90: Never retreat, cut all the way

Over three hours later:

These Young Masters and Young Misses finally emerged from the Wubao Disciples' room.

Click!

The door closed.

Inside the room:

The Wubao Disciples, half-asleep and half-awake, mumbled continuously: "Kill Chu Qing!"

"He looks down on Wubao Disciples."

"He tramples on my dignity!"

"No dignity, rather die!"

...End of the month:

The somewhat deserted Martial Academy became lively again.

Inner Courtyard students were eager, all wanting to challenge the higher levels of the Stone Tower.

Outer Courtyard students hoped that newly promoted Inner Courtyard students would choose them as followers.

The maids had already cleaned and dressed Chu Qing early in the morning.

He wore golden-red brocade robes, his black hair tied with a golden band, and a sachet and seal hung from his waist.

All his accessories highlighted Chu Qing's nobility.

With everything ready, Chu Qing opened his door, intending to go to the central courtyard of the Stone Tower.

Because:

The Stone Tower Challenge took place in the courtyard.

It started from the lowest level of the Stone Tower, and so on.

However, as soon as he opened the door, he saw a Martial Instructor standing outside, a man whose arm was wide enough for a horse to run on, and whose thighs were thicker than an ordinary person's waist.

"Chu Qing... the Vice Dean wants to see you!"

Chu Qing frowned inwardly.

The Vice Dean was a good person.

But, ever since he entered the Inner Courtyard, he had not seen him again.

Now, with the Stone Tower Challenge beginning, the Vice Dean actually wanted to see him?

Is it real? Or fake?

The burly Martial Instructor took out a letter with a seal on it and showed it to him.

Through theTexture and name, Chu Qing confirmed that it was the Vice Dean's seal.

The letter contained only one line:

【If possible, do not ascend the Stone Tower this time.】

Chu Qing: "Hmm?"

"Take me to see the Vice Dean!"

"Alright!"

A few minutes later:

Chu Qing arrived at a pavilion.

He ascended the pavilion, and on the upper floor was a spacious room where the Vice Dean, dressed neatly, was drinking tea.

Seeing Chu Qing, he smiled slightly and said:

"Student Chu, it's been a long time."

Chu Qing clasped his fists, greeted the Vice Dean, and then eagerly asked:

"Vice Dean, why don't you want me to challenge the Stone Tower?"

The Vice Dean sighed and said:

"Not letting you ascend the Stone Tower is just my personal thought!"

Chu Qing nodded, waiting for an explanation.

The Vice Dean continued:

"As you know, the Millennial Calamity is approaching, and the Empire is in turmoil."

"The Northwest Road, where we are located, is the most barren place in the Empire."

"And Shiji Prefecture is the most barren place in the Northwest Road."

"There are as many rebels here as there are cattle hairs."

"A few days ago, floods swept through, causing countless casualties."

"The rebels took the opportunity to recruit many victims."

"In a few days, they might launch a rebellion."

Chu Qing nodded and said: "But, does this have anything to do with my ascending the Stone Tower?"

The Vice Dean smiled bitterly and said: "We are a Martial Academy!"

"When the rebel forces grow strong, students above the second floor of the Stone Tower must go out and clear them out!"

"Clearing out rebels is dangerous and time-consuming."

"Right now, it's paramount that you seize the time to practice your cultivation."

Chu Qing felt a warmth in his heart; the Vice Dean was still thinking of him.

But... "Vice Dean, if I give up ascending the Stone Tower this time, and next month, if the rebels are still there, will I still have to give up?"

The Vice Dean paused, then nodded.

Chu Qing smiled and said: "I give up ascending the Stone Tower, while others ascend."

"The resources that belong to me will be taken by others!"

"Tell me... can my progress still be faster than others?"

The Vice Dean knew what Chu Qing meant and explained:

"Although the rebel forces are strong, we estimate that we can deal with them in at most one month."

"The current rebels are merely pioneers for the king!"

"They won't cause much trouble; next month, everything will return to normal."

"You'll only be delayed for one month."

Chu Qing shook his head and said: "In early spring, when I first started practicing martial arts, someone said, 'one step slow, every step slow!'"

"I don't want to be slow even one step!"

"What's more, aren't there extra resource rewards for dealing with rebels?"

The Vice Dean nodded and said: "That's right."

"But, most of those rewards are not as good as your daily resources."

Chu Qing smiled and said: "Even a mosquito's leg is still meat."

"I don't want to miss out on anything."

Currently, he didn't have many self-cultivated techniques; his improvement relied entirely on luminous pearls.

As long as the luminous pearls were in place, he could develop three to five, or even more Golden Tendons a day.

Clearing out rebels wouldn't hinder his progress.

More importantly: if he delayed for a month, and then there was another change next month, would he continue to delay?

If he kept delaying, his... indomitable and fearless spirit might even be worn away.

Therefore, he had to ascend the Stone Tower.

The Vice Dean was silent for a long time before saying:

"Alright!"

"Perhaps you are right."

Chu Qing's spirit amazed him.

The Vice Dean waved his hand and said: "You go first, I'll come over to watch the battle later!"

Chu Qing clasped his fists and took his leave!

...Stone Tower Courtyard:

The first floor was the most lively, the second floor was slightly less so, and the higher one went, the fewer people there were, and the more deserted it became.

But, all Inner Courtyard students wanted to reach higher levels.

Cui Moyang and others were quite surprised that Chu Qing had only just arrived.

Chu Qing waved to them, led them back to his room, and then recounted the Vice Dean's explanation.

Nangong said softly: "One step slow, every step slow!"

"What we need for improvement now are luminous pearls, not arduous cultivation."

"Dealing with rebels won't delay our time, and we can also collect some extra resources."

The Crowd nodded one after another.

Wang Yinyang even stroked his long sword and said: "It's just killing... haven't we killed enough during this period?"

Chu Qing nodded and said: "Good, as long as everyone is mentally prepared!"

"Let's go, ascend the Stone Tower!"

The Crowd nodded one after another.

Ximen took the opportunity to say: "Qing Ge, yesterday we chose a Wubao Disciples as your opponent!"

"That Wubao Disciples' strength is average, and he's very timid."

"Dealing with him will be as easy as turning over one's hand."

He described yesterday's situation.

Chu Qing nodded.

Although Ximen and the others' actions were somewhat unethical.

But, so what?

Anyway... the opponent was not his match.

The Crowd returned to the courtyard.

Soon:

The Vice Dean brought a group of Martial Instructors over, and after a brief speech, the Vice Dean announced the start of the Stone Tower Challenge.

Ximen rubbed his fists, jumped into the middle of the courtyard, and said: "I challenge the second floor—Ma Fei!"

Whoosh!

On the second floor, a Wubao Disciples jumped down.

The two clasped their fists, and the next second, they exchanged blows.

That Wubao Disciples was originally not Ximen's match; moreover, after being reprimanded last night, he was even more unable to let loose.

In less than thirty seconds, he was sent flying by a palm from Ximen.

"I concede!"

A Martial Instructor shouted loudly: 【Ximen Feng successfully ascended the Stone Tower!】

Immediately after, the Twins appeared, Nangong appeared.

All easily defeated their opponents.

When it was Wang Yinyang and Cui Moyang's turn, they defeated their opponents in just a few moves, successfully ascending the Stone Tower.

Soon, it was Chu Qing's turn.

He stood in the courtyard, looking around:

Upstairs, a large number of Inner Courtyard students scrutinized him with various gazes; many Inner Courtyard students were seeing him for the first time.

"Is this Chu Qing?"

"He looks so gentle and handsome, not like a ruthless person with a heart of stone who kills like cutting grass?"

On the eighth and ninth floors, students sneered secretly.

Most of them came from Powerful families and only wanted to see Chu Qing defeated.

At this moment:

Chu Qing smiled and said: "I challenge Xiao Long!"

Xiao Long, a Wubao Disciples.

He was the opponent Ximen and the others had chosen for Chu Qing.

He was weak in character and average in martial arts.

The reason Chu Qing chose him was to ascend the Stone Tower smoothly and gain benefits, then prepare for ascending to the third floor.

Whoosh!

Xiao Long, in a White Robe, jumped into the courtyard, full of Battle Intent, and said: "Come, fight!"

Ximen and the others' expressions changed slightly.

"What's going on?"

"This guy's Battle Intent is so strong!"

Chu Qing was also quite surprised; logically, the opponent should have no Battle Intent, as it was destined to be a losing battle.

But... the opponent's Battle Intent was too strong.

He feared there was an unexpected turn of events.

"But, so what?"

"I already have over two hundred Golden Tendons; would I care about a small character like him?"

The next second, Chu Qing, like a Dragonfly skimming water, rushed towards the opponent.

Bang!

The figures collided.

Xiao Long, in the White Robe, screamed, flew back seven or eight meters, fell to the ground, and vomited blood.

A Martial Instructor shouted loudly: 【Chu Qing... successfully ascended the Stone Tower!】

Chu Qing nodded, preparing to retreat.

However, the next second, the blood-vomiting Xiao Long actually got up, his eyes flashing fiercely, and said: "I haven't failed yet!"

"Fight!"

The next second, his muscles swelled, and he charged at Chu Qing again.