On the cliff, Ye Qiubai sat cross-legged by the willow tree, the Green Cloud Sword resting across his lap.
He was attuning himself to the sword intent carried within the Green Cloud Sword.
Sword qi howled within his body, and the sword intent steadily suffused the whole world around him, growing ever more substantial!
The willow tree watched from the side, secretly thinking, "The Chaos Essence Sword Body—everyone who possesses it becomes a Sword Emperor in their generation. Seems that saying isn't just empty words…"
Meanwhile—
Lu Chang'sheng had arrived above The Cottage.
"The power of this Nine Netherworld Formation puts the book formation from the Academy's treasure vault to shame…
But it's pretty damn complicated, too. Took me a whole incense stick to burn just to get the hang of it."
Formations are ranked according to Heaven.
Currently, Hidden Dao Academy uses an Earth Rank formation as its defensive barrier.
By comparison, the Nine Netherworld Formation's level far exceeds Heaven-Tier.
It's one hell of a formation, all right.
But getting the materials is going to be a pain.
You need Thunderstruck Wood, Redwood Heavenly Gold, Black Yellow Earth, and Phoenix Parasol Tree for the array foundation.
Then, you use River of the Dead for the array spirit.
Only then can the formation be completed.
Thunderstruck Wood, Black Yellow Earth, and Phoenix Parasol Tree are easy enough—there's some stock in The Cottage.
But that Redwood Heavenly Gold—that's the one thing I don't have.
After all, all these years, Lu Chang'sheng basically never set foot outside the Academy!
"Looks like I'll have to take a look in the Academy's treasure vault…"
With that thought, he turned and vanished from where he stood.
...
Hidden Dao Academy.
The Martial Academy houses four halls.
Sword Hall, Array Hall, Pill Hall, and Martial Hall.
The Confucian Faction is just one faction—the Confucian Faction.
At this moment, in the Confucian Faction's meeting hall—
The Academy's Headmaster, Qin Tiannan, and the elders of every hall and faction had gathered to discuss important matters.
"I heard The Cottage took in a disciple?"
Qin Tiannan looked around the room, smiling: "I'm a bit curious. Who in the world was able to make that kid Chang'sheng want to accept a disciple?
And he even left the Academy for him, went all the way to Tianyuan City himself."
You have to understand, all these years, Lu Chang'sheng has been reclusive—even the Academy, not to mention his own Cottage, he almost never comes out.
Dean Ru chuckled as well, "Maybe he's grown up, finally got some sense."
"Let's hope so. All right, let's get back to discussing the upcoming Academy Tournament. After all, this involves our Southern Region Academy's exchanges with the other three regions."
The Martial Hall Elder snorted coldly, "Our Southern Region Academy has finished dead last for four tournaments in a row. If we can't produce some real talent soon, we're going to keep grounding the bottom."
Qin Tiannan let out a deep sigh, saying, "There's some things you just can't force… But, didn't someone in our Academy recently gain insight into sword intent?"
Everyone turned to the Sword Hall Elder, but he just shook his head, sighing, "Not one of ours."
"Then who could it be?"
Before this, sword intent had shot skyward, filling Hidden Dao Academy. Qin Tiannan had tried to trace this energy, but in just an instant, that sword intent had been shrouded by a special barrier.
There was simply no trace to follow.
"All right, everyone, let's try to find out who it is—if they're from our Academy, maybe our ranking will climb this time."
As soon as he finished speaking, voices sounded from outside the door.
"Hey, hey, hey, anyone in there?"
Qin Tiannan heard the tone and couldn't help but get a little dark-faced, waving his hand to release the barrier.
"Come in."
Lu Chang'sheng pushed open the door and walked in. Looking at all the elders, he grinned and cupped his fists, saying, "Chang'sheng greets the Headmaster and all the elders."
Qin Tiannan massaged his forehead, looking at Lu Chang'sheng with a touch of exasperation, "What do you need?"
Lu Chang'sheng explained his purpose, "Headmaster, I want to make a trip to the treasure vault."
"Treasure vault?"
Qin Tiannan paused, asking, "Why do you need to go to the treasure vault?"
The treasure vault is the Academy's most guarded site—entry requires Qin Tiannan's approval.
"I'm setting up a formation, but still need some Redwood Heavenly Gold…"
Redwood Heavenly Gold?
All the elders' faces changed.
This is one of the rarest array foundation materials—you can only hope to come across it.
Whenever it shows up, every sect and faction fights over it.
People have even started wars over Redwood Heavenly Gold.
The Array Hall Elder frowned, asking, "Lu Chang'sheng, what do you want that for? I've never even heard you're good at formations. Besides, for something at Redwood Heavenly Gold's level, you shouldn't be able to set it up, right?"
But Qin Tiannan waved a hand to interrupt, "Chang'sheng, I'm not asking why you need Redwood Heavenly Gold. I'll let you have it—but there's one condition."
"Headmaster!"
"Even we at Hidden Dao Academy barely have any Redwood Heavenly Gold left!"
Qin Tiannan ignored the elders' objections, still looking at Lu Chang'sheng.
Lu Chang'sheng felt helpless—it'd be a huge hassle to try to get Redwood Heavenly Gold elsewhere, so he nodded, "Go ahead, Headmaster."
Qin Tiannan nodded, "Simple. Didn't you go to Tianyuan City and accept a disciple a few days back? In one week, the Academy Tournament begins. I need your disciple to compete."
"The Academy Tournament, huh? I'll have to ask if he's willing…"
"And this Redwood Heavenly Gold…"
"Don't worry. He's my apprentice—if I say yes, do you really think he'll say no?"
Qin Tiannan: "..."
Lu Chang'sheng sighed inwardly.
Apprentice, this isn't your master selling you out—it's just that the Headmaster is offering way too much.
With things settled,
Lu Chang'sheng returned to The Cottage.
Ye Qiubai was currently practicing sword outside the hut.
Sword qi erupted everywhere, sword beams wild and unruly.
Lu Chang'sheng glanced over, saying, "Sword qi needs to be restrained. What's the use of all that flash? Style over substance."
Ye Qiubai seemed enlightened at his words, and tried deploying his sword moves again.
After the sun went down,
Ye Qiubai's sword techniques were no longer as sharp and aggressive as before—instead, they were contained and subtle.
After returning his sword,
Lu Chang'sheng stepped out of the hut as well.
Ye Qiubai instantly cupped his fists, "Master."
"Mm. These days, just focus on your cultivation. In seven days, there'll be the Academy Tournament—you'll be going."
Academy Tournament?
Ye Qiubai's eyes gleamed with battle intent.
"Understood, Master."
...
Meanwhile, at the Ye family in Tianyuan City—
Great Elder Ye Ling looked at his son, smiling, "Yan'er, now that you've been accepted as a disciple by the elders of Hidden Dao Academy, make sure you perform well—don't bring shame to the Ye family."
After speaking, he glanced contemptuously at Ye Qing, who stood nearby.
Ye Yan cupped his hands and smiled, "I'll live up to your expectations, Father. This Academy Tournament, I'll place well for sure, win glory for our Ye family, and reclaim the face Ye Qiubai lost us!"
Ye Qing stood to the side, his expression extremely ugly.
Ye Ling just laughed, "Hahaha! Good, good! We'll be waiting here for your good news."
At the same time, he looked at Ye Qing again, patting his shoulder and proclaiming grandly, "Head of the family—my son will uphold the Ye family in the future. Our Ye family's young generation will never decline."