Nine Heavens

Lianshan Xin had a reason for daring to promise President Qu that his son would pass the entrance exam for White Deer Grotto Academy that year—he had visited the academy, met the master who set the questions, and already obtained that year's exam.

He had a cheat, after all.

Only an idiot would have a cheat and not use it.

He had not pinned all his hopes of entering White Deer Grotto Academy on Kong Ningyuan.

But if he could get in through a recommendation, he certainly would not take the exam.

Everyone knew that those admitted by recommendation were the truly impressive ones. What good was merely being able to pass exams?

Even an academy, relatively untainted as it was, would inevitably care about connections.

Kong Ningyuan was now his backer, and the message he had conveyed to President Qu was equally clear: he was willing to become the Qu family's backer.

President Qu was naturally happy to accept that arrangement.

If Lianshan Xin really was bluffing, he had a hundred ways to retaliate. But if Lianshan Xin was telling the truth, he also had a hundred ways to kneel down and lick his boots.

All he needed to do was wait.

Lianshan Xin had brought President Qu thoroughly to heel. He Miaojun and Lianshan Jingcheng witnessed it all, and both had to reassess their son.

"Our son doesn't take after me," Lianshan Jingcheng reflected. "He really wasn't being blindly confident."

He Miaojun gave Lianshan Jingcheng a meaningful look and deliberately said, "As the saying goes, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and a mouse's son knows how to dig holes. Our son is so capable. Husband, could you have some hidden secret too? Are you hiding your talents just like our son?"

Lianshan Jingcheng laughed. "You're joking, dear. If I were really that capable, I wouldn't have needed your help to open this clinic. You, on the other hand, came from a prominent family. I think Xin takes entirely after you."

He Miaojun shook her head. "My family fell into decline. I couldn't even hold on to our ancestral property. Xin mustn't take after me, or he'll be done for. From what we've seen, our son is far better than either of us."

"Yes. Favor and intimidation in equal measure-the very methods of someone in power. Xin really is a natural at navigating officialdom," Lianshan Jingcheng said with a sigh.

"You make it sound as though you've been an official yourself," He Miaojun grumbled. "However shrewd Xin is, he's still young. He doesn't know how deep the Imperial Court's waters run. Ah, once a son grows up, his mother can no longer decide for him. I'll go prepare his clothes."

Students at White Deer Grotto Academy generally chose to board there, saving time for their studies while learning to live independently of their families.

The academy was a miniature court, a miniature martial world. People entered it in pursuit of a future. Mama's boys would naturally be looked down on.

Although He Miaojun did not want her son to leave her, she would always put Lianshan Xin's interests first.

Lianshan Jingcheng was no different.

A mother's love was like water, a father's like a mountain. They showed it differently, but reached the same destination.

Behind He Miaojun's back, Lianshan Jingcheng secretly slipped Lianshan Xin a pouch of gold leaves.

"Gold? Not silver?"

Lianshan Xin instantly regarded his father with newfound respect. "Dad, I thought you hadn't stashed away any private savings. I was wrong. You've got some nerve, hiding this much. If Mom finds out, she'll silence you for good."

A pouch of loose silver would have been one thing. A pouch of gold leaves was rather too much for a secret stash.

Lianshan Jingcheng was therefore quite nervous too. "Son, these are all the savings your father has put away over the past twenty years. Whatever you do, don't let your mother find out. The students at White Deer Grotto Academy are either rich or noble. If you look too shabby there, they'll look down on you. The younger people are, the more readily they compare themselves with others. Don't scrimp. If you run short, I'll go ask President Qu for more."

Lianshan Xin gave his father a thumbs-up. "Asking President Qu for more, huh? Don't worry, Dad. If Mom finds out, I'll say I got it from President Qu."

"Good son. All my love for you hasn't been wasted."

Lianshan Jingcheng relaxed.

"Son, you've been mature about reading people and handling relationships since you were little, so I won't lecture you on that. I'll only remind you of one thing: Kong Ningyuan is merely one of the Seven Sons of White Deer. He's somebody at White Deer Grotto Academy and in Jiangzhou City, but he's by no means at the very top. You can't stake all your confidence on him. The Qu family is nothing much. Don't underestimate the heroes of the world just because you've got President Qu under your thumb."

Lianshan Xin nodded. "Don't worry, Father. I know where I stand. I'll do my best to treat people kindly."

"Good. I don't know much about White Deer Grotto Academy's internal affairs either, so pay attention yourself. Above all, apply yourself to your studies. All the great truths of this world lie in the sages' books."

Parents, it seemed, all wanted their children to study hard.

Lianshan Xin naturally did not argue, but inwardly he thought little of that advice. The sages' books were for people to read. When it came to getting things done, they were utterly useless.

He did not need the sages' books. He needed White Deer Grotto Academy's endorsement. In his previous life, graduates of Tsinghua and Peking University were automatically held in higher regard. It was the same in Great Yu: graduates of the four great academies were naturally regarded more highly too.

But Lianshan Xin soon realized that securing his first pot of gold would be harder than he had imagined, even with a cheat.

Three days later.

It was supposed to be the day White Deer Grotto Academy officially admitted its new students.

Kong Ningyuan came to Spring Revival Hall again, personally arriving to take Lianshan Xin to White Deer Grotto Academy.

"Brother, where is your father? Let me pay my respects to your parents before taking you to the academy."

Kong Ningyuan intended to maintain a lasting friendship with Lianshan Xin, so he treated his parents with considerable respect.

Lianshan Xin shook his head helplessly. "My mother looked into how many academy students have been injured or crippled over the years. It frightened her so badly that she fell ill, and now she doesn't want me to enter White Deer Grotto Academy. My father doesn't want me taking the risk either, and he has to look after her. Neither of them intends to see me off today."

They had been blissfully unaware until they checked, and then the figures gave them a fright. The academy's rate of injured and disabled students had approached ten percent over recent years-and that only counted injuries sustained within the academy. Those who had left were excluded.

Even Lianshan Xin had not expected that figure. He had yet to experience the cruelty and strife of the Martial Dao firsthand.

He Miaojun found it even harder to accept. After she and Lianshan Jingcheng tried once more to dissuade Lianshan Xin without success, fear and anger had sent her straight to bed sick.

Fortunately, it was nothing serious, or Lianshan Xin would have felt terribly guilty.

Hearing Lianshan Xin's explanation, Kong Ningyuan expressed his understanding.

"When I was recommended to the academy, my mother was very worried too. The academy may be a ladder to the clouds, but you truly stake your life on the climb. For someone without sufficient aptitude, joining it is a curse rather than a blessing. Brother, would you like to reconsider?"

Kong Ningyuan's question made Lianshan Xin look at him in puzzlement.

"Brother Kong, you aren't the sort to simply accept whatever comes your way. Has something gone wrong?"

His willingness to accept Lianshan Xin's idea of "yielding the pear" proved that Kong Ningyuan was by no means content with an ordinary life. He and Lianshan Xin were cut from the same cloth, so he should not have been trying to dissuade him.

Unless something unexpected had happened.

Sure enough.

Kong Ningyuan smiled bitterly. "Sharp as ever, brother. Yes, something has indeed happened. Two days ago, a major incident occurred at the academy. Nine Heavens discovered that the deputy headmaster was an elder of the Demon Cult, and that he also had ties to overseas nations. The Heavenly Sword personally led the arrest, but the deputy headmaster escaped. Before fleeing, he even joined forces with someone to break the Heavenly Sword's divine sword. Nine Heavens is furious, and so is the Imperial Court. The academy is now undergoing a sweeping purge. The headmaster resigned to take responsibility, and the Heavenly Sword has temporarily assumed his duties."

There was so much information that Lianshan Xin could not digest it all at once.

"Nine Heavens took action?" That was the first thing Lianshan Xin focused on.

Kong Ningyuan nodded. "The Heavenly Sword even acted personally, yet failed... The news is being suppressed for now. Once it spreads, the entire world will be shaken."

Nine Heavens was both a collective name for nine Heaven Ranking masters and one of the Imperial Court's supreme military forces for keeping the realm subdued.

In a world where Martial Dao masters could soar through the heavens and burrow through the earth, maintaining a dynasty's rule required more than poetry, books, and ritual teachings. Above all, it required suppression by force.

The greatest reason the Imperial Court could hold the martial world in check was that its strength surpassed theirs.

Nine Heavens was part of the Imperial Court's supreme strength.

Apart from the legendary Land Immortals, Heaven Ranking masters represented the greatest fighting power in this world. Heaven Ranking grandmasters roamed the realm unchallenged and generally did not take orders from anyone. They either ruled their own domains or lived freely, like drifting clouds and wild cranes.

Yet the Imperial Court had assembled nine Heaven Ranking grandmasters, entrusted them with great responsibilities, and established Nine Heavens to oversee officials within the government and suppress the martial world beyond it.

Most frightening of all, the Heaven Ranking grandmasters of the martial world changed frequently. Nine Heavens, however, had endured for a thousand years alongside the Great Yu Dynasty, its succession never broken—which meant the Imperial Court possessed the ability to continually produce Heaven Ranking grandmasters.

"Whenever Nine Heavens personally led an operation, it never failed. It had become a legend. So however unruly martial experts might be, they all obediently respected the law-at least on the surface." Kong Ningyuan said quietly, "Now that legend has shattered, and the Heavenly Sword has been broken. Brother, do you know what that means?"

"It means the Imperial Court's prestige has been shaken. From now on, the realm will know no peace." Lianshan Xin's expression grew solemn.

The strongest in the world could not afford to lose.

Lose once, and the hearts of those below would begin to stir.

"Exactly. The Imperial Court is concealing the news, but it can't do so for long. A Demon Cult elder was hiding in White Deer Grotto Academy, and even escaped from the Heavenly Sword. There must be enormous implications behind all this. The greatest problem is that the deputy headmaster was my teacher at the academy. He was the one who approved my recommendation for you."

At that, Kong Ningyuan could only smile bitterly.

Lianshan Xin's expression changed too.

"Brother, I've dragged you into this. The Heavenly Sword has now halted all recommendations, and the academy is investigating its own people. For some time to come, storms will gather around the academy, and trouble will dog its heels. Joining now would multiply the danger you face. Brother, my Kong Family has connections at the other three academies too. I suggest you wait another year. I'll definitely secure you a recommendation to one of them."

Of all Kong Ningyuan's well-intentioned words, Lianshan Xin heard only one sentence-the academy was investigating its own people.

This made Lianshan Xin's eyes light up.

His talent might not offer much scope for advancement in martial arts or even immortal cultivation.

But in this field, it was exactly the right tool for the job.

Nine Heavens was a place very well suited to putting his talent to use.

Under normal circumstances, however, he would have had no chance of coming into contact with Nine Heavens.

Now his chance had come.

"Brother Kong, I still want to enter White Deer Grotto Academy. Please introduce me."

Kong Ningyuan frowned at Lianshan Xin. "Brother, are you hoping to seize wealth and status from the jaws of danger?"

"Yes. With my background, any wealth and status that can be obtained without taking risks will never fall to me." Lianshan Xin openly admitted his thoughts. "A person doesn't get many chances to change his fate in a lifetime. Miss one, and there might never be another."

He did not doubt that Kong Ningyuan's promise was sincere at that moment. Kong Ningyuan probably did genuinely intend to arrange a recommendation for him to one of the other three great academies.

But who could say what would happen a year later?

How many couples swore eternal devotion and loved each other to death one year, only to go their separate ways the next? A promise between two men was even less certain.

After a moment of silence, Kong Ningyuan slowly said, "Brother, I'm under investigation myself right now. The Heavenly Sword personally halted all recommendations. I don't have the influence to change his mind, unless you take the normal entrance exam."

Lianshan Xin actually did not mind entering the academy through the normal route, but he wanted even more to be personally selected by the Heavenly Sword.

So Lianshan Xin clasped his hands. "Brother Kong, I want a chance to meet the Heavenly Sword."

"Are you confident you can win the Heavenly Sword's favor at your first meeting?"

"If I don't try, I'll never have a chance. Brother Kong, help me this once, and we'll be even."

With Lianshan Xin putting it that way, Kong Ningyuan could hardly refuse unless he wanted to fall out with him-and he did not.

"Very well. I'll introduce you. But you must be joking about us being even, brother. You've helped me greatly, while what I've done for you falls far short. I still owe you an enormous favor. Brother, remember: whatever you do, don't anger the Heavenly Sword. He could kill someone at any moment right now, and anyone he kills will also become a member of the Demon Cult."

"I understand."

I'm going there precisely to help him find Demon Cult members.

The deputy headmaster was a Demon Cult elder and had even escaped from the Heavenly Sword. It would be strange indeed if there were no other cult vermin inside White Deer Grotto Academy helping him.

They would all serve as his pledge of allegiance.

Lianshan Xin was ready to reap his first pot of gold.

But that first pot of gold arrived sooner than he had imagined.

Leaving Spring Revival Hall alongside Kong Ningyuan, he passed the Qu Family's entrance, where President Qu was watching them with solemn attention.

His eyes were full of awe and eagerness to please.

That was perfectly normal.

But after meeting President Qu's eyes, Lianshan Xin suddenly stopped.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Kong Ningyuan looked at him in surprise.

Lianshan Xin's expression remained unchanged, but waves surged through his heart.

That Qu fellow can really put on an act.

My neighbor is a Demon Cult fiend.