June 7, 2018

"...So, reluctantly, I came here to report."

At the entrance of Cyan Lotus Academy, Xiao Bai spread her hands innocently, showing the academy’s gatekeepers she was harmless.

Although she was quite old in reality, years of staying indoors slowed her metabolism, combined with successful Immortal Cultivation, she still looked like a young woman in her early twenties, paired with an innocent smile and a white dress, she indeed had a touch of pure maiden aura.

However, although the scholars of the academy sometimes have pedantic tendencies and scholarly boldness, none of them are foolish idiots, they certainly know a truth: in this world, those who inexplicably display harmlessness are often extremely vicious beasts!

As for this Xiao Bai from Wuxiang Sword Academy, she was a primordial species among the beasts!

Before this, the reputation of this academy Elder Sword Venerable was not so big in the academy, after all, she scarcely ventured out, usually only occasionally tormenting the nerves of her fellow senior brothers and sisters, not often going outside to stir trouble. But after yesterday’s sword fighting tournament, Xiao Bai’s notoriety spread throughout the academy.

In front of countless people, tormenting the nerves of the academy’s dean with glee, probably only Xiao Bai can be found doing this across the Xiangzhou Continent. Facing the head of the Three Academies, even the Sect Leader of Saint Sect would show respect, yet Xiao Bai knows nothing of decorum, unruly to the point of surpassing even City Lord Golden Jade... but such an arrogant and domineering person always ends up making the academy dean swallow his anger, what has she got up her sleeve?

Moreover, her battle with Wang Jiu also opened many people’s eyes, although Wang Jiu was the ultimate winner, his way of winning was so imaginative and unpredictable, leaving one baffled, only seeing the result while the process is bewildering. In comparison, what truly shocked the academy’s scholars was Xiao Bai’s Lifeless Sword Manual.

The sword manual is undoubtedly a miracle beyond its time, anyone with a discerning eye would marvel at the divine techniques it embodies, especially those hot on theoretical research in the academy, who are eager to seize the sword manual for careful study. And Xiao Bai, who crafted the Lifeless Sword Manual, how formidable is she?

The scholars’ minds were quick, and in a moment, the gatekeeper cultivator figured out all the intricacies, decisively making his choice.

Sound the alarm to warn the higher-ups of the enemy invasion!

Xiao Bai was both shocked and angry, the academy people claimed they had intellectual advantages, was all this advantage used for fake advertising? Is this how you treat guests?

"Who is the enemy!? Are you blind!? Are there such beautiful enemies!?"

The gatekeeper recalled a certain City Lord Golden Jade who had lingered in the academy recently, resolutely nodded and even mustered the courage to add, "The prettier, the more vigilant you must be!"

Such words might make other women somewhat pleased even in their anger, after all, girls always like being praised for their looks.

But Xiao Bai wasn’t even a bit delighted, having a disposition that hardly cared about her looks, age was merely a convenient excuse when in a temper. Her dressing up was simply to easily enter the academy gates – she had heard the academy people were all bachelors par excellence, and for these aging bachelors, a little grooming could easily daze them... but today it proved their reputation wasn’t undeserved, these bachelors have reasons for their long singleness, only her set of costly cosmetics are wasted!

With a belly full of resentment, Xiao Bai abandoned her prior girlish pose, face stiffened, handed over a letter of introduction and said, "I am a student representing the Sword Academy to study."

The academy’s gatekeeper cultivator was left speechless, "Student?"

Xiao Bai said coldly, "Yes, the two academy heads agreed yesterday to promote exchanges between the academies, especially with recent breakthroughs in various studies at the academy, the Sword Academy needs to send people to learn more, so here I am!"

The gatekeeper scholar happened to be present at the site yesterday, he certainly heard Wang Jiu and Wang Xiao’s conversation, the problem is...

No one expected your Sword Academy to send someone so quickly! Both sides only made a verbal agreement, today you’ve sent someone over, faster than ordinary business services! What’s more, no one thought the Sword Academy would send someone like you! Initially, it was set for enhancing communication and mutual improvement, but now it seems more like Sword Academy dumping its burden! Verbally saying to send students for exchange, but your students... at such an age!?

For a moment, the gatekeeper scholar couldn’t think of anything else, only instinctively felt this student came absolutely wrong, and the primary suspicion... was age! Academic exchanges from both places usually involve sending scholarly top-notch masters for cutting-edge technology exchange, or some young, promising, potential-filled cultivators for further studies. Xiao Bai had no significant achievements in the academic theory realm, and the Lifeless Sword Manual was muddled out by talent, so certainly doesn’t count as an academic master, as for young and promising, potential-filled...

The academy cultivators may indeed have intellectual advantages, but in some aspects are terrible deficiencies, his thoughts turned quickly, and his facial expressions kept changing, like some explicit language system revealing his inner thoughts completely.

Xiao Bai seethed, almost spitting fire, scolding, "Haven’t you heard ’learning while alive’!? I want to learn more, is that any of your business!? Moreover, my talent is extraordinary, the Sect Leader of Saint Sect acknowledges it, they’re talking about the number one genius of Xiangzhou being me. With my talents, I can continue progressing even in 50 more years, on the other hand, seeing you’re over forty, still here guarding, don’t you feel embarrassed!?"

The scholar was scolded into silence, not daring to retort, hurriedly reporting to higher-ups, wondering whether to allow this calamity entrance.

Moments later, academy dean Wang Jiu personally replied.

Of course, we have to let them in. The academic exchange between the two academies is a strategic plan jointly developed by the two deans under the Sect Leader’s witness. Now is the perfect time to take the first step. There’s no reason not to let the exchange students from the other side enter.

Upon receiving the dean’s order, the scholar guarding the gate instantly sighed in his heart, as the peaceful days of the academy are probably over—although, since the new dean took office, the academy has never been peaceful.

——

Wang Jiu was somewhat happy to see Xiao Bai again.

Undoubtedly, this woman he happened to meet in the Sword Academy had the highest talent of anyone he had encountered since waking up in Xiangzhou, even surpassing Zhao Chenlu. Although she wasted the first few decades of her life squandering her talents, she is still in her prime, so there’s still time to salvage her potential.

Expecting her to inherit the mantle of the Nameless Sword God and achieve unparalleled greatness on the Xiangzhou Continent is impossible. Even if Xiao Bai were to live her life over again, she could not replicate the Nameless Sword God’s miracles. But starting the rescue now isn’t too late.

Before he could even speak, Xiao Bai cheerfully said, "First, I won’t be anyone’s breeding pig. I refuse to be brainwashed by taking advantage of home court benefits, or I’ll get sterilized and we can go our separate ways."

Wang Jiu curiously asked, "Going our separate ways implies mutual loss of benefits. If you’re determined never to have children, what loss is there to you in sterilization?"

"..." Xiao Bai’s smile froze on her face, inwardly cursing, can’t you just play by the rules? Is there anyone who questions like this?

Wang Jiu didn’t continue on this topic, saying, "What’s the second point?"

"Second, I’m naturally lazy. While studying here, don’t bind me with conventional requirements. I’ll study whenever I want and go out whenever I please. The academy only needs to provide for my meals."

Someone beside them immediately couldn’t bear it.

Shen Qingming angrily said, "Are you here to study or vacation!? Is there any student as unruly as you?"

Xiao Bai replied, "My talent is exceptional. Of course, I can’t be like other students. To fully utilize my talent, I should be allowed to study freely. Those rigid educational methods are meaningless to me!"

"Your shameless talent is truly unrivaled!"

"You can’t discuss ice with a summer insect," Xiao Bai disdainfully said, "You don’t understand the world of geniuses."

Having heard such arguments many times before, Shen Qingming said, "No matter how talented, can anyone be more talented than Wang Jiu? You couldn’t even survive a single move from him, so how can you boast about being a genius?"

Xiao Bai replied, "We geniuses are talking; why do you like interrupting so much?"

"You barged in interrupting us first, okay!"

Wang Jiu then spoke up, "Indeed, for cultivators with exceptional talent, normal educational methods often yield twice the effort for half the result. If you want to develop freely, it’s not an issue. But in education and cultivation, there are only two approaches. One focuses on process, the other on results. Since you don’t care about the process, we will focus solely on results. During your studies at the academy, you’ll be assessed monthly. If you don’t meet the standards..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai already felt chills all over: "Wait, there’s assessments? Can’t geniuses just trust each other a little bit? Especially since Wang Xiao gave you several hundred thousand Spirit Stones yesterday. Don’t you know what that was for!?"

Shen Qingming coldly laughed: "Spending money to avert disaster, sending off the bad luck god, indeed several hundred thousand Spirit Stones just to send you away. Your talent is truly extraordinary."

Xiao Bai wasn’t ashamed at all, smiled and said, "Since you accepted the money, shouldn’t you have basic professional ethics? Isn’t several hundred thousand Spirit Stones enough to keep me here? Do you have to be this greedy!?"

Wang Jiu said, "I understand Dean Wang Xiao offered fifty-three thousand Spirit Stones, half of which is meant as your tuition for studying at the academy. So to honor Dean Wang Xiao’s earnest intention, I will definitely be strict about your education."

"It’s not sincerity; he’d spend another hundred thousand Spirit Stones just to kick me out of the Sword Academy! He doesn’t care if I succeed, because honestly, I absolutely won’t..."

Wang Jiu said, "Just recently, Dean Wang Xiao wrote to say he hopes the academy can cultivate you to success, that you shouldn’t return to the Sword Academy without achieving success, even willing to pay yearly tuition for it."

"...Is there such deep hatred?"