Changes in the Hunting Grounds

Zhang Zhixing smiled. "Among all the Metropolitan Graduates under Heaven, aside from the Kong Family, only Brother Fang would be willing to use a Sage Page at a time like this. I only have four on hand, and I've never been willing to use them."

"Of course, most congratulatory gifts from the great families include Sage Pages, and the Sacred Academy even bestowed a hundred Sage Pages at once."

"No comparison, no comparison..."

Fang Yun merely smiled without speaking, then handed the Inkstone Turtle, Dragonblood Ink, Sage Page, and a Hanlin Academician's brush to Ma Chaoming.

All the Metropolitan Graduates watched the Inkstone Turtle, which shook its head and swayed as if voicing its displeasure, with envy in their eyes. Forget them—even their Half-Sage ancestors had never possessed an Inkstone Turtle, much less such a strange creature shaped like a Dragon Turtle.

Ma Chaoming forcibly suppressed his delight and calmly accepted Fang Yun's four treasures of the study. He took a deep breath, steadied his mind, then carefully ground ink upon the Inkstone Turtle's body.

The ink churned, releasing faint dragon roars. One cry, two cries, three cries!

The many Jing Kingdom Metropolitan Graduates' eyes burned. They wished they could snatch the Inkstone Turtle away at once—even death would be worth it!

The dragon roars spread for several miles. Metropolitan Graduates from several nearby kingdoms changed expression and all looked over.

"Dragon-Roar Ink, three long cries, a peerless treasure..."

Sighs rose one after another.

Ma Chaoming had fought through countless battles and long since tempered himself to keep joy and anger from showing on his face. Often, whether he smiled or grew angry, it was merely a way of expressing his stance. But now, he smiled from the bottom of his heart.

No scholar could remain calm and composed before