Strike at the heart—test the people's loyalty!
Wes Young felt a chill down his spine. The Imperial Preceptor of the Everpeace Empire had reformed the sect system, nationalizing the signature arts of every major sect and clan, establishing elementary schools and universities across the land, and founding the Imperial Academy in the capital. In the jianghu, he suppressed the sects with overwhelming force.
If, after gathering so many resources, the Academy still cannot produce worthy disciples, if its students are inferior to those of the sects, then what use are the Preceptor's reforms?
This Dao Gate Dao Heir must be incredibly powerful—a true genius. Otherwise, Dao Gate wouldn't have sent him to disgrace the Academy!
The Academy's reputation is the Preceptor's reputation—and the emperor's. Blocking the gate is a public humiliation. Whether the Imperial Preceptor and the emperor can preserve their honor is uncertain.
Wes Young's heart shook, then he laughed aloud: "The Imperial Academy gathers the talents of the world—can it really be outdone by a mere Dao Heir from Dao Gate?"
Quinn Shepherd shook his head. He recalled that most of these scholars cultivated the same method, and he couldn't help but feel doubtful.
Although the Academy's scholars practiced different arts, few could truly master them. Only with specialized instruction from the Imperial College could a student grasp the essence of each technique.
In his view, Dao Gate came fully prepared. The Academy's scholars would likely be trapped on the mountain, unable to break through.
If the Academy's scholars cannot defeat this Dao Heir, then the sects' opposition to the Preceptor will be justified. If the emperor does not punish the Preceptor, he will lose virtue and the people's trust. The sects may all rebel!
The contest between Dao Gate’s Dao Heir and the Imperial Academy’s scholars is no trivial matter—it will shape the fate of the entire world.
"Come on, let’s see what this Dao Heir can do!" Wes Young said eagerly.
Quinn followed him down the mountain. Below the jade cliff and around the mountain gate, crowds of Academy scholars filled the area. Ordinary scholars’ quarters only admit ten students a year, but the divine-ability students and royal offspring from the Royal Courtyard are far more numerous.
Standing atop the jade cliff, Quinn peered ahead and saw two Daoists seated before the mountain gate. One was an elder with striking, ancient features—his presence seemed to belong to another era, as if he’d stepped out of the past. He wore a gray Daoist robe, his manner dignified and timeless, exuding an air of detachment, as though worldly affairs had nothing to do with him.
A bearing like that is no mark of an ordinary man; this elder must hold a lofty position within Dao Gate, the foremost orthodox sect.
Beside the elder sat a refined-looking youth, a white horsetail whisk with a cinnabar-red handle resting on his elbow. Dressed in blue, he sat quietly, entirely unbothered by the throng of Academy scholars around him.
Quinn inwardly admired them; this old-and-young pair looked every bit the cultivated Daoists, radiating a transcendent air above the mundane crowd.
The two Daoists sat squarely in the middle of the broad road before the gate. The mountain gate was wide, so they took up little space.
But if the Academy fails to drive them off, it will be a humiliation of the highest order.
Gate-blocking is rare in the jianghu, reserved for bitter vendettas. To sit before a sect’s entrance is to publicly trample its face, undermine its confidence, and declare its signature arts worthless before the world.
Usually, when something like this happens, it ends in a fight to the death.
But now, Dao Gate’s old master and young heir aren’t just blocking a sect—they’re blocking the Everpeace Empire’s face. What they’re striking at is the Empire’s honor, the Imperial Preceptor’s reputation, and what they mean to shatter is the Preceptor’s blazing reform!
Not far from Quinn Shepherd, a yellow-robed prince whispered, "Dao Gate used to be the number-one sect, on par with the Cult of the Heavenly Demon. But in recent years it’s faded, vanishing along with the cult, and you never hear news of Dao Gate. Now that they’ve returned, it’s no small matter. If the Imperial Academy can’t drive these two away, once they leave, Dao Gate will surely rebel. And if Dao Gate rebels, with their reputation..."
Quinn glanced at the prince, thinking, "This guy’s insight is impressive."
The prince suddenly sensed something, turned to see him, eyes lighting up. Quietly leaving the other princes, he squeezed over to Quinn’s side.
"Cowherd..."
The prince’s cheeks were chubby with baby fat. Smiling, he whispered, "Did you really come to the capital just to see me?"
Quinn looked ‘him’ up and down, finding the prince familiar, and blurted out, “You’re... the chubby Seventh Young Ma—”
He’d barely said it before realizing—wasn’t this ‘chubby Seventh Young Lord’ actually Lynn Ling in disguise?
The prince’s face flushed with rage. She swung a massive iron hammer from her back, ready to smash Quinn!
Quinn hurriedly changed his words, laughing, “Good little sister, I didn’t recognize you at first. Wes Young, this is Seventh Princess Lynn Ling. Lynn Ling, this is Wes Young, from the State Duke’s Residence.”
Lynn Ling couldn’t really smash him dead in front of everyone, so she put the iron hammer away. Wes Young jumped in fright, inwardly muttering, “Seventh Princess? How did Quinn manage to hook up with the Seventh Princess? Royal girls are dangerous—get involved and you’ll lose your head... I’ve heard she’s talented and ambitious, but why is even her weapon so wild and unrestrained?”
Quinn had no idea what Wes was thinking. He looked Lynn Ling up and down—she’d grown even more beautiful. Even dressed as a man, she radiated heroic vigor, her presence extraordinary. And though she wore men’s clothing, her chest was just as full and round as any woman’s, plump and entirely unconcealed.
Back in the Great Ruins, her chest had never been this plump.
Quinn caught a familiar scent on her—it had to be Heavenly Fragrance Silk. He said, “Sis, you’ve changed since I last saw you. When I was in the palace, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Lynn Ling’s eyes flickered with shyness. She laughed softly, “How have I changed?”
Quinn held his hand above her head for comparison, honestly saying, “You’ve gotten taller—taller than me now. You look better, and you’re stronger too. The muscles in your face and chest..."
Lynn Ling flared up and booted him straight off the cliff.
Quinn, plummeting through the air, muttered with wounded innocence, “I never called her fat—what’s she so mad about?”
Lina, the Spirit Fox, couldn’t help but gloat, chiming, “Young master’s right—this woman’s just picking a fight for no reason! Let’s ignore her!”
Thud.
Quinn landed solidly on his feet, looking up and considering jumping back up—only to worry Lynn Ling would kick him down again.
Beside him, Wes Young stared straight ahead, frozen.
Lynn Ling glared at him fiercely; a bead of cold sweat rolled down Wes Young’s forehead. Then, with a leap, he jumped off the jade cliff.
Lynn Ling snorted and jumped off the cliff after him.
Not far away, another prince frowned. Suddenly, his yuanqi formed a giant hand behind his head, grabbing Lynn Ling midair and pulling her back. He gently said, “Little Seventh Sister, don’t make trouble—remember the royal family’s dignity.”
Lynn Ling had no choice but to behave, saying, “Second Brother, that man just now is the divine physician who cured Her Majesty the Dowager Empress. He’s an old friend of mine…”
The Second Prince replied calmly, “I know. I even heard Young General Qin say you met him in the Great Ruins, and were quite close. Seventh Sister, we’re imperial offspring—we can’t do as we please. Don’t make trouble. The world’s in chaos, disaster is looming, and if it erupts, the empire will fall and our royal clan will be stray dogs!”
Lynn Ling jumped in surprise. “Second Brother, what do you think of the Dao Heir’s skill?”
“He hasn’t made a move yet, so I don’t know his true ability. But if Dao Gate dared bring him here to block the gate, he must be exceptional!”
The Second Prince looked down at Quinn Shepherd at the base of the cliff, frowning slightly. “Seventh Sister, that Quinn Shepherd may be a divine physician, but he’s still an ‘abandoned one’ from the Great Ruins. Don’t get too close, or people will say our royal house doesn’t know its place.”
Lynn Ling frowned.
At the mountain gate, the boyish Grand Patriarch of the Heavenly Demon Cult walked down the mountain and stopped before Dao Gate’s master and Dao Heir, bowing formally. The old Daoist and the young Daoist both rose and returned the bow.
The youthful Patriarch smiled, “Master Danyang, what brings you and the Dao Heir here today?”
The old Daoist smiled back, “Brother, why ask what you already know? Our Dao Lord, like you, is old and doesn’t want to see all the sects become Everpeace vassals. That’s why I’m here. The Dao Heir will block the gate for three days. If he’s defeated in that time, Dao Gate won’t rebel. But if no one beats him in three days, then the world will change masters.”
The youthful Patriarch sighed, “Dao Gate has always stood above the fray—so even you can’t sit still now?”
Master Danyang gazed at his nose, his nose at his heart, and said, “The Dao Lord sees the tides of the world—unstoppable as a flood. Those who go with it prosper, those who resist perish. Dao Gate doesn’t seek to revive itself, only a clear conscience. If the Imperial Preceptor wants to destroy the sects, so be it. But the Dao Lord must see if the elementary schools, universities, and Imperial Academy that are meant to replace the sects are truly qualified! Dao Gate has produced a Dao Heir; the Academy monopolizes the world’s resources, far surpassing us. If their scholars can’t beat our Dao Heir, then the Preceptor’s reforms are pointless, and the world needs a new master.”
“I understand.”
The youthful Patriarch turned and walked away, his voice rolling across the mountain: “All Imperial Academy scholars, regardless of cultivation, may descend the mountain to challenge!”
His words echoed everywhere on the mountain.
“I’ll go!”
A divine-ability scholar strode out of the gate, marching toward the Dao Heir. The Dao Heir rose and bowed, “Senior brother.”
The challenger was also an Academy scholar, admitted years earlier. He bowed in return, asking, “Dao Heir, what’s your cultivation realm?”
The Dao Heir replied calmly, “Six Directions Treasury.”
The challenger smiled, “Me too. My name is Philip Qu. Today, I fight you not for personal grudge, but to defend the Academy’s honor!”
The Dao Heir nodded. “My secular name is Lucas Lin. Senior brother, please.”
“Lucas Lin, Dao Heir—please!”
Philip Qu’s eyes flashed. Suddenly, instead of charging forward, he drifted backward, pinch-gripping a Sword Pill between two fingers. With a hum, it shot out a dazzling column of sword-qi, thick as a pillar, formed from countless sword lights whirling madly around its core!
Philip wielded the sword-pillar as a blade and cleaved down. Where it passed, sword wind howled, and its momentum was overwhelming!
Quinn watched, astonished, his heart pounding: “Everpeace sword arts have reached this level? Is this a high-level Academy sword technique?”
His gaze was sharp—he could see the extraordinary mastery in that sword strike. Philip’s attack looked simple, but his yuanqi control over the blade was incredible.
It seemed plain, but the countless sword lights swirling inside the sword-pillar all required precise yuanqi control. Just this move left Quinn feeling hopelessly outclassed!
This sword art seemed to transcend the basics—thrust, slice, chop, cleave—and evolved into a style beyond ordinary technique!
“Grand Six Directions Sword Art!”
Wes Young exclaimed, eyes shining, “That’s the Preceptor’s sword art—a divine ability only those with true power can master!”
“The Imperial Preceptor’s sword art?”
Quinn’s heart trembled—no wonder this sword technique felt beyond the basics. He hadn’t expected it to be an art created by the Imperial Preceptor himself!