Chapter 201 The Best of Times

Yu Gensheng and Zhao Ziyuan are both quite old, with thinning hair. They are usually all smiles, but when they get serious, they exude a certain authority.

Zhao Ziyuan said, “Cheng Rui, you will study in the library with Minghui from now on.”

“Huh?” The girl in yellow was taken aback. What was going on?

She quickly nodded like a chick pecking at rice. Since the two highly respected elders had given such instructions, she couldn’t disobey them.

“Why don’t you thank the senior!” Xin Youdao reminded her, “That’s a good place.”

Yu Gengsheng said, “Qian Chuan, Tang Jun, you two go to the Misty Land in the back mountain.”

The two were immediately stunned. That was no safe place. Teachers at the academy had warned them not to trespass on that area, or they might get into trouble.

Yu Gengsheng said, “There are some old guys living there. Qian Chuan is in charge of guarding the gate, and Tang Jun will deliver meals to them. Whether you can gain their favor depends on your abilities.”

“Thank you, senior!” Upon hearing this, both of them showed joy, realizing that this was a good place.

After a brief moment of thought, Yu Gensheng and Zhao Ziyuan realized the seriousness of the matter. The appearance of a disciple with the talent of a patriarch on the path of new life was no small matter.

Just to be on the safe side, they made the arrangements themselves.

Otherwise, Zhao Minghui’s advice to keep their mouths shut wouldn’t be very effective.

“Xiao Xin, you’re also on the path of a new student. If you have any questions in the future, just come to me,” Yu Gensheng said.

“Yes, teacher!” Xin Youdao immediately bowed deeply.

Zhao Ziyuan said, “Ling Yu, your senior sister brought you to Kunjun mainly for the blood of the auspicious beast, so that you can be registered at Shanhe Academy. You’ll be following me around for now.”

“Yes, senior!” Ling Yu quickly stepped forward to greet him.

The teenagers were not quite sure what was going on, but they were happy to feel that they were valued by their seniors.

Tang Jin understood that this was to prevent the boys from being too impulsive and from saying anything inappropriate later.

“Minghui, take the three of them and leave first,” Zhao Ziyuan said, pointing to Qian Chuan, Cheng Rui, and Tang Jun. “Okay!” Zhao Minghui led the three away.

Yu Gengsheng began, “Now let’s get down to business. Recently, some special ‘blessed lands,’ which can be called secret realms, are about to open on the plateau outside the Third Forbidden Zone.”

He looked at Qin Ming, Wu Yaozu, Ling Yu, and Xin Youdao, and solemnly informed them that they should prepare in the next few days, as the four of them were qualified to enter. Yu Gengsheng said, “Alright, I will tell you the details later.”

He called someone over, and his words were surprisingly brief.

Soon, Tang Jin noticed that the two elderly people’s eyes were also on her.

Yu Gengsheng smiled and said, “Miss Tang, I’ve heard that you have a junior brother who possesses true ancestor-level talent?” Tang Jin’s pupils contracted. How did he know?

Qin Ming’s heart stirred slightly; this lineage indeed had an even stronger disciple!

Clearly, Ling Yu was in the know and was not kept in the dark; he was not a so-called stand-in.

At Black and White Mountain, Tang Jin once said: “The people I choose are like the blazing sun waiting to break through the black clouds, but they should not be exposed too early, otherwise they may incur the jealousy of the heavens.”

The sparrow had vaguely heard it.

Not long ago, when Ling Yu was defeated by Qin Ming, he also mentioned that in his opinion, Qin Ming should be one of the top in the First Realm, with the legendary ancestor-level talent.

All of this confirms that there is another hidden disciple in this lineage!

Zhao Ziyuan said, “Your junior brother used your lineage’s sacred scripture during a duel with a disciple from the Immortal Land, and he was suspected of being involved in the T case.”

The so-called hidden disciples were not kept in the mountain gate. This lineage knew very well how to cultivate disciples with wildness. The young man was undergoing a baptism of high-intensity combat and was verifying the “new method” after the fusion of the two paths.

“His whereabouts have been discovered?” Tang Jin frowned.

Zhao Ziyuan laughed and said, “This matter was suppressed. Only a few people were present to see it, just like our current situation. One of my descendants happened to be there at the time.”

“Senior, do you mean…” Tang Jin looked at him. Everyone else had been arranged, but he was also worried that she might reveal Qin Ming’s true potential.

Yu Gengsheng said, “Back then, it was such a pity that a tyrant finally emerged. We don’t want such a thing to happen again.”

The premature killing of a future patriarch is heartbreaking for many elderly people. Unfortunately, no one can do anything about Cao Qianqiu, who is in his prime.

Qin Ming felt a surge of warmth and was deeply moved. The two elders had arranged for these people and said so much because they were worried that his ancestral master-level talent would be exposed.

Tang Jin shook his head sincerely and said, “Senior, you’re overthinking it. Although we’re very close to the Outer Realms, we’re still on the path of rebirth, and we would never be so tasteless!”

The purple-eyed crow also spoke up: “I can guarantee that. We’re all on the same side. Moreover, the Grandmaster is happy to see a young man with ancestral-level talent appear on the path of new students, helping him to verify the new method.”

“Yes!” Both old men nodded.

“What was the result of that battle?” Master Wu asked. “It ended in a draw,” Zhao Ziyuan replied.

“My junior brother has the talent of a grandmaster, and he is pursuing two paths simultaneously, both of which have reached the first realm of perfection. In the end, can we only end up with a draw?” Tang Jin was not satisfied with this result.

Zhao Ziyuan said, “That disciple of the Immortal Land is extremely powerful. He is only not high enough in terms of cultivation level yet. Once he reaches the middle and late stages of the Yellow Court realm, he will surely become a near-immortal.”

With one exception, immortal beings from other realms generally need to be identified at the Yellow Court Realm.

Qin Ming was astonished. Was a near-immortal seed really that powerful? He couldn’t help but ask about the person’s specific realm. “Also at the peak of the first realm,” Yu Gengsheng replied with a smile.

Qin Ming understood that he was now in his eighth freshman year, and he still had one more chance to be a freshman!

Xiao Wu patted his chest and said, “That was really scary! I thought he was in the middle stage of the first realm.” Immediately, the two old men looked at him strangely.

Tang Jin’e frowned slightly, guessing what was going on, and said, “It seems that the Immortal Land has expanded its roads again, teaching future immortal seeds ahead of time. Otherwise, my junior brother wouldn’t have used the trump card technique taught by our teacher!”

Zhao Ziyuan sighed: “This is the best of times, but also the most brutal and bloody period of competition. All paths are still imperfect and are being expanded and pioneered. The most outstanding talents may very well become immortals in the future.”

All paths are still being explored, and whether it’s the already established figures like Sun Taichu and Cao Qianqiu, or the younger newcomers, everyone has a chance!

Yu Gengsheng said, “Now that we’ve talked it out, there’s no problem.” In the end, only the two old men, Qin Ming, and Wu Yaozu remained.

Soon, Xiao Wu also gained recognition, which surprised Yu Gengsheng and Zhao Ziyuan. What’s going on this year? Such a pleasant surprise suddenly appeared.

Xiao Wu has decided on his path: to diligently cultivate his physical body and never abandon it in the future! The two old men are arguing here because of Qin Ming.

Yu Gengsheng wanted to secretly groom Qin Ming, giving him whatever he wanted! But Zhao Ziyuan objected, believing that this was not advisable.

He worried that it would eventually result in deformed and distorted fruits, or even be equivalent to “raising pigs.” Xiao Wu almost burst out laughing when he heard this.

Qin Ming glared at him, wanting to punch him twice.

Zhao Ziyuan said, “Even the Buddhas of this world raise their disciples freely. If they want resources, they need to abandon their disciples and fight tooth and nail to obtain them. And that hidden disciple from the previous lineage wasn’t raised in a greenhouse either. What do the two of us have to compare with a patriarch-level figure? We’re simply not qualified to teach him!”

He believes that the best Qin Ming is the one who rose to prominence through his own efforts. Now, they shouldn’t change Qin Ming’s trajectory!

In the end, Yu Gengsheng was persuaded and said, “If the Cui family makes a move, or if other old guys intend to suppress it, we will naturally not sit idly by, and we will not interfere in other matters.”

Despite this, the two still came over and handed over a copy of “The Undying Butterfly Sutra”.

Qin Ming felt like he was in a dream. This was the most “rich” day he had ever had since embarking on his new life. He had even acquired two extraordinary skills in one day!

“Child, we cannot compare to the masters, much less blaze a trail…”

The two believe that Qin Ming is now progressing very steadily, similar to his predecessors in history, relying on his own initiative and moving forward with wildness and vigor.

They were terrified that the wrong “feeding” would ruin him!

The two felt they shouldn’t interfere, to prevent him from deviating from his original course. Qin Ming initially wanted to say something, but ultimately just nodded.

“Sigh!” Yu Gengsheng sighed and told him about going to the secret realm.

That area is jointly managed by Kunjun’s academy, secluded places, and esoteric sects. Over the years, due to the poor performance of those on the path to new life, the number of people entering has been continuously reduced.

Zhao Ziyuan said, “We can’t blame anyone else. We’ve been unable to compete for years, and the number of places on the Freshman Road program has been decreasing, creating a vicious cycle. We can only blame ourselves for not being competitive enough.”

Now, newcomers can only enter by being hired or as “accompaniments.” “What is an accompaniment?” Xiao Wu couldn’t help but ask.

“You’ll need to team up with others to go in, and you’ll have to do some hard labor, such as scouting ahead and dealing with emergencies.” Qin Ming and Xiao Wu were dumbfounded; these were all dirty and tiring jobs!

Yu Gengsheng said, “I think it shouldn’t be a big problem for the two of you to go in. If it really doesn’t work out, then you can leave the team and survive on your own, and you can still get the benefits you deserve.”

The key point is that to enter the secret realm, one either needs to be hired or partner with someone. “It’s utterly miserable!” Xiao Wu couldn’t help but exclaim.

This hit Yu Gengsheng and Zhao Ziyuan hard, but reality is cruel. “Why did you end up like this?” Xiao Wu couldn’t help but continue to pry.

Zhao Ziyuan said, “Over the years, the Jade Purity Sect has closed its mountain, the Six Imperial Ancestors are dying, and the Sky-Supporting Sect is also nearing its end. The major ancestral courts have all kept a low profile and no core disciples have come. Relying solely on the newcomers from Kunjun, we cannot compete.”

The Secret Realm is extremely mysterious.

Its ability to attract near-immortal beings from otherworldly realms, pure lands, and yang lands speaks volumes. Often, even esoteric Buddhist deities will also come.

Therefore, the newcomers in this territory are indeed no match for them.

Furthermore, the demons on the plateau outside the Third Forbidden Zone might also enter, since the Secret Realm was originally taken from them.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming and Xiao Wu immediately perked up. This place was coveted by all parties, so there must be many benefits to be gained.

Over the next two days, Qin Ming studied the “Dragon and Snake Classic” diligently and practiced it constantly. He felt its extraordinary nature. This technique could change one’s physical constitution, transforming one from a snake into a dragon, which was extremely difficult.

In a daze, he seemed to see a giant snake, its flesh torn to pieces by lightning in the rainy night. It represented the hardship and difficulty that ordinary creatures faced in trying to ascend to heaven, as if separated by an insurmountable chasm.

“This scripture is not simple. It is already good if one can master even a part of it in the early stages of life. This is the difference between immortals and mortals. It requires a qualitative change. The path is blocked. This is also the transformation from mortal to god.”

Qin Ming pondered, this scripture is very difficult to practice!

Xiao Wu came to call him and said, “Brother, stop practicing. The two seniors are calling us. It seems we’re going to ‘team up’ for the first time.”

They arrived at the neighboring Feixian Academy and watched as Xin Youdao and Ling Yu were forcibly dragged away, receiving a great deal of attention. Both of them were somewhat dumbfounded.

They were even thinking of teaming up with those two if all else failed.

In fact, the two had already been warned to avoid drawing too much attention and not to form a four-person team with Qin Ming and Xiao Wu. “Choose the two of them!” Xin Youdao immediately said to the people around him.

However, the man shook his head, informing him that the team was already full.

“Fairy Zhao, I think those two are exceptionally strong.” Ling Yu also recommended them to an acquaintance, only to be told that the members had already been decided.

Qin Ming and Xiao Wu looked at each other, wondering if they had been rejected.

(There’s more to come!)