A few unruly Martial World guests spoke in a crude manner, yet their words resonated with the noble family's sons.
"It seems we should return to the Academy to rest. If our families inquire, we can still save face."
"Have you forgotten? The Academy was already sealed the other day, and it was a direct order from the Third Master. No entry or exit is allowed..."
"Ah? What should we do now?"
Hearing their words, a curious Martial World guest nearby asked, "Is the Kyoto Academy also sealed? It can't be like Wuliang Mountain, sealed for a hundred years, right?"
The noble sons studying at Kyoto Academy flushed with anger and exclaimed:
"The sealing of Wuliang Mountain was the doing of the Heroic Marquis, involving disputes among the Taoists and issues within Wuliang Mountain itself."
"As for the closure of our Kyoto Academy, it's because..."
The noble sons exchanged looks, hesitated, and said:
"The Great Master had poor judgment in people. The disciple he taught was caught in the Academy's Book Storage Tower with three female scholars..."
Saying this, he gestured a very vulgar hand sign, cursing with an unpleasant expression:
"I never thought Senior Brother Wang Yang would be such a disgrace, completely tarnishing the reputation of our Kyoto Academy!"
"It's not just the Academy; the Great Master is probably the saddest. He valued Senior Brother Wang Yang highly, but unfortunately..."
"What's unfortunate? Fortunately, it was discovered in time, or else who knows what trouble Senior Brother Wang Yang might have caused at the Academy."
"Now, the Holy Emperor has already imprisoned Senior Brother Wang Yang in the Heavenly Prison. Even if he's not executed, he likely won't be allowed to participate in that grand event."
After understanding the reason, the Martial World guests wanted to laugh but, upon seeing the nearby painted boats, could only sigh and say:
"Kyoto Academy's esteemed disciple is also a fellow Daoist..."
"What nonsense, the person involved with him was a female scholar, all daughters from noble families of Kyoto Prefecture, incomparable to the women we embraced last night."
"True... but I'm very curious, why did Wang Yang, ranked first on the 'Heaven's Chosen List · Earth List,' degrade himself ?"
At the mention, the noble sons showed a complex expression and sighed with ambiguous meaning:
"It's fate. Senior Brother Wang Yang had a conflict with Lord Heroic at Duke Jingye Mansion's congratulation event and was suppressed by him..."
"You don't know; when Senior Brother Dong An brought him back to the Academy, his bones, meridians, and flesh were nearly shattered."
"If not for his profound cultivation, and the Vast Energy sustaining his breath, he might have died on the way back."
"Fortunately, the Great Master intervened and saved him, but unexpectedly, he fell into a depression."
The Martial World guests exchanged glances and could only say, "Lord Heroic's Sword Dao is indeed unmatched by ordinary prodigies."
"Indeed, who else but Senior Brother Wang Yang would dare provoke Lord Heroic so recklessly..." The noble son lowered his voice, as if realizing something, and continued:
"There's something else that might explain his actions."
"I heard others say that Senior Brother Wang Yang seemed to have his eyes on a fairy from the Grand Void Sect, hence he rashly offended Lord Heroic."
"A fairy? Which one?" The Martial World guests looked at him with curiosity.
"The highest-ranking one," the noble son raised a finger, pointing to the sky:
"She is supposedly called Hua Xianzi, said to be the second most beautiful among the 'Ten Taoist Immortals'..."
"Hua Xianzi? Wow... I must say, your Senior Brother really has a death wish!"
A Martial World guest widened his eyes and said, "Previously, when Lord Heroic went to the Southern Barbarian Secret Realm, Hua Xianzi accompanied him."
"I heard from those who narrowly escaped from there that Lord Heroic and Hua Xianzi were a match made in heaven..."
Wang Yang had his eyes on Immortal Sister Hua?
Upon hearing the conversation by Qu Pond, Chen Yi frowned slightly, his gaze growing colder.
No wonder Wang Yang dared to speak rudely to him at Duke Jingye Mansion earlier; the root was here...
Ha, truly courting death!
At this moment, three consecutive bell chimes echoed as the pure white doors of Dakong Temple creaked open.
Two young monks in light gray robes walked out, each holding a broom.
After stepping out, they silently swept the fallen leaves and dust outside the temple.
Chen Yi glanced at them and leaned against a tree not far from the entrance, waiting for the people from Yuhua Immortal Sect.
Ye Ningxiu, clad in a dazzling Daoist robe, followed a middle-aged Daoist of Yuhua Immortal Sect, appearing successively.
The two young monks saw this, placed a single hand on their chest, slightly bowed their heads, and said:
"If the two benefactors wish to offer incense to Buddha, please come again after one hour."
Ye Ningxiu stepped forward and said calmly, "I am Ye Ningxiu of Yuhua Immortal Sect, here with my Senior Brother to visit Master Kongjing of Dakong Temple and hope to be announced."
The young monk paused, looked up at them, and asked suspiciously:
Ye Ningxiu turned around and noticed a young man in a cyan robe, with a longsword and a wine gourd at his waist, standing behind them.
"He... he's not with us. The young monk need not pay attention."
The middle-aged Daoist in a dazzling robe hesitated for a moment, turned around, and lightly furrowed his brow.
Despite the proximity, he hadn't noticed this person's arrival...
"I am Lu Xiaofeng. I previously agreed with Brother Lu Fang to come and watch the sparring... Are you two Daoists seniors from Brother Lu Fang's sect?"
Chen Yi smiled at Ye Ningxiu and the other, gesturing courteously.
Since I've stated it this way, do you have the heart not to take me inside with you?