142: Chapter 142 Beilongzhou, Tianlan Zhenren

Beilong Province, Jinxiu City.

As one of the nineteen provinces of the Great Jing Dynasty, although Beilong Province was not the largest province in terms of area, it still occupied a vast territory, stretching nearly ten thousand li from north to south.

Its capital, Jinxiu City, already had a history of nearly a thousand years. It was no exaggeration to say that Jinxiu City had existed for much longer than the Great Jing Dynasty itself.

As the premier city of Beilong Province, the sheer scale and magnificent Aura of Jinxiu City were far beyond what Longxi Prefecture could compare to. Just the satellite cities surrounding it numbered four, forming a formation of Four Flood Dragons Welcoming a Dragon.

It was said that before Jinxiu City was established, this place was a desolate land ruled by exotic beasts, and the humans living in this area could only grovel under their rule.

It wasn't until the founding emperor of the previous Dynasty (Daqing), with his supreme power, slew a rank-seven exotic beast and leveled the surrounding mountains for dozens of miles, that today's Jinxiu City came into being.

Whether the rumors were true or not remained unknown.

In short, it was beyond doubt that Jinxiu City's status and prosperity were the greatest in Beilong Province.

In Jinxiu City, countless wealthy merchants and Great Families came and went every day; moreover, these merchants were not ordinary businessmen without status—they were often descendants of Great Families, and at the very least, they came from top-tier third-rate families.

An ordinary third-rate family would be completely unremarkable in Jinxiu City.

Walking on the streets, one would encounter the carriages of Great Family Disciples from time to time. Even Second-rate Great Families, which were rarely seen in prefecture cities, were easily encountered here.

Of course, the majority of these Great Family Disciples were from collateral branches; those from the direct and main lineages were still a minority.

It could be said that third-rate families no longer belonged to the elite class here.

Only First-rate Great Family Disciples could stand at the very top in Jinxiu City; they were the true children of the elite.

To the north of Jinxiu City sat a sprawling academy: Shanhe Academy.

Shanhe Academy was not only the strongest academy within Beilong Province, but it was also the only power in the Beilong region overseen by multiple Xiantian Masters.

Shanhe Academy had existed since the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty. To this day, it had over four hundred years of history.

Not only had Shanhe Academy never shown signs of decline, but it had grown increasingly powerful.

Especially in the last hundred years, Shanhe Academy had produced two Xiantian Masters in succession, causing its prestige to reach its peak.

Countless Genius Disciples from Great Families fought tooth and nail for a chance to enter Shanhe Academy.

Unfortunately, Shanhe Academy's recruitment was extremely strict and did not grant preferential treatment based on the status of the applicant's Great Family.

Unlike other academies that recruit once a year,

Shanhe Academy only conducts recruitment once every three years, and in each recruitment assessment, fewer than a hundred Academy Disciples were able to enter the academy.

In the worst year, there were even only a dozen or so people.

This strict control over numbers reflected an attitude of Shanhe Academy.

Quality over quantity!

Of course, recruitment periods weren't the only times one had a chance to enter Shanhe Academy.

It was just that the other method was even more difficult: it required an Academy Elder to personally take someone as a Disciple.

If entering Shanhe Academy through the regular triennial recruitment was one in ten thousand,

then entering by being recruited as a Disciple by an Academy Elder was one in a hundred thousand, or even one in a million.

Most Great Families didn't even know this method of entering the academy existed.

After all, not everyone was qualified to meet an Academy Elder.

At this time, there were still six months until Shanhe Academy's triennial recruitment.

Logically, six months could be considered a long time. However, the area near Shanhe Academy was already packed with people.

They came from all over; among them, local Great Family Disciples from Jinxiu City were the most numerous, followed by Loose Cultivators and Martial Artists, and the younger generation from various prefecture cities.

Of course, not all of these young people who arrived early at Shanhe Academy were there to enter the academy.

It is a virtue to have self-knowledge.

They had many reasons for coming here: some were there to make friends, some to broaden their horizons, and others to

do business.

Naturally, some also came with the idea of catching a wealthy husband. But regardless of their purpose, they all contributed to the prosperity of this area.

Large crowds easily lead to public security issues.

However, the area near Shanhe Academy was the place with the best security in Jinxiu City.

With Xiantian Masters overseeing the place, no one dared to cause trouble here.

Even if you had a background that reached the heavens, it wouldn't matter.

Xiantian Masters didn't care about your background.

Inside Shanhe Academy.

Inside a uniquely scenic courtyard in the woods, an old man sat.

He wore a loose, green cloth robe, his silver hair white as snow and tied casually behind his head, with a few strands fluttering gently in the breeze. On his thin face, the wrinkles left by time were deep as ravines, yet they did not diminish his vigor.

Judging by his appearance alone, he was just an elderly man of considerable age.

But if someone were to look directly into his eyes, they would find that his gaze was deep and vast, shining like the stars, faintly revealing an otherworldly Aura.

In the next second, a faint smile appeared on his face, and his entire being exuded a peaceful Aura.

This old man was one of the Academy Elders and also one of its Xiantian Masters, Master Tianlan.

Just then, an imposing middle-aged man walked outside the courtyard with a vigorous stride.

The middle-aged man wore a cloud-patterned brocade robe, luxurious and extravagant; those who didn't know him would take him for the head of a Great Family.

But his fierce and violent Aura undoubtedly shattered that peaceful image, making him seem more like a general who had been fighting abroad for years.

However, after entering the courtyard, the middle-aged man immediately restrained his Aura, becoming ordinary-looking,

Before long, the middle-aged man arrived before Master Tianlan.

In the next moment, the middle-aged man bowed respectfully and said, "Disciple Xiong Hongyou pays his respects to Revered Master."

Upon seeing the middle-aged man, the smile on Master Tianlan's face immediately stiffened.

No one knew this Disciple's temperament better than he did.

"Hongyou, aren't you on a mission in the Hundred Thousand Mountains? How do you have the time to visit me?" Master Tianlan said, forcing a smile.

Hearing this, a cunning look that didn't match his age appeared on the middle-aged man's face. "It's because I missed Revered Master too much that I came back early."

Master Tianlan glared at the middle-aged man and said irritably, "Drop the act. I knew that nothing good would come of you visiting me."

"Speak, what happened this time?"

The middle-aged man said with a face full of sincerity, "Revered Master, why don't you believe me? My heart is pure and sincere, as Heaven and Earth can witness."

If someone didn't know the middle-aged man, they might truly be deceived by his expression.

But how could Master Tianlan not know his own Disciple's temperament?

This fellow definitely brought no good news.

He claims it's out of filial piety...

...but every time he arrives empty-handed and leaves fully loaded.

Because of this, Master Tianlan's private stash had shrunk by a whole level.

Over the years, he didn't know how many times he had regretted it, wondering how he had been so bewitched as to take on such a Disciple.

If it weren't for the fact that this Disciple still had some talent, he would have kicked him out of the sect long ago.

Master Tianlan said with a look of disdain, "Hongyou, you said it yourself. Don't come looking for me if you need something later."