The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Yang Chengzhi actually didn't want to come. He was supposed to return to Zhenguan Academy tomorrow, but he suddenly remembered meeting Ma Feifei at the tavern that day. Although they didn't talk much, he had a good impression of Ma Feifei. Moreover, he didn't have anyone to talk to in Dubian Town, and the other three hundred students kept their distance from him.

After thinking it over, Ma Feifei was the only person he knew. So, he ultimately decided to visit Ma Feifei and say goodbye before leaving.

"Brother Yang is returning to Zhenguan Academy tomorrow?" Ma Feifei rarely put down his transcription pen and invited Yang Chengzhi to sit. The two began to converse face-to-face.

Yang Chengzhi seemed to be in a bad state, looking very dejected, as if his face was screaming "I'm unhappy." However, facing Ma Feifei, he still forced a smile and said, "Yes, the academy has already notified me to report back."

The news that he was banned from participating in this national war had spread throughout Chu State, and Zhenguan Academy had also suffered some negative repercussions. It was said that the academy elders were very displeased and had ordered Yang Chengzhi to return immediately, likely to settle accounts.

"Is Brother Yang just going to sit and wait for death?" Ma Feifei naturally knew that Yang Chengzhi's return this time would most likely result in him being expelled from the academy. This was something that would affect his entire life.

"It's not sitting and waiting for death, it's being helpless." Yang Chengzhi gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "I don't fear Brother Ma laughing at me. Although I ranked third hundred on the Dragon Ranking, that was a year ago. My cultivation was already at Spirit Master Sixth Stage a year ago, and I'm still stuck here a year later. The cultivation of the person ranked two hundred and ninety-ninth on the Dragon Ranking is Spirit Master Eighth Stage, and there are quite a few Spirit Master Eighth Stages below me."

"In another month, it will be Zhenguan Academy's annual Dragon Ranking Grand Competition. By then, I won't even be able to hold onto my position as third hundred on the Dragon Ranking, let alone defeat Xiaoyaozi."

Once he fell off the Dragon Ranking, Yang Chengzhi would lose his last trump card.

In this world, in the end, strength reigns supreme.

With strength, one can disdain everything, command respect, and rise above moral laws.

Those without strength can only obey the will of the strong.

If Yang Chengzhi were pushed off the Dragon Ranking, he would lose a protective charm. The academy would have no qualms about expelling him.

Only the favored sons of heaven receive preferential treatment and respect from the academy.

"Has Brother Yang considered making a comeback at the Dragon Ranking Grand Competition in a month and defeating Xiaoyaozi?" Ma Feifei asked.

If Yang Chengzhi could defeat Xiaoyaozi in a month and reach the top of the Dragon Ranking, Zhenguan Academy would have no reason to expel him. Yang Chengzhi could not only stay at Zhenguan Academy but also redeem himself. It would be a win-win situation.

"How difficult that is." Yang Chengzhi shook his head. He had considered such a situation, but only in his dreams. It was impossible in reality.

Even a Spirit Saint couldn't help him reach the Spirit Sect realm in a month, let alone defeat Xiaoyaozi.

Keep in mind that Xiaoyaozi had already entered the Spirit Sect realm a year ago. Now, a year later, at what realm would a favored son of heaven like Xiaoyaozi be?

Ma Feifei smiled mysteriously, turned around, took the book The Legend of the Condor Heroes from the bookshelf, and placed it in front of Yang Chengzhi. "Why don't you take a look at this book."

Yang Chengzhi was stunned for a moment, feeling that the topic had veered off course. He looked down at the book Ma Feifei handed him. It had an exquisite blue cover with the words The Legend of the Condor Heroes written on it.

"A miscellaneous book?" Yang Chengzhi asked doubtfully.

He didn't understand why Ma Feifei would suddenly give him such a book and ask him to read it. In his current state of mind, how could he possibly read?

"You don't have anything else to do anyway, so why not sit here and read for a day before going back tomorrow?" Ma Feifei pointed at The Legend of the Condor Heroes and chuckled, "This book is quite good, but I must state beforehand that reading here costs one Spirit Crystal per hour."

"One Spirit Crystal!" This time, it was Yang Chengzhi's turn to be surprised.

As a student of Zhenguan Academy, he was naturally familiar with Spirit Crystals, but that was precisely why he knew how precious they were.

It goes without saying that Spirit Crystals were needed for cultivation, but they were also required for purchasing heavenly treasures, cultivation techniques, and martial arts. Spirit Crystals were practically the currency of cultivators; with Spirit Crystals, anything could be bought.

As the student ranked three hundred on the Dragon Ranking at Zhenguan Academy, Yang Chengzhi received one thousand Spirit Crystals annually as a reward. Besides that, when he didn't have classes, he would also hunt spirit beasts to earn Spirit Crystals. He seemed quite wealthy, but at his cultivation level, the expenses were also very high. After earning and spending, he had almost no savings.

As it was now, he had at most a few hundred Spirit Crystals in his pocket.

Reading here for one hour cost one Spirit Crystal. In a day, that would be more than ten Spirit Crystals, which was even faster than the rate at which he consumed Spirit Crystals during cultivation.

"You think it's expensive?" Ma Feifei frowned. He thought to himself, This isn't how the script should go! As a student of Zhenguan Academy, a famous person on the Dragon Ranking, is one Spirit Crystal per hour too much? It's been so long since the bookstore opened, and besides that poor girl Zhao Xiaodao, I haven't seen anyone complain about the price.

"No, no." Yang Chengzhi quickly shook his head, took out ten Spirit Crystals, and handed them to Ma Feifei. "Since I have nothing to do today, it's good to calm down and read a book."

Ma Feifei took the Spirit Crystals, glanced at Yang Chengzhi, and said, "Don't worry, it will definitely be worth your while. Enjoy your reading."

Yang Chengzhi looked at Ma Feifei's retreating back, then at the book on the desk, and suddenly chuckled.

"This Brother Ma is quite interesting."

"Then I'll take a look." With that, Yang Chengzhi picked up the book on the table. "The Legend of the Condor Heroes? I've never heard of it."

It must be some unknown miscellaneous book! Yang Chengzhi thought.

With a casual attitude, Yang Chengzhi opened the book and began reading from the first chapter, "Wind and Snow's Sudden Change."

The vast Qiantang River flowed day and night, endlessly winding past Niujia Village in Lin'an, heading east to the sea. Dozens of Chinese hackberry trees lined the riverbank, their leaves a fiery red, it being the month of August. The wild grass around the village had just begun to turn yellow, and the setting sun cast a more desolate glow. A group of villagers, men and women, along with a dozen children, were gathered under two large pine trees, intently listening to a thin old man speak. The speaker was in his fifties, wearing a blue cloth robe that had long since faded to a grayish-blue from washing.

He clapped his two pearwood clappers together twice, and with his left hand, he tapped a small frame drum with a bamboo stick, producing a rhythmic beat. He sang:

"Unattended peach blossoms bloom, misty grass stretches to the evening crows. Ruined walls surround old wells, where once stood human homes."

Upon reading this, Yang Chengzhi couldn't help but murmur, "This poem is well-written."

When he read about the Jin soldiers beating Ye Sanjie's family to death one by one and Ye Sanjie's failed attempt to assassinate a Jin soldier before committing suicide, Yang Chengzhi's usually calm heart stirred.

"These Jin soldiers are so detestable, and this Ye Sanjie is so pitiful."

Unconsciously, Yang Chengzhi became engrossed in the book's content, forgetting all his troubles and following the words on the page to witness the world within the book.

By the time Yang Chengzhi finished the first chapter, "Wind and Snow's Sudden Change," Ma Feifei called out to him.

"Brother Yang, the shop is closing." Ma Feifei said with a smile.

Yang Chengzhi had been reading from morning until now, skipping lunch and not even going to the restroom once. He hadn't even lifted his eyelids. This showed how captivated he was by the book.

"Ah? Closing? Oh!" Yang Chengzhi finally snapped back to reality and reluctantly closed The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

"Here are your refunded Spirit Crystals, Brother Yang. Please keep them." Ma Feifei returned the excess Spirit Crystals to Yang Chengzhi and then made a gesture to usher him out.

Yang Chengzhi couldn't say whether The Legend of the Condor Heroes was good or not.

As for the story itself, it wasn't anything new. It depicted ordinary tales of national turmoil and displaced common folk. The characters within were also ordinary people, incapable of cultivation, let alone possessing flight and earth-moving abilities. All they could do was wield simple blades, spears, staves, and perform feats like leaping onto rooftops.

For cultivators in the cultivation world, stories like these should, by all rights, be unwatchable.

Why? Because when reading, people seek escapism. Readers want to immerse themselves in a character and accomplish things they can't in reality. Simply put, the story needs to transcend reality, especially stories with heroic themes.

In Yang Chengzhi's eyes, the fight scenes in The Legend of the Condor Heroes were no different from those involving ordinary people in his world who couldn't cultivate. Things like 'leaping onto a tree' or 'wielding a saber and sword' were achievable by ordinary people, let alone someone like Yang Chengzhi, a cultivator. Based on the power levels described in the book, he estimated he could sweep through it.

Although, Yang Chengzhi had only read one chapter.

Yet, despite being such a book, if you were to say it was bad, Yang Chengzhi found himself drawn to it.

But if you asked Yang Chengzhi to pinpoint exactly what drew him in, he truly couldn't say. Therefore, he was genuinely unable to judge whether the book was good or not.

"Maybe... I'll come back and take another look tomorrow?" Yang Chengzhi thought on his way back.

As for returning to the academy...

Was it important?

Not important!