Chapter 38: This Love is Limitless, Each Word Worth a Thousand in Gold!
Chapter 38: This Love is Limitless, Each Word Worth a Thousand in Gold!
After leaving the Demon Spirit Sea, a boat was already waiting there.
Master Jiumogang was holding his sword, moving through the seawater, killing any survivors from the Scholarium patrol fleet.
Wen Daozi took Wuque and leaped onto the boat, immediately sailing east.
Xu Enzheng, Menjif, Fu Baoshi, Mo Zhong, and everyone else were all on the boat.
“Wuque, you finally came out,” Fu Baoshi’s voice trembled, filled with lingering fear.
He didn’t say one thing: if Wuque hadn’t come out, this boat would have charged right in to find him.
Of course, in the end, Mountain Master Wen Daozi couldn’t hold back. After sensing the energy fluctuations inside the Aurora Wall, he charged right in.
In a way, this action was also seeking death.
Because anyone who entered the Dark Domain was basically doomed to die.
“Mountain Master, how long until the Academy Grand Examination?” Wuque asked.
“Two days and four hours,” Wen Daozi said. “We cannot stop at all. We must set off immediately.”
Wuque said, “I… I saw you destroy an entire Scholarium patrol ship with what seemed like one move.”
Wen Daozi said, “Yes, the consequences are severe. But… it’s fine. They will suspect the Western Theocracy first, then the Eastern Yi Empire, then followers of the Dark Academy. It’s hard for them to suspect us first.”
As he said this, Wen Daozi’s voice was trembling.
He was a member of the Scholarium Council, but he personally killed over a hundred Scholarium warriors, which was no different from rebellion.
But… he had no other choice.
Jiumogang found a corpse from a Scholarium patrol, cut it in half with one sword strike, and threw it to the sea bottom.
Only after making sure there couldn’t be any survivors from the Scholarium patrol fleet in this area did he board the boat.
Wuque recalled the events of that day, still utterly shocked.
In the critical moment, Wen Daozi took out his staff, plunged it into the seawater, and silently recited ancient mystical words, stirring up raging waves for miles around, directly smashing the Scholarium patrol ship to pieces.
That Scholarium patrol ship had a displacement of six to seven hundred tons, definitely a large warship in this world.
This ability was truly heaven-defying.
Unseen before, unheard of before.
He couldn’t help but recall Jiumogang’s words at the time: Wen Daozi was very powerful, but most of the time, it was hard to see.
“Mountain Master, what ability did you use then? So… astonishing?” Wuque asked.
Wen Daozi said, “I am a Celestial Diviner.”
Jiumogang said, “Celestial Diviners are at the pyramid’s peak of this civilization. They can harness the power of the world.”
Wuque said, “Can one person destroy an entire army then?”
Wen Daozi said, “How is that possible? Celestial Diviners can only use existing power, condense it. They cannot create power out of nothing. For example, that day, strong winds and big waves were about to happen on the sea anyway. I condensed that power and made it erupt early.”
Jiumogang said, “Moreover, Celestial Divination is a secret of the Scholarium not passed to outsiders. Only members of the Scholarium Council can learn Celestial Divination Art. And any Celestial Diviner is not allowed to participate in worldly wars or help any country. In a way, a Celestial Diviner may never have a chance to use their ability in their lifetime. Every time they use it, it must be approved by the Scholarium Council. If found using Celestial Divination Art privately, they are immediately expelled from the Scholarium Council, or even executed.”
Wuque couldn’t help but look at Wen Daozi.
This old man in front of him had already risked his life twice for him.
Menjif said, “If the Mountain Master is expelled from the Scholarium Council, his Celestial Divination Art will also be taken back.”
Wuque was surprised. “How is that taken back?”
Menjif said, “By digging a hole in the middle of the forehead.”
He understood. It meant removing the pineal gland.
Sure enough, whether it was the Three-Eyed Master or the Celestial Diviner, the key part was the pineal gland.
Wen Daozi waved his hand. “Don’t talk about this. Don’t add pressure to Wuque.”
Jiumogang said, “Wuque, were you successful inside?”
Wuque said, “Mostly successful.”
Everything that just happened was too sudden.
Wuque didn’t manage to swallow a Demon Spirit, but he swallowed a purer Demon Spirit Pearl.
It was the power condensed from dozens of Scholarium warriors, processed by Lin Sisi into a Demon Spirit Pearl, originally meant to be offered to the Lord of the Demon Spirit Sea, but part of it was swallowed by Wuque’s Star-Draining Art.
But… how much was this part? How much power and inner energy could it give Wuque?
Jiumogang stretched out a finger and lightly touched Wuque’s meridians. Immediately, a stream of true energy entered his body.
After a long while, Jiumogang slowly said, “Eighth rank.”
Everyone fell silent.
For the Martial Arts Subject in the Academy Grand Examination, merely eighth-rank martial arts level seemed not enough. At least a Seventh-Rank Warrior was needed to pass the Martial Arts Subject exam.
After a long while, Wen Daozi smiled and said, “Wuque, it’s okay. We have all tried our best. As they say, do your best and leave the rest to fate.”
At that moment, Jiumogang suddenly said, “What is in this coffin?”
Wuque remembered. Originally, both he and Wen Daozi were trapped inside the Demon Spirit Sea, maybe even died inside.
Because the tentacles of the Lord of the Demon Spirit Sea had appeared. That was her domain, incredibly powerful.
Even though Wuque hadn’t even seen her full form.
Then a tall skeletal woman carrying a coffin appeared. She brought over a dozen skeletal women, sacrificed themselves, helped Wuque tear open the Aurora Wall, letting Wuque and Wen Daozi escape.
Inside this coffin was the father of this tall skeletal woman.
This was another sad story.
A father traveled the world looking for his daughter, ended up hearing his daughter disappeared in the Demon Spirit Sea, risked his life charging in, and died inside.
The daughter, to let her father return to his roots, sacrificed herself, her soul scattered.
Wuque opened the coffin. Inside lay a tall man, his face weathered yet majestic and extraordinary.
The entire corpse seemed frozen, not decayed.
“Li Jiqian!” Jiumogang said. “It’s actually him?!”
This was Li Jiqian?!
The most famous person who disappeared in the Demon Spirit Sea.
Once the Arrow Path Master of Tianshui Academy’s martial arts institute.
In a way, he was also one of their own. When Wen Daozi was forced out and Mi Daoyuan became the new Mountain Master of Tianshui Academy, Li Jiqian, although he didn’t follow Wen Daozi, also resigned from his position as Arrow Path Master and traveled the world looking for his daughter.
He… indeed also died inside the Demon Spirit Sea.
Even though he was an Arrow Path Master.
And right at that moment!
A huge face suddenly appeared on the Aurora Wall ahead.
So disgusting, so terrifying, so beautiful a face.
Beautiful, because the features of this face were absolutely exquisite.
Disgusting and terrifying, because the pixels composing this face were countless writhing corpse wraiths.
She was the Lord of the Demon Spirit Sea.
“Listen up, pretty boy. I don’t care who you are, but Lin Sisi has fallen into my hands. If you don’t want her to fall into hell, unable to live or die, then come into the Demon Spirit Sea and find me again.”
“I absolutely will not allow a single human to leave my domain alive.”
“Roar…”
After saying that, the giant face on the Aurora Wall twisted and turned into a terrifying skeleton shape.
It let out a horrifying roar.
Then, it disappeared without a trace.
Wuque looked at the Aurora Wall, silent and still.
The Dark Domain and the outside world were indeed clearly separated. Even someone as powerful as the Lord of the Demon Spirit Sea could not pass through this Aurora Wall.
Wen Daozi said, “Let’s go, full speed ahead to Yingzhou City to take the Academy Grand Examination!”
Immediately, the sails were fully raised, and they sailed at full speed.
Wuque said, “Teachers, I will go into the cabin to prepare Master Li Jiqian’s body and then cremate him.”
Wen Daozi nodded and said, “Alright!”
Wuque carried Master Li Jiqian’s body into the cabin and closed the door.
He meticulously prepared the body and painted a portrait.
Suddenly, a light drifted out from Li Jiqian’s corpse and entered Wuque’s body.
Ability extracted: First-class Archery.
Unfortunately, the literary examination usually did not involve archery.
…
Several hours later!
The ship docked at Zhenhai City’s harbor.
Before heading to Yingzhou City for the Academy Grand Examination, he first returned to the Marquis of Zhenhai Mansion.
When he arrived home, he saw everyone waiting for him.
Shen Gong’ao, Mu Hongyu, Tiannan Province Governor Fu Jianzhi, Wuque’s wife Zhi Fan, and Tianshui Academy Deputy Mountain Master Li Jinshui.
There was also a middle-aged man sitting in the most honored seat, with a hooked nose and a thin face.
This man was called Mi Gou, the younger brother of Lord Mi.
The Mi Clan was considered the lords of the Shen Gong Clan, so Mi Gou was half a lord to Shen Gong’ao and sat in the most honored seat.
When Shen Gong’ao saw Wuque enter, his eyes seemed to spit fire, and he looked like a volcano about to erupt.
He struggled to suppress his inner anger and asked word by word, “Wuque, did you sign this contract?”
Wuque glanced at it. It was the contract for his Academy Grand Examination with Fu Tieyi.
If he lost to Fu Tieyi in the Academy Grand Examination, the Shen Gong Family would have to donate thirty large warships.
Wuque nodded and said, “Yes, I signed it.”
Shen Gong’ao closed his eyes in pain, breathing heavily.
He had thought his son had matured, but it was just an illusion. He was still so childish, so absurd.
Shen Gong’ao said angrily, “Do you know what thirty warships mean? Do you know how much pressure we are facing on the seas right now? Do you know the female pirate Jade Rakshasa is fiercely attacking our shipping routes?”
“I know,” Wuque said.
Shen Gong’ao said hoarsely, “Wuque, do you understand that if we lose these thirty warships, we cannot protect our sea routes? Our annual gold and silver income would drop by about thirty percent. Can you imagine the consequences of our family losing thirty percent of its yearly revenue?”
Wuque said, “I know.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “We would not be able to support so many soldiers. We would become weak. Our enemies would pounce and bite our necks, dealing us a fatal blow.”
At this moment, Fu Jianzhi smiled and said, “Brother Shen Gong, this contract does not have to be taken seriously. Consider it a joke between Wuque and my son Fu Tieyi.”
Shen Gong’ao said, “Brother Jianzhi, if it were not to be taken seriously, you, Lord Mi Gou, and Lord Li Jinshui would not have come to my home. It is simply to pressure me into acknowledging this contract.”
Upon hearing this, everyone present changed expressions. No one expected Shen Gong’ao to speak so bluntly.
Shen Gong’ao declared loudly, “Of course I can ignore it. I could tear up this contract right now, and who could stop me?”
This shout was so powerful it seemed to pierce the clouds and crack the walls, making everyone’s ears ring.
Indeed.
Shen Gong’ao was unmatched in his might, commanding tens of thousands of private soldiers.
If he insisted on tearing up the contract, who could do anything about it?
“But…” Shen Gong’ao looked at Wuque, his voice softening as he slowly said, “My son Wuque, you have been solitary and eccentric since childhood, acting absurdly. And my discipline was rough and simple—only beatings or scoldings—which made your personality worse. You were even played by a woman and became a laughingstock.”
Upon hearing this, Fu Jianzhi’s expression also became uneasy.
“Much of this is my responsibility. I, as your father, did not do my duty. I did not teach you well,” Shen Gong’ao said hoarsely. “So today, your father will use reality to teach you.”
“My son Wuque, first you must know that every word we say has a cost, and every action we take must be held accountable.”
“If this can teach you the meaning of responsibility, then even if we lose thirty large warships, even if our annual income drops by thirty percent, I believe it is worth it.”
“When a child causes trouble, adults must help resolve it and be the child’s strongest support.”
“Let today’s events show you that you are Shen Gong’ao’s son. A single signature from you is worth thirty warships, worth millions of silver.”
“If this can make you more sensible, remove the grudges in your heart, and unite you with your parents and your two elder brothers, then losing these thirty warships is actually a gain in my eyes. Ships can be rebuilt; gold and silver can be earned again. But if a family’s heart is lost, the family is finished.”
“Lord Mi Gou, Lord Li Jinshui, Lord Fu Jianzhi, I, Shen Gong’ao, acknowledge this contract!”
“Wuque, go and take the examination well. Whatever result you get is fine. I accept it!”
After saying this, Shen Gong’ao signed his name on the contract, truly making each word worth a fortune in gold.
…