The next day, dawn had just broken!
Soaring Dragon City's factions had already been thrown into turmoil by the Liu Family's extermination, but today they boiled over even more. News came from the Myriad Treasures Tower that the Black and White Academy would be recruiting disciples today.
How could Soaring Dragon City's factions not be stirred by the Black and White Academy recruiting disciples?
Across the entire Azure Wave Continent, every outstanding young talent took pride in joining the Black and White Academy. It was the highest academy; it represented not only honor, but even more, recognition of one's strength.
As the saying went, when one person attained the Dao, even the chickens and dogs rose to heaven. With the Black and White Academy's great tree offering shelter, not only would one benefit, but even one's Lineage would be blessed beyond measure.
Zhang Family Grand Hall!
"Jishi, are you really not going with Shiqing?" Zhang Jinhua rose and asked.
"Uncle Zhang, you should go." At the thought of Liang Simeng's lofty, superior expression, Qin Jishi felt nothing but disgust.
"Jishi, why don't you come with us? You can encourage Shiqing."
Tang Xiulan's attitude had now undergone a heaven-and-earth reversal. Compared to before, it was the difference between the sky and the earth, and Qin Jishi found himself somewhat unaccustomed to it.
"Auntie, you should go. I don't even have any mystic qi. Going would be pointless."
Seeing how resolute Qin Jishi was, Tang Xiulan did not press him further.
Beside them, Zhang Shiqing could not help glaring at him upon hearing that.
Could someone who had wiped out the Liu Family with a mere gesture possibly be a useless good-for-nothing?
Although Zhang Shiqing had yet to determine Qin Jishi's cultivation even now, she could guess that he was at least in the Earth Fiend Realm. Otherwise, he could never have so easily destroyed the Liu Family.
An Earth Fiend Realm cultivator so young? Even the Black and White Academy's chief disciples would likely feel ashamed.
"Are you really not planning to join the Black and White Academy with me?"
"No."
Qin Jishi shook his head. "That place isn't suited for me."
Never mind what the Black and White Academy itself was like; just because of Liang Simeng alone, he had no desire to go there.
How irritating~
Seeing that Qin Jishi seemed to loathe something intensely, Zhang Shiqing stopped pressing him and nodded faintly.
Very soon, they left the grand hall and headed for the Myriad Treasures Tower.
"Ahh~"
After they left, Qin Jishi stretched lazily. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend ten peaceful years in the Zhang Family? Want me to go to the Black and White Academy? What are they thinking?"
"What I need most right now is to settle myself. Ten years from now, I'll make a powerful return. By then?"
Muttering to himself, Qin Jishi narrowed his eyes. "No one will get away."
Fortunately, no one was here. If someone had been, their Divine Soul would surely have trembled violently.
The pressure of killing intent emanating from Qin Jishi far surpassed the Earth Fiend Realm, at one point reaching the Heavenly Dipper Realm.
An eighteen-year-old in the Earth Fiend Realm was already an unparalleled genius of the Azure Wave Continent. For his pressure to reach the Heavenly Dipper Realm was simply unheard of; calling him a monster would not be an exaggeration.
After a moment, Qin Jishi returned to normal and stepped out of the grand hall.
"Hehe, Chun Tao, your face is glowing with health. Is some good fortune coming your way?"
"Xiao Xiang, jump a little for this young master to see. Mm, it's working. Keep taking it, and strive to turn into a pillow."
"..."
This was the life Qin Jishi wanted—utterly carefree.
By dusk, the sky had grown increasingly dark. When the last streak of sunset vanished beyond the horizon, darkness descended...
"Qin... Young Master Qin... Young Master Qin... hurry... the Clan Leader requests your presence..."
"Young Master Qin~"
Qin Jishi, who had been sleeping in a rattan chair, was awakened by the clamor. He frowned, half-opened his eyes, and said with some displeasure, "What are you making such a fuss about? What happened?"
Seeing Qin Jishi's displeasure, Zhang Cheng immediately became cautious. Even so, he could not conceal his excitement. "Young Master Qin... Young Master Qin... Sister Shiqing... Sister Shiqing has been accepted by the Black and White Academy as an official disciple."
"Is that so?" As though everything had been within Qin Jishi's expectations, he was not particularly surprised.
Never mind that Zhang Shiqing had already advanced to the Mystic Spirit Realm—even if she were still at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation, with the dense mystic qi in her body, passing the Black and White Academy's examination would not have been much of a problem.
Faintly, he could hear the thunderous sounds of gongs and drums.
Come to think of it, it was understandable. Zhang Shiqing had been accepted as an official disciple of the Black and White Academy, so the Zhang Family would also receive its protection. Their rise was merely a matter of time.
"Let's go. We should offer our congratulations." Qin Jishi rose and followed Zhang Cheng and the others toward the grand hall.
Zhang Jinhua and Tang Xiulan were grinning from ear to ear, their faces brimming with excitement.
After all, what parent did not hope for their daughter to become a phoenix and their son to become a dragon?
At the same time, when the major factions went to the Myriad Treasures Tower today to take part in the Black and White Academy's disciple selection, Liang Simeng did not utter a single word about the Liu Family's extermination.
This inevitably led everyone to speculate that Zhang Shiqing's extraordinary talent had prompted the Black and White Academy to forcibly suppress the matter for her sake.
The lively celebration lasted a long while before everyone gradually departed.
The full moon hung high, and the warm breeze intoxicated the wandering travelers!
Qin Jishi and Zhang Shiqing walked along the small path back, surrounded by lush greenery.
Neither of them broke the silence, simply savoring that tranquil moment.
Neither had noticed that, through their time together, their states of mind had both begun to change. The initial disgust and resentment had faded, replaced by a trace of calm serenity.
In the end, Zhang Shiqing could not resist breaking the silence. "Tomorrow, I'll be leaving for the Black and White Academy."
"I know."
"You really won't come with me?"
"What difference would it make whether I came or not?"
"You~"
The two stopped walking. Zhang Shiqing's willow-leaf brows shifted as she quietly looked at him.
"Hehe." Qin Jishi smiled. "You are destined for greatness. The sky ahead is still vast, and the road beneath your feet is still long. Perhaps I would become a burden to you."
His words seemed to awaken Zhang Shiqing. Her eyes widened. "I understand now. You don't want to go to the Black and White Academy because you don't want to see Chief Liang?"
Qin Jishi: "..."
A woman too clever had a tiring life.
Seeing that he did not speak, Zhang Shiqing knew she had guessed correctly. Her willow-leaf brows drew together slightly. "Why do I always feel that you have some connection with Chief Liang?"
"You're overthinking it." Qin Jishi's voice turned cold. "Liang Simeng is a lofty daughter of heaven on the Azure Wave Continent. How could she possibly have any connection with a small figure like me?"
No matter how one heard it, those sounded like angry words.
Zhang Shiqing did not question him further. After all, who did not have secrets?
After a brief silence, Zhang Shiqing slowly asked, "Can you tell me what you experienced during those ten years?"
"Is it important?" Qin Jishi looked into the distance. "Some things are better left unsaid. Speaking of them would only add to the sorrow."
Though it was only a short sentence, Zhang Shiqing could sense the change in Qin Jishi's state of mind.
She did not understand what sort of experiences could have shaped Qin Jishi into the person he was now.
For a time, neither spoke.
They simply stood there quietly, not knowing what they were thinking.
"Let's go~"
Only after a long time had passed did Qin Jishi lift his feet and head toward the room.
That night, the air in the room was somewhat heavy.
When the pale light of dawn appeared, neither of them had slept all night.
Knock, knock~
The door was knocked upon. Zhang Shiqing rose. "I'm leaving."
Qin Jishi leaned sideways against his chair and nodded. "Go..."
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
"Ten years from now, I'll go to the Black and White Academy to see you."
"Ten years?"
Zhang Shiqing's body trembled for no reason. When she reached the door, she said, "It won't take ten years. When I have time, I'll come back to see you."
After saying that, Zhang Shiqing did not look back and walked out of the room.
Qin Jishi did not see her off. He simply sat there until Zhang Shiqing had left, then waved an arm and closed the door.
On the day Zhang Shiqing left, Qin Jishi did not step out of his room for the entire day, until night fell.
During that time, Zhang Jinhua came by several times, but still got no result.
In the dead of night, a figure carrying someone on his shoulder vanished into the darkness.
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