our academy’s prestige. It’s a situation with every advantage and no drawback."
A glint appeared in the eyes of the Celestial City Academy masters, and they too began to nod in agreement.
Soon, all the students of Celestial City Academy received an order: in the next conflict, they were to kill Shen Daoxing at all costs and bring glory to the academy.
Meanwhile, news of Shen Daoxing following Lin Haitao and joining the Sword Institute spread throughout the Imperial City.
No one could have imagined that Shen Daoxing would join the Sword Institute, an institution seen as little more than a pack of stray dogs.
Furthermore, the rumor was that Vice Director Chen of Celestial City Academy had refused to accept Shen Daoxing, who was then picked up like a stray by Lin Haitao.
In no time, Shen Daoxing’s name was on everyone’s lips throughout the Imperial City. Even the Divine Wind Academy and the Royal Academy were abuzz with discussion.
Everyone knew him as the reject, the piece of trash that Celestial City Academy had thrown away.
Even the Sword Institute was scorned for running to Celestial City Mountain to pick up a reject like Shen Daoxing, which only went to show how far the institute had fallen.
The incident continued to brew in the Imperial City, and the story spread by word of mouth. Far from damaging the reputation of Celestial City Academy or Chen Guanggu, it actually enhanced the academy’s prestige.
......
