Returning Balance Academy: anyone without an appointment, get out
Green Luo Continent, Returning Balance Academy.
When--
As the morning bell rang, the sound of orderly recitation echoed from the continuous palaces.
Many disciples dressed in scholar's robes sat upright in the hall, their aura constantly changing as the lecturer chanted incantations.
Outside the corridor, a steward patrolled back and forth, carrying a register and occasionally making a note.
Even if someone mispronounces a single word, they will be called upon individually and made to recite it again.
The atmosphere here is upright and the rules are so strict they are almost frightening.
Every month, the rankings of all students are posted publicly during the examinations.
Elixirs, Cave Abode, and even opportunities to consult with elders are all allocated according to ranking!
Therefore, even those with exceptional talent dare not slack off in the slightest when cultivating in this place.
On the White Jade wall in the distance, in front of the newly updated monthly exam rankings, stood many disciples.
"Hooray! I won!"
Congratulations, Brother Liang!
"After three months of arduous study, I'm still ninth from the bottom! How can I face my family like this..."
Some people looked on with delight, while others turned pale.
But before they could look around for long, the bell rang again, urging them to enter the hall.
The crowd had no choice but to disperse hastily.
The air throughout the entire academy seemed to be filled with a sense of tension.
At the Mountain Gate.
The gatekeepers looked serious as they scanned the empty courtyard outside.
Due to its internal rules, Returning Balance Academy does not welcome outsiders to visit at will.
Without prior agreement or notification from the elders.
Then no matter who comes, it won't work!
After all, these rules were personally established by True Lord Returning Balance back then. Who could have more face than that patriarch?
And at this time...
After pondering for a while, a neatly dressed middle-aged man finally climbed the steps, arrived at the door, and politely cupped his hands in greeting:
"Gentlemen, I am Xu Huaichuan, the leader of the Green Creek Sect."
"I am passing through this area today and wish to pay my respects to your esteemed elders. Please inform them of my arrival."
The leading gatekeeper glanced at him and asked in a deep voice:
Did you make an appointment beforehand?
No, not at all.
Xu Huaichuan explained:
"However, I have met with your esteemed elder a few times before, so I can be considered—"
"If you have no appointment, please leave."
The disciple interrupted him directly, his indifferent tone remaining largely unchanged:
"We haven't received any relevant notification. Classes are currently being held on campus, so we cannot receive visitors."
"..."
Xu Huaichuan's smile froze slightly.
He raised his hand to indicate the gift he had brought, as if he wanted to say a few more words.
The gatekeeper disciple had already raised his arm, pointing down the steps:
"Sect Leader Xu, please don't make things difficult for us."
"These are the rules of the Returning Balance Academy."
"... OK."
Xu Huaichuan took a deep breath and could only awkwardly step back down the stairs.
He was, after all, the head of a sect.
I brought a gift today, but they couldn't even send someone in to deliver a message!
But this was, after all Returning Balance Academy, so he could only suppress his displeasure.
Just as he was about to leave.
Alas!!
A sudden, fierce gust of wind swept in from high above!
Xu Huaichuan subconsciously looked up, and his pupils contracted slightly!
Suddenly, a large swath of clear light spread out in the sky!
A huge and ancient sky-blue Treasure Ship broke through the void and landed directly outside the Returning Balance Academy!
The ship's Dao Patterns, and celestial light flows endlessly around it.
The originally spacious open space Mountain Gate seemed somewhat cramped in comparison to this Treasure Ship!
"This is... the Treasure Ship of the Supreme Clarity Palace?!"
One of the gatekeepers couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Coming from a prestigious sect like Returning Balance, they naturally recognized this unique type of Treasure Ship.
Within the Supreme Clarity Palace, only those at the level of True Person or Palace Heir are qualified to command it!
"... Go and report this immediately!"
The expression on the face of the leading gatekeeper immediately became quite interesting.
He hurriedly sent a fellow disciple to announce his arrival, while he straightened his robes and led the rest of the group down the steps to greet the Treasure Ship.
Xu Huaichuan took in this scene and was momentarily speechless.
Didn't they say that we can't receive guests without receiving a notification?
But the next moment...
He couldn't think about any of that anymore.
Buzz!
The Treasure Ship's gates slowly opened.
A young man dressed in a blue Palace Heir Robe stepped out from there.
Her black hair danced wildly in the wind, and her Golden Eyes calmly gazed downwards.
Just by standing there casually, the overwhelming divine power emanating from him made everyone's breath catch in their throats!
The feeling was exactly like facing a Fortune-Mastery True Cultivator!
And behind the youth.
Also following them was a woman with a cool and aloof appearance and a tall figure.
She also possessed a profound aura, and her outstanding appearance made her seem familiar.
At this moment, however, the woman followed behind the young man with her head down and eyes downcast, showing no intention of walking alongside him!
"This is..."
Xu Huaichuan examined it carefully and was startled.
An Ziqing, Palace Heir of An Ziqing Cold Purity Palace?!
The person in front of her...
Upon thinking of this, almost simultaneously, a name came to mind for everyone!
The strongest Palace Heir in the history of the Supreme Clarity Palace!
That [Yama in Azure Robes] who's been getting all the news, even in the Dao Gazette of the Green Luo Continent!
Ye Li!
Why is he here?!
The lead gatekeeper's heart pounded, and he quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"May I ask, is it Palace Heir Ye of the Supreme Clarity Palace in person?"
"Um."
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, the disciple quickly stepped aside to make way for him and politely said:
"Your Palace Heir has come in person; I have failed to greet you properly!"
"Please wait a moment. Our people have gone to the hospital to inform them, and someone will be here to fetch you soon!"
An Ziqing glanced at him and said coldly:
Go quickly.
"Yes!"
Returning Balance Academy is located within a courtyard.
In the spacious schoolroom.
A woman dressed in a plain white robe sat at the head of the table, leading her many disciples in reciting the incantation.
The woman had well-defined features and was quite beautiful.
It was Song Zhiyi, the Senior Disciple Sister of the Returning Balance Academy.
She would pause briefly after reading each section, pointing out a few places where mistakes were easily made.
The disciples in the hall listened attentively, and mindful of the imposing presence of the person before them, many dared not make a loud sound as they turned the pages of their books.
At this moment, a disciple hurriedly came to the door, bowed, and said:
"Senior Disciple Sister Song, someone has come to visit from outside the courtyard!"
The recitation then stopped.
Song Zhiyi raised her eyes and asked with some displeasure:
Do you have an appointment?
"... No."
"Then what brings you here?"
Song Zhiyi raised her eyebrows and said in a deep voice:
Do I need to teach you the rules of the Returning Balance Academy again?
"Those without appointments, get them out!"
"This..."
The disciple looked troubled, but stood still without moving.
Seeing this, Song Zhiyi suddenly realized that something was wrong.
The disciples on duty at the gate weren't doing this for the first time.
Why should ordinary visitors make a special trip to interrupt my sermon?
She immediately stood up and pressed for an answer:
Who is this person?
The disciple's throat bobbed, and he said with some difficulty:
"It's that Ye Li from the Cold Sea Continent... the Supreme Clarity Palace Son!"
"... Ye Li?"
Song Zhiyi's breath hitched.
She glanced at the disciple, then turned to the crowd in the hall and said:
That's all for today.
"Please try to figure this out yourselves first. I'll be right back!"
The words had been spoken.
Amidst the astonished and bewildered gazes of her many disciples, she quickly rose and left the school!
All that remained was an uproar inside the hall!