"Even if Su Xiuyi has that person's bloodline, so what?"
"He's already in the Myriad Text Academy. Have you ever seen anyone come out of there alive? His cultivation has been crippled. Even if Su Xiuyi is an unparalleled genius, what can he do without cultivation resources? If he really does have that person's bloodline, wouldn't it be better to let him slowly die of old age? If we tamper with anything and His Majesty regrets it one day, we'll die too for having laid a hand on Su Xiuyi. Don't you know that serving a ruler is like keeping company with a tiger?"
Seeing the vicious look in Ji Zhan's eyes, a chill also appeared in the old man's gaze.
"Phew!"
"Elder Zhou, I was rash. Your reprimand was well deserved!"
After hearing the old man's words, Ji Zhan was instantly drenched in sweat. He could feel that the back of his shirt was soaked through.
"Good that you understand. What we need to investigate now is who exactly is lurking in the academy, and whether he has a purpose in hiding here or simply doesn't want to be disturbed by the mortal world. If he's the one with that person's bloodline, we'll have to be careful. In that case, we have even less reason to touch Su Xiuyi."
"Do you think you understand the imperial court?"
"Wrong. It looks as though countless people are pressuring Su Xiuyi and demanding his life, but is that really the case?"
"How did Wang Lin, all the way in Southern Heaven City, learn that Su Xiuyi had let the Demon Race's saintess go? How did he penetrate deep into the Demon Domain in the shortest time, risk his life to slay a great demon, and return alive? Do you think everyone wants Su Xiuyi dead?"
"On the surface, no one wants Su Xiuyi to live, but who knows? That person back then had unparalleled talent and suppressed three whole generations of the imperial clan. The Demon Domain submitted, countless heavenly geniuses followed him, and countless great scholars died for him. And did he really die?"
As the old man's voice fell, his figure slowly melted into the shadows.
"Huff, huff, huff!"
Ji Zhan stood where he was, now drenched from head to toe and breathing heavily, his eyes filled with terror.
He took a long look at the Myriad Text Academy, towering waves surging through his heart.
That's right. Why was Wang Lin able to penetrate deep into Demon Race territory at the first opportunity, slay a great demon, and save Su Xiuyi's life? Why was he so timely?
Whether it's true or false, Su Xiuyi really can't be touched. If his identity is real, what if His Majesty regrets it later? If it's false, then he's a stand-in. What would happen if the real one appeared?
Ji Zhan murmured to himself, reached up to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead, and cast a wary glance at the courtyard before turning to leave.
Inside the Myriad Text Academy, Su Xiuyi cultivated with his eyes closed, paying no heed to the world outside as he devoted himself to cultivating the Undying Heavenly Scripture.
Night passed and dawn broke. In the Southern Heaven Academy, Tiezhu slowly woke up.
"Dad!"
Eight-year-old Tie Ling was beside Tiezhu, crying like a pear blossom drenched in rain.
"Little Bell, why are you crying? Didn't your dad survive?" Tiezhu forced a smile.
"Dad, they said you're crippled and don't have many years left to live!"
Hearing Tiezhu's words, Little Bell cried even harder.
"Don't I still have a few years to live?"
Tiezhu raised a hand and stroked his daughter's face.
"Tiezhu, we'll take care of everything for you from now on. If not for you, our academy might have suffered a terrible calamity. Your self-detonation robbed that strand of the Blood Barbarian Demon Soul's divided soul of its chance and exposed its whereabouts. You're a benefactor of the Southern Field Academy." Inside the room, countless elders looked at Tiezhu with gratitude and respect.
The calamity had passed, and the people from the Heaven Patrol Pavilion had arrived and uncovered the whole sequence of events. Tiezhu, once a nobody in the academy, had become the benefactor of everyone there.
"Tiezhu, don't worry!"
"I'll personally take care of your daughter from now on. I've decided to take her as my personal disciple!" Ji Zhan walked in at that moment and made the promise as he looked at Tiezhu.
"Chancellor, you..."
Hearing Ji Zhan's words, Tiezhu wanted to refuse.
"Lie still. Trust me, I'll teach your daughter well," Ji Zhan said with a smile.
"Then... thank you, Chancellor." Tiezhu reached out and stroked Little Bell's head.
Although Su Xiuyi had countless methods at his disposal, there was ultimately nothing he could do about Tiezhu's injuries. He could only give Tiezhu a pill to keep him alive for a few years.
"Little Bell, pay your respects to the chancellor," Tiezhu said with a smile.
"No, I don't want to! I only want Dad, and Grandpa Su!"
Tie Ling clutched Tiezhu's robe tightly.
"Chancellor, how about this? I can still live for a few years. Let Little Bell stay with me for those years," Tiezhu said, reluctant to part with her.
"All right."
"Little Bell, go outside for now. Your master wants to speak with your father!" Ji Zhan turned his gaze to Tie Ling. Hearing that Ji Zhan had agreed to let her stay by her father's side, Tie Ling was reluctant to leave, but she sensibly nodded and walked out of the room.
Ji Zhan looked at Tiezhu, a grave expression appearing in his eyes. "Tiezhu, do you remember who saved you when you detonated yourself?"
"No. At the time, I felt an evil presence taking over my body and guessed it might be the Blood Barbarian Demon Soul, so I detonated myself. Trading my one life for countless others was worth it. There was no one beside me then," Tiezhu said, looking at Ji Zhan in puzzlement.
"Well done. You're a benefactor of the Southern Heaven Academy. Focus on recovering! It was that person who saved you. I really would like to meet that mysterious fellow." After hearing Tiezhu's words, Ji Zhan smiled and asked no more questions.
"Thank you, Chancellor. I'm sorry to trouble you with Tie Ling from now on!" Tiezhu said pleadingly.
"Don't worry. I'll teach Tie Ling as if she were my own daughter, and no one in the academy will cause her the slightest grievance!" the chancellor promised again before walking out of the room.
It seems Tiezhu really doesn't know. Otherwise, with my cultivation, I would certainly have sensed it if he were lying!
What a pity. I'm afraid Tiezhu doesn't even know he has Divine Phoenix Blood in him!
Divine Phoenix Blood... who can obtain it?
Ji Zhan stood outside, pondering.
A month later, beneath the altar in the Myriad Text Academy, a Will Character, "Cleanse," appeared beside Su Xiuyi, who had remained motionless all this time. The next moment, all the dust on his body vanished, and he slowly opened his eyes.
I can't continue opening apertures. Absorbing too much essence blood will affect my foundation. Now that my body is several times stronger, I wonder how far I can go into the battlefield?
A smile appeared on Su Xiuyi's lips.
He walked toward the depths of the Myriad Text Academy, looking at the broken walls and ruins with great anticipation.
The power of the curse here had long since ceased to affect him. The only thing holding him back was the terrifying power of the rules. After cultivating the Undying Heavenly Scripture, Su Xiuyi found it much easier than before, and it did not take him long to reach an almost intact library building amid the ruins.
Sage Study?
Looking at the two characters on the library building, Su Xiuyi's eyes filled with respect, and he bowed to it.
"This location is available for check-in. Would the host like to check in?"
The system's voice sounded in Su Xiuyi's mind.
"Check in!"
Su Xiuyi spoke with great anticipation. This was a place where a sage had cultivated, so how could he not check in?
"Check-in successful. Congratulations, host, on obtaining the King of Myriad Characters, 'Dao.'"
I rested too long. The next chapter will be out around midnight. Masters with recommendation tickets, please show some support!
(End of chapter)