117: Drain the Samsara Pond and peek at the Taichu Monument

That sigh carried the immense power of 'what is said, is done'.

Time stood still.

Space was frozen.

A slovenly old man, dressed in a simple Daoist robe and looking sleepy, had appeared in the valley at some unknown point.

He was like an ordinary old village Daoist priest, without the slightest spiritual Qi fluctuation on him, just casually sitting on a bluestone, holding a wine gourd in his hand.

The moment she saw the old man, a look of joy immediately appeared on Ji Qingxue's cold and beautiful Face.

She moved with light steps and walked to the old man's side.

"Grandpa."

She called out softly.

Hearing her, the old man slowly opened his cloudy eyes, a doting smile appearing on his Face, and stretched out his wrinkled hand to rub Ji Qingxue's head.

"You little girl, always finding trouble for Grandpa."

His voice was slow and leisurely.

This old man was precisely the Dean of Taichu Dao Academy, Ji Qingxuan.

An old monster who had lived for countless years and whose cultivation had long since reached the heavens.

After comforting his granddaughter, Ji Qingxuan slowly turned his gaze to the scene.

He just casually glanced around.

Buzz!

The immense power that had frozen everything in heaven and earth instantly dissipated into nothingness.

"De... Dean!"

Xuan Ji, who had regained his ability to move, saw Ji Qingxuan, and the anger on his Face instantly vanished completely.

He had not expected that Ji Qingxuan would also come.

He quickly reined in his Qi and respectfully bowed to Ji Qingxuan.

Yuan Changfeng and the others also followed suit, bowing one after another.

"Greetings, Dean!"

Ji Qingxuan waved his hand, signaling them not to be too formal.

His seemingly cloudy eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through eternity, finally landed on Jiang Chen.

He sized up Jiang Chen, a look of intrigued amusement appearing on his Face.

"Haha."

"You little fellow, you must be the Saint of Hongtian Holy Land, right?"

Jiang Chen met his gaze, his expression calm, neither servile nor overbearing.

"This Junior, Jiang Chen, greets Dean Ji."

Ji Qingxuan smiled and nodded, then pointed to the Reincarnation Pool, which had already become a stagnant pond.

"The pool water that my Dao Academy has accumulated for tens of thousands of years, was it sucked dry by you, this little fellow, in one go?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Xuan Ji's mouth twitched fiercely.

What did he mean by... pool water?

That was the Reincarnation Pool! It was one of the Foundations of the Dao Academy!

Yuan Changfeng felt a pang in his chest, almost spitting out another mouthful of old blood.

His long-dreamed-of supreme Opportunity, in the Dean's mouth, was just... ordinary pool water?

However, facing Ji Qingxuan's somewhat teasing question...

Jiang Chen's answer surprised everyone even more.

He nodded frankly.

"It was me."

"I couldn't stop myself for a moment and sucked it all dry."

He admitted it!

He admitted it so straightforwardly!

However, the thunderous wrath of Ji Qingxuan that everyone had anticipated did not appear.

"Hahahahaha!"

Ji Qingxuan was first stunned upon hearing this, then clapped his hands and burst into laughter, his laughter filled with delight.

"Good!"

"What a 'couldn't stop myself'!"

"For tens of thousands of years, how many Prodigies and heroes have entered the Reincarnation Pool of my Taichu Dao Academy, and to gain even one-thousandth is a rare occurrence in a thousand years."

"For you to be able to suck this entire pool dry, that is your capability!"

"If you sucked it, you sucked it. It's not a big deal!"

Ji Qingxuan waved his hand, saying carelessly.

These words made Xuan Ji and Yuan Changfeng's eyes instantly widen.

They could not understand, no matter what, why the Dean would react this way!

"This matter ends here."

Ji Qingxuan said slowly, making a final decision.

He glanced at Xuan Ji and said lightly, "Xuan Ji, take Changfeng back to heal his injuries. Don't stand here anymore."

Xuan Ji's body trembled, his Face full of unwillingness.

Of course, he didn't want to just leave like this; at the very least, he had to regain some Face from Jiang Chen.

However, with Ji Qingxuan speaking, he dared not refute.

"Yes, Dean."

Xuan Ji responded in a hoarse voice, then waved his hand, preparing to take Yuan Changfeng away.

Everyone thought that this matter would come to an end after Ji Qingxuan's personal intervention.

However, at this moment...

An untimely voice sounded again.

"Wait a moment."

The one who spoke was precisely Jiang Chen.

Everyone's gaze once again focused on him.

This fellow Jiang Chen was truly crazy!

Even the Dean was clearly making concessions, yet he still didn't know how to rein himself in. What else did he want to do?!

Nangong Mingyue walked to Jiang Chen's side and gently tugged at his sleeve.

Even Xuan Ji, who was about to turn and leave, froze in his movements.

Ji Qingxuan looked at Jiang Chen with interest.

"Oh?"

"Little fellow, you still have something to say?"

Jiang Chen smiled, his gaze sweeping over Xuan Ji and Yuan Changfeng's pig-like Faces.

"If the Dean says to let the matter of the Reincarnation Pool go, this Junior naturally has no objection."

"However..."

Jiang Chen changed the subject.

"Just now, this Vice Dean Xuan Ji, and his good disciple, were clamoring to put me to death."

"They even threatened to go to war with my Hongtian Holy Land."

"This score has not yet been settled."

As soon as these words came out...

The entire audience was shocked!

Xuan Ji suddenly looked over, his eyes bloodshot, staring at Jiang Chen, his gaze as if he wanted to devour him alive!

This brat, getting a benefit wasn't enough; he actually dared to push his luck even further?!

The smile on Ji Qingxuan's Face grew wider.

"Haha, then in your opinion, what should be done?"

He asked leisurely.

"Our Elder was severely injured by your Guardian, and his Foundation was destroyed."

"Xuan Ji was also greatly angered."

"What more do you want?"

Jiang Chen heard this and pretended to ponder for a moment.

"This Junior is timid and was frightened, so I need some compensation."

"I heard that the taichu dao stele is the founding object of the Dao Academy, containing supreme Dao rhythm."

"How about letting this Junior enter to comprehend it for three, five, or seven days, to calm my nerves."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid it will leave a Heart Demon and affect my future cultivation."

As his voice fell...

Many people were stunned.

They had never seen such a shameless person in their lives!!!

Even Nangong Mingyue and Yu Meier couldn't help but open their small mouths, their beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.

What was this guy's Face made of, exactly?

"You... you are going too far!!!"

Xuan Ji could no longer hold back, pointing at Jiang Chen and letting out an exasperated roar.

The taichu dao stele!

That was the true treasure of the Taichu Dao Academy, countless times more precious than the Reincarnation Pool!

This Jiang Chen, sucking dry the Reincarnation Pool wasn't enough; he actually dared to covet the taichu dao stele?!

However, Ji Qingxuan did not get angry.

He just stared intently at Jiang Chen, his cloudy eyes seeming to see through Jiang Chen from the inside out.

After a long while...

"Hahahahahahaha!"

A burst of laughter, even louder than before, echoed throughout the valley.

Ji Qingxuan pointed at Jiang Chen, laughing so hard he swayed back and forth.

"Interesting!"

"You little fellow, you are truly interesting!"

After laughing, he slowly stood up.

Under everyone's incredulous gazes, he nodded at Jiang Chen.

"Good."

"This old man grants it."

Xuan Ji's throat choked, and his vision went black; he almost fainted on the spot from anger.

Ji Qingxuan didn't pay him any mind, just stared deeply at Jiang Chen.

"However, not just anyone can look at the taichu dao stele."

"Whether you gain anything depends on your own capability."

After saying that, without waiting for everyone to react, he flicked his sleeve.

He left with Xuan Ji and the others, leaving only a voice echoing in Jiang Chen's ear.

"Five days from now, this old man will have Xue'er come find you."

"At that time, you may enter the taichu dao stele for a look."