Chapter 38: Who Could Be Against The Ascending Yuan Pill

Under Ma Yu’s indication, the heads of each academy prepared to first return to their respective academy teams to convey relevant matters, and then await the arrival of the true invigilators.

Ma Yu’s action truly whetted everyone’s appetite.

You must know that Ma Yu was always in charge of invigilation during trials, but this time, for the first time, a different person was appointed, and this change made everyone restless.

But Ma Yu kept his mouth shut, and no matter how others tried to probe, he wouldn’t reveal a single word. Helpless, everyone had to return to their respective teams for the time being.

After Ming Zhiyuan returned to the Shangluo Academy’s headquarters, his gaze swept over them, and he unconsciously frowned.

“Aiyi, Zhao… has Zhao Yan not arrived yet?”

He suddenly remembered that Zhao Yan was here for experience under a hidden identity, so he changed his words temporarily.

“Ah, Father, how would I know? Why are you asking me?”

Upon hearing her father’s question, Ming Aiyi’s heart suddenly panicked. She subtly glanced at Leng Ruoyao, and seeing that the other party’s expression was normal, she cautiously replied.

“Why can’t I ask you? You are all students from the same academy.”

Ming Zhiyuan looked at his daughter with some strangeness. He sensed that Ming Aiyi’s expression was not quite natural, and her gaze kept darting towards Leng Ruoyao. His frown deepened.

He?

Could it be that this kid isn’t satisfied with my daughter and wants to have his cake and eat it too?

Although it’s not impossible for a strong practitioner to have several wives in this world.

But as a father, Ming Zhiyuan still felt very displeased.

“Dean, Yan Zhao requested leave, saying he was going to break through. By rights, he should be here around this time.”

The academy director accompanying him said at this moment.

“Yan Zhao, this…”

“Trial Inspector has arrived!”

Ming Zhiyuan was about to continue speaking but was interrupted by the simultaneous shouts of all the Prefectural Guards present.

This shout attracted everyone’s attention, and they all looked into the distance, eager to see who this inspector was.

When everyone saw the person approaching, the previously noisy venue quieted down considerably.

A woman dressed in white martial armor appeared, her posture graceful and her beauty captivating.

She had a long sword on her back, her hair fell like clouds, and she rode down from the sky on a White Tiger several dozen feet tall.

This woman in white appeared to be in her early twenties, her hair tied up high and secured with a white ribbon. The ribbon fluttered gently in the wind, adding a touch of heroic and spirited charm to her.

Her pretty face was as warm and smooth as jade, and her rosy lips held a captivating aura.

Looking at the White Tiger, it stepped through the air and possessed at least Sixth Rank cultivation, equivalent to a Grandmaster among humans!

“She actually came in person.”

“This Spiritual Beast White Tiger looks a bit familiar.”

Upon seeing the person clearly, Ming Zhiyuan’s pupils constricted, and his face was filled with surprise.

Not only him, but the deans of the other academies and the aristocrats present also wore expressions of disbelief.

The inspector this time was none other than the Prefecture Lord of Qingyang Prefecture, Lu Qianyi!

In the past, even for important examinations like the Great Xia Martial Examination, the Qingyang Prefecture Lord wouldn’t necessarily come in person, yet this was merely a Joint Examination.

“Ahem, the chief invigilator has arrived. Please have each academy gather their teams.”

Ma Yu was quite pleased with everyone’s surprised expressions. Only after the deans and aristocrats recovered from their astonishment did he speak unhurriedly.

His voice was not loud but clearly reached everyone present.

Hearing Ma Yu’s voice, the teams began to orderly approach the front stage.

“This time, all of you must be ruthless. As soon as you encounter a student from Shangluo Academy, go and seize their points.”

Among the Qingyang First Academy’s team, Sun Qingxiong’s face showed a ruthless glint.

The few students beside him couldn’t help but exchange hesitant glances upon hearing this.

At this moment, a young man in an azure martial robe, with a strong build, stepped forward and said, “Dean Sun, wouldn’t this be against the rules?”

This young man was An Qianfeng, the first on the Qingyang First Academy’s Spiritual Martial Ranking, and also the young head of the Qingyang An Clan.

Although the rules of the Joint Examination did not explicitly prohibit seizing opponents’ spoils, everyone came from the same region.

Moreover, there were Prefectural Guards patrolling the examination grounds, and monitoring Spirit Tools also patrolled the Joint Examination area.

Under normal circumstances, students would not antagonize each other to this extent, and directly attacking to seize loot was a rare occurrence.

“Qianfeng, do you know what it means for the Prefecture Lord to come in person this time? The rewards this time are likely extraordinary.”

“I promise that as long as you surpass Shangluo Academy by more than five ranks, I will personally give each of you a Yuan Ascending Pill. If any problems arise, I will bear the responsibility.”

Sun Qingxiong gritted his teeth and said.

Upon hearing this, except for a few young masters from distinguished clans like An Qianfeng, the other top ten students gasped.

The Yuan Ascending Pill was a Fourth Rank pill! For cultivators before the Fifth Rank True Spirit Realm, taking this pill could improve their innate potential, making it an extremely precious medicine.

Moreover, even an ordinary Fourth Rank Spirit Alchemist might not be able to successfully refine such a pill.

Everyone understood that Sun Qingxiong was targeting Shangluo Academy mostly due to personal grudges, but the temptation of the Yuan Ascending Pill was too great. Who would refuse such a valuable prize?

Especially those students from commoner backgrounds, their eyes could hardly hide their excitement, but they still restrained their impulses and looked at An Qianfeng.

Clearly, in this team, An Qianfeng was the real decision-maker.

Even Sun Qingxiong looked at An Qianfeng with a hint of expectation, after all, the Qingyang An Clan was a branch of the An Clan from the Imperial Capital’s Most Holy lineage.

With An Qianfeng’s talent, he would likely return to the main family in the future. Therefore, if he did not approve of this plan, Sun Qingxiong would truly have no recourse.

Sensing everyone’s gaze, An Qianfeng’s brows furrowed slightly. He looked towards the Shangluo Academy team and after a moment, his brows relaxed.

“Let’s do as Dean Sun suggested. This world is inherently about the survival of the fittest; no one will go easy on you.”

“It’s time to add some fun to this Joint Examination and teach those hothouse flowers a good lesson.”

A playful smile curved his lips.

He had also heard recently about Shangluo Academy’s rising popularity. He had long heard the names Leng Ruoyao, Ming Aiyi, and Zhang Fayue.

Coupled with the newly emerged Yan Zhao, who could defeat opponents of a higher cultivation realm while being at the Ninth Level of the Concealed Pressure Realm.

If the rumors were true, Shangluo Academy might even break into the top three of Qingyang Prefecture this time, possibly even having the strength to contend for the academy’s first place.

From a personal strength perspective, as far as he knew, that Leng Ruoyao was no weaker than him.

Qingyang First Academy had been first in both team and individual competitions for six consecutive terms. If they lost this honor during his tenure as chief, it would be a complete disgrace.

If the main family found out, they would only look down on him more. Therefore, he had to win all the first places this time.

Moreover, with the Prefecture Lord personally attending, and hearing that this Prefecture Lord was a direct subordinate of that official from the Imperial Capital, it seemed justifiable for him to win through some unconventional means.

Furthermore, the name Yan Zhao was too similar to Zhao Yan, the direct son of the Zhao Clan who had stolen the Sacred Bone of the main family’s Young Miss back then.

Of course, he would never have imagined that the Zhao Clan’s direct son would come all the way from the Imperial Capital to this so-called remote place.

Since his name contained “Zhao” and he was gaining popularity, he wouldn’t be blamed for being impolite.

This time, he would ensure Shangluo Academy returned empty-handed. As for any potential consequences, Sun Qingxiong would take the blame anyway.

“Good, good.”

“You two mustn’t go easy on them just because Shangluo Academy has those two beauties.”

“Haha, Dean, how could we?”

“Rest assured, Dean. Just watch this time.”

Suddenly, a jovial atmosphere pervaded among them, as if the highest reward of this Joint Examination was already within their grasp.

Seeing that An Qianfeng had agreed to his proposal, Sun Qingxiong was in a great mood and even made jokes with the students.

In his opinion, since An Qianfeng had agreed, Shangluo Academy was truly finished this time.

…

In less than a quarter of an hour, the teams from each academy had neatly lined up before the Qingyang Prefecture Lord.

“Not here yet?”

Lu Qianyi scanned the crowd and said softly, only for herself to hear.

After a moment of silence, she slightly parted her rosy lips and said, “Since everyone is here, I will explain the rewards and rules of this trial. I hope everyone will remember them well.”