Chapter 2, The Servant Boy

Not long after the convoy entered the mouth of the canyon, the young man made his way down to the bottom of the canyon along the mountain wall. The charioteer of the copper carriage was still Wu Cheng, who had passed through this place last year. As the young man emerged from behind the cracked rock face, just as he was about to explain his intentions, he suddenly saw a whip shadow coming at him, and he quickly tilted his head to evade the furious lash.

Elder Luo was not angered by Su Mingge's rudeness, but Qin Shi's expression slightly changed: "Yantian's nature is still acceptable, but after all, he is just a common servant, and his temperament is quite irritable. Su Ming has invested too much effort in him."

Su Mingge ascended the steps, and through the gaps in the dense branches and leaves of the Yingyan flower, he saw Yan sitting atop the crown of the Kunlun thorn tree. It seemed as if Yan's gaze was lost in the distance, and he gently cleared his throat; Yan quickly climbed down, hiding his body behind the Kunlun thorn to avoid letting Su Mingge see the tattered clothes and whip marks on his back.

This monastery should be the westernmost Mahayana monastery in the Central Plains, located in the western edge of the Yan Yun Plateau, nestled within the foothills of Yan Yun Mountain. The young man is a servant in the monastery and has lived there for fifteen years

In the cold autumn of that year, Su Mingge, who was practicing diligently, picked up a three-year-old boy under the porch of the Maha Academy while passing through this place. That year, the three-hundred-year-old Yingyan flower bloomed for the first time, producing countless light blue flowers. Thus, Su Mingge named the abandoned child Yan.

The Institute is located in the heart of the Yan Yun Wilderness, and this Moon Cleansing Blade has severed the throats of countless wild beasts attempting to intrude into the Institute. The blade, measuring an arm's length, glimmers with a cold and ruthless sheen under the clear light of the cold moon.

The young man calmed his intense emotions slightly, disregarding the burning pain in his back, and turned over to climb the mountain wall, taking a shortcut to hurry back to the academy.

As he retreated his body, he deflected the force, twisted the energy shield, and pressed the head of the Capricorn down by half an inch. Withdrawing strength from his right hand, the Capricorn suddenly lifted its head, but the youth seized the fleeting opportunity to slice through the Capricorn's throat with the bone blade of his right hand

The abandoned children in front of the Academy are those without surnames, akin to slaves, lowly servants, and vagrants, all of whom represent the lowest class of commoners on this continent

Almost let this lowly person collide with the great harmony - image - book person

Elder Luo's gaze fell upon the Xiyue knife at Su Mingge's waist

Watching Su Mingge kneeling and about to rise, with his left hand resting on the Xiyue knife at his waist, he recalled the rumors about Su Mingge from his time in Xiazi City. Qin Shi's imposing aura slightly diminished as the sorcerer and the Mi Luo warrior faced off in a heated argument, which could hardly be considered a rational act. He leaned back slightly, yet his peripheral vision remained on Elder Luo, hoping he would speak up to reprimand Su Mingge.

The young man picked up the flesh of the Capricorn and swiftly traversed the rugged mountain wall. Upon reaching a stone cave halfway up the mountain, he stuffed the Capricorn flesh inside, lifted a nearby stone, and extracted several crystals of varying colors from the crevice in the ground. Judging by the depth of their hues, these crystals were all taken from the skulls of ancient beasts.

Kuxiu Sumin Ge resembled a broad-minded and benevolent father, who, after his labors, imparted scriptures and martial skills to him, offering paternal care.

Su Mingge had never seen anyone with such talent in martial arts as Yan. Reflecting on his own experience, he recalled that he had first formed a Qi shield at the age of 16. At 16, Su Mingge had harnessed his inner energy to create the intermediate technique of the Mi Luo Warrior: the Qing Luo Qi Shield. His father eagerly shared the news with the clan members, proclaiming that the Su family had produced a figure who could bring honor and pride to the family.

The descendants of the Blasphemers, often referred to as the Blasphemous People, have been exiled to the Black Gravel Plains. Like the wild beasts within the plains, they are also targets for the hunting of the divine lineage known as the Xiren. Although there are merchant caravans that, with the tacit approval of the Xiren, traverse the Yan Yun Mountains to enter the Black Gravel Plains and trade with the remaining exiles, most caravans prefer the southern route of exile. It is indeed peculiar that the Wu clan's caravan chooses to take a long detour through this perilous wasteland to enter the Black Gravel Plains.

Yian, a guest has come to visit. The elder is gathering everyone in the Guanlan Hall. You may leave now to avoid being reprimanded again

Under the moonlight, the chariot of the Witch clan was making its way through the canyon towards the Academy. The enormous copper chariot, cast from eighteen pieces of fine bronze and pulled by the silver-horned wind horse, shimmered with a brilliant halo, reminiscent of the murky waters of the Burech River reflecting light.

Master Chu retracted the whip and, seeing that the young man could endure the pain, slightly furrowed his brows: "The servants in the academy, being of lowly status, have likely been isolated in this remote place for too long, unaware of the rules, and recklessly rushed out."

Yanyun is already the farthest western territory of the Qinglan Empire. Further west, beyond the towering and majestic Yanyun Mountain Range, lies the land of the gods, the Black Gravel Plain. The Black Gravel Plain is even more desolate and perilous than the Yanyun Wilderness, inhabited by savage and powerful wild beasts. It is also the grazing ground for the Xiren, a tribe of divine descendants.

Elder Luo sometimes could not tell whether the immense killing intent emanated from Su Mingge or if the Moon Cleansing Blade itself possessed a strong consciousness of slaughter

The young boy muttered softly, "You can't blame me; it's just that the economics department is too harsh on the subordinates, and the food is barely edible." Without pausing his steps, he moved towards the Capricorn. Just as he charged at the Capricorn, a burst of azure light erupted from his left hand, and before the Capricorn could impale itself on its broken horn, he conjured a shield of air.

At this moment, Yan has mastered the third-tier skill of the Miro Warriors: the Qi Armor, a technique that transforms the Qi Shield into countless dense scales to protect the entire body

A middle-aged warrior sat on the left hand of Wu Cheng. Seeing that the young man could actually evade his whip, he coiled the whip's tip around his hand, fixed his gaze on the young man, and shouted, "Where did this lowly servant come from, unaware of the rules?" He swung the whip again, intending to strike. The young man, knowing that evading this whip might provoke the man to kill, suppressed his inner anger, turned his face aside, and allowed the whip to strike his back shoulder.

What can I accomplish in this lifetime

The middle-aged warrior wielded the whip infused with internal energy; with a single strike, it tore the clothing off the youth, leaving a layer of bloodied skin hanging and a glaring blood mark on the youth's back

The academy is located in a remote area of the empire, surrounded by no villages or towns for offerings. It has long since fallen into decline and now barely manages to sustain itself. The main hall, the Guanlan Hall, has not seen renovations for years and is in a state of disrepair. The murals on the walls, which once celebrated the miracles of the Adonai, have faded and peeled, leaving behind mottled traces. Within the academy, there is only one elder, four teachers, eight attendants, and about eleven or twelve miscellaneous workers. Due to its remote location, no noble families are willing to send their children here to endure hardship, and there is not a single disciple in the academy. Aside from the books, there are only two ascetics passing through this place.

Su Mingge angrily said: "This child is merely maintaining the self-respect he is entitled to; how can that be described as a violent character?"

At the age of fourteen, Yan was able to solidify his energy into a tangible form, creating a shield of energy

The Capricorn lowers its forehead, kicking the mountain rocks with its hind hooves, presenting its broken horn to the youth, yet it seems to know that this is merely a futile gesture, emitting a low, mournful cry from its throat

If the awakening of talents for those not of divine blood must occur after the age of sixteen, Su Mingge almost doubts that the blood of Yan flows with the brilliance of the celestial deities.

The convoy is quite far away, making it difficult to see clearly. However, over the past three years, only the Wu clan's merchant convoy has passed through this area. The young man finds it very strange: "Beyond Yanyun Mountain lies an even more desolate black gravel plain. How could the Wu clan send a merchant convoy through here every year?"

Before the Guolan Hall, a massive Kunlun thorn grew, and Yan sat atop its canopy, observing the distant procession of bronze chariots winding their way. A feeling of exhilarating pain, as if trampled upon, surged within him. Gazing out at the vast expanse of the world, ambition blossomed within him like the tall green grass in the academy, and Yan silently vowed: "One day, I will make you all crawl at my feet ... ... "

Wu Miyi let out a soft sigh, waved his hand, and signaled the convoy to continue moving forward. Once the convoy drove deep into the canyon, even the sound of the wheels on the ground faded away. Only then did the young man lift his head, biting his lower lip tightly, leaving a deep crimson mark, desperately holding back the rage and sorrow within him from erupting.

Su Mingge crossed his legs beneath him, looked at Elder Luo, and said: "The Wu clan is a vassal of the Mo family. Two years ago, the Wu merchant convoy passed through here, and it is possible that they reported the situation here to Lord Zuo."

The internal energy circulated, dissipating the qi shield. Seizing the opportunity, the young man toppled the still-living Capricorn, leaning in to the gushing throat and gulping down the steaming hot blood with great mouthfuls.

Qin Shi Ku Xiu said: "The Academy cannot do without this flowering tree. If Lord Zuo comes here on a whim to see the Yingyan flower, he naturally will not make things difficult for the Academy; it is better to wait for Lord Zuo's arrival to discuss further. The Academy is small, so we will let the West Chamber be used by Lord Zuo and his attendants. However, we must strictly restrain the actions and movements of the servants in the lower house to avoid offending the noble guests"

"Shichu, what has happened?" A deep and authoritative voice emanated from the car.

Wu Miyi put the xun back into the brocade pouch, walked up from behind, and upon seeing the young man with his head buried in his knees, his back bloodied from a whip strike, asked Master Chu: "What happened?"

The young man furrowed his brow, still unaccustomed to the strong, gamey smell of beast blood. Although there was sufficient clean water in the academy, commoners and servants were not permitted to drink it. The goat, with its four hooves, twitched alone. The young man raised his hand to wipe his mouth, muttering a curse under his breath. He used the bone blade to gut and skin the goat, placing the removed hide aside. He then cut off several pieces of goat meat and casually tossed the bones down the ravine. The goat, with its four hooves, twitched alone. The young man raised his hand to wipe his mouth, muttering a curse under his breath. He used the bone blade to gut and skin the goat, placing the removed hide aside. He then cut off several pieces of goat meat and casually tossed the bones down the ravine.

In the scripture illustrations, one can only see such magnificent bronze chariots and the extraordinary silver-horned wind steeds.

Su Mingge bent down and said so, his gaze towards the qin stone remained as cold as ever

Reciting the mantra, the coolness descends upon the spiritual platform, extinguishing the murderous intent that has seeped into the body

A voice of disdain emanated from the carriage, followed by silence. Shi Chu opened his eyes and glared at the youth: "Do you know the rules?" He raised the whip as if to strike. The youth crouched down, burying his head between his knees, and crawled to the side to let the convoy pass. A tremendous anger and humiliation ignited the youth's sensitive and fragile nerves, causing his hands and feet to tremble violently.

Su Mingge entered the Hall of Reflection, where Elder Luo and the ascetic Qinshi were seated cross-legged.

At the age of twelve, Yan first accompanied Su Mingge out of the academy, reaching the edge of the Yan Yun wilderness. On the way into the city, the noble's carriages and horses rang with bells, while the barefoot commoners retreated to the roadside, prostrating themselves with their bodies on the ground, burying their heads deeply between their knees to avoid sullying the eyes of the nobility; Su Mingge, however, covered Yan with his wide white robe.

The Academy need not be bound by secular customs; it is only necessary to exercise some restraint in front of outsiders to avoid giving them grounds for criticism, which would be detrimental to the Academy

Su Mingge did not conceal the displeasure in his heart, slightly straightening his posture, exuding an imposing aura, while the Xiyue knife at his waist emanated a chilling intent to kill

In the temple, it is prohibited for servants to have contact with outsiders. To sell the crystal core, it must be done before the caravan enters the temple.

As the cold autumn approaches, a type of verdant grass begins to grow in the courtyard, while the wisteria of the Yingyan flower covers the Guolan Hall. Standing atop the rounded dome and looking around, the surrounding floral forest resembles a sea. The dilapidated Guolan Hall reveals only a white dome, resembling the massive skeleton of a star whale, stripped clean by the passage of time.

However, the diligent care of Su Mingge towards Yan has allowed jealousy to grow like a poisonous weed among the servants. Not only the servants, but even the slightly higher-ranking attendants harbor resentment. Yan has lived in the academy for fifteen years, yet he remains out of place within it.

The Left Minister of the Empire has chosen our place in Yanyun as a site for atonement. Is it surprising that Su Ming, who has long endured hardship, feels this way?

As the young man wrapped the meat slices in fur and was about to leave, a sound of a blown xun drifted from afar, melancholic and distant, evoking a sense of solitude. After listening for a while, the young man climbed up the sheer rock face of over a hundred feet with his bare hands and gazed towards the source of the xun. A winding caravan of copper carts was entering the canyon.

Mo Jie Bo Cen temporarily seeks refuge from the storm, and there is Yu Jia who can go; if that does not work, one can simply close the door and refuse guests in the city of Xiu Tu. Yet, he insists on coming here. The four thousand Yan Yun Mountains are mostly desolate hills and rocky ridges, devoid of anything but the ferocious and brutal wild beasts. He is truly here for the Ying Yan flower... At this point, Elder Luo sighed lightly, his face filled with a worried expression. "Yan Yun, a bitter and cold land, for the Ying Yan flower to bloom so abundantly is indeed a miracle, but it ultimately goes against the teachings..."

In the face of the silence of the arduous training of Su Mingge, Yan's heart seemed to bear the mark of a fire's burn

The Yan Yun Mountain Range is located on the western edge of the Yan Yun Plateau, with reddish-brown rocks resembling the flowing clouds of dawn above the plateau, akin to a handful of burning flames

Yan Congming is intelligent and eager to learn, possessing exceptional talent in martial arts. However, he can only serve as a lowly servant, responsible for clearing the sewage drains of the academy every day

The moon blade, without a scabbard, is simply tied to the waist with a few strands of beast sinew

Beneath the reddish-brown mountain rocks, a Capricorn emerged in terror from the sparse forest. A segment of its single horn on the forehead was broken, oozing a viscous light green liquid. A slender youth crawled out from the woods, holding a bone blade made from beast bones in his right hand and the broken horn of the Capricorn in his left, yet it was unclear how he had managed to snap off the horn, which was harder than gold or stone.