Chapter 33

After Mo Qingcheng left, Qin Wentian and the others followed the crowd toward the arched giant door. Stepping through the door, they entered a vast area where countless young people were scattered about, making it very lively. Most of them were teenagers around fifteen or sixteen years old, full of vitality.

"Today is the last day for registration at all the academies, so there are more people," Dasha said, and Qin Wentian also noticed that in this vast area, nine streams of people had gathered, queuing up for registration and then participating in the preliminary assessment.

"Look, that central position is our Imperial Star Academy. Many people have come," Dasha pointed to a section in the front, where many people were nervously queuing up, and many others were leaving in disappointment, clearly failing the preliminary assessment and losing their qualifications.

"Why is he here today?" At this moment, Dasha frowned and looked at the assessment elder of the Imperial Star Academy.

Qin Wentian looked at Dasha with confusion, and Dasha explained, "This assessment elder is named Jiang Zhen. Our Imperial Star Academy has a unique status in the Chu Kingdom, but some of the academy's elders have differing views on the academy's attitude toward the world. Teacher Mo Shang advocates staying aloof and having minimal contact with the Chu Kingdom's royal family and nobles. However, Jiang Zhen has the opposite opinion and is closer to the nobles."

"Also, the reason the Imperial Star Academy wasn't strong enough in your case last time was because of the interference from this faction."

Qin Wentian's expression turned serious, understanding that if the Imperial Star Academy had been more forceful, it wouldn't have been just Mo Shang leading his disciples to Tianyong City to protect him.

"Let's go. Since we've brought the people here, what can he do?" Ruohuan's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, feeling a vague sense of unease. Logically, it shouldn't have been him today.

The group walked forward and soon arrived at the Imperial Star Academy. At this moment, the recruitment area of the Imperial Star Academy was lined with a long queue. As the most prestigious academy in the Chu Kingdom, the number of people wanting to enter the Imperial Star Academy was undoubtedly the largest. Even people from neighboring countries would cross borders to apply, as the Imperial Star Academy's recruitment was not limited by nationality, only by talent.

However, the Imperial Star Academy also had the highest elimination rate.

The young people in the long queue couldn't help but fantasize about Ruohuan's fiery figure, after all, they were all in the prime of their youth.

Just as Ruohuan led Qin Wentian to the front, a figure in white blocked their path. This person had a pair of sword-like eyebrows, a handsome face, and was about eighteen years old, exuding a sharp aura.

"Junior Brother Qin, this person is named Ou Chen. He is at the Eighth Level of the Pulse Realm and has been practicing at the Imperial Star Academy for two years. He is very strong, so be careful," Dasha whispered a warning.

"Senior Brother Ou." Ruohuan walked up to Ou Chen and smiled, "I have come to collect the Imperial Star token from Elder Jiang."

Ou Chen calmly glanced at Ruohuan, then his gaze shifted to Qin Wentian behind her, his eyes sharp like a spear, piercing into Qin Wentian's eyes. He said coldly, "Go to the back of the line."

"Ou Chen, he has already passed Teacher Mo Shang's assessment in Tianyong City," Ruohuan's expression turned cold.

Ou Chen's expression remained calm as he looked at Ruohuan and then said coldly, "So what?"

"Hmph." Ruohuan coldly snorted and then looked at Jiang Zhen, saying, "Elder Jiang, Ruohuan is here to collect the Imperial Star token as per my teacher's instructions."

Jiang Zhen, as if he hadn't heard, looked straight ahead and said, "Go to the back of the line."

"Teacher Jiang, Teacher Mo Shang has already assessed him," Ruohuan's expression turned unpleasant when she saw that Jiang Zhen didn't even glance at them. Was this personal revenge? In the academy, she had always been on the opposite side of Ou Chen, and so had Jiang Zhen and Mo Shang.

Jiang Zhen's gaze finally shifted to Ruohuan and Qin Wentian, his expression as cold as Ou Chen's. "He passed Mo Shang's assessment, but not mine. We have already discussed with the Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses. Today is the last day of the assessment. Those who pass the preliminary assessment will participate in a joint exercise by the Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses, entering the Dark Forest to hunt beasts. Only those who survive will be able to join the Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses."

"So, he is no exception. Even if I recognize Mo Shang's assessment, he must first survive to get the Imperial Star token."

"How long will the exercise last?" Ruohuan asked coldly.

"One month," Jiang Zhen said.

"If you don't want to participate, you can choose to give up and go back to Tianyong City," a young man appeared beside Ou Chen, coldly scanning Qin Wentian.

At this moment, Qin Wentian felt many gazes on him. His perception was always strong, and following his instincts, he turned his eyes and saw several gazes from the Royal Academy side. Among them, a person in a green robe, beautiful and captivating, looked at him with a faintly cold gaze.

It was Bai Qiuxue.

The Bai family had already moved to the capital, and Bai Qiuxue had come to the Royal Academy. She would also participate in this joint exercise by the Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses.

"Junior Brother Qin, they want to deal with you," Dasha said to Qin Wentian. "I told you to be careful of Ou Chen because he is close to Ye Wuxie."

Qin Wentian's heart was clear. He hadn't expected that as soon as he entered the capital, someone had already set a trap for him, ready to swallow him whole.

Of course, most of the people from the Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses didn't know about this exercise, except for the new students. There was another reason for this exercise, which was for Qin Wentian. Most of them didn't know who Qin Wentian was, only that this exercise was the final assessment, with life-threatening risks. Not long ago, the Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses had notified everyone that if they were concerned about the danger, they could give up.

Ruohuan stared at Jiang Zhen and asked, "Is this assessment fair?"

"The Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses are working together. All participants will enter the Dark Forest. Additionally, each academy and martial house will send two elders and four senior students to supervise to prevent any accidents. What do you want to question?" Jiang Zhen said coldly.

"Who are the elders and senior students from our Imperial Star Academy?" Ruohuan asked again.

"I and Mo Shang. The senior students will be from our respective disciples. Mo Shang already knows and agrees," Jiang Zhen smiled coldly.

Ruohuan nodded slightly and then looked at Qin Wentian, who smiled and said, "I will participate in this trial."

The moment he agreed, Qin Wentian clearly saw a cold smile on the lips of the young man beside Ou Chen.

"Let's rest over there," Ruohuan led Qin Wentian and the others away.

"Junior Brother Qin, many people will likely target you during this assessment. You must be careful. The Dark Forest itself is filled with beasts, making it very dangerous," Dasha said to Qin Wentian.

"I respect Teacher Mo Shang's decision. As for the other students and beasts, I will handle them carefully," Qin Wentian said.

"Since you say that, you must have a plan. However, Junior Brother, don't underestimate these students, especially the noble students from the Imperial Star Academy and the Royal Academy. Some of them, despite their young age, have extraordinary strength," Ruohuan reminded him.

"Alright, let's wait for the exercise to begin," Qin Wentian nodded, his gaze inadvertently sweeping toward the direction where Bai Qiuxue was. There, Bai Qiuxue was surrounded by many young men and women, like a star among the stars. Besides her talent, it was also because of Ye Wuxie.

"Master, why don't we find a place to stay in the capital first?" Feng Ping suggested to Qin Wentian.

"Sure, do as you please," Qin Wentian had no objections.

"I will wait for you to come out," Feng Ping smiled and left. He believed that Qin Wentian could turn danger into safety and was looking forward to Qin Wentian becoming a powerful alchemy master, standing before Mu Qing.

The assessment of the Nine Great Academies and Martial Houses was in full swing, but it had nothing to do with Qin Wentian, who was chatting with Ruohuan and Dasha on the side.

In the distance of this vast square, in the air, there was a massive beast. This beast had the body of a lion but with wings, a terrifying Eighth-Level Griffin. On top of the Griffin stood two figures, Mo Shang and an old man.

"Master, why didn't you stop Jiang Zhen from agreeing to the Royal Academy's proposal?" Mo Shang looked at the old man with confusion.

"Mo Shang, do you value this young man?" The old man smiled.

"Yes, I like this young man very much. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked you to personally intervene in this trial, just to prevent him from entering the Dark Forest."

"Since you like him so much, why not let him go?" The old man smiled and looked at the vast assessment area in the distance. "This year's students have some promising talents, and the overall level is strong. I am looking forward to this trial."

Mo Shang smiled bitterly, thinking, "Little guy, good luck."

"Grandfather, you called me?" At this moment, a white beast crane flew into the air, and on its back was the first beauty of the Chu Kingdom, Mo Qingcheng.

"Yes, this time you will accompany Mo Shang into the Dark Forest. Don't stay at home all the time," the old man smiled and then turned away, saying, "Mo Shang, take the Griffin with you and take care of Qingcheng."

Mo Shang was taken aback, not understanding his master's intentions. He nodded at Mo Qingcheng, feeling a sense of admiration. He rarely saw his master's granddaughter, Mo Qingcheng, who could drive the Chu Kingdom's nobles mad. His master had her accompany him into the Dark Forest, perhaps with a special purpose.

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**End of Chapter**