Seeing the five statues shatter, Yang Xuan himself was completely stunned.
What on earth?
The statues just broke?
While everyone stood bewildered, a figure in divine robes suddenly swept into the hall. When he saw the five destroyed statues, his pupils contracted sharply, his face filled with shock.
The statues were broken?
The robed elder stared at the fragments scattered across the floor, disbelief written all over his face. For a moment he did not know what to do.
Soon more elders from the Academy of the Gods entered. Upon seeing the shards of the statues, every one of them stood slack-jawed.
How could the statues possibly break?
Beyond shock, they were deeply puzzled.
At that moment the leading elder, who held a black staff, spoke in a grave voice. “What happened here?”
The other elders remained silent. They wanted to know the same thing.
The group of students also looked terrified and did not dare speak. They were just as confused.
The leading elder slowly turned to the students nearby, his gaze dark.
The rest of the elders likewise turned to look at Yang Xuan and the others.
Seeing so many elders staring at them, the students paled and grew nervous.
The leading elder fixed his piercing gaze upon them as though trying to see into their souls. “Do any of you know what happened?”
All the students hastily shook their heads.
The leading elder frowned. At that point a white-robed elder beside him said gravely, “Grand Elder, these are only preliminary Inner Court candidates. They cannot know anything. Moreover, the statues are protected by divine power. It is not something they could destroy.”
The other elders nodded in agreement.
These young candidates would never have the courage, nor the ability, to damage the statues.
After a long silence the Grand Elder glanced at the anxious students, waved his hand, and said, “All of you may leave.”
Hearing this, the students sighed in relief and quickly withdrew.
Yang Xuan glanced once at the broken statues on the floor, then left as well.
Inside the hall.
The Grand Elder turned back to the shattered statues, brows tightly knitted. How could the statues have broken?
The white-robed elder spoke gravely. “This matter is rather strange…”
The Grand Elder said, “When statues of the gods break, it is either the work of human hands or an ill omen…”
An ill omen!
At those words every elder present started.
One of them suddenly said, “I have heard that our Temple of the Gods is currently at war with the Guanxuan Cosmos. Could this be related to the Guanxuan Cosmos?”
Guanxuan Cosmos!
Many in the Xuan Realm might not know this name, but these elders certainly did. Within the Long River of Time, the Temple of the Gods was locked in battle with that terrifying power, and at present the situation did not look favourable for the Temple.
The Grand Elder said darkly, “Could the enemy have infiltrated us?”
The elders were all startled at the thought.
Infiltration?
The Grand Elder shook his head. “Regardless, from this moment on we must be more cautious.”
He glanced around, then ordered, “Rebuild the statues and station divine guardians here.”
The elders bowed and withdrew.
Outside the hall.
Yang Xuan and the others waited quietly.
The students were all somewhat uneasy. They had come bearing the hopes of their respective clans. If they were not chosen and were eliminated, it would be a tremendous blow not only to themselves but to their families as well.
Yang Xuan, however, felt no anxiety. He did not place particular importance on becoming an Inner Court disciple.
What he found curious was why the statues had suddenly shattered.
It was abnormal.
Yet he could not figure it out.
At that moment an elder walked up to the group, looked them over, and said, “Do not be nervous. The matter of the statues has nothing to do with any of you.”
The students immediately relaxed.
The elder continued, “For now, all of you report to the Outer Court.”
Outer Court!
Hearing this, disappointment flashed in every student’s eyes. They had originally hoped to enter the Inner Court directly.
Still, it was not too bad. At least they could remain in the Academy of the Gods, and as long as they stayed, there would be future chances to reach the Inner Court.
The students bowed slightly and turned to leave for the Outer Court.
On the way.
A youth beside Yang Xuan suddenly asked, “Brother, how may I address you?”
Yang Xuan glanced at him. “Yang Xuan.”
The youth smiled. “Brother Yang, pleased to meet you. I am Xiao Han from Northern Province.”
Yang Xuan gave a small smile. “Likewise.”
Xiao Han sighed softly. “I thought we would enter the Inner Court directly. Who would have thought something like this would happen…”
He looked puzzled. “Brother Yang, why do you think the statues suddenly shattered?”
Yang Xuan shook his head. “I do not know.”
Xiao Han murmured, “It really is very strange.”
Yang Xuan only smiled and said nothing.
Xiao Han suddenly looked at him. “Brother Yang, your name is Yang Xuan?”
Yang Xuan nodded. “Yes. Why?”
Xiao Han’s brows creased. “The name sounds familiar.”
Yang Xuan looked at him, puzzled. “Familiar?”
Xiao Han nodded. “Yes.”
Yang Xuan was about to speak when they arrived before a grand hall. An Outer Court elder appeared, glanced at the group, and said, “From this moment on, you are Outer Court disciples of the Academy of the Gods. Once inside the academy you must obey the rules and never violate academy regulations.”
With a flick of his sleeve a wooden token appeared before each person.
The elder said calmly, “These are your student tokens. They also serve as proof of your identity.”
The students quickly put away their tokens.
After explaining a few more matters, the elder led Yang Xuan and the others to the Outer Court residences.
Outer Court Peak.
This was where Outer Court disciples lived. There were over a thousand individual courtyards.
It had to be said, the Academy of the Gods treated its students very well.
After checking in, Yang Xuan left Outer Court Peak and headed straight for the Scripture Library.
The Scripture Library was the academy’s library, housing countless ancient texts.
Since it contained no cultivation methods, martial techniques, or divine arts, anyone could enter freely without charge.
When Yang Xuan stepped inside, he found the place completely empty and quiet.
He smiled faintly. This was exactly what he liked.
He enjoyed such silence.
Yang Xuan walked to a corner by the window, opened his palm, and an ancient divine record flew into his hand. The moment he opened it, the contents turned into streams of information that poured into his mind.
For the days that followed, Yang Xuan spent almost all his time reading in the Scripture Library.
He preferred reading to cultivation.
As for cultivation…
He had always felt it was extremely simple. Up to now he had hardly cultivated at all. Some things he mastered simply by seeing them once, and became proficient with a single attempt.
…
The Ye Clan.
On this day a man arrived at the Ye Clan. He appeared to be in his twenties, wore white robes, and held a folding fan. Though a faint smile played on his lips, an invisible aura of superiority radiated from him.
Behind him followed an elder in loose black robes, face expressionless like a corpse.
With their arrival the entire Ye Clan turned out to welcome them.
For this white-robed man was Huang Min, the young clan leader of the Huang Clan from the Realm of the Gods.
The Huang Clan was a super-clan in the Realm of the Gods, far beyond anything the Ye Clan could compare to. Moreover, rumour had it that the Huang Clan held important positions within the Temple of the Gods.
Huang Min ignored the gathered Ye clansmen and walked straight into the main hall, seating himself in the host’s seat.
Seeing this, the faces of the Ye clansmen darkened.
The visitor had come with ill intent.
Huang Min swept his gaze across them and said, “Previously an ancestor of the Ye Clan promised the Huang Clan a marriage alliance. Today I have come to take Miss Ye Qing’er away.”
At those words everyone’s expressions turned ugly. He really had come with hostile intentions.
The beautiful Ye Clan patriarch spoke gravely, “Young Master Huang, to be honest, Qing’er was betrothed in childhood.”
Huang Min nodded slightly. “I am aware… Yet why has the Yang Clan not come to cancel the engagement? Are they truly so lacking in manners?”
The Ye clansmen did not dare reply.
Huang Min suddenly stood. “Then I shall pay a visit to the Yang Clan.”
At that moment an elder of the Ye Clan said, “Young Master Huang, the Yang Xuan who is engaged to the young miss is currently at the Academy of the Gods.”
“Is that so?”
Huang Min said calmly, “Perfect. That saves me a trip. I will visit the Academy of the Gods.”
With that he turned and left.
Seeing this, the expressions of the Ye experts grew even heavier.
Once Huang Min and his companion had gone, one elder suddenly said, “I actually think a marriage alliance with the Huang Clan would be excellent. If we succeed, the status of our Ye Clan would rise dramatically.”
The beautiful patriarch shook her head. “Qing’er will never agree.”
The elder said gravely, “Patriarch, forgive my bluntness, but you have spoiled her too much. As a member of the Ye Clan, one should place the clan first and personal feelings second.”
The Grand Elder glanced coldly at the speaker. “Elder Mu, you are quite right. Therefore, when Ye Qing’er returns, you may personally discipline her.”
Elder Mu’s face changed at once. He refused outright. “I will not.”
Discipline Ye Qing’er?
She had even killed an ancestor!
Who would dare discipline her unless they were tired of living?
The Grand Elder said gravely, “Ye Qing’er has her own mind, and that Young Master Yang is no pushover either. Let them handle it themselves.”
The beautiful patriarch nodded. “This matter can only be settled by them.”
She gave a helpless sigh.
…
Academy of the Gods.
Yang Xuan continued reading. Since arriving he had spent every day immersed in books.
He was extremely interested in the history of the Temple of the Gods.
The only regret was that the library contained no divine arts. He was rather curious about the legendary divine arts. He wanted to see whether those divine arts were stronger, or whether the fragmentary cultivation methods in his mind were superior.
If the methods in his mind proved stronger, then his own identity would become rather intriguing.
He had long suspected that he might once have been some supreme powerhouse. Otherwise the scattered memories in his head could not be explained.
Of course, it was only suspicion. There was no proof.
After a while Yang Xuan set down the ancient text, turned to look out the window. Dusk was falling; the last rays of sunset were fading.
He put the book away and stood to leave.
Time to eat.
Although he was a cultivator, he had not yet reached the stage where he could survive without food. Three meals a day were still necessary.
Yang Xuan walked towards the canteen. He had not gone far when a man suddenly blocked his path. The man wore luxurious robes with a wooden token on his left chest.
Yang Xuan recognised it. That was an Inner Court disciple token.
The man looked Yang Xuan up and down. “You are Yang Xuan?”
Yang Xuan nodded slightly. “And you are?”
The man smiled. “Chen Qing of the Inner Court.”
Yang Xuan remained silent. He did not know the name.
Chen Qing stared at him. “I hear you are engaged to Miss Ye Qing’er of the Ye Clan?”
Yang Xuan nodded. “Yes.”
Chen Qing gave a light laugh. “Yang Xuan, forgive my frankness, but you are not worthy of Miss Ye Qing’er.”
Yang Xuan replied calmly, “Oh.”
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Chen Qing’s brows knitted. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Yang Xuan looked at him. “Do you have business with me?”
Chen Qing’s gaze grew oppressive. “I hope you will dissolve your engagement with Miss Ye Qing’er.”
Yang Xuan remained composed. “Is this your own idea, or someone else’s?”
Chen Qing laughed softly. “Have you heard of the Huang Clan?”
Yang Xuan frowned. He had heard the Ye Clan mention the Huang Clan earlier. He had thought it would be trouble, but he had not expected trouble to arrive so quickly.
Seeing Yang Xuan frown, Chen Qing assumed he had never heard of them and could not help smiling. “That makes sense. With your strength and background it would be normal not to know of the Huang Clan.”
Yang Xuan suddenly asked, “Brother Chen, do we have any grudge between us?”
Chen Qing paused, then laughed, and said, “No grudge at all.”
Yang Xuan looked puzzled. “Then, having no grudge, why do you target me?”
Chen Qing stared at him, the smile gradually fading from his face. Just then Yang Xuan continued, “I understand. You wish to curry favour with the Huang Clan… Forgive my bluntness, but why, instead of being your own man, do you choose to be someone else’s dog?”
“Insolence!”
Chen Qing flew into a rage. Terrifying pressure instantly enveloped Yang Xuan. “How dare you insult me? I’ll kill you…”
He moved to strike, but at that instant Yang Xuan flicked his thumb against his sword hilt.
Schlick!
Before Chen Qing could react, his head flew several zhang away.
Everyone around them froze.
Yang Xuan looked at the rolling head, silent for a moment, then said, “I actually didn’t intend to kill you… I just didn’t expect you to be so weak that you couldn’t even block a single strike…”
With that he silently took Chen Qing’s storage ring…
Chen Qing: “…”
Everyone present: “…”
Murder and robbery!
All the Outer Court disciples present were dumbfounded.
They had never imagined that Yang Xuan would dare kill an Inner Court disciple. And more importantly, that he could.
Inner Court disciples were far stronger than Outer Court ones. The resources they received were on a completely different level.
Yet Chen Qing had not withstood even one strike.
Simply absurd!
At that moment Xiao Han hurried over to Yang Xuan, voice trembling. “Brother Yang, how could you kill someone?”
Yang Xuan replied calmly, “He came looking for trouble.”
Xiao Han gave a bitter laugh. “Chen Qing was an outstanding Inner Court disciple. Not only is his talent monstrous, but the Chen family has a mentor in the Inner Court as well… Even if he provoked you, you could have endured it. Now that you’ve killed him, you’ve brought down calamity upon yourself. You’ve offended both the Chen family and his mentor… Aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid?”
Yang Xuan smiled faintly. “In this lifetime, offending a few people and making a few mistakes is not frightening. What is frightening is living in constant compromise, walking on eggshells, shrinking from everything, losing one’s spirit…”
He raised his head to gaze into the distance and said softly, “In this world, often the kinder a person is, the worse their life becomes. Therefore… one must be a little ruthless.”
…
