Chapter 42 Encountering Yuan Ting in the Cave Abode

"Everyone, I will now brief you on the various matters concerning the Primordial Martial Academy."

On the high platform, Elder Xiong spoke expressionlessly, showing little sign of warmth or gladness over the arrival of the new disciples.

Down below, the minds of the gathered crowd had long since drifted off due to the earlier commotion.

"Mu Feng is completely finished this time. He's provoked Tuoba Heng, and that guy is not someone who listens to reason."

"Ain't that the truth? Back then, a newly joined disciple merely locked eyes with him and ended up beaten to within an inch of his life."

"Doesn't the academy do anything about it?"

"Do what? His maternal grandfather is one of the Enforcing Elders, and he specifically commands the Law Enforcement Hall..."

Noticing the murmurs below growing louder and more agitated, Elder Xiong's expression suddenly darkened.

"Silence!"

A rolling surge of spiritual energy swept across all directions, bringing absolute stillness in its wake.

Everyone hurriedly clamped their mouths shut, not daring to continue their discussions.

Seeing this, Elder Xiong resumed speaking.

"Depending on your performance in the examinations, the privileges you enjoy within the academy will vary."

"The Primordial Tokens in your hands grant you access to cultivate within the Snow Moon Mountain Range behind the Primordial Martial Academy. Those who passed the first round but chose not to participate in the second may only use the outer area."

"As for those who chose to take part in the second round but failed to advance to the third, you may proceed to the core area."

As his words fell, the disciples below who had opted out of the second round secretly felt a pang of regret.

They had never imagined that such a minor choice back then would directly impact their future cultivation within the Primordial Martial Academy.

The Snow Moon Mountain Range stretched for tens of thousands of li, enveloping the entire Primordial Martial Academy within its embrace.

In the hinterlands of the academy, countless caves of varying sizes were nestled throughout the Snow Moon Mountain Range.

The larger dwellings were not only rich in spiritual energy but might even harbor spiritual springs.

As for the smaller caves, their spiritual energy was only slightly better than the outside world.

The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

"That is all I have to say. You are all dismissed."

Having explained everything, Elder Xiong dropped those words and his figure vanished instantly.

Mu Feng felt a surge of eagerness regarding these dwelling places.

After all, he had cleared the third round of examinations. If he could secure an exceptional dwelling, it might just aid him in breaking through to the Spirit Realm Great Completion.

"Young Master, let us go take a look at these caves as well."

Jia Zhuangxian also felt a spark of interest and said to Mu Feng.

"Alright!"

The two of them, one after the other, hurried toward the rear grounds of the Primordial Martial Academy.

Just as they passed by a magnificent palace, a beam of golden light shot straight into the firmament, instantly capturing their attention.

The golden light soared toward the clouds, merging with a golden stone tablet suspended high in the sky, transforming into three names that hung proudly at the very top.

The tablet was pitch-black throughout, radiating a sharp and imposing aura akin to a gigantic, unsheathed sword.

It was densely covered in golden characters.

Looking closely, they turned out to be a succession of golden names.

"What a magnificent stele! What is this?"

Jia Zhuangxian was captivated by the tablet, unable to help himself from stopping in his tracks to gaze at it.

"That is the Heaven's Pride Roll."

A dainty voice drifted over.

Following the sound, a poised and graceful figure approached—it was Ji Tu.

"The Heaven's Pride Roll records the one hundred most powerful disciples of the Primordial Martial Academy, and the competition for a spot on it is fiercely contested."

"The golden light you two just witnessed was the phenomenon produced when someone successfully seized a place on the rank."

Seeing Ji Tu, Mu Feng's expression turned somewhat frosty.

He was about to leave.

Unexpectedly, that blockhead Jia Zhuangxian could never walk away upon seeing a pretty face, and hurriedly inquired:

"Are there any rewards for making it onto the Heaven's Pride Roll?"

Ji Tu smiled faintly.

"Of course. Entering the Heaven's Pride Roll not only grants generous rewards, but also increases the likelihood of being taken in as a personal disciple by the major elders."

"However, getting onto the Heaven's Pride Roll is no easy feat. At the very least, one needs the strength of the Profound Yellow Realm. Even the person at the very bottom of the rank is a formidable expert at the second stage of the Profound Yellow Realm."

The second stage of the Profound Yellow Realm...

Jia Zhuangxian looked up at the Heaven's Pride Roll, unable to suppress a trace of envy in his gaze.

If he could make it onto the Heaven's Pride Roll, perhaps not so many people would look down upon him anymore.

"Many thanks for the explanation, Miss. May I ask your honored name?"

Jia Zhuangxian chuckled, cupping his fists together as he asked.

"I am Ji Tu. Greetings, Young Master Jia, Young Master Mu."

Ji Tu!

Hearing this name, Jia Zhuangxian hastily stepped backward.

Wasn't this the very Ji Tu that Tuoba Heng had mentioned earlier? If he got involved with her, there was no telling when Tuoba Heng would start targeting him again.

Faced with Jia Zhuangxian's abrupt attitude change, Ji Tu showed no sign of annoyance.

Instead, she took a few steps forward and stopped right in front of Mu Feng.

"Young Master Mu, I was in the wrong regarding what happened earlier."

"Inside this ring is a small token of compensation. I hope Young Master Mu will not take the past to heart."

Facing Ji Tu's peace offering, Mu Feng merely curled the corner of his lips into a cold sneer.

At first, she had used him as a pawn without a second thought, and now she was offering compensation.

Was she afraid that Xuan Yuanting's targeting of him wasn't enough?

Had his own capabilities not been solid enough, he would have already been killed by Xuan Yuanting long ago.

"There's no need. Miss Ji can keep these trinkets for herself."

"There is no need for you to seek me out in the future either. I wish to find a bit more peace and quiet here in the Primordial Martial Academy."

With that, Mu Feng pulled Jia Zhuangxian along and turned to leave.

Leaving a sorrowful Ji Tu standing alone in the wind with her hand rigidly suspended in the air.

Fighting back the tears threatening to fall, Ji Tu withdrew her expression of grief, coldly put away the ring, and watched Mu Feng's retreating back.

Her eyes flickered with unfathomable thoughts.

"Father, you had me seek out Master Jia, but this Master Jia appears utterly unremarkable. He bears no resemblance to the legendary descendant of a grand alchemy master; he is merely a lowly attendant to Mu Feng."

"It seems your daughter is destined to remain a blood slave for the rest of her days."

A cold wind swept past.

Beneath the billowing wide sleeves, startling scars were revealed.

Dense, horrific blood holes covered both arms, enough to turn one's stomach.

"No! Even if there is only a sliver of hope, I must try!"

"My life is a life too! I refuse to be forever trapped within this imperial capital simply because of the royal family..."

Meanwhile, Mu Feng and his companion had already arrived at the rear grounds of the Primordial Martial Academy.

Gazing at the countless caves densely packed into the distant cliff face, Mu Feng wore a look of mild surprise.

Every single one of these dwellings was saturated with spiritual energy.

To cultivate within such a place would make one's martial path twice as fruitful with half the effort.

And this was merely the outer area.

"Young Master, I can only select a cave in this outer section. You should head on in."

"Alright!"

Mu Feng nodded gently, leaped into the air, and sped toward the core area.

Before long, he traversed multiple gorges and arrived at the inner sanctum.

Compared to the outer area, the dwellings in the core zone were noticeably fewer in number, yet each one was roughly three to five times the size of those outside.

Further ahead lay the residences of the various elders and personal disciples.

Those regions were currently beyond Mu Feng's clearance level.

Surveying his surroundings, Mu Feng chose the largest dwelling and prepared to enter and cultivate.

Inside the cave was a massive pool currently emitting billows of mist.

Within that mist, a rich and potent concentration of spiritual energy was contained.

If nothing unexpected, this was a spiritual pool.

Walking to the very depths of the cavern to ensure it was temporarily vacant, Mu Feng felt reassured and prepared to sit cross-legged in meditation.

Just as he was about to settle down, two sets of footsteps echoed into his ears, entering the cave right behind him.

Heavy layers of water mist blurred Mu Feng's vision. Just as he wanted to step forward to see who had arrived, a string of curses began to reach his ears.

"Damn that Ji Tu! It's a blessing for her that this lord deigned to notice her!"

"To actually turn a blind eye to my good intentions and throw herself into the arms of that trash Mu Feng!"

"Sooner or later, I will get my hands on you! As for Mu Feng, I'll finish him off sooner or later too!"

Following closely was a female voice.

"Xuan Young Master, do not be angry. That Mu Feng is merely a paper tiger; how could he ever match Xuan Young Master? Since Ji Tu is so ungrateful, why doesn't Xuan Young Master vent your frustrations on me instead?"

"Hahahaha! You're the sensible one. Then this young master shall reward you handsomely today!"

With that, the sound of rustling clothing pierced through the mist.

Moments later, the sound of feminine cries of ecstasy echoed throughout the cavern.

Enemies truly cross paths on narrow roads!

Hearing these sounds, Mu Feng didn't even need to guess to know who had arrived.

He simply hadn't expected these two to go at it so wildly right inside the cave, completely neglecting whether anyone else was already occupying the space.

Just as Xuan Yuanting was thrusting forward with all his might, the water mist before him suddenly parted.

A figure slowly stepped out from the vapor.

Mu Feng looked at Xuan Yuanting with a grin, unable to help himself as he spoke up:

"What a coincidence, Xuan Young Master."