Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Can’t be reckless anymore
"Wasn’t Chen Pingping supposed to be some nameless individual? What’s going on?"
"I don’t know either!"
"What’s the Little Princess’s intention in bringing him here?"
"Enlightenment, of course!"
"Doesn’t he have a place to cultivate?" Outside the crowd, unrest began to stir as many people discussed in low voices.
This Chen Pingping wasn’t normal. What happened to him being a so-called nameless individual? He resonated with the Taoist Platform and the Sword Array, and most importantly, he didn’t take much time at all. Looking through the academy’s history, which young talent who came here for Enlightenment didn’t spend a great deal of time? Some took months, the longer ones years, and even then, resonance was not guaranteed.
"It’s not without reason that the young prodigy Jin Chan of the Purple Gold Divine Clan wants to challenge him," someone whispered, their expression solemn.
"What do you mean?" another person glanced sideways. "You think he might not belong to one of the three great empires?"
"’Get rid of "might,"’" the first man stated. "Among the young geniuses within the three great empires, which one do we not recognize? His name isn’t on any list, meaning he comes from one of those unknowable places. Otherwise, Jin Chan of the Purple Gold Divine Clan wouldn’t challenge him without reason."
"That seems to be the case..."
"Hmm... What did he say just now?"
I was just looking.
The clamorous scene quietened in an instant.
Looking? So, when he caused resonance at the Taoist Platform just a while ago, he wasn’t seeking Enlightenment? Including what happened at the Sword Array?
His time of Enlightenment had been so short that no one knew whether he had actually attained it or not. But now, he had made this statement.
Everyone was shocked.
The senior teachers of the academy were dumbstruck, and the aging Dean almost spat blood.
Even though Chen Pingping’s identity and origins were suspect—possibly from the Spirit Palace, ancient families, or the like—the Dean didn’t care. Seeing such a talent, he wanted to keep him at all costs. Just a few breaths ago, the Dean had already figured out what to say. Unexpectedly, this fellow came out with a statement about ’just looking.’
What? The cultivation at the academy isn’t good enough for you?
The Dean was so angered that the Destiny God Weapon within him was on the verge of awakening, robust fluctuations of aura spreading out like mountains pressing down on the area.
"Dean!" a teacher exclaimed. "Stay calm!"
OH! OH! OH!
Upon hearing the voice, the old Dean finally came to his senses and quickly suppressed the Divine Weapon within his body. He looked at Chen Pingping with a pair of eyes that were slightly hollow.
Such a fine seedling! He has an impressive appearance, striking features, and spirited eyes. But... what’s going on?
As he observed, he realized that something wasn’t quite right. The fluctuations of cultivation energy within Chen Pingping were too low; his Dantian wasn’t surging but was instead as calm as the surface of a lake.
Is this the Dantian of a Cultivator? The Dantian of any Cultivator, even when not actively circulating energy, shouldn’t be this tranquil.
The old Dean’s body stiffened slightly.
This can’t be right! Chen Pingping has such a daunting aptitude for Enlightenment, yet his Dantian is utterly still, as if cursed. Moreover, isn’t his cultivation realm also very low? How could such a person cause resonance with the Taoist Platform and Sword Array? Was Jin Chan of the Purple Gold Divine Clan blind to challenge him?
"Dean? Dean? Are you alright?" Lan Xiuzhi called out several times. Seeing no response, she extended a slender finger and poked him.
Hearing Lan Xiuzhi’s address, Chen Pingping also began to size up the old man. Sensing the undisturbed calm within him, a tremor went through his heart.
A powerful being. At least in the latter stages of the Imperial Path, he might have even transcended the Imperial Path realm. It seems the overall level of the Spirit Realm is indeed higher than the Heaven Martial Continent!
He became somewhat guarded.
After a moment, the Dean regained his composure. He looked at the Sword Array, then swept his gaze over Chen Pingping and smiled. "Young man, you’re quite impressive!"
"Thank you for the compliment, Senior!" Chen Pingping responded.
"Cultivate well!" With those words, the Dean turned and walked away.
Several teachers hurriedly followed.
"Dean, what’s going on?"
"The Dean? Should we throw him out?"
"Dean... why aren’t you speaking?"
In fact, it wasn’t that the Dean didn’t want to speak; he hadn’t heard them at all. His mind was wandering as he constantly pondered the contradictions surrounding Chen Pingping.
His Dantian seems very ordinary, as do his meridians and his entire Zhou Tian circulation. Yet, why is his aptitude for Enlightenment so exceptionally high? Something is off. Could it be that he practiced some Tao method that conceals him from others’ prying eyes? Or perhaps there’s a powerful Divine Weapon dormant within him, creating an illusion? Yes, it must be so!
The Dean took a deep breath and suddenly halted.
WHOOSH!
The teachers behind him, caught by surprise, bumped into him.
The Dean spoke, "Gather everyone immediately! I want to investigate an ancient cultivation method. Quickly!"
"Uh? What about Chen Pingping?" one of the teachers hesitated to ask.
"Don’t worry about him for now. Let him do his own thing," the Dean said.
As long as they figured out Chen Pingping’s cultivation method, they could determine his identity and origins. Then, when the time came to poach him, they would have a targeted plan.
...
Lan Xiuzhi stared at him intently. "You’ve already resonated, so why don’t you seek Enlightenment?"
She was getting impatient. I brought you here for you to cultivate, to elevate your realm, to increase your combat power, and to defeat Jin Chan after one year. It wasn’t for you to come here and show off!
Chen Pingping replied helplessly, "These Tao methods don’t suit me; cultivating them would be useless. Besides, one year simply isn’t enough." After a pause, he added, "Resonating and achieving Enlightenment are two different things, you know!"
"Fine then!" she naively believed him. "There’s also the Holy Pool. Go have a look!"
This time, Chen Pingping did not refuse.
Whether it was Dugu or Senior Heng Ba, they both seemed to enjoy leaving their marks in this way, awaiting Wen Yuqing’s arrival.
So what about the Holy Pool? Though I’m not entirely sure if there’s anything there, I can’t be certain there isn’t either. I might as well give it a try! My master’s identity is indeed intriguing.
Lan Xiuzhi said, "When you go to the Holy Pool later, you can’t mess around."
The Holy Pool was different from the Taoist Platform and the Sword Array. The latter two could be freely entered for Enlightenment, as few people usually came for that purpose. The Holy Pool, however, was different; it was reserved for the academy’s young geniuses to cleanse themselves.
What Lan Xiuzhi meant was: keep a low profile, focus on your own cultivation, and don’t cause trouble. She was the empire’s Little Princess, not the one in charge of the academy.
Chen Pingping nodded. "I understand. I’ve always been low-profile."
The Saintess behind him twitched the corner of her mouth. Right, you’re so low-profile—annihilating the Bai Family and Chong Tower, winning over the Moon God—your deeds are notorious throughout the Central Continent, known by everyone. It’s just that he hasn’t made any significant achievements in the Spirit Realm yet. Still, I have a feeling it won’t be long before he does.
CLUCK! CLUCK! CLUCK!
The Earth Chicken sensed the fluctuations ahead and struggled to break free from Lan Xiuzhi’s embrace, but Lan Xiuzhi pressed her down.
She blinked and said softly, "Little Chickie, you must behave!"
The Earth Chicken felt like she would cough up blood from sheer frustration.
I’m a descendant of the Ancient Phoenix! I’ve lived for so many years! What’s this ’Little Chickie’? Who are you calling that? If it weren’t for that Phoenix Cauldron inside you, I’d... I’d spit right in your face!
She was on the verge of exploding with rage.
Hei barked mockingly at her.
"Halt." A man stopped the group.
He was also an academy disciple, usually responsible for guarding the Holy Pool’s entrance. Only those with permission—a teacher’s signature or, alternatively, the Dean’s signature—were allowed to enter.
Of course, members of the royal family also had this privilege, but...
He glanced at the two people behind the Little Princess and said, "I’m sorry, Little Princess, they can’t go in."