Chapter 399 (2/2)

Chen Pipi had wanted to defend for Ning Que, but when he looked at Tang Xiaotang's youthful eyes. He said, ”Indeed, this act of Younger Brother is quite devious.”

Sangsang looked at the meadow below and said, ”That big white goose looks cool. It looks like he is training an army. Wouldn't that mean that he is the general of the back of the mountain?”

”It's useless. No matter how proud the general is, his training of the army is for the emperor to see.”

Ning Que said as he looked at the old yellow bull who was resting in the gra.s.s by the stream with its eyes shut.

Indeed, the big white goose led the big black horse and the little snow wolf through the march four times and came before the old yellow bull. It lowered its proud head respectfully.

The old yellow bull opened eyes slowly and glanced at it. Then, it shook its head, showing as if the matter was too boring and turned around to eat some gra.s.s and went back to sleep again.

Ning Que looked at the old yellow bull that chewed on the gra.s.s, reducing it into a paste but not swallowing it. Instead, it spat it out in annoyance. Ning Que looked at the three fellows that stood behind it obediently and wondered to himself.

This was the incredible back of the mountain of the Academy. Even the beasts here were proud, so it was natural for a person here to be even prouder. He should go and prove his pride.

The side door of the Academy was located in a very remote spot and was usually quiet. Not many came here other than those from the back of the mountain who would occasionally pa.s.s through. However, Liu Yiqing, the powerhouse of South Jin Kingdom had issued the Academy a challenge and sat outside the door on a futon to wait. Because of that, the area around the side door became crowded and bustled with people. The students from the Academy's front courtyard and the citizens of Chang'an came to watch look at the spot as if it was a tourist site.

The side door was surrounded by more than a thousand people, especially today. If not for the imperial court's fast reaction, sending the Yulin Royal Guards to maintain order, the quiet gra.s.sland would have been trampled by the excited crowd.

It was rare enough to see cultivators in the secular world, much less a battle between cultivators. Chang'an was a popular spot with cultivators, so the citizens here were slightly more knowledgeable about this. However, the opportunity to watch something like this closly was rare.

The news of someone challenging the Academy had spread for three months. Everyone knew that this was where the battle would take place. Many citizens of Chang'an had already come to look at the South Jin man who sat outside the Academy. Many came to watch after hearing that Mr. Thirteen of the Academy who was chosen to be challenged had emerged from his seclusion.

This was undoubtedly an interesting show.

There was a bluestone road not far from the hill. Dozens of horse carriages were parked on the side. The ladies of Chang'an had all come, as they were unable to resist the temptation of the bustling scene.

In those dozens of carriages, of course, were some n.o.bles who could not squeeze with the commoners. They could not disregard their own status and behave like the commoners who disregarded their safety and climbed higher and higher on trees just to find the best view.

Among these n.o.bles were officials of the Tang Empire, a few generals from the military, and cultivators from different sects who had heard about the battle.

The envoy from South Jin and a few disciples of the Sword Garret stood by their horse carriage.

A few officials from the Tang Imperial Center Administration stood near them, with smiles hanging on their faces.

Taoist He Mingchi of the Haotian Southern Gate Temple held his yellow oiled-paper umbrella under his arms and stood by a horse carriage silently.

The black horse carriage had a complicated gold pattern on it and looked majestic and beautiful. The area surrounding the horse carriage was empty on the crowded road, which was a sign of respect that everyone had for this horse carriage.

This horse carriage belonged to the delegation of West-Hill Divine Palace.

The Great Divine Priest of Relation was not in the carriage. The battle between a student of the second floor of the Academy

of the Academy and Liu Bai's younger brother was not important enough for a bigwig like him to come.

A young man with white hair sat in the carriage.

He was Cheng Lixue, the priest in the Revelation Department of the West-Hill Divine Palace.

Cheng Lixue's status in the Divine Hall was even higher than Prince Long Qing. He was on par with the Tao Addict, Ye Hongyu before her trip to the Wilderness. He was also an important bigwig.

Cheng Lixue lifted the curtains lightly and looked at He Mingchi who stood by the window. After a moment of hesitation, he smiled and said, ”Senior Brother He, why don't you get on and sit?”

He Mingchi smiled and replied, ”I have gotten use to stand.”

After a moment of silence, Cheng Lixue lifted his gaze to the Academy's side door below the hill. He looked at Liu Yiqing who sat on the futon and realized that the man remained calm despite the stares and debates that surrounded him.

Half a day had pa.s.sed since the news of Ning Que's emergence from seclusion had been let out. Yet, the person who should have appeared long ago did not show himself. The citizens of Chang'an who had come to watch were bored to death and some had already left. However, Liu Yibai did not look annoyed and neither his posture nor clothes moved. This was rather scary.

Cheng Lixue watched Liu Yibai's countenance change slightly and he suddenly asked, ”Senior Brother He, do you think Ning Que will come out?”

He Mingchi smiled and replied, ”Ning Que is a person who is most unlike the disciple of the Headmaster of the Academy, so I cannot be sure either.”

Cheng Lixue thought about his meeting with Ning Que at the palace in the Wilderness and could not help laughling. He said, ”He is indeed very interesting, but I suppose he should show himself soon.”

He should be on his way if he wasn't already here.

The Academy's side doors were pushed open slowly from inside.

A dark figure appeared before them.

Cheering ensued.

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