"Cangqiong Academy?"
Zhu Ping'an thought of the Glasses Man he had run into squatting in the greenery when he'd just come downstairs.
"That's right!" Old Yin gave a sinister smile. "Do you know who founded Cangqiong Academy?"
"Who?" Zhu Ping'an pressed.
"One of the Three Saints and One Lord from ten thousand years ago—the Cangqiong Ancient Saint!" Old Yin looked at Zhu Ping'an and continued, "Do you know what the Cangqiong Ancient Saint was most famous for?"
"I do." Zhu Ping'an nodded. "An incredibly powerful physique!"
Of the Three Saints and One Lord, the Cangqiong Ancient Saint had the most terrifying physique. According to legend, he could fight Ninth-Level Mutant Beasts barehanded and tear them to pieces.
"You have the Immortal Devil Sword Technique for martial skills, which will suffice for now, and the Starry Sky Ancient Saint's inheritance for cultivation techniques. The only thing you're lacking now is a Body Forging Method!" Old Yin chuckled. "If you can obtain the Cangqiong Ancient Saint's inheritance, then I reckon no one at the same rank will be able to withstand even one of your blows!"
Zhu Ping'an's pupils shrank. At last, he understood why Old Yin and Old Yang had wanted him to choose Cangqiong Academy.
A martial artist's strength was judged not only by their rank, but also by taking into account their cultivation techniques, martial skills, and physique.
If he really could obtain the Cangqiong Ancient Saint's inheritance...
Just thinking about it made Zhu Ping'an's blood run hot. The road would surely be difficult, and might even lead to a dead end, but it was worth a try!
"Thank you, Old Yin and Old Yang, for pointing me in the right direction!" Zhu Ping'an bowed respectfully to the Yin and Yang Elders. They had truly helped him a great deal.
"Forget about thanks. Just don't sell us two old men out when you get yourself into trouble in the future."
Old Yang waved his hand with a smile. He'd seen right through the boy: Zhu Ping'an was a fearless, stubborn rascal to the core. Leaving Green City would be like a dragon entering the sea for him. He'd already dared to challenge a Seventh Rank Martial Artist like Cheng Fengzhong while he was only a First-Rank Warrior. Who knew what kind of huge mess he'd cause in the future?
Zhu Ping'an smiled too. If Old Yang had really been worried about that, he wouldn't have stepped in to save him in the Secret Realm of Star Gazing. He joked, "Rest assured, Old Yang! No matter how brutally they torture me, I promise I won't give up your names! At most, I'll point them in your direction!"
"You little rascal!" Old Yang laughed and tapped Zhu Ping'an on the forehead. Then he reminded him, "Cangqiong Academy is in Kyoto too. Once you get there, you still need to watch out for Cheng Fengzhong. That fellow is extremely petty."
Zhu Ping'an nodded. After settling on a school, he took the initiative to contact the Glasses Man.
The Glasses Man was so excited that he rushed over to Zhu Ping'an as fast as he could.
"Student Ping'an, have you really thought it through? You want to join our Cangqiong Academy?"
His face was alight with joy. Cangqiong Academy was one of Great Xia's top schools, but it was the worst of the best.
Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Many students would rather choose a school just below the top tier than attend Cangqiong Academy.
In recent years, recruiting students had become increasingly difficult for Cangqiong Academy. Even the Glasses Man hadn't expected Zhu Ping'an to choose it.
"Yeah, I've decided. I'll join Cangqiong Academy under the conditions you mentioned earlier." Zhu Ping'an nodded, a glint flashing in his eyes.
The Glasses Man was so excited he flailed his arms and could barely get a word out.
Five years!
Five years!
At last, Cangqiong Academy had recruited a Top Scholar Level student!
Even after Zhu Ping'an wrote Cangqiong Academy's name on his application form, the Glasses Man could hardly believe it.
"Student Ping'an, why don't you secretly take advantage of me a few times? Otherwise, I won't feel at ease holding on to this application form!"
Zhu Ping'an: "..."
He suddenly felt that joining Cangqiong Academy might have been a mistake.
Zhu Ping'an had just finished signing his application form when a large group of admissions teachers came rushing over.
The Glasses Man smiled happily and waved the application form at them.
"You're too late. Student Ping'an has already decided to join Cangqiong Academy."
"Kong Zhe, you must have used the Cangqiong Ancient Saint's inheritance to trick him again!" one admissions teacher said with a disdainful raised brow.
"Bullshit! Cangqiong Academy was founded by the Cangqiong Ancient Saint! How can you call that a trick?" Kong Zhe roared, veins bulging as he pushed up his glasses, ready to argue with him.
The admissions teacher ignored Kong Zhe and turned to Zhu Ping'an, earnestly trying to persuade him.
"Student Ping'an, I know you're going to Cangqiong Academy for the inheritance, but why not think about it? Cangqiong Academy has been around for ten thousand years, and no one has obtained the Cangqiong Ancient Saint's inheritance in all that time. What makes you think it'll be your turn?"
"You're a genius, and it's natural to have pride, but don't bury your talent in the wrong place and waste your precious youth!"
Although Zhu Ping'an had already filled out the application form, there was still room to change things as long as Kong Zhe hadn't submitted it.
"Thank you for the advice, but I've made up my mind. Please head back, all of you," Zhu Ping'an said.
"You! You're hopeless!" The admissions teacher stormed off, fuming.
The other admissions teachers gave Zhu Ping'an regretful looks before turning and leaving as well.
Over the years, quite a few talented students had joined Cangqiong Academy for the inheritance, but they usually ended up wasting their years. They never obtained the inheritance and squandered their precious youth.
In their eyes, Zhu Ping'an would be no exception. He would ultimately fade into obscurity.
Gold would always shine, but Kyoto glittered with gold everywhere. This world would never run short of geniuses.
"Ping'an, don't worry!" Kong Zhe gritted his teeth and pushed up his glasses. "As our first Top Scholar Level student in five years, Cangqiong Academy will devote every resource we have to cultivating you! We'll make sure you become at least a Seventh Rank Martial Artist!"
A school's strength was judged mainly by how well its graduates fared. Cangqiong Academy desperately needed a student who could bring it prestige.
As he spoke, Kong Zhe pulled a box from his robes and pressed it into Zhu Ping'an's arms.
"Don't worry about cultivation resources! There are ten Qi and Blood Pills in here. Take them for now! If you need anything else later, just tell me. As long as it's within Cangqiong Academy's means, I'll arrange it all for you!"
"Thank you." Zhu Ping'an didn't refuse and accepted the Qi and Blood Pills.
"Good! I need to take this great news back to the school. Classes start in early September, and the school will probably send strong warriors to escort you there around mid-August. For now, get some good rest in Green City," Kong Zhe said.
The journey from Green City to Kyoto crossed endless wilderness, where danger lurked and Mutant Beasts were everywhere. It was impossible for the examinees to travel such a long distance on their own, so every year the Martial Arts University sent powerful warriors to escort the students safely to school.
"Mid-August? That's still two and a half months away." Zhu Ping'an murmured to himself.
Just as Kong Zhe was about to leave, Yan Shubing appeared from who knew where and blocked his way.
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