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Translator: Amber.es | Editor: Bubbles | Proofreader: musk

Ji Chaoyun backed away in panic.

The bottom of the path was made with limestone, which was slippery because it was always moist from the water vapor. Backing away, he occurred to step on a moist limestone and slipped down.

Ji Chaoyun felt dizzy as his fall was fairly heavy. A pair of naked toes on the limestone floor entered his imaginative and prescient.

The opposite’s ankles have been white and slender, and searching up he noticed a pair of lean and highly effective calves, with the remaining hidden within the shadows beneath a large gown.

Feng Qi’s gown was gathered loosely, the ends of his hair nonetheless dripping moist. A droplet ran throughout his delicately formed collarbone and sank into his neckline, leaving a meandering water mark.

It was actually a picture stuffed with influence. It took a very long time for Ji Chaoyun to regain his breath. His gaze slowly moved upward, and he met the opposite’s teasing gaze. “Seen sufficient?”

“I’m not—” Ji Chaoyun hurriedly stood up, his cheeks barely scorching. “I apologise, I used to be not conscious of your presence.”

Feng Qi seemed him up and down, weighing him. There was not a lot anger in his expression after being spied upon. Quite the opposite, he even appeared a bit joyful. “Why are you right here?”

“I…”

“Night time is approaching. Sneaking into one’s residence, peeping at somebody bathing…” The smile in Feng Qi’s eyes deepened. He took a half step ahead. “I heard that in the direction of such issues, your dragon clan takes… a lot initiative. Looks as if it’s not mere empty discuss.”

“You—”

Ji Chaoyun’s breath was caught in his throat. He shut his eyes, and tried his finest to regular his tone. “I went to the mountain to report, and so they assigned my residence right here… It was the jade token that introduced me to this place.”

Feng Qi raised his eyebrows. Solely then did he discover the jade token that Ji Chaoyun hung round his waist.

He walked in the direction of Ji Chaoyun, who instinctively backed up till his again met the inexperienced bamboo beside the limestone path.

“Don’t transfer.” Feng Qi held his shoulders, leaned down barely, and picked up the cross token along with his moist hand.

Ji Chaoyun was trapped, simply inches away from the opposite. The humid heat assaulted his senses; combined with the distinctive perfume of the bamboo leaves, it made one breathless.

Feng Qi didn’t discover. He lowered his head, his fingertips glimmered and the glow sank into the token.

So shut, Ji Chaoyun may see that his face was precisely the identical as in his reminiscence. The eyelashes that solid a low shadow when lowered, the slight curve of his eyes when he spoke, even the delicate outlines on his face have been too distinctive, too related. Even probably the most beautiful of phantasm strategies couldn’t obtain such a imaginative and prescient.

Have been there actually two individuals so related on this world?

Ji Chaoyun instantly discovered it troublesome to breathe. The feelings that had been suppressed surged again, and his fingertips trembled softly.

He leaned again as a lot as potential, forcing himself not to take a look at that face.

It was too shut, so shut that it nearly appeared… like having a protracted embrace.

After the three matches, Ji Chaoyun’s bodily exhaustion was already at its restrict. At this second, the emotional turmoil brought about his immortal spirit to leak. The faint radiance inside his eyes may not be suppressed; slowly, a pair of lovely glass-like vertical pupils appeared

“Positive sufficient, the spell resulting in Wenqu Peak was solid, however you…” Feng Qi mentioned as he raised his head, then halted.

Ji Chaoyun trembled silently. His eyes have been crimson, and a pair of silver dragon horns appeared on the entrance of his brow. Within the afterglow of the setting solar, he may even see a superb layer of sentimental fur.

“…” Feng Qi cursed beneath his breath. His throat was instantly dry.

He had gone out a number of days in the past for stuff, solely returning to the academy immediately. Then he’d heard whispers of a bit magnificence in Changqing Backyard who had hooked the hearts of half of the academy.

A fast look to the white jade stage confirmed that this particular person’s look certainly stood out from the remaining, his martial arts nimble and lithe. The rumours have been true.

A pity it was a dragon.

Feng Qi had truly by no means met any from the dragon clan, however the two dragon and phoenix clans had all the time been at odds. He held no beneficial impressions towards dragons, however now…

He shortly glanced on the different’s brow, on the pair of trembling dragon horns.

…They seemed so smooth, he puzzled the way it felt to the touch?

Feng Qi felt impetuous. He straightened up, licked his lips, and his voice was barely low and hoarse. “What? I’m simply wanting on the spell in your token. Not doing something to you…”

Ji Chaoyun’s again arched barely, the road on his again stretched taut. He hardly dared to search for on the particular person in entrance of him.

“Why did you revert again to your unique type from just some phrases, hm? You’re so simply frightened.” Feng Qi’s hand was nonetheless on Ji Chaoyun’s shoulder, and his fingertips randomly poked his cheek. Unexpectedly, the sensation was extraordinarily smooth.

Ji Chaoyun stiffened, tilting his head to cover.

Feng Qi smiled. “Afraid of me?”

“No.” Ji Chaoyun lowered his head and shortly rubbed his eyes, whispering softly, “Apo-apologies…”

The pair of dragon horns swayed as he talked, performing like little claws itching one’s coronary heart.

Feng Qi swallowed. He turned his head and walked away. “Your token is certainly a spell that results in Wenqu Peak. I imagine you aren’t mendacity, however your residence is just not with me.”

Ji Chaoyun had no want to be alone with him in any respect. He shortly adopted up with, “I should have gone the improper approach. I shall take my go away.”

“No, it will possibly’t be that you just took the improper path.” Feng Qi laid down on the bamboo sofa and mentioned leisurely, “You didn’t discover once you entered simply now? The entire Wenqu Peak is my residence.”

“…In different phrases, I’m the one one that resides on the complete Wenqu Peak.”

Ji Chaoyun realised one thing and seemed up at him.

Feng Qi lifted a wine jug and poured himself a glass. He raised his head and drank till the final drop, suppressing the inexplicable restlessness in his coronary heart.

He rubbed the mouth of the cup and defined, “This Highness enjoys peace and doesn’t need to be disturbed. So each time one is assigned to Wenqu Peak, they may all be pushed away by me. If issues go on like this, they might not dare to let individuals enter Wenqu Peak once more.”

Ji Chaoyun: “…”

It was the primary time he noticed somebody communicate so arrogantly about bullying.

Nonetheless, this defined why the 2 disciples had despatched him right here.

He closed his eyes. “I perceive. There isn’t any want so that you can kick me out, I shall go away on my own.”

Ji Chaoyun shortly stepped onto the stone bridge.

“Wait,” Feng Qi referred to as out to cease him. “This Highness hasn’t completed talking but. Are you dragons all so impolite?”

“…” Ji Chaoyun held again his anger. “What else do you want to say?”

Feng Qi requested, “The place will you go?”

Ji Chaoyun saved silent. As he turned to depart, he heard Feng Qi say, “The project of the disciple courtyards has ended. You possibly can solely go discover Yao Guang-jun to re-register, however he’s busy. In the event you trouble him with such trivial issues, he’ll say it’ll take one other month or so. In fact, that’s if solely there’s nonetheless free house among the many disciple courtyards within the seven peaks.”

“…Don’t even take into consideration discovering lodging with others. One cross token is for one particular person. Even when another person lends you their token, it’s nonetheless inconceivable to enter one other disciple’s courtyard.”

Feng Qi glanced on the slender determine far on the stone bridge. A smug smile appeared on his lips. “It’ll be curfew quickly. In the event you go away Wenqu Peak, you’ll violate the curfew. Little dragon demon, you don’t need to violate the foundations in your first day of enrolment, proper?”

Ji Chaoyun circled and requested him, “…What would you like?”

“Relatively, it’s what you need.” Feng Qi fastened his eyes on that pair of dragon horns for a second and smiled barely. He jokingly mentioned, “Why don’t you come and beg me, make me joyful and possibly I’ll can help you reside right here.”

—”Obediently serve me a superb apology, and be my attendant for the subsequent college 12 months. Maybe when this younger grasp is in a superb temper, he’ll present you compassion and allow you to attend college.”

Actually the identical form all through.

The 2 quietly checked out one another throughout the lotus pond. Ji Chaoyun’s expression was chilly, and his initially turbulent temper quickly calmed down, however his true look was not really easy to revive. These eyes of his which have been extraordinarily pale, making him look much more indifferent than earlier than, seemed a bit conceited.

It actually wasn’t him.

He laughed at himself. It had been such a very long time, so lengthy he could be actually ridiculous to deal with anybody as that particular person.

Even when the opposite had the identical face, it was nonetheless a world of distinction.

Pondering clearly, Ji Chaoyun solely felt reduction. He seemed on the particular person leaning on the bamboo sofa from a distance, and gave an surprising smile.

Feng Qi was startled.

He had seen this particular person’s lithe posture within the combating stage, and he had additionally seen his wronged look when he was scared again to his unique type. Regardless of which type of scenario, his face was all the time reserved, and there was a type of nearly inflexible coldness to it.

However when he smiled like that, the hid demeanor beneath the pores and skin of that icy magnificence may not be hidden. The brilliance flowing in his glaze-like eyes made one really feel shocked.

“You…”

Feng Qi’s throat felt parched. However with out ready for him to say something, Ji Chaoyun mentioned, “There isn’t any want for me to remain. I’ll briefly borrow Wenqu Peak for a brief nap tonight and go away tomorrow morning. I thank Your Highness for his kindness.”

After talking, Ji Chaoyun not checked out him. He shortly headed out of the courtyard.

Night time descended shortly. Ji Chaoyun leaned towards a tree trunk, his face nearly clear within the moonlight.

“I’ve entered Hongmeng Academy, and I additionally met an individual… who appears very very like you,” he whispered softly, frivolously rubbing his fingers on his purse. “It’s unusual. How may I deal with others as you? I clearly know that it will possibly’t be you. Nobody might be you…”

He raised his head and stared on the limitless night time sky, stars filling his sight. “After I lastly see you, I’ll as soon as extra apologize to you. You are able to do no matter you need.”

“…Good night time.”

.

Early the subsequent morning, those that had enrolled have been required to check their roots within the Foremost Peak’s Lecture Corridor to rank as disciples. Because the hour approached, everybody handed by means of the teleportation array one after one other, and gathered on the open house outdoors the Lecture Corridor.

Ji Chaoyun was at present outdoors the corridor, studying a guide beneath the morning rays.

The admission time had ended solely yesterday, therefore there had been no time to distribute the disciples’ clothes but. Ji Chaoyun was nonetheless sporting his silvery-white thick gown, which he tightly wrapped round himself, terrified of the chilly within the morning mist. Solely his slender fingers holding his guide peeked out, like the brand new buds of willow leaves.

“Chaoyun!” Ye Chenxing shortly walked in the direction of him. “How did final night time go? The place did these two bastards ship you to?”

Ji Chaoyun saved the guide in his palms and shook his head. “No want to say it. I plan to search for Yao Guang-jun immediately.”

“Alright, I’ll accompany you.” Following behind Ye Chenxing was a younger man whom he pushed ahead. He mentioned, “Why are you hiding? Didn’t you all the time need to meet Chaoyun?”

“That is…”

The younger man had delicate facial options, and a bookish air, showing very nervous. His face flushed. “My, my title is Bei Ran. It’s possible you’ll not keep in mind me, however you saved me from the suspension bridge earlier than. Because of you, I used to be in a position to…”

“It turned out to be you.” Ji Chaoyun thought for a second, and remembered that this was the little youth he had rescued on the suspension bridge the day earlier than the evaluation.

Bei Ren trembled as he confessed, “Brother Ji, I actually… admire and likewise…”

“Okay, shut up. You’re making me nervous.” Ye Chenxing patted him on the again of his head, making Bei Ran stagger. “This child’s in the identical courtyard as me. He saved pestering me all night time, insisting that I introduce him to you, but have a look at him now. How shameful.”

Bei Ran made a small noise, flushing crimson as he touched his nostril in embarrassment.

Ji Chaoyun: “Don’t worry. We will probably be classmates sooner or later, we will hold a lookout for one another.”

“Heard that? Any more, you’ll be taken care of by your large brother Ji.”

Ji Chaoyun checked out him helplessly. “Ye Chenxing…”

Ye Chenxing continued on, “Chaoyun, you don’t understand how widespread you might be among the many freshmen. You fought so fantastically in these three matches yesterday.”

“Talking of which…” Bei Ran raised his head and checked out Ji Chaoyun with glowing eyes. “The scimitar couldn’t be used to its full capacity within the combating ring, and Jiang Cheng is alleged to have uncared for sword follow since he was a baby. Brother Ji should have thought of these items to decide on to check on martial arts, proper?”

Ji Chaoyun gave a noncommittal “oh”.

When the individuals round heard them speaking, they unconsciously gathered nearer. Beneath all these gazes, Ji Chaoyun was a bit embarrassed. He mumbled the reality, “I didn’t suppose an excessive amount of, however I’ve fought Jiang Cheng earlier than and located that his martial arts… is comparatively extraordinary.”

“If the highest ten masters in Hongmeng Academy are all like him, then these beneath him must be kind of the identical.”

Ye Chenxing: “…”

Bei Ran: “…”

Everybody: “…”

Within the useless silence, Ye Chenxing’s heavy eyes swept over his environment. “I heard that Jiang Cheng went mad for a lot of the day after shedding within the area yesterday. Don’t inform this to others. If he knew, he’d be livid.”

The hour had arrived, the Lecture Corridor slowly and at last opened its doorways. A younger man in an ink-colored brocade with a bamboo scroll in hand got here out. Behind him have been two attending disciples.

This was Yao Guang-jun, the immortal accountable for enrolment issues.

“Don’t make noise.” Yao Guang-jun cleared his throat. His voice was not loud, but it surely nonetheless reached everybody’s ears. “Line up and are available with me.”

Everybody walked into the Lecture Corridor.

“That’s the stone sundial for testing non secular roots?”

Bei Ran sat behind Ji Chaoyun, frowning. “I don’t should be examined. I have to be on the lowest stage. What can I do sooner or later…”

Hongmeng Academy was not just like the mortal realm which divided disciples by college 12 months, however fairly by one’s innate roots and bones. The non secular root check after enrolment decided the ranks of the brand new disciples. The 4 ranges of Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow corresponded to the non secular roots of heaven, earth, high-level, and middle-level respectively. As for the lower-level non secular roots… To date there was no precedent for the profitable ascent of lower-level non secular root holders, so it was not even within the scope of the academy’s consideration.

Both the spirits have been reworked into demons, or mortals ascended. Most of these current already knew their non secular root stage, and the check was only a formality.

“I’m not significantly better both.” Ye Chenxing sat on Ji Chaoyun’s proper aspect and muttered, “What else can I do? My non secular root is weak. We simply should work laborious the day after tomorrow. So long as one doesn’t fall to the third rank, they nonetheless have an opportunity.”

Ji Chaoyun turned his head. “Third rank?”

He didn’t have a lot information about Hongmeng Academy’s system. Ye Chenxing was additionally conscious that this younger grasp didn’t take heed to issues outdoors of his pursuits so he defined, “Though the disciples of the academy practice collectively, the evaluation guidelines are completely different. Heaven-level and Earth-level disciples face one check each three years, and a giant one each twelve. For the Black and Yellow ranges, nonetheless, there’s one check each quarter and a giant one yearly.”

“The highest 5 within the evaluation will receive Rank 1, whereas the final 5 Rank 3. In the event you handle to acquire Rank 1 in each three checks and within the main examination, you’ll be able to take part within the leapfrog assessment2. In the event you cross it, then you definately might be promoted.”

Bei Ran then requested, “Then, if the 4 check outcomes all find yourself as Rank 3…”

Ye Chenxing solid a have a look at him, as if saying “what nonsense are you spouting?”. He reached out. “4 exams, and Rank 3 each single time. What else can your future be apart from dropping out of college?”

Bei Ran angrily shrank again.

Ji Chaoyun lowered his eyes, his expression unclear.

The check for non secular roots quickly started. Disciples whose names have been pronounced by Yaoguang-jun walked to the stone sundial one after the other to take the check. Heavenly non secular roots and Earth non secular roots have been extraordinarily uncommon within the mortal realm. Many of the wandering immortals enrolled this time have been merely of high-grade or middle-grade non secular roots. Therefore, they have been divided into the Black and Yellow ranges.

Ye Chenxing and Bei Ran each had middle-grade non secular roots, and have been additionally categorized beneath the Yellow stage.

Quickly, it was Ji Chaoyun’s flip.

“Brother Ji is so highly effective, he should possess a high-grade non secular root, proper?”

“I believe it’s greater than that. Sufficient to defeat Tune Zhifei and Jiang Cheng, and even in a position to battle forwards and backwards with Feng Qi. Might or not it’s an Earth root or a Heavenly root, as a substitute?”

“Hopefully, it’s a Heavenly root.”

“However for practically 100 years, the Academy solely had Feng Qi with the Heavenly non secular root. The possibility is simply too small…”

As if Ji Chaoyun didn’t hear the feedback from the bystanders, he walked as much as Yao Guang-jun and bowed.

As he’d missed the enrolment announcement yesterday, this was his first time assembly Yao Guang-jun.

However remembering Ye Chenxing’s phrases, it had been this Yao Guang-jun yesterday who’d defined, in entrance of the freshmen, that as a result of Ji Chaoyun’s excellent efficiency within the area, the elders had determined to make an exception and allowed him to enter the academy after additional consideration.

“So you might be Chaoyun.” Yao Guang-jun had all the time seemed on the others with a listless and lazy look. But upon seeing Ji Chaoyun approaching, he turned extra energetic. He narrowed his eyes barely, and checked out him up and down for some time. His smile was form and loving. “Don’t be nervous, simply stretch your hand up.”

“Understood.” Ji Chaoyun did as instructed.

…Nothing occurred.

The Lecture Corridor was silent. Yao Guang-jun murmured, “Is it damaged? It was nonetheless okay simply now… Don’t fear, let’s attempt once more.”

“There isn’t any have to.” Ji Chaoyun pointed to the stone sundial’s scale and in a low voice, reminded, “The consequence has come out.”

The higher stone dial was divided into 5 scales, particularly Heaven, Earth, Excessive-grade, Center-grade, and Decrease-grade. Presently, the size on the stone sundial had solely moved ahead a tiny bit. It was even potential to overlook the change if one didn’t look intently.

Yao Guang-jun seemed on the stone sundial. The smile on his face lastly couldn’t be held any longer, and progressively became astonishment.