Chapter 187 A Worrying Future

Kunjun City has a rather irregular layout, with roads that are not crisscrossed but rather diagonal and winding. In addition, it covers a vast area, making it very easy for first-time visitors to get lost.

“This…” Wu Yaozu walked along the bustling sloping street, then entered a bend in the road, getting dizzy as he realized he had returned to the place he had just been.

In addition, the crowds were bustling and jostling, and he was quite unaccustomed to the place since he had just come out of the Fourth Forbidden Zone. He almost got separated from Qin Ming.

“The spirit sheep has just returned from hunting in the mountains, accumulating a hundred years of cultivation. The fresh meat skewers are grilled to perfection, full of spiritual energy. Everyone, line up!”

A barbecue restaurant was bustling with customers, and the lamb looked incredibly tempting, with a rich aroma and a radiant spiritual light.

“Brother Ming, shall we go in and try some?” Wu Yaozu asked, his appetite returning. “It’s probably rat demon meat, mixed with a muttony smell, but it’s still edible,” Qin Ming said. Wu Yaozu: “…”

“Enlightenment Tea, produced in the edge of the Second Desolate Region, is a new product that only comes out once every three years. It was personally picked by the seniors of Pure Land and will be auctioned tonight!”

In a sizable teahouse, someone used their spiritual power, and their voice echoed throughout the street, causing quite a stir.

Clearly, this company’s tea is quite famous.

After Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu entered the city, they visited two academies and were already completely disoriented. Unable to bear it any longer, they first went to a well-established restaurant for a meal.

“How exactly was this giant city, which is famous even in the Night Fog World, planned? Many roads are crooked and twisted, which is very unfriendly to newcomers,” Wu Yaozu said.

At a nearby table, someone laughed and said, “Brother, you can think of Kunlun as a cluster of cities. If you think of it that way, you won’t get lost easily.”

With guidance from others, Wu Yaozu and Qin Ming finally gained a deeper understanding of the place.

This area was established by various Taoist temples and academies.

Each temple and academy would choose a location with abundant spiritual energy and expand outwards from there, each becoming a distinct district. As these areas developed, people continuously migrated there, filling the gaps left between the different temples and academies.

Therefore, Kunjun City can be divided into more than a dozen districts, covering a vast area. It is not surprising that there are sacred mountains and giant lakes with ethereal auras in the city, and its area is much larger than other giant cities.

When different urban areas connect, the roads are often slanted and crooked.

“Xiao Wu, you need to change how you address me. From now on, call me Shen Wubing.” Qin Ming secretly reminded him. After arriving in this new territory, he didn’t want to attract attention. He was mainly here for the collections of books from various universities.

Now, his control over flesh and blood is incredibly precise, allowing him to alter his appearance and operate the “Harmony with the World” technique. Back in the Six Imperial Ancestral Court, Lu Zi had helped him supplement this secret technique, resulting in a qualitative improvement.

“Okay, Brother Shen.” Wu Yaozu nodded.

“The prices here are really not cheap.” Qin Ming discovered when he paid the bill that it was several times higher than in Chixia City.

Before he fell from the sky into the Fourth Desolate Land, his body was shattered. He used his sticky strength to bind some important items, but he didn’t care about his clothes or gold.

“Sigh, I used to have some assets, but they all exploded in mid-air with me. Oh well, may the broken pieces bring peace.” Qin Ming sighed.

He counted the gold coins and found only a little over a hundred left, a pity for the contributions of Wang Nianzhu, Ge Qianxun, and others.

“Little Wu, be careful with your money.” He gave half to Wu Yaozu, sixty-six coins each, which was all he had left.

Wu Yaozu nodded and said, “Brother, let’s hire a car. This place is too convoluted. We can’t cut corners here, and we’re just taking a roundabout route.”

Qin Ming nodded and said, “Okay, let’s go. This time, let’s join an academy first and settle down before we talk about anything else.”

Then they boarded a sheep-drawn cart. They didn’t get to eat the spirit sheep meat, but they did get to ride in the cart it pulled. It was taller and stronger than normal cattle and horses, with a striking golden coat.

At first, the two thought someone was driving a carriage, using the sheep demon to transport guests, but they never expected that the old sheep was actually soliciting business itself.

It was very enthusiastic and talkative, and the nanmu wood cart was very clean and had a pleasant fragrance.

“I’ve been driving passengers for twenty years, honest and fair, young and old. If you two need a ride in the future, or want to charter a car long-term, you can contact me.” It has a name, and calls itself Jinxiang.

Wu Yaozu asked, “Old Yang, which academy do you think is good and suitable for newcomers like us who have no background but are quite talented?”

Jin Xiangdao wiggled his goatee and said, “Actually, it’s hard to compare. Tianpeng Dojo, Shanhe Academy, and others are all good; none of them are bad. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to establish themselves in this legendary land. It’s said that they all have powerful figures supporting them!”

“Then let’s go to Shanhe Academy,” Qin Ming said.

“Alright!” Old Sheep ran steadily and quickly, and was very talkative, telling the two of them a lot of things to pay attention to.

For example, outstanding candidates who have already been admitted in advance will have to pass some assessments if they want to join now.

“There’s a misty area behind the Mountain and River Academy; don’t wander in recklessly, or you’ll easily get into trouble. Also, this academy is full of hidden talents; be discreet when you go in, or you might get taken care of…”

Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu felt that the service was quite good and that it was worth the ride.

Shanhe City is very prosperous. When viewed separately, it is quite well-organized, with temples, residences, markets and other buildings standing side by side, and a constant flow of people.

The university is located in the center and covers a vast area with mountains, dense forests, lakes, and a large complex of ancient buildings. It is mysterious yet full of vitality. As soon as I arrived at the gate, I saw a large number of students coming and going. They were all young and full of vitality.

Seeing this scene, Jin Xiang was deeply moved and sighed, “Alas, it’s that time of year again for new student registration. Thinking back to 24 years ago, I also entered from here. In the blink of an eye, 20 years have passed since I graduated.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Yaozu was utterly shocked. This was supposed to be an eccentric senior brother? So he went to pull a rickshaw right after graduation? This lousy university’s future looks bleak!

Jin Xiang quickly added, “Don’t misunderstand, junior brothers. The cultivation method I practice is quite special. It requires me to swallow worldly energy every day. There is nothing more suitable for my work than this. I am refining my heart in the world.”

Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu looked at each other, both of them had gotten off the bus, so they couldn’t go to another one, could they?

Since they were already there, they decided to make the best of it and walked forward.

The Mountain and River Academy, with two stone mountains as its gateway, is filled with auspicious purple energy, and various old trees grow nearby, lush and verdant.

“These two junior students are so handsome and spirited, they look extraordinary…” As soon as they arrived at the door, a beautiful girl came up to greet them warmly. When she learned that the two were not there to register, but to take a temporary test, she immediately smiled slightly, excused herself, and quickly replaced them with a young man to lead the way.

“Which path will you take: the path of immortals, the path of esoteric Buddhism, the path of alienation… or the path of the newborn?” the boy asked.

Upon learning that the two had chosen the path of rebirth, the young man smiled and asked, “Do you want to become Golden Armor Guardians? Recently, quite a few junior brothers and sisters on the Immortal Path have been choosing helpers.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Yaozu realized that the path to a new life was really not good, and Ming’s future looked bleak.

“Uh, I don’t plan on that anytime soon,” Qin Ming said.

Then, the boy waved his hand, summoning a crow to guide the two to the assessment, and then he turned and left.

Wu Yaozu was dumbfounded, and it took him a long time to say, “This… is too realistic, isn’t it? From the pretty senior at the beginning to the old crow at the end?!”

“I’m only sixteen, and I’m your senior too!” the crow in the tree complained.

“Ah, I’m so sorry, Sister Ya!” Wu Yaozu quickly apologized.

Qin Ming has a record of twenty consecutive victories, which means he can join any academy without any problem. However, he doesn’t plan to reveal this. He went to take the tests with Wu Yaozu, including tests on strength, speed, perception, and combat skills. The two of them passed smoothly.

The interior of Shanhe Academy is secluded and quiet. The main gate is noisy with new students registering everywhere. But once inside, the place is so large, with forest areas, swamp areas, and so on, that it becomes much less noisy.

Sister Ya said, “My two junior brothers, you are really lucky this year. The seniors from various academies and universities will join forces to deal with the auspicious beast in the Third Forbidden Land. Perform well, and if you are outstanding enough, you will definitely be blessed with the blood of the auspicious beast, and you will most likely be able to undergo a rebirth because of it.”

Wu Yaozu immediately rubbed his hands together, his blood boiling with excitement.

Qin Ming was much calmer, because he knew why those immortal and divine seeds appeared—it was for the blood of auspicious beasts, and he estimated that the number of such seeds was quite limited and scarce.

Sister Ya continued, “However, your chances are indeed slim. Have you heard of that freak, Eighty-One? His name is Xin Youdao. He swept through Eighty-One Cities and has also joined our Mountain and River Academy. He is pursuing both the Secret Sect Path and the Freshman Path simultaneously. Undoubtedly, the Freshman Path is weaker and has fewer competitors. He will most likely choose to squeeze out a spot on the Freshman Path in order to obtain the Blood of the Auspicious Beast.”

“These… different paths, and even a hierarchy of contempt?” Wu Yaozu scratched his head, feeling that Ming Ge had really had a tough time since arriving here.

Sister Crow said, “Many newcomers come to terms with reality within a year or two. Those who are clear-headed initially enrolled to choose followers, aren’t you the same?”

Wu Yaozu remained silent.

Soon, Sister Ya led the two to arrange accommodations. The environment was quite ordinary, far inferior to the sacred mountain area shrouded in celestial mist where those who followed the Immortal Path or the Secret Path stayed.

This was a wooded area, quite far from the fire spring, and rather dark in the night. The only redeeming feature was that the cabins were all individual small wooden huts, not the kind of shared rooms one might expect.

Sister Ya laughed and said, “Do you see that place with flowing fire springs, rising immortal mist, and purple aura? Actually, you can also go in. Those who perform well can stay there no matter which path you’re on. There are quite a few pretty senior sisters there.”

“Brother, let’s go, let’s get two rooms. This place has no moonlight, and even the fire spring is so far away,” Wu Yaozu secretly transmitted. “Let’s calm down first, and figure out the situation here before we talk,” Qin Ming really didn’t want to attract attention so soon after arriving.

What he cared about most was the collection of books here; that was his ultimate goal, and nothing else mattered. He even planned to visit various universities and temples.

“Hey juniors, want some tickets?” Sister Ya asked mysteriously at the very end. “What’s going on?” Wu Yaozu asked curiously.

Sister Ya said, “Xin Youdao is very powerful; he’s entered our academy. There’s also a prodigy who has passed the Hundred Cities Sword Trial, known as the Young Ancestor, and is extremely powerful as well. He’s come to Kunjun City and will soon be sparring with Xin Youdao. Don’t you want to witness this decisive battle between those who stand at the very top of our generation?”

“Tch, Kunlun (What kind of place is Kunlun? It’s a place with numerous academies and schools, and a large number of students. This is the most representative duel among our generation, attracting the attention of everyone. Many people even travel thousands of miles from other cities to watch the battle. You think you can watch it for free? The ticket price is already sky-high.”

“How much?” Wu Yaozu asked.

It whispered, “I have a good spot here. As your senior, I’ll give you a discount: 20 gold coins per ticket.”

“I won’t look!” Although Wu Yaozu had just emerged from the perilous situation and lacked experience, he was definitely not stupid. This Sister Crow was clearly trying to rip him off.

“Ticket prices have already skyrocketed, you know? There’s no cheaper option now.” The two shook their heads again.

“Brother, when are we going to have a match? Charging like this, we’ll make a fortune quickly!” Wu Yaozu secretly transmitted his voice. He felt that he and Wu Yaozu were both top-tier players.

“Tuition fees, accommodation fees…” Sister Ya kindly reminded them, and seeing that they weren’t buying tickets, she didn’t want to stay any longer either. The two were dumbfounded; were they going to go bankrupt just by coming in? The various fees were ridiculously expensive.

“Can we postpone it for a few days?” Wu Yaozu whispered.

“Sure, I have someone recruiting Golden Armor Guards. Do you want to go and earn some gold?” “Let’s think about it first,” Qin Ming said.

Sister Crow flapped her wings and flew away, disappearing into the night.

That day, Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu wandered around, just to familiarize themselves with the environment and get used to the atmosphere.

They noticed many students running towards the main gate, which quickly caused a commotion, and immediately followed to inquire about the situation.

“Let’s go to the Flying Immortal Academy next door. It’s said that a senior monk is coming to give a lecture, and immortal beings will also come to share their insights and offer blessings to the new students,” someone said.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming immediately lost interest.

“Let me tell you how powerful these immortal beings are. Some of them achieved enlightenment at the age of three, and others have swept aside their peers and obtained items that are close to immortality…”

Hearing their conversation, Qin Ming immediately grabbed the other person and asked, “What did you say? Who are they?” After a moment, he beckoned to Wu Yaozu and said, “Little Wu, let’s go, we’re going to the Flying Immortal Academy right now!”

(There’s more to come!)