Preparing for the Return Journey (Continued)

Murong Qing frowned slightly and retorted, "How can he abuse his power for personal gain? Precisely because he is Yan Jinghong's disciple, he must be even more upright and not leave any handle for others to criticize. Otherwise, once exposed, it will become a stain on his reputation for life. It's not like he can't do it, so why invite trouble? Haven't you heard, 'It's better to take the straightforward path than to seek it through crooked means'?"

"How can this be called abusing power for personal gain? With his current strength and cultivation, he could easily be admitted through special channels. Countless prestigious universities would be willing to admit him."

Just as Tange No. 1 Middle School has special admissions, universities naturally have special admissions as well. Some people just don't like studying academic subjects, but they happen to be martial arts prodigies. Such talents will naturally receive preferential treatment, just like there are special admissions for art students and sports students on Earth. If someone is an Olympic gold medalist, even if their college entrance examination score is zero, there are plenty of prestigious universities willing to recruit them.

"But given his injuries, he'll probably only be able to get out of bed after three months, and he won't be able to fight anyone. How can he possibly get through the special admissions process?"

"Why are you so stubborn? You and I both know very well how strong Si Ming is. Even ordinary Spirit Transformation Grandmaster can't defeat him. With such strength, which school would refuse him? Whether it's a special admission or making connections, it's all just going through the motions. There's not much difference. Those who do great things don't concern themselves with trifles. As long as the goal is right, why be so concerned about the process? Is it wrong to recommend talent to the country?"

"Many things start with good intentions, but end up doing bad things. Why? Because the process wasn't taken seriously. The idea of recommending the virtuous without favoritism may have been proposed by those with good intentions, but it quickly became an excuse for nepotism. Si Ming certainly had the ability to be admitted through special consideration, but if he didn't demonstrate it openly and honestly, it would be seen as an act of abusing power for personal gain and using back channels."

"Act only with a clear conscience; why care about the opinions of others? It's just the jealousy of a bunch of mediocre people. When an eagle soars into the sky, why should it care about the views of a frog in a well?"

"Those heinous criminals think the same way; they act with a clear conscience and don't care about others' opinions. As human beings, as people of integrity, our actions should uphold righteousness, conform to the laws of our ancestors, abide by public morality, and maintain social order, rather than being wanton destroyers."

"A ridiculous ideology, obsessed with maintaining order and inflexible—are you a disciple of Legalist School?"

"No, Legalist School care about the wording of laws; even an unjust law is still a law. I, however, care about the system; an unjust law is no longer a law. Any flexibility must be good flexibility; otherwise, someone will naturally use the banner of flexibility to carry out retrogressive actions."

The two women were locked in a fierce battle of wits, quoting classical texts and refusing to yield an inch. The air seemed thick with the smell of gunpowder, causing Si Ming to break out in a cold sweat. Two strong women together were truly a clash of titans, capable of blasting people to smithereens.

"Um, um... can I offer my opinion?"

Murong Qing, "It's not your turn to speak yet. Please rest and recover from your injuries."

Si Jingyu said, "Don't worry, we're of one mind, I understand what you're thinking, and I'll explain things to you."

Si Ming was on the verge of tears. A harmonious harem was a false proposition. Perhaps he should be thankful that the two of them didn't simultaneously say, "Shut up, this has nothing to do with you."

But that doesn't make sense. Si Jingyu and Hongdou get along perfectly well, or rather, Hongdou never seems to have any conflicts with anyone. Is it really just a matter of personality?

You can raise many rabbits, but you can only raise one tiger.

"My lord, shall we leave the Barbarian Continent forever?" Hualiu, who stood guard to the side like a sentry, asked.

Even after the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King's death, she still chose to follow Si Ming, fulfilling her previous promise.

Don't you want to leave?

"The lord's will is the direction in which Hualiu will advance."

It seems that many horses can be raised. The key lies in the difference between carnivores and herbivores. Nature has already shown us that creatures at the top of the food chain often have a strong sense of territory and will not allow other predators of the same level to invade.

"Actually, there's no need to worry. Once Hongdou is familiar with her current abilities, she'll be able to use her spatial techniques to stabilize the spacetime tunnel. At that time, she'll be able to travel between the two continents and return at any time. In fact, given your status, it's much safer in the Sea Continent than in the Barbarian Continent. The people of the Sea Continent don't have any ill will towards the Monster Race. It's foreseeable that the Monster Race's days will become more difficult in the coming days."

Hualiu shook his head and said, "I don't care about danger or safety. Wherever my lord is, I will be there."

Not far away, Si Shuiyun, who had overheard the conversation and misunderstood it, cast a look at Si Ming as if he were a scumbag, making Si Ming cry out in protest: I haven't even started being a scumbag yet!

(End of this volume)

Master: The next volume is about university life.

P. S.: The next chapter will be a parallel world, as is customary.

Parallel World Barbarian Continent Jingping

(When Si Ming increases Henzhen's affection level and obtains the ritual diagram from her ahead of time, this future side quest will be unlocked.)

The fake Seven Stars Palace, the seven masters of the Glazed Palace surrounded the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King with Twin Buddha Formation, the golden lotus bloomed, and Hongdou appeared.

"You've even managed to gather the last fragment. What a perfect scheme... But can a good scheme really have a good outcome?"

The Purple-Pupiled Spirit King pointed at the monks, his eyes looking down on them with an unfathomable gaze, displaying the aura of a domineering ruler.

The seven monks remained silent, each gathering their inner energy to enhance their Cultivation Body, working in conjunction with the Seven Buddhas Sin-Eradicating Demon-Subduing Formation to continuously improve their physical abilities, disregarding the limits of their physical bodies to unleash their ultimate moves. Meanwhile, outside the formation, Si Ming feigned breaking the formation, raising the Glazed Precept-Breaking Saber and channeling his inner energy to create the Heaven-Piercing Blood Blade.

Just as the two sides' ultimate moves were about to clash, a sudden change occurred. The Azure Mysterious Corpse King, disguised Zhu Mei Demon, unleashed his full power at Xilai, intending to ruin the Glazed Temple's scheme!

"The Sword Rises, Wind and Clouds Move!"

A massive sword box, carrying a magnificent sword light, pierced through the sky and struck the Zhu Mei, injuring and knocking her back, thwarting her plot.

The betrayal of the "Azure Mysterious Corpse King" startled the seven monks, but they were already prepared to sacrifice themselves. They were shocked but not flustered, and it did not affect the charging of their ultimate move. After their momentum reached its peak, they attacked together.

Seeing that the Zhu Mei's sneak attack had failed, the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King's expression changed slightly. He immediately opened his mouth and pulled the Purple Primal Emperor Slash from his throat, adding to his evil aura.

The next moment, the ultimate moves clashed, and the powerful residual force rippled out, shattering the Twin Buddha Formation. Its momentum did not diminish, and with the power to split rocks and pierce clouds, it collapsed one wall of the Seven Stars Palace.

Both sides were injured in the exchange, blood splattering everywhere, but the seven monks' injuries were evenly distributed, and they seemed to be in much better condition than the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King.

"Countless Demonic Calamities Deliver the Tathagata!"

Seeing this, Si Ming acted decisively, slashing the fully charged Blood Fiend Blade at Ghost Chariot and Wu Da. Caught off guard, the two reacted in time, but their power was insufficient, and they were both injured.

Seeing that his plan had succeeded, the fake Great Snake chuckled to himself and then vanished into the mist.

"Sorry, I was stopped on the way and I'm late."

A figure rushed over and landed on the sword box. With a stomp of his toe, the divine sword was unsheathed, and immediately the law was activated, and the Profound Armor automatically armed. It was Yan Jinghong.

"An unseen master."

The Purple-Pupiled Spirit King glanced at Yan Jinghong with a look of apprehension. The other party had a long aura and profound cultivation, yet was unusually young. This reminded him of the genius martial artist from Glazed Temple who had used the Ten Buddhas Nirvana Formation together with him a hundred years ago. So, he opened his vertical eye between his eyebrows, and a burst of Depleting Divine Light shot out.

"Swift Surge and Chilling Waves!"

A Divine Spear of Ice and Snow pierced the air and plunged into the ground, causing a surge of cold air. Ice walls immediately rose up in front of Yan Jinghong. The Depleting Divine Light shone on them, causing the ice walls to melt and collapse. However, with each melting wall, the light dimmed a little. By the time the fourth wall was broken, the light had dissipated due to exhaustion.