Practicing lust and swordsmanship

Yangguan Pass is the gateway to Lanzhou Prefecture. Traveling from northwest to southeast, once you pass Yangguan, you leave this border city of Lanzhou.

Ji Feng was already outside Yangguan.

This was the first time he had seen the southern sky of Yan Kingdom—such a pure blue, without the endless yellow sand, even the spring breeze made one drowsy.

However, west of Yangguan, there were no familiar faces.

Ji Feng, who had just turned sixteen and was leaving Tianshui Town for the first time, was experiencing early spring. In the Demon Realm, it was the Night Cherry Blossom Festival; in the Human Realm, it was called the Awakening of Insects.

There weren't many pedestrians on the road. Ji Feng thought about the new knowledge his teacher had taught him over the past month.

"For the past sixteen years, the knowledge I've taught you has been flawless. If there are any problems, it's your own fault. Don't be ignorant and ask elders more questions, and don't ask women questions you already know the answers to—after all, you have to consider their vanity, don't you?"

"Your cultivation has reached the Wind and Rain Realm, but the righteous energy I taught you is different from most mortals. You mustn't easily reveal your method, and certainly don't mention my name. Uh… speaking of which, you seem to… seem to… not even know my name?"

"Listen carefully, my surname is Tang. If you encounter the Ye or Sun families, say your master is Master Tang.

The Ye family I'm referring to is the Ye of Wu Liang, and the Sun family is the Sun of Yan Wang Sun."

"When you arrive in Wu Liang, if you successfully marry Qingwu, remember to verify with her what I've taught you these past few days… uh, that… etiquette, yes, etiquette, the etiquette of husband and wife, isn't it?"

"Yunniang will move to this small house. Hey, hey, hey, don't look at me like that. I am a man of high moral character, not the kind of despicable scoundrel who covets your mother's beauty."

That's all.

Having traversed the entire Lanzhou Prefecture, Ji Feng remained bewildered, knowing only that Yizhou Prefecture was due south-southeast of Lanzhou, and thus headed straight towards Wuliang County in Yizhou.

Although the people of Great Yan lived in peace and prosperity, a picture of national tranquility, many bandits and robbers still roamed the desolate mountains and wilderness.

New to the world of martial arts, Ji Feng was unaware of his own strength. During his first encounter with bandits, he injured over a dozen with a single move, realizing that cultivators were indeed different from ordinary people.

His master said that cultivators like him, venturing out at such a young age, were called "Great Yan Travelers" within the Yan Kingdom.

Cultivating the Dao was no simple matter for mortals.

Since the Human King transformed the Nine Cauldrons, later generations had comprehended countless arts and the three thousand great Daos from them. Later, the Nine Cauldrons were destroyed by natural disasters and human calamities, forcing cultivators throughout the world to explore on their own.

Later, the remaining stones from the Holy Mother's mending of the sky transformed into Zhongshan and Nanshan, and the traces of her earth-repairing work flowed into the Luo River, Lan River, and Cang River. She also passed down seven volumes of celestial scriptures, guiding the cultivators of the three races on their path.

According to the first volume of the celestial scriptures, the Cambrian Scroll, "All living beings possess consciousness; the root of wisdom arises from the chaos, and all can cultivate.

Asking the Way is like a child's awakening; cultivating oneself can establish one's destiny; transcending the mortal realm means no longer being in this mundane world—this is introspection."

Therefore, wherever human power reaches, it is to ask the Way, cultivate oneself, and then transcend the mortal realm.

"The power of living beings is shackled, hence they question Heaven and Earth. The earth gives birth to mortal beings, hence they are close to it. Understanding the winds and rains of the eight directions, comprehending the yin and yang of Heaven and Earth, one can know the mandate of Heaven—this is returning to one's roots."

Human power is insufficient; one must borrow the power of the earth, understand the winds and rains, comprehend Heaven and Earth, and know the mandate of Heaven. This involves another important thing: the pulse gate.

Regardless of race—human, beast, or demon—no matter how talented, one is ultimately just a mortal being between Heaven and Earth; even at the limit of cultivation, one cannot contend with Heaven and Earth.

At this point, one needs to open one's own meridians to connect with the outside world and draw upon the power of heaven and earth to truly ascend to heaven and earth, transcending the mortal realm and attaining sainthood.

The size and number of these meridians represent a person's innate talent.

All living beings in the world, whether animal or plant, possess meridians.

These meridians connect the muscles, bones, and blood throughout the body, ending at the meridian points.

If the meridian points are not open, one cannot draw upon the power of heaven and earth, remaining trapped in the human realm, unable to reach the earth's power, let alone the heaven's power. If

the meridian points are too small, the resonance will be insufficient, and even if the power of heaven and earth is drawn upon, it will be minimal.

There are a total of nine meridian points. An average person can open three meridian points, which is enough to draw upon the power of heaven.

If all nine meridians are opened, that is not human, but a saint.

If seven meridians are opened? That is not an ordinary person either, but Ji Feng.

This is why Ji Feng was able to cultivate to the Wind and Rain Realm at such a young age, because he had opened seven meridian points, and he only had seven meridian points.

As for the higher level of celestial power, it is "to inquire of the stars, to invite the bright moon, as if a god were descending."

One can draw celestial power into the body, cultivate to the Divine Descent Realm, and take another step forward to become a saint.

However, the world knows of only ten people at the Saint Realm, which is still very far away for Ji Feng, who has just experienced the trials of life

. At this time, Ji Feng had already left Yangguan and was approaching Yizhou Prefecture.

Lanzhou and Yizhou Prefectures are located in a mountainous region, and the mountain paths and trails are as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Although Ji Feng could use the ground slightly for support, he was still sweating profusely.

This area belongs to the Zhongshan Mountain Range, where fierce beasts roam the forests, and there are even a few demonic beasts with beast bloodlines. Therefore, most people would rather take a longer route than risk their lives within the Zhongshan Mountains if they wanted to travel between the two prefectures.

At this moment, the forest was quiet and the mountains were secluded, as if Ji Feng was the only one walking in the world, which made him very happy.

Suddenly, a "tap, tap, tap" sound came from the deep forest

, whether it was someone wearing wooden clogs or tapping a bamboo cane, he couldn't tell.

Ji Feng thought to himself, since there are no old friends outside the pass, then I might as well make a new friend. Wouldn't I have old friends to meet again next time I come? The voice gradually approached, and an old man in a straw raincoat and straw sandals emerged from the bushes, holding a dark long stick in his hand, the material of which was unknown.

Ji Feng stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, sir."

The old man seemed surprised to encounter a living person in this deep mountain forest, showing no signs of wariness or concern, only a hint of astonishment. He chuckled, "Young man, why are you alone in this desolate wilderness? Is this your first time traveling far from home?"

Ji Feng replied, "Indeed."

The old man seemed unhurried, tapping his black cane on the ground and asking, "Who are you? Where do you come from? Where are you going?"

Ji Feng smiled shyly and said, "The master also asked these three questions, saying that those who answer seriously are either fools or good people. My name is Ji Feng, I come from Tianshui Town, and I'm going to Wuliang in Yizhou. Oh, I'm not a fool."

The old man immediately found this young man quite interesting and asked, "Traveling in the Great Yan, in this treacherous Zhongshan region, without a weapon for self-defense, how dangerous is that?"

Ji Feng earnestly replied, "The master said that weapons are instruments of violence, used only by sages as a last resort. I am not a sage." The old man suddenly understood, and no longer delved into the matter, changing the subject, "My surname is Xiangli, I come from Xuzhou Prefecture, and I'm going to Hengyun Ridge."

Ji Feng couldn't sense any aura of cultivation from the old man, yet he wanted to go to Hengyun Ridge, a place bordering the Demon Realm. Ji Feng couldn't help but remind him, "Sir, the Demon Realm is often rampant in Hengyun Ridge. You have no cultivation, so please be careful." Old Man Xiangli smiled and asked, "Why didn't you try to dissuade me?" Ji Feng said seriously, "Going to Hengyun Ridge is your intention, how could I stop you from doing what you set your mind to?" "Heh, interesting, you're quite an interesting young man." Ji Feng continued to ask, "Since you've come from the south, do you know the shortest route to Wuliang County?" Xiangli replied, "I've never been to Wuliang, how would I know?" "Oh, I see."

"Judging from your tone, you mean you blame me?"

"I wouldn't dare."

"Alright, since I've met you in these deep mountains, it's fate. Let me give you a small gift."

Ji Feng quickly declined, saying, "I can't accept something I haven't done right by."

Xiangli said, "Since you're so learned, how can you not understand the saying 'I dare not refuse a gift from an elder'? Please accept what I'm giving you."

With that, he tossed a small wooden object to Ji Feng, laughed, and left.

Ji Feng picked up the object and saw it was a small wooden knife with

the words "Non-aggression" written on it.

He looked up, wanting to speak, but the old man Xiangli had vanished.

Ji Feng thought to himself, "What a strange old man."

He hadn't paid much attention to the brief encounter, but he was still grateful to Mr. Xiangli. After putting away the knife, he continued south.

Wu Liang wasn't far from the border of Yizhou, and Zhongshan was the highest peak of the Great Yan. Looking into the distance, two hours later, Ji Feng could vaguely see the settlements around Wu Liang County.

Compared to Xiliang, Wuliang shares many similarities.

Wuliang City is renowned because of the Ye family, attracting a constant stream of cultivators who come to learn from them or challenge their schools, making Wuliang City prosperous in a short period.

Xiliang, on the other hand, is a strategically important border region. The Yan army, which is fighting against the demons in the north, has long been stationed around Xiliang County, and Xiliang is also guarded by the Eight Pillars of State: the Xiliang Ma family.

The Xiliang Ma family is not an ordinary large cultivation family, but a family that has served in the military for generations. Almost every head of the Ma family has become a Grand General of the State through military achievements.

Therefore, the Ma family is not only one of the Eight Pillars of State, but also a border warlord of the Great Yan, controlling the strongest army outside of the three major camps of the Yan Kingdom.

The Wuliang County before him was not filled with military camps of all sizes like the area around Xiliang, but rather had farmhouses and houses like Tianshui Town. This made Ji Feng very happy. It turned out that the distant place was so similar to his hometown.

This feeling made Ji Feng forget his fatigue, and he quickened his pace. Half an hour later, he had crossed the farmhouses and arrived outside the city walls of Wuliang County.

At this time, Yan had not yet gone to war with the north, so entering and leaving the city was very convenient; all one needed to do was show their household registration certificate.

Upon entering Wu Liang, Ji Feng thought that the Ye family had been waiting for him for sixteen years, so he decided to make an appearance.

He tucked the household registration certificate back into his clothes and asked a guard, "Sir, may I ask how to get to the Ye family?"

The guard glanced at Ji Feng but didn't answer. Instead, he said to another guard, "Look, another one. The Ye family of Wu Liang is famous throughout the land. These past few days, so many people have come to seek apprenticeship that the city gates are practically collapsing."

Then he turned to Ji Feng and said, "Young brother, you're here to seek apprenticeship too, right? The Ye family is easy to find. Just walk straight along this street, and when you see the Ye family, you'll know you've arrived. Hurry up!" "Alright."

Ji Feng explained, "Sir, I'm not here to become an apprentice, I'm here to find someone. Well, then I'll be going now, thank you, farewell."

After saying that, he walked into the city. The guard looked at him, somewhat astonished, muttering, "Strange, someone's here to cause trouble for the Ye family, sigh..."

Ji Feng was still thinking about the phrase "seeing the Ye family means you've arrived at the Ye family," when suddenly a very tall pavilion appeared before him. The pavilion stood out starkly in the street, and the entrance was a vermilion gate with

the character "War" inscribed on it.

Ji Feng thought, "It really is the Ye family."

Yes, this is the Ye family of Wu Liang.

Of the eight pillar states of Great Yan, only the Ye family is a purely cultivation family. Almost no one in the family is in the court, yet they were still granted the title of eight pillar states by the founding emperor, which shows how powerful their cultivation is.

This pavilion was also built by the first generation of pillar states, and the character "War" on the gate

was the handwriting of the founding emperor.

The main gate was unguarded, suggesting that no living person had ever dared to cause trouble at the Ye family's residence. Ji Feng pushed open the gate, stepped inside, and then backed out.

Not because he had been driven back, but because it was the first time in his life he had seen so many people, and he decided not to use the main gate.

Ji Feng glanced at the height of the platform, thought for a moment, and said, "I shouldn't fall."

Then, Ji Feng moved! He lightly stepped with his right foot, raising a cloud of dust, and his body rose vertically like a bird. He

stepped with his left foot again, the air beneath his feet distorting, and Ji Feng's speed increased dramatically. The next moment, he was already on the platform.

Sitting on the platform, looking down, Ji Feng's expression became complex.

Before him was a martial arts arena ten times larger than a military camp.

Dozens of rooms were built around the arena.

The largest room in the very center bore

the two prominent characters "Pillar of the State. "

Normally, this martial arts arena would appear extremely vast and magnificent.

But at this moment, the vast martial arts arena was packed with people, so crowded that there wasn't even room to put your feet down. In the center of the arena stood a white jade arena, and from a distance, a girl could be seen on it.

Ji Feng had already entered the Wind and Rain Realm, and his eyesight and hearing were beyond ordinary people, so even sitting on the platform, he could still see everything on the arena.

It was a girl dressed in white, with a white veil covering half of her face, revealing only a pair of bright, sparkling eyes that exuded confidence and cuteness.

She spoke, her voice clear and sweet, like a bird soaring through the forest, saying, "Everyone, you are the second group to seek apprenticeship. My brother has already announced to the world that those with cultivation are not allowed, those with wicked intentions are not allowed, and demons are not allowed. So, if you fall into any of these three categories, please leave."

She then looked up at Ji Feng, seemingly having already noticed him, and said from afar, "Little brother, don't think you're invincible just because you're in the Wind and Rain Realm. Climbing this high, are you trying to imitate loneliness and feign despair?"

Ji Feng's eyes narrowed upon hearing this. This girl's tone was gentle, yet it could be heard from a building ten zhang away. She was indeed in the Wind and Rain Realm, perhaps even approaching the edge of the Qiankun Realm.

Seeing that the girl had already noticed him, Ji Feng felt embarrassed to speak through hundreds of people, so he lightly leaped onto the arena.

The girl's eyes lit up, making her even more charming. She said, "Your lightness technique is quite impressive. At such a young age, you've already firmly established yourself at the Wind and Rain Realm.

Your talent is remarkable, little brother." Ji Feng blushed slightly and replied, "I wouldn't dare. You're about the same age as me, yet you've already touched the Qiankun Realm. Your talent is truly astonishing."

The girl's eyes were like the moon as she smiled and said, "Of course! My brother is already at the Qiankun Realm. If I don't hurry, wouldn't I be disgracing the Ye family?"

Thinking that the Ye family was so large and powerful, it was unlikely that he would happen to meet his yet-to-be-met fiancée among so many disciples. So he asked, "My name is Ji Feng. May I ask, young lady..." " What is your name?"

the girl asked in return. "Could it be that you're not here to become a disciple? If you are, why don't you recognize me?"

Ji Feng shook his head and smiled, "I am here on the orders of my master to fulfill his promise to the Ye family."

The girl asked, "Master? Who is Master?"

Ji Feng remembered what Master Tang had said, that he could give his name when he met someone from the Ye family, so he said, "My master's surname is Tang, and his name is Master Tang."

The girl's eyes widened in surprise, and she exclaimed in a shrill voice, "Master?"

Ji Feng was stunned. What a coincidence! He tentatively called out, "Ye Qingwu... um, Senior Sister?"

Silence, still silence, that was an admission.

Ji Feng said, "So that means the one who took on the disciple was the eldest brother?"

Ye Qingwu snorted arrogantly and said, "Master said that besides Father and the Sun family, only his disciples know his name. It seems you really are his disciple. That means you're my fiancé? My goodness, how old are you?"

Ji Feng replied, "Sixteen, Senior Sister, you still haven't answered me."

Ye Qingwu nodded and said, "That's right, the one who took on the disciple is your eldest brother, my brother. Congratulations, you became a junior uncle at sixteen."

Ji Feng couldn't bear it any longer and retorted, "Senior Sister, you're only seventeen. Why pretend to be older and act all mature?"

Ye Qingwu stomped her foot and said, "What a slippery little brat! There are too many people here. I won't argue with you. Come in and see my father."

Only then did Ji Feng notice that thousands of people below were watching them bicker like idiots, and he instantly blushed.

The fighting spirit that had just arisen was extinguished as if doused with urine, making him extremely embarrassed.

The crowd parted like waves, and the two headed straight for the "Pillar of State Mansion." Ahead of them stood a handsome man with a face like jade and a figure like a jade mountain. Ye Qingwu

was overjoyed and ran over, saying, "Brother, why did you come out?"

The man affectionately patted Ye Qingwu's head, smiled, and watched Ji Feng walk over.

The two seemed to have imagined this meeting many times before, yet it felt completely natural.

Ji Feng bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother."

The man said kindly and gently, "Junior Brother, you must be tired from your journey. Let's rest inside."

He then whispered to Ye Qingwu beside him, "This brother-in-law is not bad."

Ye Qingwu blushed slightly and said, "What? I haven't agreed to marry him yet. At least I'll wait until he can beat me."

Ji Feng had always insisted that a lack of patriarchal authority was unacceptable, so he deeply agreed with Ye Qingwu's words and didn't refute her.

Suddenly, the man seemed to remember something and turned to Ji Feng, saying, "Given Master's personality, you probably don't even know my name."

Ji Feng was embarrassed again, feeling that his senior brother's words made perfect sense, and he was speechless.

The man remained gentle and smiled, "My name is Ye Yexin."

Chapter Two: The Enchanted Realm

Ji Feng stood in the hall, bearing an unbearable weight.

Sitting in the hall was a middle-aged man, around forty years old, with slightly graying temples and an extremely upright appearance. This middle-aged man was unbelievably tall; even sitting in a chair, he seemed to be ten feet tall. More importantly, not only was he tall, but his cultivation was also terrifyingly high.

The beads of sweat on Ji Feng's forehead already showed the pressure he was under. This man gave him a different feeling than his teacher. When discussing the Dao with his teacher, his teacher was always a little bit stronger than him, seemingly impossible to catch up with. But this man gave him a feeling of boundless power, as if probing into the clouds.

The middle-aged man grinned, his deep voice saying, "Little fellow, don't always try to test other people's cultivation levels. It's impolite, and you never know when you'll run into a brick wall, like now."

As his voice faded, the pressure vanished, allowing Ji Feng to breathe a deep sigh of relief.

He heard Ye Qingwu and Ye Yexin beside him say simultaneously, "Father."

Ji Feng sighed inwardly: Sure enough, this unfathomable expert was the real Wu Liang Ye, Ye Que. Ji Feng hadn't expected to encounter a Divine Descent Realm expert so quickly!

A glint flashed in Ye Que's eyes as he said, "I already know. You must be Master Tang's little disciple. Back then, Master Tang and I made a promise that if he had another disciple, he would marry my child. However, becoming the son-in-law of the Ye family isn't so easy."

Although Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu didn't yet have feelings for each other, he hadn't considered breaking off the engagement. Since his master had asked him to fulfill his promise, a disciple should serve his master, and naturally, he would do it.

Then, Ye Que looked at his daughter and smiled, "Little girl, why don't you take off your veil?"

Ye Qingwu gave a light snort and reached out to remove the white veil. Beneath the veil was an exquisitely beautiful face.

He had already seen those bright, lively eyes; behind the veil were a high nose bridge and slightly upturned red lips. Her mouth wasn't small, yet it seemed to carry a smile. Together, her features made her a meticulously sculpted beauty.

Ji Feng looked at this princess-like beauty and couldn't imagine the childishness she had displayed during their earlier bickering. She was only a year older than him, yet she had grown up to be so mature. Coupled with her tall, curvaceous figure, she was clearly a newlywed beauty from the Northern Kingdom, possessing a noble yet slightly alluring air.

"Little one, isn't my daughter quite good?"

Ji Feng nodded involuntarily. Ye Qingwu was almost flawless in appearance, and judging from her father's physique, she would likely grow even taller and more outstanding in a few years.

This father, who was at the Divine Descent Realm, didn't seem to have any airs of a master. He spoke gently and casually, and Ji Feng then realized where Ye Yexin's special qualities came from.

Ye Que said, "Young Ji, Wu'er and Ye Xin's mother passed away early, and they raised them single-handedly. Although there was a prior agreement, you've come to my residence today to take my daughter away. How can I bear to do that? How can I agree?"

Ji Feng hurriedly replied, "Senior is right."

Ye Que waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite, just call me Uncle Ye. An agreement is an agreement, and I will certainly keep it. However, I have one request that you must fulfill."

"Please speak, Uncle Ye."

"Now Ye Xin is already at the Qiankun Realm, and his temperament is calm. I have long since trusted him to open his doors and take on disciples. Wu'er, however, is still young and too playful..." At this point, Ye Qingwu said coquettishly, "Father... how can you say such things about your daughter? You're biased..."

Ye Que rolled his eyes at Ye Qingwu, his eyes filled with headache and helplessness, and continued, "I plan to send her to the Qujing in the capital to study. Are you willing to accompany her?"

Qujing is one of the eight great secret realms, located in Jidu, Youzhou Prefecture, the capital of the Great Yan Kingdom. The reason Qujing became Qujing is because of a celestial book: the Cambrian Scroll. Since the founding emperor established the human race's territory, he obtained four of the seven celestial scrolls, which he then distributed to all directions. The Cambrian Scroll remained in the capital.

Later, the reigning emperor gathered the cultivators who had studied the Cambrian Scroll and established Qujing. Qujing is divided into inner and outer realms. The inner realm continues the research on the celestial book, while the outer realm, like an academy, absorbs outstanding young cultivators from across the land, nurturing them into national talents. Outsiders call it Qujing Academy.

Ji Feng had naturally heard about it from his teacher and knew that Qujing Academy was a sacred place coveted by cultivators worldwide, so he naturally agreed to enroll with Ye Qingwu.

Ye Que continued, "To enter Qujing, you must first pass the examination, and there is a grand ceremony every three years to assess the students' cultivation. My requirement is that you enter Qujing Academy and achieve the top rank in the next grand ceremony, receiving the title of National Talent and entering the Hongwu Pavilion."

The Hongwu Pavilion was established after the founding emperor abolished the position of prime minister. The Grand Secretaries of the Hongwu Pavilion are the powerful advisors in the imperial court who wield real power in the Great Yan Kingdom. If Ji Feng were to enter the Hongwu Pavilion and become its Grand Secretary, he would be second only to the two Empress Dowager Gao Lianyi and Emperor Xuanzong Yuwen Buzhi.

Ye Que knew this was an extremely difficult request, and he explained, "Of course, I don't require you to become a Grand Secretary before you can marry Wu'er. As long as you win first place in the Grand Ceremony, you can marry immediately. Moreover, there are still three years until the next Grand Ceremony, so you two can cultivate your relationship."

Ji Feng didn't find anything wrong with it. He knew that marrying the little princess of an eight-pillar kingdom naturally required passing a test. Almost without thinking, he agreed to Ye Que's request.

Ye Qingwu, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel that her father was putting Ji Feng in a difficult position, so she deliberately said, "Hey, little brother, don't force yourself to agree, okay? I don't necessarily have to marry you."

Ji Feng replied, "In this life, one must keep one's word. If I promise, I must do it. Since I promised to fulfill my promise to you, Uncle Ye, I will do my best to meet whatever you ask."

Ye Qingwu nodded and smiled, "Not bad, not bad."

Looking at Ji Feng's resolute and handsome face, Ye Qingwu's heart fluttered. She found him incredibly charming and felt a surge of joy: Is this her future husband? Although he is younger than her, he is a true man.

Ye Que had already accepted Ji Feng in his heart and said, "Since that's the case, let's not delay. You should rest tonight and set off for Jidu tomorrow. The Qujing Academy will open in a month, so you should prepare well and reach the Qiankun Realm as soon as possible."

Ye Yexin, who had been listening attentively, was very patient. After his father finished speaking, he slowly said, "Junior Brother, winning first place in the Great Rites Contest isn't easy. I'm not very familiar with this year's winner, but last year's winner is now a top ten expert on the Qingyun Ranking."

"The Earth-Shaking Ranking?" Ji Feng asked in confusion, as this was something his teacher hadn't taught him.

Ye Yexin explained carefully, “The Heavenly Book has seven volumes. The Cambrian Volume is the beginning of cultivation. Everyone knows that the Ghost Valley Volume and the Daoist Volume are in the Demon Clan and the Beast Clan respectively. Of the remaining three volumes, only one is familiar to the world, and that is the Questioning Water Volume. This is because of the four manuals on the Questioning Water Volume.”

“Which four manuals?”

“The Divine Weapon Manual, which lists thirteen divinely bestowed weapons; the Sharp Weapon Manual, which lists twenty-one mortal sharp weapons; the Heaven-Supporting Manual, which lists thirty-six masters of heavenly power; the Azure Cloud Manual, which lists seventy-two masters of earthly power. The rest are not even worthy of mention.”

“Oh, is that so? Then, Senior Brother and Uncle…”

Ye Qingwu interrupted, “My father is third on the Heaven-Slaying Ranking, my brother is twenty-seventh on the Azure Cloud Ranking, and as for me, I’m not on the list yet, but I’ll definitely be in the top ten in the future.”

Ye Yexin looked at his sister helplessly and said modestly, “I’m ashamed

. There are many experts on the Azure Cloud Ranking, and I haven’t made any progress in a year. Junior Brother, you must work hard, and you will definitely be in the top ten in the future.” Ji Feng nodded and said, “I’ve learned something.”

Ye Que also said, “As for the Divine Weapon Ranking and the Sharp Weapon Ranking, as far as I know, our Ye family’s Broken Water Blade is ranked eighth on

the Sharp Weapon Ranking. You will know about the others in the future.” For some reason, Ji Feng suddenly remembered the “Non-Aggression” wooden sword that the old man Xiangli had given him, but he immediately interrupted his thoughts. How could a small wooden sword be related to divine weapons and sharp weapons?

Ye Qingwu suddenly pouted and said, "Father, I'm going to Qujing Academy. Why don't you lend me the Broken Water Blade for protection?"

"The Broken Water Blade is the Ye family's heirloom weapon..."

"Father..." "

The Broken Water Blade is the eighth most powerful weapon..."

"Father..." "

The Broken Water Blade... Alright, Father will let you take it. I doubt anyone would dare steal my Ye family's treasure."

"Father, is the treasure you're referring to me or the Broken Water Blade?"

"The Ye family's treasure is naturally the Broken Water Blade."

Ye Qingwu pouted, gave Ji Feng a huff, and stomped back to her room, leaving behind a lingering fragrance.

Ye Yexin expressed sympathy, "Woman."

Ye Que encouraged, "Woman."

Ji Feng innocently said, "Woman..."

In the northwest of Yan, the night passed quickly. As dawn broke, Ji Feng, who had just woken up, washed his face, thinking that he would soon be leaving again. Jidu was the capital of Great Yan. Living in the capital was not easy. He feared that his journey to Youzhou would be fraught with trouble.

Having packed his luggage, Ji Feng felt a slight regret at having to bid farewell to Ye Que before even having the chance to experience the wonders of the Divine Descent Realm, but he knew he would surely have the opportunity to witness the Ye family's Water-Severing Saber Technique in the future.

That day, Ye Qingwu changed her attire, switching from a girl-next-door's long dress to a deep purple, form-fitting outfit.

The long robe and short skirt clung to her figure, making her even more alluring. Below her thighs were a pair of lace-up boots, with long black ropes wrapped around her calves all the way to her knees. Only the tall and slender Ye family princess could wear this delicate and spoiled outfit so appropriately and suited her.

After bidding farewell to Ye Que and Ye Yexin, the nominally engaged couple headed east from Yizhou Prefecture, passing through Jingzhou Prefecture, and arriving at the heart of the Yan Kingdom: Youzhou.

On this journey, Ji Feng was no longer alone; a beautiful woman was by his side, and the colors of the road seemed to brighten instantly.

"Hey, from now on I'll call you Xiao Feng, since you're younger than me."

"From now on I'll call you Xiao Wu, since you're shorter than me."

"You're quite the talker, Xiao Feng, little brother."

"Likewise, senior sister, you're only a year older than me, can you speak properly?"

"Xiao Feng, what did Master teach you?"

"Senior sister, Master's teachings are incredibly diverse, covering everything from astronomy to geography."

"I mean, which path do you cultivate?"

"Master said it's called Righteous Qi."

"Oh, I learned that too, but I only just started before Master left Wu Liang. After that, I followed my father to cultivate our Ye family's Water-Cutting Technique."

"The Ye family... uses swords, right?"

"Of course."

"Senior sister, can you teach me? I don't know how to use any weapons yet."

"Weapons can't be learned randomly. A gentleman doesn't use weapons. If you choose a path, you must be loyal to it. I think you should go to Qujing Academy and let the academy's instructors teach you."

...

Along the way, the two verified each other's understanding of the Dao. Ye Qingwu had opened six meridians, and with her already exceptional talent, both of them made great progress through their discussions. Ye Qingwu, seemingly spoiled, was, after all, the daughter of an Eight Pillar Kingdom, with excellent family background and upbringing. She only teased Ji Feng a few times before engaging in serious conversation with him.

The two traveled under the stars and moon, watching the snow, the stars, and the moon together, discussing everything from poetry and songs to the philosophy of life, from the Seven Volumes of Heavenly Book to the stark contrast between rich and poor. Half a month later, they reached the border between Jingzhou and Youzhou, their relationship growing stronger day by day, becoming extremely familiar with each other.

Ji Feng was very grateful for the lessons his teacher had taught him in the last few days, which prevented him from being too shy and reserved when talking to Ye Qingwu. He also had a basic understanding of matters between men and women, so when Ye Qingwu teased him, he could occasionally retort. The joy of this was something only the two, slowly entering their first love, could understand.

The journey across Jingzhou Prefecture was short, and the two soon entered Youzhou Prefecture, with Jidu already in sight. Recently, however, things haven't been peaceful in Jidu. The imperial court has issued a warrant for the capture of two demon spies who infiltrated Jidu, offering a reward of one thousand taels of silver.

The closer Jidu and his companion get, the more puzzled they become. The capital of Great Yan is like an impregnable fortress; how could these two demon spies have crossed the distant Blue Snow Pass, bypassing Lanzhou Prefecture guarded by Xiliang Ma, to enter Jidu and even hide there?

Ji Feng has a feeling that the opening of the Qujing Academy won't go smoothly. Could it be that these two demon spies want to enter the Qujing Academy? It's important to know that, outwardly, humans and demons are almost indistinguishable. The difference is that demons have much whiter skin, and their eyes usually have a special color deep within. Without careful observation, a high-ranking demon can easily disguise themselves as a human and enter Great Yan.

Therefore, Lanzhou Prefecture and Jizhou Prefecture, located on the border, conduct extremely strict checks on any creature crossing their borders.

The demons, dormant for a long time, are once again plotting against the Central Plains. Ji Feng, hailing from Xiliang, feels a heavy responsibility to bear.

Deep down, he felt that one day he would return to Hengyun Ridge and become one of those who resisted the demons.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but pull Ye Qingwu along and quicken his pace.

Chapter Three: White Robe and Red Skirt Lightly Enter

the City. Since its construction, Jidu in Youzhou had never been breached by enemies within a hundred li, except when the King of Qi seized the throne and entered the main city.

Jidu was built on a mountain, with six walls, like a ring road leading upwards. The very top ring looked as if a piece of the mountaintop had been sheared off, the main city, spanning dozens of li in circumference, resting atop the peak.

Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu stood at the foot of the mountain, mouths agape, gazing up at this magnificent city, utterly astonished: "There are cities built like this? The outside world is truly amazing!"

From the outermost ring of walls, only a high mountain could be seen; the situation within the city was completely obstructed by the ten-zhang-high outer walls.

Ye Qingwu said, "The capital of Yan is so magnificent. Even with wings, it would be impossible to fly over such walls."

Ji Feng was about to agree when he suddenly noticed two figures, one black and one red, flying down from the city wall. He pointed at them and said to Ye Qingwu, "Senior Sister, look, two people flew out!"

Ye Qingwu stamped her foot and snorted, "They flew out, not in! Let's go see."

The two of them ran towards the two figures simultaneously.

One of them was dressed in black, his movements extremely swift. He held an iron spear in his right hand, leaving afterimages as he ran, clearly a highly skilled cultivator. The person in red behind him was even more terrifying, wielding a completely transparent longsword. With long hair and a long skirt, she was a woman. She lightly touched the ground with her feet, seemingly floating even faster than the person in front.

Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu, both skilled in lightness techniques, still struggled to keep up with the two figures.

Suddenly, the man in black stopped abruptly, seemingly no longer willing to flee. He turned and raised his spear, which flew towards the woman in red like an arrow.

The woman in red remained calm, holding her sword horizontally to her chest.

She drew a semi-circle from top to bottom, deflecting the spear by a few inches. She bent her knees, sword in front of her, and charged forward relentlessly, showing no regard for defense.

The man in black sheathed his spear, planting it in the ground. He formed a hand seal, and a black torrent surged forth from before him, sweeping towards the woman in red.

The woman in red's pupils constricted slightly. She sneered, "You've ruined the Mohe Technique like this. You deserve to be beaten to a pulp." Recognizing his technique, she became even more resolute. Her sword tip cleaved through the black torrent like waves, aiming straight for the man's heart.

The man in black, under immense pressure, his face flashing with black energy, forcefully twisted his hands. The torrent swept the woman away, but the transparent sword still pierced his left shoulder. The woman was swept to the left by the torrent, utterly panicked. Her longsword flew from her hand with lightning speed, severing the man's right arm at the shoulder.

The man groaned, unable to maintain his mysterious technique any longer. He staggered back two steps and turned to flee.

The woman in red steadied herself, then lunged forward again, her palm forming a sword, piercing the man's lower back. The man cried out in pain, staggered forward two steps, and collapsed to the ground.

The woman pulled the transparent longsword from the ground, glanced back at Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu who were watching, and, confirming they meant no harm, nodded. She then picked up the unconscious man and flew away.

Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu exchanged a glance and simultaneously exclaimed, "Upper Qiankun Realm!" Yes, Upper Qiankun Realm meant only a small step away from the Knowing Destiny Realm, while Ye Yexin, ranked twenty-seventh on the Qingyun Rank, was only at the Middle Qiankun Realm.

Ji Feng continued, "The man was, and so was the woman. Jidu truly lives up to its reputation as the capital; even a stroll around the main gate reveals two experts with the strength of the Azure Cloud Rank."

Ye Qingwu gritted her teeth and said, "Judging from the woman's age, how did she cultivate so much? Her cultivation is high, and her attacks are extremely ruthless."

Ji Feng agreed, "That's to be expected."

Ye Qingwu looked at him with suspicion.

Ji Feng pointed to the bloodstains on the ground and explained, "That man was a demon.

I suspect he's one of the wanted individuals. As for that black torrent, I've heard you mention it, it's called Mohe, an extremely profound demonic technique. It's just that this person used it improperly, so, as the woman said, he was beaten to a pulp."

Ye Qingwu nodded, then frowned and said, "I didn't expect that in the capital, there are so many powerful figures, and even experts in geomancy can be mass-produced. It seems getting into Qujing Academy won't be easy."

Ji Feng, however, wasn't worried at all, saying, "It's alright, let nature take its course. I can only go to Qujing Academy, but you, Senior Sister, have other options."

Ye Qingwu pouted and said, "But I want to go to the same academy as you." She looked extremely cute.

Ji Feng smiled, narrowing his eyes, "Then the same."

The two smiled at each other, feeling incredibly confident, and walked towards the city gate.

North of the second ring road of Jidu, below the main city, there was a small grove of trees. The grove resembled a winding path leading to a straight and imposing mountain gate.

The mountain gate was built of jade, with a small stream flowing quietly beside it, a picture of a secluded paradise, except for the two characters written on the gate: "Qujing" (曲境).

This was Qujing, more like a royal summer resort than an academy, so tranquil and serene. Yet, the crowds thronging below the gate proved that this was the most coveted academy for young people throughout the Yan Kingdom.

Ji Feng and his companion squeezed through the crowd and saw the scene below the gate: a circle of yellow powder was sprinkled on the ground outside the gate, separating the crowd from the others. A long queue of people stood outside the powder-lined area. At this moment

, Ji Feng and his companion, who were close to the powder, overheard two teenagers talking nearby. One said, "I heard that this yellow powder is made from the skin shed by the snake clan of Izumo Kingdom when they break through to the next realm. If it gets on the skin, it will cause one's meridians to close for a short time."

The other nodded and said, "Yes, if you get powder from the skin of the snake king, you can forget about ever entering the Earth Realm. But I don't think the Qu Realm would be that ruthless. They're just sprinkling some powder to avoid overcrowding at the mountain gate during recruitment."

The first person added, "It's rumored that the instructor presiding over the entrance examination this time is Yang Xuande, ranked thirty-second in the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber Manual. He's not even forty years old yet, so young... " "If he's on the Heavenly Register and catches his eye during the assessment, becoming his disciple in the future would be incredibly promising."

Another person shook their head and retorted, "Cultivation is all about character. Don't be fooled by his young age and inclusion on the Heavenly Register; his future achievements are still unknown. Look at Headmaster Yan of Qujing Academy. He started cultivating at fifty, only broke through to the Earthly Realm at eighty, and only touched the gate of the Heavenly Realm at just over a hundred. Now, he's lived for over three hundred years and is among the Five Saints. This is because he was single-minded and diligently cultivated the most difficult chapter in the Heavenly Book, the Phoenix Song Scroll, which is why he achieved great things late in life. Look, Instructor Yang is here!"

Headmaster Yan Yuan of Qujing Academy has always been a legendary figure talked about by the people of Yan.

On the way to Jidu, Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu had already discussed these matters. Ye Qingwu knew three of the Five Saints of Yan, because Ye Que didn't want to tell her too early; she had only learned about them by overhearing.

Naturally, Ji Feng already knew about these three people: Empress Gao Lianyi, Yan Yuan, the head of Qujing Mountain, and the Heart Saint King Zhi Shi.

Ji Feng didn't continue thinking about the saints; that was too distant. He only looked at what was in front of him: a refined and handsome middle-aged man emerged from the mountain gate. He had short stubble on his jawline and chin, his eyes were somewhat lazy yet incredibly clear, his temperament was unconventional, and he walked like the wind. He wore a long hemp robe, appearing extremely casual.

This was Yang Xuande, the thirty-second in the Yitian Manual, the instructor of Qujing Mountain, skilled in dual swords.

Yang Xuande stretched and said softly, "The entrance examination begins. No spectating allowed. Line up one by one; I have plenty of time." The

scattered crowd immediately rushed to the line that already had dozens of people. Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu were no exception; relying on their cultivation, they managed to get into the middle section outside the powder circle.

Yang Xuande stood at the front of the line and said, "Come before me and extend your hand."

Everyone in the line craned their necks to see how this renowned instructor would conduct the test.

The first person stood before Yang Xuande, his legs trembling slightly, showing his nervousness. Yang Xuande gently said to him, "Don't be afraid, it will be over in a moment."

Yang Xuande grasped the man's outstretched right hand, and the man's entire body immediately lit up, revealing clear lines on his skin. Someone in the line immediately exclaimed, "Instructor Yang's cultivation is so profound; he can directly see a person's life tree!"

Indeed, those lines were the veins within the human body, which cultivators commonly called the life tree because it grows and withers. The ends of the branches of the life tree are the pulse gates, so the path of cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. If the life tree withers and the pulse gates close, then there is no hope of cultivation for life; no one can overturn this—this is the way of Heaven.

The light emanating from the man lasted only a moment before Yang Xuande announced, "Next."

His cold tone declared the man's defeat. He seemed unable to accept it, standing frozen in place. After a moment, he began to sob softly, then turned and left.

"The entrance exam for Qujing is always extremely rigorous."

"Yes, and they never tell you the standards or reasons, leaving you no way to prepare."

"That's the grandeur of the number one academy in Yan Kingdom."

...

Discussions rippled through the crowd. Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu exchanged glances, secretly gripping each other's hands for support.

The exam was indeed incredibly fast. Light continued to emanate from beneath the mountain gate, yet no one could enter. The discussions grew quieter, and the dejected among those in line became increasingly sullen.

Inside Qujing, an ordinary-looking old man stood inside a tall tower, holding a scripture, but his presence was constantly disturbed by the light emanating from the mountain gate.

He closed the book, shook his head with a wry smile, and muttered to himself, "My mind is still unsettled. Perhaps I should go to Longchang and have a chat with Brother Wang. This Yang Xuande, using such a direct and brute-force method for the assessment, isn't he afraid of blinding people?"

Below the mountain gate, one examinee after another left, the line growing shorter and shorter, soon it would be Ji Feng and his companion's turn. Suddenly, a man shook hands with Yang Xuande for a moment, but showed no reaction whatsoever.

Yang Xuande smiled and said, "Finally, one. Your pulse is strong, preventing me from resonating with the Life Tree.

Judging from your Dragon-Trapping Technique, your surname is Qiao?"

The man whispered, "My surname is Qiao."

Yang Xuande asked again, "The Qiao of An and Qiao?"

The man nodded.

Yang Xuande sized him up. He was a young man in his early twenties, with small eyes and thin lips, appearing somewhat dull. However, Yang Xuande could tell from his posture and expression that this was merely an act. This man was extremely cunning, but his true nature was difficult to judge.

Yang Xuande nodded and said, "Go in."

The young man surnamed Qiao clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Student Qiao Po has a request."

Yang Xuande asked with interest, "Making requests right after entering the gate? Interesting. Speak."

Qiao Po pointed to the next person behind him and said, "This is my friend. I believe she will also pass the test. Instructor Yang, could you find her a female instructor after she enters the gate?"

The person was unimpressed and coldly said to Qiao Po, "Qiao Po, put away your idle thoughts!" The voice was extremely clear, yet incredibly cold.

Ji Feng and the other person exchanged a glance and exclaimed in surprise, "It's her?" The owner of the voice was the red-skirted woman who had killed the demon outside the city gate.

Yang Xuande waved his hand, indicating that he understood, and let Qiao Po enter. Qiao Po nodded his thanks and walked inside.

The woman, still dressed in a red dress, walked up to Yang Xuande. Yang Xuande took her hand, and instantly a brilliant red light shone forth, like a rising sun over the mountain gate, blinding everyone present.

The light vanished abruptly, and Yang Xuande withdrew his hand, slightly dazed. After a moment, he whispered,

"Eight pulse points, a rootless life tree. Truly a gifted individual. What is your surname?"

The woman replied, "My surname is Lu, the Lu of 'Red Dress'."

Yang Xuande asked in confusion, "Lu Red Dress?"

Within the Qu Realm, the old man on the tower looked towards the mountain gate, nodding and smiling, "Little Xie, you finally have a successor."

The man surnamed Qiao and the woman surnamed Lu were rare talents, even within the Qu Realm.

Qiao Po, a descendant of Anhe Qiao, one of the Eight Pillars of State, might, in Yang Xuande's opinion, be one of the most beloved grandsons of the Qiao family patriarch. His cultivation was extremely solid and profound, his future potential immense.

Lu Hongqun, not belonging to any major family, possessed almost fully opened meridians. Her life tree wasn't rooted in her inner palace but floated throughout her body, indicating she wasn't limited by attributes; any cultivation technique was suitable for her—in other words, she had no weaknesses.

Soon, it was Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu's turn for the assessment.

Ji Feng stood quietly before Yang Xuande, somewhat nervous, but his breathing remained steady, and his expression calm.

He slowly extended his hand, awaiting Yang Xuande's assessment.

Yang Xuande sensed his nervousness, smiled silently, and thought: This young man is quite handsome, resembling myself in my youth.

He grasped Ji Feng's hand, "Buzz!"

For the first time, Yang Xuande's hand was jolted away.

Yang Xuande didn't try a second time, looking at Ji Feng with extreme shock, and asked, "Who...are you?"

Ji Feng was also startled, and upon hearing Yang Xuande's question, he subconsciously replied, "My name is Ji Feng."

"Ji Feng..." Yang Xuande repeated softly, his expression somewhat solemn, "Go in, find the tallest tower inside, go to the top of the tower and find an old gentleman. Whether you can enter the Qu Realm is up to him."

Ji Feng glanced back at Ye Qingwu, who was also somewhat worried, wondering what had happened, that Ji Feng's assessment was different from everyone else's. She softly comforted him, "Junior brother, go quickly, it's alright, you'll definitely be able to enter the Qu Realm."

Ji Feng nodded and said, "Then senior sister, you wait for me here, oh...no, you'll definitely be able to enter too, then let's go find that tower together."

After saying that, he didn't move, but waited for Ye Qingwu's result.

Ye Qingwu walked up to Yang Xuande, but made Yang Xuande feel a sense of pressure.

He asked, "What are you carrying? This kind of pressure shouldn't be a divine weapon. Whose disciple are you? You actually carry something from the weapon manual. Is your family head really at ease with that?"

Ye Qingwu didn't expect Yang Xuande to be able to sense the Water-Severing Blade tied to her thigh with a rope. The Water-Severing Blade was extremely short, and Ye Qingwu was very tall, so she kept it close to her body, and no one noticed along the way.

Being sensed by someone about the weapon on her thigh, Ye Qingwu was a little shy and blushed as she said, "My name is Ye Qingwu, and my father's name is Ye Que."

Yang Xuande's expression suddenly changed, and he said hatefully, "So it's that old pervert. What's the meaning of the young lady of Wu Liang Ye coming to my Qu Realm to study? Fine, you and your little lover can go in together."

In the cultivation world, there is an unspoken rule: if two cultivators spar with each other, they should only talk about the winner and loser, and not reveal the process of the battle, so as not to let the enemy find their weaknesses.

However, for some lonely masters with profound cultivation but also extremely gossipy, the reason why the duel between masters is so exciting is precisely because it becomes a topic of conversation after dinner.

Therefore, the exciting story of Yang Xuande, who had just broken through to the next realm, challenging Ye Que to a duel in Wu Liang and being utterly defeated, was almost universally known within the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.

However, since Ye Que himself didn't mention it, Ye Qingwu naturally didn't know about the past. She was unaware of the grudge between Yang Xuande and Ye Que, only feeling puzzled and slightly ashamed.

Despite her anger, she still entered the Qu Realm and went with Ji Feng to find the tallest tower.

Chapter Four: Once Upon a Time There Was a Tower .

This was an iron tower, abruptly growing on the mountainside.

Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu stood at the foot of the tower, feeling that this place was incredibly incongruous. This was the highest slope in the Qu Realm, surrounded by an ancient forest of trees, yet it seemed as if someone had pulled an iron pillar from the ground and carved it into a tower.

The tower was simple, with some mottled rust, but that didn't prevent it from being the most conspicuous presence in the Qu Realm. There was a small entrance at the foot of the tower, without a door, and the name of the tower was written at the entrance: Buqi (不器).

Ji Feng looked at Ye Qingwu earnestly and said, "Senior Sister, this should be it. Wait for me at the foot of the tower."

Ye Qingwu shook her head and said, "I'll go up with you."

Ji Feng took her hand and patiently said, "The tower should be occupied by the academy's higher-ups. Instructor Yang couldn't detect my life tree, so he sent me here. It's alright."

Ye Qingwu reluctantly agreed to stay at the foot of the tower.

At the top of the tower, the same old gentleman was still reading. Ji Feng's footsteps echoed as he climbed the tower. The old gentleman put down his book, placed the kettle on the small stove, and began to arrange the tea set on the wooden table.

"Young man, did Yang Xuande send you?" the old gentleman asked slowly with a kind smile.

Ji Feng bowed respectfully and said, "Replying to the old gentleman, I am Ji Feng, and it was Instructor Yang who sent me." Respecting the elderly is a principle taught by the old gentleman.

The old gentleman raised his hand to signal Ji Feng to come over. The kettle made a boiling sound as he began to brew tea.

Ji Feng watched quietly, wondering what the old gentleman would ask him to do.

The old man poured two cups of tea and smiled at Ji Feng, "Come, have some tea."

Ji Feng obediently raised his teacup and gently blew on the scalding tea.

"My surname is Yan. You can call me Headmaster. From now on, you will follow me in cultivation," the old man said.

"Pfft!" Ji Feng spat out a mouthful of hot tea, staring dumbfounded at the old man before him.

The old man frowned and said, "The first lesson cannot be wasted." He picked up a towel from the side and wiped away the tea that Ji Feng had spat out.

Ji Feng took a while to react, and tentatively asked, "Headmaster... Master Yan Yuan?"

Yan Yuan smiled and said, "Is there perhaps a second headmaster?"

Ji Feng was somewhat dazed, and muttered to himself, "So... I've met the legendary sage?"

Yan Yuan chuckled and said softly, "What do you think a sage is? Isn't it just someone who lives longer than others and knows more than others? A sage isn't a god; he's a human being. He gets old, gets sick, and dies. Just a mortal."

Ji Feng nodded, somewhat understanding, and continued, "Then, does this mean I'm enrolled?"

Yan Yuan nodded, glanced at Ji Feng, and said, "You once practiced the Righteous Qi with Master Tang, right? Don't stop. Continue your practice, and you can also learn the Phoenix Song Scroll from me."

Ji Feng asked in astonishment, "How did you know, Headmaster?"

Yan Yuan smiled and said, "I've lived for three hundred years. I've seen too much, so naturally I can see many things."

Ji Feng nodded, his surprise and joy finally suppressing his previous unease and astonishment. He couldn't control his expression; his face was full of happiness. He never imagined he could actually learn from a sage.

He suddenly remembered something and asked, "Can Senior Sister Ye also learn from the Headmaster?"

Yan Yuan shook his head and said, "The Ye family's Water-Severing Technique follows a fierce and powerful path, which I'm not suitable to teach her. However, the academy will naturally have an instructor who is most suitable for her."

Ji Feng understood and asked again, "Headmaster, when my teacher taught me before, he never revealed his cultivation level. You are a sage, so do you know just how high his cultivation level is?" Yan Yuan

chuckled and said, "Him? As high as this tower." After saying that, he stood up, patted Ji Feng's shoulder, pointed to the teacup, and left with a smile.

Only then did Ji Feng realize that he was a little thirsty from nervousness. He quickly poured himself some tea, thinking that he would go downstairs to tell his senior sister the good news as soon as he finished drinking it.

He picked up the teapot and found it incredibly light, as if it were empty.

Suddenly, a bold guess came to his mind. He opened the lids of the teapot and kettle, looked at the stove, and sure enough, his guess was confirmed: there were no tea leaves, no charcoal, and no water!

A sage... so that's how it is.

************ Late at night, outside Jidu City.

A figure in a red cloak carried a corpse and ran swiftly through the woods. Ahead was a clearing with a faint fire in the center, around which stood several figures in black cloaks. The

figure in the red cloak suddenly stopped, tossed the corpse aside, and remained silent.

One of the figures in black cloaks stepped forward and said in a low voice, "You're a little late this time, Dragon Girl."

"Emperor Shi, enough nonsense, where's my reward?" the Dragon Girl in the red cloak said coldly.

Indra, however, remained unhurried, slowly saying, "The mission stipulated two people, but you only killed one, so the reward is only half."

A man beside him, wearing a dark brown cloak, explained to the Dragon Girl, "The other person was killed by the Dragon Girl and me together; his body has already been destroyed."

The Dragon Girl, however, was unmoved, saying, "It's none of your business."

Indra clicked his tongue twice, saying, "Garuda, it seems your infatuation will never be reciprocated. Dragon Girl, you know the rules: either the reward is halved, or… you know what I mean." Finally, Indra let out a cunning and greedy laugh.

The Dragon Girl took a deep breath, seemingly making a decision, and slowly walked towards Indra.

The one called Garuda hurriedly said, "Red…" He was immediately glared at by the Dragon Girl and fell silent.

There were four people present: besides Indra, the Dragon Girl, and Garuda, there was another person also wearing a black cloak, who remained silent.

At this moment, Indra looked at the Dragon Girl with satisfaction, but said to the other two, "Wuyin, Garuda, rules are rules. You know what to do."

The one called Wuyin didn't speak, turned around and disappeared into the darkness. Garuda, however, looked at the Dragon Girl a few times with reluctance before stamping his foot and turning away.

The Dragon Girl walked to Indra, slowly knelt down, and lifted the hood of her cloak, revealing long hair and half of her pretty face.

Most of her face was covered by a red mask, only revealing a pair of cold, sharp eyes and cherry-like lips. The night wind blew, and the cloak clung to the Dragon Girl's body, clearly revealing a perfect body with a prominent bust and buttocks.

The Dragon Girl pushed aside Indra's cloak with both hands, pulled down his pants, and saw a huge, ugly penis.

The deep purple glans emitted a slightly fishy smell, the thick, long shaft throbbed incessantly, and the scrotum, the size of an infant's fist, showed the man's intense desire.

Indra looked down at the Dragon Girl, imagining the arrogant face beneath her mask, and sneered, "Come on, Dragon Girl, it's not the first time. Are you still shy? Let me see if your skills have improved."

The Dragon Girl snorted, reached out her jade-like hand to grasp his penis, stroked it a few times, then opened her small mouth and took the huge glans inside.

Indra exhaled a heavy breath and groaned, "Such a tight little mouth."

The Dragon Girl spat out the penis, licking the glans with her tongue, and coldly said, "Can you shut up?"

Emperor Shi scoffed, "What? You can't stand it after just a few vulgar words? Isn't what you're holding the most obscene thing?"

The Dragon Girl didn't refute, seemingly too lazy to argue with Emperor Shi. She lowered her head, took the penis back into her mouth, and began to rapidly swallow and lick it. Her

small, fragrant tongue curled around the penis, sliding from the base to the glans, circling the tender flesh, leaving saliva on the shaft.

Emperor Shi had no intention of making any further moves, simply letting the Dragon Girl serve him. He then took out two thin booklets from his robes and said, "Why bother? It's just for a cultivation manual, which I can obtain after completing the next mission, yet you insist on being humiliated by me. Is our proud Dragon Girl actually a wanton slut? Hahaha..."

Hearing his words, the Dragon Girl licked and sucked even more vigorously. Emperor Shi began to groan deeply, and he threw the booklets at the Dragon Girl's feet.

"Oh, I've ejaculated..." Indra let out a soft growl, unable to resist embracing the dragon girl's head.

The dragon girl didn't resist, only feeling wave after wave of heat surging into her throat. She had half a penis in her mouth, her small hands constantly stroking it, trying to make Indra ejaculate more semen.

Indra trembled, took a few breaths, and then pulled his penis out. He looked at the dragon girl's face, and she looked back defiantly, swallowing his filthy essence, even sticking out her tongue to lick the remaining milky white from the corner of her mouth.

Indra could no longer resist, pulling the dragon girl up, about to kiss her.

The dragon girl placed her hands on Indra's chest, glanced at him contemptuously, pushed him away, bent down to pick up the book, and turned and left without hesitation.

Indra wasn't angry, looking at the dragon girl's swaying hips, he chuckled wickedly, "Dragons are lustful, I'll make you come begging to me sooner or later."

After the dragon girl left for a moment, Wuyin and Garuda quietly returned to their original spot.

Di Shi calmly straightened his clothes and asked Wu Yin, "How's the search for the fifth person going?"

Wu Yin shook his head but didn't speak, seemingly mute.

Garuda, however, said, "I have someone in mind."

"Speak."

"Ji Feng."

Di Shi asked doubtfully, "Ji Feng? Oh, the young man who just entered the Qujing Academy today? Hmm, interesting. Even Yang Xuande couldn't detect his life tree; he seems to have many secrets."

Garuda said, "The organization's current four members are all restless and harbor secrets. Ji Feng fits the bill, and besides, there's Ye Qingwu as a threat, making him easy to control."

Di Shi nodded and said, "Young, just entered the Qujing Academy, yet already touched the threshold of the Qiankun Realm; he has great potential. Find a way to recruit him into the Six Paths."

With that, Di Shi took out a mask from his robes and threw it to Garuda, saying, "If he enters..." "Once you've passed the Six Paths, you'll become an Asura."

Wuyin, standing beside him, made a nine-finger gesture. Indra laughed, "You mean the ninth one, the Rakshasa? No rush. We haven't even gathered all eight legions yet; there's no need to worry about the ninth."

Garuda hesitated for a moment, then said to Indra, "Is the Dragon Girl... alright?"

Indra's deep voice chuckled wickedly, "The Dragon Girl? What could possibly happen to her? Garuda, you're destined for greatness. Don't let personal feelings cloud your judgment. When the Six Paths are complete, are you afraid you won't get her?"

Garuda sighed, said nothing, nodded to Indra, and left.

Indra glanced at Wuyin, only to see a black torrent emanate from her, extinguishing the flames. The two figures vanished from the forest, as if they had never existed.

Chapter Five: The

Xueerqujing Academy experienced a minor upheaval today because six people passed the entrance exam.

It's worth noting that in the past five years, Qujing Academy had only enrolled four new students. This year, however, a whole host of newcomers had arrived, causing quite a stir among the academy's instructors and students.

Today was the day for assigning the new students.

Due to its extremely rigorous entrance examination, Qujing Academy didn't have many students. Apart from the diligent students who were oblivious to everything else, dozens of new students and seven instructors had gathered outside the Buqi Tower. Everyone was curious about which instructor the six newcomers would be assigned to.

Headmaster Yan Yuan was still reading and drinking tea in the tower at this time. The person in charge of assigning the new students was the Vice Headmaster.

Speaking of this Vice Headmaster, she was quite the topic of conversation at Qujing Academy. The Vice Headmaster's surname was Xie, she was thirty years old, a Divine Descent Realm cultivator, and ranked second on the Yitian Ranking.

However, for Qujing Academy, having a Sage as headmaster and the title of second on the Yitian Ranking weren't anything special. What was most special was that she was a woman, and a beautiful one at that. Furthermore, she was the most powerful woman below the Sage level, Xie Wanyun.

Because Headmaster Yan spends most of his time cultivating in the Unyielding Tower, he rarely appears in the academy unless it's burned down.

Therefore, Xie Wanyun essentially acts as the dean, managing the academy's affairs, and the students call her Dean Xie.

Xie Wanyun now stands at the head of the group, her waist-length black hair flowing freely, wearing a loose gray robe. She is extremely tall, with delicate features and a cold expression. Her narrow, alluring eyes, both gentle and sharp, gaze upon the six newly enrolled students.

"Qiao Po, Lu Hongqun, Ji Feng, Ye Qingwu, Yuwen Mo, and Cang Yue, from today onwards, you six are students of my Qujing Academy. Having entered the academy, you must abide by its rules. There is only one rule: a teacher's command is inviolable.

'Inviolable' does not mean 'impossible.' Unless extremely special circumstances arise, you must obey every word and every command of the instructors. The standards and punishments for disobeying a teacher's command are determined by the Headmaster," Xie Wanyun said calmly to the six.

Aside from Ji Feng, the other five had a general understanding of the academy's rules before coming to Qujing Academy, so they didn't find anything amiss.

Ji Feng, having been taught by Master Tang since childhood, also held his instructors in high esteem, so he nodded unconsciously.

Having been accepted as a student by the headmaster yesterday, Ji Feng still felt a little unreal. Coming back to his senses, he found many students around him discussing the six of them.

"Senior Brother Du, what do you think of this year's new students? Three boys and three girls. How long has it been since our academy had so many students enrolling at the same time? Probably five years."

"Junior Brother is right. I see these six junior brothers and sisters with restrained energy, indicating their cultivation is quite high. It's truly a blessing for the academy."

A pleasant female voice interjected, "Senior Brothers, look at these six, there's also a junior sister with beastman blood; she must have exceptional talent."

Hearing the girl's words, Ji Feng couldn't help but look to his right, and sure enough, he saw a girl with snow-white skin, a voluptuous figure, and a wild, untamed air. The girl had short hair, a cold and stern face, and golden eyes like a wolf's. She wore simple, fitted clothing that accentuated her curves.

Sensing someone observing her, the girl turned her head to look at Ji Feng, revealing a kind smile. A hint of romance lingered in her cool gaze, making Ji Feng's heart flutter. What an adorable girl!

Ye Qingwu, standing beside him, scoffed softly, "What's so interesting about that wolf girl? Be careful she doesn't turn into a wolf in the middle of the night and bite you to death!"

Ji Feng was startled, remembering that this woman had beastman blood; he hadn't expected her to be a wolf.

Due to their united resistance against the demon race, the Yan and Yun kingdoms had seen frequent intermarriages over the years. However, the beast race's bloodline was unique; both men and women possessed extremely strong bodies, often standing nine feet tall and covered in long hair.

Humans and demons share similar physical characteristics, but their aesthetic standards differ, leading to relatively few instances of intermarriage. More importantly, beastmen prioritize physical cultivation over advancement in realm, resulting in superior physical strength that makes them stronger than humans at the same level.

Children born from such unions are often taught by their parents' respective cultivation methods, leading to a counterproductive outcome: these half-beastmen achieve only mediocre results.

The wolf clan, however, is actually a branch of the Azure Wolf among the beastmen, consistently ranking among the top five in strength. The fact that this werewolf girl passed the Qujing test indicates her bloodline is extremely pure and powerful, with talent even surpassing her parents'.

As Ji Feng was secretly observing her, Xie Wanyun's voice rang out again: "Listen up, all six! Ji Feng, from today onwards, you will cultivate with the headmaster; Lu Hongqun and Ye Qingwu will cultivate with me; Yuwen Mo will cultivate with Yang Xuande; Cang Yue will cultivate with Fu Qian and Wei Yang; Qiao Po will cultivate with Ma Tieyi."

Upon hearing Dean Xie's words, the surrounding students immediately became lively again.

The scholar, addressed as "Senior Brother Du," nodded and said, "Academy Xie's arrangements are extremely reasonable. Leaving aside Ji Feng, Junior Sister Ye and Junior Sister Lu both follow a fierce and powerful style, perfectly suited to Academy Xie's tastes. Junior Brother Yuwen is of royal blood, and Instructor Yang is cautious and humble, making him ideal for instruction. Junior Sister Cangyue possesses the bloodlines of two races, so Instructor Fu will be responsible for her human cultivation techniques, while Instructor Weiyang, being from the Bashe clan, can teach her physical cultivation. As for Junior Brother Qiao, he is a member of the Anhe Qiao clan, possessing the 'Trapping Dragon Technique,' which is sufficient to complement Instructor Ma of the Xiliang Ma family."

This "Senior Brother Du" seemed to know everyone present perfectly, and his insightful words revealed Xie Wanyun's intentions, truly admirable.

Ji Feng, hearing his words, couldn't help but cast an admiring glance at him, while Senior Brother Du returned a warm smile, a smile that seemed to carry a hint of encouragement.

After Xie Wanyun finished speaking, she addressed the group separately: "Ji Feng, you go to the academy with your senior brother; he will explain things to you. Lu Hongqun and Ye Qingwu, come with me."

Then, she turned to the seven instructors present and said, "Gentlemen, please take your students. Everyone else, disperse."

Among the seven instructors was Yang Xuande, who was in charge of the assessment.

He stepped forward and patted Yuwen Mo's shoulder, saying softly, "Mo'er, coming to Qujing Academy for cultivation was your mother's idea, wasn't it?"

Yuwen Mo had a handsome and gentle face, a broad and dignified figure, resembling a refined gentleman. He chuckled, his voice gentle and soothing, "Uncle Yang is right. My mother originally intended for me to be your disciple, and now that Xie Academy has arranged things this way, it must have been my mother's doing."

Yang Xuande smiled, "Your mother, she just wants her son to succeed. Alright, from now on, you'll have to address me as 'Teacher' in the academy."

Yuwen Mo nodded, "Yes, Teacher."

The two exchanged smiles, seemingly very familiar with each other. Yang Xuande glanced at Ji Feng, then led Yuwen Mo away.

Ji Feng was wondering who his senior brother was when Xie Wanyun approached him and said, "That man surnamed Du is your senior brother. Now that you've entered the academy, it's a great blessing for you. You must cultivate diligently from now on." Ye Qingwu, behind her, stuck out her tongue at him before following Xie Wanyun away.

Before Ji Feng could react, Senior Brother Du had already slowly approached him, smiling, "Junior Brother, let's go. Follow me into the Unparalleled Tower to pay our respects to our teacher before heading to the academy."

As he led Ji Feng into the tower, he said, "My name is Du Cong, and I'm our teacher's eldest disciple.

Before you and me, there's a second junior brother. He's a prodigy, having entered the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber at a young age, and is now an instructor at the academy.

His name is Wenren Jun. He was the top student in the previous Grand Ceremony, and recently entered the Knowing Destiny Realm, ranking thirty-sixth on the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber. He's the only Earthly Power master on the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber."

Ji Feng was both surprised and delighted, saying, "So Senior Brother Du was the top student last time! And now..." "Now that I've entered the Heaven-Slaying Manual, it's clear that all of Master's disciples are exceptionally talented. I can't let my two senior brothers outshine me."

Du Cong smiled and said, "Indeed, since you're disciples of a sage, you should have such confidence. Junior Brother was chosen as a disciple by Master during the entrance examination, so his talent must surpass mine by a hundred times. His future achievements are limitless."

Ji Feng blushed slightly and quickly said modestly, "Senior Brother, you flatter me. I hope you two can guide me in the future."

At this moment, the two were almost at the top of the tower when they suddenly heard Yan Yuan's voice: "Cong'er, I'm going to Longchang to discuss the Dao with Brother Wang. During this time, you should guide Feng'er in his cultivation and not slacken."

Upon hearing Yan Yuan's voice, the two immediately stopped. Du Cong, upon hearing his teacher's instructions, quickly agreed and stopped going up, instead taking Ji Feng back to the school dormitory.

Ji Feng asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother, where is Longchang? Is that Brother Wang a friend of our teacher?"

Du Cong smiled and said, "Longchang is like my Qujing, both are sacred realms of Yan Kingdom. That Brother Wang is the master of Longchang, the beginning of the Heart Saint King."

Ji Feng said enviously, "Oh, so he's a saint too."

Du Cong nodded, chatting with him about the usual affairs of Qujing Academy as they walked towards the back mountain dormitories.

The dormitories of Qujing Academy were situated in a sea of flowers, with a few simple and unique little houses scattered here and there, appearing somewhat neat and orderly at first glance.

Du Cong explained to Ji Feng beside him, "These dormitories were arranged by the headmaster according to the Daoist methods of another saint. From a distance, they seem to have been built randomly, but once you enter the sea of flowers, it's a completely different scene. There are two entrances to the sea of flowers, one with male dormitories along the way, and the other with female dormitories. Junior Brother, don't go to the wrong one."

Ji Feng understood that Qujing Academy was full of hidden talents, and no one, whether instructor or student, should be underestimated. Just like the gentle senior brother beside him, judging from the conversation just now, he was actually ranked third in the Qingyun Rank Examination. Appearances can be deceiving.

The academy had already arranged the dormitories for this year's freshmen. After Ji Feng put away his luggage, Du Cong led him to the school.

Upon entering the school, they saw Xie Wanyun lecturing to Ye Qingwu and Lu Hongqun in a courtyard. Du Cong's voice came, "Qujing Academy is different from other academies. There are no mandatory courses, and students can cultivate on their own. If they encounter something they don't understand, or if the instructors have new methods to pass on to them, students are extremely free on weekdays."

Ji Feng asked in surprise, "Then it all depends on the students' self-discipline?"

Du Cong smiled and said, "Junior Brother, you've hit the nail on the head. If we were really so lax, how could Qujing Academy become the number one academy in Great Yan? The reason why the students in the academy discipline themselves every day is because the academy holds a Dao discussion every four solar terms: Awakening of Insects, White Dew, Summer Solstice, and Winter Solstice. The one who ranks last in the Dao discussion will be expelled from the academy, unless they surpass one of the instructors in the next Dao discussion, otherwise they will not be allowed to return to the academy."

I see, Ji Feng thought to himself.

"Listen, Dean Xie is giving a new lesson to the two junior sisters." Du Cong's serious tone carried a hint of sternness.

Ji Feng looked into the courtyard and heard Xie Wanyun say, "Qingwu, your Ye family's Water-Severing Saber Technique is incredibly powerful and unstoppable. Once unleashed, there's no turning back. The saying goes, 'Drawing a sword to cut water,' and at its highest level, it can even sever the flow of water."

As she spoke, she picked up a twig and lightly drew it across a puddle of water. The water split in two and didn't rejoin for a long time. Only after a while did it slowly flow back to its original state.

Ye Qingwu and Lu Hongqun exchanged a glance, both showing expressions of shock.

Xie Wanyun ignored them and continued, "Qingwu, from today onwards, you will cultivate in this way. When you have achieved what I just did, come find me again."

Ye Qingwu nodded in agreement.

Xie Wanyun then said to Lu Hongqun, "Hongqun, before you joined the sect, you were already on the twenty-fifth level of the Azure

Cloud Manual, which was already described in my Cambrian Scroll of the Melodious Realm. You are cold-hearted and ruthless in your actions. Your transparent longsword is actually the thirteenth level of the Weapon Manual, Frost Blade. Your cultivation is extremely high, yet your knowledge is complex." Lu Hongqun knew that the first volume of the Heavenly Book, "Cambrian," was the most mysterious thing in the world, so she was not surprised by what Xie Wanyun said.

Xie Wanyun continued, "I have no interest in what happened to you before, but since you have joined my sect, I will naturally teach you carefully. Since you are skilled with a longsword, I will teach you a set of sword techniques. Remember them carefully; I will only demonstrate them once."

As she spoke, she used a tree branch as a sword and assumed a starting stance.

Du Cong was slightly surprised and said to Ji Feng, "Junior Brother, watch carefully. This is an extremely sophisticated sword technique that Xie Yuan comprehended from his family's swordsmanship. We are fortunate to have encountered it today."

Xie Wanyun naturally knew that Ji Feng and the other person were nearby. She said to them calmly, "Since you've come across it, come and take a look too."

Ye Qingwu saw Ji Feng and her face lit up with joy. She called out, "Little Feng!"

The two exchanged a glance and saw the growing affection in each other's eyes. They smiled at each other and then looked at Xie Wanyun at the same time.

"Bang!"

Xie Wanyun moved like a rabbit. The bluestone slab under her feet cracked under her feet. An ordinary tree branch in her hand became like a supreme divine sword, piercing forward with a whooshing sound. Her body suddenly spun around, and a faint sword light appeared around the tree branch. The sword energy scattered like a whirlwind. As the tree branch danced in her hand, a set of sword techniques was executed smoothly and effortlessly.

Lu Hongqun stared intently at Xie Wanyun, her excitement barely concealed, and the unsheathed frost blade in her hand trembled incessantly.

As Xie Wanyun delivered her final sword move, the longsword thrust forward, then suddenly lashed out skyward with a sharp "crack," slicing through the roof tiles without shattering them, demonstrating its sharpness.

"Remember it?" Xie Wanyun asked.

Lu Hongqun remained silent, drawing her frost blade and attacking Xie Wanyun with the same move Xie Wanyun had just used.

Xie Wanyun nodded secretly, then used a tree branch to parry her attack. They exchanged dozens of blows, Xie Wanyun, relying on the light of her sword, even using the branch to counter her frost blade. After several dozen moves, they separated.

Xie Wanyun exclaimed happily, "Indeed, your comprehension is excellent! This sword technique has only seventeen moves, which I learned from my family's Drunken Flowing Clouds Sword Technique, and it's called Red Leaf." Lu

Hongqun, however, already understood; this Dean Xie must have wanted to recruit her as a disciple and pass on her mantle when she passed the assessment. This Red Leaf Sword Technique was designed specifically for her, and even with her calm demeanor, a touch of gratitude welled up within her.

She had cultivated since childhood, deeply passionate about martial arts, and now, having encountered such a renowned master, she was naturally overjoyed.

Only then did Du Cong lead Ji Feng to bow to Xie Wanyun: "Congratulations, Dean Xie, on taking in two outstanding disciples. At the next Daoist discussion, you two junior sisters are sure to make a name for yourselves."

Xie Wanyun smiled and nodded, her alluring eyes immediately appearing. Both Ji Feng and Du Cong felt that Dean Xie was truly stunningly beautiful; if not for her aloof nature, she would likely have countless admirers, many of whom would flock to her.

After bowing, Du Cong and Ji Feng prepared to leave. Ji Feng glanced back at Ye Qingwu, his affection unspoken.

Both of them thought to themselves that there would be many opportunities to meet again within the Qujing Academy in the future, not just in this short time.

With his heart calmed, Ji Feng again felt that the Qujing Academy was indeed an excellent place for cultivation; cultivating here would surely lead to rapid progress. Du Cong didn't care what Ji Feng was thinking. He'd just witnessed Xie Wanyun's swordsmanship and felt a little itchy to teach his new junior brother something, so as not to disappoint his teacher.

Afterwards, Ji Feng and Ye Qingwu focused on their cultivation at Qujing Academy, waiting for the next grand ceremony so Ji Feng could win first place and return home to get married.

[The End]

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