Chapter 6 of 10
Chapter 6
10 min read2,518 words
Chen Xi stood calmly in the room, ignoring the several pairs of eyes that seemed capable of killing.
This time, the Zhao family sent quite a few people, mobilizing six practitioners at the Void-Breaking stage and one Great Practitioner at the Spirit Mountain stage. These people sat in Zhou Jiuzhi's study. Although they were still restraining themselves on the surface due to Zhou Jiuzhi, Chen Xi was very clear that the Zhao family would not let him off easily.
The Great Practitioner at the Spirit Mountain stage was named Zhao Wujing, a name that sounded somewhat domineering.
"Since the Dean said that Zhao Wu was not killed by him, we naturally believe it," Zhao Wujing said, his face expressionless, his fingers stroking his goatee, his wrinkled face not revealing his true thoughts.
"But Zhao Wu was one of the most promising young people in our Zhao family. To die so inexplicably at the Green Martial Academy, the clan must have an explanation. I do not dare to doubt your words, Dean Zhou, but this person..."
He pointed at Chen Xi and said, "I want to take him back to the clan. The elders want to personally inquire about the cause of Zhao Wu's death. After all, he was the only one who saw it at the time. On both moral and logical grounds, Dean Zhou should not obstruct, right?"
"I will not obstruct," Zhou Jiuzhi said with a smile. "But not today."
Zhao Wujing's expression changed slightly. He probably did not expect Dean Zhou to protect a wild boy of unknown origin. Before he came, he had already investigated and knew that Chen Xi was just a servant at the Green Martial Academy. According to reason, Dean Zhou would not offend the Zhao family for a servant.
"Then, tomorrow?"
Zhao Wujing asked again.
Zhou Jiuzhi shook his head, "Not tomorrow either."
Zhao Wujing's emotions clearly became agitated, but he still maintained the minimum politeness, "Then, which day can it be?"
"The day after tomorrow," Zhou Jiuzhi said, putting the lid on his teacup, indicating it was time for the guests to leave. "Chen Xi has to take a separate internal test tomorrow. After passing the internal test, he will enter the Fate-Changing Tower. But don't worry, I will have him visit the Zhao family before he enters the Fate-Changing Tower."
Zhao Wujing's face changed abruptly, "Dean Zhou, this seems to be against the rules. I heard that the annual exam is still a while away, and there has never been a precedent for a separate internal test."
Zhou Jiuzhi slowly said, "Whether it's the rules of the Green Martial Academy or the rules of the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect, they are not set by outsiders."
Zhao Wujing's face turned pale, and he suddenly stood up, bowing, "Since that's the case, I will return first and wait for the young man whom Dean Zhou personally protects to come to the Zhao family for questioning. If this person does not appear at the Zhao family the day after tomorrow, no matter how powerful the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect is, the Zhao family will not give up."
"You just wait," Zhou Jiuzhi stood up.
Zhao Wujing snorted coldly and turned to leave with his people.
"Hey!"
Chen Xi called out to their backs. When Zhao Wujing turned around, Chen Xi pointed at Zhao Wu's body, "Are you really here to take him home for burial?"
Zhao Wujing was clearly furious but did not dare to act out in front of Zhou Jiuzhi. He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to take Zhao Wu's body and leave. However, after walking a few steps, Zhao Wujing suddenly turned back, pointing at Chen Xi and shouting, "Hand over what you stole!"
Chen Xi frowned slightly but did not answer.
Zhou Jiuzhi took a step forward,无形中保护着陈羲, "What did you lose?"
Zhao Wujing said, "Zhao Wu was a promising young man in our clan, so the elders gave him a white jade wall. This white jade wall heats up when it encounters a powerful cultivator, warning the owner to be cautious. Now, Zhao Wu's body is missing this white jade wall. The only people present at the time were this wild boy and you, Dean Zhou... If not him, who else could have stolen Zhao Wu's things!"
"Did you take it?"
Zhou Jiuzhi asked Chen Xi.
Chen Xi shook his head.
Zhao Wujing angrily said, "You say you didn't steal it, so you didn't steal it?"
Zhou Jiuzhi took another step forward, "You say he stole it, so he stole it?"
Zhao Wujing was so angry that his shoulders were trembling, glaring at Zhou Jiuzhi, "Fine! Fine, a fine Dean of the Green Martial Academy! Today, Zhao Wujing has seen your unreasonable behavior. We will settle this the day after tomorrow, whether he stole or not, whether he killed or not, we must get to the bottom of it!"
He looked at Chen Xi, "Wild boy, you won't get past this hurdle! No matter who protects you!"
With that, he turned and left, his sleeves fluttering.
One of the Zhao family members followed closely, lowering his voice to ask, "Uncle, was the white jade wall really stolen by that boy?"
Zhao Wujing snorted coldly, opened his palm, and the white jade wall was clearly in his hand. He released a bit of internal energy from his palm, and the white jade wall, a valuable treasure, turned into powder. He casually scattered the powder and shook his hand, saying, "He took it, he didn't take it. At the time, only he was there, so I say he took it. By the day after tomorrow, we need a reason to keep this person!"
...
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"Can I ask a question?"
Chen Xi stood next to Zhou Jiuzhi, watching the Zhao family members leave, and even managed to smile, "Dean, you said you would give me a separate internal test?"
Zhou Jiuzhi replied, "Zhao Wujing is right; the Green Martial Academy has never had such a precedent."
Chen Xi asked, "Then what?"
Zhou Jiuzhi gave him a look, "What then? Do you think I would really run to the sect leader to request a separate internal test for a wild boy of unknown origin?"
The "wild boy" in his words and the "wild boy" in Zhao Wujing's words were definitely not the same.
Chen Xi said seriously, "You are the Dean, a man of great authority."
"Bullshit!"
Zhou Jiuzhi said, "The more powerful a person is, the more likely they are to deny their words. Such a simple thing you don't know? Don't ask me why, because I have the right to deny my words. Is that enough?"
"Enough."
Chen Xi nodded and asked, "When is the internal test tomorrow?"
Zhou Jiuzhi was slightly angry, "I said there is no internal test, nothing at all!"
Chen Xi nodded again, "Oh... then I'll wait outside the Fate-Changing Tower early tomorrow."
Zhou Jiuzhi suddenly laughed, especially joyfully, "How can you be so shameless?"
Chen Xi smiled, "After all, I've been at the Green Martial Academy for almost a year..."
Zhou Jiuzhi put away his smile, "There is no internal test, and the sect leader would not agree to set a precedent for a person of unknown origin. So I won't care what happens tomorrow. I've done my part for one day, and that's enough. As for what happens tomorrow, I don't know and don't want to know. You can leave now."
Chen Xi bowed seriously, "Thank you!"
He straightened up and walked out.
Zhou Jiuzhi's voice echoed behind him, "In the outer sect's six academies, there are many who can see your Seven Yang Valley cultivation."
Chen Xi's steps paused slightly, then he nodded, "I understand."
After Chen Xi left, Zhou Jiuzhi muttered to himself, "If you can truly achieve something and become a core disciple of the inner sect, then the Zhao family will be wary. They won't dare to do anything to a core disciple of the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect. I can help you to this extent... that's the limit. How you walk this path of rising to the clouds ultimately depends on you."
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It was still the same time of day when he woke up, and the moonlight still shone on the earth. Chen Xi sat up from the hard bed, took a deep breath, and washed his face with cold water. He tidied himself as usual, carefully putting on his clothes and neatly tying his hair.
Wearing the old straw shoes, he picked up the pole at the door and walked out of the dilapidated courtyard.
However, he did not go to fetch water.
He walked with his eyes closed, each step landing precisely on the most stable part of the blue stone slabs. From the dilapidated courtyard to the front gate of the Green Martial Academy, he saw that the academy's gate was opened half an hour earlier than usual. Normally, the gate would only open after he filled the twelve large water jars, and then the disciples would go to the training ground to practice.
He knew why the gate was opened early today and that he had to face everything that would happen next.
Carrying the pole, he walked through the main gate of the Green Martial Academy for the first time. His status was too low, just a servant, and even when he worked in the academy, he had to use the side gate at the back. Chen Xi looked up after entering, his gaze passing over the Green Martial Hall and stopping on the stone tower that looked like a distant ink painting.
The Fate-Changing Tower
Zhou Jiuzhi said there was no internal test and that he wouldn't care what happened today.
But Chen Xi knew very well that without Zhou Jiuzhi, he would never have reached the Fate-Changing Tower. He didn't know why Zhou Jiuzhi was helping him; he couldn't find a reason, but he knew he had to remember this kindness.
As he walked down the street, early-rising students of the Green Martial Academy were already out. They walked in groups to have breakfast, and they saw Chen Xi, carrying a pole, wearing old clothes and straw shoes. Although Chen Xi's appearance was quite handsome, his clothes were too shabby.
"Look, that little servant is entering from the main gate?"
"Hey! The little bastard from Class A... Oh, no, the little servant, are you going to the Fate-Changing Tower? Hahaha!"
Chen Xi stopped, looked at the person who called him a bastard, and did not get angry or make any move. He just nodded and answered seriously, "Yes, I am going to the Fate-Changing Tower."
"Ha ha ha ha"
Everyone burst into laughter, laughing so wildly.
"Good luck! Little servant, you are the first servant to enter the Fate-Changing Tower at the Green Martial Academy! Oh, no! You are the first servant to enter the Fate-Changing Tower in the Xiaoman Heavenly Sect!"
"Go on, wait for us inside!"
"Hey, do you really think you are someone?"
"Before, everyone thought you were a joke, but now we realize you are really a joke."
Such voices rose and fell, and the noble students who had been pretending to be humble and gentle for so long finally showed their true colors. They rarely mocked Chen Xi before because they thought it would lower their status. But today, Chen Xi's serious demeanor and serious steps made them find it amusing.
Chen Xi smiled, as if those words were like a breeze, passing by and disappearing. He needed to conserve as much energy as possible when he left the dilapidated courtyard, and he wouldn't waste his energy on these people. At least, not now.
His gaze returned to the Fate-Changing Tower and did not move away.
At this moment, Ding Mei, the instructor of Class A at the Green Martial Academy, came over like a streak of light, stopping in front of the Fate-Changing Tower and blocking Chen Xi.
"What are you doing!"
Ding Mei asked, frowning.
"Entering the tower."
Chen Xi answered.
"Entering the tower for what!"
"Practicing."
"What gives you the right to enter? You won't even pass the first level of the Fate-Changing Tower! Chen Xi, I know you are competitive and want to be the best, and I know you have some hidden reasons you don't want to tell others, but the Fate-Changing Tower is not a place for just anyone to enter! You don't even have a proper weapon!"
Ding Mei spread her arms, "Moreover, entering the Fate-Changing Tower without permission... you will die!"
"First..."
Chen Xi raised the pole in his hand, "I have my own weapon. I've used this pole for over three hundred days. I know every texture and every scar on it. This is my most suitable weapon. Second... entering the Fate-Changing Tower without permission will indeed result in death, as it is a sect rule. But I won't die because the sect will change this rule for me."
He took a step to the side, bypassing Ding Mei, "You are a good instructor. Your cold and indifferent exterior can't hide your kind heart. Remember the bet? Don't be so rigid, and don't live in the past. The instructor's uniform is not a mask; it can't hide your frown... Women, especially beautiful women, should still dress up, even... just a silk dress, a touch of rouge. Now, good instructor... please don't disturb me. I need to focus."
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