This time around, the Nine Great Academies of the Royal Capital had finally decided on the last round of examinations. Just like last year, the Dark Forest.
Perhaps it was because they believed that danger and slaughter was something that a martial artist must experience in order to grow, so all of the major Martial Houses readily agreed. After all, the applicants for the Martial House's entrance examination were all youths, and many of them had never even seen blood before. They simply couldn't be called true martial cultivators.
In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, the strong survived. Since you had already stepped onto the path of cultivation, you could forget about living a good life, unless you were willing to be an ordinary person.
In the small town outside the Dark Forest, many adventurers would occasionally tease these youths upon seeing them. Life on the edge of a blade wasn't easy, and the appearance of these youths would always bring a ray of light to their lives, even if it was only for an instant.
At the edge of the Dark Forest, the Emperor Star Academy's camp was led by Qin Wentian, Mo Qingcheng, Luo Huan, Mountain and Luo Cheng. Other than them, there was also Rain accompanying Qin Wentian. Currently, Qin Wentian had already become the target of the Emperor Star Academy's protection. Precisely because he was too dazzling, there would definitely be many people who wanted to kill Qin Wentian.
Although with the deterrent force of Gong Hong, there were very few who dared to openly act against Qin Wentian. However, it was better to guard against sneak attacks. The assassination attempt by Janus was a good example of this.
"Everyone, prepare to enter the Dark Forest. If you lose your life, you can forget about entering the Emperor Star Academy." Mountain turned his head and smiled at the examinees behind him.
"Don't worry, Senior Mountain." The youth in front grinned. He was none other than the genius, Zi Jun. His eyes flickered with excitement, as if he was itching to go.
"Okay, let's enter." Mountain waved his hands, and immediately, the examinees stepped into the Dark Forest with excitement and nervousness.
Qin Wentian's eyes shone with a radiant smile as he looked at the sprinting silhouettes beside him.
"Did you remember your experience last year?" Rain sat atop a white horse, looking at Qin Wentian beside her. Her gentle countenance gave off a warm feeling.
"Yeah, I was wronged by someone last year." Qin Wentian laughed.
"Hmph, who are you talking about?" On the other side, Mo Qingcheng's beautiful eyes glared at Qin Wentian, looking extremely adorable.
"She knows very well that someone was very cold back then," Qin Wentian said.
"Didn't I already apologize to you?" Mo Qingcheng felt wronged as she glared at Qin Wentian.
"The two of you, stop flirting." Luo Huan giggled as she stepped forward. She was definitely someone who wished for the world to be in chaos.
"Sister Luo Huan, what nonsense are you talking about?" Mo Qingcheng felt a burning sensation on her face when she saw how ambiguous Luo Huan's words were.
"Nonsense? Junior Brother Qin is such an outstanding person, and it just so happens that I like him as well. If you don't like him, then you can give him to me. " Luo Huan cupped her hands in front of her chest. That seductive look of hers was sufficient to cause any man to be in a daze. Qin Wentian bitterly smiled as he stared at his Senior Sister Luo Huan. This Senior Sister of his really wanted his life.
Mo Qingcheng, upon seeing the expressions on Qin Wentian and Luo Huan's faces, snorted softly as she galloped forward, causing Rain and Luo Huan to burst out in laughter.
Rain thought in her heart, sometimes, the relationship between humans and humans was extremely mysterious. The crazy words of outsiders could easily cause two people who already had a good impression of each other to slowly get closer. This lass Luo Huan was extremely intelligent, and was clearly trying to matchmake the two of them.
Rain laughed when she saw Qin Wentian galloping forward. Such a beautiful couple was indeed very pleasing to the eyes.
The few of them galloped forward. Mountain, upon seeing the youths heading towards the depths of the Dark Forest, involuntarily said, "I'll go and protect Zijun."
After which, he galloped into the depths of the Dark Forest.
If it was in the past, he would definitely not do this. But with the example of Qin Wentian last year, in addition to the changes in the situation in the Royal Capital, Mountain couldn't be at ease.
"Seems like Senior Mountain really likes that little fellow, Zijun." Qin Wentian turned his head, as he stared at Rain and Luo Huan.
"He wants to become a teacher and guide his students." Luo Huan laughed lightly.
"That's right, when Senior Mountain first came here, he already said that he would stay in the Emperor Star Academy in the future. It seems that on Senior Mountain, there's a trace of Teacher Mustang's shadow." Qin Wentian murmured. Every time Mountain was by his side, he would always give off the feeling of a big brother. Although Mountain appeared simple and honest, there was no lack of calmness in him.
"This has something to do with his experiences. Mountain was a homeless orphan, and when he was 10 years old, he met Teacher Mustang. After discovering that he had a talent for cultivation, Teacher Mustang brought him into the path of cultivation, treating him as his own son and guiding him with all his heart. Hence, it's normal for Mountain to be like Teacher Mustang. The reason why he wanted to stay in the Emperor Star Academy wasn't only because of his talent, but also because of Teacher Mustang's influence."
The teasing look in Luo Huan's eyes disappeared, as she seriously spoke. Her eyes were filled with warmth. This group of people had all grown up together with Teacher Mustang.
"So that's how it is." Qin Wentian sighed, as he stared at the silhouette of his Senior Mountain gradually disappearing into the distance. Traces of warmth could be seen in his eyes.
"Luo Cheng, Fatty, let's go together. Senior Sister Su, Junior Brother Qin and the rest will go together. Let's split up." Luo Huan spoke. After which, they split up into two groups. Although this was a test for the students, they still had to avoid certain dangers. Hence, it was still necessary for them to observe the situation.
"You guys chat, I'll go ahead and take a look." Rain spoke to Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng. After which, she took a step forward, leaving only Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng behind.
This caused Qin Wentian to be speechless. How could he not understand the intentions of Senior Sister Su and the rest? They wanted to help him achieve his goal.
In the quiet forest, Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng rode side by side. The atmosphere was extremely awkward.
Mo Qingcheng glanced at Qin Wentian as she asked, "Dumbo, can you tell me about your past?"
"What do you want to hear?" Qin Wentian replied, "Other than coming to the Royal Capital, I've always stayed in the Qin Residence in the Sky Harmony City. I didn't do anything else."
"Didn't you do that with Autumn Snow?" Mo Qingcheng murmured in a low voice. However, she soon realized that she shouldn't have asked this question. A mischievous expression appeared on her face as she replied, "Don't mind me."
"It's all in the past. What's there to mind about?" Qin Wentian shrugged his shoulders.
"You're right." Mo Qingcheng smiled sweetly. "In any case, you can always find someone better. There's no need to care about what happened in the past."
"Find someone better?" Qin Wentian blinked his eyes as he stared at Mo Qingcheng.
If there was someone better, the number one beauty of Chu in front of him was far more outstanding than Autumn Snow in every aspect.
Noticing that Qin Wentian was staring at her, Mo Qingcheng's face reddened again. After which, she glared at Qin Wentian with hidden bitterness as she said, "You bastard."
As she spoke, she spurred her horse forward. There were even white cranes circling in the air.
"Wasn't I a dumbo? How did I become a bastard?" Qin Wentian scratched his head as he mumbled, smiling foolishly as he looked at the beautiful silhouette in front of him.
In the blink of an eye, over ten days had already passed since they entered the Dark Forest. The disciples of the various martial academies were struggling to survive in the Dark Forest, hunting demonic beasts. Only now did many of them realize how difficult the path of cultivation was.
At this moment, Zi Jun arrived at a patch of forest. The long spear in his hands pierced into the head of a demonic bear, killing it with great difficulty. He then proceeded to cut open its head to extract its demonic core, placing it into a bag at the side.
At this moment, his robes were tattered, and traces of blood could be seen on his face. However, his countenance was filled with a smile. He had already hunted many low-level demonic beasts. When he returned to the Royal Capital, he would be able to exchange them for Yuan Meteor Stones as cultivation resources. This way, his cultivation speed would be even faster.
Every time he thought of this, Zi Jun would smile happily. He was determined to be the same as Qin Wentian. A year from now, he would strive to obtain glorious results in the Jun Lin Banquet.
With such a dream, he understood that he had to put in even more effort. Even if there were dangers, he wouldn't hesitate to do so.
The expression on the face of the youth was filled with determination.
Behind him, under an ancient tree, Mountain gazed at Zi Jun, his face filled with admiration. In the future, even if he wasn't as outstanding as Junior Brother Qin, the difference wouldn't be too great.
Only to see Zi Jun carrying the bag containing the demonic core as he continued forward. At this instant, a sharp glint of light flashed in his eyes.
Tossing the bag to the side, he brandished his long spear as whistling sounds filled the air. Three terrifying arrows, akin to golden bolts of lightning, shot towards Zi Jun.
Zi Jun retreated, his long spear continuously vibrating, transforming into a rain of spears. Dong dong dong sounds rang out as the long spear collided with the arrows. Zi Jun was forced backwards from the impact, barely managing to block the arrows.
However, at this instant, a terrifying long spear pierced through the air, magnifying infinitely in his eyes.
"Puchi … …"
The long spear carried with it a terrifying force, carrying Zi Jun's body through the air. After which, it ruthlessly pierced into an ancient tree, nailing Zi Jun's body to the ground.
The resolute smile on Zi Jun's face had completely disappeared. At this moment, a look of despair could be seen on his face as he lowered his head with great difficulty, staring at the long spear that had pierced through his heart.
Why would there be such a powerful person who wanted to assassinate him?!
His eyes instantly lost their luster, yet they were still wide open. It was as though he had died with a grievance. He still had a dream he hadn't fulfilled, but everything had ended forever.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Rustling sounds came from the forest in the distance. Inside, pairs of sharp and terrifying eyes stared at the mountain. Their eyes were filled with a frightening coldness and killing intent. They were like cold venomous snakes hunting their prey.
How intense was Mountain's roar? The people in the vicinity frenziedly gathered in the direction he was in.
Qin Wentian was still together with Mo Qingcheng and Rain. When he heard that roar, an intense sense of unease welled up in his heart. That roar seemed somewhat familiar.
"Bzzz!" Qin Wentian leapt off his warhorse, and a pair of wings sprouted from his back as he madly sprinted, akin to a bolt of lightning.
Mo Qingcheng whistled, as the white crane that was hovering in the air flew down. Mo Qingcheng mounted the white crane and flew in the same direction.
Rain soared through the air, following closely behind Qin Wentian.
The unease grew stronger and stronger.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
