Chapter 8: The Academy Competition

The name of Ye Qiubai from the Thatched Cottage soon spread throughout the entire academy.

Countless people were amazed by this man's strength.

It was as if he were already invincible within the Golden Core Realm!

Sword Hall.

After Xin Hongyi heard the news, she remarked, "So Ye Qiubai is the disciple the Thatched Cottage took in that day..."

"However, whatever he can do, I can surely do better."

"I will let you know what a great loss it was not to take me as a disciple that day."

Having said this, Xin Hongyi picked up a sword and headed straight for the martial arts arena.

That same day, the name of Xin Hongyi also spread throughout the entire academy.

Ten battles, ten victories, all won by crushing her opponents!

On the martial arts arena, Xin Hongyi declared that she would challenge Ye Qiubai at the Academy Grand Competition!

The crowd was in an uproar.

On the other side, Martial Hall.

In a courtyard, Ye Yan sat on a stone chair, his expression flickering between light and shadow.

"Ye Qiubai! How is this possible? How can this be?!"

He had seen with his own eyes the scene where Ye Qiubai’s talent withered and his cultivation was completely lost!

Only a few days had passed since then?

He had already reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm and was shining brilliantly within the academy!

"No, I cannot let him return to the family alive..."

Currently, a power struggle was underway within the Ye family.

The Great Elder, Ye Ling, and the current head of the family, Ye Qing, were fighting for control.

At present, Ye Qing was at a disadvantage because of the situation with his son, Ye Qiubai.

But once the old fogies of the family learned that Ye Qiubai had recovered his talent and was even better than before, the situation might be reversed.

"If that is the case..."

Ye Yan’s eyes were filled with malice.

Meanwhile, in the Martial Arts Pavilion, where the academy’s various techniques and martial skills were stored.

Ye Qiubai had earned a large number of contribution points, so he naturally thought of coming to the academy to look at the martial arts techniques here.

In the technique section, Ye Qiubai circled around several times.

He looked at a few books, among which there was no shortage of Earth-tier techniques.

"As expected of the Cangdao Academy; these techniques are much more powerful than those of the aristocratic families and sects in the outside world."

The Ye family’s techniques were only Profound-tier.

However, Ye Qiubai had no interest in them at all; after all, compared to the *Primordial Sword Scripture* given to him by Lu Changsheng, the gap was too vast.

What level of technique was this *Primordial Sword Scripture* exactly...

His master was truly mysterious.

He wondered what level of strength one had to reach to be able to produce a technique like the *Primordial Sword Scripture*, and even paint those scrolls filled with such profound artistic conception.

Thinking of this, Ye Qiubai felt even more respect for Lu Changsheng.

And Lu Changsheng, who was lying in the Thatched Cottage sunning himself, suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo! Which little brat is cursing me?"

When passing through the martial arts skill section, Ye Qiubai was attracted by a remnant scroll placed separately.

He walked over and picked it up: *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon*.

Opening it, he saw that it only contained the cultivation methods for the first to the third sword.

Ye Qiubai thought to himself that the sword techniques in the *Primordial Sword Scripture* were too strenuous for him to use right now; some he couldn't even use at all.

It would be better to use this *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* as a transition.

Thinking of this, Ye Qiubai took the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* and walked out. When he went to pay the contribution points, the pavilion-guarding elder said, "This scroll is a remnant; even the Cangdao Academy does not possess the latter six swords. Whether you can master the final six in the future depends on your luck. Are you sure you want this one?"

Ye Qiubai nodded.

Seeing this, the elder stopped trying to persuade him, handed the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* to Ye Qiubai, and sat back down to doze off.

When Ye Qiubai returned to the Thatched Cottage, Lu Changsheng was fertilizing the willow tree and feeding spirit fruits to the little bird on the side.

"Sigh, I have to use spirit soil for a single tree, and even a mere little bird has to eat spirit fruits. What a waste."

The little bird flapped its fiery red wings, expressing its dissatisfaction.

Seeing Ye Qiubai walk over, Lu Changsheng tossed the spirit soil to him and said, "Finish the rest, then come see me."

Ye Qiubai nodded.

After everything was finished, he finally found Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng was lying on a long chair and said, "I heard you went to the martial arts arena today? How were the results?"

Ye Qiubai cupped his hands and said respectfully, "I did not disgrace the name of the Thatched Cottage. All victories. Master, I have one more thing to ask."

Having said that, he took out the remnant scroll of the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* and asked, "I just picked this up in the martial arts section, and I would like Master to guide me."

Lu Changsheng glanced at it and took it. "A remnant scroll?"

[Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon remnant scroll, can be repaired and improved.]

The system had this function too?

"Repair."

As soon as he said this, the remaining six swords of the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* appeared in Lu Changsheng’s mind.

"Come here."

Ye Qiubai stepped forward, and Lu Changsheng tapped his finger on the center of Ye Qiubai’s brow. A massive amount of information poured into Ye Qiubai’s consciousness.

The complete *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon*!

Subsequently, Lu Changsheng picked up a tree branch and, following the sword techniques of the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon*, dismantled and demonstrated them one by one.

Ye Qiubai watched from the side, shocked in his heart.

Because the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* that Lu Changsheng demonstrated not only perfectly replicated the content on the remnant scroll, but compared to the original version, it had an extra touch of mystery, and the power was even greater!

After all nine swords were demonstrated, Lu Changsheng put away the branch and said, "The power is alright, enough for you to use for a while. Also, the Academy Grand Competition is in two days. Prepare yourself, then go cook; your master is hungry."

After speaking, Lu Changsheng walked into the thatched hut.

For the next two days, Ye Qiubai practiced the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* incessantly.

By the day of the Academy Grand Competition, Ye Qiubai was already able to execute the fifth sword of the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon*.

"It's a pity that with my current cultivation level, I can only barely use up to the fifth sword."

Recalling the ease and grace with which Lu Changsheng had used the *Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon* earlier, he sighed to himself that he still had a long way to go.

The Academy Grand Competition.

It was held on the square of the Cangdao Academy.

The square was now bustling with noise, and countless people surrounded six high platforms.

These six platforms represented that a total of six people would emerge victorious in this Academy Grand Competition.

The six winners would represent the Southern Region’s Cangdao Academy in exchanges with academies from the East, West, and North.

Though called an exchange, it was actually a struggle to seize academy resources.

Qin Tiannan appeared in mid-air and said loudly, "There are six platforms here. Whoever is still standing on them before the sun sets will be the winner. There are no restrictions on the rules, but no deaths are allowed."

Afterward, Qin Tiannan announced the rewards for the winners.

Suddenly, everyone was in a frenzy; the rewards this time were much higher than in previous Academy Grand Competitions.

The Academy Grand Competition began.

However, no one moved.

After all, the results would only be announced when the sun set. If one went up now, they would only be besieged; even if they could fight, they would be worn down by others.

On the seats not far away, Qin Tiannan and the elders of each hall were sitting.

Lu Changsheng had also been dragged over by Qin Tiannan.

He looked completely reluctant.

"Alright, I don't usually say anything to you, kid, but your disciple is participating today. As his master, shouldn't you come and see for yourself?"

Qin Tiannan saw Lu Changsheng’s resentment and couldn't help but laugh, "I also want to see how far the disciple you took in can go in the Grand Competition."