Chapter 55: Taking Unfair Advantage?

  Sun Yan nodded and said: "Right, I and Ping Qing are both from the ordinary department. You guys go ahead first, let's meet again once we arrive at school."

  Long Ping'an and Ge Lin stared at each other in disbelief, both finding it hard to believe that this young man could drag the corpse of a whip-tailed alligator into battle, weighing thousands of kilograms, yet lift it with ease. How could such a young martial artist possibly be an ordinary member of the army?

  Looking at the two of Sun Yan walking to the right, the gray-haired youth also showed a look of surprise, and then smiled: "Xu Xuyao, it seems that this year you have also come to the ordinary department with very powerful new students."

  Sun Yan and Shui Lian Qing walked to the right side of the exit, smiled and bowed, "Hello senior, I'm freshman Sun Yan."

  "Hello seniors, I'm new student Shui Lian Qing here to report."

  The young man with a hawk-like nose looked gloomy, staring at Sun Yan and the others, saying in a low voice: "Hmph! Without relying on your own strength, relying on the help of the newly-born elite department, you two are like this through Wanda Mountain?"

  One sentence made Sun Yan's eyes widen in shock, and Shui Lian was stunned and at a loss. Across from them, Feng Ling Xue and the others also turned to look over.

  Sister, this hook-nosed bastard doesn't seem like a good guy.

  Sun Yan cursed in his heart, and Shui Lian Qing hurriedly stepped forward and saluted again: "Senior, I was able to pass through Wanda Mountain with the help of my elite department classmates. However, Sun Yan... relied on himself..."

  She hadn't finished speaking when Sun Yan pulled her back and stopped her.

  Raising his head, Sun Yan revealed a shy smile and said: "This senior, we indeed relied on the help of several classmates from the elite department to successfully pass through Wàn Dào Shān. However, in the previous explanation, it wasn't specified that we couldn't do it this way. Regardless of the process, the result is that we reached the exit, isn't it?"

  Although these words were spoken in a gentle tone, they were actually veiled with sarcasm.

  The young man with the eagle nose grew increasingly somber, his cold smile unrelenting as he said indifferently, "Very good, every year there are quite a few newcomers who can talk. I didn't expect that you, my junior fellow disciple, would have such sharp teeth."

  Sun Yan smiled with his eyes narrowed, his expression becoming even more respectful. "Thank you for the compliment, senior. You're overpraising me."

  Across from him, the gray-haired youth watched all of this with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth: "This newcomer is quite interesting! No matter how I look at it, I feel like he's very similar to that Feng Yan guy. If these two were to meet, they'd probably really hit it off. But what's strange is that this newcomer is from the ordinary department..."

  At this time, another young figure emerged from the shadows of the forest in front.

  This young man was extremely handsome, with a hint of evil intention in his smile. He was Qiu Shanlin, who had just been involved in an altercation at the registration site. After some emergency treatment, he was completely unscathed, except for some remaining red marks on his face.

  He darted out of the woods, and Qiushan Lin rushed straight towards the young man with a hooked nose. When he arrived in front of him, he bowed respectfully and said, "Hello senior, I'm Qiushan Lin, a freshman from the ordinary department."

  The young man with the eagle nose no longer paid attention to Sun Yan and the others, gazing at Qiu Shanlin, a hint of a smile on his face, nodding: "Alright, I am sophomore Xu Xuyao."

  "Hello, Dean Xiaoyao."

  Qiu Shanlin enthusiastically waved his hand, his eyes scanning towards Sun Yan beside him, a hint of resentment flashing in his gaze.

  Xu Xuyao turned his head, looking at Sun Yan with disdain: "Look at this newcomer. Relying on one's own strength to pass the wilderness test outside Wandaoshan is what makes a qualified student of Emperor Feng Academy. As students of the number one prestigious school, if we can't even do something like this without resorting to trickery, wouldn't that be laughable?"

  He paused, and then said in a serious tone: "In the path of martial arts, if you rely too much on external forces, even if your talent is exceptional, you will be like a rootless water lily, unable to achieve great success. Moreover, you have not entered the elite department, but are a member of our ordinary department. This shows that even if you are a genius, there are still limitations. Young man, do not try to take shortcuts or follow evil paths, it will only harm yourself and others."

  Upon hearing this, Sun's smile remained unchanged on his face, but a hint of coldness seeped through.

  Qiu Shanlin applauded and exclaimed: "Well said, well said. Xue Yao's words are as precious as gold and jade, I have benefited a lot from them."

  Xu Xuyao nodded slightly and said, "Although in terms of time, the top two students from the ordinary department are new students Sun Yan and Shui Lianqing, who ranked first and second. However, there are always exceptions to everything. You relied on the help of elite department freshmen to pass through Wanda Mountain smoothly. If I report this to the student council of the ordinary department, I'm afraid there will be quite severe punishment."

  Shui Lian heard the words and couldn't help but feel anxious, she didn't mind being punished, but if Sun Yan was implicated because of this, then she would really be unable to rest easy.

  Just as he was about to make excuses, Sun Yan stopped him. The young man looked up and smiled: "Senior Xu Xiangyao seems like a broad-minded person, and won't bother with us freshmen, right?"

  "Hmm, you're quite discerning. Xǔ Xiǎo Yáo raised his chin and said calmly: 'I won't treat you like those newcomers, but I also can't just sit back and watch unfair things happen.'"

  "In light of this event, I declare that the first place in the Wanshan Mountain Wilderness Speed Ordinary Division is won by Qiu Shanlin. As for you two newcomers, I will also show leniency, and your rankings in the wilderness speed competition are ninth and tenth, respectively. You will still be awarded 10 academic credits."

  Then, Xu Xuyao put on the identity of a senior student and solemnly warned: "This time, I hope you will take it as a warning. In the future, there may not be someone like me to protect you."

  After finishing speaking, he took out the instrument and scanned Sun Yan and the three of them, recording their student numbers and names.

  Ordinary Department First Place: Qiu Shanlin.

  ……

  Ordinary Department Ninth Place: Shui Lian Qing.

  Ordinary Department Tenth Place: Sun Yan.

  "Alright, this doesn't concern you two, hurry up and head through the mountain pass exit to report to the academy." Xu Xueyao waved his hand, saying it like he was shooing away flies.

  Qiu Shanlin said enthusiastically: "I'll stay here and accompany Xu Yao Xian Sheng to learn more and observe for a while."

  "Hmm, your attitude is what a true student of Imperial Wind should have." Xu Xuyao nodded slowly in approval.

  Sun Yan pulled along a blushing Shui Lian Qing, smiling to signal the girl to calm down, and the two quickly walked towards the exit passage.

  Across from them, Chen Wang and the others looked indignant, Long Ping'an muttered under his breath: "How dare that hooked-nose guy speak like that? It's clear we only made it out of the maze because of that little brat."

  Glein's face was clouded with anger and he said sternly: "No way, I'm going over there to clear things up."

  At this time, the gray-haired youth swung his hand casually, and a formless aura appeared in front of Green, making it difficult for him to move forward.

  Green stared in shock, this senior's strength was indeed formidable, but this behavior also made him even angrier.

  "Senior, is this how the Imperial Wind Academy handles things?" Green angrily asked.

  The grey-haired youth said calmly: "Listen up, the first thing to learn at Emperor Wind Academy is that the Elite Department and Ordinary Department are forever separate like well water and river water. Do you understand?"

  "But..."

  "There's no 'but'." The grey-haired youth pointed to the mountain path behind him, "See that white line? On the left is the road for the Elite Department, and on the right is the road for ordinary students. They are clearly separated."

  "The Elite Department's three courts can never interfere with the affairs of the ordinary department. This is a rule that cannot be violated."

  Jiang Longping and Ge Lin were still gritting their teeth, when Feng Lingxue laughed lightly and said: "You don't need to worry, Ah Yan doesn't need anyone's help."

  The grey-haired youth was stunned, turned his head and gazed at Sun Yan's back, muttering to himself: "In the path of martial arts, if one relies too heavily on external forces, even with great innate talent, it is like a rootless duckweed, unable to achieve greatness. This is indeed the ultimate principle of martial arts. However, your Yuan power, Xu Xiangyang, was purely enhanced by genetic strengthening fluids, a gilded exterior with a rotten interior... for you to say this, is truly laughable to the extreme."

  Then, the gray-haired young man's voice sank even lower, "The Imperial Wind Permitted Family controls the Ordinary Department, with one hand covering the sky, having both advantages and disadvantages. However, this family has become more and more corrupt, and the entire Ordinary Department is now shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere. Why would Director Lin Xinghe sit idly by and allow such a situation to occur? Is it that Principal Lin intentionally turned a blind eye?"

  At this time, another figure emerged from the shade of the trees in front. The young man was expressionless, with sharp eyebrows and eyes like knives, standing at the exit of the mountain path for a while, then walking straight towards Xu Xiangyang.

  "Rebirth, Lin Tianwang."

  The grey-haired youth stroked his chin and muttered: "It seems that this year's ordinary department won't be too peaceful."

  ……

  At the exit of the mountain path, there were only two people, Sun Yan and Shui Lian Qing. The girl puffed out her cheeks, with a look of lingering anger.

  That shy and angry lovely appearance, made Sun Yan shake his head helplessly. In the three years at Nan Ying College, Shui Lian Qing had always been the focus of attention from teachers and students alike, this kind of thing was probably encountered for the first time.

  "What's wrong? Water Beauty, we've all got our credits, why are you still angry? Be careful not to wrinkle your face." Sun Yan smiled and said.

  The water curtain Qing Xuan's eyebrows were upside down, and she said angrily: "How can I not be angry? Since the rules say who arrives at the mountain pass first, then Ah Yan should be the first in the ordinary department. What right does he have to say that you relied on others for help? Does that senior have any evidence?"

  All along, Shui Lian Qing has been a good student. This kind of thing, she really encountered for the first time, and it also had a great impact on her previous concept.

  Sun Yan was taken aback and lost his smile, he leaned in close and whispered: "Didn't you notice anything?"

  "What's wrong?" Shui Lian Qing asked back in confusion.

  Sun Yan smiled lightly and said, "This time in the Wàn Dào Mountain wilderness speed trial, no matter who from the ordinary department reaches first, the first place will only be Qiū Shān Lín."

  Shui Lianjing's eyes widened in surprise as she whispered: "How is that possible? How did you know?"

  "It's simple. Qiu Shanlin, that grandson, walked out of the woods and rushed to Xu Xuyao without any hesitation. Don't you think it's strange?"

  Upon hearing this, Shui Lian Qing lowered her head, thinking back on the scene from earlier and feeling that it was indeed a bit strange.

  "Moreover, I'm very clear about the strength of Qiu Shanlin's grandson. The wild beasts and exotic beasts in Wanda Mountain, even if two come together, are enough for him to handle. What makes that grandson able to pass through Wanda Mountain so quickly?"

  "You're saying he cheated!"

  Her beautiful eyes widened in shock, "This is actually happening at Emperor Wind Academy, how can this be."

  Sun Yan curled his lips, he had seen such things many times before and didn't find it strange at all. Where there are people, there is cheating.

  Look at Water Beauty's devastated appearance, Sun Yan comforted: "Actually, there's no need to take it to heart, anyway, we've got the credits. If you're not feeling comfortable, just curse behind my back a thousand times - Sunzi Ai, I'll be cursed and won't get up again. Your mood will improve quickly."

  Upon hearing this, Shui Lian Qing's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she shot him a fierce glance. "Vulgar, can't you think of something more refined?"

  At this time, the two had already passed through the mountain pass exit, and a scene appeared before their eyes, instantly stunning them, with their mouths agape in astonishment.

  At the foot of the mountain, a stone monument stands tall in front, with a height of ten thousand feet and a width of hundreds of feet, like a sharp sword piercing through the clouds, as if to compete with the sky for highness.

  The stele is inscribed with —— The Way follows nature, all streams return to their origin.

  The inscription in the lower right corner of the monument reads: Odin's Witch Bridge Rock.