Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Dark Dragon Guard
A High-Level Teacher not even twenty years old!
An Alchemy Dao skill that shocked thirty-seven students!
A High-Level Teacher personally recruited by the Mansion Master!
The weakest teacher in the history of Mingxin Academy in terms of cultivation!
All sorts of news spread, and everyone at Mingxin Academy, from students to faculty, was discussing this youngest of teachers.
"Hey, have you heard? That new High-Level Teacher, Qin Ya, is just a kid, impossibly young."
"I’ve known for a while. I heard his cultivation is only at the Profound Origin Realm. I really can’t imagine what’s so special about him that the Mansion Master would personally go to recruit him."
"The Mansion Master personally went to recruit him?! That can’t be true, right? I’ve been at the academy for so long and I’ve never even seen the Mansion Master."
"I heard it from Teacher Lin with my own ears. They’re both teachers, so how could it be fake?"
"It’s unbelievable..."
Mingxin Academy was the bedrock of the Yunxiao Empire, so the status of its teachers was anything but low. Disregarding their formidable strength in Martial Arts, their position alone commanded respect wherever they went. They were individuals whom even the lord of a prefecture would have to treat with utmost courtesy.
Yet, for such a position to be obtained by an unknown youth was simply unbelievable—like something out of a fantasy tale.
Meanwhile, inside Ningxiang Pavilion, the very source of this great commotion was gazing at the snow-haired woman before him, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"Hmm, not bad. You’ve already broken through to the Profound Yuan Second Grade realm. You are truly worthy of the Profound Yin Bloodline." Qin Ya looked at Leng Ningshuang, a flash of surprise in his eyes. Just two days prior, he had given her the copy he made of the *Cold Ice Hell Secret Scripture* for her cultivation.
The results were phenomenal. In just two short days, she had broken through her bottleneck into the Profound Origin Realm, and today she had advanced further to the Second Grade. If word of this cultivation speed were to spread, it would surely frighten countless people to death.
"This *Cold Ice Hell Secret Scripture* is incredible. A Celestial-Level Upper Class cultivation technique is just too powerful." Even Leng Ningshuang herself was astonished by her own progress. She gazed at Qin Ya, her limpid, autumn-water eyes filled with adoration.
Seeing this, Qin Yuxiang, who was standing nearby, watched with a smile in her eyes.
"Hey, kid! Come on out for a drink."
Just then, Huaa Que’s shout came from outside. An alluring aroma of wine immediately wafted into Qin Ya’s nostrils, and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
’The aroma is rich and lingering. This is absolutely a fine wine.’ The craving for a drink suddenly hit Qin Ya. With a flash, he rushed outside.
He saw three figures standing side-by-side on the lakeshore. Besides Huaa Que, there were two others: the two Special-Level Teachers Qin Ya had met at the Master Dao Pavilion. One was the green-robed, middle-aged man who was the Vice Mansion Master of Mingxin Academy, and the other was the Special-Level Teacher surnamed Zhao.
Each of the two men held a jug of wine. The green-robed man also held a jade cup, sipping from it slowly, looking leisurely and content. Teacher Zhao, on the other hand, was chugging it down like a thirsty ox. Every time he lifted the jug for a huge gulp, a satisfied, rosy flush would creep across his face.
Qin Ya executed his Carefree Travel Body Technique, instantly appearing beside Huaa Que and snatching an unopened jar of wine from his hands.
He tore off the jar’s seal, and the wine’s fragrance billowed out. Qin Ya couldn’t resist taking a swig. It was crisp and cool, like swallowing a block of ice on a scorching summer day. Then, a warm current surged from his belly and spread through his limbs, leaving him with an indescribably pleasant sensation.
"Excellent wine."
"Heh heh, not bad, right? This is Jade Fall Cold, aged for many years. I brought it out especially to celebrate your success."
"Celebrate? What’s there to celebrate?"
"Your first class was a roaring success, of course! Who in the entire academy doesn’t know the renowned Teacher Qin now? Tsk, tsk, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you." Huaa Que chuckled, praising Qin Ya while not forgetting to boast smugly about his own good judgment.
"Celebrate? Old man, I seem to recall you owe me seven jars of Jade Fall Cold. Don’t think you can get away with just this one. Not a chance."
Huaa Que gave an awkward smile and stroked his beard. "Don’t you worry, I haven’t forgotten. Ahem, I’ll get them for you some other day."
"It’s rare to see you get bested, old friend. I never thought this kid would have you so completely figured out! Haha, this calls for a toast!" Zhao Yunge roared with laughter, raised his jar, and took a hearty swig.
"I concur." The green-robed man smiled faintly. With a slight tremor of the arm holding the wine jar, a thin stream of wine arced from the jar’s mouth into his cup, which he then drained in a single motion.
"You two." Huaa Que shook his head with a wry smile, then looked at Qin Ya and said, "Kid, let me make some introductions."
"This is Zhao Yunge, one of the academy’s Special-Level Teachers. Don’t be fooled by his youthful appearance; he’s actually about my age. He only looks this way because he comprehended the Mysteries of Withered Wood Meets Spring."
Qin Ya’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’Withered Wood Meets Spring?!’
When Martial Artists cultivate, they must eventually comprehend the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth and integrate them into their Martial Arts. These Dharma Gates vary in power, and the Mysteries of Withered Wood Meets Spring touched upon the domain of life and death. Its power could not be underestimated.
"A pleasure to meet you, Teacher Zhao." Qin Ya gave a slight bow.
Next, Huaa Que gestured toward the green-robed man. "And this is Gu Qingfeng, a Special-Level Teacher and the Vice Mansion Master of the academy."
Gu Qingfeng smiled and gave Qin Ya a slight nod. "A pleasure, Teacher Qin. With your talent, I believe that in the near future, our Yunxiao Empire will have another expert in the Extraordinary Realm."
"Teacher Gu, you flatter me. Becoming an Extraordinary Strong Person is not so easy," Qin Ya said lightly. Although he was certain he would one day reach the Extraordinary Realm, he knew he still had a long road ahead of him.
’How could transcending the mortal realm be so easy?’
If one in a hundred thousand who cultivated Martial Arts could reach the Celestial Essence Realm, then out of a hundred thousand Celestial Essence Realm cultivators, there might not be a single one who could break through their shackles to reach the Extraordinary Realm.
"Don’t be so modest. I have high hopes for you," Zhao Yunge said with a laugh, patting Qin Ya’s shoulder.
The four men drank and conversed happily, not returning until late into the night...
...
「The Yunxiao Imperial Capital. Within the Imperial City!」
In a magnificent hall stood eighteen bronze pillars, each entwined with a coiling dragon. Countless jade tiles and golden bricks seemed to encompass all the world’s splendor. And on the Dragon Throne sat a middle-aged king, clad in a Black Dragon Robe.
His features were resolute, and he possessed an imposing air without a hint of anger. His eyes, deep as a tranquil pool, stared at a letter in his hand, a flicker of doubt creasing his brow.
’A young High-Level Teacher... Qin Ya. Given the Mansion Master’s temperament, he wouldn’t act rashly. So, what skills does this Qin Ya possess?’ The king whispered, his gaze fixed on the name "Qin Ya." His eyes suddenly grew incredibly sharp, like a world-class Divine Soldier.
"Dark Dragon Guard, find someone to make contact with this Qin Ya."
The moment his words fell, the empty space before him rippled like a stone dropped into a calm lake. A voice, both dispassionate and respectful, immediately replied, "Yes..."
