#1028 - Overestimating one's capabilities
Inside the Imperial Palace's study, Qing Mu and his companions, led by the captain of the guards, met the current Emperor.
“You may rise.”
The Emperor's expression was amiable, his voice no longer aged, the wrinkles on his face had vanished, and his full head of white hair had transformed into thick black hair.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Qing Mu and the others stood up, looking at the Emperor, who was full of vigor and exuded a dignified aura, and felt a strange sense of oppression in their hearts.
“It has been many years since I last summoned you. Over these years, I have been aware of Qingyun's difficult situation. I have always felt guilty for not being able to help Qingyun. I ask for your understanding of my difficulties. It's not that I don't want to help Qingyun, but I have my own challenges.”
The Emperor's face was full of apology, appearing genuinely sincere. If Qingmu Zhenren didn't know the truth, he might have believed him and been moved by the Emperor's words.
However, knowing the Emperor's true intentions, he only found his facade extremely hypocritical.
Despite the criticism in his heart, he couldn't show it on his face. Instead, he said with feigned surprise and gratitude: “It is our honor that Your Majesty remembers Qingyun. Loyalty to the Emperor is our duty in Qingyun. We only regret that Qingyun's strength is insufficient and unable to share Your Majesty's burden in the face of King Ning's targeting and suppression!”
“Alas, I am deeply gratified to have subjects like you, and I feel even more indebted to you. But rest assured, from now on, I will no longer sit idly by. I will do my best to help Qingyun out of its predicament, hoping to make up for my debt to Qingyun……”
The Emperor sighed.
… …
At the same time, Yuanshi's incarnation sneaked into a shop selling hats and shoes within the city.
This shop was very large, and the clothes sold were of excellent quality.
He quietly stole a set of purple clothes.
Unfortunately, the incarnation didn't bring any money, so he had to be a small thief for once.
Meanwhile, Jun Wuxie's true body had already arrived at the Royal Academy with Elder Yu.
The Royal Academy was located on the edge of the southern district of the Imperial City.
The environment here was serene, far from the bustling city, with several continuous mountain ranges, lush vegetation, and towering ancient trees.
The academy was built among the mountains, and the buildings inside had a very hierarchical feel, from low to high, in a semi-circular stepped shape.
“That is our Outer Academy, the second level is the Inner Academy, the third level is the Elite Academy, and behind them are the Core Academy and the Chief Academy respectively. Students of different levels study in different levels of the academy.”
“It seems similar to our Qingyun's disciple level division.”
“More or less. The Chief Academy is full of chief students, and their status in the academy is equivalent to your sect's direct disciples. However, their strength is much stronger.”
Elder Yu stated that student levels were strictly divided according to realm.
Those below the Saint King Realm were Outer Academy students, Saint King Lesser Celestial were Inner Academy students, Middle Celestial were Elite Academy students, Greater Celestial were Core Academy students, and Extreme Celestial and above were Chiefs.
These were all referring to current students. Among the previous chief students, there were many powerhouses in the Great Saint Realm.
“What do you think? The Royal Academy is much stronger than Qingyun, right? Do you know why? First, we recruit the most outstanding people from Dagan. Second, they have better and richer resources. Cultivation, no matter how high your talent, requires corresponding cultivation resources. As the saying goes, a clever woman cannot cook without rice. Without resources, you can only accumulate energy by absorbing the heaven and earth's spiritual energy. The process is not only slow, but also difficult to break through because the quality of the heaven and earth's spiritual energy in Qingzhou is not high.”
Elder Yu said, smiling: “How about joining our Royal Academy? As long as you become a student here, although you can only be an Outer Academy student for the time being due to realm limitations, you will soon be able to enter the Inner Academy, and then the Elite Academy. Each level has a large supply of resources. Moreover, this old man will give you the back door, providing you with multiple resources, allowing your cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds!”
“Elder Yu, why are you bringing this up again? For now, I will not leave Qingyun.”
Jun Wuxie followed Elder Yu into the academy's interior, along a long, wide bluestone staircase, climbing to the end.
This was a wide open space, with a huge door in front, on which were written several large characters in a flamboyant style—Dagan Royal Academy!
“Greetings, Elder Yu.”
The guards in front of the door respectfully saluted, and couldn't help but glance at Jun Wuxie beside him.
Who was this person who could be personally brought to the academy by Elder Yu? Could it be the son of some important official in the court?
However, they knew all the sons of the ministers and had never seen this person.
Entering the gate, the scenery inside was beautiful, with tall trees on both sides, and a spacious tree-lined path underfoot. Occasionally, one could hear the chirping of birds.
He followed Elder Yu all the way inside.
Jun Wuxie saw many Outer Academy students sitting neatly in front of some buildings.
They were learning cultivation methods from their teachers.
Some teachers were explaining the essentials of the cultivation method, while others were demonstrating secret techniques, imparting their experience and insights.
“Look at those students. Although they are all Outer Academy students, they are still divided in detail. According to the students' talents, they are divided into three different levels: elementary, middle, and high.”
Jun Wuxie nodded. This was similar to the detailed differentiation in his lower realm's Royal Academy.
This division was to better teach the students. After all, those with high talents cultivate faster and have better comprehension. After this division, those who cultivate quickly are in one class, and the teacher can teach faster without repeatedly repeating and wasting time.
Along the way, many people looked sideways, revealing surprise from afar.
That was an elder at the level of academy director, usually high above. Why would he lead someone in today? Could it be a new student? I just don't know which academy he is from.
“Wuxie, actually, you don't have to have any concerns. If you come to the academy to cultivate, the identity of Qingyun Zhenwu Peak's disciple can still be retained. It's just that you come here to obtain resources. Others can't even find such a good thing with a lantern. What reason do you have to refuse?”
Elder Yu persuaded him.
Today, he had to find a way to keep this Yue Wuxie here.
As the Emperor said, this person was now the master of the Tower of Trials. Only by staying at the academy could they obtain the secrets of the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors of the Tower of Trials.
If he was allowed to leave and return to Qingyun, it would be inconvenient. If they wanted to know the secrets of the top three floors of the Tower of Trials, they would have to run to Qingyun.
The people of the academy couldn't stay in Qingyun all the time. In that environment, it would not be easy to explore the secrets. But here, they could think of various ways and create various conditions.
“This matter, let's wait. I need to go back to Qingyun and consider it carefully, and talk to my master before I can make a decision.”
“Zhenren Chengyuan will definitely agree. I don't think you need to return to Qingyun. This old man will write a letter to Zhenren Chengyuan. If he knows that you are practicing at the Royal Academy, he will definitely be happy and proud for you.”
How could Elder Yu be willing to let him go back? Only by keeping him here could everything be under control.
If this Yue Wuxie left the Imperial City, future events might be uncontrollable, because then the Ning King's Mansion would intervene.
At this time, they had already passed through the Outer Academy area and came to the Inner Academy area along the sloping bluestone steps.
There were many students resting here, all looking sideways, with surprise in their eyes.
I don't know how many eyes were staring at Jun Wuxie.
“He's not even at the Saint King Realm yet?”
The Inner Academy disciples were all Saint Kings. Seeing Elder Yu leading someone to the Inner Academy area, they thought this person was also in the Saint King Realm. They didn't expect that there was no aura of the Saint King on him, but only a Saint Realm cultivator.
Why would Elder Yu bring someone in the Saint Realm to the Inner Academy area?
“Who do you think he is? No matter how talented a person in the Saint Realm is, they can only start as an Outer Academy student, because only the Outer Academy teachers teach cultivation knowledge of the Saint Realm. What is taught here is cultivation knowledge of the Saint King Realm!”
“He should be following Elder Yu to take a look. Maybe he will be allowed to practice in the Inner Academy as an exception.”
“How is that possible? There is no such rule in the academy!”
“Rules are made by people, and naturally they will be broken by people. Some privileged people are like this. Have you forgotten the sons and daughters of certain important officials?”
“He is not the son of any noble family. The sons of the noble families in the Imperial City are all celebrities. Who doesn't know them?”
“I hate these privileged people the most. They have no ability of their own, rely on backdoors to get in, and act like they're something special every day!”
… …
“Wuxie, are you really not planning to stay and cultivate?”
This time, Elder Yu did not talk to him directly, but transmitted his voice secretly.
“No.”
“Alas, do you feel wronged to start as an Outer Academy student? This old man can discuss it with the Dean and others and let you directly enter the Chief Academy. At that time, your status will be the highest among the students. Other students will have to be respectful when they see you.”
“It's not a matter of status. I appreciate the kindness.”
Jun Wuxie still refused.
“Okay, then this old man won't persuade you. No matter when, as long as you want to come to the academy to cultivate, we welcome you at any time. You can wander around here by yourself first. This old man is going to find the Dean and others. They also want to meet you.”
After Elder Yu transmitted his voice, he walked towards the depths alone, and soon disappeared.
“This old fox…”
Jun Wuxie looked at Elder Yu's disappearing back and couldn't help but sneer in his heart.
In the Outer Academy, Elder Yu used his voice to communicate. When he came to the Inner Academy, he changed to divine sense, and deliberately kept a certain distance from him.
This was obviously intentional.
As he was thinking, he felt many hostile gazes lock onto him.
It was those Inner Academy disciples, and many of them looked at him with ill intentions.
He ignored them and just wandered leisurely in the Inner Academy.
“Stop!”
A stern reprimand echoed as a large group of students stepped forward, blocking his path.
“Hey kid, where do you think you came from? What do you take our inner sanctum for? This is a place only a Saint King can set foot in. You, a mere Saint, better scram!”
Someone sneered. At first, they thought he was someone Elder Yu valued, but later they realized that Elder Yu hadn't spoken a word to this kid the entire time, and then left on his own.
Clearly, Elder Yu didn't care much about this person.
That's right, he's just a Saint after all.
The inner sanctum is a place that students in the Saint Realm cannot enter. Only students at the Saint King level or above are allowed in.
But this kid was actually strolling leisurely in the inner sanctum, treating it like what? His own backyard?
“I advise you to speak more politely, and don't block my way. Get out of my way.”
Jun Wuxie calmly looked at these arrogant inner sanctum students.
A group of Saint King Realm, Lesser Celestial, he really couldn't muster any interest in them.
But these words, when they landed in the ears of the inner sanctum students, were extremely grating.
A Saint Realm cultivator, running to the inner sanctum, actually dared to speak to them like this, truly incredibly inflated and arrogant!
“Impudent! I think you've got a death wish!” A student stepped forward, a sneer on his lips, and said, “In light of your foolish words and actions just now, I now sentence you to kneel down and apologize, otherwise, if you walk in here standing today, I'm afraid you'll have to be carried out horizontally!”
The corners of Jun Wuxie's lips curled up slightly as he looked at them with interest, not saying a word.
At this time, on the top floor of the Chief Courtyard, on a mountain peak, Elder Yu and several old men were calmly watching the inner sanctum.
One of the gray-haired elders said, “Elder Yu, are you sure you can achieve results by provoking him in this way?”
“Hard to say, but we have to try. This old man has already told him that the position of Chief Student is very high. If he is humiliated in the inner sanctum and wants to vent his anger, wouldn't he consider becoming the Chief Student?”
“Hmm, that's possible.” The gray-haired elder stroked his beard and said, “We must keep him here no matter what. The last three levels of the Trial Tower likely hold the inheritance of the original owner of the tower. We must get it, and we must not let him take it away!”
… …
“I told you to kneel down and apologize, are you deaf?”
In the inner sanctum, the student's voice intensified, his eyes even colder.
His anger had already reached its peak. As a student of the inner sanctum, if he couldn't suppress someone in the Saint Realm, wouldn't he be ridiculed?
“I told you to get out of my way, are you also deaf?”
Jun Wuxie's expression remained calm throughout.
Such an attitude angered all the inner sanctum students blocking the way, especially the one who stepped out to make him kneel, who immediately flew into a rage.
“Damn it, you still dare to act…”
He stepped forward, reaching out and grabbing towards Jun Wuxie's shoulder, intending to press him to the ground.
Just as his hand was about to land on Jun Wuxie's shoulder, iron-like fingers instantly locked onto his wrist.
In an instant, the student's face showed pain, followed by the sound of cracking bones, and the student screamed, his face twisted, and he squatted on the ground in pain.
Jun Wuxie suddenly pulled him over, his five fingers reaching forward, tearing his entire mouth to shreds with a *poof*.
Immediately afterwards, he kicked him out hundreds of meters away, smashing through several large trees before falling to the ground, already with broken bones and tendons.
Such a scene caused the faces of the gray-haired elder and Elder Yu on the highest main peak to change abruptly.
When did that Yue Wuxie become so strong?
An inner sanctum student at the Saint King Lesser Celestial level was actually defeated by him so easily!
On the shaded path of the inner sanctum, after a brief shock, the other inner sanctum students were all furious.
A Saint ran to the inner sanctum to show off his power. If they let him leave today, what face would these inner sanctum students have left?
“You dare to fight back, you're courting death!”
In an instant, dozens of inner sanctum disciples blocking the way all rushed up, surrounding him and launching a fierce attack against him.
“Overestimating yourselves.”
Jun Wuxie spoke indifferently, slightly raising his head to glance at the peak of the highest main peak.
His divine sense had already detected Elder Yu and others watching here, and he had also guessed their purpose.
Watching dozens of inner sanctum students attacking him from all directions, his eyes were indifferent, and he stepped on the ground.
With a *buzz* sound.
Crimson and crystalline blood energy burst out from his feet as the center, instantly sweeping in all directions like a raging wave.
The secret technique attacks of dozens of inner sanctum students, encountering the impact of the crimson and crystalline blood energy, instantly collapsed.
*Rumble*!
The blood energy surged upwards from below, directly blasting dozens of people into the sky.
The trees here, within a thousand meters radius, were all broken, a mess.
At the same time, Jun Wuxie stretched out his palm, his palm facing the sky, the blood energy soaring into the sky, and his fingers suddenly clenched into a fist.
Dozens of people who were blasted into the air, suffering from the suction of a huge force, smashed down like meteors.
It was simply a sky full of human-shaped dumplings, falling down with a *pitter-patter*, smashing dozens of human-shaped deep pits into the ground, blood splattering, a sound of bone cracking and screams, echoing through the inner sanctum.
Dozens of people, all with broken bones and tendons, displaced internal organs, spitting out blood, curled up in human-shaped pits, howling endlessly.
Suddenly, apart from the wailing sounds, everyone else in the entire inner sanctum was silent, no one making any sound, all looking at him with horrified eyes.
“Does anyone else want to try?”
Jun Wuxie swept his gaze over all the inner sanctum students here. Wherever his gaze went, every inner sanctum student was so frightened that they quickly lowered their eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.
At this moment, on the highest main peak, the faces of the gray-haired elder and Elder Yu and others were somewhat unsightly.
“Damn it, I underestimated the realm he improved in the Trial Tower. He has improved too much compared to before the trial!”
The muscles on Elder Yu's face twitched. He had miscalculated.
Originally, he thought he could let the inner sanctum disciples teach Yue Wuxie a lesson and humiliate him in the inner sanctum, so as to stimulate his revenge psychology, so he would have no choice but to become the Chief Student.
In that case, they could keep him in the Royal Academy, and there were ways to get the secrets of the last three levels of the Trial Tower.
He never thought that Yue Wuxie is now so strong that, across the great realm barrier, he could defeat dozens of Saint King Realm early-stage students with a wave of his hand!
