NOVPUB"The academy has assigned a student to come here, let me bring him over."
Li Menghe spoke and pushed Xu Zimei forward, smiling as he introduced, "Meet your new junior disciple, Xu Zimei.
This is Venerable Nu’s direct disciple, Shi Jian."
"Hello, Senior Brother Shi," Xu Zimei also greeted him following local customs.
"Junior Brother Xu," the burly youth Shi Jian paused for a moment.
Then he asked, "Recommended by the academy? Does the master know?"
"He should know," Li Menghe nodded.
"Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let me bring him over."
"Then you guys wait here for a bit, I’ll go and report to the master," Shi Jian hurriedly replied.
Watching Shi Jian’s retreating figure heading deeper, Li Menghe explained,
"Shi Jian is the last disciple Venerable Nu took in one hundred years ago.
He personally likes blacksmithing and is usually gentle-natured.
But if disturbed while blacksmithing, he can become particularly irritable."
"That’s why you just waited for more than ten minutes and didn’t disturb him," Xu Zimei nodded as he spoke.
"Mm, if you have any questions while you’re here, feel free to find me," Li Menghe said.
"Thank you, Senior Sister," Xu Zimei smiled.
"We’re all from the same academy, no need for thanks," Li Menghe waved her hand.
"This is to remind you to remember the goodness of the academy in the future and not be ungrateful."
Xu Zimei always felt that there was more to her words but didn’t ask anything more.
Before long, Shi Jian rushed back.
His expression seemed troubled.
"What’s wrong?" Li Menghe asked.
"The master said he doesn’t want to see you," Shi Jian hesitated as he replied.
"But he didn’t outright ask you to leave."
"Then what should we do, should I go back and talk to the academy again?" Li Menghe frowned as she replied.
"Don’t misunderstand, the master is just like that," Shi Jian quickly explained.
"I think we should let Junior Brother Xu stay on Vermilion Bird Island for now, and later I can gradually introduce him to the master."
"That seems to be the only option," Li Menghe looked at Xu Zimei and asked, "Is that okay?"
"I don’t mind, I’m not expecting anyone to teach me anything," Xu Zimei shrugged.
"Alright then, come find me if you need anything, I’ll be in Bamboo Cloud Forest," Li Menghe said.
"I’ll go back and report."
After saying goodbye to Li Menghe, Shi Jian turned to Xu Zimei and said, "Junior Brother Xu, I’ll take you to where you’ll be staying."
Xu Zimei nodded.
Within Vermilion Bird Island, there is a valley.
The valley bloomed with flowers, a vibrant red.
It housed many caves.
"Junior brother, pick a cave for yourself," Shi Jian said.
"You can choose any of the ones that are available."
"Senior Brother Shi, one thing I’ve been wondering along the way, why haven’t we seen a single creature on Vermilion Bird Island?" Xu Zimei voiced his inner doubts.
"This is where the Vermilion Bird fell. Firstly, its majestic presence is too strong, and no creatures dare approach.
Secondly, the master enjoys peace and does not want to be disturbed," Shi Jian explained.
"I see," Xu Zimei nodded.
He casually found a cave in the valley.
The environment here was quite good, rich in Spiritual Energy, and the scenery was beautiful too.
However, Xu Zimei’s target was focused on the Nine-Bend Godly Flames.
He looked at Shi Jian and asked, "I heard from Senior Sister Li Mengru that Senior Brother Shi’s favorite thing is blacksmithing."
"Yes," Shi Jian’s expression was invigorated as he eagerly replied.
"Watching each weapon and armor being completed in my own hands, that sense of accomplishment is really great.
I also hope that years later, others will hold the weapons I forged and see them as an honor."
"Senior Brother, is the flame you use for forging the Southern Luminous Flame?" Xu Zimei asked.
"Yes, because of Master’s relationship, the Southern Luminous Flames on Vermilion Bird Island are very familiar, so they are handy to use," Shi Jian nodded.
"But as far as I know, the best flame for forging weapons seems to be the Nine-Bend Godly Flames," Xu Zimei asked tentatively.
"Why don’t you go get it?"
"Xu Zimei, you have just come to the academy, there may be some things you do not know yet," Shi Jian said with a smile.
"Indeed, I also dream of possessing the Nine-Bend Godly Flames.
But these Divine Flames are not something anyone can have just by wanting them."
"What do you mean by that?" Xu Zimei asked curiously.
"The Nine-Bend Godly Flames were originally possessed by an ancestor of the academy, Ancestor Koudan.
After Ancestor Koudan’s fall, he left the Divine Fire within the academy," Shi Jian explained.
"Only those who make outstanding contributions to the academy can possess the Divine Fire."
"There is such a rule," Xu Zimei frowned slightly.
"In our Heavenly Dao Academy, there is a Hundred Treasures Pavilion that stores many treasures.
From the Wild Desolation era to today, it can be said to be an unimaginable wealth," Shi Jian nodded.
"Those who contribute to the academy can enter the Hundred Treasures Pavilion once and take out one item.
And that Nine-Bend Godly Flames is kept in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."
"I understand," Xu Zimei nodded.
He was about to ask more about the Hundred Treasures Pavilion when suddenly a thunderous "boom" sound came from the firmament.
He looked up and saw, at this moment, the sky above the Heavenly Dao Academy was changing.
Countless Spiritual Energy was condensing and raging.
A giant hand pierced through the thick clouds and tore a gap in the firmament.
"What’s happening?" Xu Zimei asked in confusion.
"I don’t know," Shi Jian’s face changed slightly, shaking his head.
With the appearance of this hand from the void, the whole Heavenly Dao Academy was thrown into chaos.
Both students and teachers looked up.
A light yell came from deep within the academy.
"Who dares to intrude upon the Heavenly Dao Academy?"
Then Li Changhe appeared, dressed in a white robe, his white hair flowing, with an extraordinary temperament, walking on air.
"Brother Changhe, we meet again," a light laughter sounded from the void.
Then, from the tear that the giant hand had made, a ghostly figure emerged.
The figure was transparent and indistinct.
But a vast and overwhelming aura emanated from him.
The whole Heavenly Dao Academy was enveloped in it, and everyone could feel the coming oppression.
"Daring to come to our Heavenly Dao Academy, why play the coward now?" Li Changhe said sarcastically.
"Brother Changhe, do not be angry," the voice said.
"In seven days, you will meet me and my companions."
"Then let’s talk in seven days. What do you want now? To show off your power?" Li Changhe snorted coldly.
"I am only reminiscing about the past, trying to persuade you and these children,"
"To leave the Heavenly Dao Academy, to leave Heavenly Dao City as soon as possible, otherwise in seven days when we descend,
blood will flow into rivers."
"Courting death," Li Changhe shouted.
His horsetail whisk turned into a streak of white light, carrying a formidable force, and struck toward the ghostly figure.
"Brother, there’s no need to be so agitated; we’ll meet again."
Accompanied by a burst of laughter, everything was annihilated in the white light.
And once again, the firmament returned to calm.
