Chapter 210
“Amitabha!The nun had rosy lips and white teeth, draped in a cassock and wearing a magistrate cap, appearing only twelve or thirteen years old, yet seeming to have experienced the vicissitudes of life and seen through the mundane world. She pressed her palms together, recited a Buddhist chant, and without answering, turned to leave.
“Hey… Little Daoist Nun, don’t go! You must be from the West, right? Since you’re new to the Eastern Pole and unfamiliar with the place, why not accompany me?”
“There’s no need for courtesy, benefactor. I am not accustomed to being followed by unfamiliar men; I hope you can understand.”
The nun hurried her steps, wearing an expression that suggested she wanted to avoid him.
“Isn’t Little Daoist Nun a person from beyond the world? Is there really such a taboo? I merely wish to discuss the Dao with you…”
He had only spoken halfway when two women radiating powerful auras suddenly blocked the nun’s path.
Seeing the imposing presence of the two women, the male cultivator felt a twinge of fear and forced himself to remain calm, saying, “I have matters to attend to, so I won’t disturb you two friends any longer. Farewell!”
Before he finished speaking, he quickly turned and fled.
After driving away the nuisance, the nun pressed her palms together and smiled, “Amitabha, thank you, two Bodhisattvas, for driving that man away!”
Ye Ruoshui, who was straightforward, said, “Little Daoist Nun, I see your strength far surpasses his. Why didn’t you just drive him away instead of tolerating him?”
“Ruoshui!”
Lin Wanqiu raised her voice.
“Ah! I misspoke…”
Ye Ruoshui looked apologetic.
“It’s alright.” The nun smiled gently, “I am like dew, inheriting the Glazed Pure Land of Great Bodhi Mountain. You two Bodhisattvas can simply call me Ru, no need for formality.”
“As for why I didn’t drive that man away… it is a secret of cultivation, difficult to explain in detail. I hope you two can forgive me!”
“Little Daoist Nun Ru need not take it to heart. I asked without thinking, and I apologize for my rudeness!”
Ye Ruoshui said apologetically.
“Since Little Daoist Nun is unfamiliar with the Eastern Pole, why not temporarily join us? Although we are from the Eastern Pole, we hail from the Southern Region, which is on the fringes of the Eastern Pole and not well-regarded.”
Lin Wanqiu sincerely suggested.
Upon hearing this, Ru’s expression paused, murmuring, “Southern Region…”
“Do you know of the Southern Region, Little Daoist Nun Ru?” Lin Wanqiu asked.
Ru felt a bitterness in her heart.
How could she not know?
After her birth, her first destination was the Southern Region.
Before that, she thought that all beings were inclined towards goodness, and saving them was not difficult.
Afterward, she understood that all beings suffer, all beings are evil, and saving them is a challenge!
In contrast, the beautiful sister she met after her birth was indeed a person of genuine goodness.
Gathering her thoughts, Ru said softly, “I have traveled in the Southern Region and know a thing or two.”
Upon hearing that Ru had been to the Southern Region, Ye Ruoshui became slightly excited. As they were out in the world, encountering someone to talk to, she began to speak animatedly.
Ru listened quietly while also observing Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu, feeling a shock in her heart.
She had originally thought herself to be exceptionally gifted, but upon seeing Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu’s talents, she realized how limited her perspective had been.
The two women were different from her; they did not conceal their auras, and their peak cultivation in the Spirit Seed Realm was unmistakable.
She had clearly seen the rankings of the trial tower earlier.
One ranked seventh, the other eighth; looking across the entire Eastern Pole, aside from a few geniuses, they had nearly trampled the entire younger generation underfoot!
And these two astonishingly talented women both hailed from the Southern Region.
Moreover, they came from the same nation!
The Great Xia!
Having spent some time in the Southern Region, Ru naturally knew of the Great Xia.
Of course, she also knew the name of Princess Xiao.
Undoubtedly the number one in the Southern Region.
After leaving the secret realm of Tianfu, she had departed from the Southern Region, so she was unaware of the events that transpired afterward; otherwise, she would have been even more astonished.
Now, learning from Ye Ruoshui that Princess Xiao had slain a true demon in the Transformation Realm, she was instantly shocked.
But recalling that Princess Xiao had secured the first place in the trial tower, it didn’t seem so shocking anymore.
After all, geniuses should do genius things.
Seeing the astonished expression on Ru’s face, Ye and Lin felt a sense of pride.
After all, as companions of Xiao Minghuang, they naturally shared in her glory and disgrace.
As time passed, it was their turn to take the stage for the competition.
“Big Sister Lin, you must do your best! Don’t get eliminated in the first round!”
“Hehe… I should be the one saying that! Little Ruoshui, don’t let your guard down in battle; be careful not to get hurt!”
Before stepping onto the stage, Lin Wanqiu and Ye Ruoshui exchanged words of encouragement.
Then, they shared a knowing glance before turning to leave.
Ru felt somewhat confused by their words.
She wasn’t foolish; she could tell that their conversation was laced with barbs.
But how had the two, who had just been so cheerful, suddenly turned to such a tone?
Was there some entanglement she was unaware of?
“Forget it, I’m just here to train in the Holy Academy. Once I obtain the promised item, I will return to the West. Their disputes have nothing to do with me.”
Ru sighed inwardly, her pupils filled with regret. She had thought she could save all beings, but now it seemed like nothing more than a fleeting dream.
She needed to focus on reality and prioritize her strength.
Soon, she stepped onto the arena.
…
The competition progressed quickly; after seven days, the top eight were determined.
The finalists were Jian Chen, Qi Mingdao, Lin Tianyang, Ye Ruoshui, Qi Wangshu, Lin Wanqiu, Ru, and Han Li.
Seven of the eight finalists were ranked among the top hundred in the trial tower, with only the last one having briefly entered the top hundred before being pushed out again, but this was enough to prove his strength.
Thus, the notion that the rankings in the trial tower reflected the final rankings of the entrance trials was not without merit.
Notably, Su Changge, who had originally ranked fourth in the trial tower, unexpectedly lost to Han Li, who was outside the top hundred.
“It seems that this year’s dark horse, aside from Princess Xiao, is this Han Li!”
“Princess Xiao appears invincible from the start, but Han Li has risen in adversity, seeming to possess greater resilience!”
“Smooth sailing is easy; when faced with difficulties, it’s easy for one’s resolve to falter. A hundred battles and a hundred defeats, a hundred defeats and a hundred battles—that is the heart of a true warrior!”
The discussions around her reached Ye Ruoshui’s ears, and she felt indignant. Failing repeatedly and winning occasionally was considered the heart of a warrior? An invincible stance winning every battle was deemed easy to break?
What kind of reasoning was that?
“Hmph! Han Li, is it? I see you!”
Ye Ruoshui’s gaze sharpened as she looked toward a distant arena, noticing an unremarkable figure in a white robe blending into the crowd.
The eight finalists advanced, and Han Li quickly jumped off the stage, concealing his aura, appearing no different from an ordinary cultivator.
In this battle, he had expended some of his resources but successfully defeated the renowned scion Su Changge.
The fame that came from this, he didn’t care about; or rather, it felt more like a nuisance.
But the rewards from the Holy Academy were of utmost importance to him.
What did you think of this chapter?
0 reactions
Discussion
0 comments
No comments yet.