Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Heading to the Royal City
Once the news broke, all of Blue Moon City was in an uproar, and the populace was filled with unease.
However, this was only the news on the surface. As for the true reason behind it all, only a few of the top families in Blue Moon City had an inkling.
That afternoon, the threshold of the Ye family’s estate was practically worn down by the successive stream of Patriarchs from the various major families.
Even Chen Lin, the Patriarch of the Chen family, came in person, waiting quietly outside the gates without a hint of the airs befitting a major family’s Clan Leader.
Because they all knew the real reason for the annihilation of the Wang family and the Zhou family.
Two great families, who had stood tall in Blue Moon City for hundreds of years, had actually fallen just like that. It had all happened in less than a year. The mere thought of it struck terror into the hearts of these various family Clan Leaders.
Meanwhile, upon receiving the news, the Wang family and the Zhou family sealed their gates shut, showing no signs of activity whatsoever.
From that moment on, these two great families, who could no longer even produce a single First Layer Earth Martial Artist, had completely fallen from their lofty perch, becoming little more than third-rate minor families.
This family struggle finally ended with the Ye family’s complete victory.
The Ye family began to fully take over the two families’ assets. The three types of special Pills were also selling better and better, and they began to be distributed to other cities.
At this time, the City Lord’s Mansion also received news of Hua Luoxuan’s breakthrough to Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist.
The wine cup in City Lord Leng Tian’s hand trembled with shock, almost slipping from his grasp and shattering on the floor.
"Hua Luoxuan... actually broke through?"
Leng Tian murmured. For some reason, the image of Ye Xuan suddenly flashed through his mind. He had a gut feeling that Hua Luoxuan’s breakthrough was inextricably linked to that miraculous genius, Ye Xuan.
Beside him, Hei Zhuo’s body also shuddered.
"Hei Zhuo, how much longer until you break through?" Leng Tian asked.
"Reporting to the City Lord, ever since Young Master Xuan healed me last time, I can feel that this subordinate is only a small step away from breaking through to the Celestial Martial Realm. At the soonest, three months; at the latest, one year. I will definitely break through," Hei Zhuo said confidently.
"That’s good." Leng Tian nodded.
"Lord City Lord, now that Hua Luoxuan has broken through, I’m afraid the situation in our Blue Moon City is about to change," Hei Zhuo said, his brow furrowed.
Now that he had lost the title of Blue Moon City’s number one expert, it would certainly have a considerable impact on City Lord Leng Tian’s control over the city.
Hearing this, Leng Tian simply smiled faintly. "Hei Zhuo, you’re mistaken about that. If someone from one of Blue Moon City’s families had a breakthrough, it would indeed affect the situation. But Hua Luoxuan’s breakthrough will have a negligible impact on my City Lord’s Mansion. Given his ambition and status, if I’m not mistaken, he will leave Blue Moon City to report back to the Royal City after the Spring Profound Festival. A small place like Blue Moon City can’t contain a big fish like him."
Sure enough, not long after, news spread that Hua Luoxuan was preparing to hold a banquet.
At the banquet, Hua Luoxuan announced the news of his breakthrough. At the same time, he also resigned from his position as president of the Blue Moon City Alchemist Association, appointing Zhou Huarong as the acting president.
The position of president of the Alchemist Association was always appointed by the Royal City headquarters. However, if Hua Luoxuan recommended Zhou Huarong after returning, then there would basically be no change in who the next president would be.
As the banquet neared its end, Dean Zhu Weichen, Master Jiang Xun of the Soul Master Tower, and others came forward one by one to offer their congratulations. At the same time, these friends of Hua Luoxuan also privately asked him how he had broken through to the Celestial Martial Realm.
In response, Hua Luoxuan simply smiled faintly and said nothing.
Finally, unable to withstand their persistent pleading, Hua Luoxuan said only this: "If you really want to know why I was able to break through, you’ll understand if you just maintain a good relationship with the Ye family from now on."
Hearing this, Jiang Xun and the others turned their heads to look at the high-spirited members of the Ye family, as well as Acting President Zhou Huarong, who had been mingling with them for the entire banquet. Jiang Xun and the others were all lost in thought.
The public’s attention always shifts with time.
First, it was the downfall of the Wang and Zhou families, then Hua Luoxuan’s breakthrough. Once the lively Spring Profound Festival was over, everyone’s attention shifted to the talented youths of Blue Moon City.
Because in one more month, it would be the enrollment day for the kingdom’s Profound Spirit Academy.
All sixteen-year-old geniuses who had broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm Samurai rank could receive a letter of recommendation from Xingxuan Academy to enter the Profound Spirit Academy in the Royal City.
「On this day, outside the east gate of Blue Moon City, a large group of experts had gathered.」
"Xuan’Er, you must be careful when you get to the Royal City. It’s not like our Blue Moon City. Don’t try to be a hero if something happens," Ye Batian carefully instructed.
"Alright, I know, Grandpa." Ye Xuan gave a wry smile. ’This habit of old people being long-winded really is the same everywhere.’
"Xuan’Er, I won’t say much more about being careful. If you have time, come back and visit often."
Ye Zhanyun grasped Ye Xuan’s shoulders. He knew that his son didn’t need him to worry at all.
Everyone said their goodbyes.
"Haha, Young Master Xuan, we’re finally together again!" A chubby youth came rolling over. Who else could it be but Chen Xing?
Ye Xuan also gave a faint smile.
He had originally thought Chen Xing wouldn’t make it to this year’s Profound Spirit Academy enrollment. Unexpectedly, during the Spring Profound Festival, Chen Xing had actually managed to break through to the Spirit Martial Realm.
Besides Chen Xing, two others from Blue Moon City had also broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm this time: Leng Yingying and Feng Rouyi.
"Hehe, Young Master Xuan, we have two great goddesses traveling with us to the Profound Spirit Academy this time. What do you say, you think something might happen on the road?" Chen Xing gave a sleazy grin, his expression utterly perverted.
"Alright, everyone, please see us off no further. Young Master Xuan, let’s depart," Hua Luoxuan said with a smile as he walked over.
Because he had to return to the Royal City to report on his duties, he was serving as the leader for Ye Xuan’s group on their journey. Besides Hua Luoxuan, Luo Zhan had also resigned from his position as an instructor at Xingxuan Academy to travel with the group to the Royal City.
"Alright, let’s move out!"
Everyone mounted their horses. Watched on by City Lord Leng Tian, the Ye family Patriarch, and many other experts, they gradually disappeared from sight.
"I wonder what kind of achievements they will have in the future after this departure!"
Only when Ye Xuan’s group had vanished into black dots on the horizon did City Lord Leng Tian turn around, letting out a soft sigh.
For four geniuses to qualify for the Profound Spirit Academy in a single year was a grand event for Blue Moon City, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in a century.
Blue Moon City’s future was bright.
On the official road, hooves thundered as a small team of only six people galloped past.
Dressed in fiery red, looking like a dancing flame, Feng Rouyi urged her horse to Ye Xuan’s side. She smiled sweetly, a faint, shy blush on her fresh and refined face. "Ye Xuan, we meet again. I never thought we would be joining the Profound Spirit Academy together."
Her voice was as light and melodious as a warbler’s song. Feng Rouyi’s smile made Chen Xing’s heart pound wildly.
’A goddess! She really is a goddess! Just one smile and my heart is about to shatter. What a pity, the goddess belongs to Young Master Xuan.’
Chen Xing was grief-stricken, secretly crying out in his heart: ’Beauties of Profound Spirit Academy, I, Third Young Master Chen, am on my way! You have to wait for me!’
"Ye Xuan, thank you for your Cold Condensing Pill," Leng Yingying said, also urging her horse forward, her cherry-red lips parting slightly.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "We’ll all be students of the Profound Spirit Academy soon. There’s no need to be so formal."
"Right, Young Master Xuan is correct!" Chen Xing wiped the drool from his mouth and laughed loudly. "If you have any problems in the future, just come find me, Third Young Master Chen! I, Third Young Master Chen, will be sure to tell you everything I know, holding nothing back... uh, I’ll go through mountains of daggers and seas of fire, I won’t shrink from ten thousand deaths!"
Hua Luoxuan saw what was happening behind him and smiled faintly.
’A year ago, they were all disciples of Xingxuan Academy. Now, they are all about to join the kingdom’s Profound Spirit Academy. But what expressions would they have if they knew that the Ye Xuan of today is already a First Layer Martial Master?’
"Alright, we need to pick up the pace! The Profound Spirit Academy starts in a month. If we don’t arrive ahead of time, you’ll be in trouble. This long journey can also be considered a test for all of you. Giddy-up!"
With a low shout, Hua Luoxuan suddenly sped up.
CLIP-CLOP! CLIP-CLOP!
With a thunder of hooves, the group followed closely behind.
In the Liuyun Kingdom, Blue Moon City was considered a relatively remote city. The journey to the Royal City, Yunshui City, was long. Even by rushing, making it in a month would be a tight schedule.
In fact, just as Hua Luoxuan had said, they traveled day and night for the following days. Covered in dust, they only reached the foot of the Royal City with just three days to spare before the academy started.
Throughout the journey, Chen Xing and the others were exhausted, but the aura about them had changed completely.
The Royal City was vast and majestic. From a distance, it looked like an ancient behemoth lying prone upon the land, imposing and domineering.
The group followed the wide official road, crossed the moat, and arrived before the city gates.
The gates were extremely wide, cast from bronze and standing well over a hundred feet tall. In front of them, squads of armored soldiers holding long spears stood guard.
Above, on the city walls, even more squads of grim-faced, iron-clad soldiers patrolled back and forth, their gazes sharp.
Seeing this scene, Chen Xing and the others craned their necks to look, filled with curiosity. Luo Zhan, however, felt his blood boil with excitement.
’How many years has it been? He had never imagined he would one day return to the Royal City again.’
Under Hua Luoxuan’s guidance, the group paid the entrance fee, passed through the inspection, and were finally allowed inside.
Upon entering the Royal City, a clamorous din immediately filled their ears. The surroundings were a flurry of carriages and people, with everyone coming and going. It was incredibly lively.
The wide streets were broad enough for nearly ten horse-drawn carriages to gallop side by side. The shops lining the road were also tall and magnificent. In comparison, Blue Moon City seemed like a country backwater, not even worth mentioning.
"There are so many people!" Chen Xing’s eyes widened. He looked left and right, buzzing with excitement, while Leng Yingying and Feng Rouyi’s beautiful eyes also darted about, taking everything in.
Only Ye Xuan remained composed, his gaze lowered, paying no mind to his surroundings.
Seeing this, Hua Luoxuan couldn’t help but sigh in his heart: ’I really don’t know how Young Master Xuan cultivated such a disposition. He has no interest in any of this. I remember being incredibly curious when I first came to the Royal City.’
