Protect Our Chief-Chapter 488 - 13: Liyao! Academy, Here I Come_4

Lu Xianghui looked towards the sound and politely cupped his hands in greeting, "So it’s Senior Brother Jiang from Eternal Spring Valley. I see Senior Brother Jiang has a complexion as warm as jade, and his aura is restrained, perhaps he has already reached the eighth layer of the Qi Refining Realm. Congratulations, Senior Brother Jiang." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

This Senior Brother Jiang is named Jiang Kangpeng, who appears to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old and entered the Academy three years earlier than him. Although they were not disciples of the same lineage, they became acquainted because they both liked to take on small tasks at the Academy.

Jiang Kangpeng has a good temperament and provided Lu Xianghui with considerable guidance and help in the early stage, which made Lu Xianghui remember him fondly.

The two of them walked together towards Qianqiu Hall, chatting as they went.

In Qianqiu Hall, just as usual, quite a few Academy disciples gathered to receive tasks and exchange academic credits.

Due to a triennial Academy competition held earlier, the number of disciples coming to exchange academic credits was particularly high these days. Just at this time, a Disciple in Charge happened to be on leave, unable to keep up with the demand. Consequently, they waited in the corridor, forming small clusters and chatting idly.

The Academy has many disciples, with each peak and lineage being relatively independent, resulting in various interesting or sensational events happening every day, providing ample topics for conversation.

However, what they talked about the most was the Academy competition from a few days ago.

Before each new recruitment, the Academy holds a competition among the disciples to test their learning achievements. Moreover, a victorious lineage can have the priority to choose some new disciples highly valued by everyone.

After the competition, disciples from each peak and lineage could receive corresponding academic credit rewards based on their performance. Those who performed exceptionally well might even be selected by an Ascendant to become Core Disciples or even Direct Disciples.

Naturally, those who performed well and scored high became the center of conversation, especially the Core Disciples of each peak and lineage, who were the focus of attention.

"In this competition, Senior Brother Zongsheng and Senior Brother Jianye of the Profound Ice Hall Lineage really stole the spotlight. In my opinion, the next Core Disciple of the Profound Ice Hall will likely be chosen from between the two of them."

"And Senior Brother Le Xian of the Yuan Water Celestial Lake Lineage also performed brilliantly in the competition. During the match, I happened to be nearby. Tsk tsk tsk~ That strength is truly impressive~ A Core Disciple is indeed a Core Disciple. We couldn’t possibly keep up with them even if we tried."

"I heard that this year, Yuan Shui Ascendant plans to take on a Direct Disciple. Isn’t Senior Brother Le Xian working so hard for this slot as a Direct Disciple? I think this time, he’s very likely to achieve his wish."

A group of young disciples gathered together, talking about what they saw and heard yesterday, all with expressions of admiration and excitement.

"Ah~ it’s a pity Direct Disciples don’t participate in the competition, otherwise we would be able to witness the splendor of the Direct Disciples." One disciple sighed regretfully.

Another disciple sneered, "Hey~ if Direct Disciples participated in the competition, where would the Core Disciples even have a chance to shine? Besides, the first prize in the under-sixty age group competition rewards only three hundred academic credits. Why would Direct Disciples even care?"

"I heard that Spirit Platform Realm Direct Disciples are awarded one hundred academic credits every month, more than what we earn in a year. Even Spirit Platform Realm Core Disciples receive thirty fixed academic credits every month. If not to compete for the slot as Direct Disciples, they wouldn’t have to be so active in the competition."

Lu Xianghui and Jiang Kangpeng were also among the idle chatting crowd at this time, feeling passionate and excited as they listened. It’s just a pity that they were only in the Qi Refining Realm and had no qualification to participate in the competition.

However, given their talent and strength, even if they went to participate in the competition at the Spirit Platform Realm, it would merely be to observe. Truly wanting to stand out and shine in the competition, at least they would need to be an excellent disciple with a Second Layer bloodline in the Spirit Platform Realm.

As the Academy disciples continued chatting.

Suddenly, a large Spirit Rider elephant-shaped stepped onto the plaza, and the ground seemed to tremble quietly with its heavy footsteps.

Lu Xianghui’s eyes lit up, "Isn’t that Senior Brother Zhang Xiuping from Carefree Peak with his Spirit Rider, the Ancient Blood Spirit Elephant?"

Zhang Xiuping is a Core Disciple of Carefree Peak, now his cultivation has reached the Fourth Layer Spirit Platform Realm. However, because he is over sixty years old, he no longer participates in the triennial competition.

But his reputation is still very prominent. At over sixty years old, he has already reached the Mid-stage Spirit Platform Realm, and barring accidents, a future Celestial Human Realm is inevitable.

He is naturally one of the idols worshiped by many young disciples.

After Zhang Xiuping stored the Ancient Blood Spirit Elephant, he walked towards Qianqiu Hall, and many people respectfully greeted him.

Before sixty, Zhang Xiuping was quite fierce, liking to compete everywhere. Nowadays, however, he has become much more reserved, and even when receiving greetings from Qi Refining Realm disciples, he would nod back in return.

Just as Lu Xianghui was regarding Zhang Xiuping with respectful attention, suddenly, he heard a sweet voice beside his ear, saying, "Hello, Senior Brother. Are you a disciple of the Yuan Water Celestial Lake Lineage?"

Lu Xianghui quickly turned around, seeing an ordinarily dressed and plain-looking girl greeting him.

"Hello, Junior Sister," Lu Xianghui returned the greeting, "I am Lu Xianghui, indeed a disciple of the Yuan Water Celestial Lake. May I ask Junior Sister..."

As he looked closely at this Junior Sister, he couldn’t discern her cultivation, thinking she might be wearing aura-concealment gear.

"My name is Wang Liyao, a new disciple preparing to enter the Academy this year." The seemingly "plain-looking" Wang Liyao said very politely.

This "plain-looking" Wang Liyao was naturally Wang Shouzhe’s own daughter.

...