Ze Tian Je

by Stayrr

To pick is to choose. This is a story about choices. Three thousand worlds full of gods and demons, with a daoist scroll in your hand, you are able to control the entire universe... At the beginning of time, a mystical meteor came crashing down from outer space and scattered all over the world. A piece of it landed in the Eastern Continent. There were mysterious totems carved upon

2. 32 - 63

Ze Tian Ji #Chapter 32 – Master, please accept me - Read Ze Tian Ji Chapter 32 – Master, please accept me Online - All Page - Novel Next

"I knew that yesterday I did not behave properly so I will apologize again, but he is really important to me. So please don't stop me or attempt to stop me. Of course, I promise I won't leave your sight."

After saying this, Luo Luo walked outside, on the way, maids came and delivered a towel and a basin for her to wash face and brush her teeth. As she walked, she told her clansmen behind her, "Even if you want to follow, don't get too close. If you reveal my identity and scare him away, it won't be good."

Behind her, a middle aged man and a pretty woman looked at each other. Their faces became pale after seeing the officials sent by the emperor to serve the princess. Based on what the little princess had just said, it was obvious that this was like one of those folktales where a rich princess falls in love with a poor young student. Naturally, they felt uncomfortable with this new change.

"Official Jin, what should we do?" the pretty woman whispered.

The middle aged man called Official Jin was very mad, "Even you women who get to serve her closely don't know what happened, how should I know? Official Li, if something happened, you have to take the full responsibility!"

Luo Luo, under her people's escort, left the herb garden through the side door. She took the things that she ordered her followers to prepare previously, got on a seemingly common wagon, waved her small hand to them, and rode the wagon herself to the direction of Hundred Blossom Street. As for the elites, they had already gotten there.

The little girl's action was truly vigorous and resolute.

Official Li looked at the gradually disappearing wagon, used her sleeve to slowly wipe out the tear in her eyes. She felt somewhat worried but also somewhat gratified. She said to Official Jin at her side, "Since little princess is starting to falling in love, we must let the emperor and the queen know as soon as possible."

Official Jin's face looked even worse, said, "Let emperor know a princess is falling in love with a human? You think we can do it and make it out alive?"

Official Li said, "Don't forget, emperor also married a human female"

Official Jin said angrily, "Marry in and marry out, are they the same thing?"

Official Li sneered, "If you dare, tell this to our queen."

Official Jin heard it, his mouth felt stuck, and so was his heart.

...

Herb Garden and the Tradition Academy was only an old wall away. Even if she had to go through the Hundred Blossom Street, the distance still wasn't that great. The wagon did not go so far. It entered through the school's old door that was decorated with the green ivies and came into the school that was still deserted but already showing some signs of revitalization.

The Tradition Academy was completely silent. In the dense forest, there were birds singing and a little building with entablatures sticking out was reflecting the sunlight, like a colored glaze. Thinking about the seemingly sudden attempt at assassination that was planned for years secretly by the demons, she suddenly felt somewhat cold.

The Tradition Academy was extraordinarily quiet, as if there was no one, but actually many elites were hiding in there. Some were her clansmen and some were from the royal palace. She was certain that she was safe and so, she gradually eased into her situation.

The door of the library was still tightly closed, but the copper locker was not locked. She knew that there was a person inside.

She took a deep breathe, felt somewhat nervous and walked towards the library.

...

Chen Chang Sheng was holding a book and reading. But he was actually, in a rare instance, not paying attention to the book. He was thinking about what had happened last night.

His left hand was lightly touching the sheath of the sword as he silently recalled the images. He hoped that they wouldn't influence his learning in the Tradition Academy – a demon elite actually lurked for so long in the capital. He thought there should be someone taking responsibility for it.

The little girl that was attacked by the demon definitely had a special identity, was she fine now?

When he was thinking about these things, he heard someone knocking the library's door.

He stood up, went to the door and opened up the heavy wooden door. When he saw the little girl, he started to worry.

The little girl looked very little, her eyes were bright and very big. Her eyelashes were very long, her lips were very red and very beautiful. She looked very cute when she opened her eyes wide and blinked with her eyelashes.

He had never talked to such a cute little girl so for a moment, he was dazed.

Luo Luo was opening her big eyes widely and was blinking her eyelashes. Seeing the youngster's looking dazed like a dumb goose made her feel a little embarrassed and a little proud. She thought that what her queen taught her was becoming useful.

"Hi." Chen Chang Sheng eventually woke up and took a step back.

Luo Luo said, "Hi."

Chen Chang Sheng said seriously, "Excuse me, what are you here for?"

Luo Luo felt a little surprised, thinking that they had just met last night and so many things had occurred. Shouldn't he know what I was here for? For no reason, seeing Chen Chang Sheng's serious look made her involuntarily become serious. She gave a serious salute and said, "Thank you for saving me last night."

Little girl's serious salute was a little awkward because she rarely needed to salute to anyone especially after leaving her homeland and coming to the capital – yet like the old saying goes, serious awkwardness plus a pretty face made for an absolutely cute look – she looked truly cute right now.

Chen Chang Sheng was not good at interacting with females so his returning salute was also somewhat awkward. He responded, "no problem, no problem, this is what I should do."

This was a very common formality but Luo Luo did not want to have such a formal and polite communication with him, so she straightened her body, her dark black eyes turned into circle and she asked, "Why is it something you should do?"

Chen Chang Sheng felt a bit surprised, thought for a moment and then explained seriously, "Because you are younger than me and he's a demon. We both are humans so I should obviously protect you."

Luo Luo heard the phrase 'we both are humans' and smiled. She noticed a detail in this sentence: he said protect instead of save.

"But after all, you saved me."

She looked at Chen Chang Sheng and said, "What should I give you in return?"

Chen Chang Sheng said seriously, "You came here specifically to express your thanks. This is good enough for me."

Luo Luo thought for a while, smiled, turned around and walked to the outside of the library.

Her turn was absolutely resolute. She left determinedly.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the little girl's small shadow and had a mixed feeling. When I say it was enough then it's enough. When i say say leave, they leave right away. The capital's people were truly carefree.

Yet right after he sat back on the floor, ready to continue reading...

The little girl came back again.

She took out lots of things from the wagon. One by one, she put them in front of Chen Chang Sheng.

...

The first item was a legendary luminous pearl.

This legendary luminous pearl was extremely big. Even though it was not as big as a washbasin, it was definitely as big as a bowl. It's also very round, extremely smooth and had no flaws.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the rolling legendary luminous pearl and felt dazed.

He had never even see a legendary luminous pearl but he knew the thing that looked like a glaze ball was a legendary luminous pearl not because he had read related records and descriptions but because whenever Luo Luo took out an item, she would always do a serious and detailed explanation of it using her childish voice.

Luo Luo was very generous but she would never cast pearls before swines.

"This is the Principal Sword Technique of Mountain Li... As long as you are a sword user, you need to learn the sword techniques in this book including the Sect of Longevity or Mountain Virgin. Thee South barbarians are very cheap and were unwilling to share it with others. I... It took a lot of effort for my family to obtain it."

She delivered an old scroll to Chen Chang Sheng. She didn't forget to add that "this is the true piece. The scroll in the Mountain Li Sword Class is actually a copy people made later."

Chen Chang Sheng felt dazed. Looking at the scroll in his hand, he felt like he was having a dream.

Was he really holding the Principal Sword Technique of Mountain Li?

But there was no news of the Principle Sword Technique of Mountain Li getting stolen at all in the entire continent.

Or, was this robbed by this little girl's family?

This little girl...who was she?

...

Pa. (a sound)

Luo Luo placed a heavy box in front of Chen Chang Sheng. Dirt was shaking out of the gaps onto the floor.

The box was opened and inside was filled with golden leaves, but that wasn't all. She swept the golden leaves away as they were just ordinary fallen leaves to reveal the actual thing below. There lied half a box full of extremely rare crystals.

"Oh right, I live in the Herb Garden next to you."

Luo Luo, like magic, took out a bamboo basket and said, "... I don't really know what you need, so I will let you casually take some from each type of them."

Chen Chang Sheng was already dumbfounded by the legendary luminous pearl, the scroll of sword technique, and the half box of crystals, but seeing the rare herbs and fruits randomly stacked like regular vegetables, he was shocked again. He had become completely speechless.

Luo Luo looked at her curiously thinking, were these not enough?

She thought a bit and her little hand was on her left chest. She used a little bit of strength to pull out a button.

Last night, she had already pulled three. After this button got pulled out, the clothes on her left chest fell down revealing her white neck.

Chen Chang Sheng was awaken by the white neck and immediately turned his head. He asked surprisingly "What do you want to do?"

Luo Luo delivered the button made from rhinoceros horn to him and said "I...I also want to give this to you."

"What is this?"

"Button of Thousand Miles, have you ever heard it?"

Chen Chang Sheng took the button thinking about the descriptions on this fantastic magic weapon in the Scrolls of Way. He felt very surprised. He raised the button and took a closer look at it facing the sun.

After a while, he woke up and immediately put this button onto the little girl's hand.

"No gains without pains."

He looked at the little girl and said seriously. "The saving last night was mainly the general who came and saved the two of us. I really did not do anything. Even if I did help out with the little I could do, I previously said that it was already enough for you to come specifically to thank me. How can I accept such lavish gifts?"

"You misunderstood. These were not to thank you for saving my life."

Luo Luo pointed on the things on the floor and said "These are for an apprenticeship."

Chen Chang Sheng did not understand. "What?"

"I want to be your apprentice."

Luo Luo looked into his eyes. She was very determined. "Master, I want you to be my master. I want to follow you and xiu xing."

...

The library was completely silent.

There was clean wind blowing from outside of the window.

The legendary luminous pearl was slowly rolling on the black floor.

The pages on the old Sword Technique of Mountain Li were slowly flipping, showing several dozens of images of men holding swords.

The herbs in the bamboo basket were emitting out light fragrance.

Chen Chang Sheng took a very long pause before eventually realizing what had just happened.

He looked at the little girl and confusingly asked "Why?"

"The night six days before, was it you sir who lit up the destined star?"

Chen Chang Sheng thought a bit and said, "Yes...but, you see, I just lit up my destined star and I did not even successfully purify myself. Last night, I saw the battle between you and the demon. You are much stronger than me. How can I be your teacher?"

Luo Luo said, "Last night, the only reason why I could injure the demon was all because of your teaching."

Chen Chang Sheng said "First, can you not call me master?"

Luo Luo smiled sweetly "Ok, master."

Chen Chang Sheng very helplessly put up his hands and explained "That's only a coincidence."

Luo Luo was still smiling, "But master, you know the Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong, you know the Ye Shi Move. These are not just coincidences."

Chen Chang Sheng thought a while. "I just...read a little more books than others."

Luo Luo opened her big eyes widely and said seriously. "Then how about the way the Qi flowed? I knew the sword technique of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong long time ago, but I couldn't figure out how to use Qi to control the sword. The professors in the Heavenly Academy and Startaker Academy didn't even know how to solve the problem but master...you taught me the solution in one sentence."

Chen Chang Sheng remained silent. He really wanted to explain these were just coincidences. It was just his conjecture regarding how to use Qi when the vessels were hindered. Last night, the situation was dangerous and he was forced to try it. It was unexpected that this little girl actually succeeded.

The success last night did not mean he would always succeed.

He also could not explain the issue regarding his own body to the little girl.

Of course, more importantly he couldn't really accept this little girl as his student.

Even though the legendary luminous pearl was very pretty, the sword technique was very luring, and those herbs were truly good...

He stood up and got ready to leave the library but he realized that he...couldn't move because, his leg was being held down by someone.

Luo Luo sat on the floor. Her body slightly leaned forward and her two hands tightly hung onto his leg.

She looked like an unwilling poor girl abandoned by an ungrateful man.

Her heart was actually filled with happiness.

She thought silently : Yes, this is the smell that I smelled before! (Pervert????!!~~!~ Oii Perverted Loli Girl??.. Ok i imagine her as a loli maybe not a loli but still . that smelling...)

"Master, please accept me."

She looked up, opened up her big watery eyes, looked at Chen Chang Sheng, said pathetically, "Whatever you want, I will give you all."

(Editor Bingo: So do you guys know the background of Lou Lou yet?)

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Between the Tradition Academy and the Herb Garden, there was an old wall that was covered with green ivy and dominated by moss.

Official Jin and Official Li leaned on the wall and eavesdropped on the conversation inside the library. Because the two were experts in xiu xing and the little princess didn't hid anything, they heard the conversation and understood the situation. After they saw the action the princess made, suddenly they fell off the wall. It was a pretty bad fall.

From the library, sounds of heavy objects falling could be heard from far away but it didn't affect the library. Inside the silent library, on the dark black floor there seemed to have a motionless picture. The picture depicted Luo Luo tightly hanging onto Chen Chang Sheng's leg, who was acting like a sculpture not daring to move at all.

"Let go, let go of your hand first."

Chen Chang Sheng felt very nervous, to the point that even his sound got somewhat shaken. Although this little girl just seemed to be a little older than ten, she's was still a girl. Having his leg get hanged on tightly by a pair of small hands was extremely embarrassing. He didn't dare to move but only unstoppably yelled out.

"If I let go my hand, master will run away." Luo Luo said seriously.

Chen Chang Sheng felt helpless. He immediately promised "Don't worry, I absolutely won't run away. Now can you let go your hands? After you let go then we can talk."

Luo Luo appeared very yielding. She trusted what he said and released her hands. Then she pointed to the floor and indicated him to sit down.

Cheng Chang Sheng thought about this little girl's previous swift movement and knew that he had no way of running away from her hands so he silently sighed and sat down.

Seeing that he did not attempt to escape as expected, Luo Luo felt very happy.

The library was completely silent, Chen Chang Sheng did not know what to say and felt very embarrassing but obviously Luo Luo did not feel so.

She sat in front of him using her hands to support her lower jaw. She looked at him attentively with a smile.

The two were very close. Chen Chang Sheng could see his own face from her bright black pupils and could see the happiness from her heart – that's a type of extremely pure happiness. Looking at her, Chen Chang Sheng got influenced and also felt the happiness come out from the deepest part of his heart. There were no reason for this but he felt it.

But he could not just agree with her request because of happiness and because looking at every perspective this was an unreasonable request. He said seriously " I am really just a common person. I said before too, I just chose my destined star. I did not even purify successfully. You are stronger than me, how could I be your teacher?"

Luo Luo still used her hand to support her lower jaw and looked attentively at him as if she thought he looked very pretty. No matter how long she looked, it was not enough, "Master, if you were just a common person, how could you do those things? Also, you are a good person."

Chen Chang Sheng did not understand why being a good person was related to him not stronger than her and not successfully purified yet and asked confusedly "and then?"

"Yesterday before I fainted, I saw master holding a sword trying to protect me from the falling sky so master is a good person."

Luo Luo's smile suddenly had an additional different meaning. "But actually that's not the last image I saw. The last image I saw were stars filling up the sky. They were really stars, and at that time...Yu Tian General Xue Xing Chuan didn't arrive yet."

Chen Chang Sheng realized that she saw it and felt somewhat hopeless. "so what?"

"Master, if your sword can break through Net of Fog then obviously it's not a common sword. And you, obviously, are not a common person."

Luo Luo's eyes looked down and fell upon the seemingly common little sword tied to his waist.

Cheng Chang Sheng looked outside and surprisingly said "Ah!"

Luo Luo followed his eyes out and felt somewhat confused. She thought what happened?

"It's kind of late."

Chen Chang Sheng pointed outside and said "I have to go eating first. Can we talk about it later?"

Luo Luo's face slightly plumped up like a bun and it was very cute, but it was also like a little tiger which was still cute.

She was about to hang on to him but Chen Chang Sheng's voice slightly changed and said "Dont hang on to me!"

Although the time they spent together was very short, Luo Luo already grasped his personality. She understood that if she pushed him too hard, it would not be a good thing. Because of this, she took back her hands unwillingly and looked at Cheng Chang Sheng who already silently walked to the exit of the library. She said "Master, just accept me please."

On the floor, her skirt hem spread out like a flower. She sat in the center of the flower looking pathetic but very cute.

How would Chen Chang Sheng dare to look back? If he did, he would definitely soften his heart. As he walked out, he waved his hand and ran away.

...

In the Hundred Blossom Street he ate a bowl of mixed rice with pickled veggies. Then he walked a while in the capital, thinking that the strange little girl should have already left, Chen Chang Sheng then returned to the Tradition Academy. After he walked into the library and took a glimpse, he finally relaxed because no one was there as he expected.

As the evening was about to arrive, thinking that he already wasted so much time today, he used his fastest speed to finish preparing. He began to calm down and meditate and got ready to absorb starlights to purify again. But before he even closed up his eyes, he saw that under the starlights a skirt was swaying. The little girl walked in.

Chen Chang Sheng said helplessly. "I already said. It's impossible."

Luo Luo, as if she did not hear what he said, said, "Master, I already move all the things into your bedroom. Among those little buildings only one of them had a stove. That room should be yours? Those herbs were placed in the attic. Everything else was under your bed."

Chen Chang Sheng already noticed, the Legendary Luminous Pearl and the sword

technique already disappeared. He originally thought that the little girl took back the things. Who would expect she actually help him put the things inside the building. He did not even know how to react at all.

"I want to xiu xing."

He felt very helpless, but really did not want to waste any more time and miss the night to absorb starlights and purify. So he could pretend as the little girl was nonexistent and tightly closed his eyes.

Suddenly, he smelled a very light fragrance coming from his right side.

He was a bit surprised and opened up his eyes. He saw that the little girl was already at his side. Her little face was only about an inch away from him. If she got even closer, her face would be touching his.

He asked helplessly "What do you want?"

Luo Luo's eyes suddenly lit up. "Master, I want you to be my teacher."

Chen Chang Sheng did not know what to say. He give up, closed his eyes, and began meditating.

He was truly someone who was with boring scrolls since youth. Even under a little girl's staring at such close distance, he still could actually meditate.

The day gradually became lighter and chicken crowing among the families could be heard coming into the Tradition Academy.

Chen Chang Sheng opened his eyes and slowly woke up. He suddenly felt his right shoulder was somewhat heavy and somewhat stiff.

He looked back, got scared, and then sighed.

The little girl was hanging onto his arm was leaning her head onto his shoulder. It looked like she was having a sweet dream and it seemed like she had slept here last night.

Chen Chang Sheng lightly woke her up and said "Go home."

"No." Luo Luo rubbed her eyes and said aggrievedly.

Chen Chang Sheng sighed and said, "Why do you have to do this?

"Yesterday when master was absorbing starlight and purifying, I hung on to master and smelled for a really long time...I am sure, that smell is from you. The smell is really good. I feel really comfortable next to you. It was as if I ate a longevity fruit."

Luo Luo remembered last night and her eyes became even brighter like the Tai Bai star that even morning light could not cover. Then she laughed embarrassedly and continued "I never eat a longevity fruit, but I heard it from my mom."

Chen Chang Sheng was wordless again. Thinking that just because smell was good, she wanted to be his student? Just so she could smell him everyday?

"My xiu xing encountered a very troublesome obstacle. No one can solve it, not even the professors at the Heavenly Academy and Startaker Academy could solve it. But master you can...in order to use Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong, I can only use what you said that night. This is the evidence."

The method of operating Qi to use the Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong was related to the secret in Chen Chang Sheng's body. Of course, this was not the main reason he rejected this little girl. "I have no right to teach you. Also I have no time to teach you. I want to read, I want to xiu xing, and I have a lot of important things to do."

Luo Luo saw him for a whole day and obviously knew he cared a lot about time, even to an extreme extent. She asked, "Master, why are you so anxious?"

Yes, such care to time that it even appeared somewhat anxious.

Chen Chang Sheng saw the sincere concern from the little girl's eyes and suddenly felt a bit warm. He always appeared to be very calm because very little people could see the anxiety hiding under his calm appearance. For no reason, he suddenly wanted to talk.

"I want to participate in the Great Trial. Also...I must get first place." He looked at her and said seriously.

That morning in the library was the most peaceful time. There were no chirping of cicadas and sparrows. Even frog was sleeping.

After a very long time, there was no sneering nor surprising questions.

Even after Tang Thirty Six heard Chen Chang Sheng's goal, he would have some emotional change.

Yet Luo Luo's face had no change. She looked seriously at Chen Chang Sheng and waited for his next words.

Chen Chang Sheng asked, "You..don't you think this goal is very funny? At least...somewhat surprising?"

"Funny? Surprising? Why?"

Luo Luo who heard this question, on the contrary, felt puzzled. "Master participates in the Great Trial, of course will get first place."

The library becomes quiet again, from far away there was faintly a twitter, yet the place became even more quiet.

Chen Chang Sheng was dazed.

Her tone made him feel that if he did not get the first place in the Great Trial, then that would be a strange thing.

He never ate the legendary longevity fruit, but he thought that even if he ate several hundreds of longevity fruits, it would not make him feel as comfortable as hearing this sentence.

"But, why does master must participate in the Great Trial?

Luo Luo did not know how much console her reaction gave Chen Chang Sheng and asked curiously, "Do you want to see the Mausoleum of the Books? I can take master there."

Chen Chang Sheng did not notice the last part of her sentence.

He stood up, walked to the window. He looked at the royal palace not far from here and looked at the direction of the Ling Yan Pavilion.

The top three tiers of the Great Trial could go to the Mausoleum of the Books to feel the way, this was what he wanted.

Yet only the first place on the Great Trial would get the chance to meditate for a night in the Ling Yan Pavilion.

This was what he wanted the most.

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Ever since he was picked up by his master next to the lake, the phrase Chen Chang Sheng heard most was: 'you have a very unfortunate life.' Especially the night when was ten, after his body began to emit a strange fragrance, these words were like reminders. They always stayed in his heart.

If he wanted to change his unfortunate life, there were only two methods. One way was to xiu xing up to the deify stage. At this stage, he obviously wouldn't be regulated by destiny. But the deify stage only existed in legends — even Du Fu, who was unbeatable in the past probably did not get to that stage.

The second method obviously was to fight against his fate. His master told him that it was rumored that from the beginning of Zhou Dynasty, only three people were able to fight against the Heaven and change their fate. These three people were unmatchable geniuses and they held the power of the world. Chen Chang Sheng was just a regular person, how could he accomplish this?

It didn't matter if he was able to do it or not, it was something he had to do. Therefore he had to compete in the Great Trial and obtain the championship. Only if he did this would he have a chance at entering the Ling Yan Pavilion which had strict entry requirements. Only if he entered the Ling Yan Pavilion would he be able to look at the people in the paintings and discover what they had left him.

The Ling Yan Pavilion had twenty four painting of the most important officials of the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty. New paintings of important officials are constantly added. Nevertheless, the most important ones were still the first twenty four paintings. In those twenty four paintings, there was hidden evidence and a trace of the second successful Fate Change of the Zhou Dynasty.

Chen Chang Sheng woke up from his deep thought and his eyes glanced from the royal palace to the young girl sitting on the floor.

He really liked this child, but he couldn't accept her as his apprentice – this young girl lived in the Herb Garden and was ambushed by a demon the night before. Her background was unordinary. The greatest possibility was that she was part of the royal bloodline that was exiled by the Divine Queen and was escorted back in private. He could not have a relationship with such a character.

Plus he didn't want to misguide the girl.

"I need to clean up and rest. Go back home and don't come back anymore." Chen Chang Sheng said.

He wanted to sound harsh and cold so that the young girl would back off. Without waiting for her response, he left the library.

He hoped that she would leave knowing the difficult. Chen Chang Sheng returned to the library at night and saw that the girl wasn't there. He could finally relax. He continued to absorb starlight to purify his body. During his state of meditation, the dawn returned. Once again the night had passed.

He didn't know if the energy of stars was absorbed by his body. He just knew that his skin and hair didn't change a bit and no progress was made in the Purification stage. But he was used to this. However, when he opened his eyes, he felt empty in his right arm. He felt unusual.

Chen Chang Sheng was silent for a while. He then left the library and returned to his small building and started showering.

The hot water in the wooden barrel was releasing steam and it floated along with the ivies on the wall. Slowly, it was separated into countless strings of smoke. He sat in the hot water and laid against the wall of the barrel and closed his eyes. He was tired. The morning was so quiet that he felt something was missing.

Just like earlier when he opened his eyes, he felt something was missing on his right arm.

There was no pretty and crisp voice and no one hugged his arm dependently.

Only for a few days, he was used to the presence of that young girl. Thinking about this, he felt a little embarrassed and his face was a little warm. He realized that matter how he followed his heart and calmed his mind, he couldn't completely diminish vanity and some other feelings.

He placed the wet towel on his face. He didn't want his warm face to be shined by the light.

Suddenly, the wall next to the barrel came crashing down and dust flew everywhere. Bricks and stones fell down from the broken wall.

Chen Chang Sheng removed his towel and stared at the wall in surprise. Under the dust, there was a huge hole...in the wall.

The dust gradually fell to the ground and Luo Luo walked in through the big hole in the wall.

She turned around and saw Chen Chang Sheng in the wooden barrel and was extremely happy, "We didn't calculate the wrong spot, it's here!"

She didn't say this to Chen Chang Sheng, she said this to her subordinates holding the construction tools behind her.

For a while, behind the quiet small building, next to the old wall was filled with construction noises.

Not one of the busily working people looked at the wooden barrel. It was as if they could not see the youngster in the hot water.

Looking at this scene of lively construction, Chen Chang Sheng felt the water in the barrel was cooling rapidly and his body was cooling as well. He was so surprised that he couldn't speak a word. His mouth was open slightly. He felt this scene was crazy, but what was more crazy was that he himself was in this scene.

Not for long, a brand new wooden wall appeared in the wall.

The people went back into the Herb Garden and closed the wooden wall. The Tradition Academy was just as quiet as before.

Except there was an extra wall and one more person.

"Now it's much more convenient to come over everyday, I don't need to ride the carriage anymore."

Luo Luo's hands were on her waist. She looked at the door and was satisfied.

It was silent, no one answered her.

She turned around and looked. She saw that Chen Chang Sheng was like a frozen swan. His two hands were on the wooden barrel and it was funny seeing him like this.

Luo Luo said sincerely, "Master, please continue. You can disregard me."

Suddenly, Chen Chang Sheng's expression turned extremely serious and his eyes were filled with boundless terror.

He looked at the blue sky behind her and his voice shook, "Dragon?!"

Luo Luo was surprised, she turned her head to look, but the navy sky was empty; there was no dragon.

Just this moment behind her back, a watering sound was heard.

She turned around and saw Chen Sheng Sheng who had dressed up quickly and flipped out of the barrel and ran crazily into the forest. As he was running, water was dripping from under him. It was as embarrassing as it could be. He was like a dog in the water. Or perhaps, a homeless dog.

Looking at this scene, Luo Luo couldn't help but laugh. She waved and yelled, "Master, you will return!"

Chen Chang Sheng slowly disappeared into the boundary of the forest.

The smile on Luo Luo's face gradually disappeared. She seemed sad and sighed, "Master, why won't you accept me?"

———————————————————-

Chen Chang Sheng was wet all over, his black hair wasn't tied up and there were no shoes on his feet. He felt embarrassed but he didn't dare to return to the Tradition Academy to change his clothes. An entire capital and he couldn't find a place to go. Since he was too embarrassed to meet anyone, he couldn't find people to help either.

The room in the tavern outside of the Mausoleum of Knowledge was still registered, but the walk to the north of the city was way too long. Chen Chang Sheng didn't want the patrolling guard to arrest him for inappropriate dressing. Therefore, he could only go to the Heavenly Academy, which was closer.

He successfully attracted the eyes and mocking of the Heavenly Academy students. He just acted like he didn't see or hear anything. Finally, he found the house of Tang Thirty Six and without hesitation he kicked the door and entered. He said seriously, "Let me borrow a set of clean clothes and I owe you this time."

Tang Thirty Six saw his appearance and was at first stunned. Then he started laughing loudly. The time between his confusion and his laughter was a little long which showed his slow reaction. But this laughter was still a little harsh in the ears of Chen Chang Sheng.

"Rare guest...truly a rare guest...what happened to you?"

"Although I never like wearing another person's clothing, this is an extremely circumstance. Therefore, please be quick."

Chen Chang Sheng was very serious.

Tang Thirty Six knew that if he was any slower, Chen Chang Sheng might get angry. He held in his laughter and found a set of clean clothes and gave two towels along with it, "Go whip your hair and feet, don't worry, they are all new."

"Thank you."

As quick as humanly possible, Chen Chang Sheng cleaned himself up and then relaxed. He checked around the surrounding to make sure this guy was the genius that was ranked thirty sixth on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud. Even in a place like the Heavenly Academy, he was able to have a small house to himself. But looking at the paper balls, leftover food and waste all over the floor and chairs, Chen Chang Sheng discovered that although the small house was spacious, there was nowhere for him to sit.

"Sit down." Tang Thirty Six couldn't connect with his pain.

"Where?" Chen Chang Sheng asked sincerely.

Tang Thirty Six now remembered this guy's weird habit. He stood up unwillingly and said, "Let's go eat."

As they were walking on the path of Heavenly Academy and leaving the school, Chen Chang Sheng once again attracted the eyes of strangers. But this time, it wasn't his embarrassing look but rather because he was walking next to Tang Thirty Six. The students of the Heavenly Academy were surprised and wondered who this youngster was and how was he able to talk with Thirty Thirty Six who was famous for his pride and coldness?

Sitting down in a nice restaurant next to the Heavenly Academy, Tang Thirty Six suddenly realized something and wrinkled his eyebrows. He looked at Chen Chang Sheng and asked sincerely, "I went to the tavern once and saw the message left for you...you actually entered the Tradition Academy?"

Chen Chang Sheng nodded and said, "What are you doing recently?'

But he actually wanted to ask Tang Thirty Six why he didn't visit him after knowing he entered the Tradition Academy. Chen Chang Sheng only had one person he knew in the capital. Although he didn't mind loneliness, he thought it was nice to enjoy company as well.

But it was hard for him to ask directly because of his personality.

Hearing him admit to the fact that he entered Tradition Academy, Tang Thirty Six's expression became heavy. But seeing Chen Chang Sheng changing the topic, Tang Thirty Six thought he didn't want to talk about sad things and answered, "The Ivy Festival is about to start, although I'm not afraid of anyone, I need to prepare."

Chen Chang Sheng was wondering what was the Ivy Festival?

Tang Thirty Six asked again, "So, what happened today? I only wanted to be the third place in the Great Trial and I was staying up all night to prepare. Your goal is the first place and you were able to water fight with people? or...did you encounter trouble?"

"The Tradition Academy...I really can't stay there anymore."

Chen Chang Sheng thought back to the past few days. No matter if his eyes were open or closed, showering or reading, he could always see that young girl. He was a little dejected. For him, this emotion was something hard to experience.

Tang Thirty Six thought Chen Chang Sheng was enduring countless mocking and cold shoulders while he was studying in the Tradition Academy and sympathized with him. He patted Chen Chang Shen on the shoulder, "If you really can't do it, then leave. I...can write a letter and let you study in Wen Shui."

Chen Chang Sheng sighed.

Tang Thirty Six looked at his worrying and sad expression and felt a little unhappy. He thought to himself, you were calm and confident even when you were rejected twice by the Heavenly Academy and Starseeker Academy or else I wouldn't respect you. But why are you like this now? Is the Tradition Academy actually a cursed location?

"Drink a little and sleep."

He requested two bowls of strong alcohol and pushed one bowl to Chen Chang Sheng.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the bowl and was curious, then he said honestly "I never drank before."

Tang Thirty Six helped him uncover the seal and said, "You drank after you drink today."

Chen Chang Sheng had things on his mind and so did Tang Thirty Six. Plus speaking from truth, these two youngsters weren't that close yet and didn't know each other that well. It was only natural that they didn't have things to talk about. Therefore, they could only hold the bowls and drank silently.

Drinking silently without talking makes people drunk fast. Especially for first timers like Chen Chang Sheng.

Of course, Tang Thirty Six's tolerance wasn't that good either.

"A genius like me has no time for some Ivy Festival. But those idiotic students dared to underestimate my strength..."

Tang Thirty Six looked at the students outside of the restaurant wearing the uniforms of the Heavenly Academy and smiled coldly, "This time I will prove myself and slap their faces!"

Chen Chang Sheng held the bowl with two hands and his eyes were half closed. It was clear that he was drunk, "Ivy Festival...what is it?...what do they have there?...food?...is there alcohol?"

—————————

The capital has the Heavenly Academy, Starseeker Academy, Academy of Priests... in total of six oldests and most respected schools.

The power of time was represented by the ivies growing on the walls of those six schools, therefore these six academies were called the Six Ivies. Only the students of the Six Ivies were able to enter the Great Trial without going through the entrance exam. From this, it was easy to see the status of these six academies.

The entrance exam of the Trail Trial usually began in the summer. Although the Six Ivies didn't need to participate in it, they didn't want the students to miss a chance of enhancing themselves. Therefore after the scores of the entrance exam of the Great Trial were released, the Six Ivies would invite the students who passed the entrance exam with their own student to join a great festival

Since the students of the Six Ivies would also join the festival, it was more competitive than the entrance exam. It was also shown in history that the ranking obtained from this festival was similar to the final ranking of the Great Trial. For this reason, the festival was viewed as the basic guideline for the Great Trial.

Of course, the ranking of the festival didn't include the southern students and the xiuxing geniuses who wouldn't easily show their techniques.

This festival is the Ivy Festival.

For Tang Thirty Six's personality, he was too prideful to join the Ivy Festival. But due to his relationship with the vice principal of the Heavenly Academy and some previous mocking from his schoolmates who were also on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud, he decided to join.

For this festival, he isolated himself in the Heavenly Academy to xiuxing. Even after knowing Chen Chang Sheng entered the Tradition Academy, he didn't have time to visit.

Chen Chang Sheng put down his bowl and covered his mouth to burp. He was a little embarrassed and excused himself. He then said, "I wish you luck."

Since the Ivy Festival was a competition between geniuses, it naturally had nothing to do with him.

This is what he thought, but he forgot that the school he attending right now was also one of the Six Ivies.

Of course, the entire world also seem to forgot about this.

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After returning to the Tradition Academy, Chen Chang Sheng was drunk. He narrowed his eyes and could barely walk stably. As for the Ivy Festival, he had already put it into the back of his mind and no longer cared about it.

The library was dark. He wasn't there so obviously, the Tradition Academy would be cold as usual. He walked to the side of lake. The surrounding was very quiet, only stars were floating on the clean water and the reflections of trees on the opposing shore were not so clear in the darkness. There was a clean spring wind blowing on his face.

He stood on a stone next to the lake, and looked up at the stars for a really long time. He then looked towards the stars in the lake for a really long time. He closed his eyes, silently stood there for a very long time and suddenly shouted out some curse words to the lake.

He always gave others a calm and silent impression and was precocious. Such venting behavior was very rare for him but he vented out his feelings tonight. He realized that he was actually a little tired so he decided to sit on the lawn next to the lake, lie down and doze off.

The library was completely dark. He did not go there to read, to absorb starlights, or to purify. He completely fell into a daze. He did not think. Over the years of his life, he never indulged himself and this was the first time he wasted time.

After some time had elapsed, he opened his eyes and saw that he was still lying on the lawn. The grass his hands were touching had moderately cold raindrops. His cheeks were also somewhat wet and the distant sky faintly had morning light coming out. It should be around five o'clock – even after self-indulging when he was drunk, he still woke up promptly. The strict or even traditional daily routine and behaviors were already penetrating into his bones and became some kind of instinct which made him feel helpless.

Habit was very strong; even purification could not change it. Chen Chang Sheng returned to his little building and used a wet towel to carefully clean his face while he was thinking. He glimpsed at the tightly closed door on the old wall and felt somewhat hopeful.

Heaven would not respond to every wish, but today, it responded. The door was opened up and the little girl jumped over the doorsill like stepping on stones to pass a brook. She hopped to him, her black ponytails swung back and forth. She looked very cute.

Luo Luo looked at him and said happily. "Loh, master, don't you feel convenient?"

The little girl smiled very happily, but inside she was very nervous. She was afraid that Chen Chang Sheng would run away like he had done yesterday.

Chen Chang Sheng did not run today. Maybe it was because he wasn't naked today, maybe it was because he was not fully awake from ebriety last night, maybe it was because he already gave up resisting the little girl's entanglement or maybe he actually wanted to see her.

Walking out of the Tradition Academy, he bought two bowls of dumplings and gave the one of that was not spicy to the little girl. He then walked to the library. The little girl held the bowl, followed him and was extremely surprised but happy.

After breakfast, Chen Chang Sheng began to read. He found what he wanted to read easily off the shelf as he was very familiar with where he had placed it. He then sat on the floor and read attentively and silently, comparing the original documentations to the three thousand Scrolls of Way he read in the old temple in Xi Ning. He called this method comparison study.

Reading was a very boring activity and watching others read was even worse. Chen Chang Sheng was quietly reading. In the beginning, Luo Luo was very interested and she attempted to read with him, but after reading a while, she realized that she could not understand a lot of the books so she felt very bored. Thinking that waking up early was truly not a good thing, sleepiness, like the ants under the tree, came over constantly and endlessly. As time went by, it made her feel like her head became heavier and heavier...

After a long time, Chen Chang Sheng woke up from his deep reading. He felt that his right arm was somewhat heavy, somewhat limp and numb. Suddenly, he recalled the scene he saw when he woke from meditation and purification last night. He turned around and the little girl was hanging on his arm and sleeping again, as expected.

Her hand actually did not hang around to his right arm, but simply grabbed onto his sleeve lightly. She also did not actually lean on his shoulder — because she was too small, she was only able to lean on his upper arm. Though this position was not really comfortable for her, she was still having a good nap...

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the little girl's entirely unfolded eyebrows, looked at the innocence revealed from her relaxed eyebrows and eyes and smiled.

She had a good nap because she was very relaxed. The reason why she was so relaxed, was because she trusted him so much. Being trusted by someone completely was a very good feeling for Chen Chang Sheng especially since he was silently marching forward by himself in the capital.

Suddenly, a shadow fell on the little girl's face.

When normal people slept, they did not like light. But the little girl was obviously distinct. When shadow fell on her, her eyebrows frowned, her nose lightly wrinkled, and she mumbled unhappily. She would probably wake up in a moment.

Chen Chang Sheng liked to watch the little girl sleep. Of course, he wouldn't feel so happy after being disrupted by others. Looking to the entrance of the library, he subconsciously stirred up his eyebrows.

The person who appeared on the entrance was Shuang Er, for no reason, her look was extremely cold.

...

Today Shuang Er was feeling very chaotic because the white crane had come back from the distant south and had brought the Miss's letter again.

Miss was not an idiot who followed the rules for women taught in stupid books, the Zhou Dynasty also had no such strange requirements that the South had. Because she knew this clearly, she did not really understand why Miss would be concerned about the shameless youngster.

Even though there was an engagement, the engagement would be cancelled one day anyways so why would Miss care about the youngster? Fine, Miss only mentioned in the letter that she wanted to know the recent things that happened with the youngster, it's not really a concern...but, why would she want to know about it?

Shuang Er actually knew clearly, Miss simply did not want the youngster because of the engagement, became a dust in the river, therefore she wanted her to inquire about him.

She inquired about him as Miss requested. She knew that Chen Chang Sheng was the only student in the Tradition Academy. Moreover, based on the madam's attitude, although the youngster wouldn't have a bright future, at least he would not have any problem with security. According to Miss's instruction, she came specifically to the Tradition Academy to ask if he needed any help, such as money but she never expected that she would see such an image!

Who was that little girl? Why would she hang on to this kid? Was he actually reading? Although the Tradition Academy had fallen, it continued to be a place used to educate people! This kid was actually hugging with a little girl in the library! How awful!

Seeing this image, Shuang Er was strangely furious – you had an engagement with Miss! Although this engagement definitely did not mean anything, for now, it had not been cancelled yet. Your identity is the fiance of Miss! Otherwise, why would Miss care about your security ten thousand miles away and ask high class people from the palace to save your little life! Although Miss does not like you, she still helped you a lot, but now you were hugging another girl! What a pair of whores!

Shuang Er was originally going to say it out loud, but upon she looking at the little girl's innocent but pretty face, she felt bad. So she stared at Chen Chang Sheng and yelled angrily, "Lewd thief!"

After saying these two words, how would she still have patience to be concerned about Chen Chang Sheng's safety? She simply gave a flick of her sleeves, turned around and angrily walked away.

The Tradition Academy was quiet, the lawn next to the lake was green and beautiful, yet Shuang Er felt gloomy. She felt more and more unhappy as she walked.

After returning to the Dong Yu General's Mansion, she began writing letter to Miss, describing in detail what she heard...and especially the image she saw today. Although she did not add trimmings, she simply wrote exactly what she heard and saw. The negativity of the words was very obvious.

The white crane left the capital and flew towards the Mountain Virgin in the distant South.

At evening, when the falling sun shined on the rare flowers and grasses on the cliff, the white crane flew down the cliff. The girl took the letter, skimmed through it and remained silent for a long time.

The white crane took the pen brush again, dipped with right amount of ink and delivered it into her hand at the right time.

The girl held the pen brush, looked at the white paper, remained silent for so long and sighed. She used the top of the pen to rub her head. She looked at the white crane and said, "I actually don't know what to write. According to your previous descriptions...that little Taoist priest shouldn't be this kind of person."

The white crane could not speak, so it could not answer for her. Instead, it used her neck to touch her wrist which indicating to her to quickly start writing.

—————————————————————–

Lewd thief? Chen Chang Sheng heard the words Shuang Er said before she turned around. He knew she misunderstood something but he didn't mind and didn't bother to run out of the library to explain. Although his marriage vow with the General's Mansion wasn't terminated yet, after doing so many things in the General's Mansion, he believed that she was in no position to misunderstand him, much less be in the position to be angry at him. But...for some reason, he himself got angry.

Luo Luo woke up and rubbed her eyes. She sensed the fragrance leftover in the air and asked curiously, "Master, who came before?"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "A maid from the Dong Yu General's Mansion."

After hearing him mention Dong Yu General's Mansion, Luo Luo's expression changed. She was about to say something but suddenly stopped and glanced out of the library.

Two men have walked to the library.

One of them had his hands on his back and had entered the library without an invitation. He was arrogant.

That person wore the teacher's uniform of the Heavenly Academy.

Chen Chang Sheng noticed that this person's expression was cold and harsh. His eyes were merciless when looking at Chen Chang Sheng.

"Such a joke!"

That Heavenly Academy's teacher looked at Chen Chang Sheng for a second and turned around. It seemed like looking at him for an extra second would dirty his eyes.

The teacher looked at the person beside him and rebuked, "The Tradition Academy was in ruins, how could it be listed as one of the Six Ivies? And this person... a trash who hasn't even reach Purification, how was he permitted to enter the Ivy Festival!?"

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Chen Chang Sheng stood up, looked at the teacher from the Heavenly Academy, remaining wordless. Luo Luo was very angry, but she saw that he did not speak, so she could only remain silent as well – since master did not speak or suggest anything, as his student, she should not do anything on her own.

The man who stood by the library said two very rude and seemingly meaningless sentences. But upon hearing the words "Ivy Festival," Chen Chang Sheng recalled what Tang Thirty Six had said. He understood the implications of the festival.

He never realized that the Ivy Festival was related to him because he, like many others, forgot that the Tradition Academy was one of the Six Ivies. However it was obvious that not the entire world forgot about this fact, especially after he joined the Tradition Academy.

Chen Chang Sheng looked toward the middle-aged man who was wearing a robe. He was standing next to the teacher of the Heavenly Academy. Chen Chang Sheng recognized the teacher. He was Officer Xin from the Department of Traditional Education. Although they had not seen each other in a long time, the officer was responsible for the rebuilding of the Tradition Academy in the recent days.

Officer Xin sensed his sight and nodded back, but he looked somewhat embarrassed.

He looked towards the teacher from the Heavenly Academy and said, "Before the Tradition Academy didn't have any students so it obviously didn't have to participate. Now that it has a student, it should participate in the Ivy Festival. Both the government and the Tradition already permitted its entry. Mr. Peng, please finish your work and leave."

The Heavenly Academy was the most important school of the Tradition in the recent years. It had a very high status and therefore, the teachers from the Heavenly Academy possessed high statuses. He was simply a Officer in the Department of Traditional Education. If under different circumstances, seeing the teacher behave in such way, Officer Xin would definitely follow up. But in this case...he understood it more clearly than anyone else. The seemingly normal youngster only had hints of a very strong background, how dare would he offend the teacher. Therefore, he had to try his best to find a compromise between the two.

"Are you sure you want such useless trash to participate in the Ivy Festival?" The teacher whose last name was Peng said coldly.

Officer Xin said helplessly, "This is the rule. I can't do anything about it, can't I?"

"Rule? Everything needs rules? Then let me talk about some rules!"

The teacher from the Heavenly Academy laughed contemptuously and said, "According to the rules in the previous years, the Ivy Festival modeled the format of the Great Trial. There were two types, civil and military. Two students from each school each have to pick a test to take. Now, this broken school only had this trash, how will it participate?"

Officer Xin was wordless, recalling that the Ivy Festival actually had this rule. Before he came, he was solely focused on how to come up with a compromise between the teacher and Chen Chang Sheng. He had completely forgotten about this. He felt a little anxious, thinking to himself, why didn't you[Mr. Peng] mention it before?

"In order to participate in the Ivy Festival, at least two students are required...now that there only one trash, how do you want me to give them permission to participate?"

The teacher from the Heavenly Academy said expressionlessly, his voice was filled with contempt, "Officer, do you really think I come here because I can't resist the pressure from the Department of the Traditional Education? No, I simply want to come and see how long the joke of the Tradition Academy will make me laugh!"

He stood at the door of the library, looked at the silent school which still had some broken places after the repair and sighed coldly, "The Tradition Academy...back then it had such great fame! But now? It's simply a dead graveyard!"

"No matter how much you repair it, this is still a graveyard!"

The Heavenly Academy teacher's voice got colder and colder, "Recently, there is a rumor in the capital saying that the Pope is going to revitalize the Tradition Academy. Not to mention how crazy this rumor is, but even if it's real, you still have to consider the voice of the elders!"

He turned around and looked at Chen Chang Sheng. There was fire burning in his eyes as he yelled, "I just want to tell people, a rumor is just a rumor! The falling Tradition Academy is just a wasteland! Trash is just a trash! No one can restore this rubbish!"

The Tradition Academy was completely silent, behind the building there were wild grasses that were not entirely cleaned out. A deserted feeling spreaded.

Chen Chang Sheng looked silently at the teacher from the Heavenly Academy and suddenly took a step forward.

Useless trash...joke...garbage land...graveyard.

These words were still flowing around the silent library.

He did not know why this teacher resented the Tradition Academy and him so much, yet he knew one thing – he was a student of the Tradition Academy — the only student. He did not live here for a long time, but because he was the only student, this entire Tradition Academy was his, the flowers, grasses, trees, bricks, stones, all were his. He worked to revitalize this place, he studied here quietly, here was his fairyland, not wasteland.

He did not like to get humiliated by others and more so, he did not like it when others humiliate the Tradition Academy.

He recalled the humiliation he encountered after arriving at the capital, recalled Shuang Er who had just left and decided to do something.

"I will participate in the Ivy Festival." he said.

He looked at the teacher from the Heavenly Academy and said, "I don't know why you have to have such a big resentment against me and my school, but if you want to prevent me from going to the Ivy Festival, I can tell you that you will not succeed because of your impolite attitude."

The teacher from the Heavenly Academy said coldly, "In order to participate in the Ivy Festival, you need two students, or ...two trashes. Even if you are dare to participate, I can tell you that you will not succeed because in the entire continent, there won't be anyone, besides an idiot like you, that is willing to go to the Tradition Academy."

Officer Xin did not say anything, but he knew that the teacher's words were true, no one would dare go to the Tradition Academy. Chen Chang Sheng was probably placed here by someone of very high status or he was responsible to something. There won't be another person like him.

The library was very silent.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the black and bright floor and suddenly asked, "Do you still insist?"

An immature but determined voice came up, "I insist."

"I can't teach you much."

"You already taught me a lot."

"As a student of the Tradition Academy, you probably will face a lot of hate from others."

"Master, I am very good at contempting others."

"You probably...will have to bare a lot of humiliation."

"Master, no one dares to humiliate me."

This conversation was over.

Chen Chang Sheng smiled, looked at the side and said, "I still don't know your name."

Luo Luo's eyes were extremely bright, her left hand tightly grabbed to his sleeve. She was very worried that he would regret his decision and said, "Master, my name is Luo Heng."

Chen Chang Sheng held her left hand, then looked at the teacher from the Heavenly Academy, "You see, now we are two people."

Luo Luo felt a bit shy, leaned on his right arm and repeated like a parrot, "We are two people."

Officer Xin was dazed.

The teacher from the Heavenly Academy became extremely angry and yelled in disbelief, "How dare you! How will such a broken place get another student! Who do you think who you are! You think just because you say she is a student here, she is?!"

Chen Chang Sheng ignored him. He indicate to Luo Luo to take out a roster, a brush and ink.

He wrote Luo Luo's name on the roster very seriously.

Luo Luo lifted up the document and turned it towards the sun. She breathed in air and blew on the document very hard to dry it up quickly.

Under the sunlight, the roster shined very clearly. There were only two names, but two names were enough.

"I have the roster. Anyone can be the Tradition Academy's student, as long as I write their names up."

Chen Chang Sheng pointed to the roster, looked at the Heavenly Academy teacher and said, "Even if you are the Pope, you still can't change this fact."

——————————————-

Officer Xin quickly tried to smooth out the situation and speak soft words into the ears of the teacher of the Heavenly Academy, however, at the same time, Xin also requested him to give Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo permission to join the Ivy Festival. The teacher fell silent for a long time, and finally left a stamp on the scroll for Officer Xin.

But the business was not finished yet.

The teacher looked at Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo and said expressionlessly, "The students who passed the Semi Trial are permitted to join the Festival of Ivies. Many of them are from different places all over the continent. Garbage like you are trying to join as well, are you trying to put shame on the Zhou Dynasty?"

Chen Chang Sheng thought for a moment and was ready to say something.

Just this moment, Luo Luo pulled on his sleeve and asked shyly, "Master, can I say something?"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "You are now a student of the Tradition Academy, of course you can."

Luo Luo looked at the teacher of the Heavenly Academy and asked seriously, "But, what does it have to do with you?"

The teacher of the Heavenly Academy wasn't a teacher of the Tradition Academy, how was he qualified to teach the students of the Tradition Academy? Luo Luo looked like a young girl of eleven or twelve years old. She spoke boldly and her words were naive, but her question has pointed out the problem directly. The teacher heard this and was stunned, although he was at the brink of his angry, he didn't know how to reply.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He was so angry that he started laughing and then yelled coldly, "I'll just see how the Tradition Academy will try to reestablish itself! When the Ivy Festival arrives and garbage like you from a ruined academy are shamed by the public and the entire world, don't blame me because I have warned you!"

After saying this, he left the building quickly.

Officer Xin didn't leave with him. He walked into the library and explained to Chen Chang Sheng in a low voice.

Chen Chang Sheng now knew that the Ivy Festival was planned by one of the Six Ivies each year and this year it was Heavenly Academy's turn. Since Traditional Academy didn't join the Ivy Festival for many years due to lack of students, it was gradually forgotten by everyone. But this year's situation was different. Of course, it wasn't the reason that the teacher of the Heavenly Academy was so angry and had such a bad attitude. The true reason was due to a certain rule of the Zhou Dynasty.

In that law, if an academy was unable to successfully recruit a student, its teaching certificate would be abolished and the school would shut down entirely. The Tradition Academy didn't recruit any students for many years and if it still didn't obtain any new students this year, then it would silently disappear into history. But who knew...right at the last year, the Tradition Academy got a student named Chen Chang Sheng.

"Just because of this?" Chen Chang Sheng asked.

Officer Xin was silent, "That year when the incident occurred in the Tradition Academy, three of Professor Peng's seniors died here.

Chen Chang Sheng was silent. He thought that if he were Professor Peng, he would for sure want the Tradition Academy to be shut down and disappear forever and his attitude towards the student who appeared out of nowhere and changed the destiny of the Tradition Academy wouldn't be too good either. He would love for the student to leave and shut down the school.

"But don't think about it too much. You don't have to participate in the Ivy Festival, and Professor Peng and the likes couldn't bother you either."

Officer Xin comforted Chen Chang Sheng and looked at Luo Luo who was standing beside him quietly, then laughed and patted on his shoulder, "You are good."

—————————————

Luo Luo didn't understand this comment, neither did Chen Chang Sheng.

Both of them was only fourteen years old, and Chen Chang Sheng still thought Luo Luo was a little girl of eleven or twelve years old.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at Luo Luo's face and hesitated. It wasn't until this moment did he notice that this little girl was really pretty.

Luo Luo grabbed his sleeve and said, "Master, you can't regret now."

Chen Chang Sheng scratched his head reluctantly and thought for a long while, finally said a word, "You...ate?"

Luo Luo opened her wide eyes and was confused, "Didn't I eat dumplings with Master in the morning?"

"Yes...but it's noon now."

Chen Chang Sheng looked outside of the window and said, "It's time for lunch."

Luo Luo heard this and her hands came together before her and she bowed, "I'll make lunch for Master."

"Go buy something to eat." Chen Chang Sheng replied.

Luo Luo asked, "Dumplings?"

Chen Chang Sheng thought for a moment and said, "There is a noodle shop beside the dumpling shop on this street. It doesn't taste too bad. Also, don't add too much bean sprouts, add more noodles."

Luo Luo ran out and laughed all the way, her hair was flowing in the air.

Sitting on the wall, Officer Jin and Officer Li looked at each other.

"This is fine?"

"I think so."

——————————————-

After eating noodles, it was afternoon. The spring wind's fragrance made people both drunk and sleepy.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at Luo Luo and said, "Sorry, I only knew your name today."

Luo Luo smiled and didn't say anything.

"Take the Night Pearl and other things back, I really can't accept them.

"Master, are you regretting about this again?"

"Of course...not."

"Then...how could you decline the gifts of a student."

"Didn't you buy a bowl of noodles before?"

Luo Luo's face turned serious and she lifted her dress lightly, then slowly kneeled on the hardwood floor.

Chen Chang Sheng was silent for a moment. He bowed towards the direction of Xi Ning Village and then gestured toward Luo Luo.

The scene of spring was bright and the lake was as calm as a mirror. Rarely, a breeze blew through and around the shelf and hair of people.

Chen Chang Sheng straightened his back and lifted her up.

Luo Luo said, "Thank you."

Chen Chang Sheng didn't know what to say, he thought for a while and also said, "Thank you."

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Chen Chang Sheng suddenly remembered that he hadn't introduced himself. "Oh yeah, my name is Chen Chang Sheng."

"I know." Luo Luo laughed as she replied.

Of course she knew that her master's name was Chen Chang Sheng. Although she never suspected him, the guards who protected her in the Herb Garden had already obtained all the information regarding Cheng Chang Shen through various ways because Lou Lou wanted to be his apprentice. She knew that he came from a small town named Xi Ning, knew that he knew Tang Thirty Six, and knew how he got into the Tradition Academy. With all the information, she believed that master was definitely not a commoner.

Lou Lou remebered her actions just now and said a bit worriedly, "Master, was what I said to the teacher from the Heavenly Academy somewhat improper?"

Chen Chang Sheng thought about it "Hmm, it was actually somewhat improper. 'What does it have to do this you', can be said as 'just fuck off.'"

After saying this, he laughed. Luo Luo laughed too, very happily. She thought, she is happy easily when staying with master. This was truly a very good thing, then she remembered that the people from Dong Yu General's mansion came to visit right before the teacher from the Heavenly Academy came to visit.

"Why would people from the Dong Yu General's Mansion come to see master?"

"Something."

Chen Chang Sheng did not know how to answer. He saw the little girl's curious look and asked, "You know the Dong Yu General's Mansion?"

"The legendary phoenix nest, how can I not know."

The so called phoenix nest, obviously was related to Xu You Rong's inborn talent and bloodline.

Chen Chang Sheng asked, "You met Xu You Rong personally?"

"I really want to meet her personally."

Luo Luo said unfortunately, "When I came to the capital, she already went to the South, so I had no chance to meet her."

Chen Chang Sheng remembered Tang Thirty Six's evaluation of Xu You Rong and was convinced, "Luo Luo, I know you are very strong, but don't try to compare yourself to her. We don't really have to be better than anyone. As long as we are improving, then we are strong."

Luo Luo knew he misunderstood something and laughed "She is the reincarnation of a phoenix, absolutely unique. Even my family members appreciate her a lot. When I was little, they always used her to motivate me, but I had never thought of comparing me and her. I heard that she's really nice, besides she's somewhat cold, yet she's much better than the Seven Rulings in the South. Actually I just want to meet her and become her friend, master, do you think that's ok?"

Chen Chang Sheng remained silent for a while "I...don't really have a good relationship with her."

After hearing this, Luo Luo was a little surprised, then she thought of something "Master truly likes to lie."

Chen Chang Sheng felt puzzled and asked, "How did I lie?"

"Master always said he was a commoner."

"I am a commoner."

Luo Luo covered her mouth and laughed, said, "How can a commoner... have a bad relationship with her?"

Chen Chang Sheng was wordless because she had her point. If he's truly a commoner, then no way he could have any relationship with Xu You Rong who was always on the top of the sky. If they did not have any relationship, then how could their relationship be bad?

After Luo Luo saw Chen Chang Shen's expression, she stopped laughing and said seriously "Master, starting from today, I don't like her anymore and I don't want to be her friend anymore."

Chen Chang Sheng felt dazed and asked, "Why?"

As a matter of course, Luo Luo said, "Because master doesn't have a good relationship with her, then she definitely is not a good person."

Chen Chang Sheng sighed, said, "Do you have any common sense?"

"Master is my teacher, obviously I have to listen to everything you say. Isn't that common sense?"

Chen Chang Sheng did not know how to reply and suggest her to sit down. He then deliver his hand to her.

Luo Luo wanted to be his apprentice no matter what because of her problem with xiu xing.

Every Xiu Xing method had to have a corresponding Qi operating method. If one completely understood it, one could express the true force of his/her xiu xing method. Her problem, was that she had no way to operate the Qi inside her body according to the book.

Yet that night when the demon elite attempts to assassinate her, Chen Chang Sheng used a few words to prove that he could solve this problem. For her there was at least a possibility.

When Chen Chang Sheng put her name on the roster of the Tradition Academy, he had to be responsible for her xiu xing. He knew approximately what her problem was, so the first lesson he is giving her, obviously needed to start from this aspect. In the beginning he had to know the Qi situation in her body.

The spring wind flew in, lightly touched the pages and skirt hem. Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo sat on the black and bright floor facing each other. He closed up his eyes, calmed down his mind, extended his right arm, lifted his right hand, and slowly fell on her wrist.

His action was very casual, yet very accurate. His index finger and middle finger was stuck together, like a sword with forged edge, precisely fell on her pulse, yet when his fingers really fell down, his action was rather very soft, like the falling leaves in the fall, wouldn't scare the ground under the tree at all.

Luo Luo's eyes opened up widely, looking at his fingers placed on her wrist. She was very surprised, since childhood, she had seen so many doctors, so she knew that this seemingly common diagnosis was actually professionally done.

Was master also a great doctor?

When she was surprised about these things, Chen Chang Sheng was also very surprised because from his diagnosis, he clearly sensed that, the little girl's pulse was so strong. He pulse was as clear as wardrum. The problem was... the drum beat was so dense, how could the pulses be so fast!

His finger, just like the raindrop bounced back from the drum, withdrew immediately.

He looked up and stared at her eyes, looked at the clean and calm eyes, to made sure that it's because she was too excited and therefore had a super fast heartbeat. After thinking for a while, he put his two fingers on her wrist again, but he did not expect the heartbeat he sensed was still so fast.

Luo Luo's heart beated faster than twice a regular human.

If a regular human was keeping such fast heartbeat frequency, his face would definitely be red, sweat a lot and pass out. The person might even die from the explosion of blood vessel.

But...Luo Luo did not have any such symptom. She looked very normal, even her blood vessel appeared to be very calm and steady, why?

Chen Chang Sheng did not take back his fingers, attentively observing her pulse. He frowned more and more, until after a very long time, he saw that her heartbeat rate did not decrease as time passed, but had rather became faster and faster!

He looked up at Luo Luo's face again, seeing that the little girl had more sweats, breathed more frequently, he knew that this time she's really nervous.

Luo Luo indeed was very nervous, she never thought that master's first action on the first lesson, was actually to help her diagnose. Until Chen Chang Sheng's fingers had fell on her wrist, she remembered that her pulse was very different from common people...what could she do?

Chen Chang Sheng took back his fingers, looked at her and remained silent for a very long time before he asked "Was your pulse...always like this?"

Luo Luo looked down, lightly replied, like a child who did something wrong, "It was like this since I was born."

Chen Chang Sheng continued to remain silent, as if he were thinking a very complicated problem.

He faintly guessed Luo Luo's identity.

Any human could not live for so long with such fast heartbeat frequency, of course no one could live to Luo Luo's age.

There was only one explanation, Luo Luo was not a human.

The spring wind continued to fly in, lightly touched the pages and little girl's skirt hem and also her wet hair.

The library was completely silent.

Luo Luo looked down, looked very pitiful.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at her, wanted to ask something, yet did not know how to open the conversation.

Luo Luo suddenly looked up, looked at him who wished to speak but stop on a second thought, and said bravely, "Master, if you ask, I will answer everything."

Chen Chang Sheng looked at her, suddenly felt her bravery and thought for a while "Then I won't ask."

Luo Luo opened up her eyes, looked at him surprisingly, "Why, master? Aren't you...curious?"

Curiosity was the itch that every intelligent being could not stop. It was the biggest temptation. For example, she's very curious now why wouldn't Chen Chang Sheng ask about her identity. She already said, as long as he asks, she would tell everything completely to him.

"Curiosity, sometimes aren't good."

"Ah?"

Chen Chang Sheng sighed and said, "Am I your teacher?"

Luo Luo was puzzled, said, "Of course you are, master."

Chen Chang Sheng used his hand to lightly touch her head, laughed and said, "Teacher needs to have a teacher's appearance. If the truth was too surprising, your identity is too scary, then how will we interact in the future? How do I protect a teacher's respect?"

"Eh..."

Luo Luo had never thought about this reason. She dazed a bit and asked carefully, "Master, aren't you scared?"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "This is not scary at all. It's just that I had never encountered it before, so I'm not used to it."

Luo Luo felt very happy after hearing this, used her head to touch his palm, like a cute little animal, said, "Master is the best!"

...

Probably because she thought Chen Chang Sheng, from inside to outside, every single hair was good, Luo Luo's firm trust on him, at this moment, enlarged unimaginably, like morning sunlight bursting out. Although he didn't ask, she still wanted to say something.

"Master, the amount of Qi in my body is not little." She said.

Chen Chang Sheng thought about the previous pulse and knew that it was true. Her soul was extremely strong. If she had such an identity, then the amount of Qi in her body obviously wouldn't be little. It should be at least much more than people's in her age.

"But I don't know how to use them."

Luo Luo explained, "Of course my family has xiu xing method, yet the best method in my family are only suitable for males...even if my bloodline is awakening, I won't be able to reach the top. The most I can get to is Starfusing stage, I can never reach saint stage."

Chen Chang Sheng felt a little wordless, thinking that if one could get into Starfusing, then he would be one of the limited elites in the continent, yet his little girl student was actually not satisfied. From this point, he could imagine how high her criteria was, or how amazing her identity was.

"If I am not the strongest, then in the future I can't inherit my dad's power. I then will have to marry his successor."

Luo Luo looked at him said grimly, " I don't want to marry something."

"So I want to learn human's xiu xing method, see if there's way to break through such limit."

Chen Chang Sheng thought a little, then said, "No problem, we will definitely become the strongest teacher and pupil on the continent."

Luo Luo opened up her eyes, although she had an almost blind trust on Chen Chang Sheng, yet hearing this sentence, she still dared not to believe in it.

Chen Chang Sheng thought about his own issue, looked at the direction of the Ling Yan Pavilion in the royal palace, had a mixed feeling. The things he had to do, in everyone's eyes, were simply wishful thinking, yet he must think that way, and fight for it, because fate did not give him a second way.

"Dare to think. Before your dream comes true, never limit yourself beforehand. Never find any excuses for yourself, or reasons to fail, only so will we have the possibility to make the seemingly distant dream reality."

"This, is my first lesson for you."

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Goal, desire, and persistence were important and appropriate materials to talk about in the first lesson. But things that could be cleared up in two or three sentences were obviously not lengthy enough for an entire lesson. Chen Chang Sheng needed to teach some things that were useful.

He picked out an index about the human body structure and veins that was officially recognized by the Department of Education of the Tradition. He skipped through the previous simple introductions and jumped straight to the last page, which contained a colored page of the human body. He checked the red and green lines in the picture and started to compare them to Luo Luo's actual situation.

The lines represented the complicated veins of the human circulatory system. Just from an estimation, there were more than a few dozens of veins but with a more closer look, this amount would double or even triple in number. However, from Luo Luo's perspective, there definitely were not this many veins in her body.

These were two completely different vein structures. One was complicated but fragile and the other one was simple yet enduring. The humans had one vein structure and the Yao race had another. The difference in vein structures lead the two different species into two distinct paths.

This difference in vein structures lead the two different species into two distinctive paths. There was no way of knowing which path led to greater success. This became a topic of debate between the races which is still ongoing.

Chen Cheng Sheng wasn't moved by the uniqueness of another life, he was just moved by the Creator's miraculous ways. He also knew that if two lives wanted to cross the middleground and learn the other side's xiuxing technique, it would be an extremely difficult task.

If Luo Luo's race could easily learn the humans' way of xiu xing, then she wouldn't be learning the Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong right now but rather the Principal Sword Technique of Mountain Li that she gave Chen Chang Sheng the day before yesterday – the Principal Sword Technique of Mountain Li was one of the strongest techniques that humans had. This meant that it was extremely difficult for those of her race to learn and master. Because of this, Lou Lou had to step down a notch and learn the weaker ones.

The humans' way of xiu xing combines physical techniques with the inner qi. Take Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong for example, only knowing the sword techniques wouldn't be enough. People also need to control their qi in a certain way to fully show the true power of this sword technique.

The problem for Luo Luo was that her body never contained the veins of a human, so she could not continue to xiu xing. Although she understood the words in the book and knew that she needed to control her qi to circle around her veins, the problem was that she didn't have the proper veins in her body. Even if her spirit was powerful, how could she circle her qi around veins that she didn't have?

"That night, when I was following the Master's instructions and tried to activate my qi, I noticed that I could actually control the Wind and Rain Sword like other humans. Was that a stimulation or... was that my way of combining inner qi and sword technique?"

Luo Luo asked sincerely. She was very studious right now.

Chen Chang Sheng thought about her question but didn't reply to it immediately. He turned around and walked out of the library and picked out a broken tree branch in the forest around the lake. He then took out his short sword and peeled away the skin of the branch. Now the branch was a white thin stick, and Chen Chang Sheng didn't forget to dull the tips of the stick using the stones lying around the lake.

He walked back to the library and said, "If you don't want to, speak."

Luo Luo looked at the thin wooden stick in his hand and opened her eyes widely. Would she get beaten right after becoming his apprentice? Does her Master believe in the big stick policy? But it wasn't easy becoming his apprentice, how could she say that she doesn't want to speak? Luo Luo nodded her head heavily.

Chen Chang Sheng raised the thin wooden stick in his hand, pointed at a spot on her belly, and said "run your qi up to here."

This point was the so called Sea of Qi in humans. He was not sure if Luo Luo had it or not. It's inconvenient for him to ask about questions that intruded on privacy, but based on Luo Luo's emotion, there shouldn't be any problems. After a while, he asked, "What do you feel?"

Luo Luo was focused and concentrated on what she felt from the location that the thin wood stick pointed. "I feel a little hot."

"Fire of Yang can show itself when running through certain veins. If you have this feeling, then I believe this vein here should have the same functions as the Rao Vein."

Chen Chang Sheng took notes as he explained to her.

That night, he only said one sentence and helped Luo Luo successfully activate her qi and truly use the Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong for the first time. But that was the only move and it was kind of lucky that they even succeeded. The thing he needed to accomplish now was to break the limit of human body and vein system and create an entire new way to xiuxing. Of course, it was incredibly difficult.

This wasn't something that could done in one day and night.

If he hadn't memorized the entire Scroll of the Way when he was young, if he hadn't excelled in the area of medicine due to his own sickness, if his veins were actually ordinary instead of abnormal, there wouldn't even be a possibility.

After finishing taking notes, he picked up his head and thought for a moment. He poked lightly on a certain spot on Luo Luo's neck through her shirt with the stick.

"Careful and slow."

"What do you feel?"

"A bit gentle."

"Okay."

"What about here?"

—————————————–

The thin wooden stick landed on Luo Luo's body. It pointed and directed; this means to mentor.

Chen Chang Sheng got his response and took notes, then he continued.

Time passed quickly as they talked and as Chen Chang Sheng mentored Luo Luo.

As the dusk arrived, Chen Chang Sheng's arms were a bit sore. He put down the wooden stick and glanced out of the window. He only saw the yellow roof and red wall, then suddenly laughed.

After using half a day, he found a certain possibility. He found a possible quick path, the quick path in Luo Luo's body.

"Try?"

He took back his glancing eyes from the setting sun of the capital and looked at Luo Luo. He drew out the short sword from his waist and handed it to her.

Luo Luo accepted the weapon and took a deep breath. Her eyes suddenly became extremely bright and then they were closed. She was silent for a long time.

Just as the setting sun was devoured by the city wall, she opened her eyes and yelled lightly.

This yelling was crispy and sharp, it contained no trace of disruption and was clear as the spring rain, or perhaps the spring wind.

Following this scream, she raised her short sword upwards from her waist with her hands. It was as if a flower has blossomed and grew on cloud nine.

There were countless sword shadows, like rain. The sword's might was unstoppable, like wind.

This was wind and rain.

This was the Wind and Rain Sword.

——————————————

Without the veins of humans it was impossible to learn the way of using qi in the Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong. But the sword she previously used was the Wind and Rain Sword. This meant that the way she controlled her qi mimicked the humans' way of controlling qi perfectly.

The wind and rain gradually stopped, the setting sun was gone and night slowly arrived. The old garden was quiet.

Nothing but silence filled the library.

Luo Luo's hand that was holding the short sword was shaking.

She stared at Chen Chang Sheng and her voice was shaking too, "Master, you are truly extraordinary."

She was shocked. She felt that her Master was a god from heaven. Or else how could he teach her so many things in such a short period of time?

She thought he was a god.

Chen Chang Sheng placed the thin wooden stick in front of him and laughed happily while looking at her.

These few days, no, more precisely, these past years he had always thought about how could one xiu xing under the condition of broken veins? Previously, he never xiu xinged and therefore all of his hypotheses couldn't be tested. But now, although he still didn't have a trace of qi, he has a female student. That female student was excellent and could perfectly test all of his ideas. On top of that, they used half a day to test his hypothesis, which came out to be correct.

Luo Luo said, "Master, thank you for mentoring me."

Chen Chang Sheng said, "Thank you too."

The dusk wasn't burning but warm, just like the stove fire of the woton shop.

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Luo Luo returned to the Herb Garden and her people instantly knew that she was in a good mood because she hopped all the way from the school to the garden. Her quick steps were like stepping on clouds and she was humming a small tune. Her clear voice was like nightingale and her eyebrows were flying.

Officer Jin and Officer Li looked at each other and quickly followed up. They obviously knew the reason for their princess's happy mood, but they couldn't see what happened in the library, therefore they were a bit confused. Why was she so happy about having a master? What was the youngster in the Tradition Academy so good at?

Luo Luo simply cleaned and washed herself up and changed into a clean dress. She took the ice tea from a maid's hands and took a sip then walked to the living room. She looked at her two guards and said, "Ask what you need to ask because I need to sleep early today. I will wake up early tomorrow morning for school and I don't want to be late."

Officer Jin thought to himself, when did our princess became so focused on learning? Of course he didn't say this out loud. "It's fine to be a little late. Does that youngster dare to harm you, princess?"

"He is my master, stop calling him a youngster over and over again. From now on...you guys will call him Sir Chen."

Luo Luo thought about her master's serious attitude toward xiu xing and learning and his strict passion towards time. She looked at the two officers and said pitifully, "If I am late for the early classes, my teacher will get mad. I don't want to be whipped tomorrow."

Officer Jin was stunned after hearing this. He couldn't believe what his own ears had heard. That youngster dare to whip his princess??!! If this was known by the people of the Red River of Eight Hundred Miles, then the entire capital would be burnt down!

He was ready to complain harshly about Chen Chang Sheng, but he felt Officer Li faintly pulled his sleeves. Then he noticed that his princess wasn't unhappy about her teacher and she acted out her pitiful appearance. She was actually excited and joyful!.

Officer Jin was completely lost. He couldn't understand what happened these few days. He didn't understand how that youngster named Chen Chang Sheng... okay, that Sir Chen. What quality did he possess besides bravery and sympathy? What kind of skill did he have that the princess respected him for?

"My teacher is no ordinary person."

Luo Luo obviously knew what her people were thinking. She saw the confused look on Officer Jin and the worrying expression on Officer Li before she explained.

Officer Jin didn't speak, but Officer Li couldn't help but whisper, "He didn't even reach Purification...could he be even more ordinary?"

Luo Luo said, "Do you guys think that an ordinary person that couldn't reach Purification could solve a problem that even my father couldn't?"

Officer Jin hesitated and said, "Perhaps... it's all luck?"

Luo Luo thought back to her experience from the evening and said proudly, "No, what my teacher doesn't need the most is luck."

(Bingo- GG thats what he needs the most now lmao)

Officer Li asked confusingly, "Then...if this Sir Chen is no ordinary person, then why did he enter the Tradition Academy? What is he hiding?"

"Silently learning and xiu xing, not showing himself nor advertising his names. He only wanted to be the unknown fish in the pound and wait patiently. Wait for the day when the storm arrives and that fish will jump over the Gate of Dragon and transform into a true Dragon. He will glance over the entire continent and his name will be heard all over the world..."

Luo Luo's eyes turned brighter and her voice louder. "Teacher's idea is excellent!"

Officer Jin couldn't help but laugh. He thought to himself, 'This is the real world and these fantasies have no place in it.' Although the princess seemed all grown up, she was actually still a kid.

Next morning, Luo Luo woke up on time – of course. If she followed her regular schedule, the sleepy girl definitely couldn't get up. Her maids followed her instructions and started ringing the bell from four thirty in the morning. She would wake up even if she didn't want to.

Luo Luo put a shirt on and rubbed her eyes while opening the door. She whispered angrily, "It's too loud!"

The maids forcefully suppressed their fear and insecurity and continued ringing the bell. Their faces were already pale and aftering hearing their princess getting angry, they kneeled quickly in fear of punishment.

"I was just saying."

Luo Luo yawned and told them to get up, "You guys shouldn't be punished but rather rewarded. Go to Officer Li later and get some money for reward...Just like we said last night, if you guys can wake me up before five o'clock you will be rewarded. If I didn't wake up, then your salaries this month will be gone!"

The maids looked at each other and knew their princess wasn't actually angry. They stood up and quickly moved all sorts of tools and started clearing the princess up. Then a servant got dozens of dresses and asked which one would the princess like to wear.

Luo Luo picked out the simplest and cleanest dress before she casually ate a bowl of gruel and a piece of meat cake. Afterwards she opened the lunch box on the table and checked carefully, then nodded her head in approval. She picked it up and started walking to the wall.

Pushing open that new wooden wall, she arrived at the Tradition Academy from the Herb Garden.

There was no wooden barrel or a showering youngster on the other side of the wall. The previous experience left a deep scar in Chen Chang Sheng's memory and the first he did after dinner was to push the wooden barrel into the small building. At the same time he didn't forget to lock the small building up and add curtains to the windows of the bathroom.

The Tradition Academy was silently going through changes because Chen Chang Sheng didn't live here alone anymore.

The Tradition Academy now has two students.

———————————————————–

Reading and xiu xing.

This was still the main theme of Tradition Academy.

Besides showering outdoor and singing in the bathroom...Chen Chang Sheng felt that the biggest change in his life was his diet, which had improved tremendously. Starting from the second day he admitted Luo Luo as his student, he began eating the breakfast, lunch, and dinner that Lou Lou brought from the Herb Garden.

He was extremely satisfied by the food brought from the Herb Garden. The variety of the dishes, combination of vegetable and meat, and nutrition and taste all far surpassed his imagination – Back in the old temple of Xi Ning Village, his senior was the cook. Although there was no problem with the nutrition, it didn't really taste good.

He wasn't only satisfied by the food, but also more satisfied by the actions of Luo Luo. From its core these food were her heart and her present.

Luo Luo was close to him. She wanted to stay with him every moment and every second. When he didn't pay attention, the young girl would wrap herself around his arm and smell him, just like a cute kitten. If it wasn't for Chen Chang Sheng's strong denial, she wouldn't even return to the Herb Garden to sleep.

But Chen Chang Sheng was just a youngster fourteen years old. He wasn't used to Luo Luo's respect and dependence. Although he still thought she was only around ten years old, he was still a little embarrassed being this close to a girl. However the feelings were nice, so nice that he was willing to endure it.

But there was still no breakthrough in his xiuxing. Many days have passed and he continued to absorb starlight and Purify his body. Yet there wasn't any change in his body. Even as determined as he was, he started to doubt himself. At least he felt his luck was not good.

He didn't know that Luo Luo told her people that he was the type of person that didn't need luck.

Luo Luo's luck was extremely good. If there is such thing as being blessed by Heaven, her blessing was unmatched.

Starting from the night she met Chen Chang Sheng to the day she recognized him as master, dozen of days had passed. Spring hasn't end yet but Chen Chang Sheng has already helped her find three paths of controlling qi. She has already learned seventeen techniques of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mountain Zhong.

As the summer approached, the semi trial of the Great Trial has ended.

The streets and avenue of the capital were filled with people. Countless students from all over the world were either filled with extreme joy or despair. They either need liquor to celebrate or forget about everything. The taverns were filled to the maximum and before night arrived, the famous brothels had already put up a color lamp.

Due to the recent xiu xing problems, Chen Chang Sheng's mood was a little down. He knew that being stressed wasn't a good thing and he needed to relax. Therefore he walked out of the Tradition Academy and took out half a day to look at some scene. But the interesting thing, or rather something that leaves people speechless, was that he didn't go to Li Palace to look at ivies, he didn't go to the Nai He Bridge to count stones, but...he brought Luo Luo to the end of Hundred Blossom Street and sat down to look at the people passing by.

Luo Luo always listened to him with no objection. No matter what decisions he made, Luo Luo would accept them and believe they were correct. Even if his actions were a little strange, there must be hidden meaning behind his actions. Today, she was finally unhappy.

"Teacher..."

She sat at the stone stairs and looked at the green moss on the opening of the well. She kicked a piece of small leave in front of her and wanted to complain about the boredom, but she didn't say anything. She thought that since they rarely left the school, shouldn't they walk a little further? Shopping with the teacher must be really interesting.

"What happened?"

Chen Chang Sheng held two popsicles and said, "You don't want to eat it? If I eat two of these I will have a bad stomach."

Luo Luo thought that her teacher still cared deeply about her and started being happy again. She took the popsicles from his hands and sat with him. They looked at the crowd on the street and stared into space.

She licked the popsicle and asked, "Why is there so many people on the street?"

Chen Chang Sheng bite a small portion of the popsicle off and said unclearly, "When I was buying the popsicles earlier, I overheard people say that the semi trial of the Great Trial has ended."

Luo Luo widened her eyes, "Ah!"

Chen Chang Sheng turned his head and looked at her, "What happened? Is it too cold?"

Luo Luo looked at him and said unsurely, "I think we might have forgot something."

Chen Chang Sheng started to think back and his eyebrows started to wrinkle. Then suddenly he relaxed.

"I remember now. I need to represent the Tradition Academy to attend the Ivy Festival."

Yes, the semi trial of the Great Trial has ended and the summer has arrived.

The Ivy Festival was about to start.

Luo Luo asked, "Should we go?"

Chen Chang Sheng thought for a while and said. "We should go."

Luo Luo asked, "But no one has announced anything to us."

Chen Chang Sheng said, "If the Department of Education forgot about it, then we don't need to go."

Luo Luo licked the popsicle joyfully and said, "Sure! It's up to you teacher."

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Because of the visit by the teacher from the Heavenly Academy, Chen Chang Sheng wasn't in a good mood but as time went by, his mood gradually got better. It would be a waste of time to have his mind consumed by anger rather than doing productive activities such as reading and xiu xinging.

He didn't really care about the Ivy Festival. Become famous overnight and give a slap on the face to the people who looked down on him? He was determined to return the favor one day, but Chen Chang Sheng didn't even reach the Purification stage. Even if he could, he wouldn't want to do it yet.

To obtain fame and fortune isn't necessarily a bad thing. The problem is that once he accomplishes this task, his quiet life of xiu xing would be interrupted. It would be impossible for him to put all his time into xiuxing and ignore all the events from the outside like the recent days.

Luo Luo? No matter what Chen Chang Sheng does she would always support him. Although she was a little unhappy about him shopping without her, Chen Chang Sheng would just use a single poscile to maker her happy again, talk less of the serious events. And to become famous through the Ivy Festival...She wouldn't even think about such a thing regarding her own background.

This was the attitude that Chen Chang Sheng and Lou Lou held toward the Ivy League. They really don't care about it. It was fine even if they were forgotten by the people. Following the past experience it would be normal for the Tradition Academy to be forgotten. But the difference this year was the existence of Officer Xin.

After the reminder from the bishop, Officer Xin tried to silently realized the purpose of the Pope. Although he has yet to realize anything and didn't see any change occurring in the capital due to the appearance of the new student of the Tradition Academy, the reminder was enough for him to not forget about that new student.

One day in the early summer, a carriage rode into the Hundred Blossom Street and arrived at the Traditional Academy. It was around sunset and the rose red sky was above the carriage when it rode out of the Tradition Academy. The carriage rode out of the Hundred Blossom Street, followed the streets of the capital, arrived at the Heavenly Academy, and stopped at the stone door.

Luo Luo raised a corner of the curtain in the carriage and glanced at the sidewalk. She looked at the buildings and taverns. Her eyes opened widely and was filled with curiosity. She had been to the Heavenly Academy many times before but she was with her servants and the guards from the royal palace. She always entered from the backdoor of the Heavenly Academy silently. Besides interacting with the professors and the elite students, she never spoke with anyone else in the school. It was her first time entering the front entrance of the Heavenly Academy.

Chen Chang Sheng has been to the Heavenly Academy two times before. The first time he came for its entrance exam and that experience wasn't great. The second time he came all wet and embarrassed, not exactly a great experience either. He has already lost his respect for this school, but he admit that the environment here are truly beautiful.

The trees are lined up in groups and the brooks curved whichever way it desired. The summer flower blossomed beautifully. Sitting in the carriage watching these pretty sights helped Chen Cheng Sheng clear his mind off of the Ivy Festival, off of all the interaction with strangers, and off of the whole night waste of xiu xing. Thinking that he would encounter Tang Thirty Six soon, his mood got even better.

Officer Xin didn't know his personality so as he saw him staring silently outside of the window, he thought Chen Chang Sheng felt melancholic and misinterpreted his thoughts. Xin was a little worried and patted on his shoulder and comforted, "You just need to sit there. It's fine if you don't present."

Chen Chang Sheng turned around and nodded to show he understood and thanked him sincerely.

Officer Xin was silent for a moment and said, "Don't worry too much about the words that teacher said in the Tradition Academy... I do recommend you two to not enter the field and join the competition. This year's Ivy Festival is different from previous year's. You should really be careful."

Chen Chang Sheng knew he was showing his kindness, "Don't worry, I have already prepared myself to sit for one night."

"Yes. One night?!!"

Officer Xin relaxed a little because he knew his kindness wasn't misinterpreted, but suddenly he found the problem in Chen Chang Sheng's sentence and asked confusingly, "You don't know?"

Chen Chang Sheng was confused as well, "Know what?"

Officer Xin looked at Luo Luo who stopped glancing out of the window.

Luo Luo was confused as well, "What should we know?"

"Ivy Festival...is a private event set by the academies. But it is actually the practice test of the Great Trial and its rules are exactly the same as that of the Great Trial. Since the Great Trial spam over the duration of three days, then the Ivy Festival would also last for three nights. You guys really don't know? Then you probably don't know that these three nights are not consecutive either?"

Officer Xin stared at the two as if he was looking at monsters, "What are you guys preparing to do coming here?"

Chen Chang SHeng didn't pay any attention to this question because all of his mind was focusing on the last part of the information. He felt a little irritated. It was not only one night but three nights?!! Then how much time would he be wasting? How many books would he lose the opportunity to read? Is this suitable?

Luo Luo saw Chen Chang Sheng spacing out and said to officer Xin, "Don't worry, we are prepared. We didn't even eat our lunch yet. We would definitely eat a lot today."

Officer Xin was speechless. He didn't know what type of weird combination these two were. He looked at Chen Chang Sheng and advised again, "Anyhow, be careful tonight. Although I'm not exactly sure, I've heard some rumors. There may be some unexpected guests joining the Ivy Festival as well, but it may not happen either."

Just this moment, the carriage has arrived at the main court of tonight's Ivy Festival.

Officer Xin said, "I still have some business to take care of, therefore I could only accompany you guys here."

Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo thanked him and got off the carriage. The night has arrived and the previously green forest has now turned into a dark shadow. They were stunned and felt a mysterious pressure from the school oppressing them.

"This way please." A Heavenly Academy student wearing black uniform was giving them direction with good manner.

At the end of the stone path was a large building. There were several hundred red lamps hanging outside of the building and emitted light all over the surroundings. No wonder it was the most famous school in the entire continent. This building may be ordinary in the Heavenly Academy, but it could hold hundreds and thousands of guests inside.

Looking at the densely designed red lamps, Chen Chang Sheng didn't feel any better, but instead he felt the pressure becoming more and more realistic.

There were several hundred of young students already sitting around the hardwood tables in the building. These were the people who successfully passed the Semi Trial earlier. They came from places all around the world and not every one of them were citizens of the Zhou Dynasty. All of them weren't the students of the Six Ivies. The students of the Six Ivies could compete in the Great Trial automatically and have permission to not enter the Semi Trial. It was as if the students of the Six Ivies were naturally superior to these young students. It is not a wonder they were a little nervous as they were sitting in the Heavenly Academy.

There were other large spaces besides these hundreds of tables. Using wooden separators several individual spaces were created. These were for the announcers, noble guests, and the students of the Six Ivies.

Although on the surface the Ivy Festival was created by the capital's school as a ceremony to welcome the students who passed the semi trial, in fact it was a field created by the Six Ivies to present their power and influence. Every year after the Ivy Festival, there were students who passed the semi trial transferring into the Six Ivies.

Due to this reason, the students of the Six Ivies acted very differently than the students who weren't part of the Six Ivies. Their expressions weren't nervous or worry, but rather prideful, cold, and expressionless. Their eyes were judging the students that were the same age as them.

The best spot this year belonged to the Heavenly Academy. The expressions of these young people wearing the dark uniform didn't express pride intentionally, but for sure they were prideful. In the area next to the Heavenly Academy sat the students of the Starseeker Academy. Their expression were calm like a lake and their gesture were still like a mountain.

Right beside them were three other schools: Academy of Priest, Academy of Li Palace, and Thirteen Divisions of Green Light.

The Heavenly Academy needs no explanation. Its history goes way back in time and it was known as the best school in the continent. The present Pope and the previous Virgin of the southern sect all graduated from the Heavenly Academy. The Tradition didn't have a center palace or temple, therefore the Pope discuss his business in the Li Palace. For sure the Academy of Li Palace was powerful as well. The Academy of Priest holds all royal ceremonies and educate the priests working in the Tradition. It was no ordinary school.

The Starseeker Academy was the garden of the Zhou Military. It contributed the most in the war between Humans and Demons. Its status was unique.

The Thirteen Divisions of Green Light was also a special place. This school focuses on xiu xinging the Thirteen Scrolls of Green Light and mainly accepted female students. It had a close relationship with the Mountain Virgin in the south and exchanges students constantly. When Xu You Rong first started out xiu xing she was in this school.

These were the world famous Ivy League.

The green ivies growing in front of the Li Palace was the most famous sight in the entire capital. On the stone walls of the previously mentioned schools there were also densely populated green ivies. It was the proof of history. For countless years all of the powerful xiu xingists, besides the ones from the southern sects, had the background of coming from the Ivy League.

The Ivies Academies occupying the best locations in the Ivy League was natural. No matter how one looks at it, this was an obvious thing. People have already used to it and the nervous ordinary students knew this from their seniors and weren't surprised. But...there was one detail that was changed in tonight's Ivy Festival that was different from the previous years'.

Some people have noticed that change.

Besides the best spot occupied by the Ivies, in an unnoticeable corner, another area was separated by the wooden fence.

That area was tiny and contained only one small table.

But that spot was on the same line as the Ivy Academies.

Spot was a very important thing.

This was a tradition.

More and more people were glancing over to that area.

Some people remembered, before been called the "Ivy League", the Ivy Academies were always been mentioned by the people as:

"The Six Ivies."

The Six Ivies obviously contained six schools.

Adding all of the schools such as Heavenly Academy and the Starseeker Academy up, there were only five of them.

What was the name of the last one?

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Someone remembered that among the Six Ivies, there was one named the Tradition Academy. It seemed like it was not too far away, like it was used to be very famous, like there wasn't any news about this school for so long, like there weren't even seats reserved for this school in the Ivy Festival for the past few years, like it had never existed.

A school that had been abandoned for many years, that was almost forgotten by the world. But surprisingly, it still had the right to be considered one of the Six Ivies and earned a spot in the Ivy Festival this year. Why? Maybe because of the rumor that this year, the Tradition Academy finally got a new student?

Yes, the reason was this simple. This year, the Tradition Academy had students and therefore it had the right to participate in the Ivy Festival. The Zhou Dynasty had always respected tradition, and the Ivy Festival was a tradition. Even though the teacher from the Heavenly Academy, who was responsible for holding the Ivy Festival, wanted to eliminate the entire Tradition Academy and burn it into ashes so that he could remove it from this point in history, he still didn't have the right to reject the Tradition Academy from participating in the Ivy Festival — even if there were only two students in the Tradition Academy.

Fabric was flying in air as the wind blew. Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo walked into the building. They followed the Heavenly Academy students' direction and walked towards the furthest front area.

Inside the building, people were making comments. Several hundred of young students who were disbursed among the seats did not know them and the people in the regions that were separated by wooden fence also didn't know them. Looking at the direction they were walking, people guessed that this couple were students from the Tradition Academy.

Everyone's eyes fell on them. The people were somewhat surprised but more so, they were curious.

Based on the rumor, the freshman in the Tradition academy was a young man, so most people were looking at Chen Chang Sheng. But other people took notice of Luo Luo who was following Chen Chang Sheng. They noticed that this little girl was extremely beautiful, like a colored glaze. Suddenly, their eyes all lit up.

On the seat for the Heavenly Academy, there was a young man. He looked handsome and cold. Although he was sitting in the Ivy Festival, his attention was not on it as if he did not care about the upcoming competition. He did not intentionally reveal his arrogance, he was just naturally arrogant.

Around a dozen of excellent Heavenly Academy students who were ready to participate in the Great Trial next year sat casually around this young man but it was obvious that they viewed him as the centerpiece, like an image of a thousand stars surrounding the sun. The fact that these supposedly self-confident Heavenly Academy students showed such an attitude towards this young man further emphasized his prominence.

The young man was thinking about the thing the Principal told him yesterday, if the Sect of Longevity actually sent people here, how should he, the representative of the Heavenly Academy, respond? This year, the Ivy Festival was held by the Heavenly Academy. He could not allow the people from the South to rob Zhou's glory.

Suddenly, he saw Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo.

His eyes slightly lit up, and his feeling changed slightly.

The students who were sitting around him remained silent, but they were actually paying attention to him the whole time. They saw his feeling change slightly and they found themselves, helplessly surprised – although many students in the building were attracted to Luo Luo upon seeing her, the Heavenly Academy students could not accept that such thing would happen to their senior.

Yes, this young student from the Heavenly Academy, was Zhuang Huan Yu, ranked tenth in the Honor Roll of Green Cloud.

How could such a person be influenced emotionally by a little girl's beauty?

Who was this girl? People from the Heavenly Academy looked towards Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo and suddenly remembered something. They whispered to each other, "Isn't she the junior apprentice? Why is she here?"

...

The Heavenly Academy had a really long history. In the school, there were countless ancient legends, there were many excellent youngsters living and learning together and therefore, there were also countless romantic stories inside the school. Among the schools, there was one that just started two years ago.

In the story, in the forest of the Heavenly Academy's backyard, there was an extremely beautiful spirit who would occasionally appear in front of people. The spirit looked like a little cute girl but only the most honest person could see her.

The story was obviously not true but it was based on reality. The pretty little spirit was Luo Luo who would occasionally follow her clansman to study in the Heavenly Academy.

Zhuang Huan Yu had a special status in the Heavenly Academy so he obviously didn't believe in this story until one day when professor was teaching him and his several juniors privately. He saw a little girl sitting by the window. The sun shined on her face and she was as pretty as a colored glaze.

He was very devoted to xiu xing and had never care about any romantic things between boys and girls. He was always on the top in the school and the lovely looks of the female students' didn't distract him in the slightest. But in that moment, he could not glance away.

Later on, he met her several times during the professor's lectures.

His professor was the Principal of the Heavenly Academy. Zhuang Huan Yu heard the little girl discuss her problems regarding xiu xing with the professor. He was amazed to learn that the girl could follow the professor's thinking. Later on, he found out that this little girl's guardians were all elites which indicated that she had an uncommon identity.

He felt tempted. He thought this girl was worth for him to like.

However, after that day, he never saw her again.

She never appeared again.

He never told this to anyone, but because of her sudden disappearance, he remained silent for a long time. He was thinking, was it true that something that he could never get was the best? Or, does missing something give people such a deep memory? Otherwise, why would he remember her so often?

He hoped she would appear in front of him again.

For that, he would even discard his own arrogance. He would speak the first word.

At this moment, he thought heaven actually heard the voice in his mind.

In the Ivy Festival, she actually appeared!

Moreover, in front of so many people, she was walking towards him!

...

Zhuang Huan Yu tidied up his clothes, stood up, and looked quietly at Luo Luo who was getting closer and closer to him.

The Heavenly Academy students who sat around him, did not understand why their senior would stand up. Besides the people who saw Luo Luo before and knew what was happening, the others all thought he was representing the Heavenly Academy to welcome this couple. They were surprised, thinking to themselves, since when senior cared about such secular thing?

Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo walked to the front of the seats for the Heavenly Academy. They were ready to follow the previous Heavenly Academy students' direction to the region in the corner, but unexpectedly, among the seats for the Heavenly Academy, approximately a dozen of people suddenly stood up. This made Chen Chang Sheng not know what to do so he instinctively paused his steps.

Zhuang Huan Yu's lip slowly raised up. He was about to smile and say something.

He was going to say long time no see to Luo Luo.

A moment later, his smile disappeared before it even came up. His look became cold as it used to be or even colder.

Because Luo Luo did not see him.

Luo Luo was looking at Chen Chang Sheng.

Since the night she entered the Tradition Academy through the wall, as long as there was Chen Chang Sheng, her eyes were either on the books, or on Chen Chang Sheng's body, every moment and this moment was no exception.

She looked at Chen Chang Sheng with eyes full of admiration.

Admiration and liking were very similar; people could easily perceive them wrongly.

Zhuang Huan Yu was not sure if he perceived it right, but he felt much worse.

I only saw you, yet you only see someone else. This was the thing that could cause the most anger in the world.

After he saw that Luo Luo's hand was actually holding onto Chen Chang Sheng's sleeves, his anger reached the max.

Zhuang Huan Yu did not do anything.

He was the genius who ranked tenth in the Honor Roll of Green Cloud, the senior of the Heavenly Academy. He represented a lot and had to be responsible for a lot.

Therefore he could not be angered easily; he could not lose his temper for such a thing.

He looked at Chen Chang Sheng and saluted calmly.

The height his arm was raised to, the distance between his wrist and sleeve, were both so perfect.

Yet his look was too calm, too cold.

Chen Chang Sheng was a little surprised. He calmly returned a salute.

The height his arm raised to, the distance between his wrist and sleeve, were both so perfect.

His look appeared to be somewhat confused, somewhat puzzled.

The surrounding became very quiet.

Zhuang Huan Yu loosened his hands.

Chen Chang Sheng walked forward.

From somewhere, a sound came up. It sounded like someone was holding a breathe for a long time and eventually had to release it.

Both performed the most formal courtesy, but in people's eyes, Zhuang Huan Yu was perfect, and Chen Chang Sheng was dull. The difference was seen immediately.

Actually, that's only because he was Zhuang Huan Yu and Chen Chang Sheng was someone unknown.

Zhuang Huan Yu looked towards Luo Luo and said, "Junior, long time no see."

He said it very casually, but he was actually very serious, even more serious than he was in the first time he saw his biological father.

Luo Luo opened up her eyes wide, looked at him for a while, suddenly recalled something, laughed and said, "Ah, it's you, long time no see."

Little girl's laugh was very cute.

But Zhuang Huan Yu sensed hate in the speech.

He rather she didn't remember who he was. Unlike now, when she needed to think for a while to remember who he was.

Who I am? I am Zhuang Huan Yu.

Anyone who had seen me cannot forget who I am.

How could you forget me?

Why did you have to pretend like you have forgotten about me?

Were you joking, or fooling with me?

Inside Zhuang Huan Yu's heart, there was huge waves of emotions, but he looked extremely calm.

When he was about to say something, such as if it's not because of something, he almost couldn't remember the junior's appearance..., Luo Luo dragged Chen Chang Sheng's sleeve, left the area reserved for the Heavenly Academy and walked towards the corner. On the way, she was happily discussing something with Chen Chang Sheng.

She only left a view of her back to Zhuang Huan Yu.

Zhuang Huan Yu looked at Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo's backs and remained silent.

He did not notice the previous discussion in the field. He couldn't understand why the junior would leave the Heavenly Academy.

When he looked towards the empty region where Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo were walking to, he realized surprisingly that they were representing the Tradition Academy.

He asked, "Is that young man Chen Chang Sheng?"

The Heavenly Academy student who was responsible for leading them replied yes.

"Sure enough he is interesting."

Zhuang Huan Yu stopped saying a word and returned to his seat.

He still looked indifferent, but his true feeling was not so.

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The Traditional Academy was lined up next to the rest of the five other Six Ivies but it was located in the corner and was extremely distant from other tables. Although the location of their table were unfavorable, Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo weren't people who care about such small and sat down causally.

"You know that student of Heavenly Academy from before?" Chen Chang Sheng asked.

Luo Luo thought about it and replied, "I saw him a few times when I came to the Heavenly Academy."

Chen Chang Sheng thought back to the crowd that surrounded him earlier "He seems to be famous."

Luo Luo didn't use much time to think this time, "Zhuang Huan Yu, many people call him Sir Huan Yu."

Chen Chang Sheng remembered that he saw this name on the stone walls of the Academy of Priests. He remembered that it appeared on one of the top rankings seen on the Green Cloud of Honor Roll. But he didn't think Luo Luo could recall his name without much thought and said curiously, "I never expected that you would know his name."

Luo Luo replied, "Master, you said earlier as well, he is very famous."

Chen Chang Sheng said, "For your personality, you wouldn't know the most famous people."

Luo Luo stuck out her tongue embarrassingly and said, "It's hard to not notice his name because we were close to each other."

Chen Chang Sheng didn't understand her words entirely. He thought she was talking about the time when she was studying in the Heavenly Academy. He glanced at the tables of the Heavenly Academy wi He glanced toward the sittings of the Heavenly Academy and made sure he didn't miss anyone, then said confusingly, "That guys actually didn't attend."

Luo Luo knew who he was talking about and asked curiously, "Master, you really know Tang Thirty Six?"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "Although I don't even know how I befriended him...but, yes I do."

When they were talking, the preparation of the Ivy Festival was completed and the tables were filled. All of the students and teachers of the Six Ivies were present and the last two people who walked in were characters representing the government and the Tradition.

The bishop of the Tradition, Mei Li Sha, and...Dong Yu General, Xu Shi Ji.

As the two great character walked into the festival, all of the professors and students stood up to bow like a wave.

Bishop Mei Li Sha held power in the department of Education for many years and has great influence in the academies of the capital, but most importantly he was a trusted subordinates of the Pope. Although East Guard General Xu Shi Ji wasn't as high in power as the bishop, his military contribution couldn't be ignored. In addition, he was well trusted by the Divine Queen and the entire continent knew he has a great daughter.

The Ivy Festival was a festival for all the young geniuses of the Zhou Dynasty. Everyone sitting here was no doubt, talented. But looking up toward the young girl of age fourteen sitting upon the Mountain Virgin. Raising their heads to glance at the seemingly indestructible title curved onto the Green Cloud Honor Roll, who dare call themselves geniuses?

Chen Chang Sheng looked at Xu Shi Ji who sat on top. His expression was calm and seemed to had never heard of this name before. Only Luo Luo noticed that his breath was a little more rapid than usual. Although it was still smooth, it was still a little faster than normal. After living with him for many days, she knew that this meant that his mood was disturbed.

This was the first time Chen Chang Sheng saw Chen Shi Ji.

As a matter of fact, one of the reason he was willing to attend the Ivy Festival was that Officer Xin told him that Xu Shi Ji would attend it as well. He wanted to see what his almost father-in-law and the man who almost ended his future looked like.

Xu Shi Ji seemed like a regular middle aged man, but of course he was not ordinary. When Chen Chang Sheng looked at him from a distant, he felt a cold and harsh presence and he could see a faint bloody smile. Cheng Chang Sheng's straight eyebrows were raised slightly and he touched his nose tip – it wasn't a pleasant smell.

He then recalled Madam Xu, who he saw back in the General's Mansion. He thought back to the insults and obstacles he face after he arrived to the capital. His eyebrows were raised higher and he continued to touch his nose tip. At the same time, he started to breath heavier and heavier.

The daughter of this couple was the reincarnation of the True Phoenix? No wonder people say the world is not fair.

Luo Luo was paying attention to his reaction since the beginning. She knew that his mood was getting worse, but after all she still couldn't hold her curiosity and asked carefully, "Master, it seems like the relationship between you and Xu You Rong truly isn't good...why?"

Chen Chang Sheng was dazed a little "I thought you can hold it and won't ask."

Luo Luo grabbed to his sleeve and shook it as if she were a spoiled girl "I'm really curious."

Chen Chang Sheng said helplessly, "I already promised someone that won't tell it to anyone."

They obviously wouldn't think of how close they look as they were whispering to each other and of course they wouldn't think that everything they did was seen by Zhuang Huan Yu.

Zhuang Huan Yu's emotion was still as calm as usual.

There was someone else who also saw Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo chatting closely, but his emotion wasn't so calm.

The teacher from the Heavenly Academy looked away from the corner. His face looked extremely cold, but strangely, he did not scold Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo. He also didn't point it out to the public to release all of his resentment he had toward the Tradition Academy. Instead, he continued to calmly advanced the festival onto the next stage.

The Ivy Festival used the same format of the Great Trial. There were three rounds. One round tested on knowledge, one tested on battle skill, and one tested on their fighting capability. The order of the tests is randomly chosen, but there were obviously many more rules. Now the rules were told one by one by the teacher from the Heavenly Academy.

The students sitting at the end of the banquet under the fabric, paid attention to it closely. They were not like the students from the Six Ivies, who had teachers and seniors explain process and rules of the Great Trial to them detailedly. The Ivy Festival today was like a pretest that the government gave them, obviously they had to be attentive.

Chen Chang Sheng also listened attentively to not miss a single word. Although the Tradition academy was one of the Six Ivies, he doesn't have teachers. He had to do everything by himself. He came to participate in the Ivy Festival today, besides he wanted to see Xu You Rong's dad, acquiring the information about the Great Trial was the most important reason.

The Ivy Festival was called a festival, but it's actually the preliminary test to the Great Trial, or a wind vane. Besides the geniuses from the Southern sects, the final rank in the Ivy Festival was basically equivalent to the rank in the Great Trial. Even if there were changes, the changes wouldn't be too large. Xiu Xing to a large extent, was based on time. From the Ivy Festival to the Great Trial, there was only half of a year. How could one have enormous change in such period of time?

On the Ivy Festival this year, Chen Chang Sheng had not purify successfully yet. He's still a commoner who doesn't xiu xing, but he's thinking of getting the first place in the Great Trial in the beginning of the next year. It is not a wonder that Tang Thirty Six would think he was an idiot or that Cheng Chang Sheng himself is an idiot. Besides Luo Luo, who would believe in him?

In the Ivy Festival, although students who participated in the pretest, occasionally would give huge surprise to the human world, but most of the time, it's still the students from the big schools played the main role. On the Ivy Festival in the recent ten years, in the end, it always turned out to be competition between the Six Ivies.

The Ivy Festival would be held for three days. Tonight was the first night, and it happened to be the actual fight. It can be anticipated that, the festival definitely would be very boisterous. The spectators including Xu Shi Ji and other officials were also guessing if the Heavenly Academy, as the host this year, would keep their reserved manner or not, and let Zhuang Huan Yu come on stage.

Zhuang Huan Yu was ranked tenth on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud, which seemed very outstanding but considering that the Heavenly Academy was claimed to be the strongest school in the continent and that he is the representative of the Heavenly Academy, his strength wasn't as good as people expected. Even though it's impossible for him to surpass Xu You Rong who had the rarest bloodline, his rank was still too low.

Only the high officals like Zu Shi Ji knew that the only reason why Zhuang Huan Yu was ranked tenth on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud was because he had never challenged anyone who ranked above him after he fought one of the Seven Rulings two years ago and got placed in tenth place.

This doesn't mean that he's conservative and coward, but because two years ago he was already fifteen. At that time Qiu Shan Jun already left the Honor Roll of Green Cloud and began to march on to the first place of the Honor Roll of Golden Miracle. He thought that at such situation, the Honor Roll of Green Cloud was already meaningless to him.

So tonight, will Zhuang Huan Yu come on stage?

...

The students who were sitting on the end of the banquet are allowed to participate voluntarily in the fight tonight. Although they know they can hardly defeat the students from the Six Ivies who had teachings from famous professors, thinking that there were rarely any bloody incidents happened in the Ivy Festival before and it was an extremely rare opportunity to improve, they were actively signing up. Later on, the other schools of the Six Ivies also sent their roster for students who were participating in the fight. Besides the professor from the Heavenly Academy and the other two high status people, no one knew who actually signed up.

Finally, only the Tradition Academy was left.

Chen Chang Sheng got the confirmation from the Officer Xin, and he listened clearly when the professor from the Heavenly Academy was speaking, knew that he and Luo Luo fulfilled the requirement to participate in the Ivy Festival, so they could come in here, but that doesn't mean they have to go down to join the fight.

After all, the Ivy Festival wasn't the Great Trial. With Chen Chang Sheng's current xiu xing, if he went down...he definitely wouldn't have a good ending, therefore of course he wouldn't go down.

This was plan to not go but there were people trying to force him to go down, forcing him to be humiliated.

The professor from the Heavenly Academy looked at the corner and said expressionlessly, "Where's the roster from the Tradition Academy?"

According to the tradition of the Ivy Festival, if one doesn't sign up, that means one knows he can't beat others and surrender. It's just another way of saving one's reputation. No one had actually point this thing out because it implicates one school's honor. If they really embarrassed the other, who knows what kind of result can happen?"

Tonight, the professor from the Heavenly Academy did so. He didn't care about the reputation of the Tradition Academy and of course he wouldn't care about the result. There were only two little children in the Tradition Academy. After being humiliated, were they actually going to suddenly have a huge power up and do something? That's a joke.

The words of the professor of the Heavenly Academy were echoing in the building.

A complete silence.

After a while, maybe because they saw the poor seats for the Tradition Academy and the

lonely couple, maybe because they remembered the Tradition Academy's declining reality and tragic history, also the Divine Queen and the Pope's attitude to this school...

A bunch of laughs could be heard in the building.

There were helpless laughs, but also contemptuous laughs.

Some laughs were unintentional and some were intentional.

But they were all harsh.

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All of the officials and professors attending the Ivy Festival knew why this professor of Heavenly Academy contained such hatred toward the Traditional Academy, which was already in ruin. Even if the Tradition Academy only has two or three ants left, he wouldn't let go of them and wanted to squash them into dusts.

They were all long time citizen of the capital and they were familiar with the government's rules. If it weren't for that pair of students, the Tradition Academy would be forgotten and destroyed next year. But not everyone thought this change was so simple. Officer Xin, who told Chen Chang Sheng he had some business to take care of, was now standing behind the Bishop of Department of Education, Mei Li Sha.

He lowered his voice and said, "It seems that someone wants to force Chen Chang Sheng to join the competition."

The face of bishop always contained a trace of sleepiness. It seemed it he could never get enough rest. After hearing this, he struggled and opened his eyes and said casually, "Is that child this idiotic?"

Officer Xin was troubled, "He is not an idiot, but rather a young man. I'm just afraid that he would be aggravated by the crowd."

The bishop glanced at the Tradition Academy's position through the curtain and was surprised to see the angry young girl sitting next to Chen Chang Sheng.

The girl may appear small through the crack of a door, but she couldn't appear tiny through the crack of eyelids, because the bishop knew that young girl.

He signed, "Then...let us pray for that professor."

—————————————————-

The professor of the Heavenly Academy stared expressionlessly at Chen Chang Sheng who was sitting at the corner. He didn't purposely try to give off an oppressive and cold aura. Rather he just looked at him as if he was a small insect waiting to be frozen to death.

Chen Chang Sheng never thought of the next step. If he participate in the written competition and Luo Luo attend the fighting arena, then they will still have a chance. But he knew clearly that if someone was trying to put down the Tradition Academy on purpose, then nothing would go with his plan.

His goal was the Ling Yan Pavilion. He needs to participate in the Great Trial and obtain the first place. Before this happen, he hoped that nothing would disturb his plan to succeed. If he actually enter the competition tonight, no matter victory or defeat, it wouldn't be a good choice for his plan.

Since he wouldn't enter the competition, then why should he stay in the building and endure these mocking laughters? Why should he try to act calm under the cold stares from the professor of the Heavenly Academy?

Therefore he made a decision that no one expected.

"Let's leave." He told Luo Luo who was sitting next to him and stood up to leave.

The mocking laughters in the building suddenly stopped. Everyone saw his action, but they didn't understand. Facing the mocking, scoffing, and laughter, Chen Cheng Sheng ignored these negative attitude. It may be viewed as cowardice, but couldn't it also be treated as unimaginable bravery?

Luo Luo never spoke against his decisions. She stood up without hesitation and was ready to walk out with him.

Looking at those people who mocked them before but were now surprised, Luo Luo shutted her lips and thought to herself. My master is definitely no ordinary person. His endurance is excellent and was able to withstand all of the unbearables. She should learn from him and not think about ripping all of these people into piece just because they mocked him.

The world is beautiful so why should she be so irritated?

As they were walking out, someone spoke from outside of the building, "What do you guys think the Ivy Festival is? You can enter whenever you want and leave whenever you want?"

The speaker of this sentence was young, but his voice contained pride and coldness. It even sounded crazy and hid violence inside. It seemed that the speaker would kill anyone for the the tiniest reason.

Chen Cheng Sheng didn't like this sort of character.

He stopped and looked toward the entrance.

Several hundred people in the Ivy Festival all turned around the looked at the entrance.

A youngster was standing there. His face was pale, his eyes were merciless, and his lips were crimson. His age seemed to be around twelve or thirteen years old, but he appeared to drown in liquor and sex for many years. Especially his complexion, it gave off a ruthless feeling and sent shivers down people's spines.

Many people have yet to know this youngster.

But many people from the Heavenly Academy and the Starseeker Academy were familiar with him.

They knew who this youngster was and therefore no one said he was late. There was only silence and Zhuang Huan Yu wrinkled his eyebrows slightly. He wasn't particularly happy with it.

The expression of the professor of the Heavenly Academy was calm. It was obvious that he knew this youngster would appear from the beginning.

He looked at Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo. They thought if they decided to endure the embarrassment and not enter the competition, they could save the last breath of the Tradition Academy?

Due to his background and some complex reasons, he couldn't personally fight against the pair of students of the Tradition Academy. Also he couldn't let the students of the Heavenly Academy help him. But he had already chose the best person from the schools of the capital.

No matter background or strength, this little monster from the Academies of Priests was the best choice to send Tradition Academy to its way of demise

And there wouldn't be any problem afterwards.

The professor of the Heavenly Academy took a peek at the spot of the Bishop.

————————————————-

Many people in the capital knew that there was a little monster in the Academy of Priests.

That little monster was strong. Due to his young age, he didn't enter the Honor Roll of Green Cloud yet, but everyone knew that he has the strength to enter the top fifty in the Honor Roll. It was rumored that this little monster was the apprentice of the Pope, but he never admit to this rumor. Also in another rumor, this little monster killed many xiuxingists in the Meditation Stage and including another young genius on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud when he was only ten years old. Of course, he didn't admit to this rumor either.

The little monster didn't attend school at the Heavenly Academy like the Pope did when he was young. He also didn't follow the Pope and study at the Academy of Li Palace. Instead, he went to the school with the strictest rules and harshest xiu xing techniques. The reason for this is that he didn't want to follow the same road as the Pope.

But the strict rules of the Academy of Priests didn't stop the murders of the little monster. But the harsh xiu xing did make him stronger and stronger. Not many people dare to challenge him in the capital. Even the powerful xiu xingists would take a step back when facing him, Perhaps it was due to the rumor – the student of the Pope is always unique, but most importantly it wasn't due to this rumor, but rather a fact that was known by everyone – The name of this little monster of the Academy of Priests was Tian Hai Ya Er, he is one of the Family of Tian Hai.

The Divine Queen's last name is Tian Hai.

The little monster of the Academy of Priests was her nephew.

——————————————-

Under the view of countless eyes, Tian Hai Ya Er walked into the building and he was arrogant. His pale and unhealthy face was full of indifference and mockery. It was the indifference toward life and the mockery...toward everyone.

He was reached twelve years of age this age. He was really not a youngster but rather a boy. But he has already killed many people and saw many things. His powerful background and strength twisted his view of the world, he was truly a monster.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the boy who was a head shorter than him walking toward him. He sensed that the bloody smell got stronger and stronger, and he disliked Tian Hai Ya Er more and more.

But Tian Hai Ya Er didn't even look at him for a moment. He glanced over the young students on the scattered tables, but in fact nothing entered his eyes. He mocked coldly, "A bunch of idiots thinking they would benefit from attending this festival? Still characters who would be mocked in the end."

The young students sitting on the scattered tables all endured many difficulties and passed the semi trial of the Great Trial, and at last obtained the permission to attend the Ivy Festival. Although they knew they were just background of the students of the Six Ivies, they still had hope in their heart. But this moment they heard the ruthless words from this young boy, they started to get angry.

Tian Hai Ya Er rolled his eyeballs and his voice spilled out from his teeth like a sharp blade, "You guys want to die?"

The information of the background and strength of this boy was passed around in the scattered table. Although the young students were angry, no one dared to stand up. Talk less if they could actually win against this young boy, but even if they could, do they dare touch him?

"Enough." The principal of the Academy of Priests wrinkled his eyebrows slightly and spoke.

Tian Hai Ya Er scoffed coldly. Although he didn't speak further, but the unhappy expression on his face showed that he didn't really respect his own teacher.

But the weird things is, logically speaking the professor of the Heavenly Academy didn't want to restrain this little monster for some reason, but there were many truly powerful figures in the field. For example, the Bishop of the Department of Education, or Dong Yu General Xu Shi Ji. They have enough strength and influence to keep Tian Hai Ya Er in check.

But they all kept silent. Perhaps they were just trying to figure out the actual reason for the appearance of this little monster? If this monster enter the competition then blood would definitely be spilled on this field. Surely the Academy of Priests didn't want him to attend the Ivy Festival. Was this the command from the Li Palace or the Royal Palace?

Or the reason for this little monster to attend the Ivy Festival was actually for the Tradition Academy? Apparently not, the already ruined Tradition Academy couldn't attract the eyes of this little monster.

He glanced at the direction of the Heavenly Academy and didn't see the person he wanted to see, therefore he was disappointed and irritated. He screamed loudly, "Where is Tang Thirty Six? Didn't that rural idiot wanted to handicap me? Where is he? Is he scared now!"

Besides those powerful figures, there were still some people who could care less of Tian Hai Ya Er's background and strength.

Zhuang Huan Yu looked at him expressionlessly and said, "If you continue to interrupt, then I wouldn't mind to be the first one to challenge you."

As the student representation of the Heavenly Academy and the young genius placed on the tenth place of the Honor Roll of Green Cloud. His quiet words was more powerful than the angry of the students from the scattered tables.

Tian Hai Ya Er laughed weirdly and stuck his red tongue to lick his lips, "You can't bully a child."

This sentence may seem inappropriate but it showed that this arrogant boy was actually very calm and was afraid of Zhuang Huan Yu.

Yet at this moment, a laugh came up from a direction, obviously he was laughing at how this little monster only dared to bully people who were weaker than him and afraid of challenging stronger elites, such a coward.

Tian Hai Ya Er suddenly stopped laughing, looked at where the laugh came from.

Many people follow him look toward where the laugh was from.

When both the bishop and Xu Shi Ji were remaining silent, and the Heavenly Academy professor was intentionally indulging him. Besides famous young elites like Zhuang Huan Yu dared, who else dared to laugh at this little monster? Was that person really not afraid of death?

The laugh came from the seats for the Starseeker Academy.

That's a very stalwart young man.

Chen Chang Sheng knew that young man. He knew him when he was taking the entrance exam to the Starseeker Academy.

He was worrying about this young man.

Because Tian Hai Ya Er's eyes suddenly became very cold, no long brutal, looking at that stalwart young man, as if he's looking at a dead person.

At this moment, the official who was leading the Starseeker Academy, asked expressionlessly, "Why couldn't he laugh?"

Even the little monster like Tian Hai Ya Er knew that the Starseeker Academy could not be easily disturbed, especially when he did not have the proper reason. He looked at that big and tall youngster, laughed, revealing his white teeth, like a joey who was extremely calm before he went crazy.

...

The curtain behind the building was slowly opened, under the thousands of stars, there was a very big stone-made platform. At its surrounding there were around ten copper furnaces, burning and releasing fragrances that can calm people's mind. Under the copper furnaces, deep into the underground, there buried defensive magical weapons, which were maintained by teachers from the Heavenly Academy, making sure that the Qi during fight wouldn't influence people outside the platform.

The Ivy Festival officially began. Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo did not leave, because Luo Luo slightly grabbed his sleeve, also because he was somewhat worried about the young man from the Starseeker Academy, also because the little monster from the Priest Academy mentioned his friend Tang Thirty Six.

According to the convention in the Ivy Festivals in previous years, in the beginning, there would be educational fights between students from various regions and students from the Six Ivies. The gap between the two sides was too big, which actually made it easy to control, so normally there wouldn't be any accident.

However, there were so many surprising incidents happened in the Ivy Festival this year. The Tradition Academy actually appeared again in the public, the Priest Academy actually let the little bloodthirsty monster out, faintly, there was a dangerous wave flowing underground, obviously there would be more accidents occurring later.

Before the professor from the Heavenly Academy even announced the fighting roster, a person already appeared on the stage.

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at the direction of the Starseeker Academy and laughed, "Before, someone asked, why couldn't he laugh? Of course he could, the boring Ivy Festival, was a funny thing originally, everyone can laugh, you see, I am laughing too."

He's only a little boy, laughed naively, but his face was very pale, his lip was bloodily red, which made him look very violent.

"Yet...now I am preparing to kill you."

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at that stalwart youngster as if he was looking at a dead man, asked seriously, "Now, can you still laugh as happily as before?"

The entire building was completely silent, in the seats for the Starseeker Academy, there wasn't any sound too.

Zhuang Huan Yu slightly stirred his eyebrow, "You know the rule for the Ivy Festival, if you don't follow the rule, then I have to represent the Heavenly Academy and beat you."

"I can't beat you, so I don't dare to offend you, but if someone dares to offend me, then what should I do?"

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at him, then turned his eyes to the professor from the Heavenly Academy, asked, "I won't kill him, is that enough?"

The Professor said expressionlessly, "The Ivy Festival is mainly about communication, don't go overboard."

Tian Hai Ya Er looked back to where the Starseeker Academy was.

The stalwart youngster remained silent for a while, shook his head and refused his teacher's indication, slowly walked up the stage.

He's the most outstanding freshman of the Starseeker Academy this year, yet he was never arrogant, but was rather simple and honest. So all the teachers favored him, gave him high expectation, hope him can participate in the Great Trial next year, therefore they specifically brought him to participate in the Ivy Festival.

Because he's simple and honest, therefore he's straightforward. Before when Tian Hai Ya Er was arrogant and disrespected everyone in the building, he thought the teachers would say something, yet they were so quiet, so for the first time he felt disappointed toward Starseeker Academy, so, he laughed out loud.

Yes, he laughed intentionally.

This big and tall young man, wanted to use this laugh to tell everyone, Starseeker Academy was still like it used to be, did not know what's fear.

From that laugh, he began to prepare for the fight later on.

He knew that he could not beat the little monster from the Priest Academy, butt he didn't fight him yet, so he couldn't surrender.

He walked up the stone platform, facing Tian Hai Ya Er, standing under the starlights, he seemed to become even more stalwart.

"My name is Xuan Yuan Po, freshman from Starseeker Academy."

Tian Hai Ya Er smiled and said, "Tried to say you are just a freshman first, want me to go easy on you? Look at your big and awkward looking, you are probably twenty something, I am only twelve this year, so relax, I definitely won't go easy on you."

The big and tall young man called Xuan Yuan Po, said honestly, "I just grow a bit faster. I am actually only thirteen, also I am actually just a freshman. Of course, indeed, I am older than you, so you don't have to go easy on me."

"Very good." Tian Hai Ya Er stopped laughing.

Xuan Yuan Po straightened his waist, became concentrated, tightened up his fist like a rock, said, "Please enlighten me."(part of the courtesy)

Tian Hai Ya Er was expressionless, casually gave him a punch!

An extremely terrifying hurricane, formed on the stage, spiraling at a high speed.

His fist, was the center of this hurricane!

At the surrounding of the platform, suddenly appeared an intangible barrier.

The barrier actually became slightly deformed, the starlights that penetrated through it, became extraordinarily dismal.

A complete silence.

Everyone looked at Tian Hai Ya Er's fist and felt shocked and wordless.

Everyone knew, this little monster was very strong, had bloodline from the Tian Hai family, and had been taught by the Pope, how could he not be strong?

But no one imagined that, he was strong to such an extent!

Just a simple fist, would cause hurricane to form would cause the barrier that was maintained by many Heavenly Academy teachers together to deform!

People looked at the boy who was laughing brutally on stage, thinking that he's only twelve, felt even more shocked.

If he was on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud, what's going to be his rank?

On the Great Trial next year, which tier would he get into?

...

No one thought Xuan Yuan Po could defend this fist, even the teachers and students from the Starseeker Academy.

Yet out of everyone's expect, Tian Hai Ya Er's fist was blocked!

As the two fists collided, a thunderous sound came up, the barrier was deformed again!

Blood flowed out from Xuan Yuan Po's lip, his eyes became a little bleak, his feet stepped deeply into the hard stone floor, his clothes were already broken due to the wind blowed up by Tian Hai Ya Er's fist, he's about to lose, yet at least he did not fall, did not move back for even one step!

Because at the moment the two fists collided, something strange occurred!

The youngster was originally big and tall, so his fist was extremely big, now it became even larger!

More surprisingly, a very thick layer of black hair appeared on his fist, even his right arm was filled fully with long black hair!

His right arm suddenly enlarged, in a second, it was bigger than a normal person's leg!

Those strong muscles, like iron pillars, seemed to have infinite power inside!

Only so, he could defend the horrifying fist from Tian Hai Ya Er!

...

"Metamorphosis!"

"He's actually Yao!"

Many shouted out surprisingly, especially those students sitting on the end of the banquet. To many, it's the first time in their life seeing such image, so they kept yelling shockingly.

The teachers and students from the Six Ivies, were also extremely surprised.

Only the Starseeker Academy's teachers who knew this fact beforehand remained wordless, but even they didn't expect this Yao freshman, under Tain Hai Ya Er's horrifying pressure, could actually use metamorphosis to exert strength that was much stronger than his normal xiu xing stage.

Tian Hai Ya Er also didn't anticipate that this opponent, who he looked down on, could actually defend his fist.

This made him feel a little humiliated.

This made his feel very angry.

He crazily screamed out, like a child whose toy got stolen.

The teachers from the Priest Academy heard the scream, their face suddenly changed.

The hurricane was formed again!

Several lightnings faintly were shown inside!

Tian Hai Ya Er's fist continued punch forward, destroying Xuan Yuan Po's strong defense.

"Don't you dare to defend it again!"

On the stone platform, the body scream crazily.

On Xuan Yuan Po's metamorphosized arm, there were green smokes rising up, instantly blown away by hurricane.

A horrifying power, along his wrist transmitted to his shoulder.

He could no longer support himself, spit out blood and moved back.

Tian Hai Ya Er followed up like a ghost, and gave him another hit!

Xuan Yuan Po gritted his teeth, shouted angrily, then raised his heavily wounded right fist, defended reluctantly.

"Enough!"

Under the stage, Zhuang Huan Yu shouted coldly.

Almost at the same moment, teachers from both Priest Academy and Starseeker Academy stood up, shouted urgently, "Stop!"

Only people with enough stage, could see that Xuan Yuan Po already lost, but the reason why Tian Hai Ya Er gave out this fist, was to destroy his arm!

Yao people innately had strong body, especially after metamorphosized, yet if they were heavily wounded when they were in metamorphosis, then they could hardly recover!

Tian Hai Ya Er, was actually trying to destroy this young man's future!

Ka! La!

Xuan Yuan Po kept spitting out blood, flew back due to Tian Hai Ya Er's power, heavily fell on the stage, causing dusts on the entire ground to fly up.

He stubbornly attempted to stand up again, yet he already had no power to stand up.

His right arm that he formerly felt proud of, his formerly extremely strong right arm, was falling down powerlessly, it's useless now.

The entire building was deadly silent.

On the Ivy Festival, there rarely was any bloody incident, yet this image was so sad and brutal.

The professor from the Heavenly Academy walked up, shook his head and said, "You went too harsh."

Tian Hai Ya Er slightly frowned, said, "I promised you I won't kill him but I never said I won't destroy him."

"I heard that you Yao people were very powerful?"

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at him, laughed contemptuously, "Just so so."

Xuan Yuan Po looked his destroyed right arm, suddenly cried out.

He's a stalwart and brave Yao youngster, yet after all he's only thirteen.

The entire stage was silent, although people from the Starseeker Academy were very

angry, they could only remain silent.

The corner for the Tradition Academy, was also very silent.

Luo Luo looked at the stage.

She looked at the boy's bloody right hand.

Her right hand in the sleeve slightly moved.

She looked at Chen ChangSheng.

Chen Chang Sheng was also looking at the stage.

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Chen Chang Sheng looked at the stage.

On the stage was Tian Hai Ya Er, who felt the stare from Chen Chang Sheng, looked back at Chen Chang Sheng. His bloody but thin lips slightly curved up forming an arc. His immature but pale face revealed a contemptuous laugh, no need to ask the meaning of his laugh was obvious.

The heavily wounded Xuan Yuan Po was carried down the stone platform, the teacher from the Heavenly Academy quickly did some emergency care, then let students from the Starseeker Academy send him out of the place. Tian Hai Ya Er retrieved his sight, look at the spectators under the platform, laughed and said, "I know, you idiots all dislike me, but so what? I don't need you to like me, I only need you to afraid of me. No matter how much you hate me, What can you do? Do you really dare to do anything to me?"

"The Ivy Festival was truly funny, a bunch of idiots dream of fish leaping over the

dragon gate, but you never think that, only the real dragons can leap over the gate in the sea of cloud! You poor people from those poor places, you really think you have that chance?"

Tian Hai Ya Er sneered at the crowd, "I came to join the Ivy Festival, not because I want to kindly wake you idiots up. I am came to do two things. After I finish those I will leave, so you guys don't have to stare at me for so long and pop your eyes out."

Like what the high status people had thought, the Priest Academy sent this crazy little monster to participate in the Ivy Festival, obviously wasn't for getting the first place. There must be hidden reasons. Probably, the incident that little monster participates in the Ivy Festival, has nothing to do with the Priest Academy at all!

Now hearing Tian Hai Ya Er's words, the stage became quiet. People really wanted to know, what are the two things he wanted to do.

The fight he had with the Yao boy from the Starseeker Academy, was obviously an accident. It's probably not one of the two things he had to complete today.

"I come to participate in the Ivy Festival, because Tang Thirty Six said he wanted to destroy me. So I came to destroy him,"

Tian Hai Ya Er looked towards the seats for the Heavenly Academy. "Although he is your student, but I think, since he could say that sentence, you can't really stop me, but interestingly, the idiot come from suburb actually doesn't dare to show up."

He looked towards Chen Chang Sheng in the corner and said contemptuously, "The second thing I have to do, is related to this useless garbage."

"Several days ago, besides I heard Tang Thirty Six wanted to destroy me, I also heard a very crazy thing. The Tradition Academy...basically the broken graveyard on the Hundred Blossom street...actually got a freshman. Ahhh...I totally can't believe in my ear."

Tian Hai Ya Er, like he heard the most funny thing in the world, rubbed his stomach and laughed, his voice was extremely horrible.

Suddenly, he stopped laughing, a shout echoed like thunder in the Heavenly Academy.

"How dare you!"

Tian Hai Ya Er looked coldly at Chen Chang Sheng and then looked at the bishop and many people's faces. His voice was extremely deep and cold, completely unlike the sound that a twelve year old boy could make. "I don't care who did this. I just want to ask him, does he want to die?"

The professor from the Heavenly Academy looked at the direction of rostrum, seeing that the bishop's face was still calm.

Rationally, even Tian Hai Ya Er, could not criticize and even threaten these high status people,

But surprisingly, he did it and surprisingly, the stage was still completely silent.

Because he was probably representing the Pope, or possibly the Divine Queen, who wanted to ask some conservative forces in the Tradition, wanted to ask those people who wished to use the Tradition Academy to cause some trouble, what do you want to do?

No one could answer this question.

"You useless trash. You can't even purify successfully, and you still want to revitalize the Tradition Academy? What a joke!"

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at Chen Chang Sheng and said, "I know that you know Tang Thirty Six. Since he doesn't dare to show up, then you should come on stage and let me destroy you so I can finish both things at the same time. It will save me time."

A complete silence.

The people who had laughed before laughed towards the decline of the Tradition Academy and the silence of the couple.

But now, no one laughed because of the violence Tian Hai Ya Er showed before. Because people knew, if this freshman from the Tradition Academy actually went up stage the fate waiting for him must be worse than that Yao youngster. It probably would be death.

"Or..."

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at him, smiled and said, "You can publicly announce that you quit the Tradition Academy, then kneel down to beg for my pardon. Maybe I will let you go."

...

Chen Chang Shang wouldn't withdraw from the Tradition Academy, because this was the General's Mansion...more accurately, the only choice the high status person who hid behind the Xu Mansion gave him. If he doesn't have the identity as a student of the Tradition Academy, then he couldn't participate in the Great Trial next year.

After hearing Tian Hai Ya Er's words, he was obviously very mad but at the same time he was very confused – He didn't understand, why would the young elite from the Priest Academy be hostile to him, a suburb youngster from the Xi Ning town. Yes, even hostility needs qualification, needed reason.

This is because he didn't know that, when he was calmly xiu xing and reading in the Tradition Academy and didn't care about the wind and rain outside, didn't look at landscapes in the surrounding, in the capital there were already many things happening underground. Many people began to notice him. One such figure was the Heavenly Academy's professor, such as some people from Li Palace, such as people from the royal palace.

The engagement between Xu You Rong and him was an unknown secret. Those people obviously didn't know it's an accident that he went to study in the Tradition Academy. Those people thought, when the Tradition Academy was about to become a forgotten dust in history, suddenly there was a freshman, representing some old forces in the Tradition — Those who were still loyal to the Chen royal family, were doing some type of feeler, or those old forces were attempting to make some type of announcement. More importantly, those people did not see Chen Chang Sheng's recommendation letter, did not see the Pope's signature, so the attitude that department of traditional education later put up, made them even more confirmed their judgement.

Such feeler or announcement, was not acceptable to those people. They unhesitatingly chose to suppress it. The time they chose to do so, was the Ivy Festival. The person who was particularly responsibly to this was obviously the Heavenly Academy professor who was hosting the Ivy Festival and finally who would?

There were still many officials and priest who were loyal to the Chen royal family in Zhou, so those people didn't want to make it too obvious. Therefore the little monster of the Priest Academy was the best choice, because he's Divine Queen's nephew, also he had background from the Tradition.

Both the Divine Queen and the Pope probably didn't know that there was a freshman in the Tradition Academy at all, but this didn't change Tian Hai Ya Er's last name and succession of teaching. And the best thing was, Tian Hai Ya Er was only a twelve year old boy...not to say humiliate or suppress, even if he killed that person on stage, so what?

Little kid doesn't know much, this is always the best excuse, isn't it?

Tonight the two most important spectators on the Ivy Festival, the bishop from the department of traditional education and the Dong Yu General Xu Shi Ji, clearly knew this inside story. Xu Shi Ji knew Chen Chang Sheng's origin and identity, yet because of the engagement, of course he would remain silent, no matter Chen Chang Sheng was destroyed or killed, both were images he wanted to see. As for the Bishop's silence, it represented deeper meanings, because he knew more things.

Such as the identity of the little girl sitting next to Chen Chang Sheng.

...

Kneel, or not kneel, leave, or get killed. This was the multiple choice question Tian Hai Ya Er gave to Chen Chang Sheng. There were many choices, only to show that the Tradition Academy was already a history. After all he was a little kid. His method was brutal and straightforward, basically was the word humiliation.

No one wanted to stand such humiliation, Chen Chang Sheng also didn't want to. Yet what made him feel even more sad was, Luo Luo was taking such humiliation with him. This made him feel really sorry to this little girl who obviously was living well ever since she was born and never suffered any humiliation before.

Luo Luo was indeed very mad. She had never suffered such humiliation in her life before, but Chen Chang Sheng remained silent for the whole time, so she could not say anything. In order to not let others see the anger gradually formed between her eyebrows, she looked down deeply.

At this moment, she heard Chen Chang Sheng's apologizing voice.

"I said, become a student of the Tradition Academy, you will probably have to stand lots of humiliations and suppressions."

Luo Luo felt that she seemed to have heard such sentence, then she remembered, that's the conversation she had with master on that day in the Tradition Academy. She thought, 'was master testing her? Yes, otherwise with master's ability, how would he let the little monster kept humiliating the Tradition Academy?'

She remembered the words she replied Chen Chang Sheng.

"Master, no one dares to humiliate me."

Yes, since she was born, no one dared to humiliate her. Then, they also couldn't humiliate her respectful master, couldn't humiliate the Tradition Academy that she gradually cared and loved more and more. Anyone who dared to do so, had to pay a deep price.

Luo Luo stood up, made a salute to Chen Chang Sheng. Then she walked toward the stone platform.

The building was entirely silent, countless eyes followed her steps.

Until she stood in front of Tian Hai Ya Er, people then realized what they just saw.

The Tradition Academy actually accepted the little monster's challenge?

Who is this little girl?

...

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at the little girl standing in front of him and asked, "Who are you?"

Luo Luo didn't say a word, looked at Chen Chang Sheng sitting under the stage.

"So you are from that ghost place too?"

Tian Hai Ya Er laughed weirdly for a while, then stopped, said with a serious and terrifying tone, "Don't worry, you are so pretty. How am I willing to kill you? After I get you, then I will kill that kid. Then I will be back and keep getting you, is that ok?"

This sentence was very obscene, especially when it's spoken from a twelve old boy's mouth, it's more obscene.

Luo Luo was very angry, but she looked more and more calm.

People who were participating the Ivy Festival, all looked at the stage, many professors and offcials' eyes fell on the little girl. They confirmed that she already successfully purify, unlike the completely useless trash Chen Chang Sheng, but they couldn't tell her stage, obviously she couldn't beat Tian Hai Ya Er.

Comparing such a pretty girl to the little monster from the Priest Academy, was originally a very unreasonable thing.

People thought that at the next moment they would see an image of little girl falling in a puddle of blood. Many people felt unwilling and pitiful.

Zhuang Huan Yu suddenly stood up and shouted, "Stop!"

He knew that Luo Luo had an uncommon origin, but no matter how uncommon, how could it be stronger than that little monster's background? Also this little monster's method was too horrifying. The fact that the previous Yao youngster was destroyed was the best evidence. How could he watch her get bullied by this little monster?

The bishop from the Priest Academy slightly frowned, which indicated Tian Hai Ya Er to stop, but the professor from the Heavenly Academy appeared on the side of the stone platform, faintly blocking Tian Hai Ya Er's vision, and then gave Zhuang Huan Yu a cold look.

The bishop of the department of traditional education was about to say something, suddenly Xu Shi Ji said something, and seemingly unintentionally blocked his view.

Tian Hai Ya Er looked at Luo Luo, laughed brutally. Between his red lips, his teeth were as white as bones from the dead.

He wanted to tell her, you see, how many people wanted you to die, but I wouldn't kill you. I would only destroy you, then go destroy that useless trash.

He knew, if he's slower, then he might be prevented by someone, so he stopped hesitating.

He flew to Luo Luo's side, strike down his fist.

His fist was very small, yet it carried terrifying hurricane and lightning.

His mind was very violent. His method was very nasty, but he was truly strong, not to mention he was ruthless!

Wind and thunder, were supernatural phenomenon formed when xiu xingists solidified Qi a to certain point. They at least needed to be in the high Meditation stage before they could xiu xing their Qi to such terrifying extent to make such effect.

As Tian Hai Ya Er began fighting, he used his entire force.

Before, the stalwart and strong Yao boy was destroyed by this fist, much less now in front of him was only a weak little girl?

Below the stage there were countless shocked shouts, implicated with surprising screams, many students covered their face and did not dare to look!

...

Among the shocking shouts and surprising screams, suddenly there was an extremely angry, extremely terrifying, also somewhat dazing shout!

People looked at the stage, saw that this shout was actually from Tian Hai Ya Er!

In front of Tian Hai Ya Er's fist, a fist appeared!

That's Luo Luo's fist.

Her fist also carried hurricane and lightning, but the hurricane was stronger and the lighting was brighter!

Ka! La!

Instantly, on the surface of Tian Hai Ya Er's finger appeared an infinitive amount of breaches. Blood bursted out and the wound was so deep that even his bone was visible!

Those breaches instantly reached his wrist. His bones immediately broke!

Pain! Unbearable pain!

Tian Hai Ya Er's pupil shrunk into a black dot. A panic but weird shout, came out between his bloodily red lips!

What followed along, was blood.

What's going on?

Why did this seemingly weak little fist, actually hide such terrifying power?

Tian Hai Ya Er did not have time to think. His mind was taken over entirely by fear. While he was making weird shouts, he tried his best to move backward.

He knew he must go away from this fist, otherwise he definitely would die!

He moved quickly, but Luo Luo chased with an even faster speed.

Her fist, was as berserk as hurricane, as fast as lightning, landed on Tian Hai Ya Er's fist.

From the beginning to the end of the stage, approximately a hundred meters of distance, her fist was always hitting on his fist.

Terrifying amount of Qi, from her fist, constantly landed into Tian Hai Ya Er's body!

Hong!

Tian Hai Ya Er fell on the edge of the stage, his right hand was entirely fragmented. Between the fingers blood was everywhere.

His face was as pale as snow. Inside his pupil was full of fear and surprise.

He didn't even know what happened, before he lost, completely lost.

...

On the trees at night, suddenly there were chirping of cicadas.

This was night in the summer, it's impossible to be quiet.

Yet the surrounding of the stone platform was like a snowless winter night, had all been silent.

Then as if snow melted.

Di Da, Di Da.

Blood dropped down from that little fist, dropped on the ground.

The little girl stood in the wind, looked around and said spoke up.

She was answering the previous question from Tian Hai Ya Er, also she was telling a fact

to people here.

"My name is Luo Luo. I am a student of the Tradition Academy."

The cicadas' chirpings became even more irritable. The building became quieter. People looked shockingly at the stage, looked at the little girls whose skirt was floating in the wind and felt what they saw was not real. Everyone thought they would see this little girl lying in a bloody puddle, so they covered their faces and turned around and did not want to look. Who would have thought that the one who actually lied down in a bloody puddle, was the little monster from the Priest Academy.

No one thought they would see such an ending.

The forgotten Tradition Academy, the unknown little girl, gave this world, such a big shock.

...

This fight began suddenly, even a bit shameless, but it ended even faster, making people delighted.

Luo Luo knew she would win, because she was originally very strong. That night, the assassin from the demon elite was very dangerous, but it didn't represent she was weak among people of her age. No, among people of her age, she was the absolute elite, especially when comparing the amount of Qi. Rarely anyone would have more Qi than her.

Of course if Tian Hai Ya Er was calmer and chose to compete her in fighting methods, then she probably could not win in such domineering manner, but Tian Hai Ya Er was used to destroy others arbitrarily. How would he know, her bloodline itself was the most noble and arbitrary bloodline in the world!?

Everything was over.

Luo Luo looked at Tian Hai Ya Er and raised her fist again.

She clearly remembered the words this little monster had said when he heavily wounded the Yao youngster before. She clearly remembered the humiliation this little monster gave her master and her. Then, now is the time to return all the humiliations.

"Stop!"

Seeing that she was about to continue fighting, many high status people who were silenting spectating suddenly changed their faces.

Before, that Yao youngster could be destroyed, could be killed, people from the Tradition Academy could be destroyed, could be killed, but...Tian Hai Ya Er couldn't be destroyed, and of course couldn't be killed!

Because his last name was Tian Hai.

Sounds of breaking air came up, several high status people including the professor of the Heavenly Academy came on stage.

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The Professor of the Heavenly Academy and the elite from the Priest Academy stood around the stone platform surrounding Luo Luo. Anyone could easily control her, but the problem was she stood right in front of Tian Hai Ya Er. With only a few inches away from Tian Hai Ya Er, her little fist was tightly held carrying the wind and the thunder.

If she punched down, Tian Hai Ya Er would be dead or paralyzed for the rest of his life.

The Heavenly Academy professor and the elites from the Priest Academy all remained fcoused, not taking a single step forward or a step backwards. They maintained the current status quo hoping to find an opportunity to suppress her. They thought that after some time as passed and her head had cooled down, she would be calmer and exit her fighting mode.

A complete silence. No one wanted to break the silence and to stimulate this little girl. No one wanted to see more blood be spilled.

But Tian Hai Ya Er himself was not aware of that. He looked at Luo Luo, coughed blood, and with a shaky voice, cried and said, "Please don't kill me...I beg you...Don't kill me, I am really scared, scared...Ha Ha Ha Ha!"

The pitiful begging with a cry suddenly became a rampant laugh!

The boy with a bloody face, looked extremely brutal. He resentfully stared at Luo Luo and shouted, "You think I am afraid of you!?? I am just playing with you! Because you are over! The Tradition Academy is also over! Look at these shameless elders. They are evil inside out. It didn't matter if it was I who destroyed you or like what's happening now, your future is all over! Because on one can treat me like that!"

The Heavenly Academy professor's face became somewhat mad.

Luo Luo slightly frowned, raised her fist higher. Bright lights were surrounding her fingers, very pretty, but also very terrifying.

Tian Hai Ya Er's emotion suddenly changed. He screamed and kicked his two feet randomly in air like a child whose milk was stolen!

"What do you want to do!? Do you really dare to hit me again! Divine Queen is my aunt! On this continent, who dares to hit me!?"

The building was deadly silent. Everyone knew what the little monster said was true. Not to mention that in the rumors he is the Pope's apprentice. Just the fact that he had such an aunt, no one dared to offend him. Thinking about the harsh circumstances she would face aftermath, the look people had toward Luo Luo became pitiful and sympathetic.

Surrounding by senior elites and threatened by this hatred boy, what would Luo Luo do next?

She looked to a corner and looked to the youngster.

This action was her subconscious action or habit, you can call it. It's not that she needs Chen Chang Sheng's advice, but she thought she should listen to Chen Chang Sheng's advice before she acted..

Everyone followed her sight to the corner, to Chen Chang Sheng.

...

Now Chen Chang Sheng has a mixed feeling.

He was not surprised. In these days, he taught Luo Luo xiu xing in the Tradition Academy. He clearly knew that although the little monster from the Priest Academy was very strong, but there's no way he can defeat Luo Luo. Otherwise he would definitely prevent Luo Luo from walking up the stage, but he didn't know that the little monster was so silly that he dared to compete Luo Luo in the strength of Qi. Because of this, he lost in a such deplorable fashion. Because of this kid's actions, Luo Luo had to make a very important choice now.

He knew what Luo Luo wanted to choose because a few days ago when a sand went into Luo Luo's eyes, the little girl spent half a day studying for half a day with the sand in her eyes until she finished studying. Eventually she succeeded and when she succeeded, she happily ran around the lake with a red eye.

She knew why Luo Luo was hesitating and why she was looking at him. Because she worried about bringing trouble to him and to the Tradition Academy and because she was used to asking for his advice before doing anything, she would follow Chen Chang Sheng's decisions.

Luo Luo was the one who defeated the little monster from the Priest Academy and Luo Luo was asking for his advice. After Chen Chang Sheng confirmed these two things, he knew what decision he should make – he decided to straightforwardly give his advice and choose what Luo Luo originally wanted to choose.

This is very good. Chen Chang Sheng thought. He should take the responsibility. He stood up, looked at the professor from the Heavenly Academy and the people, who were holding their breaths. He remained silent for a bit and then said, "Before he said he wants to destroy Tang Thirty Six."

His voice was somewhat dry and his tone, not so fluent, appeared very clumsy. It was not because of fear, but because he is not used to speaking in front of many people. Today in the Ivy Festival, seeing so many people, to him this was absolutely the first time in his life.

Moreover, although he did things with a harsh tone, he was not good at saying harsh words.

He thought a bit and though that the reason should be enough "Tang Thirty Six is my friend, so..."

...

Luo Luo understood what he meant but suddenly she realized that she had made a mistake – previously she shouldn't have had look at master. The action was a habit and was respect, but this also meant giving the right to make a decision and the responsibilities all to master. This was a very big error that she had commited.

She looked back, looked at Tian Hai Ya Er lying in front of him.

When Chen Chang Sheng was saying that sentence: Tang Thirty Six is my friend.

Tian Hai Ya Er saw her eyes and read her meaning. His face suddenly became extremely pale and the expressions in his eyes became extremely dazed. He did not understand why but then he screamed fearfully, "Help me! Quick!"

His scream was very loud, hiding Chen Chang Sheng's sentence after so.

But it couldn't not hide the terrifying wind and lightning.

Luo Luo's noble but arbitrary bloodline made her hate cowards the most.

Hearing Tian Hai Ya Er's urgent call for help, her eyebrows raised up. Her eyes became extraordinarily bright.

A shadow, jumped up like a tiger!

Her fist fell on Tian Hai Ya Er's chest!

Pa, Tian Hai Ya Er's scream instantly stopped!

After a while, the silence suddenly broke by countless surprising shouts in the building.

Tian Hai Ya Er passed out in a bloody puddle. His ribs were fragmented, vessels completely broken, and his veins were destroyed.

Luo Luo took back her fist and wind was blowing around her little body.

Hoo! Hoo!

Black hair flew by her pretty little face, like fine willow branches in wind.

It's not fine willow branches but it's trace of grasses.

She looked at the surrounding people, with a calm face.

Like she was standing in storms in the North, between the wild grasses constantly waiting for a one shot kill moment.

An unspeakable force, naturally formed.

...

The surrounding was completely quiet and people looked shockingly at the stage.

That little girl...actually destroyed Tian Hai Ya Er! Did she know who Tian Hai Ya Er was? Did she know what she was doing?

Chen Chang Sheng really wanted to tell the entire world, 'I was the one who told her to take the action', but at this moment the eyes of the entire world were looking at Luo Luo. No one was looking at him. Such as Zhuang Huan Yu, in his eyes was only Luo Luo. He generated infinitive amount of admiration and love.

Professor of the Heavenly Academy and several elites of the Priest Academy, quickly flew to Tian Hai Ya Er and checked his pulse. They confirmed that he's still alive, but...all of his vessels were broken. He was already destroyed to the worst possible way. He could no long xiu xing in his entire life. The people from the Priest Academy used the fastest speed to carry Tian Hai Ya Er down stage. Then sent him to the royal palace, hoping guests or royal doctors in the palace, could keep the last hope. If not, they they might have to inform the Divine Queen.

The bishop and teachers of the Priest Academy left with them. Before they left, they glimpsed at the professor of the Heavenly Academy. What they had meant was clear: 'you caused this event, from hiding the Priest Academy that you were the one using Tian Hai Ya Er, then you had to give an explanation for this.'

The professor of the Heavenly Academy looked at Luo Luo. His face was as cold as ice. His voice was as harsh as an edge of knife, "You hit too hard. You little girl, is too cold."

Luo Luo thought that when Tian Hai Ya Er destroyed Xuan Yuan Po before, what did this professor of the Heavenly Academy say? She recalled. At that point, the professor of the Heavenly Academy said Tian Hai Ya Er went too hard. Tian Hai Ya Er said he only promised not to kill Xuan Yuan Po, never said he would not destroy Xuan Yuan Po.

"I never promised you I won't kill him, also I only destroyed him."

Luo Luo thought she was very reasonable, turned around and walked down.

The professor of the Heavenly Academy was surprised. He remembered his previous conversation with Tian Hai Ya Er, thinking that Luo Luo was intentionally sneering at him. He felt his anger boiling and swelling up. His face looked extremely ugly and harshly shouted, "How dare you walk away like that!"

Luo Luo paused her steps.

The professor of the Heavenly Academy looked at her back and said expressionlessly, "I don't care about your identity or your true succession of teaching. But you have to remember, here is the capital of Zhou. Here is the Heavenly Academy. You just heavily wounded someone in public, do you think you can run away?"

On the surface he only made these statement, but everyone knew the real meaning. No matter how mysterious Luo Luo was, the one she heavily wounded was the apprentice of the Pope and the Divine Queen's nephew. In the entire human world, no one could protect her.

The professor of the Heavenly Academy looked like he's laughing "Little girl, you are truly...daring."

Luo Luo was somewhat unhappy and asked, "What kind of thing are you? How dare you talk to me like that?"

The entire building was silent. No one could expect that, at this moment, this little girl was not scared at all, but rather so aggressive.

Only extremely few people faintly felt something was weird because the influence this little girl revealed, was truly strong.

Facing the professor of the Heavenly Academy, she was like a lord facing her vassal.

What kind of family or sect, could teach such female student?

The professor of the Heavenly Academy felt dazed. Then he felt so angry that he laughed, laughed extremely coldly.

Now he was very certain, this little girl's identity must be uncommon, but just like what he said before, she destroyed Tian Hai Ya Er...this meant, in the entire human world, not many could change her fate.

After a harsh shout, his right hand casually waved.

There was no wind nor rain, only a straight line of Qi. The Qi that even true iron could not block off!

This was Starfusing elite's method!

No wonder he's the professor at the Heavenly Academy!

It didn't matter how strong Luo Luo was, after all she was only a little girl.

People seemed to have heard sounds of death, as if there was someone saying the little girl was dead.

Who could change this situation?

Someone looked to the seat for the Tradition Academy in the corner, wanted to see that little girl's friend.

There was only a seat, wine and dishes.

There was no one there.

TN (Binggo): I think Chen Chang Sheng Took the bullet for Luo Luo. I mean he isn't the type of dick head to leave and well.. he isn't there and he sees the dick head about to ambush her, he would DEF taket he hit instead of having Luo Luo take it. Well we will see in the weekends bc they don't translate till then .

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When the professor of the Heavenly Academy moved, no one besides Xu Shi Ji and the Bishop of the department of traditional education could stop him. Xu Shi Ji, as the general whom the Divine Queen highly trusted, obviously could stop the professor and the Bishop, who had the most reasons to prevent him, looked like he fell asleep.

Although Zhuang Huan Yu was ranked tenth on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud, there was still a huge gap between senior elites and him. He did not have the authority to stop the elites. As he watched death approach the young girl, his face became extremely pale but he couldn't do anything.

Luo Luo looked at the Qi aiming at her, sensed the shadow of death. Her thin eyebrows slightly rose up but her expression was still calm because she knew that no one could kill her in the capital except the extreme situations like the one that night in the Tradition Academy.

She was certain that she would not be killed but others didn't know that so they were shouting from the surroundings.

Suddenly, someone stood in front of her.

The person was not tall but he was taller than her, so he blocked her body.

When Luo Luo saw the person's back, she recalled the night when Chen Chang Sheng protected her.

Once again, she recalled her dad's quote: When the sky falls, there will be someone tall supporting it for you.

For a moment, the coldness she felt from the professor from the Heavenly Academy wasn't so cold from the warmth she felt from Chen Chang Sheng.

The moment Luo Luo's fist landed on Tian Hai Ya Er's chest, Chen Chang Sheng left the seats because he wasn't sure if Luo Luo's clansman would appear promptly even though she had a strong and mysterious background. Because he was Luo Luo's teacher, he had to take responsibility and protect her.

He came very promptly.

As the professor's Qi traveled through the air, Chen Chang Sheng had positioned himself between the professor and Luo Luo in time.

He held the short sword horizontally and felt a little nervous.

He was not sure if his short sword could block the professor's Qi and he didn't consider what would happen if he couldn't block it because that was not something he needed to consider.

Fine, he did think about what would happen.

Behind his body, his right hand grabbed Luo Luo's hand.

The big hand held onto the little hand and at the center of the palm was a button.

The Qi that the professor had solidified into a straight line in front of his finger traveled swiftly and fiercefully.

Chen Chang Sheng thought that the next moment he would disappeared from the stage, unexpectedly, he was still at the same place.

He looked back at Luo Luo, thinking what's happening?

— If you don't activate the Button of Thousand Miles, then we would die for real.

...

Of course Chen Chang Sheng didn't die and neither did Luo Luo. She didn't use the Button of Thousand Miles because she was certain that no one could kill her in the capital, especially in the Heavenly Academy.This is because in the capital there is someone who knew her identity and he was the strongest in the Heavenly Academy.

A soft wind blew by and the Qi that was solidifying into a straight line, which seemed invincible, was easily waved away like the smoke coming out of countryside hearth.

The soft wind originated from two sleeves.

An old man full of white hair appeared on stage. His sleeves were slightly flowing in the night wind.

The entire field was silent. Everyone stood up, including Xu Shi Ji and the Bishop of the department of traditional education.

The students from the Heavenly Academy including Zhuang Huan Yu, all bowed down. They were all extraordinarily respectful and very surprised..

"Hi Principal!"

"Teacher!"

Yes, this elder was the Principal of the Heavenly Academy. Two Sleeves of Soft Wind MaoQiu Yu.

Immediately, the Vice Principal Zhuang also appeared after him.

Zhuang Huan Yu looked at the Vice Principal Zhuang and his expression was changed.

Everyone in the field was dumbfounded.

No one had thought that the two strongest Principals of Heavenly Academy would appear at the same time, especially the Principal Mao Qiu Yu who was one of the countable elites on the continent. His status was extremely high. Normally, the first night of the Ivy Festival wouldn't require high status people to appear.

The professor's expression changed. He walked to Mao Qiu Yu and greeted politely. Then he explained what happened tonight and describe the situation to make it more advantageous for him.

From Mao Qiu Yu's protection, the professor realized that what occured tonight will not go according to his plan but he didn't want the fire to burn on his own body and instead tried to put down the fire before too late.

Destroyed someone for no reason? Ruthless? Bullying the weak one?

Hearing the professor's report, people's faces suddenly looked very interesting.

Was he talking about Tian Hai Ya Er or the little girl from the Tradition Academy?

Mao Qiu Yu suddenly laughed.

The Bishop from the department of traditional education also laughed.

The Professor of Heavenly Academy suddenly felt a bit worried.

The bishop laughed as he stood up, walked outside of the building, and said torpidly, "Friend Cao, have some pride."

The professor's last name was Cao. He was dazed on stage and felt his torpid sentence was like a whip landed on his own face.

The Vice President Zhuang expressionlessly suggested that the Ivy Festival tonight has ended.

The crowd gradually spread out. When they were leaving, they all subconsciously looked back at the stone platform.

Mao Qiu Yu looked at Luo Luo, as if he was going to say something but after all he did not say a word, and simply smiled.

Chen Chang Sheng made a salute with Luo Luo next to him and then walked down the stage. They returned to the seat at the corner and packed up their stuff.

Luo Luo simply followed behind him and appeared to be very well-behaved.

She thought that previously on stage, did she act too wild, or too arbitrary? Would master dislike that type of her?

She grabbed his sleeve, turned up her little face, and giggled.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the little girl's cute tiger teeth, smiled, and rubbed her head.

...

As the banquet ended, the building became completely silent. Mao Qiu Yu and Professor Cao faced each other on stage and started a conversation.

"In order to suppress the Tradition Academy, you allowed the little monster from the Priest Academy to behave crazily in the Ivy Festival. What you did was crazy."

"True, I just dislike the Tradition Academy. Many people are just like me, am I wrong?"

"Resentment? No, that was an event that happened almost twenty years ago...everyone knows clearly what you actually want."

"What do I want?"

"The Pope made you a Professor at the Heavenly Academy. You have been a Professor for more than a decade. Anyone would be tired of it. That's understandable."

"Principal, I am always respectful to you."

"You are the professor at the Heavenly Academy. Just one step up and you will be the bishop of the department of traditional education. Who won't be tempted?"

Mao Qiu Yu looked at him and spoke calmly, "But You did something wrong. First you shouldn't drag the Tradition Academy in. Second you shouldn't use people who you don't have the right to use. Lastly you should find out the identity of your opponent."

The professor's face turned extremely sour because the Principal spoke the truth.

His position was arranged by the Pope. Professor was a position used by the Li Palace to control potential elites from the great schools, but he was a professor for so many years and indeed, he felt tired of it. He wanted to become the bishop of the department of traditional education. Just one step away and he can see a completely different sky. Who can resist such temptation?

But obviously he couldn't admit to it and insisted, "There are people in the Tradition trying to use the Tradition Academy to test out the situation. I want to solve problems for the Pope and the Divine Queen. How am I wrong?"

Mao Qiu Yu said expressionlessly, "Does the Pope and the Divine Queen know this?"

The professor remained silent for a while and said, "Tian Hai Ya Er had became a useless person. The Tradition Academy...how can it still exist aftermath? If there is any problem in the Tradition Academy, then Mei Li Sha obviously has to take his responsibility. It's not a bad thing from any perspective."

"No one is stupid. Even Tian Hai Ya Er himself knew you were using him."

Mao Qiu Yu said, "Unfortunately, you are stupid."

The professor of the Heavenly Academy said unwillingly, "Who is that girl from the Tradition Academy?"

Mao Qiu Yu turned around and walked out of the building "That's not important. The key is...the Bishop had been taking charge of the department of traditional education for several decades. Even earlier than when the Pope was enthroned. Do you think you can take down such person simply using some conspiracies?"

The professor looked at the elder's back and said angrily, "I only know that the Divine Queen's nephew was destroyed...Someone has to respond to this event. Even if the Pope doesn't get mad, there must be someone taking the anger from the Queen."

Mao Qiu Yu didn't turn but continued walking replied "You still don't know who should take the responsibility tonight?"

The professor was shocked as if he got hit by lightning. He knew that tonight was probably the last night in his life.

...

Luo Luo didn't want to get surrounded by people so after discussing with Chen Chang Sheng, she hid into the trees in the darkness. Familiarly, she led him and found a road, pushed the two heavy doors, bypassed a small building, and went into a street from an unknown back door of the Heavenly Academy.

Chen Chang Sheng heard she said she had been to the lectures at the Heavenly Academy before and asked curiously, "Always go through the back door?"

Luo Luo said, "If I don't go through back door, then how can I come to lecture at the Heavenly Academy?"

Chen Chang Sheng had some guesses and asked, "The one who was giving you lecture..was the Principal of the Heavenly Academy, Mao Qiu Yu?"

Luo Luo replied yes.

Chen Chang Sheng said with a mixed feeling , "That's truly call back door."

Luo Luo said, "Principal Mao's level of teaching is much worse than master's."

He was actually compared by Luo Luo to the legendary principal of the Heavenly Academy. This thing was way too bizarre.

"Don't speak such nonsense. If anyone hears, he will laugh."

Chen Chang Sheng said with a straight face, but he felt extremely happy.

But when he saw the carriage in the street, all of his happiness suddenly disappeared.

There was a lantern hanging on the carriage and on the lantern, there was a word, "Xu."

That's the carriage from the Dong Yu General's mansion.

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The invitation from the General's Mansion was both with manner and indifference. Chen Chang Sheng told Luo Luo to stay where she was. He walked towards the carriage parking place on the street. Only when he walked there did he notice that nothing but silence surrounded the carriage. Not a single person was around and the previous guard who invited him was no where to be seen.

The battle horse in front of the carriage was tall and muscular. Its mane showed hints of crimson in the darkness of night. Surely it was no regular species and was a certain unique beast's descendent. Although the horse was intimidating, Chen Chang Sheng didn't glance at it for even a moment because the person he needed to see was the guest sitting inside the carriage.

The guest was still sitting in the carriage. There were bright lamps hanging around the carriage and the light shone through the windows and projected the guest's shadow onto the curtain. His image was so clear that it seemed to be carved by knives and swords.

Chen Chang Sheng bowed towards the shadow on the curtain of the carriage. Its shadow was clear and so was the person inside. The terrifying and serious aura of him was also clear. It wasn't until now did Chen Chang Sheng realize where the two pressures he felt previously in the Ivy Festival came from – one of the reasons he attended the Ivy Festival was to see the guest with his own eyes. Although during the entire festival the guest never seemed to lay his eyes on Chen Chang Sheng, he actually was observing Chen Chang Sheng.

"It has been a long time since you left Xi Ning and arrived at the capital. Up until now, I haven't heard any rumors that I don't want to hear. This proves that you are a smart person and your choices are steady. I like it."

Xu Shi Ji's calm and cold voice was heard behind the curtains, "After you joined the Tradition Academy, you learned how to use your background. Now I noticed that you are smarter than I imagined. It's hard to say, but I'm starting to like you more and more."

Chen Chang Sheng knew he was speaking the truth instead of scoffing or been sarcastic. He was not enough for the Yu Dong General to scoff at, or even be lied to. But he didn't grow happy from his liking because he noticed that he still didn't like Xu Shi Dong's taste.

The taste was not bitter, spicy, sour, or sweet. It was an indescribable feeling. The tone that Xu Shi Ji used when talking to him was also a taste.

Calm, yet indifferent. It wasn't intentional but Xu Shi Dong looked down on Chen Chang Sheng as an elder.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't like this. If it weren't for the troubles that grew out of the marriage vow and the abuse he endured from the General's Mansion, if Xu Shi Ji actually was treating him with an attitude of an elder, then he wouldn't mind. But the problem was that the previous statements were true.

Xu Shi Jie was silent for a while. Perhaps he was surprised with Chen Chang Sheng's silence, or maybe he needed some time to think about some stuff. The night breeze blew around the lamps. He asked, "Who is she?"

Yes, this was the thing he actually cared about. Of course, this concern didn't originated from the marriage vow that Chen Chang Sheng made. He didn't care about any female contact with Chen Chang Sheng because he never treated Chen Chang Sheng as his future son-in-law.

Started from the moment that Luo Luo stepped up to the battle stone of the Ivy Festival, his subordinates in the general's mansion started to research her background. Yet when the Ivy Festival ended and Xu Shi Ji rode the carriage and left the Heavenly Academy, there was still no information found about her background whatsoever.

Xu Shi Ji knew the great ability of his subordinates. He was surprised.

The young girl was with Chen Chang Sheng and therefore, he was also alerted.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't answer his question because he felt that he didn't need to answer Xu Shi Ji's questions.

The shadow on the curtain grew clearer and its outline became sharper. This was perhaps because Xu Shi Ji got closer to the window.

The aura also grew more terrifying and the pressure seemed to become a real existence.

Chen Chang Sheng felt an uneasiness in his chest, as if a mountain was landing on him.

"Speaking the truth, I regret a little." Xu Shi Ji's emotionless voice was heard from the carriage.

"When you just came to capital, and no one knew you, I should've just killed you. There is a rule among generals and that is to be merciless. I obviously know, but after all you are connected with Xu mansion, someone wants you to stay alive, so I let you stay alive."

Chen Chang Sheng looked down but didn't say a word.

"The capital in the summer, was a place where people can easily die...The flood period is very hard to be certain, but what can be certain is, the rivers in the capital will definitely rise in level. When the river level rises, it will wash away both floating corpses and ashes."

Xu Shi Ji spoke through the carriage window coldly.

"For example, Professor Cao from Heavenly Academy. After tonight, perhaps he will become a floating corpse thousands miles away from the capital, or perhaps he will become food for the kois in the River Luo. All in all, no one will see him again."

After hearing this, Chen Chang Sheng shockingly raised his head and looked towards the window. He didn't understand why the professor from the Heavenly Academy was going to die.

"After all, that little monster is one of the Family of Tian Hai... no matter how the situation turns out, the professor still acted out on his own accord, and the queen will be unhappy. If the queen gets angry, then Sir Zhou Tong will be very mad. If Sir Zhou Tong is furious...then he will face something worse than death."

"Therefore, the professor will commit suicide tonight."

"Sure, I regretted not killing you from the beginning and now it's difficult for me to react. I must remind you though, that there are many ways of surviving that are more terrifying than death in this world. The professor understood this, and I hope you will too."

The lamps waved back and forth lightly and the light dimmed a little. Dozens of guards appeared from the darkness and circled around the carriage as it traveled slowly past the street and towards the Dong Yu General's Mansion. The tall battle horse peeked indifferently at Chen Chang Sheng right before it left.

Xu Shi Ji was silent in the carriage and gloomy fire was burning in the depths of his pupils. It was not violent but rather cold. He noticed that some stuff was getting out of his control. Because of the letter sent from Mountain Virgin, he never really got to control the situation, but now it got even more strange.

He knew clearly why Chen Chang Sheng entered the Tradition Academy. He first thought that there was nothing much about this event, but now even if this was true, some people are trying to use this fact to start trouble. The people who were still loyal to the Royal Chen Family in the Tradition seemed to finally obtain a chance to overturn after all these years. How would this situation affect the Dong Yu General's Mansion?

This thing was way too big, even if he was the most trusted General of the Divine Queen, he dared not step his foot into this pool. The only thing he knew was that if Chen Chang Sheng actually got pulled into that pool of dirty water, then no one could know about this marriage vow. At least it should be hidden for a few more days.

After these few more days, the southern powers would sent a representative group to the capital. The few dozens of students entering the Great Trial from the south are also in this group. Because of this, the next two nights of this year's Ivy Festival would be delayed.

There was still a while for the Great Trial to come. The southerners broke the usual tradition and arrived at the capital few months early. This action started some suspicion and debate, but Xu Shi Ji knew clearly that the Divine Queen welcomed the arrival of this representative group.

Only a few people in the entire continent knew that the reason for the early arrival of the southern representative group was that they were preparing to propose on the Valentine's Day.

Xu Shi Ji knew this because the southern representative was about to propose to his daughter.

He wouldn't allow anyone or anything to interrupt this marriage.

Not Chen Chang Sheng, not that mysterious young girl, not anyone.

He didn't care about the Tradition Academy, Heavenly Academy, or the old royal family and the darkness in the capital. He didn't care about twists and plots. If anyone tried to interrupt this marriage, then he was not afraid to kill, even if they were people who shouldn't be killed.

Since he had a good daughter, then nothing he did would harm him as long as he didn't betray the Divine Queen.

Of course, if there were better ways to solve those unpredictable variables, such as Chen Chang Sheng and that young girl, then it would be nice. But first, he had to determine some things and ask some people to prepare.

"To the Orange Garden." He said.

The carriage of the Dong Yu General's Mansion moved slowly on the street and disregarded the strict curfew of the capital and rode towards the royal palace.

The Orange Garden is a garden not too far away from the royal palace. Although its acres of land wasn't huge, many orange trees were planted there.

To be able to have a garden around the royal palace and plant the expensive orange trees, the owner couldn't be an ordinary person.

That is the home of Lady Mo Yu.

———————————–

After returning to the Tradition Academy and standing beneath a tree around the lake, thinking back to the shadow on that carriage window, Chen Chang Sheng wasn't in a good mood. He wanted to scream at the river but he was afraid to disturb the people living in the Herb Garden on the other side of the wall. He wanted to curse but noticed that his master or senior never taught him how to.

He turned around sadly and walked towards the library. On his way through the forest, he saw a orange tree and there were many new-born small fruits hanging on the branches. Instinctively, he plunked one down and ate it. His eyes and eyebrows then proceed to wrinkle due to the sourness of the fruit.

"Even you are going to bully me?" He kicked the orange tree and his breath got heavier.

Small oranges fell down like rain drops and a moaning was heard from the back of the tree.

Luo Luo rubbed her head and walked out. In her right hand was a lunch box and her left hand covered her mouth. Her face was filled with surprise as if she saw something strange.

Chen Chang Sheng was a little surprised as well. He asked, "didn't you go back to sleep?"

Luo Luo answered, "Auntie Li prepared some late night snack and I was going to share with master."

Chen Chang Sheng saw her expression and was confused, "Then why are you surprised?"

Luo Luo opened her wide eyes and answered sincerely, "I never knew that a character like master would have such a childish side as well."

Chen Chang Sheng was a little embarrassed and walked towards the library.

A quiet voice was heard from the forest and it was affected by the sourness of the green orange.

"I only turn fifteen in a few months, so what if I have a childish side..."

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While the stars were twinkling in the night sky, Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo were sitting on the floor enjoying their late night snack. It contained a few types of delightful desserts and two bowls of herb gruel with a side of salted meat. It delicious so the master and apprentice enjoyed themselves and didn't speak a word during the meal.

After finishing the gruel and dessert, Luo Luo finally took a break and spoke. Thinking back to the carriage she saw near the side door of the Heavenly Academy, she couldn't resist but ask while chewing her salted meat. "Master, what kind of relationship do you have with the Dong Yu General's Mansion?"

Chen Chang Sheng knew curiosity couldn't be oppressed for a long time and was mentally prepared for her question. He casually answered a few sentences and wanted to switch the topic – his preparation was to fool her and use his status as the master to skip the questioning. It seemed like an easy task.

But tonight's view was too beautiful and Luo Luo couldn't resist her curiosity. She knew he didn't want to answer and her black pupils started to move from one side to the other. She tried a few different possibilities, such as the trivial plots of a son of a friend or family feuds.

Chen Chang Sheng never knew her imagination was so rich and didn't know how to answer. Therefore he kept his silence.

Luo Luo stared at the night sky full of stars above the Tradition Academy and thought. She picked up a small green orange that she previously got from the woods and chewed it. Suddenly, she let out a voice.

Chen Chang Sheng thought she was surprised by the sourness of the fruit and shook his head, "I told you it was too sour and inedible. Plus it is not good for the stomach."

Luo Luo swallowed the green orange and she didn't seem to be bothered by the sourness. She looked at Chen Chang Sheng surprisingly and said, "Master, are you vowed to marry to Xu You Rong when you were an infant?"

Chen Chang Sheng opened his mouth slightly and didn't know what to say. On the side of respecting her imagination, he couldn't help but to admit to the fact.

"Ah..."

Before he made an response, Luo Luo waved her hands and embarrassment filled her face. "Silly me, how could I even think of such nonsense. How could it be possible? It's that Xu You Rong we talking about."

Chen Chang Sheng grew even more silent because he didn't know what he should say. His mouth was closed bitterly and thought to himself 'this marriage vow was way too ridiculous.' Even Luo Luo, who had nothing but utmost respect for him, would think like this too? Why is it impossible between him and Xu You Rong?

"Go back to sleep," He thought for a second and told Luo Luo, "I have some business to take care of tomorrow, don't come here too early."

Luo Luo was nervous and said insecurely, "Master, are you angry?"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "Did you do anything today that would make me angry?'

Luo Luo thought hard and found she didn't do anything that would anger her master. Previously on the Ivy Festival her actions are arrogant and not nice as usual, but since her master said he wouldn't blame her, then of course he wouldn't blame her.

Never did she realize that a causal word of her had hurt Chen Chang Sheng's self-pride.

Since she said it causally, therefore he was hurt deeply.

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After Luo Luo left, Chen Chang Sheng cleaned out the lunch box on the floor and organized the books back onto the bookshelves and dimmed the light. He walked back to the library and glanced around, then left in the night as if he was saying goodbye.

After returning to the small building, he started packing his luggage and collected everything necessary into a box and drew out his short sword from his waist and started to meditate on his bed. He wasn't absorbing the starlight and trying to Purify himself. He was waiting for people to show up.

Tonight's Ivy Festival Luo Luo handicapped Tian Hai Ya Er. For sure she started a big trouble. That trouble would target her, target him, and mostly importantly target the Tradition Academy. He doesn't know who would come for vengeance, but he knew that those people would be powerful.

He knew that Luo Luo's background is mysterious and extraordinary. Or else the principle of Heavenly Academy, Mao Qiu Yu, wouldn't protect her on the Ivy Festival. But the little monster she handicapped is the nephew of the Divine Queen, he was one of the Family of Tian Hai – the most terrifying Family in the entire continent.

From the beginning Chen Chang Sheng thought Luo Luo's background would stop the people to not make trouble on the surface. But after Xu Shi JI said that the Heavenly Academy professor would commit suicide tonight, he didn't have much hope in Luo Luo's background anymore.

Nowadays even the Royal Chen Family is under the influence of Family of Tian Hai. Even the professor of Heavenly Academy would die due to the handicap of Tian Hai Ya Er. Then what should be expected for him and Luo Luo who directly caused the handicap of him? plus they around want to ruin the Tradition Academy.

He waited for the enemy's arrival and was ready to leave. Although he would miss the Tradition Academy and next year's Great Trail, but is done cannot be undone. Then at least he should leave a complete ending for this event.

In his plan, the entire Tradition Academy would turn into an ocean of flame later.

He had a plan to escape.

Tradition Academy would pay for the handicap of Tian Hai Ya Er and Luo Luo isn't an ordinary character. For sure the enemy would be satisfied by this ending.

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This entire night.

Chen Chang Sheng sat alone in the room.

Only a old worn-out luggage sat near his feet.

He waited silently for another turning point in his life.

He waited with a patience unseen of peers his age.

No one knew that he waited in the Tradition Academy for an entire night. Even until countless years afterward no one knew. Only himself knew how long this night was and how hard did he struggle to stay and how much effort he put in.

Even until the sunlight shined on the school, nothing had happened.

This night, many people also paid attention to the Tradition Academy in silent.

Those people were just like him, they thought that the ruthless officials of the Department of Investigation would rush into the Tradition Academy at night and bring Chen Chang Sheng into the terrifying Jail of Zhou, or the xiuxingists of Li Palace would arrive at night and start slaughtering and fire in this place to burn the academy that Divine Queen hated into the ground.

But the above didn't happen.

The sunlight was just like usual and the gong in the royal palace was stroke.

Chen Chang Sheng opened his eyes and walked to the window and glanced at the quiet sight of morning of the capital. He didn't understand, then he realized.

Due to his request from last night, Luo Luo didn't enter the Tradition Academy until noon. Of course, she didn't forget to bring the heavy lunch box.

Chen Chang Sheng asked her to search for some information.

Before they finished their lunch, a message arrive from the other side of the wall. Luo Luo lowered her head and listened quietly for a while.

"No one saw the professor from the Heavenly Academy."

She raised her head and looked at Chen Chang Sheng, "The vice principal receive a report, it should be the letter of resignation."

Chen Chang Sheng was silent. Looking at his expression, Luo Luo realized something as well.

Disappearing after resignation. No one knew if he returned to his home village or he hid in the wild to xiuxing. It was impossible to find out in such a short time either.

It wasn't a resignation from his job, it was a leaving from this world.

Perhaps in the mansion of the professor an extra white rope was found. In the River Luo perhaps the ashes already sank to the very bottom and mixed with the mud.

A big character like him died silently like this.

Chen Chang Sheng felt a breeze around his neck and he peaked at Luo Luo with complicated look.

It was a plot, a plot to ruin the Tradition Academy.

The professor of Heavenly Academy asked the little monster to help him. No matter how the Tradition Academy respond, there will be problems...because he is the nephew of the Divine Queen. If he won, then the Tradition Academy would be destroyed. If he lost, the Tradition Academy would face the wrath from the palace.

But no one expected that the ending of this plot was the professor facing the wrath of the palace and died. The young boy and girl in the Tradition Academy didn't need to be responsible for anything, Why? because Luo Luo is powerful, because Luo Luo's background is way more powerful...in conclusion, Luo Luo is way too powerful.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at her and sighed, "It seems, that you are more amazing than I expected."

Luo Luo felt a little embarrassed, "Master, you are the person who's truly amazing."

Chen Chang Sheng scratched his head and said, "Is it really fine for us to compliment each other like this?"

——————————-

Chen Chang Sheng always thought that if a person lives for a few hundred years, time passes quick and should be valued. If there are only few decades, then he should treat time with even more respect. If there is nothing to do, then one should continue to read and xiuxing. Only until dusk did he and Luo Luo put down their books and began to eat their dinner. Afterwards they started to walk around the lake in the Tradition Academy.

Walking may seem to waste time, but he didn't mind, because he knew it would benefit his body.

The two walked to the other side of the lake and arrived at the bottom of a big tree. Chen Chang Sheng got childish for once and proposed to climb to the top of it and view some scenes. Luo Luo always listened to him, talk less of a fun thing like this. Of course she accepted the proposal.

Moments later, these two climbed to the middle part of the big tree and stood on a thick branch. It was around ten or more yards away from the ground. They could see into the distant streets, and barely they could see the shape of the Li Palace.

Under the setting sun, the view of the capital was nice.

They could see the entire Hundred Blossom Street out of the Tradition Academy. It was quiet as usual but he and Luo Luo knew that the Hundred Blossom Street was different from before. In the shadow and under the roofs in the streets, countless eyes were staring into the inside of the school.

"Master, I'm sorry."

Luo Luo said lightly, she believed that it was because of her that Chen Chang Sheng was pulled into this mess. She also knew that he valued time and the quiet life of xiuxing. Her apology was true and sincere.

"The one that should apologize should be me."

Chen Chang Sheng said, "If I didn't write your name on the list that day, then you wouldn't be a student of the Tradition Academy, then how would you encounter this trouble? although you are not afraid of these troubles, but troubles are still troubles."

—————————————

Time doesn't bend to the will of a human, or else the time around Chen Chang Sheng would be unmovable as a giant boulder.

A few days later, the second night of the Ivy Festival arrived as expected.

Looking at the invitation letter on the floor, he was surprised. No matter the words of Xu Shi Ji that night or the warning from Officer Xin previously, speaking logically this year's Ivy Festival are different from the previous year's. Besides, after the first night's bloody battle he thought the second night would be delayed.

Luo Luo asked, "Master, are we really not participating?"

Chen Chang Sheng shook his head and said, "We are not going."

Ivy Festival is an event created by the academies of the capital, it wouldn't affect them to participate in the Great Trial next year. The reason Chen Chang Sheng joined the first night was to understand the rules of the Great Trial and as well as knowing what kind of person was Xu Shi Ji. Now he has reached both of his goals, why else should he go?

Plus in the second night of the Ivy Festival, countless people would pay attention to the Tradition Academy and stare at him and Luo Luo. He's not used to such attention.

Luo Luo never thought that he wouldn't go just like he said. She was confused and sad, "If we went, perhaps we could actually obtain a high ranking."

The rest of Ivy Festival consisted of intellectual exam and arena. They are similar to the Great Trial in that they would announce the result in ranking. In addition, they wouldn't end so hastily like the first night. If Luo Luo participated in the arena and Chen Chang Sheng in the intellectual exam, perhaps the Tradition Academy could actually regain a small portion of its former glory.

Chen Chang Sheng said, "It's meaningless."

Luo Luo looked at him and said praisingly, "Master is treating fame and glory as dirt. I respect you so much."

Chen Chang Sheng said honestly, "I'm mainly avoiding troubles."

—————————————

Heavenly Academy was probably very lively in the second night of the Ivy Festival. The Tradition Academy was quiet as usual and the Hundred Blossom Street finally obtained true peace. The people who watched over the Tradition Academy for days finally left due to the Ivy Festival.

After every night's dinner, they would take a walk around the lake. Although the view of the lake and the shadow of the forest are beautiful, but after seeing them many time they grew out of it. After climbing the big tree many times it became meaningless as well. Seeing the amount of disturbing people in the Hundred Blossom Street grew short, Luo Luo wanted to capture this precious chance. She used every technique known to little girls and finally dragged Chen Chang Sheng out of the library. The two walked out of the school door and walked into the Hundred Blossom Street and started shopping.

Not far away from the Hundred Blossom Street was the famous night market. Under the ruling of the Divine Queen the capital prospered greatly. The wealth of the world flown to the capital and the night markets were grand as well. People are walking side by side and the food on the streets attracted the bypassers.

Chen Chang Sheng bought Luo Luo a cotton candy. Luo Luo was surprised and happily accepted it – paying respect to her master and treating him three meals a day are things that she's supposed to do. The master buying her a snack is a nature thing for him to do as well.

She held the cotton candy and licked it carefully. She worried that that if she wasn't careful there would be only a wooden stick left and her master would be scared.

Her action was cute.

Standing in front of a shop selling baked shellfish, she curiously looked at the shellfishes that were still moving and asked Chen Chang Sheng if they are edible. Suddenly, she saw a large figure washing dishes in the corner of the shop. Her eyebrows wrinkled.

Her action was serious.

Of course, still cute.

That person was well-built and his hands were huge. The bowl appeared relatively small in his hands and the image seemed a little silly. His right hand's movement was awkward and he appeared to be handicapped. When he held the side of the bowl, his hand shook slightly which made people sympathize for him.

Luo Luo walked around the shellfish shop towards the back of the person. Confusingly, her face was filled anger. Chen Chang Sheng walked with her and saw the side of the person's face. He was young. Chen Chang Sheng finally realized who that person was.

The dishwasher who was squatting in the corner washing dishes was the Yao youngster who got severely injured earlier in the Ivy Festival by Tian Hai Ya Er. His name is Xuan Yuan Po.

Xuan Yuan Po saw a shadow on the wall and turned his head to look. He saw the two and raised his eyebrows confusingly. He noticed that he didn't know the pair and so, he lowered his head and continued to wash the dishes — even a easy task like dishwashing was now difficult for him. He didn't have the time to care about other people.

"Leaving the Red River and arriving at the Human World despite the harsh journey and struggles. But at the end, you are washing dishes in the streets of the capital. Is this your goal in life?"

Xuan Yuan Po's hand that held the bowl froze. He raised his head to glance at the cute young girl once more. A tsunami was rising in his heart. He thought, who is this girl? How does she know that I originated from the Red River and not from the human world?

Looking at his stumped face, Luo Luo got angrier for some reason. Her voice was cold, "If your clan saw you right now, would they regret saving money for your journey?"

Xuan Yuan Po may seem tall and well-built, but he was only thirteen years old. His eyes and traits were still young.

Hearing Luo Luo rebuking him harshly, his face got all red and he said angrily, "Who are you? You don't need to care about me."

Luo Luo was silent for a while and said, "I am Luo Luo, I am a student of the Tradition Academy."

Xuan Yuan Po was stumped again. This time, the surprise overwhelmed him. His right hand could no longer hold the oily and slippery bowl.

Hearing a crash, the bowl in his hand dropped into the dirty water in the sink. Although it didn't break, water spilled all over. The owner of the shellfish shop yelled, "You useless thing! As tall as you are and you can't even wash dishes?"

The night market was extremely busy and masses of people walked around the place. The shop's business was well and the owner was concentrated on his cooking. He skillfully flipped the food on the iron plate and didn't have the time to care about anything else. Even when he was yelling, he didn't bother to turn around and look at Xuan Yuan Po for even a second.

Xuan Yuan Po didn't respond. It seemed that he was used to the owner's yelling from his days working at the shellfish shop. He was just staring at Luo Luo who stood in front of him. Surprisingly, his clear eyes became welcoming and full of respect.

After he got severely injured by Tian Hai Ya Er in the Ivy Festival, he was taken back to the Starseeker Academy by his schoolmates to heal. He didn't see what happened later on in the festival but he heard his schoolmates' retelling the events. He learned that Tian Hai Ya Er was handicapped by another person...and that person was a little girl.

He heard that the girl was named Luo Luo and was a student of the Tradition Academy.

Xuan Yuan Po always wanted to see the little girl, not only because she avenged for him and he wanted to thank her, but also because the Yao Race respects the powerful and he wanted to see what the girl looked like and pay his respect.

"You are the one..."

Xuan Yuan Po rubbed his big hands on his old clothes. He was a little nervous, "Then whatever you call me is fine, it is fine."

Luo Luo wanted to reignite the fighting spirit of this boy but she never thought he would react like this. She was a little helpless.

Chen Chang Sheng was thinking about another problem and was confused. He asked, "You...left the Starseeker Academy?"

He thought that even if this Yao youngster was handicapped by Tian Hai Ya Er and couldn't even xiuxing anymore, much less regain his strength, at least he entered the Ivy Festival as a student of the Starseeker Academy. Would the school expel him just because he was handicapped? This was illogical.

Xuan Yuan Po didn't know who this human youngster was and knew he misinterpreted from his expression. Xuan Yuan Po was a little nervous and quickly waved his two hands while explaining, "The school didn't expel me, but...I got injured like his and can't xiuxing anymore. I don't want to waste the school's resources while not being able to do anything. Therefore I left."

Seeing that Chen Chang Shang and Luo Luo did not believe him, he became a little worried. "It's true, the principle and my instructor all advised me to not leave but I'm a little stubborn. I didn't listen to them and left without notice. You can't blame them."

He sure was an innocent kid – Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo both thought. Whatever the reason for him to leave Starseeker Academy was or worrying about others misinterpreting the school's action, these all proved that this Yao youngster had a pure soul.

Luo Luo relaxed a bit and asked, "Is that so? Then what are you doing to do in the future?"

Xuan Yuan Po smiled and said, "I'm trying to save up some money for the trip so I can return home. Since I can't xiuxing anymore, I rather go home and help my family do some chores...By the way, don't blame the shop owner. Although he likes to yell a lot, he's a nice person. I broke so many bowls and dishes recently but he didn't let me repay him."

The owner in front of the iron plate kept on flipping the food and didn't even turn around, but he laughed and yelled something.

Looking at the Yao Youngster's smile and not see a trace of sadness on his face, Luo Luo didn't know why but she was melancholic. She looked at him and said, "So are you satisfied to return like this?"

Xuan Yuan Po was silent for a while and said, "Just like what you said before, I came to the capital to xiuxing. It's not easy for my clan to save up the money and of course I don't want to return like this...but the instructors in the school also said that the body structure of a Yao is different from a human. It's hard to heal up a broken right arm. Then what can I do staying here?"

He continued, "my instructor was kind enough to offer me to stay in the Starseeker Academy and do some chore work. But I may feel worse just looking at my schoolmates progressing day by day while I'm unable to do anything."

Luo Luo said, "If you stay in the capital, you may find a way. Why would you leave the Starseeker in such a hurry?"

Xuan Yuan Po answered, "The elders in my clan taught us when we were young to never accept any sympathy from anyone, especially from humans."

Luo Luo quietly looked at his eyes and felt she that liked him even more, "Follow me."

They were two simple words. It wasn't a command but it felt unresistable. It couldn't be denied.

Xuan Yuan Po felt a little odd, he stumped a little and didn't know how to refuse. After telling the owner of the shop, he followed her onto the streets.

When they were about to exit the street and saw the well on the Hundred Blossom Street, Luo Luo remembered something and looked at Chen Chang Sheng embarrassingly.

Chen Chang Sheng smiled and didn't say anything.

Whenever he did something, Luo Luo never opposed him. Then of course, when Luo Luo wanted to do something, he wouldn't object either. He was never worried if Xuan Yuan Po would do anything because he knew Luo Luo's people were always guarding her from afar and protecting her.

——————————————

The Tradition Academy was quiet as usual under the night sky. Due to the second night of the Ivy Festival, there were much less people watching over in the Hundred Blossom Street. It helped to relax Chen Chang Sheng's mood. He never expected that Xuan Yuan Po would be more relaxed than him when it was his first time entering the Tradition Academy.

The Yao youngster's hands were on his waist looking around the school. Sometimes, he touches the old broken sculptures and curiosity fills his eyes. Not a trace of nervousness was seen in him.

Taking out his keys and unlocking the door of the library, Chen Chang Sheng paused and didn't enter. He looked at Luo Luo who wanted to say something but held her tongue, "What's on your mind?"

Luo Luo pulled on his sleeves, a little embarrassed, "Master, can you help him, you know... he is one of my race,"

Chen Chang Sheng answered, "It's fine if I help him. I'm just curious, why are you so confident that I can heal a wound that even the instructors of the Starseeker Academy think would be impossible to heal?"

"Master is not an ordinary person like those people."

Luo Luo widened her eyes and looked at him, "From the first day accepting you as my master, you just test my wrist and you know my problem. Then right away, you knew how to solve my problem. Compare to this, healing up his wound would be nothing."

The young girl said so confidently as if there is nothing he couldn't do in this world. Looking at her absolute-trusting eyes, Chen Chang Sheng felt an enormous pressure and scratched his head, "I'll see first, but I can't promise anything."

Luo Luo happily agreed and strode towards the lake. She never believed anything less than promising from Chen Chang Sheng.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at her back and couldn't help but shake his head.

Luo Luo ran to the lake and spoke with Xuan Yuan Po who was testing his strength on the big tree. Xuan Yuan Po was surprised and shook his head. It seemed that he couldn't believe what he heard. Then Luo Luo said something else and Xuan Yuan Po was even more surprised. If Luo Luo didn't hold him, he might even have knelt before her.

Xuan Yuan Po was still a little stunned after following her and walked to the library. It was clear that Luo Luo's words brought much surprise to him and Chen Chang Sheng thought Luo Luo probably revealed her identity to his Yao Youngster. He gestured the two to follow him into the library. He lit the oil lamp and sat on the floor.

Xuan Yuan Po never looked at him and kept on staring at Luo Luo. He was both nervous and excited.

Luo Luo never looked at him and said to Chen Chang Sheng, "Thank you Master."

Right now in Xuan Yuan Po's mind, Luo Luo was more important than his family. She was more respectable than his clan elders. But she respected a human so much and this human recieved her respect so casually. He felt it was crazy and was angry because of this. Xuan Yuan Po wanted to rip this human into pieces.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at Xuan Yuan Po's eyes, which seemed to be ignited in flames. Chen Chang Sheng was confused. He gestured to Xuan Yuan Po to extend his right arm.

Xuan Yuan Po was confused and spoke unkindly, "What do you want?"

Chen Chang Sheng explained, "Let me see your wound."

"You? A human? How old are you?"

Xuan Yuan Po's suspicion towards Chen Chang Sheng grew. He thought that Chen Chang Sheng was a scammer, or how else could he earn so much respect from his princess. He yelled angrily, "Don't think everyone from my tribe is easy to fool, I saw dozens of scammers!"

Since they needed to bound together and fight against a common enemy, the Demon race, the Human and Yao are natural allies. In several thousand years, the strength of the alliance was tested countless times and the two sides communicated with each other very often. At least, when a Yao appears in the capital, the residents won't be surprised.

But there were still some boundaries between Humans and Yao mainly due to their traits and life style. Humans always think Yaos are violent, simple, and beastlike. Yaos always think humans are cunning, fickle, and are no materials for friends.

From the point of view of Xuan Yuan Po, Chen Chang Sheng was an ordinary youngster and didn't even reach the Purification Stage of Humans. If he dared to say he could heal the wound that his instructors couldn't, if he's not a scammer, then who is?

A loud slap was heard.

Luo Luo held the stick of discipline and yelled, "What is that attitude?"

The Tradition Academy has its own stick of discipline.

It was a straight tree branch that Chen Chang Sheng made.

The most important use of this stick was for Chen Chang Sheng to mentor Luo Luo's xiuxing.

Now it seems that this Stick of Discipline was being used in the right way.

The Stick of Discipline is used to teach, to hit.

The stick was hard, so it hurts when it is used to hit a person's forehead.

Xuan Yuan Po covered his forehead and his eyes were teary because it actually hurts. Of course, more importantly he felt grievance. He thought,her princess would hit him for a human?

"Extend your arm," Chen Chang Sheng held in his laugh and said.

Xuan Yuan Po held his head high stubbornly and wouldn't listen to him.

Luo Luo raised the stick of discipline in her hand and looked at him, "Extend your arm."

Xuan Yuan Po lowered his head sadly and extended his arm.

Chen Chang Sheng stopped smiling and his fingers landed on his wrist. Then he closed his eyes.

Even if Luo Luo didn't ask, he would try to heal the wound of his Yao youngster himself. On the first night of Ivy Festival when Tian Hai Ya Er was arrogantly insulting the Tradition Academy, everyone was silent except this Yao youngster. This youngster laughed out loud.

That laugh was a pursuit, a pursuit for fairness. This Yao youngster wanted to pursuit fairness of the Tradition Academy, then the Tradition Academy would pay him back.

Of course, all of this was built on his confidence to heal the wound of this Yao youngster.

Chen Chang Sheng's master, Taoist Ji, may be unheard of in the xiuxingist world. But her skill in medication is one of the best in the continent. Chen Chang Sheng's marriage vow with Xu You Rong started when Taoist Ji remedied a sickness of the Prime Minister that even the Pope couldn't heal.

Chen Chang Sheng studied the Scrolls of the Way and learned medication when he was young with his master. But most importantly, he was also sick.

Although he couldn't treat his own sickness, it doesn't mean that he couldn't treat other's illness.

He really wanted to help Xuan Yuan Po to get well again.

Time slowly passed and the stars in the night sky twinkled above the cloud.

Nothing but silence filled the library.

Chen Chang Sheng opened his eyes once more after a long time.

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Chen Chang Sheng looked at Xuan Yuan Po who was in front of him and thought for a moment, "Try to transform your right arm."

Xuan Yuan Po never had any hope for him to heal his wound and he was already irritated after sitting on the floor for such a long time. Now hearing Chen Chang Sheng wants him to transform his already handicapped right arm, his face turned nasty and he looked at Chen Chang Sheng as if he was about to eat him whole.

"Did you not hear what the master said?" Luo Luo said.

Xuan Yuan Po's anger was put down and he began to try to transform.

Although his right arm was already handicap, but he could already transform himself without much thought. After a few moments, his arm was changed dramatically and kept on growing. It bursted out of his shirt and black furs began to grow out of the skin of his arm.

Chen Chang Sheng held his wrist and felt that strong heart beat. He could already feel the crooked veins and the messed up qi inside him. He searched sincerely and tired to understand while comparing the wound to the records on the Scrolls of the Way.

Time slowly passed and Xuan Yuan Po suddenly looked at him with some hope and nervousness.

A long time has passed and Chen Chang Sheng opened his palm.

Luo Luo asked, "How is it, Master"

Chen Chang Sheng didn't answer her question. He first asked her to get a needle box from his luggage in the small building, then he picked out a single bronze needle and casually placed it into Xuan Yuan Po's arm.

This needle was the thickest in the needle box, its main purpose was to enhance blood flow, but now he was using it for another purpose.

The surface of the bronze needle reflected a cold light and the tip was extremely sharp. But after Xuan Yuan Po's arm was transformed, his skin would be very touch and even normal weapons couldn't penetrate it. Logically speaking the needle shouldn't be able to pierce through his skin but yet it easily went through the thick fars and stabbed into his flesh.

"What do you feeling? He looked into Xuan Yuan Po's eyes and asked.

Xuan Yuan Po was confused. He focuses a little and said, "A little...numb?"

Chen Chang Sheng lightly twisted the end of the needle and asked again, "What about now?'

"A little sore." Xuan Yuan Po's expression turned excited.

No matter sore or numb, any feeling would be a positive thing, even pain would be nice. His right arm was like a stone recently! but now at least he felt something.

Xuan yuan Po looked at Chen Chang Sheng and his lips were shaking slightly. He was utmost surprised.

Although it was just a small change, but Chen Chang Sheng really accomplished something that even the instructors and the royal doctors couldn't!

Looking at his expression Luo Luo smirked, it seemed like she was extremely proud and satisfied.

She never once doubted Chen Chang Sheng's ability, she believe that he only contained it within himself due to some secret.

Everything happened from the days at Herb Garden to the Tradition Academy all proved her belief to be correct.

Now even her people like Officer Jin and Officer Li were about to be convinced by her.

———————————–

"It wouldn't be an easy thing to forfeit all the qi and reattach the veins in his body."

Chen Chang Sheng reorganized the needle box and looked at Luo Luo, "It may take a long time, I suggest for him to stay in the capital instead of returning to his clan."

Luo Luo answered, "We will follow your suggestion."

Chen Chang Sheng looked at Xuan Yuan Po and said, "Just stay in the Tradition Academy, there are still a lot of empty space."

The Tradition Academy was large and currently only hold two students, Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo. It was kind of too empty and one extra person wouldn't be any trouble.

At this moment Xuan Yuan Po was still overwhelmed by the previous excitement and joy, then he thought back to his rude attitude towards Chen Chang Sheng and felt insecure. But suddenly he heard his response and was embarrassed. He closed his lips tightly and wouldn't speak because he felt he didn't deserve such sympathy.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at Luo Luo and said, "You finish this."

Luo Luo raised the stick of discipline and looked at Xuan Yuan Po, "Speak for yourself."

Xuan Yuan Po wasn't going to speak. He wasn't going to speak even if she kills him under the stick.

Luo Luo has no other way but to ask Chen Chang Sheng, "Master, what should we do?"

Chen Chang Sheng told Xuan Yuan Po, "Sometimes unwilling to accept any sympathy or help isn't pride, but stupidity."

Xuan Yuan Po was bothered, he scratched his head and said, "I know, but I just can't do it."

Chen Chang Sheng sighed and didn't speak any further.

Luo Luo was irritated and asked, "What could make you stay?"

Xuan Yuan Po replied with a troublesome expression on his face, "I'm not a student of Traditional Academy."

Luo Luo's eyes brightened up and said, "This is easy to solve."

"What?'

"We can just turn you into a student of the Tradition Academy."

"What?"

"No need for testing."

"What?"

"We just need to register."

Luo Luo got permission from Chen Chang Sheng and took out the namelist of the Tradition Academy from the closet and prepared a brush and ink. Then she handed them to Xuan Yuan Po's hand.

Xuan Yuan Po opened his mouth slightly and held the ink brush. He looked at the two names already on the namelist and felt this process wasn't serious enough.

Even if the Tradition Academy is in ruins, but it is still one of the Six Ivies. How could he become a student just by writing his name?

He thought for a while and still landed the brush.

He wrote down his name one stroke at a time. His writing was a little sloppy, it was clear that Xuan Yuan Po wasn't used to writing.

Luo Luo said, "Congratulation, you have became the third student of the Tradition Academy."

Xuan Yuan Po asked, "What is the rules of this school?'

"There is no rule."

Luo Luo said, "The words spoken by Master is the rule. You have to follow whatever the Master tells you to do."

Xuan Yuan Po asked confusingly, "Is there no principal or teachers?"

"My master is the principal."

"My master is the teacher,"

"Of course, my master is also the student."

"It is the trinity combination, therefore the master is the Tradition Academy."

Luo Luo never felt that her words were like religious brainwash of the priests of the Tradition, because she really felt that way.

Xuan Yuan Po was a little stumped, "Then I will study under him?'

Luo Luo didn't want Chen Chang Sheng's time and energy to be wasted on other people, even if she really liked this youngster of her race. She shook her head and said, "I'll teach you."

Xuan Yuan Po was overcome with joy after hearing that Luo Luo will be his teacher. He thought to himself that if this news was passed to his clan, then the entire village would be proud.

Luo Luo continued, "Since master is my teacher, then he is your Grandfather of Teaching."

Xuan Yuan Po was stumped again, suddenly he has a grandfather of teaching?

Chen Chang Sheng was stumped as well, suddenly a grandson of teaching?

Luo Luo said, "Greet the master."

Xuan Yuan Po was impressed by Chen Chang Sheng and since Luo Luo requested it, he kneeled on the floor without any hesitation and give three kowtow to Chen Chang Sheng. The dusts on the floor was flying everywhere and they twirl around in the lamp light.

Chen Chang Sheng was speechless, he kneeled toward the rising sun outside of the window in the eastern direction.

He never thought he would be a grandfather of teaching when he was only fourteen years old.

Master, do you know?

Senior, it seems like our sect would grow in the Tradition Academy.

When he was just feeling nostalgic, he heard a sound coming outside of the window.

Tang Thirty Six's face popped into the window.

He looked at Chen Chang Sheng who was kneeling on the floor and was surprised, "What did you do wrong? why are you kneeling to me?"

Chen Chang Sheng looked at his pale face and asked surprisingly, "You are wounded?"

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The door of the library was opened but Tang Thirty Six preferred to enter through the window. It was hard to say if he was just lazy or had some other reason in mind. If he was in normal condition, jumping through the window would be an extremely easy task, but today it was kind of difficult. He sat on the floor, breathed heavily and coughed for two times.

"You really are wounded." Chen Chang Sheng walked towards him and squatted down and wanted to check his wrist for him.

Tang Thirty Six blocked his hand and said, "I'm fine, I'm just a little tired."

Chen Chang Sheng obviously knew he wasn't speaking the truth, but it seemed that this guy was actually tired. He just laid against the wall, closed his eyes and slept.

The morning light was shining outside the window and landed on Tang Thirty Six's face. It made his face paler than before.

Chen Chang Sheng shook his head, took out a thin blanket from the room and lightly covered him with it.

The light grew stronger as time moved on. Luo Luo brough Xuan Yuan Po to the Herb Garden. As the people of the same race, they needed to talk about some stuff.

Tang Thirty Six woke up, glanced at Chen Chang Sheng who was sitting on the floor concentrating on reading books and asked, "Why didn't you go last night?"

Chen Chang Sheng put down the scrolls and asked, "Go where?"

"Heavenly Academy. Last night was the second night of the Ivy Festival."

Tang Thirty Six put aside the thin blanket that was on him and stood up yawning. His mood seemed to be a lot better, "During the first night, the Tradition Academy really made a name for itself. Everyone was waiting for you last night."

Chen Chang Sheng said, "We didn't want to go, so we didn't go."

Tang Thirty Six looked at him and said, "You truly are a weird person."

Not going to an event like the Ivy Festival just because he didn't want to go; it did seem weird in the eyes of regular people.

"I think you are even weirder." Chen Chang Shang responded.

Chen Chang Sheng remembered the time when he last entered the Heavenly Academy, Tang Thirty Six was xiuxinging hard. "You prepared for the Ivy Festival for such a long time but never appeared during the first night. What happened?"

Hearing this question, Tang Thirty Six was silent for a while and said, "I dislike that little monster of the Academy of Priests."

Chen Chang Sheng asked, "And?"

Tang Thirty Six said, "And I once said that if I had the opportunity, I would handicap him."

Chen Chang Sheng's mood got worse as Tang Thirty Six continued, "If he actually appeared at the Ivy Festival, I was ready to injure him severely, but...some people didn't dare let me harm him and so they didn't allow me to join the festival that night and grounded me in the dorm."

Chen Chang Sheng was silent; a person like Tang Thirty Six wouldn't be so easily convinced by the rules of Heavenly Academy or the authority of his teachers. Therefore not allowing him to join the festival would only mean that the teachers of the Heavenly Academy interfered directly and locked him up in his room.

He could understand the carefulness of the Heavenly Academy because the Tian Hai Ya Er was too powerful. Besides finding a more powerful background, such as Luo Luo, there were not many ways to counter him. If Tang Thirty Six actually injured Tian Hai Ya Er in the Ivy Festival, no one would know the outcome.

But he could relate more to the anger of Tang Thirty Six.

"What was the situation last night? He looked at Tang Thirty Six's pale cheeks and asked.

Tang Thirty Six answered, "Last night was an arena. The person who obtained the first place was a young officer from the Academy of Li Palace."

Chen Chang Sheng switched the topic because he didn't want Tang Thirty Six to continued drowning in the negative atmosphere. Chen Chang Sheng didn't really care about the outcome of the Ivy Festival.

Tang Thirty Six raised his eyebrows and asked, "You are not going to ask?"

"Ask what?'

"Why the young officer of the Academy of Li Palace could obtain the first place?"

"The Academy of Li Palace...he was a student under the sect of Pope, what's so out of place about him getting the first place?"

Tang Thirty Six pointed at himself and said, "It's not outstanding if someone won against me?"

Chen Chang Sheng was speechless that he was still this prideful of himself. Chen Chang Sheng asked reluctantly, "Okay, then...why?"

Tang Thirty Six was satisfied, "Because I didn't participate."

This time Chen Chang Sheng was actually a little surprised. He asked confusingly, "Why?"

"The people who entered the Honor Roll of Green Cloud like Zhuang Huan Yu didn't participate probably because they didn't want to lower their status and prepare for the third night. But I didn't participate because the school didn't allow me to. They told me to stay in the dorm."

Tang Thirty Six's expression got darker.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't understand. If the Heavenly Academy's disallowing of Tang Thirty Six to fight with Tian Hai Ya Er was a little overboard but out of good concern, then the second night was too much. Was the school not afraid that Tang Thirty Six would grow hatred towards it?

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to challenge Zhuang Huan Yu."

Nothing but silence filled the library.

Chen Chang Sheng made sure his ear was working and felt that Tang Thirty Six grew weirder and weirder or rather, more interesting.

He wanted to challenge a senior of the same school, the very person that represented the school.

If Chen Chang Sheng was a teacher of the Heavenly Academy, he wouldn't accept this himself.

Plus there was no such rule in the Ivy Festival.

"Why?"

"Because I don't like him."

"This reason..."

"What about this reason?"

"It's a good one."

Chen Chang Sheng was speechless, he knew there was probably a deeper reason for Tang Thirty Six to challenge Zhuang Huan Yu, but since this guy wasn't willing to tell him, he had no way of forcing him.

"I used half of the night to break through the seal of the school but by the time I arrived at the festival, the event had already ended."

Tang Thirty Six thought about what happened last night and was silent for a while, "I was kind of disgusted by the smell of the school and didn't want to stay there for a while. But I'm not familiar with the capital and had no where else to go, so I came to find you."

Chen Chang Sheng realized that he was wounded from forcefully breaking the seal that the teachers of Heavenly Academy had set up.

The Heavenly Academy was prestigious and serious, but it wasn't suited for Tang Thirty Six.

Although the capital was vast, he couldn't even find a single place to go and stay.

He walked around aimlessly in the streets before the sunrise and noticed that he only knew only one person, Chen Chang Sheng.

Chen Chang Sheng walked to him and folded up the sheet of thin blanket. Then he sat down next to him under the window. He didn't speak.

They didn't look at each other or converse, but Tang Thirty Six knew what he was thinking.

"Do not sympathize or pity me...I'm a genius on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud."

"Being a genius doesn't mean you don't need sympathy."

"But you are in the same situation as me. In the entire capital, you only know me."

Tang Thirty Six mocked. Upon remembering this fact, he felt a little better about the situation.

Just this moment, Luo Luo and Xuan Yuan Po walked in from the front door of the library.

Xuan Yuan Po held a much bigger lunch box than normal.

Luo Luo walked toward Chen Chang Sheng and said, "Master, it's time for lunch."

Chen Chang Sheng looked at Tang Thirty Six and opened his palm to show that this wasn't intentional.

Tang Thirty Six always though Chen Chang Sheng's personality problem was worse than his. He didn't make any friend in the Heavenly Academy but this guy has already made two and one of them was a pretty, young girl. It landed a large impact in his heart.

Then he remembered what the vice principal told him after the first night of the Ivy Festival.

"You are the one who handicapped Tian Hai Ya Er?" Tang Thirty Six looked at Luo Luo and asked.

It was even hard for him to compete with the little monster of the Academy of Priests in the amount of qi in their body, speak less of handicapping him just from collision of their qi. This young girl of the Tradition Academy surely was no ordinary character. In addition, after the incident, the Tradition Academy was untouched which proved that this girl's background was extremely powerful.

Now a lot of people in the capital was guessing the background of the Tradition Academy and how it was untouched after the incident. Some people were suspicious of Chen Chang Sheng's background, but Tang Thirty Six knew that he was just a rural youngster who came from Xi Ning Village. Then it only could be this young girl.

Therefore his expression was serious and sincere when asking this question.

Luo Luo didn't pay attention to him. Instead, she walked toward Chen Chang Sheng and opened the lunch box and wiped the chopsticks clean. Then she handed them to Chen Chang Sheng.

Observing this scene, Tang Thirty Six couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Chen Chang Sheng was a little shy. He handed the chopsticks to Tang Thirty Six and introduced him, "His name is Tang Thirty Six."

"I know, Master." Luo Luo replied.

Of course she knew Chen Chang Sheng was familiar with Tang Thirty Six. Or to be exact, before her, he only knew Tang Thirty Six.

Chen Chang Sheng thought that since Tang Thirty Six was a young genius on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud and Luo Luo wasn't an ordinary person, then it wouldn't be strange for her to know him.

Luo Luo understood what he was thinking and said, "I know who he is, but I'm not familiar with him."

Chen Chang Sheng said, "I thought since you were familiar with Zhuang Huan Yu, you would be familiar with him as well."

Luo Luo peaked at Tang Thirty Six for a second and said, "Zhuang Huan Yu was right next to me, it was hard for me to not be familiar with him. Tang Thirty Six...was a little far."

Chen Chang Sheng thought he heard this before but he still didn't understand. Tang Thirty Six didn't understand either but he could hear the mocking of the young girl. He was a little irritated and therefore, he picked the most expensive dishes in the lunch box and started eating.

Luo Luo wasn't very happy.

Xuan Yuan Po sat there and ate quietly.

After finishing lunch, Tang Thirty Six took the black tea that Luo Luo prepared for Chen Chang Sheng and drank it in one go.

Luo Luo looked at him and smiled coldly.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't know what to do, he asked Tang Thirty Six, "Then what are you going to do next?"

"I will definitely participate in the third night. The school won't stop me from going."

"How are you so sure?"

"This time, the four of the Seven Rules of Heaven will come. Is Zhuang Huan Yu able to counter all of them by himself?"

Chen Chang Sheng was confused, "What?"

Tang Thirty Six set the black tea on the floor and looked at him, "You don't know? The southern ambassadors will arrive at the capital early this year."

Chen Chang Sheng remembered the variable that Officer Xin talked about that day and realized this is what it was. Then he asked curiously, "Didn't they always come after the winter solstice? There would still be some time before the Great Trial, why did they come so early?"

Tang Thirty Six answered, "At first no one knew, but now, everyone on the continent knows."

Chen Chang Sheng asked, "What is the reason?"

Tang Thirty Six said, "The southern ambassadors wanted to propose officially on the day of Qi Xi. (Chinese Valentines Day)"

"Propose?" Chen Chang Sheng asked.

Tang Thirty Six answered, "Yes, Xu You Rong... is finally going to marry someone."

Chen Chang Sheng was stumped. He was silent for a long while.

Suddenly, he stood up and walked out of the library.

"Where are you going master?" Luo Luo asked.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't turn his head, "The dishes were a little salty. I want to go rest by myself."

Today's dishes were a little salty.

His voice was a little weak.

This sentence was a little messy.

Because his heart was a mess.

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If the dishes were actually salty, then he would need to drink some water, not rest. The illogicality of this simple sentence from Chen Chang Sheng meant that the dishes weren't actually salty but rather, he just really needed to calm his mind and not continue in such a messy state.

He walked towards the lake and stood under a big tree. He stepped over the tree roots above the earth with his hands on his waist. Chen Chang Sheng glanced over the wall and looked into the distance. He only wanted to glance as far as he could, but he didn't know whether he should look towards the direction of Xi Ning Village or the south.

A moment later, he took out a tiny item that was made out of bamboo and stored it in his pocket. He had told himself not to take it out anymore when he was first living in the tavern. He had taken this tiny thing and placed it into the deepest part of his luggage. It wasn't until now that he took it out once more.

The southern ambassadors were going to propose in the capital. Xu You Rong was going to be arranged with Qiu Shan Jun. Although she won't be married to him in such a short time, she was ultimately going to get married.

Chen Chang Sheng always thought romance had no effect on him and that he would never think about Xu You Rong. The reason he came to capital was to dismiss the marriage vow and this still held true. Therefore, he didn't understand why he became irritated, or even felt despair after hearing this news.

He wasn't used to such feelings and he didn't like it. He was unhappy.

Perhaps it wasn't due to marriage and was for another reason.

Chen Chang Sheng tried to convince himself so, and then he found a justifiable cause – in the least degree, he and Xu You Rong had a marriage vow. No matter the laws, he was her fiance, and she was his fiancee. Under the current condition that he haven't officially forfeit the vow, of course he wouldn't be happy because his own fiancee was going to marry some other man.

Of course he shouldn't be happy.

Yes, this was the reason.

Yu Dong General's Mansion and Xu You Rong weren't being respectful with their decision and he was mad.

He told himself in his heart silently.

Tang Thirty Six walked toward the lake and stood beside Chen Chang Sheng, "You still haven't solve the problem between you and Yu Dong General's Mansion? Then this is a problem. The Divine Queen always trusted Xu Shi Ji, and if Xu You Rong is married to Qiu Shan Jun, then no one in the Zhou Dynasty will be able to stop him."

Luo Luo looked at his face with a worried expression, but she didn't say anything.

The previous reaction of Chen Chang Sheng was strange and it didn't escape the eyes of Luo Luo and Tang Thirty Six. Plus, they knew that there was trouble between Chen Chang Sheng and Dong Yu General's Mansion. But no matter what they thought, they couldn't figure out that he was the fiance of Xu You Rong, and therefore they couldn't figure out a way to help him.

Just like what Shuang Er first said in the General's Mansion; the entire world believed that Xu You Rong and Qiu Shan Jun were a destined couple, even Luo Luo and Tang Thirty Six. No one could have known that Chen Chang Sheng existed between those two.

"It's nothing, I am just a little nervous," Chen Chang Sheng turned around and faced the two, "I heard that there were many geniuses in the southern sects. I don't know what kind of situation it would be during next year's Great Trial."

Tang Thirty Six knew Chen Chang Sheng's goal in the Great Trial, and he thought Chen Chang Sheng should be nervous, "Mountain Virgin, Mountain Li... all of those southern sects are powerful. If young geniuses like the Seven Rules of Heaven participated in the Great Trial, it will be difficult to defeat them."

Chen Chang Sheng asked, "I heard that the reason Zhuang Huan Yu became rank ten on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud was because he won over one of the Seven Rules of Heaven?"

"He won over Qi Jian. He's the youngest, and the weakest of the Seven Rules of Heaven."

Mentioning the Seven Rules of Heaven, even a person as prideful as Tang Thirty Six became serious. "This time, four of the Seven Rules of Heaven will participated in the Ivy Festival, and they will probably participate in the Great Trial as well. Their leader should be Gou Han Shi. Would Zhuang Huan Yu dare to challenge him?"

"What about...Qiu Shan Jun?" Chen Chang Sheng asked.

"Proposing is a job of the elders and friends, how could Qiu Shan Jun travel to the capital himself? And whether he will attend next year's Great Trial or not, I'm not sure. But don't look down on Gou Han Shi. He is an honorable man."

Tang Thirty Six was a prideful person. It didn't matter if he was ranked thirty sixth on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud or not, it was a personality problem. The only desire he had after entering the Heavenly Academy was to defeat Zhuang Huan Yu, who was ranked tenth. Although there may be some other reason, Tang Thirty Six didn't respect Zhuang Huan Yu much.

There weren't many people that he respected. Xu You Rong, Qiu Shan Jun, that young wolfling in the demon territory, and that mysterious young girl ranked above Zhuang Huan Yu, and perhaps an unique character like Chen Chang Sheng earned some respect from him. For a person like Gou Han Shi to be called honorable by Tang Thirty Six meant that this person must be extraordinary.

"The second of the Seven Rules of Heaven, he is ranked only under Qiu Shan Jun."

Luo Luo knew Chen Chang Sheng didn't know much about the xiuxing world, "It's rumored that this person is wise and understands all of the Scrolls of the Way. His reputation is extremely high in the hearts of the young students of Mountain Li and even other sects. He is a brainy character."

Chen Chang Sheng asked, "Then why is he extraordinary?"

Tang Thirty Six was speechless, "Understanding the entire Scrolls of the Way isn't extraordinary?"

Hearing 'understanding the Scrolls of the Way,' Chen Chang Sheng naturally remembered his senior and himself. He didn't know what was so special about this, but if he said so, Luo Luo wouldn't care but Tang Thirty Six would mock him. Therefore he switched the topic.

"Who else will come from the Seven Rules of Heaven?"

"Guan Fei Bai, ranked fourth in both the Seven Rules of Heaven and on the Honor Roll of Green Cloud. I heard that he is a prideful person."

Mentioning this person's name, there was expression of respect on Tang Thirty Six's face. Instead, his eyes were burning with interest, "Zhuang Huan Yu's target would be him in the third night of Ivy Festival. I need to think of a way to get him."

Chen Chang Sheng counted using his fingers, "He's ranked fourth and you are ranked thirty sixth. There are thirty two people between you guys."

Tang Thirty Six's face got gloomier, "What do you mean?"

Chen Chang Sheng answered, "I meant that don't always rush to your goal. You should do things gradually and then you can reach it with a foundation without distribution. You can't pull out the roots to make the trees grow taller, there is a saying..."

"Continue," Tang Thirty Six smiled coldly, "You got a good vocabulary pool."

Chen Chang Sheng saw that Tang Thirty Six's expression wasn't exactly friendly so he gave a smile and stopped talking.

Tang Thirty Six said, "If everything was set on the rankings, then what is the purpose of the Ivy Festival and Great Trial? I can't defeat Xu You Rong or Qiu Shan Jun because they are geniuses with special bloodline. Although Guan Fei Bai ranks above that wolfling and that mysterious young girl, if you ask Guan Fei Bai himself if he dares to say that he is stronger than those two, he will say no."

Chen Chang Sheng realized this was true, but who was the wolfling and the young girl who was mentioned by Tang Thirty Six?

Tang Thirty Six remembered the well built Yao youngster he saw in the library and asked, "That guy also entered the Tradition Academy?"

"Yeah, he doesn't want to stay in the Starseeker Academy anymore."

"I heard the behavior of Starseeker Academy in the first night of Ivy Festival was disgusting. No one else stood up besides that guy...but that guy was so heavily injured by Tian Hai Ya Er. He is probably handicapped for life. You sure you want to bring him in?"

"I didn't even enter Purification myself, am I not a bigger garbage than he is?"

Tang Thirty Six laughed coldly, "What garbage dares to say that he wants to obtain the championship of the Great Trial?"

"Of course my Master will obtain first place," Luo Luo spoke without hesitation. Her eyes looked at Chen Chang Sheng with nothing but respect.

Tang Thirty Six was stunned for a moment and asked, "What's the situation here?"

He knew Luo Luo wasn't an ordinary person. Previously, he was confused after seeing her obedient gestures toward Chen Chang Sheng. Right now Tang Thirty Six was even more confused because she called Chen Chang Sheng her master. She was so close to him and she respected him so much. He didn't understand the relationship between these two.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't know how to explain.

On the other hand, Luo Luo explained generously, "I am the student of Master."

"What?"

Tang Thirty Six was surprised, he looked at Chen Chang Sheng and said, "Aren't you only fourteen years old?"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "She wanted to become my student, I couldn't refuse her."

Tang Thirty Six thought for a moment and said, "Well, you behave maturely and it seems like you are older than your actual age. It should be fine."

Luo Luo said unhappily, "My Master is responsible and independent, you think everyone should be like you?"

Tang Thirty Six didn't want to bother with the young girl and dusted his shirt and was ready to leave. At last, he asked, "Are you going to attend the last night?"

Luo Luo thought about her Master's personality and thought that he will probably not participate just like last night.

Chen Chang Sheng thought for a moment and said, "We will go and watch."

———————————————–

Due to the arrival of the southern ambassadors, the last night of Ivy Festival was pushed back of a several days. And the event location was moved from the Heavenly Academy to Wei Yang Palace. Wei Yang Palace is one of the buildings of the royal palace. This move clearly showed the government's close attention on this event.

If the southern ambassadors proposed successfully, then the relationship between the south and north will be closer and Xu You Rong may become the first Virgin of the southern sect from the capital in the history of mankind. Zhou Dynasty's influence on the south will become much greater and the Divine Queen will be happy to see the results of this.

Speaking from a logical perspective, no one or no faction could stop this event from happening.

Even the demon race who didn't want to this to happen couldn't stop it.

Only a handful of people in the entire world knew about the only variable in this event.

That variable lived in the ruined Tradition Academy.

It was a youngster named Chen Chang Sheng.

It was the beginning of autumn. The night was chilly but water wasn't cold.

Tonight, the capital was filled with the light of candles and lamps. It was Qi Xi. (Previously mentioned, Chinese Valentines Day)

Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo walked out of the Tradition Academy. They left the depths of Hundred Blossom Street and arrived at the busy and lively world.

These two walked toward Wei Yang Palace which wasn't too far away.

Until this moment, he didn't know what he should do. He didn't know what he should do when the southerners propose at the General's Mansion.

He haven't decided yet. He just wanted to see.

He never knew what could happen tonight.

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The capital was beautiful on the night of Qi Xi. Candles and lamp lights combined with the starlights and the fireworks to brightening up the dark sky. It was hard to distinguish the difference between the light from earth and the brightness of the stars. Everywhere was the sea of light and no darkness could exist in it.

The rivers and streams in the capital were also lit up as well. The merchant ships and tourists ships were filled with lamps and there were countless tiny lamp boats floating down stream. The most famous of the rivers, River Luo, was almost entirely filled by lamp boats and young couples stood on the shores watching the lamp boats they released themselves. They either prayed quietly or clapped happily for the joy of this holiday and tradition. Their young faces and fancy attires were brightened up by the lamp lights.

This was Qi Xi – Chen Chang Sheng stood on the stone bridge and observed the loving young couples. He observed the love and youth that flowed between the river and lamp boats silently. Luo Luo was at first very happy, but became quiet after feeling his silence.

Ivy Festival was delayed for many days until tonight due to the participation of the southern ambassadors. In the previous days, Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo were reading and xiuxinging in the Tradition Academy without a care of outside news. What made Chen Chang Sheng a little out of wood was that he still couldn't successfully enter Purification. On the other hand, Luo Luo's progress was godspeed under his teaching and mentoring.

It would be hard to build an extra floor on a skyscraper, speak less of flying directly above the clouds. If the people who knew about Luo Luo's true identity and discovered her progressing speed, they would treat Chen Chang Sheng as a god.

Luo Luo believed that her Master was a god because of not only her growth in strength but also because Xuan Yuan Po's wound was healing rapidly. Chen Chang Sheng accomplished many things other that were considered impossible. She therefore didn't lose her respect for him after getting closer to him and knowing him for so long. Instead, she praised him more as time went on.

The lamp boats in the river were floating away like fireflies. The dimming lights shined on Chen Chang Sheng's face and his expression was undetectable. She looked at the side of his face and suddenly asked, "Master, what kind of Mistress are you trying to find in the future?"

Tonight was the night of Qi Xi. The capital of the entire human world was absorbed in the greatness of love and romance. Countless young men and women entered the strange realm embarrassingly or bravely. Looking at those heated scenes, it was only normal for Luo Luo to think about these questions.

Chen Chang Sheng thought for a moment and answered, "I never thought about these things."

Luo Luo thought to herself, if he really never thought of these things, then why did he hesitate to answer?

——————————–

Wei Yang Gong was a main building in the royal palace. It was usually used for royal feasts or traditional festivals. The building was treated specially due to its high quality. Tonight the capital was filled with light, and this building was being used as the location of the Ivy Festival. It was decorated to such an extent that people could mistake it for a palace in heaven.

Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo arrived at the entrance of the Wei Yang Gong. They took out their invitation letters and had their identification checked. They followed the lead of a servant and headed for the depths of the palace. Even from a far distance, Chen Chang Sheng could see the soft light emitting from a royal palace to the night sky. He recognized it was the light from a Nightly Pearl.

How many Nightly Pearls would be needed to light up the entire palace? Chen Chang Sheng thought silently and was shocked. But there was no expression on his face, just like how the nervousness in his heart didn't show on his complexion either.

There was no doubt that the Zhou Royal Palace was the center of the entire human world. Even the Li Palace or the southern Mountain Virgin or the Sword Sect of Mountain Li couldn't compare to this royal palace. If one must find a comparable location, it could only be the Demon Palace in the Xue Lao City.

Walking in the Zhou Palace and feeling every sincere essence flowing out of the rocks and windows, Chen Chang Sheng felt a little nervous. It was different from his daily point of view from the Tradition Academy, and he was just a youngster who wasn't even fifteen years of age.

On the other hand, Luo Luo wasn't nervous at all. She was just as generous as usual and her steps were light and causal. She didn't need the servant's lead and she would pull on Chen Chang Sheng's sleeve to tell him where to go and what he should pay attention to.

Chen Chang Sheng noticed this and asked quietly, "You been here often?"

Luo Luo answered, "When I first arrived the capital, I was living here."

Chen Chang Sheng knew her background was powerful, but he was still surprised after hearing this.

The two climbed up the long stone stairs in front of the Wei Yang Palace.

After they entered the door, the first thing that entered their vision were a massive amount of Nightly Pearls. Although none of them could compare to the one that Luo Luo gifted Chen Chang Sheng, all these Nightly Pearls put together made a staggering view.

Nightly Pearls aren't oil lamps or candles. Even if the night breezes were strong, the light is still emitted without being disturbed. The light in the palace was soft and bright. Every masterful details of the carvings on the walls and ceilings could be seen perfectly.

Plus, there was not even a trace of wind.

There must be some type of seal in the Wei Yang Palace so that wind couldn't enter.

There were many seats put up in the palace. Starseeker Academy, Academy of Priests, Heavenly Academy, Academy of Li Palace, and Thirteen Division of Green Light still occupied the best positions. The students who passed the semi-trial were sitting in the scattered seats.

Many people had already arrived, and many more were still coming. There were officers from the Department of Education and officials of the government taking attendance in the front door. Besides their voices, the entire palace was quiet. Once in a while a person would stand up and greet their friends, but most of the people were silent.

"The Tradition Academy is here."

Following the attendance of the officer, the entire palace fell into a complete silence. But it was shattered a moment later. Countless whispers began to appear and discussion were being made. All eyes glanced towards the entrance of the palace and landed on the young boy and the young girl.

Tradition Academy was the least well known, or you can say almost forgotten, of the entire Six Ivies. In the previous years, the Tradition Academy didn't even have a seat in the Ivy Festival. But after the first night of this year's Ivy Festival, this school was remembered by many people and wouldn't be forgotten this time.

Everyone was looking at Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo who were standing at the palace entrance. Their eyes weren't filled with curiosity or sympathy, but rather caution and suspicion. Many of them were looking at Luo Luo. Those eyes were especially heavy and filled with fear.

After that night, many people were checking the background of the Tradition Academy. They knew about the approximate background of Chen Chang Sheng from the Department of Education, but still no one could find out the identity of Luo Luo. They only know that this young girl appeared in the Heavenly Academy and the Starseeker Academy. The principal of Heavenly Academy, Mao Qiu Yu, knew the background of this young girl. Some people also found out that the guests of Royal Court also appeared with this young girl. The Yu Tian General, Xue Xing Chuan, advised his people in his mansion to be careful around the young girl.

But they couldn't ask or force these powerful characters to leak any information.

The background of Luo Luo remained mysterious and unknown. But through these big characters people, they could at least know that her background wasn't ordinary, or else the Tradition Academy and herself wouldn't be safe after she handicapped that little monster of the Family of Tian Hai while the professor of Heavenly Academy had disappeared.

Of course, the reason that Luo Luo became an interesting character in the capital wasn't only due her mysterious background and relationship with the royal palace, but because of her strength that was shown on the first night of Ivy Festival. At such a young age, the young girl was already this powerful. Perhaps only Xu You Rong could defeat her, but Xu You Rong was born talented with the bloodline of Sky Phoenix. Who was this genius that popped out of nowhere?

Compared to Luo Luo, Chen Chang Sheng received very little attention. Everyone could see that this youngster still didn't reach Purification and was just an ordinary person. Although people didn't understand why Luo Luo respected him so much, they wouldn't look at him otherwise just because of her respect towards him.

An officer of the Department of Education walked from the side to the front of the palace and announced to the students of Six Ivies and the students who passed the semi trials that the Southern ambassadors will arrive at the capital tonight. They will be staying at the Academy of Li Palace and will accept the blessing from the Pope. After that, they will enter the palace and the event when start a little late.

Hearing this news, the people in the palace weren't particularly happy. But the weird thing is that the mood in the palace was lifted. It was clear that the young geniuses led by Gou Han Shi in the southern ambassador put a lot of pressure on the prideful youths of the Zhou Dynasty.

But since they needed to wait, they couldn't just sit around. The attendance continued and the students and staff all stood up and greeted people who they were familiar with. They talked about the interesting things that happened recently and discussed how Gou Han Shi would perform later. All was lively.

The Tradition Academy's position was still in the corner and undisturbed by anyone. Except in the past the Tradition Academy was actually forgotten by the entire world, but now the entire world was ignoring the Tradition Academy's existence on purpose. The difference between the two may be small, but it was important.

Of course, this purposeful ignorance was mainly due to the arrival of the southern ambassadors. Many people didn't want to attract the troubles onto themselves – it seemed like the two powers of the Zhou Dynasty were trying to compete with each other through the Tradition Academy. If it was any other time, there would be tons of people challenging Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo – but not now. There will be a more important thing happening in the Wei Yang Palace tonight, it would be more important than the new students of the Tradition Academy and the possible collision of the two powers of the Zhou Dynasty.

The marriage proposal tonight was the single most important thing happening in the human world.

Xu You Rong has the bloodline of Sky Phoenix, which would only appear once in a thousand years. Qiu Shan Jun has the bloodline of Heavenly Dragon, which was unheard of in the world. Plus, Mountain Virgin and Mountain Li were the most powerful sects in the southern hemisphere. If it was actually mentioned, they would be students of the same sect. No matter how you look at it, they were a destined pair blessed by heaven.

The Zhou Dynasty also liked to see the success of this marriage – not because people like to see perfection out of perfection, but rather because Xu You Rong will become the Virgin of Southern Sects. She would be the first girl from the capital in the history to take this position. Qiu Shan Jun would become the Guardian of the Southern Sect. There are two Traditions in the north and south, people's mind were also divided between the north and south. But the entire human world would be bound closer together due to this marriage, and the war against the demon race would have a better result.

The entire human world would like to see Xu Yong Rong married to Qiu Shan Jun.

Anyone wish against it would be rebelling against the entire world.

Editor bing- Seriously... if the Xu You Rong had the blood of the Sky Phoenix and Qiu Shan Jun has the blood of the Heavenly Dragon, then the MC obvs has the blood of the divine god. Like What kinda bloodline requires one to freaking sheeshkabobing amount of energy just to reach the purification stage? Common please... they are geniuses then our MC is god... Well this is just my ranting but seriously I am kinda annoyed by how the two are so respected ...

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The seats of the Tradition Academy were located at a corner that no one cared about and was deserted just like the first night of the Ivy Festival. Chen Chang Sheng kept thinking about the proposal that will come from the Southern ambassadors. He didn't care about the mood of the festival and Luo Luo wasn't even concerned about these insignificant events. She was paying attention to Chen Chang Sheng's feeling and was guessing about what he had in his mind. Occasionally, she would pick a fruit and feed him, but she would not give a glance to the tea on the desk. The tea from the royal palace was obviously elite in commoners' eyes, but in her eyes it was extremely poor quality. How could she let her master drink it?

A mid aged court maid appeared behind the seats of the Tradition Academy. Her face was expressionless and extraordinarily cold and arrogant and she seemed to have the status of imperial concubine. But when she got close to Luo Luo, the coldness on the maid's face entirely turned into respect and enthusiasm. Her voice was also well controlled such that only Luo Luo and Cheng Chang Sheng could hear it.

An invite from the Ping Huo Princess? Chen Chang Sheng felt a little surprised and gave a look to Luo Luo to ask her what's happening.

Luo Luo looked deep into the palace and saw Official Jin and Official Li in the shadow. She roughly figured out what happened, felt a bit sorry, and spoke to Chen Chang Sheng. "Master, I haven't visited the palace for a long time, maybe I have to go there for a while."

Chen Chang Sheng already gradually got used to the surprise Luo Luo brought him. He even felt somewhat numb and said, "Since you know him, then you should go."

Luo Luo looked at the people who frequently glanced at the seats of the Tradition Academy "Don't worry master, I will come back soon."

Chen Chang Sheng knew what she was worrying about but did not feel embarrassed and laughed "You must come back."

After a while, another servant from the palace came, but this time Chen Chang Sheng himself was invited. He looked at the body that was as tall and big as mountain outside the side door of hall in the darkness and remained silent for a while. He made sure that people inside the hall did not notice him before he stood up and walked towards the man.

Even though the side door of the hall was slowly closed, the soft light of the Nightly Pearl still penetrated through the window falling on Xu Shi Ji's body. It's shape was sketched out more clearly. When Chen Chang Sheng saw his back, he felt a little heartquake but he didn't have much of a reaction.

"You did not participate the second night of the Ivy Festival. I thought you wouldn't show up tonight either."

Xu Shi Ji turned around and looked at him coldly, "Why do you come?"

Chen Chang Sheng did not even understand himself. Why did he want to come to at the last night of the Ivy Festival? Later on when the Southern ambassadors representing Qiu Shan Jun officially propose to Xu You Rong, what should he do? He knew why Xu Shi Ji wanted to see him privately before the proposal outside the hall.

That reason made him a bit angry. He looked at Xu Shi Ji's eyes and said "Uncle, I am a student of the Tradition Academy and I have the right to come to the Ivy Festival."

This answer obviously couldn't make Xu Shi Ji happy. What made him even more unhappy was, Chen Chang Sheng called him uncle. Such title was for treating a close elder, but it was obviously intentional. Within it hid a deeper meaning when the youngster said it.

He looked at Chen Chang Sheng and said, "It seems like you are not prepared to continue keeping your promise."

Chen Chang Sheng replied, "I never expect everyone to keep his/her promise, but I will definitely keep it myself."

Since he arrived at the capital, Dong Yu General's mansion caused many troubles for him. They caused trouble for him until some high status people stood out and helped him, but for what reason they did it he did not know. They allowed him to study in the Tradition Academy in exchange for a type of promise, but he never promised them anything. (aka he understood what they wanted but he never promised them anything)

If they really have to talk about promise, then the engagement that was signed many years ago was the real promise.

Dong Yu General's Mansion did not want to keep the promise, then how could they criticize him for not keeping their promise?

Xu Shi Ji looked at him calmly "What do you think you, a little kid, can change?"

Chen Chang Sheng did not reply, turned around, and prepared to walk back into the hall.

Xu Shi Ji laughed and said, "What an immature child."

Chen Chang Sheng paused because he suddenly felt his body becoming somewhat rigid.

Just a simple sentence from Xu Shi Ji, made his heart suddenly tightened up. The speed his blood moved inside the vessels became extremely terrifying.

A violent but bloody qi controlled his body and heart.

Chen Chang Sheng's face turned into a red unhealthy color and he felt very uneasy. Until now, he was certain that elites at Xu Shi Ji's level could kill a commoner like him easily if they really wanted to.

He stood by the side door of the hall and looked at the light inside the hall.

Although night arrived, the hall inside was still as bright as daytime.

No one dared to kill people in front the public in the royal palace, especially at such an important night. Even Xu Shi Ji did not dared. But because tonight was too important, Xu Shi Ji definitely would not watch him sit in the hall. Chen Chang Sheng can stand up at any time and destroy the marriage that the entire human world was anticipating.

Xu Shi Ji could heavily wound him, or even make him faint. Although this would bring him many trouble, it would cleanse all the variables beforehand.

Chen Chang Sheng clearly understood what Xu Shi Ji's plan. If he was Xu Shi Ji, he would probably choose to take the risk too, but he did not regret meeting Xu Shi Ji outside. Because just like in the Xu's Mansion and outside the Priest's Academy, he was not ashamed so he was not afraid.

His right hand held the button that Luo Luo sewed inside his sleeve.

Let all of this be reveal in the light brought by the Nightly Pearl.

At this moment, in the darkness of the palace a voice suddenly came up.

The voice was very soft, giving people a friendly and clean feeling.

Like a spring wind blowing into one's face.

"General Xu, what are you doing here?"

A handsome young man walked out of the darkness, wearing yellow shirt, smiling kindly.

Anyone could see that there was conflict between Xu Shi Ji and Chen Chang Sheng, but this young man still asked calmly and asked in such a natural way as if he really just wanted to say hi to Xu Shi Ji and begin a friendly conversation.

A spring wind at night.

The bloody and violent qi suddenly disappeared.

Chen Chang Sheng escaped from the danger and his face gradually recovered.

Xu Shi Ji looked at the young man and saluted, "Good to see you, Prince Chen Liu. I am just chatting with an old friend."

Chen Chang Sheng felt a little surprised, thinking that this was the legendary Prince Chen Liu.

Prince Chen Liu looked at him, appeared very shocked, and said, "So you are the one?"

Xu Shi Ji frowned "Does prince know him?"

Prince Chen Liu smiled "The first student of the Tradition Academy in the recent years. It's hard for me to not know him."

Since the Divine Queen came to power, the Chen's royal family was forced out of the capital and moved to various distant cities. Only Prince Chen Liu was still in the capital and grew up in the palace.

Prince Chen Liu was the only bloodline of the old royal family in the capital. He represented many meanings.

In the few days ago, the Tradition Academy reappeared in people's eyes, in many's eyes, that also represented many meanings.

Coincidentally, the meanings that two represented were all the same.

Editor Binggo- I thought from the title that something love related happen from spring wind... so much sadness that i was wrong..

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Looking at this young man with a handsome complexion and generous aura, Chen Chang Sheng greeted him calmly, but his mind wasn't as calm as his expression was.

Prince Chen Liu was of the royal bloodline and his talent was extraordinary. Since he grew up in the royal palace and had a high status, he never participated in the Great Trials and didn't have any chances to show his strength. The principal of the Heavenly Academy and the guests of the Royal Palace all said that it would be easy for him to enter the Honor Roll of Green Cloud based off his strength when he was young. Now that he's more than twenty years old, if he was willing, there would be a spot on the Honor Roll of Midas for him as well.

But the reason that he was respected by an important General like Xu Shi Ji wasn't because of his royal bloodline or his strength, but rather because the Divine Queen treated him differently and allowed him to stay in the capital. This decision led to countless theories – perhaps the Divine Queen was thinking about letting him become the next emperor of the Zhou Dynasty?

Many people believed this theory but these recent years, the Family of Tian Hai has been acting arrogant and prideful. Although Prince Chen Liu belonged to the royal family of Chen, the Divine Queen never expressed her true attitude and no one knew what kind of character he would be in the future of Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, everyone in the capital treated him with a complex attitude; they respected him but isolated him.

Xu Shi Ji was one of the Generals of the Zhou Dynasty and was deeply trusted by the Divine Queen. Because of the old event where he massacred the royal family rebellion, he made a lot of enemies in the government court. For this reason, he exercised even more caution when dealing with Prince Chen Liu. He needed to do something and not trouble the mentioned prince.

He knew Prince Chen Liu was representing the Divine Queen and hosting tonight's Ivy Festival while greeting the southern ambassadors who traveled far to get here. However, he never knew that he would encounter the prince outside of the palace. In addition, the prince was showing hints of reminders of a certain thing and in the meanwhile, sort of protecting Chen Chang Sheng.

Xu Shi Ji was sure that the marriage vow between Chen Chang Sheng and his daughter was unknown to the world so the purpose of Prince Chen Liu's sudden appearance and protection of Chen Chang Sheng would be helping the Tradition Academy. This reminded him of certain rumors going around the capital lately which made him feel insecure.

Prince Chen Liu looked at Chen Chang Sheng and smiled, "Can I help you with anything?"

His voice was neither fast nor slow. His expression was friendly and gave off a feeling of the wind of spring. It was warm and relaxing.

At the beginning, Chen Chang Sheng didn't understand the reason for this prince's protection but after hearing this sentence, he became relaxed. Now hearing the warm words of the prince, he was thankful and said, "Thank you for worrying about us."

"No need to thank me. In fact, you were just dragged into unnecessary trouble. We are the ones who should apologize because we are just sitting in the walls of the capital and doing nothing." Prince Chen Liu smiled while looking at him. His words were causal but his tone was sincere.

When the city gates go down, it will trouble the people inside as well.

If it wasn't for the two powers of Zhou Dynasty causing trouble from the recruitation of Tradition Academy, Chen Chang Sheng would just be a normal youngster unknown to the world. He wouldn't be watched by the entire capital and attract so much attention.

Prince Chen Liu didn't know about the stories between Chen Chang Sheng and Dong Yu General's Mansion and so, he thought Xu Shi Ji was bothering him on purpose. It was also one of the troubles he talked about earlier. It made logical sense for him to apologize to Chen Chang Sheng because he was a member of the royal family.

Of course, to be able to apologize to an ordinary person as a prince showed that he was truly a friendly person. Plus he didn't mind covering up the struggles between the old royal family and Divine Queen in front of Xu Shi Ji in the royal palace which showed that he was a carefree person.

"You are too generous."

Chen Chang Sheng really liked this prince and said, "If I do need to trouble you with any help, I will ask you."

"Very good, I like your personality. I'm not afraid of troubles."

Prince Chen Liu smiled and patted his shoulder and then he continued to proceed into the palace with his guards. before leaving, he peeked at Xu Shi Ji for a short moment. His eyes were calm and soft, but it showed warning.

The soft light emitted by the Nightly Pearls pierced through the papers in the window and became unstable.

Xu Shi Ji's face was brightened by the light, but his expression was changing by the moment.

Prince Chen Liu had left, but his words stayed in the hallway before the entrance to the palace. No matter how hard the night gales blew, they didn't fly away.

Xu Shi Ji couldn't bother Chen Chang Sheng any further, but he said coldly, "Your luck is very good."

Chen Chang Sheng thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps, it's because of my good heart."

After saying this, he laughed.

In many people's eyes, Chen Chang Sheng was way more mature than his actual age because he always acted calm and never had extreme emotions. He never really talked much with strangers and always followed rules and had good manners. He doesn't smile much either.

But right now he was laughing very happily, because he was in front of Xu Shi Ji.

Xu Shi Ji was laughing too, perhaps he thought the response from a child was funny and naive, but his laughter wasn't a pretty sight.

Wei Yang Palace wasn't a main building and it wasn't a palace where Divine Queen lived in either. There were gardens in ruins a little farther from the palace. Right now, the night was getting darker and from the unmaintained gardens, a black goat slowly walked out. Its eyes were reflecting the starlight and appeared to be gloomy.

Xu Shi Ji looked at this sight in the darkness and raised his eyebrows a little. He didn't speak any further and entered the palace.

Chen Chang Sheng also saw the black goat.

That black goat quietly looked at him and walked towards another direction away from the palace. During its walk, it stopped and turned its head toward Chen Chang Sheng. It seemed like it wanted him to follow.

Chen Chang Sheng understood the black goat's intention — it want him to leave the palace.

Although they couldn't communicate, he could faintly feel and determine that this black goat was friendly towards him. Perhaps this meant that tonight's troubles haven't ended yet or possibly that the true tasks and danger has only started.

But he didn't follow it because he wanted to participate in tonight's Ivy Festival.

He was yet to decide on what to do when the southern ambassador proposes, but he wanted to see the action with his own eyes.

Perhaps when he saw it, he would know what to do.

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The black goat disappeared into the darkness of night.

Chen Chang Sheng stood in the light outside of the palace and thought back to the terrifying aura that Xu Shi Ji gave off earlier. He knew it was very dangerous.

Xu Shi Ji said his luck was good because of Prince Chen Liu's sudden appearance.

He answered that perhaps it was because he had a good heart.

A good heart means that karma is not harming him in anyway, but rather helping.

A person with good karma will be helped by all sources.

This was a fact that he understood after reading the Three Thousand Scrolls of the Way.

After leaving Xi Ning Village and arrived at the capital, he endured taunts, insults, and suspicion. At the same time, many people helped him such as the bishop of the Department of Education, Officer Xin, Prince Chen Liu, and also the black goat that disappeared into the night.

Why did these people help him? He knew that it wasn't because of his personality or morals. Some insults and pressure he faced after coming to the capital shouldn't be endured by him, and this assistance shouldn't appear either. Many things happened out of misunderstanding.

The marriage vow between him and Xu You Rong was only known by Yu Dong General's Mansion and the big character in the royal palace; no one else knew. His entering of Tradition Academy and the insults and mocking from Yu Dong General's Mansion in the previous month led to this misunderstanding.

Tradition Academy was a lake that no one visited. Wild lotuses were growing inside it.

He was just a random bypasser who entered this ruined lake by accident. He wanted to roll his boat across the lake but his action disturbed a group of swain.

Just when he was thinking about this, a loud bird scream was heard far into the distant, and there were water splashing sounds.

It's hard to know if the bird was hunting or being hunted.

Chen Chang Sheng turned around and glanced toward that darkness of night. Suddenly, an alarm went off in his heart.

Just this moment, a voice was heard.

This voice came from the depths of night but wasn't spread throughout the night.

This voice came from the depths of royal palace but didn't fade away into the palace.

This voice was heard directly in his ears and landed on his heart.

This voice was clean and very moving. It was like a popsicle in the winter, but it was colder than winter.

"You, are Chen Chang Sheng?"

The surrounding was silent, the music from the Wei Yang Palace decreased in volume drastically after passing through the window. It was very light. From far away, the leaves were flying with the wind and swirling across the spacious field. They were very light. That voice that appeared in his heart was also very light, but it was as shocking as a lightning.

If an ordinary person heard a voice directly from his heart, they would be terrified. But Chen Chang Sheng wasn't very responsive. He stared at the palaces resting in the night and tried to locate the position of the speaker.

He read all of the Scrolls of the Way. He knew that some xiuxingists in Starfusion stage can easily pass their voice into the ears of ordinary people.

"You are calmer than I thought, or perhaps you are an idiot?"

The voice appeared again.

"I just hope that you are smarter than I imagine."

There was a lady in the royal palace. Although she was young, she has already reached the Starfusion stage and didn't care about the words said by Prince Chen Liu previously. From this, it was clear that her status in the palace was unimaginable and her identity was clear as the daylight. She was the big character that Chen Chang Sheng previously thought about.

He looked into the palaces hidden in the night and greeted calmly, "Greetings, Madam Mo."

The voice disappeared for a moment. It seemed like she didn't expect Chen Chang Sheng to immediately know who she was, or perhaps she wasn't used to been called this way.

The voice belonged to the legendary Lady Mo Yu.

The second most powerful woman in the Zhou Dynasty, or perhaps the second most powerful person. (In terms of political influence, not xiuxingists power)

"You can call me Lady Mo Yu."

"Yes, Madam Mo."

For some reason, Chen Chang Sheng was extra stubborn tonight.

Perhaps it was because he knew the reason for the sudden appearance of Mo Yu.

"You surely are a smart youngster."

"Thank you."

"Recent days, a storm was approaching the capital and you stayed inside the Tradition Academy and didn't set a foot outside. That's why I said you are smart."

"Thank you."

"But this smart...seems a little shameless."

"I await your words."

"You have guessed the identity of Luo Luo and therefore you are hiding behind her. Isn't that shameless?"

"You are the one who commanded me to enter the Tradition Academy. You know I only wanted to learn and xiuxing, I never think much about this."

"But you are still using her."

"This is her wish."

"But any person manly enough wouldn't deceive such an innocent and pure little girl."

"When did I ever deceive her?"

"If you didn't cheat, then how would a person of her status become your apprentice?"

Hearing this question, Chen Chang Sheng was silent for a while and then he glanced at the depths of the night and answered, "Perhaps it's because I have a good heart."

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Chen Chang Sheng truly felt this way about the situation so he said so blatantly. Others might view this sentence as sarcastic and somewhat shameless. Pretty obviously, Mo Yu thought so, so she said with a deep voice, "Let's talk about the engagement."

"That's an issue between the Dong Yu General's Mansion and me."

"You clearly understand that this is not reality. After all, this issue needs to be solved."

Both of them spoke calmly, and indubitably.

Mo Yu's voice was as cold as snow, "If there isn't anyone that insists that you must live, then the the contract in your pocket is simply a piece of trash."

To such a high status character like her, although there was the Pope's signature on the engagement which was very special, she could easily make this engagement useless by killing Chen Chang Sheng. If the person is dead, the engagement obviously becomes a piece of trash.

Chen Chang Sheng looked to the depth of darkness and said, "Many people saw me entered the palace."

Mo Yu said, "Who will care about a person like you?"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "Now that I am a student of the Tradition Academy, many people will care. These days, just because people never show up doesn't mean they don't exist. They are looking at the Tradition Academy, looking at me, and also looking at you."

While speaking this sentence, Chen Chang Sheng naturally thought of the Bishop of the Department of Traditional Education.

Until now, the Bishop still have not said a word to him, but the Bishop knew where the source of change of the Tradition Academy came from.

"Killing me is a very simple thing, but at the same time it is a very troubling thing."

He said, "You can think of ways to take Luo Luo away from me, but you have no way to take away the attention on the Tradition Academy."

Mo Yu's voice became a bit cold, "The fact that I want to kill you is not related to the Tradition Academy. In my eyes, those elders don't exist."

"Yes, the fact that you want to kill me is not related to the Tradition Academy, but unfortunately, no one knows and no one will believe."

Chen Chang Sheng said finally, "Unless you announce the engagement between Xu You Rong and me publicly, then I think, the entire world will support the killing of me, but the problem is that doing so will generate new problems. So I really want to know, what can you do?"

After he came to the capital, especially after he entered the Tradition Academy, it seems like he did not have to be concerned about anything. Only hearing sound of wind, rain and reading books, Chen Chang Sheng lived a calm life while actually being caught up in serious matters.

Recently, Chen Chang Sheng has been studying hard in the Tradition Academy. He didn't even walk out of the door a single step and just as Mo Yu said previously, he's using Luo Luo's identity to frighten the people who intended to harm him. Although Luo Luo proposed this herself, he agreed to it. Simultaneously, he's using the Tradition Academy's history and influence of revitalization to limit the other side of the marriage vow, Xu You Rong's Mansion. Only this way he can ensure his own safety.

The common youngster came from the distant Xi Ning. Facing nobles in the capital and even higher status people from the royal palace, he already made all the responses he could. He could thank his status as a freshman of the Tradition Academy, the so called personality, that let him survive tonight.

"What a villain."

Mo Yu did not hide her sarcasm and demeanor in her voice, "Unfortunately, insignificant people never saw the ocean. How can they understand what's called magnificence? If they never took down a star, how can they understand what's called vast? After all, you are only a summer bug that doesn't understand what snow is."

Suddenly, Chen Chang Sheng felt extremely uneasy. His right hand held a button in his pocket and his left hand held the handle of his short sword.

But it was too late.

He felt his mind was in a blur and his vision was impaired too.

Although it was already night and it was hard to see anything, it was clear that there was something wrong with the scenes in front of him.

An unspeakable aura entered his mind and he suddenly felt tired.

The next moment, he pull himself together and woke up.

But the view was different already. He noticed that he arrived at a random ruined garden. In front of him was a cold lake reflecting the starlight. A few trees were growing around the lake but since it was still autumn, the trees has yet to blossom.

He was shocked. How did he come to this place when just a moment ago, he was in the hallway outside of Wei Yang Palace?

What kind of technique did she use to achieve this strange effect?

No one else was in the ruined garden and the only thing that he could hear were leaves sizzling on the trees.

He turned around and saw the palace hundreds of yards away. It was still filled with light and although he couldn't see the people, it was probably very lively.

Perhaps the southern ambassadors have arrived.

Standing in the ruined garden and staring into a lively garden amplified his loneliness.

Mo Yu's voice was heard again, but this time it wasn't in his heart but rather on the other side of the ruined garden and a certain position in the night, "Just observe. Tonight you just need to be an observer and then everything will be solved easily."

Chen Chang Sheng stared into the dark night and said, "This isn't fair."

Mo Yu said, "Such childish words shouldn't be said by such a cunning person like you."

For some reason, her voice was tired.

Chen Chang Sheng said, "Such childish words shouldn't be said by the legendary Madam Mo."

Mo Yu believed his thought on the fairness of this event was childish.

He believed that Mo Yu's thought was truly naive.

It wasn't a twist of words, but rather a difference of view on this world.

Mo Yu said coldly, "Fair, or justice was never the most important thing in this world."

Chen Chang Sheng was silent for a moment, "When the Wisdom Scholar froze to death in jail for something he never did, he probably wasn't thinking like that."

Wisdom Scholar, Mo Wen Shan, a great educationist and literature of Zhou Dynasty was put in jail without trial because he mocked a powerful figure of the royal court. He later was pulled out of the jail in a freezing day during the winter and died from freezing. Every male member of the Mo Family was killed and only his granddaughter survived.

Mo Yu was that grand daughter.

Mo Yu's cold but furious voice filled the night, "You bold bastard!"

Chen Chang Sheng said, "A person of the world speaks of the events in the world, how is this bold?"

Hearing this, Mo Yu was silent for a long time.

"Yes, it's not fair, but you are too weak...compared to this palace. To fight against the demon race, humans need to unite and need new strength. For this, both the Zhou Dynasty and the southern sects will put in their all. That's why Ivy Festival exists, that's why Great Trial exists, that's why...the marriage between Qiu Shan Jun and her exist.

Mo Yu's voice slowly became calm, "Of course, these things are not important, what is important is that the Queen favors Xu You Rong and relies on Xu You Rong. She believes that only Qiu Shan Jun could pair with her in this world and so, she could only marry to him.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't agree to her idea and was going to leave this ruined garden and walk to Wei Yang Palace.

He knew that it would be impossible to leave in front of the legendary Mo Yu. But this ruined garden seemed to be empty and without boundaries; it would definitely be hard to exit. Therefore, he threw the button that he held in his palm into the ground without hesitation.

This button was made out of rhinoceros horn and was a precious magic item – the Button of Thousand Miles.

After Luo Luo gifted him the Button of Thousand Miles, she also taught him how to use it.

A trace of smoke popped up and Chen Chang Sheng disappeared.

But a moment later, he return to his original position.

The cold lake was still there and the trees weren't moved.

His face got a little pale and a trace of blood was flowing out of the corner of his lips.

There was a powerful boundary around the ruined garden. It was even more powerful than the one released by that demon xiuxingist in Tradition Academy that night.

Zhou Royal Palace wasn't an ordinary place.

The place that Mo Yu wanted him to stay put in isn't ordinary either.

Even if it just looked like a ruined garden, he still couldn't make a move.

——————————————————

"I calculated everything you got, therefore, give up." Mo Yu's voice was so calm that it made Chen Chang Sheng's heart froze.

Chen Chang Sheng picked up his head and rose his right arm to wipe the blood off of the corner of his mouth. He glanced at the palaces during the night and the capital, which he lived in for a several months but still wasn't familiar with. He saw everyone that he couldn't see who lived here.

"To be honest, I was really here to forfeit the marriage vow."

His voice was tired, but still calm as usual, "She was liked by everyone. She was even liked and adored by the Divine Queen. But I never thought about marrying her, I...really was here to forfeit the marriage. But, why does no one believe me?"

The night was dead silent, and the ruined garden was still isolated, just like the expression on his face.

He was here in the capital to forfeit the marriage. He said this twice in Yu Dong General's Mansion. Today, he said another two more times in the royal palace's ruined garden.

Yes, but why did no one believed him?

Just because she is the untouchable True Phoenix's reincarnation? And he himself is just an ordinary boy who couldn't xiuxing?

"I understand clearer than most of the people in this world what the importance of living is. It's more important than marriage, it's more important than the insults and mockery I received after I arrived at the capital. Therefore, I could careless."

He switched his gale from the distance to the opposite side of the lake, "But you guys have done too many meaningless actions. You kept on reminding me that I have a fiancee and that she will be married to another man. Even just a moment ago, you guys were still reminding me of this fact..."

"All right, I must admit that I started to care now."

"Just like what I said to Madam Xu in the General's Mansion."

"This time, I have really changed my mind."

"I won't marry Xu You Rong because I dislike you guys and her."

"But I won't forfeit the marriage vow either, because I dislike you guys and her."

"This is fair."

"This way, if I don't agree, she can't marry Qiu Shan Jun, or anyone for that matter."

"I know this isn't fair for her."

"But it's fair to me."

The ruined garden was dead silent.

The freezing lake's coldness can sneak up on people's spine and pierce their bones.

Mo Yu was silent for a long time. Suddenly, she felt perhaps she did something wrong.

Back in Yu Dong General's Mansion, Madam Xu had this feeling as well.

But the next moment she started laughing. She was mocking herself as well as the words of this youngster.

"In order to do that, you must let the entire continent acknowledge the marriage vow between you and her.

"Tonight would be the best opportunity."

"But you need to leave here first."

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Behind Han Guang Palace, a bamboo carriage slowly arrived. The curtains of the carriage were lifted slightly and Mo Yu appeared on the stone stairs. The starlight shone on her beautiful complexion and her thin eyebrows, bright pupils and the light makeup on her face.

She looked at the two tamed deers, with purely white coats, pulling the carriage and raised her eyebrows. She was a little surprised and asked, "Where is Black Jade?"

The previous black goat had disappeared into the darkness of the night and was nowhere to be found.

Nanny Ning held her hand and helped her walk down the stone stairs and answered lightly, "I don't know where that precious went."

Mo Yu knew that the black goat's personality was a little unique and that she never listened to anyone in the palace. She shook her head and said, "she is just a little kid."

Nanny Ning glanced towards the back of Han Guang palace and thought to herself, the youngster who was standing around the lake and had nowhere to go was also a kid.

Mo Yu knew what she was thinking and mocked lightly, "He's just a kid but when he's talking, he could spit out some logical words and act mature. He doesn't know his actions are just jokes in other people's eyes and would only make him look silly."

Nanny Ning said, "Well, I actually think silly people are sometimes cute as well."

A few months ago when Chen Chang Sheng entered the Tradition Academy, Nanny Ning helped along with the applications and the process. After she was done with the business, Mo Yu knew she liked Chen Chang Sheng. Right now hearing her speak well of Chen Chang Sheng, Mo Yu didn't care much either. She did what needed to be done.

Chen Chang Sheng couldn't leave that ruined garden and couldn't appear in front of the crowd in the Wei Yang Palace. This meant that he couldn't sabotage the marriage between Xu You Rong and Qiu Shan Jun. After the proposal, no matter how much he argued, he will only be seen as a joke. All of his anger would burn and bring pain to himself and only himself.

The bamboo carriage slowly rode towards the direction of Wei Yang Palace.

Although the professor of Heavenly Academy committed suicide under the threats of evil enforcers working for Zhou Tong, the Ivy Festival still needed a host — especially when there were important guests in the southern ambassadors who were participating in the event tonight. The Bishop of Department of Education and Xu Shi Ji was responsible for watching over them while Prince Chen Liu represented the Divine Queen in greeting the southerners. In addition, Mo Yu would attend the festival herself to show respect.

Nanny Ning placed her hand on the window of the carriage and glanced at the direction of the ruined garden multiple times. A trace of regret was showing on her face.

"Don't worry too much nanny; that kid won't be harmed."

Mo Yu's voice was heard from the bamboo carriage, "The seal of the Lake of Black Dragon is unbreakable. Unless someone from the outside opens the garden's gate, no one can ever leave. The most he will endure will be the cold wind blowing on his face while he's staying in the garden. This is nothing compared to the mess he will bring."

Nanny Ning thought about a rumor and asked worriedly, "What if he touched the taboo?"

Mo Yu said, "Since it is a taboo, how would it be so easy for him to touch?"

Although she spoke casually and coldly, Nanny Ning could hear the tiredness from Mo Yu's words. Thinking about the previous scene on the stone stairs and the tiredness showing between her eyes, Nanny Ning was a confused of why her lady would harm her qi to activate a secret technique to bind Chen Chang Sheng in place.

"Lady, you promised Lady You Rong that you would not use force on him."

"Did I use force tonight? I only used words."

Mo Yu thought back to the letter that she received few months ago from the south and became irritated, "That idiot girl didn't want to marry him but didn't want others to use force on him either. Don't harm or interfere with him. What kind of rules is that, or else I wouldn't need to use so much energy on this and it wouldn't be such a trouble."

Using her power, high status, and influence in the Zhou Dynasty, she could have more than thousands of ways to make youngsters like Chen Chang Sheng praying for death and despise living. But this thing turned out to be very troublesome due to that letter.

After thinking about it, Mo Yu got even more irritated, "Her own family arranged a bad marriage and needed me to help her out of it while she hid in the south and pretended to be a good person. Now I'm the bad guy. You didn't even hear how that youngster insulted me earlier. If it wasn't for her, I would have already killed him!"

Nanny Ning smiled, "My lady is basically a sister of Lady You Rong. It's fine to use a bit of energy to help your own sister out."

Mo Yu smirked coldly and said, "We all say Black Jade is the precious, but that young phoenix is the actual precious treasure in this world. The entire continent think she's pure, innocent, and pretty, but they don't know she's a cheapskate and no one could blame her. If she's not happy, then she can do and will do anything. I'm not helping her because she's like a sister to me. I'm just worried that if she's not happy and doesn't marry Qiu Shi Jun, then what will happen?"

Nanny Ning soothed her, "Thank god that after tonight, we don't have to worry about this thing anymore."

The window curtain was lifted slightly and Mo Yu glanced towards the ruined garden behind Han Guang Palace and that cold lake which was covered out by an old wall. She thought about Chen Chang Sheng's words and thought to herself, will tonight pass successfully? Why must he be sealed here specifically? What is the Saint thinking?

—————————————–

After the few sentences of mockery, Mo Yu's voice wasn't heard again. Chen Chang Sheng stood quietly in the ruined garden by himself. The cold lake was in front and the berry trees were to his side. His body wasn't as lonely as before. It was as if strength was filled inside his flesh.

After making sure that Mo Yu had left, he started walking forward and passed the berry trees. He arrived at the lake. A wave of coldness hit his face.

The ruined garden was clearly colder than any other place in this royal palace. The reason was probably due to the cold lake in front of him. He observed the surface of the cold lake closely while letting the freezing air stack against his face until a frost seemed to appear on his eyebrows.

He wasn't looking for pain, he just wanted to use the environment to calm himself down. He wasn't willing to waste time on anger or any other negative mood – the previous words he said that Mo Yu seemed to be childish and useless. Perhaps the words were the complete opposite of calmness, but he still said them.

There are three thousand methods to understand the Way. His method was to soothe his own mind. To act on his mind and to live by his mind. If the world wouldn't let him do things his own way, he will think of methods to soothe his own mind. Only after the mind is soothed can a person be undisturbed. And being undisturbed is the highest level of calmness.

Of course, he didn't want his words to be jokes either. Therefore he had to leave the ruined garden and make it back to Wei Yang Palace. Before he left the Tradition Academy, he had made some preparations. However, if the powerful figures can deceive Luo Luo out of Wei Yang Palace, then he can't place all his hopes on her.

What can he do to leave this ruined garden? He had no idea at the moment but he still told Mo Yu previously that he would, just as he told Tang Thirty Six and Luo Luo that he would participate in the Great Trial and obtain the first place.

Although it was without reason and impossible, he said it with such a calmness and confidence. This unlogical confidence seemed impressive to those who trusted him, but was a joke to strangers from the outside.

Only he himself knew that this confidence originated from a need. If in the beginning of next year, he had to participate in the Great Trial and obtain the first place, then he will accomplish it, or he will die. Tonight, if he had to leave the ruined garden and appear in Wei Yang Palace, then he will accomplish this as well.

He must do it, so he will do it. Before all this, he must believe that he will do it, only this way will his mind be soothed.

Once again, there are three thousand methods to understand the Way, and his only method was to soothe his mind.

Everything he did after leaving Xi Ning Village and coming to the capital was closely related to this method.

Because only when he soothes his mind will he change his fate.

———————————————–

He looked around the ruined garden. There were old walls, autumn trees, dried lotuses on the lake, and old petals beneath the berry trees that weren't blown away by the wind.

Although he never saw this sight before, he felt that he had seen it a long time ago.

He never traveled ten thousand miles, so he didn't see too many sights.

But he read ten thousand scrolls and traveled ten thousand miles in the books. He saw many sights there.

After memorizing the view around the lake in his heart, he sat down around the lake and closed his eyes and concentrated his mind. Then he started thinking back to the books he read before.

There were the Scrolls of the Way, there were scattered articles, there were fables, and there were traveling diaries.

Those were the books he read in the old temple of Xi Ning Village and in the library of the Tradition Academy.

He sat next to the lake and his eyes were closed, but countless books were flipping in front of his eyes.

The cold wind seemed to know these words and kept on flipping the books and stopping at the pages he wanted to see.

Those pages contained pictures and context.

"The Travel of Nan Ke"*

"Zhu Dian Yuan Hou Luan"

"Zhen Lei Ben Chao"

(The latter two are just book names and I can't find the meaning of them, not relevant either I believe)

———————————————————–

Chen Chang Sheng opened his eyes and stood up. Once again, he glanced around the ruined garden.

The ruined garden was still the ruined garden, the cold lake was still the cold lake. But currently in his eyes, they were completely different.

The few petals scattered around the lake seemed to be irrelevant and without meaning, but this view was the same throughout four seasons and never changed. The only thing that changed was that only the trees were still living.

The edge of the lake contained many rocks and there were no break between them. But on the other side of the lake, which was close to the old walls, the rocks weren't there. It seemed to be an exit in the darkness, but he knew it wasn't an exit but rather an unfinished stroke.

A dozen berry trees seemed to line up here.

This was the character "Tong."

There was a story in "The Travel of Nan Ke." There was a picture in "Zhen Lei Ben Chao". There was a mentioning of a burned down palace in Zhu Dian Yuan Hou Lun".

That palace was named Tong Palace.

The Tong Palace that killed an emperor in his sleep.

It was also a formation created by a Pope who used all of his energy.

Even after Chen Chang Sheng recognized this ruined garden and this cold lake, what could he do?

Unless he reached the legendary Saint stage, he cannot forcefully break out of this Tong Palace.

Of course, there is a door to any place. Every formation has its living exit.

But in the history of mankind, no one dared to leave from the living exit of Tong Palace.

Many years ago, the Tong Palace which was burned to ashes had grim reapers guarding outside of its living exit. People can still barely live in the palace, but they will surely die after they leave.

Because charm and harm always come together. The so called "living exit" may actually be one's final destination.

Chen Chang Sheng knew where the living exit of Tong Palace was.

As the wind blows, the water will rise.

When the wind finished blowing but was yet to stop, where the water was low but was yet to rise.

He stared at the cold lake that was in front of him and stayed silent.

The sophisticated music from Wei Yang Palace entered the ruined garden from a distance.

The southern ambassadors sat down and everyone was ready.

He didn't think much further and walked towards the depths of the cold lake.

Translator Note: The Travel of Nan Ke: I believe the author was referencing to a chinese idiom, Nan Ke Yi Meng(南柯一梦) Which directly translates to "The Dream of Nan Ke". The basic story of this idiom is that a person was drunk and fell asleep under a big tree. Then he dreamt that he was appointed as the governor of the Nan Ke City and climbed his way up the social ladder. After twenty years of hard working, he was trusted by his king and respected by his people, but suddenly, a neighboring kingdom attacked and he was defeated. This caused him to lose all of his power and he woke in the real world in his house. This dream made him realize that the fortune and glory in this world is gained and lost too quickly. At last, he turned to Taoism and became a hermit.

Thanks for the feedback on translator note and I took the advice of leaving them on the end of the chapter to not disturb the flow of the story.

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Chapter 58 – Charging Alone into the Dragon Pond

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Recognizing the Tong Palace did not mean that one could break out of the Tong Palace and leave. Finding the Tong Palace's gate of life in no way meant that one could escape into the outside world. In reality, in the countless years from now and into the distant past, countless experts had been imprisoned in the Tong Palace, and not one person dared to take a single step into the Tong Palace's gate of life.

Those worthy of being imprisoned in the Tong Palace were naturally not ordinary, so they clearly understood the principle that life was death. They firmly believed that the Pope who had created the Tong Palace would not leave any gap. Once one stepped through the Tong Palace's gate of life, it was the equivalent of stepping into the realm of death.

In the abyss of despair, one was not guaranteed to see hope, and who would really face death in order to live? Compared to choosing that seemingly most simple and straightforward yet actually most dangerous path, it was better to try and find some other method. Even sitting and waiting was a better choice.

Chen Changsheng was probably the weakest person to be imprisoned within the Tong Palace in all its history, but he was also the most unique person. He was different from the other prisoners of the Tong Palace—he had always been seeking out hope in the abyss of despair. He was walking every day and night towards death to live.

He was the person in the world that most valued time, and he did not wish to use it in arguing over meaningless things. After having a few of his speculations confirmed by that conversation with Mo Yu, he very speedily made his decision, stepping without hesitation into the cold pond.

At the time, he did not know that the cold pond he was about to enter was called the Black Dragon Pond, but even if he did know, it would not have mattered. He wanted to leave this abandoned garden and quickly return to Weiyang Palace to accomplish that task, so no matter what blocked his way, whether it was a tiger cave or dragon pond, he wanted to charge in.

This abandoned garden was bitingly cold because of this cold pond, so its waters were naturally even colder. Only when his feet fell upon the surface of the pond did he discover than an extremely thin layer of transparent ice had formed upon it. With a few cracking sounds, it was broken into shards of ice.

Chen Changsheng did not feel the waters of the pond soaking his shoes because his feet did not enter the water. The cracking sounds continued as the thin sheet of ice over the pond began to splinter. The water under the ice also began to part, revealing stone steps that descended beneath the pond!

The stone steps gradually descended from the shore towards the depths of the pond, their surfaces extremely dry. There was not a trace of water on these steps, not even moss.

The waters of the pond were parted by some invisible power, a very mystical sight. The stone steps extended into the gloom, faintly portending limitless dangers. However, Chen Changsheng seemed calm and composed as if this mystical sight had never occurred, as if this path had always existed.

After ten-some steps, the stone stairs vanished below the pond waters, extending all the way to the bottom of the pond.

The ground to which the path led was also very dry, but the corners of the walls were filled with snow. The temperature here was even colder than it was on the shore of the pond. The starry sky and the music from Weiyang Palace was gradually fading into the distance as the path proceeded further into the darkness, nothing visible whatsoever. The more one walked, the more one felt that one was departing the real and human world, possibly about to plunge into an abyss at any moment or walk into some other world.

Chen Changsheng did not stop or slow his steps. On the contrary, he increased his pace until he was running.

He ran into the dark abyss.

After running for an unknown amount of time, he reached the end of the path and realized that this place was not completely dark.

The starry sky could no longer be seen and the colored lanterns of the Double Seventh Festival were powerless to illuminate this place, but there was still some feeble light at the end of this path, piercing through the limpid waters of the pond, shining upon his body and upon a stone door.

This stone door was about ten zhang tall and looked extremely heavy. There were no carvings upon the door—, it was just two massive stone slabs placed together. It looked just like the toy blocks some god had left behind as a child. It also seemed like the coffin of some god, sinister and solemn to the extreme.

What shocked and concerned Chen Changsheng even more was that an indescribable might could faintly be felt from behind the door.

At the side door of the Heavenly Dao Academy and outside Weiyang Palace, he had felt the mighty pressure and Qi exuded by Xu Shiji, but compared to the mighty pressure behind this stone door, Xu Shiji's powerful Divine General's Qi was just like that of a cricket, not even on the same level.

Yes, Chen Changsheng had never felt such a powerful might as the one coming from behind the stone door, or even heard of anything similar. This was an existence that completely exceeded a normal person's imagination. To approach this existence was to suffer an absolute suppression, to confront a certain death.

Let alone a fourteen-year-old ordinary youth like him, even a Star Condensation expert like Mo Yu would not be able to directly resist the Qi coming from behind the stone door. Even a supreme expert of the Saint Realm might also choose to stay far away!

This mighty pressure was not intentionally released by the terrifying existence behind this door, but was rather the Qi that was able to squeeze past the cracks in the door. Despite this, it was enough to oppress Chen Changsheng's body and mind with cold. His face was pale as snow and his two feet seemed frozen to the floor.

Nanny Ning was worried that he would accidentally enter the gate of life and encounter that legendary existence beyond the stone door. Mo Yu did not believe so because she was very sure that no one would be able to open that stone door and enter after sensing the pressure coming from behind it. And for an ordinary youth like Chen Changsheng, he couldn't even stand straight, so how could he enter?

No one expected that the true situation was different from what Mo Yu imagined.

Chen Changsheng was in extreme pain, yet he did not collapse and was even able to maintain a clear mind.

He also didn't know why this was the case. He had clearly never encountered the awe-inspiring Qi coming from behind the stone door, but for some reason, his body and spiritual sense naturally had a subtle response and adjustment towards it, so much so that he was even able to stand with a clear mind before this mighty pressure.

He did not know that just after he was born, before his eyes had even opened, he had encountered an existence similar to the one behind the door.

That awe-inspiring Qi still existed.

Chen Changsheng's body had gone stiff. He did not collapse, but he could not leave either.

He subconsciously gripped the dagger in his hand somewhat tighter. He sensed that the tighter he gripped the dagger, the easier he found it to bear the pressure coming from behind the stone door, and the more comfortable he would feel. It was like there was some energy being transferred from the hilt into his body, protecting him.

He did not know what this energy was. He thought it was courage.

The dagger had been gifted to him by Senior Brother Yu Ren before he descended the mountain.

He had read the three thousand scriptures of the Daoist Canon, but he had never heard of a person more courageous than Senior Yu Ren.

So he believed that his senior's sword was a source of courage.

He gripped the dagger and took one step forward. His palm fell on the stone door and pushed it open.

Without a single noise, the stone door slowly opened.

In the underground space deep below the Imperial City of the Great Zhou, the stone door that had not once been opened since its construction was finally opened tonight.

Dust was sent drifting into the air, the dust of history.

This period of history had already reached one thousand years.

...

...

Behind the stone door was darkness, absolute darkness.

Chen Changsheng held the dagger in front of him while his other hand took out the Night Pearl and raised it in the air.

This Night Pearl was bright and splendid, perfectly round like a melon. This was the pearl Luoluo had gifted to him when taking him as her teacher, but it was a mystery where he had been storing it.

The gentle and watery light spread out from the Night Pearl in his hand to all directions, yet after quite some time, this light still did not shine upon anything like a wall.

This was an extraordinarily vast space, incomparably spacious and empty. One could even place a true palace hall in here.

Chen Changsheng had never imagined that the Great Zhou Imperial Palace would have such a massive underground space beneath it. Judging by the distance he had run, the place he was standing might even be under some place in the capital beyond the walls of the Imperial Palace.

The light of the Night Pearl gradually spread farther, and the vast and limitless space seemed to gradually grow more real.

In the distance, there was a flashing of silver light, densely packed like countless layers of silver scraps or like all the stars in the night sky had descended to the human world.

Chen Changsheng raised the Night Pearl and walked in that direction. When he reached those silver scraps, he realized to his shock that it was actually a pile of silver ingots!

A silver sea formed from innumerable silver ingots.

In the center of the silver sea was a golden mountain made of gold bricks.

At the summit of this golden mountain grew a tree of dark red coral.

On the numerous branches of this coral tree hung countless fruits carved from diamonds and crystals.

A golden mountain, a silver sea, and a coral tree, and also tens of thousands of jeweled fruits.

This scene was truly rather tacky, because it was far too extravagant, extravagant beyond description.

Chen Changsheng was shocked speechless, even almost forgetting about that pressure.

He had never seen this much wealth in his life.

To be more precise, on this continent, there had never been anyone who had seen this much treasure.

The surface of the silver sea was covered in a shallow layer of frost.

The surfaces of many silver ingots had begun to peel and were scattered about like wood shavings. The scraps of silver he had seen were these.

This underground space was so cold that not even silver could endure it.

Just then, there was a sudden gust of cold wind.

The silver sea began to swell as countless silver scraps were sent rustling all over the place. The color of the frost suddenly deepened as snow began to accumulate in the depths of the silver sea.

This gust of cold wind blew for a very long time.

Chen Changsheng's body was covered in a layer of snow, his eyebrows and eyelashes already stained white.

But his heart was even colder.

Because this cold wind that had persisted for a very long time was just a single breath.

An extremely long and extremely frightening breath.

The gloomy darkness suddenly gave birth to two faint balls of flame.

Those two balls of flame were pure and cold, without a hint of color.

Like flames of ice from the underworld.

The two flames slowly approached Chen Changsheng.

The terrifying pressure completely enveloped this underground space.

Chen Changsheng could no longer endure it, and blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth.

A hint of what could be called emotion suddenly appeared in those two flames.

At first perplexity, then shock, then delight, after that curiosity, and finally, it all transformed into iciness and ruthlessness.

They naturally could not really be flames of the underworld. They were two eyes even larger than Chen Changsheng's body.

The being that possessed this pair of eyes...how large would it be?

The Night Pearl left Chen Changsheng's hand and floated upwards, ultimately landing on the dome of this space.

Suddenly, the entire dome lit up. This was because the dome was studded with several thousand Night Pearls. Previously, when Chen Changsheng saw that silver sea, he thought that profuse stars in the night sky had all descended to the human world, but now he knew that this place had its own night sky and its own profuse stars.

The underground space gradually brightened.

A black rock appeared in the air.

It was swiftly joined by more and more black rocks.

Those black rocks absorbed the light spilling down from the dome, not reflecting any back.

Chen Changsheng clearly saw that these were not rocks, but scales.

A massive black rock was actually a black scale.

In this world, only one kind of scale could be so large: dragon scale.

A terrifying black dragon slowly appeared in the night sky.

It looked down at Chen Changsheng, its two eyes like flames of the underworld, cold and cruel.

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This was the highest life form out of all three thousand worlds. This was the coldest existence in this world. Its aura or pressure was unspeakable – aside from great xiuxingists who were out of this world, how could fragile humans stand before this giant black dragon?

Even though Chen Chang Sheng had a strong mind, he still couldn't stand this pressure. He tightly closed up his mouth to prevent the sound of his teeth bumping to come out, yet he could not stop his body from trembling as if every single bone was crying.

Pa! He did not kneel in front of the black dragon, but he could not stand up either. He fell on the cold and hard ground. He felt absent-minded. He did not think about pain, but kept repeating few sentences in his heart.

"The legend is real!"

"There's a dragon inside the royal palace!"

"A noblest Frost Dragon!"

Before he opened up that heavy door, he had thought of many possibilities.

He had thought that the being behind the door was the old guest who was at saint stage and had xiuxing for over a hundred years in the royal palace mentioned by Luo Luo. It could also be the central battle array of the royal palace, or even be the corpse of a dragon. He could never imagine that...

There's an alive dragon behind the door!

After the ancient past, people could barely find any traces of dragons on the continent. These noble but strong creatures were gradually becoming holy beings that only existed in books. No one had seen it. Chen Chang Sheng had tried to picture a dragon many times. He wanted to see it.

Tonight he finally saw it, but now he wished he never did.

The dragon was floating in air, looking down at him.

The lights emitted from the thousands of Nightly Pearls at the roof were absorbed by his black scales. The black dragon was as scary as a living abyss, but what really caused fear was its pair of eyes. The eyes were filled with coldness and brutality.

Chen Chang Sheng understood the meaning of its look. It was that of a human child looking at ants under the tree.

They were extraordinarily pure, cold and violent for no known reason or explanation.

Kids could stare at ants for half an hour and then stepped on all of them to death.

This was the attitude of high level creatures to subordinates.

Chen Chang Sheng eventually understood the sentences Mo Yu said before she left.

Yes, no one could leave from the Tong Palace because the living exit of Tong Gong was under the cold pond.

The cold pond was the real dragon pond. A black dragon lived here and any human who met it would meet death.

Yet Mo Yu never thought that he actually had the bravery or stupidity to walk in front of the black dragon.

The frost on Chen Chang Sheng's eyelashes fell down like the snow on the a Chimonanthus (some plant) blown off by wind.

A tiny wind was blown up in the underground dimension.

The black dragon was preparing to breathe.

Chen Chang Sheng knew that he would die at the next moment.

The moment he pushed the door, he prepared many plans. Even if he really met the old guest who was at saint stage, he did not think he would definitely die because he believed that as long as he could communicate, then he could change his fate.

But behind the door was a black dragon.

In legends, the dragon was noble, strong but never kind.

Dragon wouldn't communicate with humans. They disdained to communicate with humans or at least they felt that it was shameful to communicate with a common human like him.

To this, he didn't have any preparation.

He had prepared for death for many years but when death truly came, he realized that he wasn't prepared well enough for it.

He realized that death was something that one couldn't prepare for.

The underground dimension was deadly silent. The lights of the Nightly Pearls, like snow, fell on his body.

He felt a bit cold and suddenly, he felt very tired. He knew whatever he was going to do was simply a waste of time, so he stopped trying to stand up, and even stopped thinking what would happen next. He raised his head, looked at the terrifying mountain-like dragon's head with a calm and relieved composure.

"It seems that my master is right, I am truly unfortunate."

He did not know if this black dragon could understand the human language or not but he thought, such a noble creature, even if it could understand, it would feel shameful to listen. Because of this, Chen Chang Sheng spoke the words that he never told anyone before to the black dragon.

"I have an incurable disease."

"I can't live past twenty."

"Master is the best doctor in the continent and my medical skill is not bad but, we both can't cure it."

"This disease is more fatal than any fatal disease. It's not a disease, but fate."

"I am unfortunate."

"After arriving at the capital, I spent a lot of effort. I finally got into the Tradition Academy, acquired the right to participate in the Great Trial and although I am still very far away from Ling Yan Pavilion, after taking the first step towards it and encountering Luo Luo, I thought my fortune was gradually getting better."

"Surprisingly, I encounter you tonight."

"My fortune is actually still so bad."

Chen Chang Sheng's face was a little pale not because of fear but because of the frost and snow.

Now that he was fearless, he could face a legendary brutal black dragon.

He no longer cared if this black dragon could understand him or not, or if it wanted to hear his words or not.

He knew that he would die soon, so if he didn't speak these words now, he won't have any chance to say them.

"Everyone says that life is fated and that no matter how terrible it is, it's unchangeable. However, I don't want to give up."

A power came from nowhere and supported him to stand up. He raised his head and looked at the beautiful Nightly Pearls on the roof. He narrowed his eyes a bit, like a pitiful joey looking at the first sunshine in the morning, he was happy and hopeful.

"I want to stay alive. I want to live past twenty, then one hundred, even five hundred, eight hundred. I want to live longer and longer. The best would be if I could live forever and never die...but first, I must live past twenty, so I live very carefully."

"Everyday I sleep early and wake up early. Everyday I exercise. I was never picky and never overate. It's not my personality, so I only can have a healthy diet. According to the medical books, I use a little balance to measure meats and veggies to eat and even so, I never felt tired of it. Until after twelve, I turned all of these into instincts."

"I care about time. I use all my time to study xiuxing, I want to interact with all of these fantastic knowledges before twenty and even more, I want to change my fate through xiuxing. This way, I can have the opportunity to see more beautiful landscapes after twenty."

He looked at black dragon said, "Yes, all I did, all of the rules I set for myself are for staying alive. The most important thing in life is to stay alive. For this, I am willing to pay any price. I am trying my best to stay alive."

The black dragon's look at the youngster was still cold and brutal — probably because it didn't understand the human language or more likely because it didn't care. It was like an ant sadly waving its foreleg towards a tree branch and the child observing it only finding it interesting or funny.

Chen Chang Sheng already didn't care about the black dragon's reaction. He only wanted to get it off his chest in the last moments of his life.

"Changing fate is really too hard. The years I lived were truly too tiring, but no matter how tired I was, I still want to live because the pork dipped with oil and salt in Xi Ning was truly tasty, because there are really so many interesting knowledge shared in books and because life is really beautiful."

"I don't want to die, but I can't promise I will live to twenty, more accurately, I don't have any confidence at all. I don't want the little girl delivered by my bamboo dragonfly to become a widow so I came to the capital to cancel the engagement, but then?"

"Everyone who knows me thinks I am too precocious. Unlike a fourteen year old youngster, all say I am mature but they never think...I am only five years away from death, I am still young, but I am already half buried in soil. How can't I be mature!?"

These past years, Chen Chang Sheng was highly concerned on controlling his emotion, because being emotional isn't good for his health, but now everything was not necessary so he was no longer calm. He looked at the black dragon or this world and shouted angrily.

"I don't want to die."

"But I am about to die now."

"I feel so sad."

Chen Chang Sheng felt very sad and his eye sockets were a little red. He thought he would cry, but he discovered that ever since he controlled emotion and was unwilling to die, he forgot how to cry. With this, he felt even more sad. Then he unimaginably calmed down.

"I appreciate that you didn't eat me right away. Although this may not be your true intent, you let me finish these words, so I want to thank you. I really want to live, so even though it's very funny, but please allow me to fight you at last."

After speaking the last sentence, he raised the little sword in his hand and faced the black dragon.

He thought silently in his mind: death, come!

Let's fight.

Like the past years.

The black dragon slowly came to him and a cold hurricane echoed in the vast underground dimension. Its body was way too huge, so a slight move would cause the world to change.

Unimaginable coldness came to Chen Chang Sheng's body.

His eyelashes were frosted again, and he felt like the blood in his body was about to be frozen.

Death was before his eyes.

Yet he felt a calmness that he never had before, even relief.

After ten, the shadow of death and terrifying pressure that always followed him disappeared.

He felt light and comfortable. Being without pressure was such a nice feeling.

He finally understood how to defeat the fear carried by death. The solution was only death itself.

He laughed as the frost on his eyelashes spreaded out like a white flower.

Master, do you see that?

I am about to change my fate.

You said I will die at twenty.

Now, even though I am not fifteen yet, I am about to die.

Fate is actually not undefeatable.

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Xiao Ming Palace was a thousand four hundred and ninety-four yards away from the south entrance of the royal palace in the western direction. It was seven hundred or so yards from the Wei Yang Palace. How long would it take her to get to Wei Yang Palace without alarming the guards in the palaces? And what chapter was the music in the Wei Yang Palace up to?

The southern ambassadors have definitely arrived and been seated already. The Ivy Festival was about to start and she should be able to catch its beginning later but first she needed to know the reason. Luo Luo thought about all these things and was silent. Coldness climbed up on her face and seemed to freeze up the entire palace.

The good thing was that besides the one female servant, there were only two other people in the palace — Luo Luo and the owner of this building. Therefore, no one would rebuke her for her impolite expression.

Xiao Ming Palace was the quietest and most luxurious palace in the royal palaces because the beloved and only daughter of the Divine Queen lived there. Princess Ping Guo, the young girl who sat in the host's spot, was pretty. She wasn't exactly matured yet but her expression showed hints of amorousness.

Facing the beloved Princess Ping Guo of the Zhou Dynasty, normal people wouldn't even dare to breathe heavily, but Luo Luo's attitude didn't change. Her words were rather sharp, "Ping Guo, you deceived me and led me here to not participate in the Ivy Festival. Don't you want to tell me your reason?"

The female servant represented Princess Ping Guo earlier and invited her to Xiao Ming Palace. Little did she know that after arriving Xiao Ming Palace, the female servant would keep on delaying her. When she realized what was happening, Princess Ping Guo finally showed up. But a long time had already passed.

She knew that Princess Ping Guo did this because someone asked her to, and the reason would be related to the Ivy Festival. She only focused on the followers of the Divine Queen who was trying to bring the Tradition Academy down, but she never knew that their intention was always on Chen Chang Sheng.

Hearing Luo Luo's rebuke, Princess Ping Guo didn't get angry. She smiled and said, "It's been a few months since we last saw each other. I heard you were pretending to be a nice student in the Tradition Academy and was a little curious. By the way, what kind of person is your master?'

Luo Luo didn't bother with her question and stared into her eyes while continuing her questioning, "Why?"

"Mo Yu knew I was close to you so she wanted me to keep you busy for a while. But why...she didn't really tell me."

Princess Ping Guo answered and her expression was rather calm. It seemed like it wasn't a big deal.

But Luo Luo saw the pretentiousness in her eyes – many people knew that Princess Ping Guo and Lady Mo Yu wasn't exactly in a friendly relationship, but because of the Divine Queen, they kept a lively surface in the public's eyes. Luo Luo obviously didn't trust her explanation entirely.

Princess Ping Guo said, "Just don't think about it too much. Mo Yu was asked by my mother to host the last night of the Ivy Festival. What she cared about the most was the marriage proposal between that phoenix and that child of Family of Qiu Shan. She told me to keep you here because she was afraid of you jumping out at the last second and interrupting their business.

Since the princess's face was young, it was kind of strange of her to call Qiu Shan Jun a child.

Luo Luo wasn't used to her expression and wrinkled her eyebrows slightly and said with disgust, "Talk normally...I'm not you, why would I interrupt anything."

Princess Ping Guo's eyes lit up and said shyly, "Why would I interrupt anything? You sure do like to joke Luo Luo."

Luo Luo said, "Everyone who lived in the royal palace knew that...you don't like Xu You Rong."

Princess Ping Guo's smile vanished from her face and said coldly, "Why do I have to like her just because my Mother does? Besides, that child of Qiu Shan Jun is perfect and outstanding. It would only be right for him to become the prince of Zhou Dynasty. Why should he marry a dirty monkey like her!"

Luo Luo mocked lightly, "Even if you bring up that fight you lost against her when you guys were young, it wouldn't alter her status in the hearts of the Divine Queen or anyone. Talk less of Qiu Shan Jun, even I would rather marry her and not you."

Princess Ping Guo was furious, "Which side are you on?'

Luo Luo said, "It's not like you never knew. I always liked her – of course but if you let me leave, I can stand on your side."

Princess Ping Guo stood up and looked at her quietly and then suddenly smiled, "This is the first time that Mo Yu seeked help from me. Do you think I will fail her?"

Luo Luo stood up and said, "You never did anything that wouldn't be beneficial to you."

Princess Ping Guo sighed, "I'm a princess. I need to do something for Zhou Dynasty."

Luo Luo thought for a moment and realized what she was talking about. It should be related with tonight's proposal from the southern ambassadors, but she didn't understand why her appearance in the Ivy Festival would have an effect on it. Although Luo Luo respected Qiu Shan Jun, she never had any thoughts about him.

She raised her hands towards her belt. She could take out the Whip of Falling Rain easily.

The person who was standing in front of her was Princess Ping Guo of the Zhou Dynasty. She was beloved by the Divine Queen. Even Luo Luo couldn't do much against her but right now, Luo Luo grew a desire to kill her. She just realized that although the princess only dared to deceive and get her in Xiao Ming Palace, Mo Yu could target her master!

Princess Ping Guo was familiar with her personality, but she wasn't afraid. She smiled and said, "I heard that you handicapped my distant nephew on another night of the Ivy Festival. Good for you Luo Luo, I can't defeat you. But...if I'm harmed, can your family handle this?"

Luo Luo looked at her and said, "The Family of Tian Hai is crazy, we can't handle you guys...but you know as well that my family has a lot of crazy people too. If I got into any accident in the capital, can you and Mo Yu handle it?"

Princess Ping Guo said innocently, "This is the royal palace of Zhou Dynasty, what could harm you?"

There were countless royal guests and xiuxingists hidden around Xiao Ming Palace in the night.

Those people obviously wouldn't dare to harm Luo Luo, but they could circle and bind her in the palace.

For same reason, Mo Yu couldn't harm Chen Chang Sheng so she went out of her way to seal him in.

Right now the master and the student were in a similar situation.

"Don't pretend to be naive, innocent, or pure in front of me. I'm also familiar with that."

Luo Luo held the Whip of Falling Rain and slowly drew it out and looked at the princess seriously, "If I want to harm myself, who can stop me?"

Ping Guo's expression turned serious because she felt Luo Luo's determination. If Luo Luo was actually hurt in Zhou Palace, then she and Mo Yu wouldn't be able to handle the consequences afterward. The most important thing was that the Queen didn't know about tonight's event. What could she do against the rage of the Crimson River of Eight Hundred Miles?

"What's so good about that youngster named Chen Chang Sheng? Why do you care about him so much?" She looked at Luo Luo confusingly.

"This is not something you should care about, nor is it something you actually care about."

Luo Luo lifted her right hand slightly and the whip was dragged across the floor. She looked at Princess Ping Guo and said, "I don't care about your intentions. I just need you to command the people outside to make path for me. I need to go join the Ivy Festival now."

Princess Ping Guo was silent. Although she seemed to struggle inside, she was actually calculating the time silently. After making sure there was enough time for Mo Yu to trap that youngster in Tong Palace, she then picked up her head and smiled.

"Sure, go ahead," she looked at Luo Luo, "I hope you still can make it."

————————————————–

Although the night was getting darker, the palace was still as bright as daylight. Luo Luo arrived at the outside of Wei Yang Palace. Her hairs were lifted slightly and there was sweat on her forehead. She glanced at the shadow in the back of the palace and saw Officer Jin and Li. She listened quietly for a moment and her eyebrows were lifted with rage.

Chen Chang Sheng wasn't in the palace. In the earlier moment, he was speaking with Yu Dong General, Xu Shi Ji, then Prince Chen Liu spoke with him for a short while. Due to this reason, Officer Jin and Li couldn't approach him, but little did they know that in the next moment, he disappeared in the night and was no where to be found.

Luo Luo glanced at the Zhou Royal Palace. There were countless buildings and gardens. She was silent. She knew how difficult a task like this would be. She had to find a person in such a vast area. What should she do next?

Some people in the royal family didn't want her master or her to appear at the Ivy Festival because the southern ambassador was going to propose but why is this? She squeezed the tiny bag in her sleeve and thought back to her master's words before they left the Tradition Academy. Her eyebrows lifted even higher. It seemed like they were about to take off and fly.

Even though they didn't want her to do it, she will do it.

Luo Luo didn't bother to think any further and pushed open the closed door of Wei Yang Palace. She headed for the light inside.

Inside the palace, the southern ambassadors have already arrived and was greeting the students of the Six Ivies and people of the government and the Tradition. Some people who never met each other were introducing themselves. Everything seemed to be peaceful and lively.

Just this moment, the palace door was pushed open.

Although the cool night wind couldn't get in, the light inside the palace changed and the mood changed as well because the person who pushed open the door was impolite.

After getting a good look on who the young girl standing near the palace door was, the entire building got quiet.

Earlier some people noticed that there was no one sitting on the Tradition Academy's seats and were surprised. Now they finally saw the aforementioned girl.

Luo Luo's eyes glared across the palace.

That middle aged man should be the head of the Family of Qiu Shan, Qiu Shan Yuan Xin.

That elder who had all gray hair should be the senior elder of Mountain Li, Xiao Song Gong.

That noble woman who wore a white gown and custom robe of the Tradition should be related to the current Virgin because she was sitting close to the female professors of the Thirteen Divisions of Green Light.

Those three expressionless young men who placed their swords on their knees should be the rumored Seven Rules of Heaven.

She saw the young students of the other six Ivies and the ones who passed the semi-trial.

There were a lot of people in the palace, but Chen Chang Sheng wasn't there.

Luo Luo's eyes finally stopped at the seat in front.

That seat was very close to the main seats where Prince Chen Liu was sitting at. It was also very close to Qiu Shan Yuan Xin and Xiao Song Gong's spot.

A young man was sitting in that spot.

That young man's expression was soft and kind. His aura was normal, but he was definitely a xiuxingist.

There was a spark in his eyes.

Luo Luo saw that person and knew he was Gou Han Shi of the Seven Rules of Heaven.

The well-praised Gou Han Shi.

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The southern ambassadors arrived at the capital as guests. From a logical standpoint, they shouldn't ask actively but that woman wearing the white gown was close to the teachers and was a student of the Thirteen Division of Green Light. She knew Xu Shi Ji as well. After seeing the weird atmosphere in the palace, she couldn't help but ask.

Most of the people in the palace at the moment had participated in the first night of Ivy Festival and so, they all recognized the little girl who handicapped Tian Hai Ya Er. Hearing the guest's question, someone answered, "She's a student of Traditional Academy. For some reason, she arrived late."

Hearing this answer, the woman from Mountain Virgin was a little surprised. The three young men who placed their swords on their knees all raised their head and glanced at Luo Luo. Their eyes were like sharp exquisite swords drawn from their sheathes.

Even in the far south, people already knew Tradition Academy was in ruins. Earlier during their trip, they heard the incident that happened on the first night of Ivy Festival and then knew there were two new students added to the Tradition Academy. Is this young girl the genius that popped out of nowhere?

Those three men from Mountain Li were in the well-praised Seven Rules of Heaven. In their eyes, defeating Tian Hai Ya Er wasn't an extraordinary feat, but since this girl is so young, she should be treated with respect.

Gou Han Shi also raised his head and looked at Luo Luo, but he only smiled warmly without showing much care.

Luo Luo didn't bother with the three youngsters from Mountain Li that glanced at her. Although the Seven Rules of Heaven were respectable, all her mind right now was on Gou Han Shi. She sensed clearly that this person wasn't an easy figure. She herself wasn't his opponent, but what about her master? Can he defeat him?

The entire palace was quiet for a moment. She was standing near the entrance and was actually out of place.

Xu Shi Ji said coldly, "It's already impolite for you to arrive late. Go sit down so you don't become a joke to our guests."

Hearing this seemingly blunt comment, Prince Chen Liu was stumped but then, he smiled and thought to himself, Xu Shi Ji still haven't guessed this young girl's identity correctly. It seemed that the trust of the Divine Queen to him would be limited and far from Xue Xing Chuan.

Prince Chen Liu glanced at the principal of Heavenly Academy, Mao Qiu Yu. Right now, they were the only two who knew the true identity of Luo Luo in this palace. Seeing Mao Qiu Yu's serious expression as if he didn't know anything, the prince thought of something and turned to glance at the bishop, Mei Li Sha. However, the bishop's eyes were half closed and seemed to have almost fallen asleep.

"The elders sure can endure the pressure..."

Prince Chen Liu sighed. He knew that the bishop was hiding his wisdom. It was safe to say that he already guessed the identity of Luo Luo.

Luo Luo looked at Xu Shi Ji for a second. If it was any other time and someone yelled at her like this, she wouldn't endure such mockery or insult. She may be kind and nice in front of Chen Chang Sheng, but when she was acting out of rage, even Princess Ping Guo was scared of her.

But tonight's situation was different. Her hand was squeezing the tiny bag in her sleeve tightly and she thought about Chen Chang Sheng's previous words. She took a deep breath and pushed all of her rage down. She didn't talk with Xu Shi Ji and walked straight to Tradition Academy's spot in the corner.

Just this moment, music started playing and the curtain was lifted. Under the lead of dozens of servants, a woman luxuriously dressed slowly entered the palace.

She was Lady Mo Yu.

Although her influence on the court was powerful, she didn't have a proper status on the surface. Speak logically, she should be more low key in these kinds of events but they are currently in the royal palace and everyone knew that she represented the Divine Queen. Therefore, they couldn't just sit quietly. Most of the people stood up and welcomed her.

Several hundred people in the palace all stood up and the guests from the south didn't make an exception either. The crowd was like waves under the light of the Nightly Pearls.

Only two people didn't stand up.

One of them was the bishop of the Department of Education. The elder's eyes were closed and a faint smile was on his lips. It seemed like he was actually sleeping.

The other one was Luo Luo in the corner. She stared straight into Mo Yu's face in a moderately impolite fashion.

Everyone in the field stood up except two people. Of course she was a bright spot and everyone looked at her.

Xu Shi Ji's face turned gloomier. Although he knew this young girl named Luo Luo had a powerful background, tonight was the night that the southern ambassadors will propose which meant that he need everything under his control. This was the reason why he yelled at her previously. He needed to see if there would be any changing variables in this event.

The changing variable seemed to be coming.

The bishop's status was higher than him and so, Xu Shi Ji couldn't express his anger towards him. He could only direct it to the last person remaining.

He looked coldly at Tradition Academy's spot in the corner.

Just like him, no one dared to look straight at the bishop who sitting in the front. Everyone's eyes landed on Luo Luo. Their eyes turned low on Luo Luo since she was sitting. *

Luo Luo didn't even care or notice the eyes of others. She continued to stare at Mo Yu. Her eyes were calm and her expression was serious. She was trying to warn her.

Everyone's heart began to race. They didn't know what would happen next.

Just when Xu Shi Ji was ready to yell at her, a crispy voice was heard.

"It's fine."

Mo Yu smiled and said. She extended her arms while her sleeves were lowered. She gestured everyone to sit.

Her sentence seemed to direct everyone including Xu Shi Ji to show her forgiveness to Luo Luo.

But Luo Luo knew her sentence was directed to her.

She promised Luo Luo that Chen Chang Sheng wouldn't be harmed.

Luo Luo knew Mo Yu wouldn't lie, especially at a critical moment like this. She knew that Mo Yu did something and warned her.

Although her heart relaxed a bit, her body didn't.

She sat in the corner and quietly looked at Mo Yu. Her eyes didn't turn an inch away.

She was like a tiger hiding in the forest and looking at its prey silently. It could leap out at anytime and rip its prey into pieces.

Mo Yu felt that pressure from the eyes in the far corner. She raised her eyebrows slightly because she was surprised. Her thought was the same as Princess Ping Guo's. They thought that Luo Luo was only going to school at the Tradition Academy because she was bored of staying in the Herb Garden and was trying to play a game with an ordinary person.

Even if Luo Luo was in any kind of relationship with Chen Chang Sheng, she shouldn't value him this much.

Since Mo Yu could feel the pressure from her eyes, other xiuxingists in the palace also noticed it as well — especially people around the position of Tradition Academy. They suddenly felt a cold shiver go down their spine.

—————————————————————

Chen Chang Sheng thought he died, but he didn't.

The Black Mighty Dragon stopped in midair in front of him and didn't continue any further.

The two were dozens of yards apart, but because the black dragon was gigantic, this distance was close. He could actually see the frost and snow on the dragon's teeth. The black dragon was breathing deeply and freezing wind was blowing. Countless snow and ice pieces were swirling around in the air.

Chen Chang Sheng felt he was standing outside of Xue Lao City in the far north.

What made the black dragon stop wasn't his bravery nor the words he said before, it was the short sword in his hand.

The seemingly ordinary short sword.

Looking at the short sword in his hand, countless stars seemed to light up in the depths of the black dragon's eyes. Then, the stars were demolished.

Every star was a different mood and feeling.

Confusion.

Misunderstanding.

Surprise.

Insecurity.

Hatred.

Separation.

Encounter.

Kindness.

Caution.

Rage.

Generosity.

Indifference.

Compassion.

Oblivion.

Unforgettable.

Disappointment.

Helplessness.

Hope.

And there was hope.

—————————————————-

Countless emotions and expressions were shown in the cold eyes of the black dragon.

It was hard to understand as a human why a single expression from the eyes could contain so much emotion.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't understand. Snow was covering up his body but he still held the sword tightly. He looked at the black, mighty dragon silently.

The black dragon looked at him quietly as well, for a long time.

Suddenly, the black dragon...let out a deep roar!

The freezing wind started blowing violently. The ice and snow on the walls of the underworld started to collapse. They flew around in the air.

That roar was a word because it contained a specific meaning.

That deep roar seemed to be a simple sound, a single syllable.

A short sound, yet complex one.

It was like a storm — although it seemed to be violent and simple, countless streams and directions of wind were contained inside.

This was the language of the Dragons.

This was the dragon language that disappeared in the human world for thousands, or even tens of thousands of years.

Until this day, perhaps no one heard the dragon language and people who spoke the dragon language...would be hard if not impossible to find.

Dragons are the highest life form in the world. They have the most perfect body and soul. Only with the combination of their strong and complex living structure and their powerful spirit could they communicate like this.

The most simple things are also the most complex.

"Is this the legendary language of dragons?"

Chen Chen Sheng was shocked.

Even if he wasn't affected by the wind and snow, it is easy to imagine that he would still be frozen at this moment.

He was actually shocked.

His shock was different from anyone else's shock after hearing the words of a dragon. Or one could say his surprise was greater than anyone else's.

He has heard this voice before.

Back in the old temple of Xi Ning Village, he and his senior read all of the Three Thousand Scrolls of the Way. The last scroll of them contained a thousand six hundred and one words and each word hinted the secret of this world. They didn't understand the words on the scroll and so, they went to ask their master. Their master said he didn't understand as well but...he knew how to read them.

That's why Chen Chang Sheng and his senior began to learn how to read those words.

Although they didn't understand the meaning behind it, they knew how to pronounce them.

He never knew what the strange words meant.

Only until now, in the underground of Zhou Palace, in front of a Mighty Frost Dragon did he realized what the words were.

Those words were the language of dragons.

The last scroll of the Three Thousand Scrolls of the Way was actually written in the language of dragons.

Silence.

A long period of silence.

The black dragon looked quietly at Chen Chang Sheng as if she was waiting for something.

Chen Chang Sheng didn't know what she was waiting for and so, he stayed silent.

The black dragon's eyes again lit up countless stars only to have them be put out moments later.

The dragon stayed silent for a moment, then roared deeply.

This roar was really deep. Freezing wind wasn't blowing but a hint of death was contained inside.

Chen Chang Sheng's eyelashes were blown off.

His Taoist hairstyle was blown off, his black hair was flowing behind him. It landed on the ground moments later.

His shirt was blown out of his body and landed on the ground as well.

The dragon's roar was deep. The end of fury was disappointing, and then hopeless.

Chen Chang Sheng knew he was about to die again — "again" wasn't funny, it was sad.

The black dragon seemed to have some sort of hope in him which is why he let him live a while longer.

But now those hopes were gone.

Chen Chang Sheng suddenly felt sad but not because he was hopeless and not because of his approaching death.

For some reason, hearing the deep roar of the black dragon made him extremely sad.

It felt as if he saw countless years of endless loneliness.

In the dark underground, deceived, cheated and guarded with hopelessness.

He experienced those before as well.

The shadow of death was like the darkness of night. It tortured him for years and never stopped for a second.

He could tell no one and hide no where. He could only wait for the final judgement in loneliness.

He suddenly wanted to comfort this black dragon.

He didn't know what to say, he just felt he should say something in a situation like this.

Therefore, he said one word to the black dragon.

He didn't know the meaning of this word.

It was the first word that he had learnt in the last scroll of the Three Thousand Scrolls of Way when he was younger.

It was a word with a single syllable, and its pronunciation was strange.

That single word seemed to contain countless information.

Hearing this word, the eyes of the black dragon started to shoot out millions of violent light rays!

But the entire world fell into silence.

Translator Note: In the original text, the author was using a word pun, "Their eyes landed on Luo Luo, or in chinese '落在了落落身上'. In this case, landed and Luo were the same characters in Chinese. However, I can't directly translate and fully express this pun, therefore I changed the context to "Their eyes turned low on Luo Luo since she was sitting" in hopes that it will at least represent some effort of giving similarity of sound between "low" and "Luo"

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Silence, absolute silence, extremely long silence, no sound of wind, no sound of water dropping, no sound of breathing. Both the black dragon and Chen Chang Sheng held their breath and remained wordless. These actions were probably due to nervousness which seemed to rise from the finally arriving hope.

The black dragon's hope was unknown, but Chen Chang Sheng's hope was obviously from escaping from death. When he saw the black dragon's whisker slowly float up, silently come to him and lightly touch the center of his eyebrows, he was not sure what would happen next.

The place where this dragon's whiskers connected to its jaw was extremely thick and gradually got thinner further up. Its tip was about the same size as a human's little finger and it looked a bit sharp. Its surface was as dark as night and as transparent as jade. There was black light faintly rolling inside, like dark clouds.

The tip of the dragon's whiskers barely touched the center of his eyebrows. The distance was so close that human eyes could not even tell if it touched or not. Chen Chang Sheng felt more and more nervous. He was just back from the edge of death so it was easy for him to feel fear. Lots of sweat came out of the hand he used to grab the handle. The sweat rapidly froze due to the low temperature.

Quietly, the black whisker gently pointed at the center of his eyebrows.

The feeling was very strange, not so terrifying, but rather slightly cool, which actually made his mind clear. It let him faintly understand what the black dragon meant.

It wanted him keep going.

Chen Chang Sheng did not hesitate. He spoke the second word, still the word on the last scroll of the three thousand Scrolls of Way.

The pronunciation of the this word was still very strange and it was extremely difficult for him to pronounce it. Even though his hand was covered with a layer of snow, it can be still seen that his face became red due to swelling and his mouth got pale from perhaps speaking out this word. It seemed to exhaust his spirit.

The black dragon's whisker lightly moved. Its dark tip contracted and flipped in front of the center of his eyebrows. It then pointed at the center of his eyebrows again.

Chen Chang Sheng knew, so he spoke the third word, then the fourth, then fifth...

As the type of strange syllables came out of his mouth, his spirit swiftly became exhausted. It grew weaker and weaker. Simultaneously, he could feel the coldness in the surrounding gradually decrease. After speaking about ten words, warmth came back to his inner organs again.

The black dragon's look was still cold, but its whisker was contracting and flipping faster and faster, shining out countless black lines under the light emitting from the Nightly Pearl and eventually looking like an infinite amount of flowers blooming. The flowers symbolized its heart which was very delighted now.

Chen Chang Sheng felt its happiness, but some of his fear still remained. The approximately ten syllables of dragon language he said, was not following the order in the last scroll of the three thousand scrolls of way, but randomly chosen from the one thousand six hundred and one words. They shouldn't form a sentence, but this dragon actually understood it.

He did so because he was a cautious person. He was not sure if he was right or wrong, but at least for now, there wasn't a problem.

The black whisker gradually stopped moving, slowly got away from the center of his eyebrows and lightly touched his hand which was holding the sword. It did not show any animosity.

Chen Chang Sheng received its signal and finally fully relaxed.

The moment shrouded by the shadow of death finally passed. The terrifying pressure that stacked over a long time suddenly disappeared. His thinking changed as the the environment changed, the frost on his body fell off and dust which came from nowhere slipped through the gaps of the clothes and into the air.

From the moment he pushed the door open, he was always extremely nervous. He only knew he saw a black dragon but it wasn't until now did he get a chance to truly see the black dragon's appearance. It wasn't until now did he dare to look closely at the black dragon.

This is a Mighty Frost Dragon.

Even among the dragon race, this was still the most noble being — one of the legendary holy creatures, at the same level with the Mighty Golden Dragon and the True Dragon above Cloud Nine.

Different from the Mighty Frost Dragon described in myths and legends who loved violence, cleanliness and being as beautiful as the dark sky, Chen Chang Sheng saw a lot of dust on this black dragon and even a lot of broken dragon scales!

Those dragon scales were half falling out. They looked very ugly, like the scales of dead fish.

Chen Chang Sheng was very surprised. If the scrolls of way's descriptions of the Mighty Frost Dragon was correct, then how could it look like this? As a youngster who had mysophobia, he clearly knew that it was impossible for a creature who cared about cleanliness so much to stand such a situation.

What made him surprised was, as the coldness gradually decreased, he actually saw two very thick iron chains behind the black dragon. The two chains tightly locked the dragon's two claws in the back and deeply squeezed into the scales. It looked extremely terrifying!

This black dragon actually..wasn't the protector of the Great Zhou royal palace, but a prisoner!

The two chains, covered with thick layers of frost, was made of unknown materials. They showed no signs of breaking which was logical. If they could lock a Frost Mighty Dragon underground, it's definitely no ordinary chains.

The other end of the two chains was at the wall.

It was a stone wall around a hundred zhang high(3 zhang = 10 meters). It decorated a huge image. The paint on the image already eroded over time, but what was left was still comprehensible. There wasn't any landscape, just two people.

Two scary looking people.

The wall was very tall and the picture was very big. The two people obviously also looked very tall and big, like gods. They were equipped with armor and weapons. One person held a mace and the other held a long whip. They were the door-gods.

One of them was called Qin Zhong, the other was called Yu Gong.

These two Generals followed the first Emperor for their life, from the establishment of the Great Zhou dynasty until when the humans defeated demons at last. Although they were not as accomplished as Wang Zhi Ce, they were even more brave. Both were very strong as they got into saint stage when they were very young. They were the real elites who were rarely seen in the world.

While they all were generals, they were much stronger than the generals of today.

The chains that imprisoned the black dragon were held by the two Generals in the picture.

Such plot obviously had its own purpose.

Seeing this image, Chen Chang Sheng faintly understood that this black dragon was probably caught in the period of the first Emperor.

He was thinking about the fantastic era, thinking about those elites who were almost becoming myths or had already became myths and thinking about those images in the Ling Yan Pavilion. He really felt pity for this dragon.

Maybe because of the humiliations and pressure from the demons, humans were incredibly strong at that era. Countless elites rose so that even creatures like the Mighty Frost Dragon could be caught and held as pathetic prisoners.

From the period of the first Emperor to now, how many years had passed?

In the cold, lonely, and dark underground, how did this black dragon insist to suffer for so long?

"You want to talk to me, right?" Chen Chang Sheng asked.

The black dragon's whisker floated up again and lightly touched his lip, like a dragonfly dip water.

"I just want to say, I don't understand the meaning of those words."

Chen Chang Sheng looked at him and said, "But, you can teach me."

The black dragon's eyes suddenly became extraordinarily bright, even more bright than the sum of the thousands of Nightly Pearl.

Chen Chang Sheng thought, unsurprisingly you could understand human language, then if you want to translate, I can learn the language of dragon race. He looked at the black dragon and continued, "I know that the language of dragon race was very hard, but I am very good at learning. As long as you have the patience, I can definitely learn it."

Suddenly, the black dragon made a deep shout.

Chen Chang Sheng was dumbfounded.

The black dragon's whisker rose without making any wind current and it pointed four times at the center of his eyebrows as fast as lightning and as light as dust.

Chen Chang Sheng frowned, thinking about the meaning.

The black dragon lightly pointed at the same place again for four times and simultaneously the dragon made a deep shout.

Chen Chang Sheng understood now.

In the previous sentence, he said four "I's"

This is what the black dragon attempted to tell him.

"I?" Chen Chang Sheng pointed at himself and asked.

The dragon language was very complicated. Countless segments of one syllable could be rearranged into an infinite number of permutations. Different combinations were expressions of different meanings. If he wanted to fully learn it, it would be a very long process. He knew that the dragon's roar had the meaning "I," but definitely not just "I," but...at least it had "I."

Looking at Chen Chang Sheng's action, the black dragon was first dazed and then suddenly, it began to roll!

Its huge body was constantly rolling in the underground dimension, forming a terrifying hurricane!

At the same time, a strange sound kept coming up from the black dragon's mouth.

From approximately a thousand years ago to now, it had never been so happy before. It did not know what kind of roar it should use to celebrate.

Yet because of some reasons, it must suppressed its roar and its laugh. (In Chinese, both roar and laugh were pronounced Xiao, so author is making a pun here.)

"Zhi Zhi...ZhiZhi...ZhiZhi..."

It sounded like a mouse shouting. The noise was very funny.

Yet there was extreme happiness inside.

Chen Chang Sheng did not know what the black dragon did before to be imprisoned by the Great Zhou dynasty. Now he saw it feel happy simply because there was a human doing the simplest communication with it. Chen Chang Sheng felt touched, and pitied it greatly.

Not sure how much time had passed, but the black dragon finally stopped rolling, and calmed down.

It looked at Chen Chang Sheng and felt his honest sympathy. Its look gradually got kind.

Its whisker floated up again and paused in the air between his eyebrows.

It waited for Chen Chang Sheng to open his mouth again.

Chen Chang Sheng thought a bit and spoke something that the black dragon didn't want to hear.

"I know you really want to speak to someone...but now I can't do it. I have a very important thing that I need to leave right away."

The black dragon's look became cold again.

Chen Chang Sheng said seriously, "I promise you, as soon as I finish this thing, I will come back to find you, learn language with you, and talk to you."

The black dragon's look was still cold, and even somewhat doubtful.

As a noble Mighty Frost Dragon imprisoned by human for so many years, it would never forget what its father said before.

"If humans are trustworthy, then we should be the rulers of this world."

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The black dragon thought, humans are all shameless liars. Otherwise, I wouldn't have to suffer for so long in this place. Just because I'm black, doesn't mean I like darkness. In the very beginning, the nights were truly dark, mom...

Wait no, what am I thinking?

Ok, the youngster looks very honest and smells very nice. He doesn't look like a liar. He's just like the man whose last name was Wang back then. However, I am not even sure if the man's words were real or not. Why should I trust this youngster?

After I let you leave, you definitely won't come back anymore. What do you mean by finishing your thing and then coming back to chat with me? You think I really didn't see that, you were also fooled by someone to come here? Why would you come back after escaping? Also, on top of this place is the royal court. You think you can come back as long as you want? You are just trying to comfort me, no, you are lying to me. Yes, all humans are liars, you are all liars!

I suffered in this underground dimension by myself for so long. Never saw a living creature beside that terrifying woman – that terrifying woman couldn't be counted as human. I would rather not see her. Finally, I met someone who could speak to, how could I let you leave?

If you leave, then my day will be gloomy again!

"I understand your feelings and your uneasiness, but you should believe in me." Chen Chang Sheng looked at it and said.

The black dragon's look was cold but also moderately doubtful as if it wanted to say, you are only a bit older than ten year olds. How would you know the suffering I faced all this time.

"I really know. Although I definitely didn't suffer as long as you did, it's just like I said in the beginning, I am unfortunate too. Fine, I know you can hardly believe in me, but it's just like a gamble. You let me go, I probably will keep my promise and try to find a way to come back later. If you kill me now, I think there will be small chance of you seeing anyone in front of you again. No matter what, you should take the gamble."

Chen Chang Sheng looked at it said frankly and seriously, "This is your best choice."

The black dragon remained silent. Suddenly, it looked up at the top with its eyes falling between the thousands of Nightly Pearls

...

In the Wei Yang Palace, the Ivy Festival was continuing or rather, it already ended. The test on literature that should have been held last night was moved to a later date. Even so, no one cared about its result. How could the competition between the Six Ivies be more interesting than the great thing that was going to happen later?

Everyone was reserved and kind because what was going to happen next was a good thing, marriage. Even Guan Fei Bai from the Li Mountain, the most arrogant and cold fourth ruling of the Seven Rulings, was also laughing now because he knew this was a very important thing to his oldest senior. It was also a very important thing to his sect and the entire South. Most importantly, even the thought that his oldest senior could marry junior Xu, was a thing that he should feel proud of and celebrate.

The elder of Li Mountain Xiao Song Gong already stood up and was speaking something. The Southern ambassadors were officially proposing the marriage to the Great Zhou dynasty. Now that the process was started already, it just needed a few more steps and this marriage that was wanted by the entire world would turn real.

The Bishop closed his eyes like he was about to fall asleep. Prince Chen Liu was smiling mildly and was speaking with Xiao Song Gong. Mo Yu was calm as she looked into the darkness outside of the palace. Luo Luo looked at these people with her right hand tightly holding onto the pack. She decided to open it.

...

Another long time of silence. The underground dimension was like a graveyard.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the black dragon and waited nervously for its decision.

The black dragon glimpsed at him and suddenly slowly flew backward.

The light of thousands of Nightly Pearls went out at the same time. Only some light remained. They shone on the front half of the black dragon.

The dragon gradually disappeared in the darkness.

Chen Chang Sheng understood its glimpse. It wanted him to remember his promise and to visit here frequently.

Going to the royal palace was very difficult already. He had to pass through Tong Palace and then walk deep into the underground. After doing so, he would be able to finally see it again. He didn't hesitate. He nodded to the dragon.

He felt very thankful to this black dragon. He wanted to something at last. Although it understood the human language, Chen Chang Sheng didn't know how to call it.

Master? He already had one. Elder? This didn't sound close. You? Too disrespectful. Yo? Does he want to die? ...These all seemed inappropriate.

Chen Chang Sheng thought for a while and shouted to the black dragon that was gradually disappearing in darkness, "Big Uncle...Dragon."

The black dragon was a bit dumbfounded from the title it was given.

"Big Uncle Dragon." Chen Chang Sheng did not know what he should say. Saying thank you without doing any actions wouldn't help. He suddenly remember a thing. He pointed at the roof said, "I have to take the Nightly Pearl with me."

The black dragon roared and looked very angry. It did not think that after all that, this little kid would want more than he already got.

Chen Chang Sheng insisted and said, "Big uncle, that belongs to a little girl. I have to return to her later on."

...

There was an extremely tiny pond in a remote palace in the royal court.

As the night got darker, the lights inside the palace turned already off. A middle-aged woman was standing next to the pond. Her appearance was pretty common and her dress was also very simple. Obviously, she wasn't one of those imperial concubines who only spent time in dresses and make up. Neither of the maids were at their youth.

She stood by the pond. It was unsure if she was preparing to wash her hands, or was washing clothes.

At this moment, Hua Hua (sounds), water flushed up like an upside down water fall. A young man was flushed out.

He was Chen Chang Sheng.

In the underground dimension, his clothes was covered fully by a layer of frost. Now it was all flushed away by water. He was all wet and he looked extremely poor.

How would this middle-aged woman expect a man to suddenly appeared in the dark night? She was startled by it. She took a step back.

The lady wore wooden shoes. The step she took backwards was on the rock next to the pond. Pa!

There was a squirrel eating in the forest. It was scared by this sound. It threw away the fruit that it carried with its two forelegs, jumped from the tree to the handrail on the second floor of the palace and ran swiftly towards the direction to the exit of the yard. Its tail moved randomly and it coincidentally touched a pot of flower that was placed at the handrail.

The flower leaned slightly and was about to fall down.

Coincidentally, the mid aged lady stood under it.

If the pot fell down, it would definitely hit her. At the very least, she might get hurt.

Chen Chang Sheng left the underground dimension, came back to land and then fell back into the pond. His face was wet. After he wiped off the water, and could see things, the first image he saw was this extremely coincidental, extremely unfortunately scene.

He did not even think and he immediately threw himself against the middle-aged woman.

He knew that here was deep in the royal court. There were countless elites, if those people heard anything, then it would probably be very hard for him to return to the Wei Yang Palace.

Yet he still went for it. Not because he was afraid the pot would fall on the ground and let others know but because the middle-aged lady was in danger.

If he thought closely, he might have made a better choice. The better choice of how to leave, and then arrive at the Wei Yang Palace promptly but he didn't think.

He embraced the middle-aged lady in his arms androlled a half circle.

If the flower pot fell down, it would only fall on his back.

But the pot didn't drop.

So, this image became a little embarrassing and hard to explain.

There was sound as he expected but there was no pain coming from his back. Chen Chang Sheng looked up at the handrail to see that the pot was still there.

He obviously didn't see but the middle-aged lady took back one finger.

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the middle-aged woman and felt a bit nervous...if she shouts out now, then he would be even more troubled. At such late night, embraced by a youngster came out of pond, anyone would probably yell.

At this time, he should knock out the lady right away just like what goes on in novels.

But there was another problem. He didn't know how to knock people out.

So, he faced a very complicated issue.

The palace in dark night, the wave in the pond and the flower pot on the handrail were staring at each other.

He and the middle-aged lady were staring at each other.

Hard to comment.

Silent and wordless.

He was a young man.

She was a mid aged woman.

There wasn't any embarrassment related to gender.

There's only embarrassment.

The middle-aged lady frowned. She open her mouth to say something but decided against it and closed her mouth again.

Chen Chang Sheng felt surprised. He thought, What? It can't be!

He let go his hand, gave a salute to apologize, and then used his hands to expertly make gestures.

The middle-aged woman looked at him and made a gesture too. Chen Chang Sheng thought, That's why. He then made a gesture to apologize again and saw that she did not have any intention to account him for fault. He didn't understand why, but since he didn't have much time, without thinking too much, he left urgently.

...

"Dragon language, sign language, he knows a lot."

Looking at Chen Chang Sheng's back that was disappearing in darkness, the middle-aged lady smiled and said.

Chen Chang Sheng had thought that she was mute. She said to the darkness, "Wei Yang Palace is too far, go help him out."

"He's truly a good kid."

The middle-aged woman gradually stopped smiling and said indifferently, "If his last name is Chen, that will be even better."

After saying this, she turned and walked towards the palace.

The previously dark and seemingly deserted palace suddenly lit up.

Several dozens of eunuchs and maids, with many royal guests, kneeled down at the sides. No one dared to look up. All held their breaths.

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