Chapter 61: Departure
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Jiang Yunhai went over to the Jiang Clan and the Martial Arts Hall, too. No one knew what he said to the Jiang Clan, but once he left, Jiang Yunshan immediately gave the order for a complete lockdown. Except for Jiang Henshui and the other elders of the Jiang Clan, none of the Jiang clansmen were allowed to leave. Most of the businesses that belonged to the Jiang Clan had been liquidated. It was obvious that the Jiang Clan wanted to maintain a low profile and recover.
Jiang Yunshan had no other alternatives. Jiang Yunhai didn’t do much at the Jiang Clan, but he left a demand—to remove his and Jiang Yi’s name from the Jiang’s clan register. In other words, they didn’t want the Jiang Clan to have ties with him and Jiang Yi anymore. With two of the experts—Jiang Yunshe and Jiang Yuns.h.i.+—slaughtered, the Jiang Clan had no choice but to lie low. They were afraid that once Jiang Yunhai left, the other clans would immediately swallow them up.
The Martial Arts Hall Master forthrightly abolished the agreement with Jiang Yi. But this meant Jiang Yunhai owed the Martial Arts Hall a favor. This was an inevitable matter as the Martial Arts Hall was overwhelmingly powerful; if they were to clash head-on, even Jiang Yunhai and Jiang Yi would have to drop dead.
The West Garrison Army withdrew their army, and the Skyplume City regained their peace while the Mt. Spirit Beast College continued their tournament. The overall vibe of the tournament wasn’t as exciting as before. When everyone looked at the stage above, their minds recalled the face of Jiang Yi, they would then helplessly sigh.
Ji Tian and Jiang Yunhai had given out the gag orders, and no one was to discuss Jiang Yi’s matters publicly. Numerous days later, Ji Tingyu, Jiang Henshui, Leng Qianqian, and He Dao—each won had their consecutive victories and was about to approach 100 victories. The people forgot about Jiang Yi and began to notice these prodigious youths.
The Ma Clan liquidated their a.s.sets to buy five thousand Earth Essence Elixirs, raised 500 thousand taels of purple gold, and brought them to the city lord’s residence within the demanded time period by Jiang Yunhai.
Ma Kui was smart. After offering the elixirs and purple gold to the city lord’s residence, he immediately led his entire clan and left the Skyplume City. They found a nearby small town to settle down, clearly showing that they wanted to back out from being part of the Skyplume City’s Five Major Clans. It was to avoid being swallowed or taken over by other clan alliances. But even then, if the Ma Clan wanted to rise up again, ten years would seem to be insufficient.
Several days later, Ji Tingyu was the first to achieve 100 consecutive victories while Jiang Henshui, Leng Qianqian, and He Dao did so slightly later. All four of them took up the four enrollment spots. The knock-out tournament didn’t end in any surprise with Liu He getting the last spot. Most of the major clans were pleased with the results, especially the Liu Clan. They basically picked up the enrollment spot that was meant for Jiang Yi.
Of course, He Dao also benefited from Jiang Yi’s performance. If it wasn’t for the commotion that Jiang Yi made and got ganged up by the various major clans, He Dao wouldn’t have obtained the enrollment spot this easily. At least Ma Heiqi was much superior to him.
The West Garrison Army finished their recruitment ceremony quickly as well. Most of the recruitment spots had already been decided internally. For example, Jiang Rulong—he was actually internally decided to take one of the spots, but he was unfortunately killed by Jiang Yi.
The mentors of the Mt. Spirit Beast College instructed for the five new cadets to arrive at the Spirit Beast City in six weeks.
After the West Garrison Army left Skyplume City, the city had completely regained its serenity.
Jiang Yi seemed to have vanished since he entered the city lord’s manor. Except for Ji Tian, no one else had seen him. When Jiang Yi’s injuries had recovered ten days after he entered the city lord’s manor, he would head over to the Martial Arts Hall at night. He would cultivate within a seclusion room while Jiang Yunhai would bring a large quant.i.ty of Earth Essence Elixirs for Jiang Yi to use as he pleased.
…
In a blink of the eye, a month had pa.s.sed.
At one of the seclusion rooms within the Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Yi opened his eyes and let out a long sigh. This cultivation speed is just like flying in the wind!
With his seal completely broken, his cultivation speed was now two or three folds faster than Jiang Henshui. With the spirit concentration array of the Martial Arts Hall while also using his black essence force to enhance the effects of the Earth Essence Elixirs, his cultivation speed could be described as traveling a thousand miles in a single day. In such a short period of time, he was about to break through to the fifth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm.
It is almost time, right? Grandfather mentioned exiting seclusion after a month and departing from Skyplume City towards Spirit Beast City!
Jiang Yi stood up and stretched his body. He mumbled two sentences and used the room’s mechanism to open the door. Once he exited, he saw a familiar face. Manager Yang had been waiting on the outside for quite some time.
The wrinkled face of Manager Yang was filled with delight; he patted on the shoulders of Jiang Yi and said, “Lone Wolf, I know you are about to leave. No matter where you go, remember to keep a low profile at all times and never be reckless. If something is to happen and you cannot remain out there, you can always come back here. The Martial Arts Hall shall always welcome a Purple Gold Sparring Partner.”
Jiang Yi nodded his head and then gave a deep bow. Guided by Manager Yang, they exited from the side gate of the Martial Arts Hall.
On the pavement outside, a luxurious carriage was waiting. It had a huge “Ji” word carved on it. Standing beside the carriage, Jiang Yunhai saw Jiang Yi and gave him a slight nod, telling him to get in the carriage without words.
Jiang Yi leaped onto the carriage and saw a bed-like couch where Jiang Xiaonu was sleeping soundly. He let out a breath of relief and opened the carriage’s curtains to look at Manager Yang while waving goodbye.
“Let’s depart!”
Jiang Yunhai entered the carriage and gave his order to the coachman from the Ji Clan. The coachman gently raised his whip, and the carriage headed straight towards the southern gates of the city.
The carriage pa.s.sed through the bustling Skyplume City and quickly arrived at the southern gates. Outside of the gates stood Ji Tian and Jiang Yunshan, who each brought their subordinates, while standing in silence. The coachman saw the two of them and quickly halted the carriage. Jiang Yunhai opened the curtains and looked at Ji Tian. “Ji Tian, the mountains and rivers are all connected. Let us meet again if chance permits!”
Ji Tian nodded and smiled slightly; he waved his hand and said, “Brother Yunhai. Take care along the way! When you do have time, come back and have a drink with me!”
Jiang Yunshan could see that Jiang Yunhai still ignored him, and the Clan Head appeared to be depressed. But he still cupped his fists and bid goodbye, “Uncle Hai. Take care!”
It was only at this moment did Jiang Yunhai swept a look at Jiang Yunshan and indifferently nodded. He then looked at Ji Tian, sending a peculiar look and pulling the curtain close. Jiang Yunhai spoke to the coachman, “Let’s go!”
“Yar!”
The coachman bid goodbye to Ji Tian with cupped fists, before whipping the horse and heading towards the distant dust.
As Ji Tian saw Jiang Yunhai departing, he let out a long sigh. “Sigh… Yunshan. Brother Yunhai actually cares a lot about this Jiang Clan. A pity that you hurt his heart!”
Jiang Yunshan continued to stay silent with his head down. Back when Jiang Yunhai left, he made himself clear for them to take good care of Jiang Yi, but Jiang Yunshan didn’t really bother. Why was there a need to pay attention to a sealed trash? These few years, he witnessed how Jiang Yi got bullied, ostracized, and oppressed. He a.s.sumed that Jiang Yunhai was dead and thought that he might as well leave Jiang Yi to his own fate. He didn’t expect every wrong step that he took would result in having such a huge loss for the Jiang Clan. He had no one else to blame by himself.
After some time, Jiang Yunshan asked, “City Lord, did Uncle Hai say where are they going? Would they be coming back?”
“Not sure!”
Ji Tian shook his head and said with resolution, “Just wait and see. With Jiang Yi’s talent and temperament, he would be famed throughout the kingdom within a short period of time. We would then know where they have gone to!”
“Famed throughout the kingdom?”
Jiang Yunshan frowned and asked with doubt, “Jiang Yi’s talent isn’t much, right? Even though he had a heaven-tier martial skill and could raise his overall combat strength; if he couldn’t keep up in terms of cultivation stage, he would still be a trash, right?”
“Fool!”
Ji Tian couldn’t help but let out a swear. Had it not been for that peculiar look Jiang Yunhai gave when he bid his goodbye—asking him to take care of the Jiang Clan—he would not even bother to give Jiang Yunshan any advice. He looked at Jiang Yunshan with slanted eyes. “Heaven-tier martial skill? With Jiang Yi’s current strength, do you think he could successfully comprehend it? Jiang Yi went into seclusion for less than a month, and he is already going to breakthrough to the fifth stage of Cast Tripod Realm!
“Although he had the a.s.sistance from the Earth Essence Elixirs and the spirit concentration array from the Martial Arts Hall, his display of such talents would definitely be on par with the elite prodigies of the Divine Martial Kingdom. What’s more, this kid had more secrets in his body! Look at what you’ve done: not only did you chill Brother Yunhai’s heart, but you even lost a generational prodigy of the Jiang Clan. If Jiang Yi didn’t die prematurely, I have a premonition that he would become an existence that would exceed our imagination!”
“Huh….”
Jiang Yunshan’s body trembled; his heart was raging and had difficulty staying calm. As he looked at the carriage that seemed ever more distant, his eyes were filled with regret and helplessness. If Jiang Yi truly became a heaven-defying expert like Ji Tian said he would, how would he go face his ancestors when it was his time to enter the grave?
“Gone. They are finally gone!”
Among the crowd as a young la.s.s hidden within. She wore a fire-red body-hugging dress which complimented her abnormally hot figure. She stared at the carriage that went further and further away with emotional eyes. As Yi Lingxue sighed, she knew that Jiang Yi’s departure would only put him further away from her and permanently departing from her world!
…
“Grandfather, where are we going?”
As the carriage rode out a few hundred feet, Jiang Yi used his hand to gently rub Xiaonu’s face and spoke softly to Jiang Yunhai.
Jiang Yunhai reached out his hand, pointed to the south and laughed. “We are going to the Spirit Beast City which is situated at the southern ends of the Divine Martial Kingdom. You need to go partic.i.p.ate in an event called the Mt. Spirit Beast Blood Purge. It is the only way you would have a chance to enter the Mt. Spirit Beast College! Only after entering the Mt. Spirit Beast College would you have the chance to get close to that heaven-tier healer. When you are on great terms with him, I will offer some of my treasured artifacts; and Xiaonu’s poison would be easily neutralized.”
Jiang Yi blinked his eyes and asked in a confused state, “Grandfather. Can’t you just go to the college and talk to that healer? And, what is this Mt. Spirit Beast Blood Purge?”
“Keke, silly child!”
Jiang Yunhai laughed with benevolence, “The Mt. Spirit Beast College is located within the Mt. Thirty Thousand. It doesn’t belong to any of the six major va.s.sal states and is independent without relying on any influential powers. Even martial artists who are at the peak stage of the Soul Travel Realm aren’t allowed to enter without permission. Or else, I wouldn’t ask you to take risks in partic.i.p.ating in the Blood Purge!
“As for the Blood Purge, it is as the name suggested, it is a type of dangerous training event! Every time the Mt. Spirit Beast College hosts a recruitment ceremony, they would also host a Blood Purge. They allowed the various cities to bring together some partic.i.p.ants who would traverse the Mt. Thirty Thousand by themselves to try and reach the college grounds. Take the five individuals from Skyplume City for example. They would need to traverse across the mountains, slaying low-grade demonic beasts. They would only be official cadets if they could reach the college. If they couldn’t reach the college within the stipulated time frame, they would be sent back. Of course, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem for them to complete the Blood Purge.”
“Ah?”
Jiang Yi got even more confused, he frowned and asked, “Then the ones partic.i.p.ating in the Blood Purge are Ji Tingyu and the rest, right? What does it get to do with me?”
“Of course, it’s got something to do with you!”
Jiang Yunhai explained, “There are two types of Blood Purge. One is for those cadets who get the enrollment spots, and the other is for the individuals who didn’t get those spots—just like you! Of course… if you partic.i.p.ated in the Blood Purge, the difficulty would be much harder. What’s more, even if you pa.s.sed the Blood Purge, you would be entering the Mt. Spirit Beast College as a Write-In Cadet. Half a year later, you will have to partic.i.p.ate in a special Blood Purge. By then will you truly become an official cadet!”
“Within the Mt. Spirit Beast College, there are various different ranks of cadets: the Write-In Cadets, Ordinary Cadets, Elite Cadets, and Prodigy Cadets… only by successfully pa.s.sing the various Blood Purges would you be able to raise your cadet rank. You will then have the chance to get near and get to know that heaven-tier healer…”
“So that’s how it works!”
Jiang Yi got a headache after hearing all the information. But when he turned to look at the sleeping Jiang XIaonu, his delicate face became exceptionally determined.
No matter how hard or how tedious it was going to be, he would diligently cultivate and constantly increase his strength. He would become outstanding within the college, drawing the approval of that healer in order to save Jiang Xiaonu.