Chapter 1126: Eye Contact in the Crowd
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The term wasn’t unfamiliar to her; she had once unwittingly blurted out this term when she was sparring with Rong Xiu. The thing was that she didn’t know what it was at the time. So it’s Ling Xiao Academy’s ranking system…
“You don’t know about it?” Thinking that Chu Liuyue hadn’t heard of the Qing Yun Ranking before, Zhong Xun patiently explained it to her. “The Qing Yun Ranking is Ling Xiao Academy’s overall rank. It records the most talented students in the long history of the academy.
“It’s divided into four lists, namely warrior, Xuan Master, heavenly doctor, and Armory Refinement Masters. Those four lists will also be on the north, south, east, and west walls of Dong Huang Clock Tower respectively.
“As long as you’re a student here and are under the age of thirty, you have the chance of making it into the Qing Yun Ranking with your own ability!
“The first day of every month is a big day for the academy. Some people take the a.s.sessment to become the student of the elder of their choice, while some do it for the sake of treasures. What’s most important here, though, is to get a rank! You have a lot of benefits if your name is on the Qing Yun Ranking! The director and elders will have a better impression of you too!” Chu Liuyue understood now. “That explains it…”
“What?”
“Nothing, I was just thinking it’s no wonder everyone is so excited and finds the
Qing Yun Ranking so important.” With her arms crossed in front of her chest, Chu Liuyue smiled and tapped her chin thoughtfully. No wonder I bluffed that out when I was sparring with Rong Xiu, even though I didn ‘t have any related memories. I guess I used to be obsessed with ranking higher than Rong Xiu on the Qing Yun Ranking…
At the thought of that, Chu Liuyue suddenly felt somewhat curious. She turned her
head and looked at Dong Huang Clock Tower’s grand black walls. Qing Yun Ranking… I wonder what RongXiu ‘s rank is and which list he’s on?
Creak…
Dong Huang Clock Tower’s doors opened, and a group of people walked out. This commotion immediately silenced the noisy crowd, for they all knew that it was the elders who were coming out.
It didn’t take long before the crowd noticed that there were ten or so young men and women amidst the elders. They naturally felt curious since only the more important elders were allowed to enter the clock tower.
Someone soon recognized the group of young men and women though. “Eh? Isn’t that Young Master Wei? Why is he here?”
“Young Master Wei? Which Wei family?”
“Qinggu Slope’s Wei family, of course!”
“So that’s him?! Word has it that he is extremely talented and is highly valued by his family. He’s basically the Wei family’s strong heir candidate! However, didn’t he complete his studies and leave the academy last year? What’s he doing here now?”
“Look! That seems to be Flying Star Sect’s second miss, s.h.i.+ Rui’er! Why is she here too?”
“…Haven’t you guys realized that they all used to be our academy’s students and are members of the most influential families?” someone whispered.
It was only then that the rest of the people realized that seemed to be the case. Most of those people had already left the academy; only a few were still studying there. When gathered together, their combined influence was enough to shake the entire G.o.d Residence Realm. It was no wonder that the crowd reacted that way.
All of a sudden, the crowd fell silent, and the air around them seemed to be frozen.
Upon sensing the subtle change in atmosphere, Chu Liuyue looked over as well. As she was standing at the back of a very remote area, she couldn’t really make out the features of the group of people walking out from the clock tower. However, she recognized the tall and slender man in white almost instantly when he walked out.
The sky was currently clear and bright. The black Dong Huang Clock Tower stood coldly behind Rong Xiu, and the reliefs on its bronze doors were lifelike and majestic, forming a contrast with the white Qing Ming Square.
Rong Xiu was the most distinctive and eye-catching color in between these two extreme colors. Although he looked ethereal in his white clothes, his slightly drooping eyes cast a faint shadow on his fair skin. From a distance, it looked like a bright white jade that had been dipped into the deep blue ocean. He easily attracted everyone’s attention with his presence.
Even though there were many handsome men and pretty ladies in that group of people who had walked out, they instantly paled in comparison. The crowd fell silent with his appearance.
Upon sensing something, Rong Xiu looked up.
Everyone was shaken by that gaze of his, for he had such deep and impenetrable eyes that they seemed capable of swallowing everything. The gentleness in his eyes at that moment, however, could make people melt in them. Some ladies were blus.h.i.+ng as they stared at him in a daze, but his gaze was only on one person.
Chu Liuyue’s eyes met his. When she saw him narrowing his eyes, her heart thumped, and she quickly averted her gaze out of guilt.
However, she regretted her action as soon as she did that. Why am I feeling guilty?! He ought to be the one feeling guilty instead! He surely knew that I used to study at Ling Xiao Academy, but he deliberately hid it from me. He didn ‘t even tell me that he had received news from the academy! Ultimately, he’s the one in the wrong!
But when she looked up again, she noticed that Rong Xiu was surrounded by a few elders and that they were whispering something to him. As Rong Xiu was very tall, he lowered his head slightly for convenience’s sake. He seemed to be carefully paying attention to the conversation and was nodding calmly to it.
The other young men and women were standing toward the side. Hence, the position where Rong Xiu was standing—together with the elders—appeared very special in comparison. The elders seemed to be very friendly and polite toward him too.
Whispers slowly broke out among the crowd as they came back to their senses. “Gosh, who’s that man?! He looks so outstanding. There’s no reason why I wouldn’t have an impression of him if he’s a student here!”
“He resembles someone… Could he be…?”
“Sky-Cloud Empire! Could he be Rong Xiu, the saint of the Sky-Cloud Empire?! I heard that he left the academy a few years ago, so I didn’t expect to see him here
today!”
“Rong Xiu?! T-that legendary Rong Xiu?!”
Gasps could be heard coming from the crowd.
Being the perceptive person he was, Elder Bo Yan naturally noticed everyone’s reactions. He couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile. “I knew it… I knew this would happen if you came. Why don’t I leave the monthly a.s.sessment to you—”
Rong Xiu humbly said, “I wouldn’t dare rob you of your duty, Elder Bo Yan. Please go ahead.”
Elder Bo Yan laughed and then took a step forward. “I, Bo Yan, would like to welcome you all on behalf of Ling Xiao Academy!”