Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Finally Remembering the Tower Ancestor?

 

Ye Tianming’s expression was very calm. For him now, staying alive was the priority.

The two quickly arrived at the entrance of Wuzhou Academy. Along the way, Ye Tianming saw many students coming to enroll. He noticed that all the students in Wuzhou had an aura of toughness about them. No wonder Nanling Zhao said the people of Wuzhou valued martial prowess.

Just as the two reached the academy gate, a young man approached them.

“Lord Zhao.”

The young man smiled: “Welcome, I am Wei Ling, a student of the Academy Master.”

Nanling Zhao said: “Hello, please inform the Academy Master that the two of us request an audience.”

Wei Ling immediately showed an apologetic expression, “Lord Zhao, unfortunately, the Academy Master is not in the academy.”

Nanling Zhao was slightly stunned, “Not in the academy?”

Wei Ling nodded, “Yes, the Master left earlier on business and hasn’t returned yet.”

Nanling Zhao looked at Wei Ling, who wore a polite smile on his face, courteous and proper.

How could Nanling Zhao not understand that the other party didn’t want to see her?

Nanling Zhao nodded, “Then I’ll visit another day.”

After speaking, she turned to Ye Tianming, “Let’s go.”

The two turned and left.

Wei Ling watched them leave, and after they disappeared in the distance, he turned and walked back into the academy. Soon, he arrived at a great hall where an old man was sitting – it was the Wuzhou Governor, Yan Sui.

“They left?”

Yan Sui asked.

Wei Ling nodded, “They left.”

Yan Sui sighed softly, “It’s somewhat regrettable.”

Wei Ling said: “Teacher, are you regretful about that young man?”

Yan Sui said: “Someone who can pass through the Guanxuan Path is no ordinary person. Qingzhou could have recruited this talent, but because of the Xiao family… Of course, it’s understandable. After all, any academy would choose a genius from the Xiao family over someone from a lower-tier family.”

Wei Ling said: “This Nanling Zhao helps this young man so much, could she be…”

Yan Sui said: “Since when did you become such a gossip?”

Wei Ling smiled slightly, “I’m just quite curious. She has no relation to that young man, yet she helps him so much. It’s truly puzzling.”

Yan Sui looked at Wei Ling, “Do you think she shouldn’t help?”

Wei Ling was somewhat confused.

Yan Sui shook his head slightly, “Wei Ling, our Wuzhou indeed cannot accept that young man, but you should understand one thing: in this matter, the Xiao family is truly bullying others with their power, and the Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy is aiding the villain. That young man is not at fault. The fault lies with the Xiao family, with Qingzhou Academy, and even the Guanxuan Realm shares some blame.”

Wei Ling looked at Yan Sui with some shock. Yan Sui continued: “And this Lord Nanling Zhao is even less at fault. As an inspector, her duty is to investigate injustices in the world. Her courage to help this young man without fearing powerful forces is admirable. The academy should have more people like her, but…”

As he spoke, he shook his head slightly, “But doing such things requires tremendous courage and a readiness to sacrifice.”

Wei Ling respectfully said: “Master, I understand all this. I just don’t understand, is it worth it for her to do these things?”

Yan Sui smiled and said: “If I were as young as she is, I would have accepted this young man today. But now…”

As he spoke, a complex look flashed in his eyes. He said nothing more and turned to leave.

Those who can become Academy Masters are certainly not simple people. They were once idealistic, but the longer they stay in officialdom, the more they understand that often, an individual cannot change anything.

For them now, seeking stability is best. Avoiding mistakes is an achievement in itself.

Nanling Zhao came outside and saw Ye Tianming again. He was practicing cultivation. Seeing him cultivate, a complex look flashed in her eyes.

Ye Tianming’s talent was undoubtedly terrifying, but she knew very clearly that if he didn’t join a powerful academy, his talent could not be truly developed. Cultivation resources were truly important.

Seeing Nanling Zhao, Ye Tianming quickly stopped his practice. He stood up, walked to her, and said excitedly: “The spiritual energy here is also very rich. I now have a vague feeling of breakthrough, but unfortunately, my combat experience is insufficient, making my current realm unstable. Therefore, I can only continue to accumulate and dare not attempt a breakthrough.”

Nanling Zhao smiled and said: “What you’re doing is right. Haste makes waste, especially in cultivation. Breaking through too quickly is often not a good thing.”

Ye Tianming nodded, then said: “We…”

Nanling Zhao said: “Let’s go to Youzhou.”

Ye Tianming looked at her and nodded, “Mm.”

The two set off directly for Youzhou.

A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at Youzhou. The Guanxuan Academy of Youzhou was located on Mount You, which stretched for thousands of miles and was perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist.

Ye Tianming and Nanling Zhao arrived at the gate of Youzhou Guanxuan Academy. Upon arrival, Ye Tianming was immediately shocked because he discovered that the spiritual energy here was extremely rich and pure, far surpassing that of Wuzhou and other states.

Seeing his shocked expression, Nanling Zhao smiled and said: “Youzhou once won first place, so they were granted two premium celestial veins by the Guanxuan Realm. The genius who won first place got one, and Youzhou Academy got one. That’s why the spiritual energy here is so rich.”

Ye Tianming said softly: “If one could cultivate here, it’s truly unimaginable.”

Nanling Zhao smiled and said: “This is nothing. If you were to go to the main campus of Guanxuan Academy, that would be truly frightening. There, premium celestial veins don’t even rank. People outside often say that at the main campus, even a pig could cultivate to become a great emperor.”

Ye Tianming: “…”

Nanling Zhao continued: “This is why so many people want to join the main campus of Guanxuan Academy. Because entering there truly changes one’s fate, not just your own fate, but also the fate of your family.”

Ye Tianming asked: “It must be difficult to enter the main campus, right?”

Nanling Zhao nodded, “If you’re a local student from the Guanxuan Realm, it’s relatively simpler. But for people from outside states wanting to enter the main campus, it’s truly one in a million. Except for extraordinary prodigies with special physiques, students from outside states who want to enter the main campus can only participate in the Ten Thousand States Competition. The top ten are guaranteed entry to the main campus of Guanxuan. Besides that, if you perform exceptionally brilliantly in the competition and catch the eye of a teacher from the Guanxuan Realm, there’s also a chance to enter the main campus.”

Ye Tianming nodded, “I understand.”

As they spoke, the two had already reached the academy gate. But at this moment, an old man suddenly appeared before them. The old man looked at Nanling Zhao, neither servile nor overbearing, “Lord Zhao, the Academy Master asked me to tell you that he doesn’t want to fall out with Qingzhou Academy and the Xiao family.”

After speaking, he turned and left.

Nanling Zhao remained expressionless and said nothing.

Ye Tianming also remained silent.

After a moment, Nanling Zhao said: “Let’s go to the next state, come…”

“Miss Zhao.”

Ye Tianming suddenly said.

Nanling Zhao turned to look at Ye Tianming. Ye Tianming looked at her, “How does the Ten Thousand States compare to the Sword Sect?”

Nanling Zhao said: “Naturally, it’s far inferior to the Sword Sect. The Sword Sect is…”

Saying this, she suddenly stopped. She understood Ye Tianming’s meaning.

If even the Sword Sect didn’t dare to accept him, Ye Tianming, how could the Ten Thousand States dare?

Ye Tianming smiled and said: “Thank you for helping me so much, but let me walk the rest of the path by myself.”

Nanling Zhao was about to say something when suddenly, an old man arrived through the air. He quickly came to Nanling Zhao and respectfully said: “Young Miss, the Family Head asks you to return to the clan immediately.”

Nanling Zhao said: “I’ll return after some time…”

Thud!

The old man suddenly knelt down, pleading: “Young Miss, the Family Head said if you don’t return, this old servant shouldn’t return either.”

Nanling Zhao’s gaze immediately turned cold. After a moment of silence, she turned to look at Ye Tianming, “Wait for me to come back for you.”

Ye Tianming smiled and said: “Miss Zhao, take care of yourself.”

Nanling Zhao said seriously: “I will come back for you.”

After speaking, she suddenly walked up to Ye Tianming and placed a seal in his hand, “This is my inspector’s seal. Use it for now.”

After saying this, she turned and flew away without waiting for Ye Tianming to speak, disappearing into the horizon. She also realized that without using her entire family’s connections, no state would dare to accept Ye Tianming.

She needed to go back and discuss with her father.

Watching Nanling Zhao disappear into the horizon, it was a long time before he withdrew his gaze. He gently stroked the inspector’s seal in his hand, and after a moment, he put it away and slowly walked down the mountain.

On the way, new students occasionally came up the mountain, their faces filled with hope for the future.

Ye Tianming just walked like that. With Nanling Zhao’s departure, he suddenly felt empty inside. He began to feel somewhat lost. In this vast world, there was indeed no place for him, Ye Tianming.

Faced with the injustice of the world, he also wanted to shout: “Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, don’t bully a poor young man.”

But the cruel reality made him understand that he didn’t have thirty years, perhaps not even three days.

Helplessness!

Despair!

No matter how much he told himself deep down not to despair, to stay strong, these negative emotions still silently grew. Faced with this cruel reality, all efforts were in vain.

Go back?

If he went back now, he would definitely implicate the Ye family. Perhaps he had already implicated them.

Not go back?

In this vast world, where could he go?

Ye Tianming sat on the stone steps, looking somewhat blankly at the horizon. He knew that if he left here, he might die immediately. The Xiao family would definitely not let him go.

His own death didn’t matter, but what about the Ye family?

Big brother!

Ye Zong!

And those brothers of the Ye family.

It was he who had implicated them!

He stared blankly at the horizon, becoming more and more lost. As if thinking of something, he suddenly lowered his head to look at the small tower at his waist and said softly: “Tower Ancestor, you once said you could be my life guide, pointing the way when I’m lost… I’m a bit lost now. What should I do?”

The small tower said: “You finally remembered you still have a Tower Ancestor?”

Ye Tianming: “…”

The small tower laughed and said: “Finally it’s my turn to show off.”

Ye Tianming: “…”