Seeing the demonborn girls indignant and depressed left Wang Qi with a wry smile and something to reflect on.
[Can I keep my cool if I face a defecting ancient cultivator in the modern system?]
After modern cultivation society culled the demons in the nine Demon Kings’ period, demons learned restraint. The Immortal Alliance proudly declared, “No beast shall awaken without approval now!” Under these circumstances, the Immortal Alliance took in those demons that played by their rules. This did not erase generations upon generations of human and demon slaughters. If the two sides learned to coexist, humanity could alleviate the centuries-long hatred. But out there, at sea, humans and demons were still at odds.
Despite the current age’s cultivation being a hundred times stronger than in ancient times, random demon raids still occurred, and the enmity towards demons and demonborn within some areas of the Immortal Alliance held strong.
What trumped the human and demon conflict was the total animosity between ancient and modern cultivators. Ancient cultivation’s slogan was ‘take what you can and give nothing back,’ while the modern system was all about ‘sharing, borrowing, and coexistence.’ Ancient cultivation eroded the world and was in direct opposition to the modern system’s core principles. There was no room for negotiation.
The Immortal Alliance’s strikes at demons and ancient cultivators were all within their rights.
Coupled with the deep grudge against each other, nothing was there to stop the ongoing process.
[But what guarantee is there that the same feelings won’t transfer to the Immortal Alliance’s defectors?]
Having gone through something similar, Wang Qi sympathized with Yang Jun, dissolving the initial malice. The event also brought contempt for him.
He despised weak wills.
[Revenge is fine, and so is taking out your anger on someone.] Wang Qi discovered he would also be tempted to lash out at an ancient cultivator in front of him, Imperial Celestial Rift Sect or not. But taking it out on those on the same side was crossing the line.
The incident ruined the group’s mood as they solved the rest of the topics, rushing to finish dinner.
The trio walked out of the mess hall. Wang Qi wanted to go to his room and review the Gottingen Collection, while Mao Zimiao and Wang Zhenqi were going to look for a Foundation Establishment teaching assistant by the name of Ai to help them with the test topics.
As they were about to separate, Mao Zimiao leaned forward. “Little Qi, what’s bothering you, nya?”
The demonborn girl’s hair glowed in the setting sun. Wang Qi replied, “Am I that bothered?”
“Are you worried about me, us, nya?”
The girl was thrilled but was quick to change her wording to cover it up.
[Eh? Are you takeing it for mutual love?]
Wang Qi huffed and walked to his dorm.
Wang Zhenqi’s voice came from behind. “Aw~, Ah’Miao, he’s shy, wan.”
[What is wrong with these demonborn girls?]
The martial test began the next day.
Before it did, the disciples were split into two groups: Qi Refining Realm and no cultivation. Qi Refining disciples needed a wider area for their arts. The teacher used his spiritual power to fly them all to the arena on the northern slope of Argent Mountain. Su Junyu, Xiang Qi, and other elite Foundation Establishment teaching assistants acted as proctors and judges. The disciples without cultivation stayed on the Immortal Institute’s training grounds.
They were lined according to their dorm this time as well.
Wu Fan looked more down than yesterday morning when the writing test began. His eyes were heavy and dark, and he couldn’t even stand straight. Wu Fan kicked him. “Hey, is this how you plan on taking the martial test?”
Wu Fan lost all nerve in talking to Wang Qi, but he noticed that despite the kick, Wang Qi bore no grudge. He knew Wang Qi’s personality, which didn’t stick to norms when it came to his friends. He heard of Wang Qi’s meeting with Mao Zimiao being anything but polite, yet he was courteous with Du Bin. Wu Fan said, “I can take it. It was from handling Yang Jun at the Behavioral Office. Wang Qi, yesterday…”
Wang Qi raised his hand. “You don’t have to say it. It’s your friend who needs to speak with Zimiao.”
The serious way he said ‘your friend’ went without question as to his meaning.
Wu Fan didn’t count on Yang Jun and Wang Qi becoming friends, nodding.
Wang Qi pushed Wu Fan. “I get that you needed to review for the written test, but the marital one as well? In this case, isn’t mindset better than familiarizing oneself with the moves?”
Wu Fan said, “Shiqin’s treatment of Yang Jun… got to me. I find him so sad and can’t help worrying.”
“It’s fine, just stirring trouble.” Wang Qi said one thing while giving Wu Shiqin a mental thumbs up.
Wu Fan said, “Anyway, after much effort, Yang Jun was able to take the martial test, but is under escort from a Behavioral Office’s teaching assistant. For the next few days, he will be under careful watch of the Behavioral Office.” The most update n0vels are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝕟𝕖𝕥
Wang Qi huffed. He didn’t like the topic and changed it. “What do you think of the martial test?”
“Wang Qi, a month ago, you killed an Accretion demon. Winning can’t be harder.”
“Oh, you.” Wang Qi faked modesty, basking in the praise.
Wu Fan added, “After the research trial last month, Shiqin worked hard these weeks on the Celestial Element Series and is sure to have made great progress.”
“I never got to spar with her this month.”
The two turned toward the mocking freshman from yesterday.
Wang Qi smiled in anger. “Haven’t you been humiliated enough yesterday?”
The ‘humiliated’ guy retorted, “You’re one to talk, being last to finish the exam.”
Wang Qi raged, wishing to tear into him.
To avoid the written test results affecting the martial test, the Immortal Institute would release them after the martial test was over. Wang Qi had no comeback.
The guy kept pushing it. “Killing an Accretion demon? Ha-ha, who are you trying to fool with your boasting? You’re an early Qi Refining cultivator, and you talk about killing an Accretion demon without a developed magical art? Then there’s that disciplinary officer, Wu, a genius who achieved Reaching Heaven before entering the Immortal Institute. Hardly any of her peers can take her hits, yet you fought her?”
Wu Fan rushed to calm Wang Qi down, his tone light. “Brother, which cultivator has the highest chance of winning?”
The guy was smug. “If there’s anyone I’d put stock in, that would be the divine capital’s Du clan’s disciple, Du Bin.”
[Oh my, the Doberman was of such stock?]
Wang Qi was intrigued.
[The obvious worthless stock painted itself as a good investment? What is he, Warren Buffet of this world?] (Tamon: a renowned American investor.)
Zhen Chanzi snorted in his ring. “I saw through him from the start.”