Xiao Yi Xian: It Really Was True

"No, impossible!"

"How could the declining Ye Clan have a genius like that?"

Qiu Tao could not believe he had been outdone-and by several streets at that. He stood rooted to the spot in a daze.

Seeing this, Mu Feng spoke up. "Disciples taking the assessment, please continue."

"There was one thing this elder forgot to mention earlier. If you pass the white and black Mysterious Heaven Jade Token assessments and then change your mind about studying at Jia Nan Academy, you may do so."

"But if you receive excellent ratings from both the white and black jade tokens and then pass the golden Mysterious Heaven Jade Token assessment, you must study at Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy."

"If you aren't certain whether you want to study at Jia Nan Academy, don't accept the golden jade token just yet."

Mu Feng had not forgotten at all; he simply had not thought it necessary to mention.

To take the golden Mysterious Heaven Jade Token assessment, one first had to earn excellent ratings in both the black and white jade token tests. Few students in the past had achieved that.

Students with two excellent ratings generally received either a good or passing rating in the golden jade token test, earning High Xuan Tier or Intermediate Xuan Tier Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills, respectively.

Anyone who earned an excellent rating could obtain Earth Tier Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills or a secret art. As for what tier of Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills a superior rating would earn, even Mu Feng did not know.

After receiving such rewards, surely the students taking the assessment would not turn down the chance to study at Jia Nan Academy.

But these Qiu Family disciples were exceptions. Mu Feng was no fool; he could see why they had come to Ye City for the assessment.

Qiu Tao might choose not to study at Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, so Mu Feng needed to make the unpleasant terms clear beforehand.

"Damn it." Qiu Tao clenched his fists.

He had come to Ye City to take Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy special recruitment assessment on a mission from his family, intending to suppress the younger generation of the Ye Clan.

Once he completed that task, he had no plans to go cultivate at Jia Nan Academy.

But now that Ye Qingzhou had appeared as an unpredictable factor, he might have to change his plans.

Sure enough, the next moment, he heard Qiu Tian's voice transmission. "Continue the assessment. You must go to Jia Nan Academy. As long as you handle the matter well, the family will send you more resources."

Qiu Tian did not spell out what handling the matter well meant, but Qiu Tao understood.

It meant finding a chance to kill Ye Qingzhou.

"I'll continue the assessment."

Qiu Tao knew he was in no position to refuse, and he had no intention of refusing either.

He would strangle Ye Qingzhou with his own hands. Doing better in the three Mysterious Heaven Jade Token assessments did not mean Ye Qingzhou was stronger than him.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingzhou brought Ye Xinlan back to the Ye Clan. As soon as he stepped through the gates, he received a voice transmission from Ye Zhong, telling him to go to the council hall.

"Granduncle, clan head, Second Elder, Third Elder, Fourth Elder." Ye Qingzhou bowed to the four people present.

The Ye Clan had far more high-ranking members than these, but only these five knew the truth about Ye Qingzhou's treatment in the clan and his talent. There were no outsiders present.

"Qingzhou," Ye Zhengqing said, his face stern and his tone serious. "You stood up for the younger generation and won back face for our Ye Clan. Very good."

"But you didn't hide your abilities during the assessment. You let your edge shine for all to see, and that was very bad."

"The Qiu Family, and even factions like the Bai Family and Cao Family, will certainly set their sights on you."

"Clan head, I didn't expect the assessment to be so simple. I actually managed to get a superior rating." Ye Qingzhou gave a helpless smile.

Ye Zhong and the other four: "..."

"As for threats from outside factions, I don't think they'll be a problem. Once I go to study at Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, those factions won't be able to reach me for the time being." Ye Qingzhou continued, "When I reach the Inner Academy, I'll receive nearly two thousand Fire Energy points. As soon as I enter Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, I'll go cultivate in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, leaving outsiders no chance to strike."

Hearing this, Ye Zhengqing frowned even more deeply. "Qingzhou, what I mean is that you'd be better off staying in the clan. We'll spare no effort to nurture and protect you, helping you raise your cultivation to the Dou Emperor level and your alchemy to the seventh tier."

"But I've already passed the golden Mysterious Heaven Jade Token test. It wouldn't be right to go back on my word now." Ye Qingzhou put it another way.

"We all know what the golden jade token test is," Ye Zhengqing said. "Whatever Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills you received, we can simply compensate Jia Nan Academy for them."

"Well..." Ye Qingzhou looked at Ye Zhong and sent him a soul transmission. "Granduncle, I received an Intermediate Di Tier Dou Technique."

Ye Zhong: ?

"The creator of this Dou Technique seems to be connected to an Emperor Clan called the Lei Clan."

Ye Zhong: ??

"This Mysterious Heaven Jade Token belongs to Jia Nan Academy's chief dean. I met him in the assessment space, and I had the feeling his bearing was no less impressive than that of the Pill Tower's Three Giants."

Ye Zhong: ???

"Qingzhou, there's no need to hesitate." Seeing Ye Qingzhou looking as though he wanted to speak but had stopped himself, Ye Zhengqing said magnanimously, "Our Ye Clan can easily afford this little reward Jia Nan Academy gave you..."

"Shut up." Before Ye Zhengqing could finish, Ye Zhong cut him off. "The people of our Ye Clan keep their word," he said sternly. "Qingzhou accepted benefits from Jia Nan Academy, so it's only right that he spend two years there as a student."

"Qingzhou is right as well. Going to study at Jia Nan Academy will put him beyond the reach of the Qiu Family and the other factions. It may be safer, and he'll also get to meet geniuses from all over the continent."

"You can't train a thousand-li horse in a courtyard. If Qingzhou is to grow, he should go out and gain experience."

Ye Zhengqing and the other three: ??

That wasn't what he'd said earlier.

So he had tricked them into playing the bad guys while he played the good guy.

"All right, that's settled." Ye Zhong waved a hand and gave Ye Qingzhou a kindly smile. "Go on back. Your granduncle will discuss with them how many resources to prepare for you to take along."

"Yes, Granduncle." Ye Qingzhou bowed and left.

Once he returned to the little courtyard where he lived, he threw himself straight into cultivation.

Bite off more than you can chew, and you won't digest it. There was no rush to practice the Intermediate Di Tier Dou Technique; he would master his several Low Earth Tier Dou Techniques first.

Meanwhile, in the Myriad Medicine Pavilion in Qingshan Town, Jia Ma Empire, on the Northwest Continent.

Xiao Yi Xian had arrived a little earlier than usual that day to examine and treat patients.

As afternoon approached, she finally saw a young man carrying a heavy ruler on his back enter the shop.

That heavy ruler was so distinctive that it drew attention at a glance.

"He's here." Xiao Yi Xian's hand trembled.

What was written in the diary really was true.

A black-clad youth carrying a heavy ruler on his back had entered the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

Next, he should discover the Blood Lotus Essence mixed in with the Yellow Essence Lotus and snag it for a few thousand gold coins.

"Ahem, sorry to trouble you, but could you take this out for me?"

The black-clad youth had made his way around most of the shop when he suddenly stopped in front of a counter and pointed at a pale yellow object in a corner.

The male clerk in charge of sales thought he had a customer, and a smile immediately appeared on his face. But when he saw what the black-clad youth wanted to buy, his interest instantly vanished. He said casually, "Yellow Essence Lotus, a low-grade medicinal ingredient. One hundred gold coins."

The youth paid no attention to the clerk's attitude and asked to examine the Yellow Essence Lotus.

A few breaths later, he suddenly spoke. "May I ask if you have any more Yellow Essence Lotus here? I'd like to buy them in bulk."

Xiao Yi Xian: Just as the diary said, word for word.

It really was true!