He Needs His Edges Smoothed Out

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the twelfth lunar month.

The first day of the twelfth lunar month.

Early in the morning, Qu Changqing arrived in the western district and came to the residence where Xia Manggan was temporarily staying.

Outside the bedchamber.

Beishan Hu was carefully attending to Ah Huang's breakfast.

There were more than a dozen enormous dining plates specially forged for it.

Each one was thirty meters in diameter.

This was the experience Beishan Hu had accumulated.

Plates this large were just enough for Ah Huang to swallow in one bite without wasting anything—the most suitable size.

After all, such a noble-blooded true dragon could not possibly be allowed to eat food that had fallen on the ground.

The sight made Qu Changqing think his eyes were playing tricks on him.

If one were to speak of the biggest news in Anchan City this month—

It was undoubtedly that Beishan Hu, known as one of the Second Young Masters of Beishan, had stopped being a spoiled heir and gone to serve as someone else's attendant.

Quite a few young masters from major clans and sects who heard the news later had even made special trips to Anchan City, lying in wait at Cave of Carefree and Heavenly Treasure Mountain.

Yet to everyone's disappointment, Young Master Hu, who used to visit pleasure houses every night to spend lavishly, had not shown his face for an entire month.

Everyone assumed Beishan Hu knew he had lost face and was too embarrassed to show himself.

But looking at him now, Qu Changqing felt that Beishan Hu actually seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Chirp, chirp~~"

Ah Huang used its head to push a huge platter of Jade Bamboo Shoots, green as jade, toward Beishan Hu.

"Thank you, Yellow Dragon Divine Beast, but I already ate this morning."

Beishan Hu was delighted inwardly and hurriedly waved his hands to politely decline.

It had not been easy.

A whole month had passed.

At last, he had managed to establish the beginnings of a friendship with this true dragon lord, who could only take human form upon reaching the Heavenly Immortal realm.

After all, Ah Huang was a divine beast of the true dragon race, possessing the noblest bloodline.

Its aptitude and talent were even several levels greater than those of many true Fiendgods.

Compared with the human race, which possessed weaker innate gifts, although Ah Huang had yet to take human form at the Return to Void level, its powerful body and innate divine abilities alone gave it strength comparable to a Loose Immortal who had cultivated for nearly a million years—on par with the most ordinary Heavenly Immortals.

Faced with such a future powerhouse, and one still in its youthful growth stage with a mind equivalent only to that of a six- or seven-year-old human child, Beishan Hu naturally would not miss the chance to build a deep friendship.

It could be said that—

During the month Xia Manggan had spent in seclusion, Beishan Hu had devoted nearly all his attention to serving Ah Huang.

"Hm?"

Sensing someone watching him, Beishan Hu turned his head. He quickly wiped the smile from his face, coughed twice, and said, "Young Master Qu has arrived?"

"Young Master Hu." Pretending not to have seen the earlier scene, Qu Changqing walked over and bowed. "Where is Young Master Xia Mang?"

"The young master is still in seclusion," Beishan Hu said.

"Still in seclusion?" Qu Changqing was puzzled. "Today is the day Black-White Academy accepts disciples."

"There are three days anyway." Beishan Hu curled his lip. "They can wait."

"..."

Qu Changqing was speechless.

Throughout Anchan Commandery, which young cultivator seeking a master did not eagerly beg to be accepted by a sect?

Yet in Beishan Hu's words, it seemed as though the sects were the ones begging disciples to join them.

And this was Black-White Academy, which had stood lofty and untouchable for countless years...

However, recalling everything he had witnessed in the Royal Capital and Cave of Carefree a month ago—

Qu Changqing had to admit that Xia Manggan truly possessed both the identity and talent to make the major sects beg to accept him.

At that moment—

Ah Huang, which had been eating heartily, suddenly stretched out its head and looked back.

Beishan Hu and Qu Changqing also seemed to sense something and turned toward the doors of the bedchamber.

They saw Xia Manggan slowly walk out through the doors.

The two stared blankly.

Xia Manggan was clearly still dressed in ordinary gray cloth, with a faint smile on his face.

Yet wherever he walked, it was as though an emperor were traveling.

It seemed as if the Heaven and Earth around him would operate according to his will.

"Chirp, chirp~~"

Ah Huang lowered itself.

It rubbed its dragon head, which had already grown over nine meters long, hard against Xia Manggan.

"You've grown so much already?"

Xia Manggan smiled and stroked its forehead, then looked at Beishan Hu. "You've fed it well."

Although he had not left the quiet chamber within the bedchamber or met with anyone over the past month—

Through his mental communication with Ah Huang, he had heard plenty of praise for Beishan Hu.

Children were like that.

Whoever fed them and indulged them in everything was a good person.

Beishan Hu was exactly such a person.

Hearing Xia Manggan's praise, Beishan Hu finally came back to himself and hurriedly bowed. "Young Master."

"Young Master Xia Mang."

Qu Changqing also snapped out of it.

When he looked at Xia Manggan again, he felt that nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

He secretly told himself that it was merely his imagination, that he had been overthinking things.

"Brother Qu."

Xia Manggan nodded lightly.

"Today is the first day of the twelfth lunar month. Qu has come to accompany Young Master Xia Mang to Black-White Academy to take a master," Qu Changqing said with a smile. "That way, I can congratulate Young Master Xia Mang the moment he successfully enters the Academy."

"Young Master, shall we set out now?" Beishan Hu asked as well. "Should I prepare the carriage?"

"Go ahead." Xia Manggan smiled. "But first, we will go to Heavenly Treasure Mountain and eat something."

He remembered that in the original story, the entrance examination would not begin until near dusk, when the day's registration was almost over.

Going to Black-White Academy now would only mean waiting around.

He might as well go to Heavenly Treasure Mountain to rest and relax.

Besides, he had already used up all his Essence Liquid and intended to exchange his remaining Essence Cards for more.

That way, after entering the Academy and taking a master, he could immediately break through in his Qi Refining cultivation.

"Yes."

Beishan Hu acknowledged and left to make preparations.

"Young Master Xia Mang." Once Beishan Hu had departed, Qu Changqing sent Xia Manggan a mental message. "Quite a few people have asked me about your origins, including Beishan Baiwei. I only said that I met you at Yinglong Mountain. I did not even mention that you came from the Royal Capital."

"Brother Qu, you have been thoughtful." Xia Manggan smiled. "You treated me at Cave of Carefree last time. Today at Heavenly Treasure Mountain, it will be my treat."

"Good." Knowing that Xia Manggan was acknowledging the favor, Qu Changqing hurriedly nodded with a smile.

Western district.

Outside Black-White Academy.

Ji Ning looked at the bustling crowd and sighed. "There really are so many people today."

More than ten days ago, unable to contain his curiosity, he had come here once with Beishan Baiwei.

At that time, Black-White Academy's gates had been shut, with guards stationed outside to block entry. Only Academy disciples could enter.

Today, because it was the day the Academy accepted disciples from outside, its gates stood open for outsiders to enter.

"Black-White Academy is extremely strict in accepting disciples. Ning'er, don't get careless and end up eliminated." White Water Marsh, still transformed into a large white dog, reminded him through mental communication.

"Don't worry, Uncle Bai." Ji Ning nodded.

"Next."

"Your meridians lack toughness. Leave."

"Next."

"Your meridians are not wide enough. Leave."

"Next."

"You're already at the middle Purple Mansion stage and you still came to Black-White Academy? Get lost!"

"You too, get lost!"

"Listen up! Anyone who has used forbidden arts or whose Qi Refining cultivation exceeds the early Purple Mansion stage, get lost on your own! Don't waste my time!"

Before a lake—

A black-haired middle-aged man stood there, his face full of impatience.

High in the air behind him floated an enormous Bronze Mirror.

The Bronze Mirror shone upon the cultivators flying in below. Only those approved by the black-haired middle-aged man could cross the lake, truly enter Black-White Academy, and participate in the entrance examination.

"Why is this year's examiner in such a bad mood?"

"Yeah, I took the test last year too. He wasn't like this then."

Ji Ning's ears twitched as he heard the crowd's discussion, and he felt slightly nervous as well.

Whoosh~~~

A green light shot out from the Bronze Mirror and enveloped him.

Ji Ning felt as though his bones, muscles, skin, and flesh had all been instantly pierced through.

"Oh? Your Fiendgod Body Refining has also reached the Purple Mansion level?"

The black-haired middle-aged man gave Ji Ning a surprised look before nodding in satisfaction. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Your aptitude is not bad. And your divine body seems quite perfect as well. What technique are you cultivating?"

"The Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Map," Ji Ning answered directly.

The moment the words left his mouth, the crowd waiting behind him erupted in gasps.

After all, the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Map was the legendary foremost Fiendgod Body Refining technique, and also the most widespread Fiendgod Body Refining technique across the Endless Continent.

Nearly every somewhat larger cultivator tribe possessed it.

But those capable of cultivating it to the entry level, much less reaching the Innate Fiendgod realm, were likely one in a hundred million.

Not to mention reaching the Purple Mansion Fiendgod level.

"Mm, go on through." The black-haired middle-aged man nodded with a smile, the smile on his face deepening further. "Remember not to be the slightest bit careless. Perhaps you may be able to enter our Academy."

"Thank you, Senior." Ji Ning bowed in thanks.

Then his body flickered, and he appeared directly on the shore across the lake.

"Find somewhere to wait. When the time comes, I will take you to the examination. Don't ask questions, and don't wander around."

A similarly impatient voice suddenly rang out.

Ji Ning followed the sound.

He saw a young man in a Shuimo Daoist robe standing atop a protruding boulder by the lake, staring intently in the direction of the Academy entrance.

Why are all these Primordial Spirit Daoists so restless? It's as if they're waiting for someone...

Ji Ning was puzzled. He casually picked a large rock and sat down cross-legged.

Forget them.

No matter what, he had to pass the examination and enter Black-White Academy!

In a gorge roughly fifty kilometers away from the lake where Ji Ning was—

Three figures stood at the top of the gorge.

One of them wore white Daoist robes and possessed an eerily handsome face. He was Black-White Academy's headmaster, Jade Sea Daoist.

Yet Jade Sea Daoist no longer possessed the calm, unfathomable bearing he had displayed at Cave of Carefree a month ago.

His expression was ugly, as if he were hesitating. After struggling for a moment, he finally said in a low voice, "Martial Uncle, we have found out. After Xia Manggan left his residence, he went... he went to Heavenly Treasure Mountain. He is currently hosting a feast..."

"He is eating?"

A cold, aged voice came from the mouth of a child who appeared only four or five years old.

Endless frigid energy radiated from the young child.

After he spoke, it seemed as though the Heaven and Earth around them had instantly frozen solid.

"Yes." Jade Sea Daoist obediently nodded, then stood to the side without daring to say more.

Although he was the headmaster of Black-White Academy and a major figure throughout Anchan Commandery—

Before this person, he still had to conduct himself as a junior.

"The two of us Immortals arrived early and waited here, yet he ran off to Heavenly Treasure Mountain to eat..."

Standing beside the young child was a long-bearded elder wearing a tall crown and carrying himself with extraordinary dignity. He spoke indignantly, "Senior Brother Hanshan, that little fellow is far too arrogant. We must give him a warning. Otherwise, if we accept him into the Academy, I fear he will be difficult to discipline."

"He does need his edges smoothed out." The young child nodded. "Jade Sea, go make the arrangements..."

The second update is here. It's the start of the month, gentlemen, so it's time to cast some votes. Suifeng has been updating diligently, so please give him a little reward. Recommendation votes, monthly votes—bury this little one in them!