Chapitre 5: Chapter 5 : Intro into things.
[Author's note : I skipped the spar to keep the surprise to be shown in the next chapter.]
"So, how did it go?"
I sat down in the chair while applying the silver healing paste to my bruises, burns and clawed out lacerations. The fire panther [Ju Lian's martial soul] is really scary martial soul. Each attack burns.
"It went like planned. I won."
That was like a signal for a light show.
Teacher literally jumped up into the air shouting out in joy, "Yeah ho! Fuck you Lou Gao, you old bastard! My student accomplished what you couldn't. He helped the blacksmiths. HAHAH."
I had to watch him move his waist back and forth in his vulgar dissing of the President of Blacksmith association. Man, Teacher Mo Tian is a petty man.
"Come on, Teacher. It has been years, and it is his right to reject you from becoming his disciple."
Before I knew it, Teacher Mo Tian's gruffy face was in front of my face spitting out his previous, unfortunately words were not the only spit out from his mouth.
I rubbed the saliva sprayed on me with my shirt. Anyway, it is like a cloth right now. Especially after the spar with Ju Lian. I dragged my thoughts away from the spar to Teacher who wrapping up his daily dissing.
".....and just like that, I, the winner of the blacksmith competition, was rejected for my apparent lack of talent in cultivation. The bastard had the audacity to choose the runner-up Si Long, who was nowhere near my skill. Fuck the old man, fuck his narrow mind."
I burst his bubble by saying, "Don't get so excited just yet, teacher. The Prince agreed based on a condition. I need to prove the blacksmith's weapon again."
After all, the spar with Ju Lian was done behind closed door and strictly speaking, Ju Lian is only a talented subordinate of first prince.
SNORT
Teacher's sarcasm rose at this point. "Oh! There, you see, the nobles want something more. They call us greedy merchants when they are the same, running to the prince with better price. This is the reason I didn't want you to join the noble struggles."
I gave a paper and a badge to Teacher in response, " A student badge on my name for Star Luo academy and most importantly the information on location and abilities of every suitable spirit beast for a tiger martial soul, ranging from the measly age of 10 years to 10,000 years."
I groaned as I got up, feeling the injuries from the spar. The Star Luo Empire, which covers half of the Duoluo continent, is known for its focus on one martial soul - the White Tiger. As a result, the Star Luo Academy and the empire itself have dedicated their resources to tiger martial souls. They excel in everything related to tiger martial souls, including researching suitable spirit beasts for spirit rings, providing cultivation training grounds, and having abundant herbal resources.
Not even the spirit hall can dare say it is better than the Star Luo empire.
Teacher, hearing my logic, sighed and said, "So, what is the so-called test or grunt work they gave you? SNORT, just like the nobles, even when he requires us to stay in the competition, we must flatter him."
I took up the badge and said, "Humiliate a student in Star luo academy by thrashing him and, by doing so, show the nobles the advantage of blacksmith weapons."
Teacher asked with a sinking expression, "Who is the student?"
I understand the teacher's worries.
Humiliating a regular student, even if they're a genius like Ju Lian, won't influence the nobles in believing the blacksmith's weapons strength, even if the First prince comes forward.
The student who is targeted to be humiliated by Prince Dai Weisi must have a special identity.
"In fact, One can easily guess the student's identity. After all, the student must be of similar age to me, but me winning against him will be a humiliation that will deal a death blow to the student's name. So we can guess two things from that. He must have a soul ring by now and, most importantly, an identity that every noble cannot ignore."
Teacher tiredly said the target's name, "The new prince revealed by the emperor, Third Prince Dai Mubai."
———The next day——
CLICK CLACK CLICK CLACK
CLICK CLACK
The sounds of the carriage wheels turning faded into the background for me as the carriage fleet followed the Third prince back to Star Luo Academy back. Of course, considering my student identity, I was given a carriage to sit inside.
I started my cultivation by compressing the soul power bit by bit. It was not as simple as being said. Compressing less is useless and compressing more will lead to my meridians blowing up.
[ AI Suggestion : One more point of soul power can compress.]
Of course, with the help of AI, I can always stay on track regarding the amount of compression. Little by little, the soul power being compressed in increased as my meridians themselves are getting more used to the compressed soul power.
The compression of soul power is not unbelievable for most people.
It occurs naturally as a soul master rises through levels until the gaseous soul power becomes liquid at the soul saint stage, solid at Title Doulou.
The advantage of soul power compression is naturally making the meridians resilient, which is useful when absorbing soul rings.
The other advantage is that the compressed soul power is naturally stronger than the same level.
Yes, I am a genius in a way. Now, in combat, I won against Ju lian who already has one soul ring.
BOOOOM
I was literally knocked out of cultivation by the explosions.
COUGH
COUGH
Spewing the sand in my mouth, I got to my combat stance while possessing my martial soul. I looked around to see the destroyed carriages and the Prince with his group standing in a formation away.
The civilians and horses were running away from the explosions caused by the source of chaos.
A man dressed in armour with tiger sigil, filled with spotted fur from head to toe, was choking the life of a black clothed enemy, an assassin, with a single hand. The scariest part is not his scars. Not the many bodies surrounding him. Not it is the six rings floating around him- 2 yellow, 2 purple-2 black.
"I must say, the second prince is really daring enough to send 4 soul ancestors and 2 soul kings with me around."
Prince Weisi walked forward while Soul emperor guard crushed the head of the final assassin. "That's because they are expendable. After all, unlike the nobles bound by blood ties and interests. These trash are rogue civilian cultivators who may change the side anytime. So, he used them to consume my forces. But, unfortunately for him, you are here, uncle Zhu Wan."
Zhu Wan laughed happily while walking towards the group, not caring about the fact he stepped on the heads of the corpses. "Anything for my favourite nephew and niece."
Zhu Zhuyun smiled as she said, "That's why you are my favourite uncle."
As the Zhu Wan looked at me, I gave a short boy to convey my respects. I, internally, royalty and nobles, are really tedious to greet.
He gave a nod as dissolved his martial soul- Hell Leopard.
Zhu Wan taught his nephew with seriousness. "Let's go. The assassination attempt failed because I was hidden and they didn't know I was there. Now that they know, the second prince might send more assassins. Information is crucial in sending assassins."
Dai Weisi snorted, "Let them come. We will dig a hole for every single one of them."
"HAHA! Well done, as expected of a prince."
Even as he basked in Zhu Wan's praise, Prince Weisi obediently led everyone to run back the rest of the way.
Trash talking is one thing while risking one's life because of stupidity is another thing.
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"...So, the first prince's noble forces are larger and more powerful, but they are easily tracked by the Dai Family Elders' council. While the 2nd Prince's forces are composed of Civilian Soul masters who can be just about anyone. So we have to deal with constant assassination attempts."
I listened intently as Ju Lian explained the inner workings of the prince factions. I couldn't help but ask, "Doesn't that mean the 1st prince is disadvantaged by the emperor in this aspect?"
Zhu Zhuyun responded contemptuously, snorting to emphasize her point. "The second prince is just as bound by the Emperor's rules as everyone else. The failed assassination attempt on Dai Weisi means an investigation will be started by the Emperor. Anyone found guilty will face severe punishment."
She licked her lips, giving off a predatory vibe, and confidently stated, "some individuals will perish during this investigation."
Glancing at the panting noble kids, she casually commented, "it's a pity they desire power and favor but are too afraid to take risks."
I understood the double meaning; the nobles supporting the 1st prince have the power to assassinate the 2nd prince, but they don't want to decisively bet their everything. The off chance of 2nd prince surviving and winning the throne is too big a risk for them. The current emperor is a prime example of this. The second prince, with an innate and powerful soul, killed his elder brother and took his place as emperor.
"So, little Zhang. You better prove yourself well. If Dai Weisi falls, you will have a rather scary fate."
I nodded while thinking it was difficult to get off when riding a tiger.
"Look, we are finally back."
"At last."
"My legs are killing me."
"I will kill those servants who ran away. How dare they?"
So, the complaints and whining of the spoiled kids were my welcome to Star Luo academy.
—————-Next day————-
My first day in Star Luo Academy was greeted by the morning sun, which made me immediately exit my cultivation.
As for sleep, sorry. I forgot about such things for years.
The different shades of sunlight gave rise to one thing that I was waiting for, the purple flash of Purple Qi. Immediately I rushed my soul power through my retina, the eye part which receives light.
"WOW!"
Doing this daily was tough, especially since any interruption may need more than a month to get the retina familiar with purple Qi again.
Still, this single moment of sudden increase in senses and mental relaxation makes it worth it.
Ever since I found the method, I have been hooked on it. In fact, I realised while sleep can be replaced with cultivation, the burden on my mind slowly accumulated until I absorbed my first purple Qi.
[AI Task :
Percentage of Retina absorbing Purple Qi : 12% >13 %]
I don't know how the principle of Tang san's Purple Demon eye works but, I can improve my method further by increasing the amount of Purple Qi absorbed.
I believe that the scary feature of Tang sect is their Mysterious Heaven method, which is made after they completely explored all the meridians, including the various applications.
In simpler terms, they explored how to use strength in various parts of eyes and brain with it. Something I can't do. In fact , my modern knowledge can't do.
"ZHANG KUN!"
I looked down at Ju Lian waiting for me. It seems winning against him and me being the only other civilian soul master he knew made us friends.
"Ju Lian, What's the matter?"
He hooked his finger back to him while saying, "The first prince told me to introduce the academy to you."
I nodded and jumped down from the roof of dorms.
"Let's go."
Ju Lian nodded but, "I am hungry. Let's eat before we explore. What's the hurry?"
I felt my brow wrinkle in irritation. I found this to be a quirk of Ju Lian. He says one thing and says another completely uncommon thing the next second.
He invited me and in his weird messed way changed it into me hurrying him up.
"You fell down on your head when you were a kid."
My statement got a pondering expression from Ju Lian which soon turned to enlightenment, then into sadness and finally settled on him uttering, "No wonder I am hungry."
I facepalmed as he once again skipped explaining the reason and saying his conclusion of the matter.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone