"Yes, Marshal!" One of the guards stepped forward and confirmed. "And that woman said she wanted to revoke Young Master's registration qualification!"
"Revoke Young Master's qualification?" Marshal Haotian's anger soared and pierced the sky.
"That's right Marshal; that woman also said to detain the Young Master and…" The guard hesitated when he reached this part.
"And what after that? Spit it out!" Marshal Haotian roared.
"Yes, Marshal-- that woman said to first detain Young Master and then summon you to go and collect him back before publicly apologizing to the Academy!" The guards quickly revealed everything in a shaky voice.
At that time, Xiong Meiqi said to detain Huang Xiaolong and let his family's elders to come and bring him back after publicly apologizing to the Academy. But, what Xiong Meiqi wasn't aware was that Huang Xiaolong's 'elder' happens to be Marshal Haotian.
"What?!" Marshal Haotian stood up in anger, the hard-as-rock side stool turning into scattered powder.
"Also, the man wanted Fei Hou Senior to be beheaded to deter the public!" The other guard added.
Behead Junior Brother to deter the public?
Marshal Haotian's fury reached a point of no return and shouted, "Relay this Marshal's order: ten infantry brigades to pressure Cosmic Star Academy!"
Ten infantry brigades, that's one hundred thousand soldiers!
One hundred thousand soldiers to pressure Cosmic Star Academy!
This greatly shocked the two guards.
"Why aren't you moving quickly?!" Seeing the two of them was still standing in the room, Marshal Haotian yelled aloud.
"Yes, yes Marshal!" The two guards ran out to relay the order in a frantic.
"Ironclaw Condor!" after the two left, Marshal Haotian called loudly towards the sky above and a huge gray condor appeared above the Marshal Mansion and a loud sharp cry rang out several li away.
All the mansion's guards and servants looked up at the condor's figure and each of their expression changed: something big was going to happen! Only for grave and serious matters would the Marshal call the Ironclaw Condor.
"All Marshal Mansion's guards Eighth Order and above, gather at the square!" Then, everyone in the mansion heard Marshal Haotian's booming voice.
"Yes Marshal!"
At the same moment, silhouettes flashed and disappeared from different corners of the mansion, heading to the square in the Marshal Mansion.
A pre-war like tension spread throughout the mansion.
Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou who were in their own yard also heard Haotian's voice.
"Let's go and take a look." Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou arrived at the square and saw Marshal who was ready to lead one hundred thousand soldiers to the Cosmic Star Academy.
In an instant, Huang Xiaolong understood what Marshal Haotian planned to do.
"Wait!"
"Young Master!" seeing Huang Xiaolong in the square, Marshal Haotian leaped off the condor and saluted.
"Haotian, I don't want the matter to become bigger." said after Huang Xiaolong thought about it for a moment-- if things spiraled out of control, whether for Huang Xiaolong or Marshal Haotian, it wouldn't be a good thing.
He knew that his recommendation letter was given to Haotian by Cosmic Star Academy's Principal showing their good relation. If Marshal Haotian led such a large infantry to the Academy, it surely would make their friendship awkward and at that time the conflict would be harder to resolve.
Furthermore, they are in the Royal City: such a big movement would harm Marshal Haotian's reputation.
"Young Master!" Haotian wanted to say more, but Huang Xiaolong shook his head, saying, "This matter ends here."
"That's right Senior Brother, since Young Master is alright, forget this issue," Fei Hou persuaded.
Haotian stood still, saying nothing; he took a deep breath and finally spoke, "Yes, Young Master, Haotian obeys!" Subsequently, his right hand waved to disperse the gathered guards, withdrawing his marshal order.
A while later, Huang Xiaolong, Fei Hou, and Haotian were seated in the main hall.
"Sovereign, you are the Asura's Gate Sovereign, but here in the Luo Tong Kingdom, you were repeatedly placed in danger-- please punish this Subordinate for this sin!" when all three sat down, Haotian suddenly fell to his knees and said those words.
Huang Xiaolong quickly held Haotian's arms, "Haotian, quickly stand up!"
"Request Sovereign to punish this Subordinate for the crime!" Marshal Haotian remained kneeling on the floor.
Huang Xiaolong sent Fei Hou a helpless look, and Fei Hou followed through saying, "Senior Brother, since Sovereign asked you to stand, then stand up; after all, the fault lies not with you!"
Marshal Haotian hesitated for a second before he finally got up: "Thank you Sovereign!"
Asura's Gate rules are extremely strict; if it was before, if Huang Xiaolong was injured under his territory's jurisdiction, his punishment would leave anyone in fear. Although he might keep his life, however, his martial cultivation would be destroyed.
Of course, Huang Xiaolong wasn't hurt in any way.
Seeing Haotian stand up, Huang Xiaolong asked, "Any news about Elder Yu Ming?" Huang Xiaolong heard Fei Hou mention that their Master went to Mohe Kingdom's Royal City, so he requested Marshal Haotian to search for Yu Ming's news.
"Replying Young Master, there is yet any news of Master, but Subordinate fears Master has already left the Mohe Kingdom's Royal City," Haotian replied with respect.
Huang Xiaolong felt a trace of disappointment, but he had expected this result. Yu Ming went to Mohe Kingdom for some matters so after three years, it is hardly possible for him to be there still.
His Master, Ren Wokuang, left something for him in the Asura's Gate headquarters, and it was something vital to Huang Xiaolong's Asura Tactics cultivation. So, he wanted to ask Yu Ming where the headquarter's location was.
Even Marshal Haotian doesn't know it's location.
A while later, Huang Xiaolong went back to his courtyard from the main hall.
When he stepped into the yard, a small figure rushed into his arms.
"Little guy, where did you run off to these past few days?" Huang Xiaolong chuckled as he inquired, not dodging the figure.
Of course, this little figure is the little violet monkey.
The past few days Huang Xiaolong didn't see a glimpse of the little guy anywhere.
"Zhi zhi zhi!" Perched on Huang Xiaolong's shoulder, the little violet monkey started to gesture while squeaking.
Watching the little monkey, Huang Xiaolong laughed to himself-- probably in this world, only he can tell what it is trying to say. In this Martial Spirit World, beast cultivators needed to break through into the Xiantian realm before they can speak in the human language. Without a doubt, this little monkey has many days ahead of him before it can speak, so it can only gesture to communicate with him.
Afterwards, Huang Xiaolong let the little violet monkey play by himself while he walked into the room and took out the cold jade bed and started to practice; since he advanced to the Sixth Order, the speed he absorbed the netherworld's spiritual aura had increased again.
The twin dragon martial spirits behind him had grown a circumference bigger, the Black Dragon's scales shone and the Blue Dragon's gleamed a royal blue.
Three days soon arrived.
During these past three days, other than practicing Huang Xiaolong was able to stabilize his new strength. His battle qi laced with the netherworld's spiritual aura which ran smoothly in his meridians.
"Finally, the first day of school." Huang Xiaolong walked out from his room, the morning sunlight warming his body.
First day of Academy!
Not long after, Huang Xiaolong left the Marshal Mansion with Fei Hou and four guards, heading in the direction of Cosmic Star Academy. Marshal Haotian added two more guards to protect Huang Xiaolong after the previous incident.
Soon, the six of them reached the Academy's gates.
Since the Academy had started, Fei Hou and the four guards accompanied Huang Xiaolong until they reached the front gates.
Huang Xiaolong passed through the gates alone and after inquiring from the passing teachers and students, he walked towards where his class was.
"Xiaolong!" What was out of his expectations was Li Lu's familiar call the moment he stepped into the classroom.
Huang Xiaolong looked towards the direction of the sound and saw Li Lu waving enthusiastically at him, smiling and exposing two lovely dimples; Huang Xiaolong smiled with a trace of helplessness inside – he's in the same class as Li Lu?
What Huang Xiaolong didn't know was that every batch of new students was placed together in the same class because there was only one class for every year.
And Huang Xiaolong's appearance attracted the new students' attention.
"He's that 'awesome' waste!"
"On registration day, his guards beat up Academy teachers, not only nothing happen to him even all his fees were exempted, too awesome!"
"Awesome? No matter how 'awesome', he's still a waste relying on his family. If not for the recommendation letter, is he qualified to enter Cosmic Star Academy? In my opinion, at the most, his martial spirit is just a grade six!"
Most of the new students saw what happened between Huang Xiaolong and Xiong Meiqi on registration day, and the scuffle with Zhong Yuan and the rest.
Huang Xiaolong's brows slowly creased as the gossip entered his ears.
"Xiaolong, sit beside me!" Li Lu ignored the discussions around her, went up and pulled Huang Xiaolong's hand to a seat next to hers; Huang Xiaolong shook his head and smiled; however, it's not nice to refuse Li Lu's kind intention in public.
Huang Xiaolong just sat down, and a young blonde boy, about ten years old, in a pale gold robe came in; this blonde boy was born with delicate features, albeit a little arrogant.
"Jiang Teng!"
"He is Jiang Teng? From what I've heard, on registration day, his martial spirits was determined to be Bright Holy Tiger, a grade eleven superb martial spirits!"
"Since our Cosmic Star Academy's establishment, there has never been a superb talent martial spirit. When this matter reached the Principal and Vice Principal, both of them already said they wanted to take him as their disciple!"
"Both the Principal and the Vice Principal?! This has never happened in Cosmic Star Academy before!"
In the midst of the students' discussion, the blond boy walked to an empty seat in the middle of the class and sat down.
Huang Xiaolong who was on the second row watched the blond boy; this boy's martial spirits was out of his expectation-- grade eleven martial spirit, Sacred Bright Tiger!
As if he felt Huang Xiaolong's gaze, the blond boy Jiang Teng turned his head, and their eyes collided. And when their eyes met, in the blond boy's eyes, loathing flashed across them: the same emotion that was in Xiong Meiqi's eyes when she looked at him on registration day when he gave her his recommendation letter.
Then he turned his head back in contempt.
Huang Xiaolong noted the other side's dislike and contempt, while his heart sneered; whatever good impression he had of the other side instantly dropped to the lowest point.
While the students were discussing in whispers, suddenly, a cold female teacher entered the classroom and it was Xiong Meiqi!
Seeing Xiong Meiqi, Huang Xiaolong was a little startled: don't tell me this female bear is the class teacher?!
Xiong Meiqi entered the room and went up to the platform: "I am your Class Teacher, Xiong Meiqi!" confirming Huang Xiaolong's guess.
After Xiong Meiqi finished saying that, her eyes were like daggers as she glared at Huang Xiaolong for a split second.
Huang Xiaolong was calm and indifferent, directly ignoring Xiong Meiqi.
Seeing his reaction, Xiong Meiqi laughed coldly and went on to inform the class some of Cosmic Star Academy's rules and the course content that they will be learning in the coming days and some methods to advance in class.
There was only three class years in Cosmic Star Academy: Sixth Order and below in the First Year; a breakthrough from the peak late-Sixth Order to the Seventh Order gives one eligibility for taking the Second Year class's examination. Those who pass can advance one year-- as for the Third Year, students were required to be a Ninth Order.
Anyone who reached twenty-two years old but failed to enter the Second Year class will be expelled from Cosmic Star Academy.
Xiong Meiqi said, "To breakthrough to Seventh Order before twenty-two is hard for some of you, but it is not so for those with grade nine and above martial spirits. After our Cosmic Star Academy's nurturing; as long you are willing to work hard, in general, most of you can breakthrough Seventh Order before reaching twenty-two years old. As for waste that came in using a recommendation letter, no matter how much the Academy nurtures and guides them, a waste is fated to remain a waste."
As if intentionally or maybe not, Xiong Meiqi furtively glanced at Huang Xiaolong.
Huang Xiaolong frowned.
"Wastes with recommendation letters at most possess a grade seven, or six martial spirits, maybe even grade five; even if they cultivate till forty years old, sixty years old, they still have no chance of breaking through to the Seventh Order. Thus, they have only one ending - expulsion from the Academy!" Xiong Meiqi continued, and as if 'hate' wasn't enough, her eyes stared at Huang Xiaolong with an icy coldness as she spoke.
All the new students in the classroom looked at Huang Xiaolong, making him the center of attention.
Then, Xiong Meiqi's voice tone suddenly changed, her cold expression replaced with an amiable smile, saying, "I would like to introduce everyone to our Academy's most talented genius in more than one hundred years, Student Jiang Teng!" Xiong Meiqi pointed at the blond boy Jiang Teng when she finished the introduction. "Student Jiang Teng possess a grade eleven martial spirits, Bright Holy Tiger; he's our Academy's first student who has a superb talent martial spirit since its establishment."
At this time, Jiang Teng stood up from his chair and nodded to the surrounding classmates, his head held a little too high.
Xiong Meiqi led the class in a thunderous applause.
Feeling the envious and admiring gazes on his body, Jiang Teng's demeanor became even more haughty, but when he caught a glimpse of Huang Xiaolong's indifference as he sat there, clearly having no intention to join in the applause, Jiang Teng's smile reduced slightly. The dislike in his eyes increased even more.
At this point, Xiong Meiqi abruptly spoke, "Let me tell everyone a fantastic piece of news: our Student Jiang Teng just reached ten years old, but he's already a Fourth Order warrior! A peak early-Fourth Order!"
"Ten years old already is a peak early-Fourth Order!"
"This is too scary!"
Shocked was evident in every new students' expression and envy and admiration almost shot through the roof as they looked at Jiang Teng.
"Jiang Teng, Principal and Vice Principal said you had learned battle skills?" Xiong Meiqi smilingly asked Jiang Teng.
"It's true Teacher!" Jiang Teng answered with a laugh.
"Can you demonstrate and let everyone see?" Xiong Meiqi requested.
"Okay," Jiang Teng nodded and walked out proudly to an empty spot in the classroom. He stood still, suddenly a bright light burst out revealing a huge tiger behind him; this huge tiger's entire shone brightly, breathing out radiant flames. It let out a deafening roar, exuding a superb talent martial spirit's oppression.
Then, Jiang Teng leaped up and bellowed: "Tiger Flame Palm!" one after another tiger paw was stamped in midair.
While watching, the new students applauded and cheered nonstop.
However, Huang Xiaolong shook his head. This Tiger Flame Palm should be a high grade Mysterious rank battle skill and it isn't bad, but in Jiang Teng's movements, it was full of weakness.
Listening to the applause and cheers, Jiang Teng worked harder and at the end of it, he complacently looked down at his classmates, shouting, "Bright Holy Tiger appear, invincible throughout the world!"
Invincible throughout?
When Huang Xiaolong heard Jiang Teng's shout, he failed to hold in his laughter and a 'puff' rang out. Huang Xiaolong's laughter came so abruptly that the whole class was shocked silent. Everyone's attention zoomed to Huang Xiaolong.
Xiong Meiqi lost her smile and stared icily at Huang Xiaolong, screaming, "Huang Xiaolong, stand up!"
_______________________________________________________________________________
Note:
Some might be confused why both disciples and students were used for Cosmic Star Academy: it is how the author wrote it-- xuesheng (student) and disciple (dizi).
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