"You are all utterly worthless!"
Xiao Yi's words plunged the training ground into a moment of silence.
Immediately afterward, the disciples erupted completely...
"Headmaster, I don't accept this!"
"On what basis can you say that about us?"
"We won't accept this..."
The crowd shouted in unison.
"You don't accept it?"
Xiao Yi scoffed, "Let me ask you, if you had encountered a life like Ruan Yunyi's, could you have endured until now?"
This question sent shivers down many spines.
His parents had died early, and the whole village treated him as a harbinger of doom, showering him with disdain!
The relative who had taken care of him passed away, and everyone saw him as a disaster that would bring bad luck, expelling him from the village, leaving him utterly alone to struggle for survival!
Seeking refuge among the various powers, he hit a wall everywhere...
He became the widely despised harbinger of death, with no one to take him in.
It could be said that the most miserable things one could experience in life had all happened to him.
Such a life could drive countless people to despair!
Some would even choose to end their own lives.
But Ruan Yunyi didn't! Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
He still lived tenaciously, supported himself with his own hands, and in order to change his fate, he failed again and again, but each time he stood up again, pursuing the Martial Tao that belonged to him.
"Ruan Yunyi's life is , yet he still persisted and made it to where he is today. Just for that, how many of you can compare?" Xiao Yi's voice was resonant, each word striking to the heart.
Everyone could not help but lower their heads, speechless.
They realized that if they had experienced these things, they would probably have already been crushed by the cruel reality.
How could they possibly be standing here?
Everyone's attitude towards Ruan Yunyi underwent a drastic change.
Xiao Yi, seeing this change, showed a gratified smile on his face.
"Since you've joined Xiaoshanhe Institute, as the headmaster, I should impart some words to you all!"
Xiao Yi, seeing everyone's gazes converging on him, coughed lightly twice, and then his vigorous voice echoed over the training ground like thunderous rolling thunder: "When the red sun rises, its path is brilliantly illuminated. The river flows from its source, rushing forth into a vast ocean."
Everyone felt a tingling sensation on their scalps.
It was as if an infinite ocean appeared before their eyes, with the red sun rising above it, casting half of the Azure Sea into a reddish hue.
"The hidden dragon soars from the abyss, phoenix claws take flight; tiger cubs roar in the valley, all beasts tremble in fright!"
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
One by one, the strong figures all raised their heads to look at Xiao Yi.
With fiery, resolute gazes, filled with the will to fight.
Hidden dragons, tiger cubs!
Weren't they, the disciples training in Xiaoshanhe Institute, just like the dragons from the abyss, tiger cubs among the mountains? Wait for the opportune moment, and hidden dragons will soar to the heavens; tiger cubs will climb high, roar over vast expanses, subdue a hundred beasts, and proclaim 'I alone am king'!
Isn't that speaking of them?
"Each young person has their own wildness!"
Xiao Yi's voice grew even more powerful, impassioned, each word striking, his speech cadenced and inspiring, lifting everyone's spirits, "With a backbone as sturdy as the mountains and rivers; daring to measure the sun and moon anew; today only I, the youth, can question; daring to test my edge against the heavens and earth!"
"Who can stand in my way as I push through thorns and thickets?"
"Let the world laugh, I will strengthen myself!"
"No matter what setbacks you have faced or are currently facing, as long as you aim for the light, do not forget your initial resolve, and strive towards your goals, one day you will surely achieve them! I hope that one day you can contend with the heavens and earth for years, vie with Myriad Paths for eternal life..."
Those words were like a drop of ice water splattering into boiling oil.
Atop the martial arts field.
One powerful individual after another reddened in the face and neck, their eyes blazing with a fiery combativeness.
Their gazes towards Xiao Yi were like those one would give to a deity!
Beyond their feverish veneration was a belief as firm as faith itself.
Those steadfast stares made Shadow Demon and Fu Yuan exchange looks, both swallowing hard and saying, "Worthy of the Institute's headmaster, just a few words were all it took to completely subdue these youngsters!"
"These words just now have even set this old man's blood boiling!" Fu Yuan also felt moved.
Youth is the time of blooming splendor.
It is also the age of harboring dreams and ambitions!
Which young man doesn't wish to transform into a dragon and soar to the skies?
Which young man doesn't desire to clear paths through brambles, unstoppable by any?
Xiao Yi had only used his battle achievements to command respect from these proud disciples.
Xiao Yi had truly become the idol and goal they worshipped and chased in their hearts, even a spiritual deity, and no one could shake Xiao Yi's place in their hearts.
"Excellent, the madness of youth is its own, the world laughs and I grow stronger on my own..."
Yang Ling approached with a face full of admiration and emotion, the words of praise coming from his lips.
Xiao Yi smiled and stepped forward, "Your Highness, what brings you here today?"
Yang Ling glanced at the people on the martial arts field and said, "May I have a word in private?"
Xiao Yi called over Shadow Demon and Fu Yuan, instructing, "I'll leave this place to you..." He paused, then pointed at Xiao Yun, "Senior Fu, let that fellow called Xiao Yun follow your tutelage for now!"
The two nodded in agreement to take on the task and then bowed their hands to Yang Ling.
Xiao Yi led Yang Ling back to the private courtyard.
Yang Ling began, "My visit is mainly for two matters. The first is that Father Emperor told me to inform you that he has been communicating with the National Guardian Beast Ironwing Chi Dragon, and you should be able to meet with it in the next few days. The second matter, I hope you can accompany me to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect!"
Emperor Qian had promised Xiao Yi the encounter with the Ironwing Chi Dragon long ago.
That didn't surprise Xiao Yi.
But for Yang Ling to ask him to go to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect?
Xiao Yi asked with curiosity, "The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect? What for?"
The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect was renowned for beast taming, and many of the beasts in the Great Qian Dynasty's army were subdued and provided by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.
Yang Ling spoke gravely, "The ancestral worship ceremony is about to begin... You should know that within the ceremony, there is a literary tribute, and this year's tribute will determine the winner between me and the elder prince!"
The ancestral worship ceremony is divided into literary, martial, and the final heaven worship tributes.
The literary tribute is where all the major powers present their prepared offerings upon the altar, and the most valuable amongst them wins lavish rewards.
And this particular ceremony is quite special.
There are rumors that Emperor Qian will choose the next Crown Prince during this ceremony, and anyone who shines there would surely earn extra points in the battle for succession.
Yang Ling and Crown Prince Yang Kun are the two princes currently most likely to vie for the Crown Prince title under Emperor Qian.
Without exaggeration...
This literary tribute will decide the outcome between the two, and the victor stands a great chance to claim the Crown Prince's position.
Yang Ling continued, "The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has a peak sixth-tier demonic beast, a Mo Jiao that's said to have acquired a strange illness, with little time left to live. The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has put out a call that whoever can cure the Mo Jiao can make any request of them. I know you understand the art of alchemy and I hope you can accompany me on this trip..."
Ten years to be a snake, a hundred to be a python, a thousand to be a Jiao, ten thousand to turn into a dragon.
This Mo Jiao is an extremely powerful and precious demonic beast.
And then borrowed to present as an offering at the literary tribute.
The Crown Prince's seat would be as good as his.
Facing Yang Ling's request, Xiao Yi pondered for a moment; this Mo Jiao was indeed powerful, and since he himself did not have a Martial Tao Skill visualization object yet, a visit wouldn't hurt, he then nodded in agreement, "Alright, I'll go with you!"