Chapter 135: The Selection Battle for Qualification Spots

Within the cavern where the wyrm dwelled, Ye Zhong appeared. Not long afterward, the wyrm’s enormous head broke through the water. Its shadowy eyes fixed upon Ye Zhong.

“Why has the dean of Violetcloud Academy come to this king’s domain?”

“Naturally, I have business here.” Ye Zhong smiled amiably. “The Myriad Beasts Spirit Valley.”

At those words, the pool in which the wyrm lived began to bubble violently, as though boiling. A chill glinted in its eyes.

“What are you planning?”

“With the quota tournament approaching, I wish to borrow the Demon King’s territory to hold a trial,” Ye Zhong said with a smile in his eyes.

“And if this king refuses?”

“That is of no consequence. I merely came to inform you.”

The wyrm’s immense body began to tremble. After a long while, it gradually quieted and said in a deep voice, “How are your actions any different from those of bandits?”

“We will not use your territory for nothing. When you transform into a flood dragon, I will provide you with assistance,” Ye Zhong replied.

The wyrm seemed somewhat tempted. Its massive body sank back into the water.

“Then it is settled.”

Ye Zhong let out a quiet breath of relief. This would be the only time. It would not be wise to visit the demon race’s territory too often. Ye Zhong had already decided that future selections for the quota tournament would be conducted by other means. This time, however, he had no choice. They urgently needed to improve the overall strength of the outer-court disciples so that they could shine during the quota tournament.

…

At Violetcloud Academy, Shen Qingyun was teaching Qin Ning by guiding her hands across the strings. Feng Chuxun stood nearby, holding the Crimson Snow Sword.

“I’m going to cultivate,” Feng Chuxun said before turning and walking into a room in the pavilion.

He was being far too inconsiderate of other people’s feelings! From Shen Qingyun, he had learned Qin Ning’s identity—the ninth princess of the Skyblue Dynasty. Yet with such a distinguished status, she was now clinging to Shen Qingyun like a younger sister and pestering him to teach her the qin. He could not bear to watch any longer…

Shen Qingyun glanced toward him. He wanted to leave as well.

“Your spiritual power is sufficient. What you lack now is an understanding of the intent contained within the qin.” Shen Qingyun began, “The qin attacks the soul—in other words, spiritual power. Interference, imprisonment, and annihilation are all methods of attack employed by its music.”

“I’ll play a piece now. It is still the Melody Beyond the Mortal World. You should comprehend it carefully on your own.”

With that, Shen Qingyun sat before the qin and began to play with all ten fingers.

Qin Ning’s expression grew solemn as she quieted her mind and immersed herself in the music. She knew very well that the qin could teach her only so much. What mattered more was her own comprehension.

As the melodious music rang out, a profound artistic conception swept through Qin Ning’s body, making her want to lose herself in it. But this time, having prepared in advance, she guarded her mind and restrained herself from sinking into the music.

Shen Qingyun was controlling himself as well. He possessed no spiritual power, but his divine sense was a hundred times stronger than spiritual power. If he did not restrain it, then no matter how carefully Qin Ning defended herself, she would still be drawn in.

Inside the pavilion room, the broken sword and greatsword floated behind Feng Chuxun. Under his deliberate control, the two swords showed faint signs of merging.

The qin music entered his ears, and the two great spiritual manifestations behind him immediately trembled, as if they were about to break free of his control.

Feng Chuxun glanced helplessly at the door. Sword intent surged from his body and encircled him, blocking the invasion of the music.

“Dong, dong, dong…”

The melody was still being played when nine tolls of a bell suddenly rang out, interrupting Shen Qingyun and breaking Qin Ning’s comprehension. Disturbed while playing, Shen Qingyun frowned in displeasure.

Unlike Shen Qingyun, Qin Ning knew exactly what the bell signified.

“It is the academy’s summons,” Qin Ning said.

Shen Qingyun glanced at her, then called loudly, “Chuxun!”

The next instant, the door to the pavilion room opened, and a figure flashed out. It was none other than Feng Chuxun. Sword intent and spiritual power swirled around him, while the greatsword and broken sword behind him had already merged halfway.

He cast a puzzled look at Shen Qingyun. Shen Qingyun walked up to him and said, “Everyone is assembling.”

Then he lightly patted Feng Chuxun on the shoulder. The sword intent and spiritual power instantly dispersed, while the greatsword and broken sword, as though seized by an invisible hand, were forcibly pressed into complete fusion.

Even so, the broken sword’s appearance remained dominant.

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

Shen Qingyun looked toward Qin Ning in confusion.

Qin Ning smiled sweetly. “I am an inner-court disciple. The outer-court summons has nothing to do with me.”

“…All right.”

Shen Qingyun was speechless.

The broadest plaza in Violetcloud Academy was generally used only for major events or grand ceremonies. Yet now, the disciples of the Seven Palaces had gathered there for the second time.

By the time Shen Qingyun and the others arrived, the rear half of the plaza was already packed with people. In contrast, only a dozen or so figures stood scattered across the front half.

Shen Qingyun raised an eyebrow and said to Feng Chuxun, “Let’s go to the front.”

When they reached the front half of the plaza, pair after pair of eyes immediately fixed upon them. This time, however, there was no hostility in those gazes. They were comrades now; the grudges of the past could be left behind.

Shen Qingyun noticed that among the few figures in the front half of the plaza, a considerable number were people he knew.

“Shen Qingyun, come over here.”

Zhan Yan was among them. Without turning around, he seemed to have eyes in the back of his head and knew that Shen Qingyun had arrived.

Shen Qingyun raised an eyebrow and walked forward with Feng Chuxun, stopping beside Zhan Yan. Zhan Yan turned his head. First, he gave Shen Qingyun a complicated look before shifting his gaze to Feng Chuxun.

“What is going on?” Shen Qingyun asked.

“The quota tournament should be about to begin.” Zhan Yan smiled faintly, a trace of anticipation flashing through his eyes. “I do not know who established this unwritten rule, but whenever an important matter is announced, only the top ten disciples of the Seven Palaces are permitted to stand in the front half of the plaza.”

Shen Qingyun smiled. “Then I am not allowed to stand here?”

“Stop insulting people.” Zhan Yan rolled his eyes. “You defeated me and became the foremost disciple of the Seven Palaces. I merely moved up to second place. But if Brother Feng fought me, I would probably be pushed down to third. If even you are not qualified to stand here, then no one is.”

“I have no interest in rankings,” Feng Chuxun said indifferently.

Zhan Yan glanced at him. He could tell that was true.

“Then what did you mean by the quota tournament?” Shen Qingyun asked again.

“The quota tournament is a grand event held among the three great academies.” Zhan Yan’s expression grew solemn. “The Holy Land grants our three academies a portion of the quotas, while a very small remainder is distributed among the various dynasties. The quota tournament is a competition for places in the Holy Land—the opportunity to enter the Path to Sainthood.”

At the mention of the Holy Land, Shen Qingyun’s eyes flickered slightly. He quietly watched Zhan Yan, seemingly waiting for him to continue.

Zhan Yan went on, “However, those quotas are not for us. The academy has an inner court, and such a good opportunity will never fall to us. The quotas we compete for will be handed over to the inner court. The inner-court disciples will then compete among themselves, selecting the required number of participants for the Holy Land’s Path to Sainthood.”

After speaking, Zhan Yan noticed that Shen Qingyun’s expression had become somewhat strange. He felt an inexplicable unease and could not help asking, “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing.” Shen Qingyun shook his head. “I was only thinking that we expend so much effort fighting for these quotas, while the inner court contributes nothing and takes everything. Why are you all so eager to participate in something that brings you no benefit?”

Zhan Yan’s face stiffened slightly. He then shook his head helplessly. Everyone knew this; they had simply never said it aloud. Besides, this was also a good opportunity to exchange with the other two great academies.

Over the next stretch of time, the top ten disciples of the Seven Palaces gradually arrived. When they saw Shen Qingyun, they nodded at him amiably. They had no grudges between them.

Su Mu, however, was different. The moment he saw Shen Qingyun, resentment filled his face.

Shen Qingyun had chosen the Fifth Palace, while Su Mu had happened to be its foremost disciple. The arrival of Shen Qingyun and Feng Chuxun had directly reduced him to third place in the Fifth Palace. The humiliation was unbearable for his proud nature.

As the disciples of the Seven Palaces finished gathering, another resounding bell rang out, drowning the noisy voices in the plaza.

When the bell reverberated through heaven and earth, everyone stopped talking and turned their eyes toward the front.

Several figures slowly appeared in the air above the plaza. They were the instructors of the various palaces. Two positions had been left open in the middle. There was no need to guess who they were for: Dean Ye Zhong and Vice Dean Cheng Feng.

When Ye Zhong and Cheng Feng appeared, wave after wave of reverent gazes immediately turned toward them.

“Little fellows, we meet again.” In the air, Ye Zhong laughed amiably. “When the Dao Bell tolls nine times and its sound resounds throughout heaven and earth, it heralds the arrival of a prosperous age. The Holy Land has opened the Path to Sainthood in order to recruit more talented individuals to cultivate there and add another force of vitality to the vast Divine Land.”

Shen Qingyun’s expression had already darkened when Ye Zhong began speaking. The phrase “nine tolls of the Dao Bell” affected him especially deeply. The world knew only that the bell’s ringing heralded the arrival of a prosperous age. They did not know that accompanying that prosperous age was also a calamity vast enough to engulf the heavens.

Even now, Shen Qingyun could not help wondering whether the appearance of the demon race was a sign that the calamity had arrived.

Ye Zhong continued, “I believe everyone is familiar with the quota tournament. That is right—it is the allocation of places in the Path to Sainthood granted to our academy by the Holy Land. I will not say more about that. However, there is one thing I must mention. In the past, the participants in the quota tournament were selected from among the top ten disciples of each palace, with fifty people ultimately chosen to participate.”

“But this time, we are doing things a little differently! The entire outer court may participate in the selection for the quota tournament. The method will be the Myriad Beasts Spirit Valley!”

“I did not hear that wrong, did I? It is actually the Myriad Beasts Spirit Valley. That is the territory of the demon race!”

“Would a Demon King really be so kind as to lend us his sacred land and allow humans to set foot there?”

“Hmph, you are underestimating Dean Ye and Vice Dean Cheng. Before the two deans, a single Demon King is hardly worth mentioning…”

Seeing the plaza erupt into commotion again, Ye Zhong coughed lightly. “Next, I will announce the rules of the selection!”

The plaza instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath and concentrated, afraid that they might miss even a single word.

“The Myriad Beasts Spirit Valley is a region belonging to the demon race, and the Demon King has agreed to lend us this sacred land. Countless demon beasts inhabit it, and they will form the basis of the rules.” Ye Zhong spoke slowly. “You are not being asked to slaughter the demon beasts. That would be no different from sending you to your deaths. When demon beasts undergo transformation and advance in rank, they shed Beast Soul Pills. What you must do is find a way to obtain those pills. The rankings will be determined by their quantity and quality.”

Looking at Ye Zhong, Shen Qingyun cursed inwardly. The old fox truly was a bandit in all but name. He was actually sending them to seize Beast Soul Pills. It would have been more straightforward to have them slaughter demon beasts and die outright.