34: Dongshan Prefecture, Dongshan Martial Arts Academy

Dongshan Prefecture City was the absolute core of Dongshan Prefecture, one of the eight prefectures under the Heavenly Mountain Sect's jurisdiction.

The city walls were dozens of zhang high, towering and majestic; from a distance, it looked like a giant mountain rising straight from the ground.

The permanent population within the city exceeded six million year-round, while the floating population surpassed ten million.

With such a population, let alone in the ancient-style Jiuzhou World, it would be a well-deserved mega-city even in the modern world of Earth from his previous life.

The water systems outside the city were incredibly developed, with countless ships anchored at various ports.

At the docks, porters and laborers, like a continuous stream of ants, moved endless supplies brought from across the prefecture and even the entire Qingzhou region from the large ships.

Outside the tall city gates, teams of men and horses, carriage fleets, and merchant caravans were densely packed, with people coming and going in a bustling, lively scene.

Suddenly—

"Whoa!!!"

The neighing of several fine horses rang out outside the city gates. A group of about seven or eight people dressed in light, tight-fitting martial attire pulled their reins, bringing their steeds to a halt.

"Is this Dongshan Prefecture City? What a truly majestic giant city!"

In the group, a handsome youth looked at the towering city before him and couldn't help but marvel aloud.

"A few years ago, I followed my father to Nanshan County City. I originally thought that county city was already very large, much larger than my Guangling County City."

"But I never imagined this Dongshan Prefecture City would be more than ten times more magnificent than Nanshan County City. It truly deserves its title as the number one city in my Dongshan Prefecture!"

"Haha! Naturally!"

Hearing Wang Kai's words, at the front of the group, Dean Zhao Haishan, who was riding a Green-Scaled Dragon-Blood Horse, immediately laughed and said:

"Dongshan Prefecture is one of the eighteen prefectures of our Qingzhou, and it ranks in the middle among the eight prefectures ruled by our Heavenly Mountain Sect. As its Prefecture City, this city is naturally incredibly vast."

"Otherwise, how could the Prefecture City Martial Academy have so many resources? How could the faculty and Disciples be so formidable? Later, if you can pass the assessment and join the academy, you'll understand everything."

"Understood!"

Wang Kai nodded, then exchanged a glance with Lin Yi; both saw the look of anticipation in each other's eyes.

Seeing this, Zhao Haishan waved his hand and shouted:

"Let's go! Into the city!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison, then followed Zhao Haishan to pay the fee and enter the city, heading straight for the Prefecture City's "Dongshan Martial Academy"... What followed was simple. With Dean Zhao Haishan's clansman brother serving as a Vice Dean at Dongshan Martial Academy, regardless of what the teachers there actually thought, they at least welcomed Lin Yi's group with considerable warmth on the surface.

Afterward, Dean Zhao Haishan went directly to find his brother.

Lin Yi, Wang Kai, and several other accompanying teachers were settled into guest rooms at Dongshan Martial Academy in pairs, as arranged by a Logistics Teacher.

"Lin Yi, do you think we can pass the assessment and enter Dongshan Martial Academy this time?"

Inside the guest room, having already finished dinner and Cultivated his martial arts for a while, Wang Kai lay on the bed. He looked at the stars through the skylight above, his eyes shining with brilliance and his face full of yearning.

"I walked around Dongshan Martial Academy today and found that the Disciples of the Prefecture City Martial Academy are really strong!"

"I looked at people at random and found that many of them are stronger than me; some have even realized Extreme Strength. I wonder how they Cultivate?"

"How great would it be if we really could enter Dongshan Martial Academy this time!"

"Yes, Dongshan Martial Academy is very good!"

Lin Yi lay on the bed, looking at the brilliant starry sky above, and also nodded with a smile.

"I saw many Disciples today who are very strong; one or two even made me feel threatened. If we can enter Dongshan Martial Academy, we will definitely achieve a higher rank when we take the Heavenly Mountain Sect entrance exam next year."

"However, since Dongshan Martial Academy is so formidable, joining it probably won't be easy. Let's work hard together!"

"Yeah, let's work hard together!"

Wang Kai nodded heavily. After that, the two chatted for a while longer before closing their eyes and falling into a deep sleep... The next day.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Accompanied by a loud rooster's crow, Lin Yi and Wang Kai both got out of bed in the guest room.

Afterward, the two washed up together, had breakfast, rested for a bit, and then were led by a Logistics Teacher to a Training Field at Dongshan Martial Academy to prepare for the assessment.

At this moment, fifty or sixty Dongshan Martial Academy Disciples were already Cultivating on this Training Field.

Seeing Lin Yi and Wang Kai arrive, some looked on with cold indifference and ignored them, while others just gave them a brief glance before continuing their own practice.

Of course, some Disciples looked at the two with interest, whispering among themselves:

"Hey! Old Zhou, I heard those two over there are from Guangling County City."

"Supposedly, their academy's dean has a connection with our new Vice Dean at Dongshan Martial Academy. So, our Vice Dean secured an opportunity for them, promising that as long as they pass the assessment, they can study at our Dongshan Martial Academy. Do you think these two guys can pass?"

"Guangling County City? Pfft! What kind of backwater place is that? I've never even heard of it!"

As soon as that Disciple finished speaking, a burly youth gave a disdainful sneer and mocked:

"What kind of Genius could come out of such a small place? I bet their County Martial Academy can't even produce a single Disciple who can pass the Heavenly Mountain Sect entrance exam in a whole year, right?"

"And they still want to enter our Dongshan Martial Academy to Cultivate? I think they're dreaming!"

"True! Old Zhou's words are blunt but accurate!"

As soon as the burly youth finished speaking, a youth next to him, dressed like a handsome Young Master from a noble family, laughed and said:

"I've actually heard of Guangling County City; it's a small county city in our Dongshan Prefecture. It's said that the martial academy in that county city, including this year, has gone a full seven years without producing a Disciple who passed the Heavenly Mountain Sect exam."

"What! Seven years?"

"Hahaha!"

Hearing the handsome youth's words, the Disciples present burst into loud laughter:

"A backwater place is indeed a backwater place; it's even worse than I imagined!"

"Seven whole years without a single Disciple getting into the Heavenly Mountain Sect. My god! If I hadn't heard it myself, I wouldn't have even dared to dream it! And yet they dare to try! That whatever-it's-called Guangling Martial Academy is truly trash. Today has really been an eye-opener!"

"Yeah! With such a trashy martial academy, I don't know why the Vice Dean agreed to let their Disciples come to our academy for an assessment. Even if the other academy's dean has a connection with him, he can't be this biased!"

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! The new Vice Dean is a Transmitting Merit Elder of the Sect. Not only is his own strength extraordinary, but he has students everywhere. I heard that the number of Martial Dao Second Rank experts he has taught over the years exceeds ten. You're courting death by daring to criticize the Vice Dean!"

"I... I was just speaking casually! I have no intention of criticizing the Vice Dean! His Excellency the Vice Dean is of high prestige and command great respect; I, Zhang Linquan, have always admired him greatly. You guys better not go out and talk nonsense later!"

"Haha, don't worry! Old Zhang, today we're only discussing that pathetic Guangling Martial Academy and those two country bumpkin Disciples. When did we ever talk about the Vice Dean? We've always had the utmost respect for the Vice Dean!"

"Exactly! When did we ever talk about the Vice Dean? Haven't we been talking about those two country bumpkins the whole time? Old Zhang, rest easy!"

"Haha! That's good. In that case, I, Zhang Linquan, thank you brothers. After we watch these two country bumpkins get eliminated later, I'll take you all to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to drink wine and listen to music."

"Haha! Brother Zhang is generous!"

"Haha! Great!"

... "Those bastards!"

On the other side of the Training Field, hearing these harsh voices, Wang Kai's face turned red with anger.

He was still a youth, after all. Although he was usually more mature, being so severely insulted by these Disciples the moment he arrived at Dongshan Martial Academy was more than he could bear.

"Don't be in a hurry!"

Seeing that Wang Kai looked ready to charge forward at any moment, Lin Yi reached out to stop him. Then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he said softly:

"In this world, strength is ultimately what speaks. If you rush up to fight them now, it would be fine if you won, but if you lost, it would only make us a laughingstock for the other Disciples."

"Wait until the formal assessment later. We'll show our strength then and soundly defeat these arrogant academy Disciples. We'll let these high-and-mighty Prefecture City Disciples see the power of us 'country bumpkins'!"

"Fine!"

Hearing this, Wang Kai barely suppressed his anger and nodded fiercely.

"Then we'll wait a bit longer and give them a good lesson after the formal assessment."

"But I checked yesterday; my strength is only average among these Dongshan Martial Academy Disciples. I'll be lucky if I can defeat three or four out of ten."

"So, the pride of Guangling Martial Academy, and even Guangling County City, will ultimately depend on you, Lin Yi!"

"Don't worry!"

Lin Yi nodded slightly, his eyes flashing with light.

If it were a month and a half ago, he really wouldn't have been confident in surpassing many of the geniuses of Dongshan Martial Academy.

But now that a month and a half had passed, his strength had improved too much.

So much so that even if this Dongshan Martial Academy was filled with geniuses, he, Lin Yi, had absolute confidence in trampling the vast majority of the Disciples under his feet, one by one!