Chapter 395: Chapter 232: Qi Feng Forbidden Zone, Academy Betting!_2

This elixir named Calm Spirit Pill originates from Tao Xingzheng’s secret chamber collection. It is a Ninth Grade Elixir with pill pattern quality, rare in its ability to replenish spiritual power and have calming effects. At least for Su Mu, this is the first time he has encountered such a medicine with these effects.

At this moment, Su Mu is unaware that although this Calming Pill is not high in grade, it requires quite a few rare herbs to refine. It is a precious elixir used by Tao Xingzheng for his spirit secret technique cultivation. Even Tao Xingzheng wouldn’t dare squander it, using it sparingly in his daily life.

Now all these belong to Su Mu, and Su Mu understands that Tao Xingzheng implanted an imprint into his body right before dying, evidently making it convenient for the Tao Family to hunt him down.

Perhaps the Tao Family is already in pursuit, making its way. The imprint left within his body is undoubtedly a time bomb.

Now there is a complete solution, Su Mu spends the Calm Spirit Pill without a trace of regret. After restoring his mind again, he begins another attempt.

A few breaths later.

Blood splattered once more across the sky, Su Mu spit out several large mouthfuls of blood consecutively, yet his eyes become brighter, and his five fingers stretch out, the martial momentum shattered by a blade recondenses, seemingly more solid and slightly stronger than it was before.

"Indeed, it works... Moreover, in the clash with a strong martial momentum, I can temper my own fist momentum, hammered out from deep mountain, burning by fierce fire as if nothing of concern!"

Cultivating within the mountain without day nor night, time flows second by second in this white mist land under sharpness spanning the skies.

Today, down the mountain in Changfeng City, hunting edicts jointly issued by the Three County Government Offices and the Demon Slayer Bureau begin to be posted city-wide, launching Li Feiyu onto a first-grade wanted order not seen in the Three Counties for decades.

"Alas, Hero Li Fei is truly a pity... He is by no means a wicked person, it is unknown why this time he took action to kill County Magistrate Tao."

"Watch your words, watch your words!"

The citizens of Changfeng City mostly feel gratitude towards Li Fei, many voiced their lament, knowing that without Li Fei’s action to eliminate the Black Mountain Celestial King villainous figure, the Three Counties would probably see blood flow like rivers.

Recently, besides Li Fei’s first-grade wanted order and Three Counties hunting edict, another major event happened in Changfeng City.

In recent times, demon beasts in the Qifeng Mountain Range have been acting extraordinarily frequent, seemingly fleeing from something; after the Changfeng battle and strong figures being killed by the rebel army, it is difficult to digest all demon beasts internally.

Thus, the acting Changfeng County Magistrate, Changfeng Demon Slayer Director Xu Zhen issued a bounty for hunting demon beasts. Hunting these beasts not only earns a reward, but the government will also purchase the demon beast corpses.

For a time, Changfeng City is bustling, demon beasts are treasures all over, their blood, bones, tendons can all be refined into treasure artifacts, and medicine, even the demon beast meat is valuable.

Just as Tao Xingzheng said, the land of Qingyun Three Counties is but a tiny place in Qingzhou, with not many demon beasts in the Three Counties; these rare demon beast resources were originally mostly occupied by the rebel army, the rest were held by Changfeng Government Office, now released.

Not only gathered are the martial artists of Changfeng County, but also strong figures from Qingyun and Cang River Counties are gathering upon hearing the news.

Gathering in Changfeng City, martial artists need eating, drinking, clothing, lodging, and many hunted demon beasts flow into the black market, while Xu Zhen turns a blind eye, these series of changes invisibly foster the recovery of Changfeng County’s vitality after the battle, showing a scene of prosperity.

Regarding the current cause for demon beast activity in Qi Peak Mountain, opinions are divided, some say it’s related to the prior Black Mountain Rebel Army.

But the explanation most people accept is that quite a number of demon beasts originally inhabited the Qifeng Mountain Range, now with decades or centuries of reproduction, their numbers significantly increase; demon beasts possess strong territorial awareness, thus causing frequent activities.

The true reason, however, no one knows.

...

Thousands of miles away, Ancient Qingzhou.

Approaching the autumn imperial examination, a significant event occurred inside the ancient county, Qingzhou Academy opens its mountain gate to recruit disciples every five years, scheduled for a month after the autumn exams this year.

Qingzhou Academy boasts a legacy exceeding a millennium, holding a revered status not only in Qingzhou but across the Great Yan Dynasty, esteemed alongside Longfu Temple and Qingfeng Temple as ’One Academy, One Temple, One Observation’, and ranks among the top forces in Qingzhou with the Four Great Families of Liu, Yang, Li, and Zhong, together known as Three Gates and Four Families.

The Academy once had a plaque personally inscribed by the Grand Ancestor of Great Yan, not only an academic sanctuary for scholars in Qingzhou but also a holy land for Qingzhou Confucian cultivators.

Additionally, it is rumored that a few instructors from the inner academy plan to accept direct disciples this time.

Upon hearing the news, disciples from major clans around Qingzhou, and children of various forces are eagerly preparing to set off.

Donglai County Tao Mansion.

"Yuan’er." The middle-aged man gently taps the desk, "Depart for Ancient Qingzhou three days hence, should you gain admission as a direct disciple."

He pauses slightly, the tea cup turns an arc in his palm, "It will be a joyful occasion not only for you but also for our lineage."

The youth in his early twenties stands with head bowed, black hair bound with a jade crown shimmering in the candlelight: "I understand, father."

"Concerning your cousin Xingzheng’s matter, you need not worry, the Academy won’t take minor matters to heart, and it has nothing to do with you."

The man’s voice suddenly grows deeper.

"Rest assured, father." As Tao Yuan lifts his gaze, a fleeting hint of mockery flashes in his cold pool-like eyes, like a shadow passing swiftly, seemingly quite disdainful of his cousin.

Qingzhou’s First Tower, Wangjiang Tower, water flows naturally from the east outside the tower.

The tavern occupies a golden space along the Qingzhou Avenue’s east, a prized location where land is worth its weight in gold, rising nine floors with lower six floors and upper three; the expenditure on the lower three floors already demands lavish spending, while access to the upper three is reserved for influential figures or Qingzhou’s talented youth prodigies.

At this moment, on a level within the upper three floors, a group of extraordinary figures occupy the luxury suite by the river, exchanging toasts while discussing Qingzhou’s affairs.

"Folks, with Qingzhou Academy’s admission soon approaching, why don’t we each offer a little prize today and bet on which house will yield the academy’s top student?"

"Since you propose, I’ll break the ice by offering a Fifth-Grade Dharma Artifact as the prize... I’ve heard that the Zhong Family has produced a brilliant girl, my bet is on the Zhong Family."

"Quite interesting, count me in too, as the old man offers a Fifth-Grade Secret Manual to wager on the young man from the Li Family."

"Yang Family..."

"Liu Family..."

"I reckon Lord Lin’s second daughter isn’t bad either, I’m betting on her."

"If the Demon Slayer Bureau participates, I’ll place my bet on its person."

"Donglai Tao Family has also produced a promising talent, so I’ll bet on the Tao Family."

With stakes placed by people from the Four Great Families, Inspector’s Family, children of major clans across counties, no one finds it strange, it seems only natural, besides these clans and major families lie ordinary folks, who rarely have opportunities, it has always been thus.

In the end, everyone’s gaze falls upon an old Taoist who is half drunk and half sober, he grins with a chuckle.

"The treasures you folks wager certainly make an old Taoist like me envious... If so, I’ll take an unconventional path and bet on someone outside the Four Great Families or major clan children..." Having said that, the old Taoist flickers a spiritual light and brings forth an item.

It is a small sword entirely as jade, made of cyan bamboo.

Upon seeing this item, everyone present is slightly startled, for the Jade Bamboo Sword is a token of Qingfeng Temple, and holding it permits entry into Qingfeng Inner Observation Scripture Pavilion for one-time comprehension.

If one possesses comprehension, even insight into Qingfeng Temple Secret Daoist Skill is not impossible.

...