Chapter 43: The Little Monster of the Ancestral Temple
The officials and professors attending the Green Vine Banquet inside the building understood very well why the instructor from the Heavenly Dao Academy still harbored such deep hatred for the already-declining National Teaching Academy. Even though the academy only had two or three grasshoppers left, he refused to let go, determined to crush them into the dust.
They were all old hands in the capital and knew the court's rules well. If it weren't for that pair of young boy and girl, the National Teaching Academy would have been delisted next year. But not everyone thought this matter was so simple. The priest named Xin, who had earlier told Chen Changsheng he had matters to attend to, had somehow appeared behind Bishop Melisa of the Educational Council.
Lowering his voice, he said, "It seems someone wants to force Chen Changsheng to make a move."
The Bishop's face was perpetually draped in drowsiness, as if he could never sleep enough. Hearing this, he opened his eyes with great difficulty and said casually, "Would that child be that stupid?"
Priest Xin's face showed difficulty as he said, "Stupid? Naturally not. But he's young after all, and I worry he has too much hot blood."
Through his half-closed eyelids, the Bishop looked toward the corner where the National Teaching Academy was seated, at the little girl beside Chen Changsheng whose face was filled with indignation. He paused slightly.
Looking at someone through a crack in the door could make them seem small, but looking through the slits of one's eyes could not, because the Bishop recognized that little girl.
He sighed and said, "Then… let us pray for the instructor."
……
……
The instructor from the Heavenly Dao Academy stared expressionlessly at Chen Changsheng in the corner. He didn't deliberately feign coldness or release pressure, just as if watching a small insect about to freeze to death.
Chen Changsheng truly had no intention of stepping down. If he participated in the literary exam and Luoluo in the martial exam, it wasn't that they had no chance at all. But he knew that since someone was deliberately suppressing the National Teaching Academy, things certainly wouldn't go according to his plans.
His goal was the Lingyan Pavilion. He wanted to take the Grand Examination and earn a place on the ranking list. Before that, he didn't want anything to interfere with this process. If he really stepped down tonight to fight, win or lose, it would be bad for his plans.
Since he wasn't going to step down, why stay in the building listening to these grating laughs? Why force himself to stay calm under the Heavenly Dao Academy instructor's emotionless gaze?
So he made a decision no one expected.
"Let's go," he said cleanly to Luoluo beside him, then stood up, preparing to leave.
The mocking laughter in the building abruptly stopped. Everyone saw his movement and couldn't understand it. This complete disregard for contempt, humiliation, ridicule, and disdain could be called shameful cowardice, but wasn't it also a kind of unimaginable courage?
Luoluo never had a second thought about his orders. She stood up without hesitation and followed him out.
Looking at the people whose mockery was fading into surprise, she pursed her lips, thinking that her teacher was indeed extraordinary—firm and silent, able to endure what others couldn't. She should learn well from him and not let a few taunts make her want to step down and tear those people to pieces.
The world was so beautiful; why be so irritable?
Just then, a voice came from outside the building: "What do you think the Green Vine Banquet is? A place to come and go as you please?"
The voice was clear and young, clearly from someone very young, but it was unapologetically laced with pride and cruelty, even seeming somewhat mad. It faintly carried the scent of blood, as if the speaker would kill at the slightest displeasure.
It was a scent Chen Changsheng also disliked.
He stopped and looked toward the building's entrance.
The hundreds of people at the Green Vine Banquet turned simultaneously to look at the entrance.
A young boy stood there, his face pale, his eyes cold and fierce, his lips a vivid red. Though he was only twelve or thirteen, he seemed to have steeped in wine and women for countless years. His demeanor, in particular, gave off an extremely cruel feeling that made one shiver.
Many didn't recognize this boy.
But many from the Heavenly Dao Academy and the Star Picking Academy had already identified him.
Because they knew who this boy was, no one mentioned his lateness. Silence reigned, though Zhuang Huanyu frowned slightly, showing displeasure.
The Heavenly Dao Academy instructor's expression was calm. Clearly, he had known in advance that this boy would appear.
He looked at Chen Changsheng and Luoluo, thinking that even if they endured humiliation and refused to step down, did they think they could preserve the National Teaching Academy's last breath?
Due to his status and more complex reasons, he couldn't personally act against this pair from the National Teaching Academy, nor was it convenient to have Heavenly Dao Academy students do it. But he had long since chosen the most suitable person from among the capital's academies.
In terms of background, origin, and strength, this little monster from the Ancestral Temple was the most fitting to send the National Teaching Academy on its final journey.
And there would be no trouble afterward.
The Heavenly Dao Academy instructor glanced toward the Bishop of the Educational Council.
……
……
Many in the capital knew there was a little monster at the Ancestral Temple.
That little monster was very powerful. Because he had just turned twelve this year, he hadn't yet entered the Azure Cloud List, but everyone believed he had the strength to rank in the top fifty. Rumor had it that this little monster was a disciple of the Pope, though he never admitted it. It was also rumored that at age ten, he had already killed several Meditation Realm cultivators, including a young genius on the Azure Cloud List. Of course, he hadn't admitted to that either.
Unlike the Pope in his youth, the little monster hadn't studied at the Heavenly Dao Academy or followed the Pope to study at the Palace's affiliated academy. Instead, he went to the Ancestral Temple, which had the strictest rules and the most brutal training. It was said he didn't want to follow the same path as the Pope.
The Ancestral Temple's strict rules couldn't curb the little monster's bloodthirsty cruelty, but the brutal training made him increasingly powerful. Few in the capital dared to provoke him, and even the strong would give him a wide berth. Perhaps it was due to that rumor—the Pope's disciples were always different—but more importantly, it was the well-known fact: this little monster of the Ancestral Temple was called Tianhai Ya'er, and he was a member of the Tianhai family.
Her Majesty the Empress was surnamed Tianhai.
This little monster of the Ancestral Temple was her grandnephew.
……
……
Under countless gazes, Tianhai Ya'er walked into the building, his clothes fluttering lightly, exuding indescribable arrogance. His seemingly unhealthy, pale face was full of coldness and disdain—coldness toward life and disdain for… everyone.
He had just turned twelve. He was more at the tail end of boyhood than a youth, but he had already killed many people and seen many things. His powerful background and strength had warped his thinking and behavior, making him a true monster.
Chen Changsheng watched the boy, who was a head shorter than him, approach. The bloody scent entering his nose grew stronger, and he disliked it more and more.
Tianhai Ya'er didn't even glance at him. He looked at the young students at the scattered seats nearby, but in truth, he saw no one. He sneered and said, "A bunch of idiots. You think attending this banquet will get you something good? In the end, you're just here to be humiliated."
Those young students at the scattered seats had gone through immense hardship to pass the Grand Examination's preparatory exams and earn the right to attend the Green Vine Banquet. Though they knew they were just background for the students of the Green Vine Six Academies, they still had some expectations. Hearing this boy's harsh, merciless words, they grew angry.
Tianhai Ya'er rolled his eyes, his voice cutting through his teeth like a cold blade, and shouted, "Want to die?"
The boy's background and strength had already spread among the scattered seats. Though the young students were indignant, no one dared to stand up. Not only were they no match for him, but even if they were, would they dare to strike at him?
"Enough," said the Ancestral Temple's bishop, frowning slightly.
Tianhai Ya'er snorted coldly. Though he said nothing more, his raised brows and hostile expression showed that he didn't even respect his own teacher.
Strangely, by all logic, the Heavenly Dao Academy instructor hosting tonight's banquet might have reasons not to restrain this little monster from the Ancestral Temple. But there were many true big shots present, like the Bishop of the Educational Council and the Eastern Divine General Xu Shiji, who had the qualifications and ability to suppress Tianhai Ya'er.
Yet they all remained silent. Were they pondering the real reason for this little monster's appearance? Whenever he acted, blood and cruelty followed. The Ancestral Temple wouldn't have sent him to the Green Vine Banquet. Was this the Palace's intention or the court's?
Had this little monster come to the Green Vine Banquet just for the National Teaching Academy? Clearly not. The already-declining academy held no appeal for him.
He looked toward the Heavenly Dao Academy's seats but didn't see the person he wanted. Disappointed, he grew angry and said sharply, "Where's Tang Thirty-Six? That country bumpkin said he'd cripple me, didn't he? Where is he? Scared?"
Besides the big shots, there were still some who didn't care much about Tianhai Ya'er's background and strength.
Zhuang Huanyu looked at him expressionlessly and said, "If you cause trouble again, I won't mind challenging you first."
As the Heavenly Dao Academy's student representative and a genius ranked tenth on the Azure Cloud List, his calm words carried more weight than all the anger of the students at the scattered seats combined.
Tianhai Ya'er let out a strange laugh, licking his lips with his crimson tongue, and said, "You can't bully the small."
Though this sounded somewhat shameless, it proved that this seemingly arrogant and violent boy was actually very calm and quite wary of Zhuang Huanyu.
Just then, a light laugh came from a certain direction, clearly mocking this little monster from the Ancestral Temple for being a coward who bullied the weak.
Tianhai Ya'er's smile vanished instantly. He looked toward the source of the laugh.
Many followed his gaze.
With the Bishop of the Educational Council and Xu Shiji remaining silent, and the Heavenly Dao Academy instructor clearly indulging him, who besides a renowned young strongman like Zhuang Huanyu would dare to mock this little monster? Didn't that person fear death?
The laugh came from the Star Picking Academy's seats.
It was a very sturdy youth.
Chen Changsheng recognized him. It was the youth from the Star Picking Academy's entrance exam.
He worried for this youth.
Because Tianhai Ya'er's eyes had turned very cold, no longer violent, looking at the sturdy youth as if he were a dead man.
Just then, the officer leading the Star Picking Academy team asked expressionlessly, "Can't we laugh?"
Even a little monster like Tianhai Ya'er knew that the Star Picking Academy wasn't easy to provoke, especially when he wasn't in the right. He looked at the sturdy youth, grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, like a calm young beast before going mad.
……
……
The curtain behind the building slowly drew back. Under a sky full of stars lay a large stone platform, surrounded by a dozen bronze censers burning calming incense. Deep beneath the censers, defensive artifacts were buried, maintained by Heavenly Dao Academy instructors to ensure that combat energy wouldn't spread beyond the platform.
The Green Vine Banquet officially began. Chen Changsheng and Luoluo didn't leave, because Luoluo gently tugged his sleeve, and because he worried about that Star Picking Academy youth, and because that little monster from the Ancestral Temple had mentioned his friend Tang Thirty-Six.
Following the Green Vine Banquet's tradition, students from the scattered seats would first have instructional sparring matches with students from the Green Vine Academies. The gap in strength was so large that it was easy to control, and accidents rarely occurred.
But this year's Green Vine Banquet had seen too many accidents. The National Teaching Academy had reappeared before the world, and the bloodthirsty little monster had been released by the Ancestral Temple. A dangerous undercurrent was stirring, and more accidents were sure to follow.
Before the Heavenly Dao Academy instructor could announce the match list from his hand, a figure appeared on the platform.
Tianhai Ya'er looked toward the Star Picking Academy and laughed: "Someone asked earlier, can't we laugh? Of course we can. The Green Vine Banquet is so boring, it's laughable. Everyone can laugh. See, I'm laughing too."
He was a boy, laughing innocently, but his pale face and blood-red lips made it cruel.
"But… I'm about to beat you to death now."
Tianhai Ya'er looked at the sturdy youth like he was a dead man and asked seriously, "Can you still laugh as happily as before?"
Inside and outside the building, there was dead silence. Even at the Star Picking Academy's seats, there was no sound.
Zhuang Huanyu raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "You know the rules of the Green Vine Banquet. If you don't follow them, I'll have to act on behalf of the Heavenly Dao Academy."
"I can't beat you, so I don't dare offend you. But if someone dares to offend me, what then?"
Tianhai Ya'er glanced at him, then looked at the Heavenly Dao Academy instructor and asked, "I won't kill him. Is that enough?"
The Heavenly Dao Academy instructor said expressionlessly, "The Green Vine Banquet emphasizes exchange. Stop when it's enough."
Tianhai Ya'er looked back toward the Star Picking Academy.
The sturdy youth was silent for a moment. He shook his head, refusing his instructor's advice, and slowly walked onto the platform.
He was the best new student at the Star Picking Academy this year, never proud, simple and endearing, beloved by his instructors, who had high hopes for him to participate in next year's Grand Examination. That's why they had brought him to the Green Vine Banquet.
Because he was simple, he was straightforward. Earlier, when Tianhai Ya'er's arrogance dominated the scene, he had expected the instructors to speak, but they remained silent. This disappointed him for the first time with the Star Picking Academy, so he laughed.
Yes, he had deliberately laughed.
With that laugh, he began preparing for the upcoming match.
He knew he wasn't a match for that little monster from the Ancestral Temple, but he couldn't retreat before fighting.
He stepped onto the stone platform, facing Tianhai Ya'er. Under the starlight, his figure seemed even more sturdy.
"My name is Xuanyuan Po. A first-year student at the Star Picking Academy."
Tianhai Ya'er smiled and said, "Saying you're a first-year student first—are you hoping I'll go easy on you? With that big, dumb look of yours, you must be over twenty. I'm only twelve, so don't worry—I definitely won't go easy on you."
The sturdy youth named Xuanyuan Po said honestly, "I just grew fast. I'm only thirteen, and I really am a first-year student. Of course, I am older than you, so you don't need to go easy."
"Good," Tianhai Ya'er said, his smile vanishing.
Xuanyuan Po sank his waist, focused his mind, and clenched his fist like a stone. "Please instruct me."
Tianhai Ya'er, expressionless, casually threw a punch!
An extremely terrifying whirlwind rose on the stone platform, spinning at high speed.
His fist was the center of that whirlwind!
In the night sky around the platform, a faint barrier suddenly appeared.
That barrier warped slightly, and the starlight seeping through looked especially bleak.
Dead silence.
Countless eyes stared at Tianhai Ya'er's fist, stunned into silence.
Everyone knew this little monster from the Ancestral Temple was powerful. With the Tianhai family's bloodline and the Pope's teachings, how could he not be?
But no one expected him to be this powerful!
With just one simple punch, he could summon a whirlwind and warp the barrier formed by the combined efforts of the Heavenly Dao Academy instructors!
People looked at the boy on the platform, showing a cruel smile, thinking he was only twelve, and were even more shocked.
If he entered the Azure Cloud List, where would he rank?
In next year's Grand Examination, what place could he achieve?
……
……
No one believed Xuanyuan Po could block that punch, not even the Star Picking Academy's instructors and students.
But against all expectations, Tianhai Ya'er's fist was blocked!
The fists collided with a thunderous roar, and the barrier around the platform warped again!
Blood seeped from the corner of Xuanyuan Po's mouth, his eyes dimmed slightly, his feet sank deep into the hard stone, and his clothes were torn to shreds by Tianhai Ya'er's fist wind. Defeat was evident, but at least he hadn't fallen or taken a step back!
Because at the moment of impact, something strange happened!
This sturdy youth's fists were already huge, but now they grew even larger!
Even more shocking, a thick layer of black fur appeared on the surface of his fist, and even his exposed right arm was covered in long black hair!
His right arm swelled rapidly, in an instant becoming thicker than an ordinary person's thigh!
The powerful muscles were like steel pillars, seeming to contain infinite strength!
Only thus could he withstand Tianhai Ya'er's terrifying punch head-on!
……
……
"Beast transformation!"
"It's a demon!"
Countless exclamations rose from the stone platform, especially from the students at the scattered seats, many of whom were seeing such a sight for the first time, shouting in shock.
The instructors and students of the Green Vine Six Academies were also very surprised.
Only the Star Picking Academy officers, who knew the truth beforehand, remained silent. But even they hadn't expected that this demon new student, under Tianhai Ya'er's terrifying pressure, could use beast transformation to unleash a level far beyond his usual training.
Tianhai Ya'er hadn't expected that this opponent he utterly despised could block his fist.
This felt like an insult.
It made him furious.
He screamed almost madly, like a child whose toy had been taken.
The Ancestral Temple instructors heard the scream and their expressions changed drastically.
The whirlwind rose again!
Several flashes of lightning flickered faintly within it!
Tianhai Ya'er's fist continued forward, crushing through Xuanyuan Po's powerful defense!
"Block this again!"
On the stone platform, the boy screamed madly.
Smoke rose from Xuanyuan Po's beast-transformed arm, instantly blown away by the whirlwind.
A terrifying force traveled from his wrist to his shoulder.
He could no longer hold on. Spitting blood, he retreated.
Tianhai Ya'er followed like a ghost, throwing another punch!
Xuanyuan Po gritted his teeth and roared, raising his severely injured right fist to barely parry.
"Enough!"
Zhuang Huanyu's stern shout came from below.
Almost simultaneously, the Ancestral Temple instructors and the Star Picking Academy officers stood up, shouting anxiously, "Stop!"
Only those with sufficient cultivation could see that Xuanyuan Po had already lost, and Tianhai Ya'er's punch was aimed at crippling his arm!
Demons were born with powerful physiques, especially after beast transformation. But if severely injured in that state, recovery became nearly impossible!
Tianhai Ya'er intended to turn this demon youth into a cripple!
With a crackling sound.
Xuanyuan Po spat blood, flew backward, and crashed heavily onto the stone platform, raising a cloud of dust.
He stubbornly tried to get up but had no strength left.
His once-proud right arm, once incredibly strong, now hung limp—crippled.
Dead silence fell over the scene.
Tianhai Ya'er stood over him, looking down.
The Green Vine Banquet rarely saw blood, yet this scene was so tragic and cruel.
The Heavenly Dao Academy instructor walked onto the platform, shaking his head. "You were too harsh."
Tianhai Ya'er frowned slightly and said, "I promised you I wouldn't kill him, but I didn't say I wouldn't cripple him."
"I heard you demons are all very strong?"
Tianhai Ya'er looked at him with contempt and sneered, "Turns out you're nothing special."
Xuanyuan Po looked at his crippled right arm and suddenly burst into tears.
He was a sturdy and brave demon youth, but he was only thirteen.
Silence filled the scene. Even the people of the Star Picking Academy, though furious, could only remain silent.
In the corner of the National Teaching Academy, there was also silence.
Luoluo looked at the platform.
She looked at the boy's blood-dripping right hand.
Her right hand moved slightly within her sleeve.
She looked at Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng was also looking at the platform.