Ch. 851 - A Straw Hat In The Mist, Living As One Pleases

“To treat the teacher’s soul, repairing what’s broken is the easy part. Our Heavenly Dao Academy is never short on pills,” Rock Solid sighed. “The real problem is the missing portions of the soul. A powerful soul fragment is needed to replace what’s gone. Later, in order to save the teacher, the Vermilion Bird gave part of her own soul to complete his.”

“So that’s how it was,” Xu Zimo nodded slightly.

“Without her soul, the Vermilion Bird fell unconscious, and it was only then that the teacher remembered he had once saved her,” Rock Solid continued. “The teacher used to have a very gentle personality, but from that day on, he never accepted another student. He numbed himself with alcohol every day, spending most of his time at the place where the Vermilion Bird was buried.”

“I understand. If she can be saved, then let’s save her,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“Thank you,” Rock Solid said solemnly.

Xu Zimo waved his hand, not saying much more. If Venerable Nu really could help him enter the Heavenly Dao Academy, saving the Vermilion Bird wasn’t a big deal, just some extra effort. But if the other side was lying, then just as he could save her, he could also kill.

…

Aside from the three of them, there were no other living creatures on Vermilion Bird Island. Staying too long inevitably became dull. Xu Zimo greeted Rock Solid, then left the island. The bluish flames tinged with red lit up half the sky.

He stepped through the air, returning to the Heavenly Dao Academy. He planned to look around and explore the number one academy of the Primordial Heartlands, at least it would make the trip worthwhile.

Walking along the main street on the south side of the academy, both sides were lined with rows of Dao Comprehension Trees. These trees were extremely rare and greatly aided in understanding the Dao.

It was said that one of the academy’s founders, Daoist Yiqi, had once sat beneath such a tree for a thousand years in meditation, achieving sudden enlightenment in a single move. Lotus flowers fell from the heavens for ten thousand miles around, golden light shining everywhere, and strange phenomena filled the land.

Passing through the tree-lined path, straight ahead stood a tall tower. This was the so-called Treasure Tower.

The Treasure Tower was not open to outsiders, and Xu Zimo only glanced at it from afar. The tower was about ten thousand feet high, entirely golden, with patterns of various treasure projections decorating its surface. Powerful formations were set all around it. Anyone who entered without permission would likely be reduced to ashes instantly under the formation’s power.

Walking further ahead, he reached the Myriad Martial Platforms. It was said there were one hundred thousand combat platforms here, specifically for academy students to spar.

Entering through the main gate, the place was bustling with activity. Figures moved actively on every platform, endless auras and spiritforce clashing against one another.

At that moment, Xu Zimo felt a pat on his shoulder. He quickly turned around and saw Great Wisdom standing beside him.

“You came into the academy and didn’t even contact me,” the monk said with a sigh.

“I just hadn’t had a chance to come out until now,” Xu Zimo replied with a smile. “I was just about to take a walk today when I ran into you.”

“So, what, you came here to spar?” the monk asked. “I asked around, so far in this year’s admissions, besides you and Mo Tianming, no one has made it past the tenth trial.”

“That’s understandable. The ten trials were harder than I imagined,” Xu Zimo nodded. Especially the tenth, guarded by an emperor. Mo Tianming had passed using imperial might, otherwise, pure strength alone would have been impossible.

“Do you know that right now, the two of you are the talk of the academy?” the monk said with a smile. “A lot of people want to challenge you, to see what kind of geniuses could pass the tenth trial.”

“What’s the point of that?” Xu Zimo waved it off. “These people are just bored.”

“You don’t get it, this time, the academy recruited many disciples from prestigious sects, including holy sons and daughters of imperial lineages and immortal sects. If they knew you, it’d be different. But you two are complete strangers to them, so they’re curious.”

Xu Zimo thought about it and realized that was true. This was his first time in the Overlord Region, so it was natural they didn’t know him. Mo Tianming was a lone cultivator, without showing his strength, no one would know him either.

While they were talking, a commotion broke out not far ahead. It seemed someone was fighting. Normally, that was nothing unusual for the Myriad Martial Platforms, but these two seemed to have real anger between them, they’d even escalated to a life-and-death duel. Some students tried to mediate, while others stood around to watch.

“Let’s go take a look,” the monk said with interest.

Xu Zimo didn’t reply. He was staring at one of the fighters in the arena. A familiar figure, someone he knew.

A straw hat in the mist, living as one pleases.

Ren Pingsheng, descendant of Grand Emperor Tun Ri.

The last time he had seen Ren Pingsheng was back on the Eastern Continent, and it had been a long time since. Mainly, Xu Zimo’s growth had been too fast, and at the time Ren Pingsheng could no longer keep up. Unlike Little Gui and Lin Ruhu, who he could still run into within the same sect, their contact had naturally faded over time.

He had never expected to meet him again here at the Heavenly Dao Academy. He had originally planned to wait until after becoming an emperor to give benefits to those he’d known before, those who had helped him.

Watching Ren Pingsheng fight another young man in a life-and-death duel on the platform, Xu Zimo felt a wave of nostalgia. But instead of crowding forward like the monk to surround the stage, he sat at a seat far off, watching the fight with interest.

…

“Are all the new students this year so disrespectful?” the young man in a green robe snorted.

“Respect goes both ways, Wang Lang. You’re nothing more than a dog following Zhang Changui. Why should I talk rules with you?” Ren Pingsheng said coldly.

“Looking for death.” Wang Lang’s eyes grew dark as he glared at Ren Pingsheng.

“If you want to fight, then fight. I’m not afraid of you,” Ren Pingsheng said calmly. “Do you dare make it a life-and-death duel? Or will you just keep being a coward like always, disgusting people from the sidelines?”

Wang Lang’s face flushed red with anger. He glanced back discreetly at a group of people standing behind him.

There were both men and women among them, all with extraordinary bearing, clearly from powerful backgrounds. One of them, a young man in a blue robe with a firm, resolute face, gave a slight nod. His aura was domineering, and he stood out even in the crowd.

Seeing the man’s signal, Wang Lang turned back and shouted, “Fine, then we fight!”

…

The Heavenly Dao Academy allowed life-and-death duels. As long as both sides signed a life-and-death agreement, they could battle on the platform without interference.

By now, Ren Pingsheng was no longer the person he once was, his aura was extraordinary, and streams of black spiritforce spread out around him.

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