Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Nation’s Great Trend
The Imperial Capital, the heart of an empire!
This was where the great powers of the Yunxiao Empire converged, a place of tangled and complex factions. Compared to it, the tiny Anxing City was like a lake to an ocean—they couldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath.
The headquarters of the Empire’s most elite army, the Red Flame Army, was stationed here. The Empire’s most renowned Four Great Martial Arts Families were settled here. The Empire’s largest merchant guild, the Four Seas Pavilion; the Empire’s most brutal Warrior Arena; and the Empire’s largest academy, Mingxin Academy.
All these powers were gathered in one place: the Yunxiao Imperial City!
At this moment, outside the gates of the Imperial Capital, two City Guards clad in silver armor and holding long spears stood on either side of the entrance. They stood ramrod straight, like javelins, their eyes shining brightly, full of vigor, with not a trace of fatigue in their expressions.
Just then, a carriage approached. The horse pulling it had a pitch-black coat from which fine scales could be faintly seen. It was large, with a single horn growing from its head. The City Guards revealed looks of awe as they watched the carriage enter the city.
"A Unicorn Black Scale Horse. To use such a Fierce Beast to pull a carriage... the person inside must be someone important. I wonder which big shot has returned."
The carriage sped along the wide road. Qin Ya gazed through the window at the diverse crowds and shops on the street, clicking his tongue in amazement. "As expected of the Imperial Capital. Not only are the City Guards Martial Artists, but even the bricks of the streets are made of Cyan Steel Rock."
Cyan Steel Rock was a type of stone with a texture comparable to steel.
"Although the Imperial Capital has City Guards on patrol, fights between Martial Artists are a common occurrence, and they often damage the buildings. That’s why twenty years ago, His Majesty decreed that all buildings, and even the roads, be replaced with Cyan Steel Rock," Hua Que said, stroking his beard.
"So that’s how it is," Qin Yuxiang said, suddenly enlightened.
"Sister Yuu Xiang, Brother Qin, it’s wonderful that you could come back with us this time," Leng Ningshuang said, her face beaming with joy. She had been reluctant when Hua Que first mentioned returning to the Imperial Capital, but when she learned that Qin Ya and Qin Yuxiang would be coming along, she couldn’t have been happier.
Hua Que shook his head gently and glanced at Qin Ya, sighing internally. ’A grown daughter cannot be kept at home.’
"Mm, it’s the Imperial Capital of an empire. I’ve always wanted to come and see it." Qin Ya smiled slightly. ’The world of Anxing City is too small for me. I’m at a stage of rapid advancement right now; a few more trials will do me good.’
In Anxing City, someone like Qin Yunlong at the Spiritual Element Realm was already at the very top.
But in the Imperial Capital, while the Spiritual Element Realm might not be a dime a dozen, it was still quite common. Only by reaching the Earth Element Realm could one have the power to protect oneself. And as for establishing a firm foothold in this city, you could forget about it without being at the Celestial Essence Realm or higher.
Someone like Qin Ya, at the Profound Origin Realm, was basically a small fry.
Mingxin Academy was located in the East District of the Imperial Capital. Its grounds spanned a hundred li, making it the largest complex in the city aside from the Imperial Palace.
In the Yunxiao Empire, Mingxin Academy possessed an extremely high reputation. It had produced countless powerful experts renowned throughout the land, including some who had reached the Extraordinary Realm. Even the current Emperor, His Majesty, had studied there in his youth.
Soon, Qin Ya and the others arrived outside Mingxin Academy.
After stepping out of the carriage, Qin Ya gazed at the academy, a strange light in his eyes.
Outside the magnificent gates stood a stone monument inscribed with the words: The Foundation of the Nation!
The five words were calligraphed with the grace of flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, yet carried the force of silver hooks and iron strokes—powerful and vigorous.
This monument was personally inscribed by His Majesty. The Foundation of the Nation—from these five words alone, one could see the weight Mingxin Academy held in his heart.
"Look, this is Mingxin Academy. Starting today, you’re a teacher here. Well? Feeling a little proud?" Hua Que, having disembarked from the carriage, looked at the astonished Qin Ya with a smug expression.
"Sorry, no. I’m just curious about these five words. It seems His Majesty is truly someone extraordinary," Qin Ya said indifferently. The five words actually contained a mysterious Great Trend. It was incredibly heavy, and within that weight was a vast and sharp will. It was truly strange.
’If I had to describe it, this Great Trend feels like the wills of countless people have been condensed together through some kind of medium. It’s heavy, yet unpredictably volatile.’
That was... the Great Trend of the Nation!
"Mm, you can feel it." Hua Que was a little surprised. Countless people had seen this monument, but few could perceive anything from it.
"To be able to knead the Great Trend of the Nation into one’s Martial Arts... he is truly extraordinary." After saying this, Qin Ya gave a small smile, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly walked toward the academy gates, leaving Hua Que standing there, dumbstruck.
Hua Que stood frozen in place, staring at Qin Ya’s back and muttering, "Just what kind of monster is this guy? Scarcely anyone in the entire Imperial Capital can perceive the Great Trend of the Nation on this monument. How did he know?"
"Excuse me, who are you?" As Qin Ya reached the academy gates, he was promptly stopped by a middle-aged guard. This guard had been at Mingxin Academy for over a decade and had never seen Qin Ya before. Besides, Mingxin Academy had a rule: one must present a Mingxin Order to prove their identity when entering or exiting the main gate.
"Old man, what are you still dazed for? Get over here," Qin Ya shouted at Hua Que, who was still standing dumbstruck in the distance.
Hearing this, Hua Que walked over with Qin Yuxiang and Leng Ningshuang. He took a Purple Jade Order from his Storage Ring. The moment the guard saw it, his expression changed slightly.
"So it’s a Special-Level Teacher. My apologies, please come in."
There were only four or five Special-Level Teachers in all of Mingxin Academy, every one of them a major figure. It was said that their Martial Arts Cultivation had at least reached the Celestial Essence Realm. They were not people a humble little guard like him could afford to offend.
After entering the academy, Qin Yuxiang looked around, full of curiosity. She had long yearned to see the renowned Mingxin Academy. In her younger years, she had even wanted to study here, but it never came to pass.
Coming to Mingxin Academy this time finally fulfilled one of her long-held wishes.
"Didn’t you say you were the Mansion Master of Mingxin Academy? How did you suddenly become a Special-Level Teacher?" Qin Ya asked with a slight frown, curious.
"Oh, I occasionally teach the younger generation, so compared to the title of Mansion Master, I’m more used to using the title of Special-Level Teacher," Hua Que said slowly, putting away the Purple Jade Order.
Qin Ya suddenly stopped and stared at Hua Que. "So your teachers here are ranked?"
"Yes. We have Junior, Middle-Level, Senior, and Special-Level teachers. Why?"
"What level are you planning to give me?" Qin Ya asked.
"Er..." Hua Que was momentarily stumped.
At Mingxin Academy, although cultivation wasn’t the only standard for a teacher’s rank, a Junior Teacher was required to have at least an Earth Element Realm cultivation.
But Qin Ya was only at the Profound Origin Realm.
From what Hua Que understood, Qin Ya’s skill in the Alchemy Dao was high enough to be a Special-Level Teacher, but his cultivation was a significant problem.
Seeing Qin Ya’s expression, it was clear he wouldn’t accept a low rank. Hua Que thought for a moment, then said tentatively, "How about... Middle-Level?"
