Chapter 58

Sun Yan nodded and said, "Yes, both Lianqing and I are in the regular department. You guys go ahead, we'll meet up once we get to school."

Long Ping'an and Green exchanged glances, both finding it hard to believe that this young man, who could drag a whip-tailed crocodile's corpse into battle despite its immense weight, could be a member of the regular department. Such a young warrior, how could he possibly be in the regular department?

Watching Sun Yan and Shui Lianqing walk to the right, the gray-haired youth showed a look of surprise and then smiled, "Xu Xuyao, it seems that this year, your regular department has some very capable new students."

Sun Yan and Shui Lianqing walked to the right side of the exit and smiled as they bowed, "Hello, senior, I am the new student Sun Yan."

"Hello, senior, I am the new student Shui Lianqing, here to register."

The young man with the hooked nose looked at Sun Yan and Shui Lianqing with a sullen face and said in a deep voice, "Hmph! Relying on the help of elite department new students instead of your own strength, did you two pass the Ten Thousand Dao Mountain this way?"

This question made Sun Yan widen his eyes, and Shui Lianqing was at a loss. On the other side, Feng Lingxue and the others also looked over.

Damn, this hooked-nose bastard doesn't seem to be a good guy.

Sun Yan cursed inwardly. Shui Lianqing quickly stepped forward and bowed again, "Senior, I did pass the Ten Thousand Dao Mountain with the help of an elite department classmate. However, Sun Yan passed it relying on his own strength..."

Before she could finish, Sun Yan pulled her to stop her.

Lifting his head, Sun Yan showed a shy smile and said modestly, "Senior, we did indeed pass the Ten Thousand Dao Mountain with the help of a few elite department classmates. However, there were no rules against it. Regardless of the process, the result is that we reached the exit, isn't it?"

Though his words were gentle, they were laced with a subtle barb.

The young man with the hooked nose's face grew even darker, and he sneered, "Very well, every year there are many new students who can talk well. I didn't expect that you, junior, also have quite a sharp tongue."

Sun Yan squinted and smiled, his demeanor becoming even more respectful, "Thank you for your praise, senior. You flatter me."

On the other side, the gray-haired youth watched everything with a smile on his lips, "This new student is quite interesting! He reminds me of Feng Yan. If these two were to meet, they would probably get along well. However, this new student is in the regular department, which is strange..."

At this moment, a young man's figure darted out from the shadows of the forest ahead.

This young man was extremely handsome, with a hint of mischief in his smile. He was Qiu Shanlin, who had a conflict at the registration desk. After emergency treatment, he was completely fine, though some red marks still lingered on his face.

Darting out of the forest, Qiu Shanlin ran straight to the young man with the hooked nose. Bowing, he said, "Hello, senior, I am the new student Qiu Shanlin from the regular department."

The young man with the hooked nose no longer paid attention to Sun Yan and Shui Lianqing. He looked at Qiu Shanlin and smiled, nodding, "Good, I am Xu Xuyao from the second year."

"Hello, Senior Xu Xuyao."

Qiu Shanlin greeted him warmly, glancing at Sun Yan with a look of resentment in his eyes.

Xu Xuyao turned his head and looked at Sun Yan with disdain, "New student, see that? Relying on your own strength to pass the Ten Thousand Dao Mountain obstacle course is what makes a qualified student at Imperial Wind Academy. If students of our top school resort to cheating, wouldn't it be a laughingstock?"

Pausing, Xu Xuyao continued in a condescending tone, "In the path of martial arts, if you rely too much on external help, even if you have great talent, you will be like a rootless reed, unable to achieve great things. Moreover, since you didn't enter the elite department, you are a member of the regular department. This means that even if you are a genius, you are limited. Young man, don't try to take shortcuts. Devious methods will only harm yourself and others."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yan's smile remained, but a coldness crept into his eyes.

Qiu Shanlin clapped and exclaimed, "Well said, well said. Senior Xu Xuyao's wise words have greatly benefited me."

Xu Xuyao nodded slightly and said, "You have a good eye. I won't hold it against you new students. However, I can't let unfair things happen."

"Considering this incident, I declare that the first place in the regular department for the Ten Thousand Dao Mountain obstacle course goes to Qiu Shanlin. As for you two new students, I will be lenient and place you ninth and tenth, and you will still receive 10 credits."

Then, Xu Xuyao, assuming the role of a senior, warned them solemnly, "I hope you take this as a lesson. In the future, there may not be someone like me to protect you."

After saying this, he took out a device and scanned Sun Yan and the others, recording their student numbers and names.

Regular Department First Place: Qiu Shanlin.

...

Regular Department Ninth Place: Shui Lianqing.

Regular Department Tenth Place: Sun Yan.

"Alright, this is none of your business now. Quickly pass through the mountain path exit and register at the academy," Xu Xuyao waved his hand, dismissing them like flies.

Qiu Shanlin said enthusiastically, "I will stay here and accompany Senior Xu Xuyao, to learn and observe more."

"Good, that is the attitude a student of Imperial Wind Academy should have," Xu Xuyao nodded in approval.

Sun Yan pulled the furious Shui Lianqing, smiling and gesturing for her to relax. The two quickly walked toward the exit passage.

On the other side, Chen Wang and the others were indignant. Long Ping'an muttered, "How can that hooked-nose guy talk like that? We clearly relied on that kid to get out of the maze."

Green's face was dark with anger, and he said, "No, I have to go and explain."

At this moment, the gray-haired youth casually waved his hand, sending an invisible force that blocked Green, making it impossible for him to move.

Green stared in shock. The senior's strength was indeed formidable, but this action made him even angrier.

"Senior, is this how things are done at Imperial Wind Academy?" Green asked angrily.

The gray-haired youth said calmly, "Listen well. The first thing you need to learn at Imperial Wind Academy is that the elite department and the regular department never interfere with each other. Understand?"

"But..."

"No buts." The gray-haired youth pointed to the mountain path behind him, "See that white line? The left side is the path for the elite department, and the right side is for the regular department. They are clearly separated."

"The three colleges of the elite department can never interfere with the affairs of the regular department. This is a rule that cannot be violated."

Seeing that Long Ping'an and Green were still grinding their teeth, Feng Lingxue smiled lightly, "Don't worry, Yan doesn't need anyone's help."

The gray-haired youth was taken aback, turned his head, and looked at Sun Yan's back, muttering to himself, "In the path of martial arts, if you rely too much on external help, even if you have great talent, you will be like a rootless reed, unable to achieve great things. This is indeed a truth of martial arts. However, Xu Xuyao, your essence is purely enhanced by gene-strengthening fluid, making you a golden exterior with a rotten core. It's truly laughable for you to say such things."

Then, the gray-haired youth's voice grew even lower, "The Xu family of Imperial Wind Academy controls the regular department, wielding great power. This has its pros and cons. However, this family is becoming increasingly corrupt, and the regular department is now a mess. Why does Mentor Lin Xinghe allow this situation to happen? Is it because Principal Lin is intentionally indulging it?"

At this moment, another figure emerged from the shadows of the forest ahead. This young man had a cold expression, with sharp features, and stood at the mountain path exit for a while before walking straight toward Xu Xuyao.

"New student, Lin Tianwang."

The gray-haired youth stroked his chin and muttered, "It seems this year's regular department won't be peaceful."

...

At the vast mountain path exit, only Sun Yan and Shui Lianqing remained. The girl puffed out her cheeks, still angry.

Her adorable, indignant look made Sun Yan shake his head helplessly. In the three years at South Eagle Academy, Shui Lianqing had always been the focus of teachers and students. This kind of thing was probably the first time she had encountered it.

"What's wrong, Lianqing? We got our credits, why are you still angry? Be careful, you might get wrinkles," Sun Yan said with a smile.

Shui Lianqing's eyebrows furrowed, and she said angrily, "How can I not be angry? Since the rule was to see who reaches the mountain path exit first, you should be the first in the regular department. What evidence does that senior have to say you relied on others' help?"

Shui Lianqing had always been a good student, and this kind of thing was indeed the first time she had encountered it, which greatly impacted her previous beliefs.

Sun Yan laughed and leaned in, whispering, "Didn't you notice anything?"

"Notice what?" Shui Lianqing asked, puzzled.

Sun Yan smiled faintly, "In this Ten Thousand Dao Mountain obstacle course, no matter who from the regular department reaches first, the first place will always be Qiu Shanlin."

Shui Lianqing's eyes widened, and she gasped, "How is that possible? How did you know?"

"It's simple. When Qiu Shanlin came out of the forest, he didn't hesitate for a moment before rushing to Xu Xuyao. Didn't you find that strange?"

Hearing this, Shui Lianqing lowered her head and thought about the scene, feeling that it was indeed strange.

"Also, I know Qiu Shanlin's strength very well. The beasts and strange creatures in the Ten Thousand Dao Mountain, even two of them together, would be enough to deal with him. How could he pass through the Ten Thousand Dao Mountain so quickly?"

"You mean he cheated!"

Shui Lianqing's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, "This is at Imperial Wind Academy, how can this be allowed?"

Sun Yan shrugged. He had seen this kind of thing many times before and found it nothing unusual. Where there are people, there is cheating.

Seeing how deeply affected Shui Lianqing was, Sun Yan comforted her, "Actually, there's no need to take it to heart. We got our credits, and if you feel uncomfortable, you can curse him a thousand times behind his back—'Grandson Ai, may you never be able to stand up again.' Your mood will improve quickly."

Hearing this, Shui Lianqing blushed and glared at him, "Rude, can't you think of something more elegant?"

At this moment, the two had already passed through the mountain path exit, and a scene before them left them in awe, their mouths agape.

At the foot of the mountain, a stone stele stood tall, reaching thousands of feet high and hundreds of feet wide, like a sharp sword piercing the clouds, as if challenging the sky.

On the stele, it was inscribed—Dao follows nature, all streams return to the source.

At the bottom right corner of the stele, it read—Odin Wuqiaoyan.

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