by Zhi Bai
He jumped down from the boulder with the furry grass in his mouth and walked with his hands in his pockets, feeling an unspeakable sense of vicissitudes. Perhaps in the eyes of ordinary people, An Zheng looked more like a wild boy now, but when Great Mother Ye looked at An Zheng's back, it was as if he was looking at a saint who was going against the wickedness of this world. It was the great reverse, and it had its own way.
"An Zheng."
Great Mother Ye shouted softly from behind An Zheng, "If there comes a day when something happens to me, will you protect Xiao Qi Dao?"
An Zheng stopped and turned his head back, "I treat you as brother."
Great Mother Ye put down Xiao Qi Dao, pointed at An Zheng and said: "Qi Dao, listen to mother's words, and follow Big Brother An Zheng in cultivation. Cultivating this wasn't only to make his body stronger, but also to make his soul stronger. Big Brother An Zheng is a trustworthy person, you have to respect him like you respect your mother. "
Xiao Qi Dao nodded his head vigorously: "Mother, don't worry, I understand."
Great Mother Ye stood up and cupped her fists towards An Zheng: "I don't know who you were before, and I won't question you. I only hope that you will not fail to live up to the trust Xiao Qi Dao had in you. You're right, he couldn't leave the martial arts world while I was in it. Regarding the history of the Xiao Qi Dao, I hope you will remember, but don't tell anyone else … Xiao Qi Dao, is not one of the six … "
Before she could finish speaking, her expression suddenly changed.
She turned around and looked at the direction of the Phantom Institute across the street from the New High Street. A flash of fear appeared in her eyes, along with an indescribable anger.
"An Zheng, you promised me, help me take care of Xiao Qi Dao."
Great Mother Ye ran over and hugged Xiao Qi Dao up to give him a kiss, his eyes filled with reluctance. She looked at Xiao Qi Dao crying and kissed again. Then, he suddenly shoved Xiao Qi Dao into An Zheng's embrace. "An Zheng, help me watch Xiao Qi Dao grow up to be an adult."
After saying that, Great Mother Ye's figure flashed, and rushed towards Phantom Institute like a ray of light. Outside Phantom Institute's gate, a group of black armored soldiers that had never appeared in Fantasy City before surrounded Phantom Institute. These armored soldiers were all expressionless, as if they were made of steel. It was as if they weren't humans, but were instead humanoid killing machines.
The war horses they rode on were also of extraordinary quality. Every war horse had a single horn on their forehead. When the war horses screamed, one could see that their mouths had fangs.
"State of Yan will ride Tie Liuhuo."
An Zheng's reaction was slower than Great Mother Ye's, after all his cultivation level was currently very low. But he immediately recognized who those black armored guards were. They were the elite guards of the State of Yan Royal Family. The State of Yan had a hundred and twenty-six counties of the sixteen prefectures and, although their country was small, they were one of the most powerful nations within the sixteen states of Youlan. The armies of the State of Yan were known for their fearlessness and fearlessness in battle. Among all of them, the most terrifying one was Tie Liuhuo.
Someone once said, Tie Liuhuo was a thousand eight hundred, but he was able to break through an army of a hundred thousand.
The leader pointed at the Phantom Institute with the long lance in his hand. "Young Master Mu, are you still going to hide and not see anyone? If you don't want to meet again, I'll have to tear down your academy. "
Chapter 27 - The Nine Star Platform
An Zheng carried Xiao Qi Dao as he stood at the entrance of the Heavenly Imperial Martial Academy and watched Tie Liuhuo encircle the Phantom Institute so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through. An Zheng didn't know what kind of story existed between Great Mother Ye and Mu Changyan, but the moment Great Mother Ye rushed out of An Zheng's embrace, she knew that this was probably the most moving story in the world, and was called life and death together.
However, what happened next surprised An Zheng. Mu Changyan leisurely walked out from Phantom Institute, with Great Mother Ye following right beside him. The general that was led by Tie Liuhuo jumped down from his warhorse, walked in front of Mu Changyan and bent down slightly before smiling: "I thought you were still going to hide here. I've searched through the sixteen states of Youlan, who would have thought that you would actually submit to me in this kind of place."
Mu Changyan said: "After I left the great swallow, I no longer have anything to do with the great swallow, what are you looking for me for?"
The general said, "In the end, you are still someone with the surname Mu. In the end, you are still of the royal family of great swallow.
Mu Changyan pointed to the academy. "I belong here."
The general said: "Compared to great swallow, what is this place? If you want to establish a school, you can do it in the capital of great swallow. Before I came, Her Majesty said, If you do not go back, you will not want to go back. She said, Let all your reluctance be gone, and you came back. As you know, the empress dowager has always been decisive in her actions. "
Mu Changyan thought for a while, then asked: "What if I don't leave?"
The general replied, "Here, not a single blade of grass grows."
Mu Changyan then said, "I have never been at odds with the empress dowager, and she was not the one who gave birth to me. Why are you looking for me?"
The general said, "Because you're the only one suitable for the moment."
Mu Changyan thought for a moment, then replied: "Alright, I can go back then. However, I have a condition that all the students in this academy must have the qualifications to enter the great swallow in four years. "
The general said, "If you go back, isn't that your problem?"
Mu Changyan acknowledged: "Then I'll go back, right..."
Mu Changyan pointed to the Martial Arts Academy side. "There are a few children there, and we have a bet. Every six months, the most outstanding disciples of both sides would be selected to compete. The victor would be the primary victor, while the loser would be the slave. After I leave, this academy cannot fall down. As a person, one must have integrity. Since there is such a gamble, it cannot be scrapped. No matter who the academy's Principal is in the future, they must abide by the agreement. "
The general said: "My assistant general Qiu Changchen will stay behind and become the principal of Phantom Institute, how about it?"
Mu Changyan nodded: "Qiu Changchen has a calm personality, he can stay."
"Then let's go."
The general pointed to a chariot belonging to the Iron Stream Society and said, "Please return, young master."
Mu Changyan dragged Great Mother Ye and got on the chariot together.
In the martial academy, the Xiao Qi Dao asked with red eyes, "Big Brother An Zheng, does mother not want me anymore?"
An Zheng shook his head: "Qi Dao, you must believe in one thing, never doubt it... Your mother loves you. Her current choice seems very cruel to you, but there must be some unspeakable difficulties. There must be a reason why she didn't take you with her. You also heard that four years from now, as long as we win against the disciples of the academy, we can go to the capital of the great swallow and meet your mother. "
Xiao Qi Dao nodded his head vigorously: "I will definitely be able to!"
Tie Liuhuo protected the chariot as it drove off. An armored assistant general brought along thirty Tie Liuhuo cavalry soldiers and stayed behind. The deputy general called Qiu Changchen first carefully sized up Phantom Institute, then turned around to look at the martial academy side. When they saw the broken academy and An Zheng and the few other lonely children, they could not help but laugh. Then, he muttered to himself, "Mu Changyan, who was called a madman in the great swallow, actually got angry with a few children … "Interesting."
Within the war chariot, in the middle of the advancing convoy. Mu Changyan tightly held on
to Great Mother Ye's hand, and then sent a sound transmission to her ear. "I know you're feeling very sad, but your choice is correct. Once the people of great swallow knew that the Xiao Qi Dao was his blood and bone, then the Xiao Qi Dao would be in danger. Now, come back with me. They can't hurt you with me protecting you. Furthermore, they did not know that the existence of the Xiao Qi Dao was the safest for him. Believe me, in four years, I will definitely think of a way to have Xiao Qi Dao go to the capital. "
Great Mother Ye also held Mu Changyan's hand tightly, his eyes were pitiful. "In the end, you and him won't be able to escape this sort of fate."
In the Heavenly Mystery Realm, An Zheng took a deep breath, then waved his hand, "Let's tidy up our courtyard first. In half a year's time, we will have to compete with the people from the academy who have been cultivating for a very long time. Our time is limited. Anything could be lost, nothing could be lost. Not only do we have to win, we also have to keep winning. "
"Work!"
The few of them started to get busy, and soon, they were in full swing. After a while, Mad Qu arrived with a horse carriage, and brought all of his belongings over. He purposely ignored Qu Liuer with a cold face, but everyone knew that Mad Qu was still unwilling to part with him.
Although Qu Liuer was shy, one could tell that he was very happy. She and Mad Qu were mutually dependent on each other. Now that Mad Qu had moved here, how could she not be happy?
When the watchman Old Huo returned, he brought many craftsmen that he had hired along with him and joined the ranks of the refurbishment of the Heaven's Enlightenment Martial Arts Academy. When Old Huo saw those kids craftsmen, he could not help but turn around and wipe the corner of his eyes, "It's been a long time since this Martial Arts Academy has been so lively."
On the morning of the second day, An Zheng found some cultivation methods from the Martial Arts Academy. These things were not valuable, so he could find them in the Martial Arts Academy's library. Most of the books in the library had already been moved to the Phantom Institute across the street. There was not even a hundred books in a four story library. However, for the people who were only prepared to cultivate with Du Shoushou, Xiao Qi Dao and Qu Liuer, they would not need any books that were too complicated or difficult to understand.
Outside the door of the library, An Zheng saw a large, pitch-black stone that seemed like a huge inkstone. The middle part was caved in, like a small pond. On one side of the cave, there was a circle with a diameter of about 20 centimeters. It was bright red in color, in stark contrast to the inkstone.
"To think that the Martial Arts Academy actually has a Nine Star Platform."
He mumbled to himself, but when he turned around, he found the gatekeeping Old Huo standing there, looking at him with a hunched back.
"You actually recognize the Nine Star Terrace."
The Old Huo was a little surprised: "The previous City Lord was a military man, so he built a dojo. The current mayor was a scholar, so he built a school across the street. These people in exile all had the intention of becoming the dean. Do you think that just because you built a dojo or school and took in a group of children, you can satisfy your vanity? However, the Nine Star Terrace was damaged when it was moved here. That martial artist was rough and did not know how to light it. He casually tossed it into the yard, causing a hole to appear. He could no longer use it. Afterwards, he had snatched another one from who knows where, but this one was discarded here. Therefore, after the academy opposite us was built, that good Nine Star Terrace was moved away and no one cares about that anymore. "
An Zheng squinted as he looked at Old Huo, "Senior, I believe you are not an ordinary person."
Old Huo laughed: "At least you have good eyesight, you are mistaken …." I am just an ordinary person. It's just that I know a bit about you cultivators. Back then, that martial arts man loved to drink, but I was the only one who had the same alcohol tolerance as him. He said the fairest thing in the world was that people looked the same. If they did not make a move, no one knew who would win. Therefore, when the Martial Academies recruit disciples, they cannot leave this Nine Star Terrace. "
Old Huo said: "Wu Fu said that this Nine Star Terrace is able to measure a person's potential. As long as one placed one's hand on the red circle, anyone who could cultivate would light up the hexagram. The better the potential, the more stars light up. However, among the people in the world, there was never a person who was able to light up nine stars to eight stars, and he was already an unparalleled genius. Ten years in the Martial Arts Academy, the best disciple lit up three stars. "
An Zheng nodded: "That's right, there are indeed very few people that can light up nine stars."
He turned around and looked at Du Shoushou and the others, waving his hand: "Come and try."
When Du Shoushou and the others heard An Zheng explain the entire Nine Star Platform, they then asked, "If it's bad, how do I test it?"
An Zheng said, "How is it bad? The Nine Star Platform is made of meteoric iron. Although the Nine Star Platform had cracked open, the core was still there. The military man only knows the uses of the Nine Star Platform, but he doesn't know the uses of the Nine Star Platform … Fatty, take out a low rank soul stone and place it at the crack. "
Du Shoushou acknowledged and took out a low grade spirit stone to place at the entrance of the Nine Star Platform. As soon as he placed the low rank soul stones on it, the Nine Star Arena lit up with a dark light. In an instant, the spirit energy contained within the low rank soul stones was completely absorbed. Then, the cracks on the Nine Star Arena slowly closed and disappeared.
Du Shoushou's face was filled with pain. "Several tens of thousands of silver, gone just like that."
An Zheng laughed: "Stingy, I will compensate you in the future."
Du Shoushou muttered to himself as he walked: "After tens of thousands of silver is enough to repair you, you cannot act shamelessly. "No, no, no. The silver is my loss. You have to get me a 9-star master teacher."
He then placed his palm on the red circle of the Nine Star Platform. The moment he placed his hand on it, a force was released from the Nine Star Platform. The dust on the Nine Star Arena was swept clean in an instant. Nine hexagrams appeared on the Nine Star Platform, arranged in a straight line. Fatty placed his hand on the center of the circle. Then, a speck of red light began to move upwards. After a moment, it lit up a star. Then, the red light paused for a while before continuing to go upwards. It lit up half of the second star point and it no longer had the strength to go upwards anymore.
"One and a half stars."
Du Shoushou felt a little regretful: "Looks like I'm indeed not suited to cultivate. This is probably the worst physique that I have."
Old Huo laughed at the side: "Not counted, not counted, the worst is a half star."
"I'll try."
Qu Liuer walked forward. At this time, she was still wearing the clothes of a boy, but in front of An Zheng and the others, it was already much more natural. Actually, once a girl was ten years old, it would be hard to hide it even if she wanted to. Those rumored female heroes who went around the country disguised as men's clothes, think carefully about why they succeeded. Perhaps there were only two answers, one of which was how to flatten the world. One was that everyone else was pretending to be blind.
Qu Liuer was actually not his real name. She told Mad Qu her surname, Mad Qu said her real name was Liuxi.
Qu Liuer's hands were very pretty, white and clean, slender and long. She placed his hand on the center of the circle, the red light was much stronger than Du Shoushou's. In just a moment, the red light had broken through three stars and slowed down. After slowly lighting up the fourth hexagram, it began to move up and down. Qu Liuer seemed to be very satisfied, and his face was slightly flushed. After all, Old Huo had said that the most outstanding disciples in the dojo were only at most three stars.
When it came to Xiao Qi Dao's turn, An Zheng was a little nervous. The Xiao Qi Dao was ac
tually quite natural. He twisted his little butt and walked over, then opened his arms for Du Shoushou to hug as he placed his hands on the center of the circle. Then a dazzling red light appeared. Everyone present couldn't help but open their eyes wide.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven …
"He really is a peerless genius."
An Zheng suddenly walked over and picked up Xiao Qi Dao: "Seven stars, amazing."
Because it was only Du Shoushou and An Zheng in front of him, no one else saw that the red light had not stopped. Du Shoushou was startled, he did not know why An Zheng stopped Xiao Qi Dao, but he knew that An Zheng had his reasons for doing so, so he did not reveal it.
"An Zheng, why don't you try?"
Qu Liuer looked at An Zheng and asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Me?"
An Zheng laughed: "Forget about me, of course I'm a genius, at least I'm not worse than Xiao Qi Dao."
After he finished speaking, he carried Xiao Qi Dao and left, not even looking back.
That night, when everyone was asleep, An Zheng came to the side of the Nine Star Platform alone. Half a star.
Chapter 28 - Heaven Defying Seal
An Zheng went into a daze for a moment at the side of the Nine Star Arena, then he couldn't help but start laughing.
Half Star...
Once the head of the Great Xi Empire's Ming Fa Si, one of the few experts who were close to perfection in the Lower Celestial Stage, his cultivation is now at half-star … An Zheng swore that he would never let Du Shoushou see this result. Otherwise, that guy would have just boasted to the heavens and taken off. An Zheng knew better than anyone what a half-star signified. It signified that there was no hope for him to recover his strength to the Lower Celestial Stage, and it was even harder than ascending to the heavens.
Then, how was he to go back for revenge?
That day in the depths of Mount Cang Man, when he realised that the person he was going to save was the one who had plotted against him, his heart felt as if it had died. However, he did not die. He survived his initial grief and anger because he relied on his desire for revenge. Right now, the blow was a little too heavy, but An Zheng was not willing to lose. So what if he was a half-star? So what if he had the constitution of an ordinary person? So what if the people of the world knew that those with ordinary physiques would never be able to become peerless experts?
