Chapter 48
Chapter 48: The Ceremony Begins!
Dong!
The ancient bell tolled deep within the academy, its sound rippling outwards like waves, resonating far and wide.
This was the Dao Bell.
It was not an ordinary morning bell; it only rang when important matters occurred.
And today marked the beginning of the Academy Grand Ceremony.
Bang bang bang!
Doors were pushed open one after another.
Excited disciples of the academy poured out,
each one brimming with energy, ready to present their best selves.
For the vast majority of the academy’s disciples, the ceremony was a pivotal turning point in their fate.
As long as they performed excellently, they would be noticed and subsequently receive focused training,
ushering in a brand new life!
Dong!
The Dao Bell continued to ring, its sound deafening.
Everyone began to make their way toward the grand plaza in the inner academy.
In a room,
Luo Mu slowly opened his eyes.
He exhaled a breath of impure air,
a smile spreading across his face.
As expected of the Heavenly Water Primordial Lotus; in just four days of cultivation, he had surged to the third stage of the Spirit Sea realm.
His strength had increased considerably.
“Is it starting?”
Luo Mu rose, washed up briefly,
and donned a black robe.
In the bronze mirror, a handsome and resolute youth appeared.
“Not bad.”
Luo Mu nodded in satisfaction
before turning to leave the room.
Outside, the sunlight was bright and dazzling, casting golden rays on the path before the door, resembling a road of gold.
In the inner academy plaza,
the area had been significantly expanded due to the formation’s enhancement.
It was now large enough to accommodate over ten groups of disciples battling simultaneously.
Tall platforms surrounded the plaza, specifically prepared for distinguished guests.
Below were thousands of spectator seats.
Representatives from the seven counties of Chang Le would sit here.
At this moment, while not every seat was filled, it was almost there.
Even with the sound-dampening formation, the atmosphere was still somewhat boisterous.
“Master Chen, I heard your son recently ranked seventy-seventh on the Hidden Dragon List; congratulations!”
“Elder Li, you flatter me. Seventy-seventh is hardly worth mentioning.”
“I heard this time, not only is there a royal presence, but it’s also the current Ninth Prince. When did royal nobility start visiting our remote area?”
“Let’s not belittle ourselves. Although the seven counties of Chang Le are far from the imperial capital, our strength is not to be underestimated. We deserve the attention of the royals, especially the bloodline valiant Marquis, Cheng Tiancang!”
Upon mentioning Cheng Tiancang, many people’s eyes gleamed with admiration.
Hailing from humble beginnings, yet rising to such heights was indeed extraordinary.
As they conversed,
more and more disciples arrived at the inner academy plaza,
each one visibly awed by the grand spectacle.
Such a large event was truly rare.
In the spectator seats,
there were representatives from various noble families and even those in power.
On those high platforms, the presence was even more significant.
Each platform represented a noble house!
“Isn’t that the Wang of Anshan from Fengdu County?”
Someone pointed out.
The Wang of Anshan was the oldest royal family in Fengdu County,
and their title was hereditary,
with no restrictions attached.
Even if the descendants were incapable,
they could still inherit the title and enjoy endless glory.
However, the Wang of Anshan, the Li family, had always been low-key and rarely appeared in public. They only sent representatives to events as grand as the Academy Grand Ceremony.
“Wang Fugong, Han Lin Wang…”
“Li Yang Hou, Zhong Dan Hou, Wu Yang Hou…”
People gazed around,
taking in the sight with bated breath.
They hadn’t expected that there would be so many noble families in the seven counties of Chang Le.
However, the Great Zhou Dynasty had stood for over a hundred thousand years,
so this number wasn’t particularly large.
It was said that surrounding the imperial capital, one could find noble families at every turn.
“They must be representatives from various noble families.”
“Or perhaps the family heads.”
The term “family head” sounded like it conferred great power,
but in reality, they were merely responsible for handling daily affairs within their families.
The true core members rarely wasted time on such trivial matters.
Thus,
one couldn’t feel particularly formidable energy from these individuals.
They even seemed somewhat bland.
“Look! Li Jianyi is here!”
Someone suddenly exclaimed with excitement.
Not far away, a figure approached, carrying a long sword on his back, his gaze calm.
He had long, brown hair, and his eyes were also brown,
quite distinct from ordinary individuals.
Li Jianyi.
Currently ranked first among the inner academy’s prodigies.
Half a year ago, he had no rivals left.
He chose to enter seclusion afterward.
No one knew how strong he was now.
As he walked, disciples continually stepped aside, allowing him to stand at the center of the plaza.
Li Jianyi’s expression was indifferent,
showing no interest in glancing at the people around him.
Half a year ago, he had already been invincible within the inner academy, focusing solely on refining his sword momentum until today.
As if sensing something,
Li Jianyi looked towards a high platform.
That was in the direction of the Wang of Anshan.
A rare smile appeared on his face.
He sensed his father’s presence.
This time, he was determined to defeat everyone once again!
To honor his father’s lineage!
“Li Jianyi, long time no see.”
A voice called out from behind him.
A young man dressed in green approached, also carrying a sword on his back, arms crossed.
He was chewing on a blade of grass.
Li Jianyi did not respond,
seemingly uninterested in anyone.
The young man was unbothered,
as if he had already grown accustomed to it.
“Be careful; I’ve made significant progress. If you’re careless, you might truly lose to me.”
Huang Yuntian said softly.
He was currently ranked second in the inner academy.
Li Jianyi still didn’t reply, which left Huang Yuntian feeling somewhat helpless. Though he was already used to it, being repeatedly ignored still left him somewhat displeased.
“Have you heard? There seems to be an even more monstrous genius in the Outer Academy, who has comprehended martial momentum at the True Aperture realm!”
Huang Yuntian’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Hearing this,
Li Jianyi’s eyes widened instantly,
his brows furrowing slightly.
He had been in seclusion and hadn’t heard about this.
He could be considered one of the most outstanding disciples since the academy’s establishment.
Having just stepped into the Spirit Sea realm, he had comprehended sword momentum.
But at the True Aperture realm?
That was something he hadn’t achieved either.
Seeing this,
Huang Yuntian’s lips curled into a smile.
He knew this piece of news would surely stir Li Jianyi’s heart.
“But you don’t have to worry. It’s just that he comprehended it early. He’s probably still lingering in the True Aperture realm.”
“Even if he reaches the Spirit Sea realm, his understanding of martial momentum can’t possibly compare to ours.”
Huang Yuntian chuckled.