ASER - Chapter 98
Chapter 98: Forbidden Master
She was truly speechless at the thought processes of certain nobles.
Weren't the educations of these prominent families supposedly centered on the cynical art of weighing pros and cons? Why were they all so damn stupid!
Comparatively, someone like Zhongchuan Mingxiu, who diligently engaged in petty schemes, could almost be considered a beacon of cleverness, to say nothing of Cheng Zhang, the epitome of steadiness.
The great power of love?
Cui Liang was just trash; was it really worth all this?
Had she never seen a man before?
A'Diao sipped her milk tea, speechless.
Toilet: "Sigh, even the most perfect plan can't contend with a love-struck fool who doesn't play by the rules. So, what will you do next?"
What else could she do?
"He's either here to assess the Spirit Power in my body to gauge my strength, or he's here to assassinate me."
"If it's the former, I'll just let him assess it. Anyway, I deliberately depleted Spirit Power from my first spirit cluster this morning, maintaining an E6-level energy intensity. Unless he gets close enough to directly assess my physical aptitude."
Then he would be able to detect that her first spirit cluster was already at C5-level.
But she wouldn't give him that chance.
She was prepared; otherwise, she wouldn't have returned to Jinling to assimilate resources without even going to the Jinxiang Area. Naturally, it was to become stronger to cope with this worst-case scenario.
Toilet: "If he wants to kill you..."
A'Diao didn't speak, still looking down at her phone. When she saw a video sent by Tian Zhongye and the others in their small group chat, she opened it. Though her attention was divided, she was still struck by Qu Jiangnan's impressive presence in the video.
So awesome! A Forbidden Master?
Shocked, A'Diao could still sense the invisible person in the woods spying on her.
An invisible force even seemed to envelop her.
Locked on?
Huh! Was he really planning to make a move?
Suddenly, and coincidentally, Song Ling happened to initiate a voice call.
A'Diao's hand twitched; she raised her phone to her ear.
Song Ling: "Are your injuries healed? Did you see the video in the small group chat? Teacher Qu is amazing."
To put it plainly, they were all young women of eighteen or nineteen. No matter how cool and composed, they also had a side that admired strength. Song Ling only occasionally revealed some of her girlish nature in front of these few.
It was like how best friends would subconsciously share with each other when they saw someone incredibly impressive.
"She is really amazing, you wouldn't expect it. Usually so quiet and reserved, but when she gets serious, she strikes hard. How are you all? Did you use up all the talismans?"
"Not bad. I harvested 150 third-grade spirit cores. I originally had some talismans left, but I gave some to Big Brother Jiang Chao. Just letting you know."
"What's up with him? Don't they sell them in Kyoto? Is that it? No wonder then, hehe. Once Teacher Qu teaches me more advanced third-grade talismans, won't I strike it rich?"
Song Ling thought it was a good idea. "I'm just afraid it will take up your time... We're almost at the academy; we should be able to make it to the next class."
What Song Ling didn't know was that A'Diao was already prepared: if the A-rank fighter in the bamboo forest a hundred meters ahead were to initiate an attack, she would unleash her second spirit cluster...
Slaughter, imminent.
Meanwhile, in the woods, the A-rank fighter had just used a device to confirm that the target female student ahead was at an E6 level. Originally, the three of them had planned to obey their family's orders and return to Kyoto, but Second Miss had privately contacted him, asking him to find some time to go and kill this girl.
It was like a proud young lady wanting a doll, but her family refusing to buy it. She would say it was fine, but privately, she would insist on sending someone to destroy it.
If she couldn't have it, she'd destroy it.
Anyone she didn't want to let live, also had to die.
Given Second Miss's past viciousness, refusing would surely lead to retaliation. Moreover, the benefits she offered were substantial, like extra income. After much deliberation, this A-rank fighter agreed. Before leaving, he found an opportunity to sneak into the academy. But he was conflicted—what was wrong with this girl, drinking milk tea and chatting for so long? Hurry up and enter the bamboo forest!
For an A-rank like him to stoop four levels to assassinate an E-rank was already outrageous. If he were to fail, he would truly lose all face.
The fighter lay in wait for a while. Seeing that A'Diao showed no intention of entering the woods, he employed a psychic secret art to lure her... Sure enough, A'Diao, who was on the phone, stiffened.
Song Ling: "A'Diao?"
A'Diao wasn't controlled at all, because her mental fortitude was too strong. On the contrary, she sensed it the instant he made his move. It wasn't that she was completely unfazed; rather, she cursed inwardly: Damn it, a psychic type! Trying to lure me into the woods to be assassinated and have my corpse destroyed? Sinister!
But she still stood up, her phone falling to the ground, and obediently walked in... Once she was inside, she would secretly eliminate this person and bury his body instead!
At this moment, her two spirit clusters were ready.
Ninety meters, eighty-nine meters... When it reached eighty-eight meters, a ruthless thought formed in A'Diao's mind: Either I die, or I expose myself and eliminate him!
And she indeed now possessed the ability to instantly eliminate this bastard!
Why instantly eliminate?
Because the opponent was a psychic type, and the strongest psychic arts of that type had limited effect on her, while her physical attacks were something he might not be able to withstand.
Heh!
It served him right to come seeking death.
A'Diao was just about to make her move.
Suddenly, she realized something was amiss with the A-rank fighter hiding in the woods. He seemed... The extraordinarily perceptive A'Diao instantly halted her two spirit clusters, not moving. But the A-rank fighter lurking in the forest did move.
To be precise, he was forced to move.
Fallen bamboo leaves in the grove climbed and entangled him, then soared into the air. Before he could react, a single bamboo leaf, like a sharp blade, pierced his body, directly finding his spirit cluster.
Pierced and burst!
An A-rank spirit cluster was thus easily destroyed.
He was in agony and terror, but possessed no strength to resist.
Then, amidst thousands of whistling bamboo leaves, his entire body was lifted a hundred meters above the bamboo forest. As his screams erupted, nearby students and teachers were drawn over. They could only see a figure entangled by bamboo leaves, its appearance obscured. They only knew that the swirling, coiling bamboo leaves twisted into five large, leafy hands... and forcefully tore him apart.
Crack! Snap!
His arms, legs, and head were instantly dismembered. The blood was caught by the swirling bamboo leaves... not a single drop fell, but the green leaves turned red.
This horrifying scene not only stunned the people of the academy but was also witnessed by those on the airship that happened to be approaching the academy.
The students and teachers who were on the deck were all deeply shocked.
Song Ling subconsciously glanced at her phone.
Just now... what had happened?
Since ancient times, red and green have been the foremost colors of marriage, but they could also be the foremost colors of murder.
And from among the pieces of the corpse, a few leaves, acting like hands, retrieved a phone from the body, found a phone number, and dialed it.
Beep, beep, beep.
It connected.
Bystanders naturally couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but a voice emanating from a certain principal's office within the academy reached everywhere, and was naturally also heard by the person on the other end of the call.
"Though news has just spread that Lushan Academy will be accepting students for the first time in three hundred years, has the Baili family of Kyoto already become so fiercely competitive as to come all the way to Jinling to assassinate a student? While nipping threats in the bud is the kind of ruthlessness an ambitious figure should possess, you're giving our humble little academy far too much credit, aren't you?"
"Kill if you must, but to do so within my academy, and while I am present—do you take me, Jiang Zhou, for a dead man?"
The other end of the line went silent, then a faint voice came through.
"A misunderstanding."
Jiang Zhou: "I also believe it's a misunderstanding. It must be some nefarious villains deliberately sowing discord between the academies and the powerful aristocratic families, attempting to destabilize our Tang-Song nation. Truly malicious intentions. Therefore, I have already reported this matter to the Academy Alliance. Let them investigate. Patriarch Baili, I trust you. I hope we can all remain well. If you are well, then it is a sunny day..."
"Naturally."
The voice on the other end was deep and resonant. After speaking, he hung up the phone.
The Principal, for his part, did not appear. However, the leaves entangling the pieces of the corpse ignited, transforming into a fiery python. It wrapped the charred flesh and darted into the woods... dug extremely deep, and buried it.
In days to come, it would become spring soil, further nourishing this vast sea of bamboo.
Everything settled.
A'Diao was inwardly shaken: The Principal has indeed become a Forbidden Master. Only a Forbidden Master could act so effortlessly yet with such devastating power.
So scary!
Toilet: "This is good too. It's better that he did the killing than you."
Combining her two spirit clusters, she could reach a B1 level. With her Yuan Staff, mecha, and the explosive output from her various personal abilities, she could instantly unleash destructive power at A-rank or higher. If she converted a million units of Mental Power, she could reach the peak of A-rank. Unless a Forbidden Master came personally, she was confident she could eliminate any assassin.
But that would also mean exposing everything.
Even if there were no evidence proving she was the one behind it, the Baili Family and the organization backing Li Yuanshu would target her from then on, leading to endless future troubles. To save her life, A'Diao would have to rely entirely on the academy's protection.
That was definitely not what A'Diao hoped for, so unless absolutely necessary, she didn't want to make a move herself.
Fortunately, the Principal of Jinling Academy did have a temper, and his hidden strengths were greater than she had imagined.
A'Diao: "More than just having a temper, he certainly knew about Cui Liang and that noble girl. But he deliberately avoided mentioning it, elevating the matter to a different plane. That way, the Baili Family couldn't just use the excuse that their young lady was lashing out due to being affected by a scumbag's tragic death. However, I am curious about this Lushan Academy he mentioned."
She was merely curious, but immediately switched into acting mode.
When the airship landed, Song Ling and the others, piloting their flight devices, landed near the woods, watching with lingering fear. Song Ling and a few others flew over to A'Diao's side.
A'Diao was currently sitting weakly on the steps, her face pale, drenched in sweat... clutching her head as if in agony.
She saw Qu Jiangnan approaching and thought inwardly: Qu Jiangnan and the Principal are the most powerful and mysterious figures in Jinling Academy. The video Song Ling just showed also proved her background is extraordinary, and she should also be a Forbidden Master. Will she see that my spiritual body isn't injured at all?
Toilet: "She won't be able to tell. I am your life-bound system; I can conceal it."
A'Diao: "Then don't conceal it. Let her see."
Toilet: "???"
Seriously, have you lost your mind?
Qu Jiangnan appeared beside A'Diao in a flash, her finger touching A'Diao's temple. She sensed something, her gaze flickered, and she gave A'Diao an extra glance, but her expression quickly showed a hint of anger.
She had seen through it, but she also began to act.
Song Ling and the others were unaware. Song Ling only asked worriedly, "Teacher, was it a psychic art?"
Qu Jiangnan: "Yes, an A-rank psychic cultivator. She almost died."
If he had suddenly destroyed A'Diao's spiritual body in a place visible to outsiders, it would have easily alerted the school authorities. So she guessed that the person sent by the Baili Family had originally planned to lure her into the woods before striking. That way, no one would know A'Diao was dead, and he could escape smoothly. After some time, when the school finally discovered her body, there would be no evidence left.
Fortunately, fortunately the Principal had noticed.
Rao Xueya and the others still felt a lingering fear, but their hearts were also heavy. Cheng Zhang frowned: If even A'Diao had no ability to protect herself against such power, what about us?
Bai He and the others heard this, their expressions varied: A-rank? A-rank! They had worked themselves to exhaustion fighting third-grade ghouls in the Jinxiang Area, and A'Diao already had A-rank experts coming to assassinate her?
Tuoba looked somewhat annoyed, but quickly calmed down.
"Don't overthink it. Even the weak will have their day to become strong. One day, we will show those high and mighty people that even ants possess their own strength."
This 'big brother' was usually a classic case of a dense, straightforward guy, but when he got fired up, he was truly resolute.
Everyone's hearts calmed at once.
A'Diao lowered her head, thinking: He's not wrong. One day, one day!
A'Diao was taken away by Qu Jiangnan. The afternoon class was handed over by Qu Jiangnan to Shi Dagang, with the explanation that A'Diao's spiritual body was severely damaged and the school doctor couldn't handle it. The turmoil within Jinling Academy also quickly subsided.
But the shock people had experienced was not easily erased.
After Shi Dagang arrived, he didn't say much, only calmly stated: "This world is far more dangerous than you imagine. A'Diao had terrible luck, targeted at will by certain upper-echelon figures who don't play by the rules. But she was also fortunate... I hope you will also be fortunate in the future, but I hope even more that you will become strong—strong enough not to become victims."
Everyone was silent, but under Tuoba's lead, they clasped their hands and bowed in a traditional salute.
This was the first time this class of geniuses, usually caught up in mutual competition with little genuine camaraderie, had paid their respects with such unity of heart.
To be a teacher meant not only imparting skills and techniques but also fostering an understanding of how to navigate the world and conduct oneself.
This world was, indeed, very dangerous.
The human world was far more dangerous than any demonic spirit grotto.
In the heavy atmosphere, Shi Dagang added, "Tomorrow, rankings will be determined based on scores from the Clearance Points Tower and the combined results of several written exams. If your overall rank is surpassed by students from other classes... you will be moved to Class 2. I hope you all have a clear understanding of the situation."
Damn it! Everyone's emotions were stirred up once more.
Of course, the other two A-rank experts from the Baili Family in Jinling City also cursed inwardly.
"Actually, I knew he left because Second Miss ordered him to, but I didn't expect him to be so stupid."
"Yeah, I thought he was just going to assess that little girl's aptitude and see if she was suspicious. I didn't expect a direct assassination. Far too bold."
What the two didn't say was: the truly audacious one was their own Second Miss. Did geniuses with higher aptitude tend to be more unhinged?
Too unscrupulous.
Hopefully, the family would discipline her strictly this time; otherwise, serious trouble could easily arise in the future.
In Kyoto, the head of the Baili Family was indeed furious. He said nothing, asked nothing, and directly put Baili Xianyun in solitary confinement, ignoring any pleas for leniency.
That day, a certain Young Master in White, who was still cultivating at Kyoto First Academy, returned to the family. Passing a group of kneeling people, he arrived before the confinement room and heard Baili Xianyun's angry complaints from within.
He went to the adjacent room, raised his hand and swept it across a surface, and the dark wall of the confinement room became transparent.
"Brother, you're back? Hmph! News certainly travels fast."
"It's not that it's fast; it's that the news is significant. Many people in Kyoto know about it now. That Jiang Zhou is no ordinary figure. Since he made a move, he won't let the family off lightly. You should understand the meaning of reverence."
"Reverence for what? Give me some time, and killing him will be as easy as killing a dog. Besides, I didn't kill indiscriminately; I investigated. She's just a mere E-rank, her aptitude is worse than a dog's. Chen Ran and Chen Xun are hardly significant figures either—one an old political schemer who can't cultivate, the other a mere worker at the Central Academy of Sciences who also can't cultivate. What's there to fear? Jiang Zhou's reaction is so strong, I bet he's colluding with Chen Ran..."
A'Diao, considered a top genius at Jinling Academy, was worse than a dog in the eyes of these two siblings?
The Young Master in White frowned. "But you would need that time. If you continue to act so recklessly, and you encounter a truly formidable figure in the future, regardless of whether the family and I can avenge you, dead is dead—and that is failure! Besides, you have a temper; do you think others don't? He is, after all, the principal of Danzhou's First Academy. Can you claim to fully know all his connections and background? What if he's backed by the faction of some imperial prince? At the very least, he has the support of the Academy Alliance."
Baili Xianyun frowned, still dissatisfied. "The Academy Alliance? It's not like we don't have people on the inside. Your teacher, my teacher—which of them isn't..."
The Young Master in White interrupted her.
"You think too highly of yourself! You haven't even reached the threshold of a Forbidden Master. Even our teachers, their connection to us is merely that of instructors; why would they go to great lengths for us? Had you arranged the assassination outside, it would have been far better than acting within the academy. Enough said. That woman is not worth mentioning, and Cui Liang even less so. You are only so furious and unscrupulous because you feel you've lost face. If you want to regain your standing in front of those gossips, you should cultivate diligently and strive to distinguish yourself in the upcoming preliminary selections. Then you will have all the prestige you desire, and who would dare look down on you?"
Baili Xianyun, after all, respected her older brother, so she did rein in her temper somewhat, perhaps primarily because he had accurately pinpointed her underlying concerns.
"I understand. I will cultivate diligently."
"It's good that you'll listen. I also brought back many good things for you this time. Cultivate well. From now on, our sole objective is Lushan Academy."
"Brother, is Lushan Academy really going to open?"
"Yes."
After the Young Master in White left, he soon met with his father, who was also the head of the Baili Family.
The latter was currently brewing tea.
"Persuaded her?"
"Yes. The main thing is to give her something to focus on, to divert her attention."
"If I had known she would act like this over a mere plaything like Cui Liang, he should have been killed from the start."
"Father, please don't be concerned. It's handled. That Jiang Zhou merely acted openly to save face and to issue a warning to the world; he didn't intend to have a complete falling out with our family. I just learned he has already informed the Academy Alliance, merely going through the motions. This can also be considered giving you face, Father. However, younger sister truly cannot be so reckless in the future. If she wishes to keep people by her side, let me vet them first. Those with ulterior motives will be disposed of; just keep some who know their place."
The Young Master in White possessed a gentle and elegant temperament, his every gesture exuding an innate nobility, yet his words revealed a casual disregard for human life.
But Cui Liang was indeed detestable.
No matter how outrageous his sister was, a plaything should have the self-awareness of a plaything. Constantly trying to manipulate his master into dealing with his enemies for him—did he think the Baili Family was his to exploit?
His intentions were truly damnable!
"This is a trivial matter. Her inability to control her impulses and endure frustration is merely because she often gets into petty squabbles with a few people she cannot best. It's still a childish temper."
Thinking of those individuals in his sister's class, the Young Master in White also felt a touch of helplessness.
Kyoto was the heart of the Tang-Song Empire, where prodigies from thirty-nine provinces congregated, and even students from small foreign states came to learn. He himself wouldn't dare claim to be unrivaled; how could his sister dare to be so defiant?
"I only hope she first enters Lushan Academy, and then we can plan for other things. As for the matter concerning Li Yuanshu, Father, have you found anything?"
"The Li Clan of Yunzhou."
Comments
Post a Comment