Every time they lifted their feet or waved their arms, it was as if they had to use all their strength. The young people walking on the stone path at the back of the Academy were like puppets being carried by cotton strings. Although they could not see their expressions, the people in the Academy could clearly feel the pain they were suffering.
The Second Floor's method of selecting students was actually this simple, but behind the simplicity, there was such a miracle. The outstanding young cultivators from all over the world would become clumsy puppets once they stepped on the slanting stone path. It was a shocking scene. No one could guess what had happened on the mountain path except for the people involved. Even Priest Moli, who had been immersed in the cultivation world for many years, did not dare to guess before experiencing it for himself.
But everyone believed that the Academy would not let these young people be really hurt. Looking at the monotonous scene for a long time, it was inevitable that it would be boring. Looking at the movements of the crowd around the Academy, it was unlikely that anyone would try to climb the back of the Academy. The bigwigs, including the envoys from various countries, relaxed a little. They began to look left and right under the shade of the umbrellas, talking to others.
The Academy had prepared some simple food, and the bigwigs had brought their own maidservants. Tea and snacks were placed on the table for a while, adding to the excitement of the conversation.
The main targets of the envoys from various countries were Prince Li Peiyan, Princess Li Yu, and Priest Moli, the Deputy Headmaster of the Revelation Institute. The surrounding countries had always been very gentle and subservient to the Tang Empire and the West-Hill Divine Palace, which no other power dared to oppose. As for which side to submit to, it was not their focus at all. At least for now, this submission had to be on both sides.
Other than building a good relationship with the Tang Empire and the West-Hill Divine Palace, the most important reason for the envoys from various countries to come to the Academy today was to see if there were any young people from their countries who were lucky enough to enter the Second floor. Even if no one could enter the Second floor, as long as there was a real talent in cultivation, they would pay attention to it on behalf of their respective imperial courts.
The envoy from the Great River Kingdom was chatting with a deacon from the West-Hill Divine Palace beside him. He perfectly hid his humility between laughter and exquisite flattery. Suddenly, he saw the earth dragon coming from afar, and his expression changed. He stood up abruptly and looked in that direction, trembling, "What's going on?"
The so-called Earthen Dragons were actually four deacons of the Academy carrying stretchers. Because they were moving so fast, their boots broke the grass and kicked up the soil. That was why there was a cloud of dust and the momentum of flying dragons flying close to the ground. The four deacons of the Academy carried the stretchers from afar and arrived at the front yard in no time. They were not out of breath and their faces were not flushed. They looked extremely calm. It could be seen that they had done this many times over the years.
The envoy from the Great River Kingdom covered his forehead and looked incredulously at the unconscious young cultivator from the Great River Kingdom on the stretcher. He sighed repeatedly. He had never thought that the first person to be defeated in the examination of the Second floor of the Academy would be a citizen of his country.
The real reason why he was depressed was that he did not know how he was defeated. The envoy walked to the stretcher and asked angrily, "How did climbing up the mountain make him faint?"
An Academy deacon beside the stretcher answered expressionlessly, "Fainting is a common thing in the Academy. He would vomit blood even when climbing up the stairs, let alone climbing up the mountain."
"Please move aside." The deacon of the Academy rudely pushed away the envoy of the Great River Kingdom, carried the stretcher and continued to run to the back of the Academy, leaving behind a yellow earthen dragon and a few unclear complaints.
…
…
"Move aside. Boil the water."
The four Academy deacons carried the second climber back on the stretcher. There were instructors of the Academy waiting with ginger soup and medicine.
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"Move aside. There must be a lot of boiling water today. Don't block the way!"
The Academy deacon returned again with the handle of the stretcher in his hand. Their shouts to clear the way were definitely more colorful than the shouts of the Tang officials when they went out.
…
…
Seeing this scene, Chu Youxian could not help but look back at Ning Que as he recalled the scenes from last year.
Ning Que looked at the four deacons running back and forth between the back of the mountain and the front yard and opened his mouth slightly. This scene was very familiar to him and even a little warm. However, the experience of climbing up the stairs last year was after all a pain that made his fingers tremble and his chest and abdomen gave birth to some nausea.
His face was slightly pale and he sighed painfully, "It's still the four of you."
…
…
In the area not covered by clouds and mist in the back of the mountain of the Academy, the young cultivators on the stone path walked slower and slower. From time to time, someone fainted in pain and was quickly carried away. Xie Chengyun walked in the middle. Although it was difficult, he still persisted. The young monk from the Yuelun Kingdom seemed to be relatively relaxed. His tattered frock fluttered in the mountain wind. He walked at the front of the team and looked around from time to time. It seemed that he was not looking for scenery but more like he was looking for a way out.
Prince Long Qing held his hands behind his back and climbed up the mountain to look at the scenery. He walked leisurely all the way and constantly passed the climbers in front of him. There was no pride or contempt on his face. He was only calm no matter how many people he passed or how many young cultivators he saw by the mountain path. Even when he passed the young monk, he did not look at him with the corner of his eyes.
There was a thick fog at the end of the mountain path.
…
…
The people who stayed in the Academy were silent. They looked at the slanting mountain path in the distance, puzzled and shocked by the magic of the mountain path. They wondered what kind of inhibition the Academy had set there that could make it so difficult and painful for these outstanding young cultivators from various countries to walk. Ning Que, who stood in the corner, was also thinking and analyzing. But his focus was not on the mountain path, but the thick fog at the end of the mountain path.
Prince Long Qing had already arrived in front of the fog. If he wanted to climb the mountain later, he had to at least enter the fog. Since that was the case, no matter how dangerous the sloping mountain path was, it had nothing to do with him. He had to go through it.
…
…
Prince Long Qing came to the front of the thick fog that covered the mountainside. Without any hesitation, he calmly walked in. After a while, the young monk from the Yuelun Kingdom, who looked around curiously, also came to the fog. Looking at the clouds and mist in front of him that hid an unknown number of ancient trees and mountain souls of tens of thousands of years old, the young monk, who had always appeared to be indifferent, had an unprecedentedly serious expression on his face. He looked at the mist quietly and did not take a step forward.
…
…
Prince Long Qing disappeared in the mountain fog. For a long time, no one else could walk through the stone path at the mountainside and into the fog.
Half of the climbers who wanted to enter the Second floor of the Academy had been carried back by the four deacons. Only Xie Chengyun and a few others were still climbing the lower part of the mountain path with difficulty. As for the young monk from the Yuelun Kingdom, who had shown a good state and was placed high hopes by some people, he seemed to have encountered some kind of problem and hesitated to move forward.
Looking at the current situation, the people in the Academy who were watching the ascent had already made a judgment in their hearts that no one could defeat Prince Long Qing. Although this was expected by many, they still could not help but be shocked and speechless when they saw the scene unfold and Prince Long Qing's strength that far surpassed his peers.
"The West-Hill Divine Palace is indeed the ancestor of all cultivation sects and a place respected by the common people. The Revelation Institute is indeed a wonderful place of metaphysics in the world. Prince Long Qing climbed the mountain with ease. How can others compare to such a celestial being?"
The envoy of the Yan Kingdom looked at his prince who was proud of the crowd and was already extremely proud. He did not forget to turn sideways and flatter the people from the West-Hill Divine Palace.
Priest Moli slightly stroked his beard with an unusually calm expression. Only the luster deep in his eyes revealed his pride and joy at this time. He said indifferently, "Long Qing is talented and favored by Haotian Divine Light. The Divine Hall has entrusted him with the important task of judgment. Although the Academy is also a noble and mysterious place, it is really not enough to boast that he climbed the mountain behind the Academy."
Although he said it was not enough to boast, everyone knew that it was a compliment. The envoy of the Yan Kingdom hurriedly said a few more words and then turned to the Tang officials. He stopped smiling and said indifferently, "Speaking of which, the Tang Empire has gathered many famous and virtuous officials. Unfortunately, there seems to be no outstanding person in this year's Academy."
In the eyes of the Yan Kingdom, the Tang Empire was undoubtedly a cruel and fierce beast. They had never liked the Tangs. Today they had such a rare opportunity to attack the ambition and confidence of the Tang Empire, so they naturally would not miss it.
The envoy of the Yan Kingdom did not dare to provoke the Prince or the Princess of the Tang Empire, so he did not say this out loud. However, he did not deliberately control his voice either. The faint sarcasm floated along with the indifferent and emotionless words.
Under the bright yellow umbrella, the Tang officials' faces were extremely ugly. Five of the six students in the course of magic skills in the Academy had already been defeated. The only one who continued to climb, Xie Chengyun, was from the South Jin Kingdom. Even if he was a student from the South Jin Kingdom, it seemed that he would not be a match for Prince Long Qing. In this case, the younger generation of the Tang Empire had suffered a crushing defeat in today's mountain climbing test on the Second floor!
Prince Li Peiyan's expression was somewhat gloomy. He tightly grasped his sleeves and said in a low voice with no expression, "If I had known this would happen, I should have written a letter to Xu Shi and asked him to release Wang Jinglue. At least the Tang Empire would not have lost so much face."
Sitting beside him, Li Yu glanced at him and said with slight mockery, "Uncle, isn't it because of you that Wang Jinglue was banished to the Defender-general of the State?"
Li Peiyan glanced at her with a somewhat ugly expression. After a moment of silence, he frowned and said, "Why mention this again? Speaking of which, although Jinglue is known to be invincible below the Knowing Destiny State, Long Qing has already stepped into the Knowing Destiny State. Even if he comes back, he may not be a match for Long Qing. "
"Is he not as good as Long Qing, or do you not want him to be like Long Qing?" Li Yu's lips curled up slightly and she said mockingly, "Uncle, didn't you come here personally to see Prince Long Qing enter the Second floor … so that you can rest assured?"
Li Peiyan replied calmly, "You have to know that this is His Majesty's will."
Hearing this, Li Yu was silent.
Today, when the Second floor opened, Prince Long Qing entered first as expected. Although this was an agreement between the Tang Empire and the West-Hill Divine Palace, as the Princess of the Tang Empire, she could not help but feel extremely unhappy when she thought of the words of the envoy from the Yan Kingdom and saw the unfathomable expression of Priest Moli. However, as previously discussed, Wang Jinglue had not returned, and the students of the Academy were not strong enough. Who could win back some face for the Tang Empire?
She subconsciously glanced at the silent students of the Academy. However, even she herself did not know who she was looking for, who she was looking for, or which faces of the students of the Academy she was trying to find the last glimmer of hope and brilliance.
In the old library in the depths of the Academy, the window facing the west had been pushed open. When the spring breeze, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, entered the building, the figure of a chubby lad appeared by the window.
Outstanding young cultivators from all over the world had previously passed by the old library, but neither Prince Long Qing nor the young monk had noticed him by the window upstairs.
Chen Pipi's eyes flew over the square eaves of the study room above the wetland and fell on Ning Que who was in the dark corner of the stone platform. He took a bite of the cold bun in his hand and mumbled to himself, "How long are you going to wait?"
On the meadow outside the Academy, Sangsang had already opened the big black umbrella. She stood in the shadow in silence and occasionally looked up at the dazzling white sunlight in the blue sky to confirm the time. Then she quickly took out the sunscreen lotion from Chenjinji Cosmetics Store and sprayed it on her face. Then she spread it evenly with her small hands and rubbed it to the bottom of her muscles.
She knew that the test to enter the Second floor of the Academy was to climb the mountain. She knew that her young master would definitely climb the mountain. Since that was the case, there was no need for her to be anxious.
"Why must he be the last to set off, and then continuously surpass others along the way to become the first to climb the mountain. This prince is really pretentious and hateful."
Chu Youxian took out the exquisite pastries wrapped in a handkerchief and took a piece for himself. Then he handed the rest to Ning Que for him to eat.
Ning Que thought to himself, "If the last to climb the mountain is pretentious and hateful, then what kind of person am I?"
At this time, inside and outside the Academy, the officials and students of the Tang Empire did not look good. Situ Yilan and the other students of the Academy were even more ashamed.
Ning Que looked at everyone's expression and felt the atmosphere. He murmured, "Why don't … I try."
His voice was soft, but Chu Youxian heard it clearly. His hand holding the pastries suddenly froze. He stared at Ning Que's face and shouted in disbelief, "What did you say? You want to try? Don't tell me you want to climb the mountain? "
In the quiet front yard of the Academy, Chu Youxian's exclamation reverberated. Everyone was stunned and subconsciously turned to look at the source of the voice.
Ning Que looked at Chu Youxian and said helplessly, "Xian, can your voice be louder?"
So Chu Youxian really jumped up and shouted in shock, "You really want to climb the mountain? You really want to enter the Second floor? "
At this time, everyone inside and outside the Academy heard and saw clearly. Countless pairs of eyes turned to the corner and looked at Ning Que. They were so shocked that they could not speak.
Ning Que took the pastries from Chu Youxian and wrapped them in a handkerchief. He smiled and said, "Leave it for me to eat along the way."
After saying this, he walked towards the back of the mountain of the Academy.
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(Tomorrow I will return from Fujian to Heilongjiang, and I will be flying vertically across China. I will arrive home at night. If I can write, I will update. If I don't have time, I will write 10,000 words the day after tomorrow. As for the matter of the plot, you can say that I wrote it slowly or that I wrote poorly, but I don't think so. Jiang Ye is the most solid story I've ever written in my entire life. If there was really a need for water, it wouldn't be like this. Again, I'll repeat the words that the brothers and sisters of the Qidian Family have repeated countless times. If I could write ten thousand words a day, this plot would naturally be extremely well-written and full of flavor. But in reality, I can only write three to four thousand words a day. Naturally, it would cause everyone, including me and all of you, to feel somewhat dissatisfied and annoyed. I understand, but I can't do anything about it. I'm sorry. Fortunately, this bitter life is coming to an end. Many years from now, I hope that I'll be able to deeply understand how precious these fourteen days of bitter wealth were in my life. Finally, I sincerely appeal to everyone to vote for me. Because I am worried that I will not have a chance to get votes tomorrow, I held back a smile for everyone to see. Of course, this paragraph is not counted in the word count.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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