n

n

n

nXiao Ran pointed at the sinkhole at the side and said, “She’s already dead.”

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nChen Wenheng was stunned and tentatively looked into the sinkhole. There was some remnant demonic aura lingering around him, and the size of the huge sinkhole meant that it could not possibly go unnoticed.

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nHowever, he had been too busy running for his life to notice.

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nWalking to the edge of the sinkhole, he glanced down and gulped nervously. “Did—did you kill her?”

n

n“What do you think?” Xiao Ran asked in reply.

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nChen Wenheng shook his head. “No! The aura you emit is only at the level of Connate Realm. You cannot possibly be her match.”

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nFearful that Xiao Ran would misunderstand him, he quickly explained.

n

n“I’m not looking down on you. I’m also at the level of Connate Realm and have the protection of the Immense Righteous Energy. Nonetheless I was still subdued by her in one move and turned into a rabbit.”

n

n“And then?” Xiao Ran’s interest was getting piqued.

n

nAfter muttering to himself for a while,

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nChen Wenheng continued, “A senior must have passed by and handily subdued her.”

n

nHe bowed solemnly to Xiao Ran.

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n“No matter what, I want to thank you!”

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n“Uh-huh.” Xiao Ran acknowledged it calmly.

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n“My name is Chen Wenheng, a student of the Dragon Lake Institute.”

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n“Xiao Ran, Divine Sword Guard.”

n

nThe sky was about to turn dark. The two of them traveled back together.

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nOn the way,

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nXiao Ran also learned why Chen Wenheng had been captured by the wolf demon. It seemed that he had been standing guard at the Qingyuan Bookstore these past few days because he wanted to procure the painting of a Sacred Hand, regardless of the cost.

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n“This matter is way too shameful. The Scholastic Incubation Institute is one of the Four Great Institutes of Great Xia. They fought six battles in a day and lost six times in a row. They even lost a precious treasure that can nurture Immense Righteous Energy.” Chen Wenheng said angrily.

n

n“You can’t blame others for your own weak abilities.” Xiao Ran reasoned.

n

nChen Wenheng was still disgruntled.

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n“You’re guarding the Qingyuan Bookstore. Don’t tell me you’re also participating in the Dragon Lake Institute’s challenge?”

n

n“Yes, I’m in.” Chen Wenheng’s expression turned bitter.

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n“The participants have been confirmed. I’m one of the six. This concerns the reputation of the Institute and the Imperial Court. I can’t afford to lose.”

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nXiao Ran patted his shoulder but did not say anything.

n

n“Brother Xiao, when this matter is over, I’ll buy you a drink.”

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n“All right.” Xiao Ran did not refuse his offer.

n

nThe two then went their separate ways.

n

nBack at his home in the Jingwen Square,

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nXiao Ran checked what he had gained this time.

n

nThe wolf demon was at Level 1 of the Profound Realm. When the Golden Tome of Creation flipped open, three things were displayed: 800,000 Mastery points, 60 years worth of Martial Arts Evolution, and 80 years worth of soul cultivation.

n

nHe divided the Mastery points into two portions. 500,000 points were added to the Traversing the Heavens in Twelve Steps, and 300,000 points were added to the Basilisk’s Touch.

n

nAfter the attributes were refreshed,

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nTraversing the Heavens in Twelve Steps: Genesis

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nBasilisk’s Touch: Minor Achievement

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nHe was still 270 years away from breaking through to Level 4 of the Profound Realm.

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nHis evolution as a Spiritual Master had also improved another step, and his spiritual soul energy became stronger. Nonetheless, he was still 320 years away from the next upgrade.

n

nHe took down the painting of the Eldest Princess from the wall and laid it on the table.

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nHe took out the Finishing Touch Sacred Brush, condensed his purifying spiritual force on the tip of the brush, and drew a sword in her hand.

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nWith a flash of inspiration, he injected a bit of Immense Righteous Energy into it.

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nHe then put away his brush and stood back.

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n“Come out,” Xiao Ran commanded.

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nThe Eldest Princess walked out of the painting with a sword in her hand. Immense Righteous Energy swirled out and proactively began to consume the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

n

n“Huh? She’s now at Level 3 of the Grand Master Realm?”

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nHow long had it been? She’d achieved yet another breakthrough.

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nEven if it was drawn in dragon blood and using the Eldest Princess as the model, logically speaking, such a thing should not have happened.

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n‘I don’t get it.’ Xiao Ran muttered to himself.

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nWith a wave of his right hand,

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nthe Eldest Princess re-entered the painting, and he hung the painting back.

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nElsewhere,

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nthe Great Green Mountain stretched for more than 30,000 miles, perhaps even more.

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nThere were many demons here, and the various tribes with their different allegiances were complicated.

n

nIn the forbidden area of the Lunar Howling Varg Tribe, the Lunar Howling Varg King’s heart skipped a beat and was woken up from his self-imposed meditative seclusion.

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nHe sensed that his beloved consort had died and even her soul had been destroyed with no chance of escape. His killing intent surged and billowed out, enveloping the entire palace. The terrifying aura shook the space with a series of deafening thunderclaps.

n

n“Summon Yin Jijie!”

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nA short while later,

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nYin Jijie knelt before him with lowered head. “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

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n“My Snow Consort has been destroyed in the capital city. Go to the capital city and bring me this person’s head.” The Lunar Howling Varg King ordered.

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n“As you command!”

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nAfter Yin Jijie left, the Lunar Howling Varg King’s gaze turned ferocious. “When I attain enlightenment of the last level of the Lunar Howling Heavenly Technique, I’ll personally make a trip to the capital city!”

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nA lot had happened that night.

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nWith the coming of dawn,

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nXiao Ran first went to the Celestial Dungeon to clock in and send the two demons on their way. After swiping the rewards, he returned to the Divine Sword Guards headquarters.

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nShen Yiming happened to be there. His injuries had recovered.

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n“You’re here.”

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n“Yes,” Xiao Ran replied.

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n“Have you heard about the Yin Incubation Institute?” Shen Yiming asked.

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n“They’re up to no good. I’m afraid their objectives are not so simple.”

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nShen Yiming nodded his head in agreement.

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n“The higher-ups also have this suspicion. They’ve secretly investigated but everything seems normal. If something abnormal happens, there must be a reason. Of all the days they could have chosen to come, the Yin Incubation Institute decided to show up when the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual appeared. The coincidence is hard to dismiss.”

n

nLittle Zhou interrupted, “My Lord, I went to watch the challenge with Brother Xiao yesterday. The Scholastic Incubation Institute was thrashed really badly.”

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nShen Yiming was more well-informed.

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n“Don’t remind me! The principal of the Scholastic Incubation Institute received such a vicious scolding from His Majesty that his pathetic head almost shrank down into his pants.”

n

n“And then?” Little Zhou continued to probe.

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n“Today, it is Lunar Reflection Institute’s turn to compete with them. His Majesty has issued an inviolable order: only victory is allowed!”

n

nThe three of them looked at one another and felt that the outcome of this matter was not assured.

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n“It’s about to start. Let’s go over first,” Shen Yiming said.

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nAt the Lunar Reflection Institute,

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nthere were a lot more spectators this time. With three rings of people inside and three outside, the entire drill ground was filled with people.

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nEven the roof was not spared. Many people were standing on it.

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nThe three of them chose a spot with a wide view and joined the roof crowd.

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n“My Lord, do you think the Lunar Reflection Institute will win?” Little Zhou asked.

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n“We have to win!” Shen Yiming shot back without reservation.

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n“When the black market opened yesterday, I bet 100,000 taels on them winning. If I lose, I won’t be able to afford even the smallest drink possible in future.”

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nAt this moment,

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nthe men from both institutes took to the arena.

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nAll three Divine Sword Guards’ attention was transfixed on the battle ground.

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nXiao Ran narrowed his eyes. The middle-aged Daoist priest had previously used the Source Consuming Pearl to devour the Immense Righteous Energy of the Scholastic Incubation Institute. Now, he thought, he might as well return the favor.

n

nHe took out the Source Consuming Pearl and injected it with purifying spiritual force.

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nWith the Sanctifying Righteous Treasure Tome guiding it, the pearl began to proactively devour the Immense Righteous Energy of the Yin Incubation Institute representatives.

n

n“It really works.”

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nAfter obtaining the result he wanted, Xiao Ran no longer held back and released its full power.

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nBefore the Yin Incubation Institute student could attack, the Immense Righteous Energy on his body had already been absorbed by the Source Consuming Pearl.

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nIn fact, practically everyone from the Yin Incubation Institute had their Immense Righteous Energy absorbed.

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nThe battle began.

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nIn the end, Xiao Ran didn’t feel like talking anymore. What a painful sight it was that greeted his eyes!

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nHe had helped them secretly, but the Lunar Reflection Institute still lost. Three straight defeats, and this was after a large portion of the Immense Righteous Energy of the Yin Incubation Institute had been devoured.

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nThe difference in abilities was too stark. Even a student without any training would fare better than them.

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n“Complete trash!” Shen Yiming cursed out loud.

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n“My Lord, don’t be discouraged. There are still three more matches in the afternoon. They will definitely win then.” Little Zhou offered words of comfort.

n

nDuring the intermission,

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nin a residence arranged by the Lunar Reflection Institute for the Yin Incubation Institute,

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nthe higher-ups of the Yin Incubation Institute sat together with gloomy expressions.

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nThe Immense Righteous Energy in the three students who participated in the morning competition had been completely sucked dry. Even their foundation skills had been destroyed. Xiao Ran had been too ruthless when he returned the favor.

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n“What on earth is going on?” Zhao Jishan asked with an icy expression. He was the vice principal of the Yin Incubation Institute and the leader of the competition team this time.

n