Chapter 20: Goodbye, Min Qingqiu.

"Marriage?" Ding Hao burst out laughing, "Do you still think you're a swan? Really, what's wrong with your head? Do you think I brought people here to discuss a marriage proposal? I'll tell you straight, you've concocted evil pills and framed geniuses, committing heinous crimes. The City Lord has ordered me to arrest you! Why don't you just give up?"

The young officer from the City Lord's residence waved his hand, "Seize them!"

The soldiers pounced like wolves, capturing both the father and daughter.

At this point, Zheng Peipei finally came to her senses. She had no right to act superior in front of Ding Hao! And the problem now wasn't just about the marriage proposal, but also about the Zheng family poisoning geniuses!

Thinking of this, she shouted, "Ding Hao, don't forget we have a marriage proposal!"

Ding Hao stood proudly and loudly declared to the surrounding crowd, "Neighbors, bear witness, Zheng Peipei has violated the code of conduct and framed geniuses. I hereby declare the marriage proposal null and void!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the crowd shouted, "Young Master Ding Hao, my daughter is sixteen years old."

"Genius Ding Hao, my daughter has good potential."

"My daughter has decent potential and appearance..."

Ding Hao didn't expect such enthusiasm from the crowd and was frightened, so he ordered the young officer to quickly escort the Zheng family father and daughter back to the City Hall.

Back at the City Hall, Ding Junjie was sentenced to beheading.

Zheng Qiang and his daughter were originally also sentenced to death, but the Nine States world showed leniency to those with ancestors. The Zheng family had a clay statue, meaning they had an ancestor at the Foundation Establishment level in the Immortal Refinement World, so they were not subject to the death penalty.

Their cultivation was to be stripped, and their clay statue destroyed, turning the Zheng family father and daughter into beggars on the streets.

This matter was thus concluded.

The only regret was that Ding Juncai was left alive. "If you don't cut the grass at the root, it will grow back when the spring breeze blows!" Ding Hao was not a soft-hearted person. If he was going to do something, he would do it thoroughly. Repaying kindness with kindness was not something to be promoted! In his previous life, after Japan surrendered, the Russians killed many prisoners, and the Japanese feared them; China treated prisoners well, but they didn't appreciate it.

Repaying kindness with kindness only invites provocation and contempt. In other words, if you don't care, why should they?

In the other world, it was even more so!

After the matter was settled, City Lord Ling Yunxiao personally handled Ding Hao's registration.

Registration involved recording his name, age, potential, and when he awakened.

After the registration, a token of Wuzhou City would be issued. With this token, one could freely travel across the Nine States! If one hadn't awakened, they couldn't even leave Wuzhou City!

Additionally, the City Lord's residence issued a protective weapon and a cultivation technique to those who had awakened.

However, Ding Hao didn't go to collect the weapon and technique because Min Qingqiu and her father were leaving.

In the center of the square, the statue of Wu Xianzi stood tall and green, like a mountain. The people walking around her feet were like ants.

On one side of the square, the Heavenly Will Shuttle hovered several meters above the ground.

This flying device was actually a piece of green jade rock with a platform of over ten square meters. It used the power of Heavenly Will to fly in the sky, covering thousands of miles in a day. It took only half an hour to travel from Wuzhou City to the Nine States Academy.

However, this device consumed Heavenly Will and wasn't built in large numbers. Only the main cities of the Nine States and the Nine States Academy had them. Ordinary people had no right to ride them; only the elites of the Nine States Academy had the right to use them!

Min Zhengyuan stood under the Heavenly Will Shuttle, saying goodbye to Ling Yunxiao, "Although we didn't find the whereabouts of the evil immortal teacher this time, it's not impossible that he's still hiding near Wuzhou. If you discover anything, don't alarm him. Send me a message quickly."

Ling Yunxiao smiled, "No problem, if he dares to enter the Heavenly Will, I'll make sure he doesn't return."

"Be careful, Brother Yunxiao. The evil immortal teacher is extremely vicious."

After giving a few more instructions, Min Zhengyuan turned to Ding Hao, "Ding Hao, although you have a super-grade immortal root and the blessing of the immortal, I still want to give you a few words of advice."

Ding Hao nodded.

Min Zhengyuan said, "A growth-type immortal root is different from other immortal roots. It's more about growth, so it may undergo multiple awakenings! You can't relax for a moment; you must always keep your body and spirit in the best condition! Remember, if you ever have a downgrade in an awakening, you won't be able to improve again!"

Ding Hao's face turned serious, not expecting the growth-type immortal root to be so difficult to manage.

But Min Zhengyuan added, "Don't worry too much. There are pros and cons. A growth-type immortal root is hard to cultivate, but with each awakening, your immortal root and strength will greatly improve! As long as you maintain your super-grade potential, you will definitely be stronger than any other cultivator of the same level!"

Ling Yunxiao nodded, "The more you put in, the more you get out. Ding Hao, this is both your misfortune and your opportunity!"

Ding Hao nodded, "Dean Min, rest assured. I will work hard and keep my body and spirit in the best condition!"

"Also, the original pill!" Min Zhengyuan reminded, "Refining the original pill is crucial! The earlier you refine it, the better! So my advice is to focus on cultivating the immortal root technique rather than martial skills!"

The immortal root technique is a cultivation method used to refine the original pill and can also increase combat power. Martial skills, on the other hand, are purely for combat.

Min Zhengyuan's advice was sound. Cultivating the immortal root technique early, refining the original pill, and advancing in cultivation would greatly benefit the growth-type immortal root.

Then, Min Qingqiu took out a jade token, "Brother Ding Hao, as a gift, I have this innate-level testing jade token. It will help you monitor your cultivation progress. Your potential will surely get you into the Nine States Academy. Remember to find me in the Inner Court! Also, although you earn money by helping others meditate, cultivation is the most important! Don't lose the big picture for small gains!"

Ding Hao could hear the sincerity in Min Qingqiu's words and nodded, "Sister Qingqiu, rest assured! I will definitely go to the Nine States Academy! I will definitely go to the Immortal Refinement World! Why do people live? To see more, to travel more, to experience more, and to have no regrets when they die!"

Ding Hao's perspective was rare in this world, and Min Qingqiu's beautiful eyes sparkled, "Right! People live to see more, to travel more, to experience more, and to have no regrets when they die! Brother Ding Hao, you said it well. Keep it up!"

After saying this, she followed Min Zhengyuan onto the Heavenly Will Shuttle.

The Heavenly Will Shuttle slowly ascended, and Min Zhengyuan, with a smile and flowing beard, bowed to Ling Yunxiao and the onlookers below.

The Heavenly Will was ethereal, dancing. Min Qingqiu's skirt fluttered like a green butterfly about to take flight. Her black hair flew in the wind, and her beautiful eyes smiled as she waved goodbye, "Brother Ding, remember what you said. See you at the Nine States Academy!"

The Heavenly Will Shuttle rose higher and higher. Watching her figure, Ding Hao waved his arm, thinking to himself.

Goodbye, Min Qingqiu.

I will also stand on the Heavenly Will Shuttle!

Goodbye, Min Qingqiu.

I won't waste my time in a small place like Wuzhou!

Goodbye, Min Qingqiu.

We will definitely meet again at the Nine States Academy!

Goodbye, Min Qingqiu.

In half a year, I believe you will be shocked again!

Standing on the Heavenly Will Shuttle, Min Zhengyuan's gaze was focused.

Min Qingqiu whispered, "Father, Ding Hao's potential should qualify him for direct entry into the Nine States Academy. Why didn't you take him? Entering the academy earlier would be beneficial for his growth!"

Min Zhengyuan, of course, knew this, but he said, "This young man is young, and his potential is good, but his hatred is too strong. The Nine States world is a world of righteousness, and people are kind, but Ding Hao is willing to waste a chance to ask the Heavenly Will on revenge. His desire for revenge is too terrifying."

Min Qingqiu said, "But the Ding family's fourth son and his family were indeed too overbearing and deserved their fate!"

"The Ding family's fourth son and his family deserved their fate," Min Zhengyuan said, "I'm worried that this young man is too determined, cold, and vengeful. I fear that if he goes to the Nine States Academy, where competition is even more intense, he might not be able to keep up and could end up like the previous world's villain, becoming an evil immortal teacher. That's why I didn't take him, but left him in Wuzhou to be tempered!"

Min Qingqiu understood her father's good intentions and said, "I hope Brother Ding can become more mature."

Watching the Heavenly Will Shuttle fly away, the crowd in the square dispersed. Ling Yunxiao had a young officer take Ding Hao to collect his items and returned to the City Lord's residence to work.

At the City Lord's residence, the weapon storage.

The young officer first took Ding Hao here and unexpectedly met Ding Juncai, who was also there to collect a weapon.

Ding Juncai came with the young prince, who he was grateful to for saving his life.

Ding Juncai hated Ding Hao but pretended not to see him, and Ding Hao ignored him.

However, the young prince said with a smile, "Genius Ding Hao, with a growth-type immortal root of the Flame Beast, it's not easy to raise this beast."

Like a weasel wishing a chicken a happy new year, Ding Hao also had a hidden meaning, "Thank you, Young Prince, for your concern. I will work even harder and won't let you down."

The young prince laughed, "Genius Ding Hao, you are indeed amusing. I wonder if the Flame Sparrow will grow into a Flame Crow or a Flame Phoenix!"

Ding Hao heard the deep jealousy and said, "I'm watching, and you're watching too!"

The young prince asked, "What are you watching?"

Ding Hao said, "The tide of fortune changes. A crow can become a phoenix, and a phoenix can fall and become a plucked chicken. I'm waiting to see the plucked chicken."

His words implied that the young prince might also become a plucked chicken one day.

"Let's wait and see," the young prince said coldly, and then fell silent.

At this moment, the young officer guarding the weapon storage said, "Congratulations to both geniuses. According to the City Lord's regulations, each newly awakened person will receive a Xiu Chun Dao and a storage bag."

The young prince asked, "All awakened people get a Xiu Chun Dao? Even geniuses? It's not like that in Tangzhou."

The young officer guarding the weapon storage said, "Young Prince, in Wuzhou, it's like this. All awakened people receive a Xiu Chun Dao. Only after the annual examination, those who can enter the Nine States Academy have the right to choose a weapon from the storage."