Above the Galaxy
Chapter 189 - 139, Cousin Really Should Die!

Chapter 189: Chapter 139, Cousin Really Should Die!

White Crane Academy.

Shen Xinglan stood in front of a huge multidimensional display screen, watching the recruitment assessment of the Imperial First Military Academy.

People say that White Crane Academy is a place where immortals reside, but little do they know, although the academy has an ancient and elegant architectural style, the high-tech equipment inside is no less than that found elsewhere.

In fact, some intelligent devices not open to the general public and academic institutions are first used by White Crane Academy.

It couldn’t be helped, for it was the Empire’s top Martial Arts academy.

Moreover, White Crane Academy had close relationships with the Imperial Family, the Military Department, and others.

A middle-aged man with long flowing hair and a robust physique entered, glanced at the screen, looked at Shen Xinglan, and asked, "Xing Lan, why are you interested in this year’s recruitment work? Is there someone you care about in there?"

"Master." Shen Xinglan greeted Xuanyuan Mingjing respectfully, saying, "I was just curious..."

"You weren’t curious before," Xuanyuan Mingjing said expressionlessly.

Shen Xinglan had never been interested in recruitment before; it didn’t matter who came, as he was always first.

Yet, this time he had unusually come to watch the assessment videos, probably because he had someone or something in mind.

"There’s a friend who also participated in the assessment," Shen Xinglan’s gaze fell on Phoenix’s face on the screen, saying, "I want to see if she can pass smoothly."

"Are you talking about the Princess? I was also surprised when I saw her application," Xuanyuan Mingjing looked towards Phoenix, saying, "It’s rare for the Royal Family to choose our White Crane Academy. They normally find what they want in the Imperial First Military Academy or the Royal Maritime College, which align more with their interests..."

"We seek the path of heaven, the Royal Family seeks the path of kings. Everyone wants different things," Shen Xinglan said.

"Some seek the path of kings, others seek the path of domination. What path it truly is, depends on who’s speaking."

...

Shen Xinglan smiled and remained silent.

He couldn’t, and dare not, engage with this topic.

His master could speak unrestrained, after all, he was Dean Bai Lu, a Grandmaster.

As for himself?

His status in the Shen Family was already sensitive. If he were to say something outrageous, it might stir up another tempest.

Considering the previous Tang case fiasco, they did not wish to repeat mistakes.

Xuanyuan Mingjing’s gaze shifted to Tang Fei, who was next to Phoenix, asking, "Last time you came down the mountain, did you give guidance to a boy from Old Land?"

"His name is Tang Fei," Shen Xinglan knew his master was aware of Tang Fei’s presence, smiling he said, "Though he’s from Blue Star, he indeed has great talent. He also participated in this recruitment assessment."

"What do you think?" Xuanyuan Mingjing asked.

"About what?"

"About him entering our White Crane Academy?"

Shen Xinglan laughed and said, "Whether he enters White Crane Academy or not depends entirely upon master’s thoughts..."

Xuanyuan Mingjing as the Dean of White Crane Academy held absolute authority here.

If he liked Tang Fei, even if Tang Fei didn’t come first, he could still recruit him.

If he disliked Tang Fei, even if Tang Fei came first, he could prevent his entry.

White Crane Academy assessed not only strength but also virtue.

The word "virtue" could be deadly.

The simplest phrase or event, when infinitely magnified and maliciously interpreted, could ultimately become evidence to hang you.

Xuanyuan Mingjing gave Shen Xinglan a look, saying, "Let’s wait and see. Let’s see who can pass all three stages and obtain the Heart of the Death God..."

"I heard the content of this assessment was personally set by you, master?"

"Indeed," Xuanyuan Mingjing nodded, saying, "It was just a matter of picking a few maps at random, playing some minor tricks to test people’s hearts."

"Anything chosen by master is bound to be extraordinary."

"You mustn’t learn their bad habits..." Xuanyuan Mingjing said.

"Disciple will remember master’s teachings."

"Good, you continue watching, I’m going back to sleep. Let me know the result when it’s out."

"Yes, master."

After Xuanyuan Mingjing left, Shen Xinglan’s gaze rested on Tang Fei’s face.

"Tang Fei, did you really accept my invitation?"

------

Tang Fei didn’t want to walk at the forefront, because he didn’t know if what he’d meet would be ghost or human.

He also didn’t want to walk at the back, because he couldn’t tell if what might touch his shoulder was human or ghost.

The unknown was the most dangerous thing.

He silently moved with Phoenix toward the center of the crowd, trying his best not to draw attention.

Unfortunately, someone still noticed them.

They had just positioned themselves when the man ahead suddenly turned around, faced Phoenix, and said, "Cousin, follow me, I’ll protect you."

Tang Fei watched this man warily, Cousin? Was he Phoenix’s cousin?

Phoenix glanced at Tang Fei and introduced, "Yu Huoshui. My cousin."

"Brother Yu, nice to meet you," Tang Fei greeted him with a smile, saying, "March Seven Stars, a prestigious name, I’ve heard of Brother Yu’s great reputation."

It’s the Yu from Zhong Yu, related to the Empress.

This is true royal kinship, not to be trifled with lightly.

March Seven Stars, Yu Huoshui was also ranked among them.

But it was unexpected that he would also participate in this new recruitment examination.

What? Did he also want to enter the White Crane Academy?

"Hehe..." Hearing Tang Fei mention "Seven Stars," Yu Huoshui’s gaze sharpened as he chuckled and said, "Do you know? Ever since you defeated Qin Jianyi, the name ’Seven Stars’... has almost become a disgrace."

Yu Huoshui was not lying; he was telling the truth.

March Seven Stars were the most anticipated group of youths in Phoenix City.

Each one of them shone brightly, capable of being the protagonist of a movie or a TV show.

Unfortunately, things started changing when Qin Jianyi was defeated by a refugee youth from the Old Land...

"What Seven Stars? Can’t even handle a guy from the Old Land..."

"Being trampled underfoot by a savage, the name of the Seven Stars is really undeserved..."

"They have good backgrounds, but when it comes to cultivation and strength, they are utterly feeble..."

------

People did not dare to say anything in public, but they gossiped a lot behind closed doors.

With more people talking, it turned into a trend.

Qin Jianyi lost, as if the Seven Stars were all wiped out by Tang Fei.

Including Yu Huoshui, they all felt uncomfortable when they remembered that Qin Jianyi was defeated by Tang Fei. Didn’t that mean the Seven Stars were defeated by Tang Fei?

Fortunately, Shen Xinglan came up with a "live lecture" move; otherwise, the face of the Seven Stars would have been completely lost by Qin Jianyi.

This undisturbed thing.

"..."

Tang Fei looked surprised and hurriedly explained, "Actually, I did not defeat Qin Jianyi. He deliberately avoided fighting seriously. If it were a life-and-death fight, I am undoubtedly no match for him..."

"We saw it with our own eyes; could it be false?" Yu Huoshui squinted and smiled, saying, "I just didn’t expect you to come for the White Crane Academy’s recruitment examination so soon. With Brother Tang’s strength, this first place must surely be within easy reach, right?"

"I’m just trying my luck; actually, I’m not confident at all," Tang Fei said with a smile.

Although that’s what he was thinking, he couldn’t reveal it at this moment.

The examination had just begun, and he didn’t want to become the public enemy...

"Brother Tang need not be modest. Today, everyone has entered the Illusion Realm and participates in this examination together; it’s our destiny... Brother Tang, with your formidable and unfathomable strength, please take care of us."

"I dare not; I must ask Brother Yu to take care of me."

"I certainly do not have the strength to defeat Qin Jianyi."

Yu Huoshui suddenly raised his voice and announced loudly, "Fellow students, let me introduce to you, the renowned Tang Fei. His fight with Shen Qingping was extraordinarily brilliant. His demonstrated wilderness survival skills were breathtaking, becoming our school’s official video, mandatory for every student to watch... I myself paid a star coin to watch it, and indeed it was very enlightening."

"Even the formidable Sky Wolf General, Qin Jianyi, was defeated by him and admitted defeat willingly. Having such a wilderness survival expert among us, he surely can lead us to overcome numerous challenges and reach the final step... Didn’t Dean Si say so? Friendship first, competition second. What do you think?"

Unlike others who feared Shen Qingping and Qin Jianyi, feared Qin Family and Shen Family, Yu Huoshui was not afraid.

He directly used the direct descendants of the Shen and Qin families in front of everyone to boost Tang Fei’s reputation, making them stepping stones on the path of Tang Fei’s success.

However, this act also placed Tang Fei on a metaphorical grill.

You claim to have profound cultivation? You claim to have formidable wilderness survival skills?

Then lead us all forward!

Supporting to kill is a very juvenile tactic.

But it is very effective.

Especially when everyone needs you, the effect is even more pronounced.

"Yes!" everyone shouted in unison.

"I’ve also watched Tang Fei’s wilderness survival map, and indeed I learned a lot..."

"If both of us were placed in the same forest, I would be completely defenseless, probably eliminated by him long ago..."

"Amazing, truly deserving coming from the Old Land..."

Standing next to Yu Huoshui, Chen Long called out, "Since Tang Fei has such exceptional wilderness survival skills, why not let him lead the way out of Yama Canyon?"

"I agree."

"I agree too. Brother Tang, could you help us out?"

"Right, you have a natural ability to foresee danger... Maybe you could lead us out completely unscathed..."

"Brother Tang, you wouldn’t be stingy, would you?"

------

Indeed, under Yu Huoshui’s instigation, these fellows started to act.

They wanted Tang Fei to walk at the front, to be their pioneer.

When they crossed the River Hot Spring Bridge during the first obstacle, everyone saw what happened to the first person who fell into the water... he was immediately devoured by piranhas...

Since Yama Canyon had become the second obstacle, it was clearly much more difficult than the first, and the level of danger must have multiplied.

Whoever leads, dies.

Tang Fei looked towards Yu Huoshui, thinking to himself, no wonder that martial arts novelist hated his cousin so much...

His cousin really deserved to die!