At Hanlin Academy, Xiaoyao encountered something strange. Originally, he thought he would need procedures to enter, but oddly, when he first came, the administrator only asked his name, then went about his business, letting him go in to read books freely, even allowing access to the innermost books.
At the same time, he could also borrow books to take away—no matter how many, there was no problem.
At this time, Xiaoyao thought it might be related to the old monk from Lanruo Temple. The old monk should have considerable influence in this Great Tang Capital, so he didn't mind and continued reading and borrowing books inside.
For this, Xiaoyao even thanked the old monk, but the old monk was left somewhat confused. If someone hadn't happened to interrupt them, Xiaoyao would have definitely learned that things weren't as he imagined.
The old monk did have certain influence in this Great Tang capital, even throughout the entire Great Tang Empire. Getting Xiaoyao such treatment at Hanlin Academy would actually be quite simple, but this matter wasn't done by him.
First, the old monk didn't yet know what Xiaoyao did during the day. Second, Xiaoyao hadn't spoken up, so he wouldn't act, because he felt Xiaoyao was the type who would definitely speak up if needed. This matter was also a small problem that Xiaoyao should be able to solve himself. If he acted, it would only make Xiaoyao feel he owed him a favor.
The old monk wasn't the type who wanted people to owe him favors. If not handled well, this could have adverse effects—prolonged great kindness often breeds resentment.
If it wasn't the old monk, then who was it, or rather, what was the reason?
Regarding this, even if Xiaoyao knew, he wouldn't think too much about it, because the most important thing was that his purpose had been achieved. Procedural errors in between—what did that have to do with him? He hadn't done anything wrong anyway.
He would continue reading his books and would finish everything inside as quickly as possible.
Time quickly passed for half a month. Although one match per day was slow, it brought the competition to the next round. Several of the eight Round of 16 matches had already been held.
Actually, one match per day wasn't to let the audience watch contestants more carefully and attentively. More importantly, it was to let contestants recover their fighting strength. After entering the Round of 32, the intensity obviously increased. Almost every match had injuries, unless there was a very large difference in strength, but such situations were rare.
Being injured meant not being able to display full strength, so there was rest time. The Round of 16 would also be arranged according to injury situations, even delayed, all to better see contestants' strength, but it couldn't be too long—there were still certain restrictions.
Everyone was also willing to wait, because duels at this level were all very exciting, possibly even more exciting than Emperor-level expert duels—at least for ordinary people.
Because the competition's participants had relatively similar strength levels, and similar strength made intense battles more likely to appear. Also, regarding Emperor-level expert duels, ordinary people simply couldn't appreciate them.
Guxing's Round of 16 match was the first competition, because from beginning to end she hadn't sustained even the slightest injury. All the way through, she had easily passed each round, even in the Round of 32 competition.
Guxing's dominance shocked many people. Among her opponents was one with high expectations, a seed player expected to contend for the championship, but in her hands he only lasted three moves before being sent flying by her palm.
Everyone believed that if this weren't a competition, that palm might have become a sword—meaning this seed player would already be dead.
Soon Guxing's strength was also exposed. A King-level martial artist, and only nineteen years old at that—this was too terrifying. Historically, the youngest King-level martial artists were all in their early twenties, but she was only nineteen.
Although only a few years earlier, the significance was completely different. At this time, Guxing had already been given the title of "genius girl," with extremely high possibility of breaking through to become an Emperor-level martial artist in the future.
Of course, no one would think like Xiaoyao that Guxing would become Emperor-level in a few years. They felt this speed was still too fast and didn't dare imagine it. They felt even geniuses would need at least ten years or so.
Besides Guxing, Nangong Suxin, the Young Miss, Zhan Bai, and Third Young Master also performed brilliantly. Third Young Master had already been eliminated—his persisting this far was already quite good. However, he seemed to have been noticed by a sect, and this sect had considerable background—one of the ten great sects.
Of the remaining three, Nangong Suxin would face Zhan Bai, while the Young Miss had already fought yesterday, smoothly entering the Elite Eight. As Nangong Suxin put it, the Young Miss had "dog shit luck"!
The Young Miss's opponent claimed his injuries had healed, but during the match his injuries flared up, allowing the Young Miss to easily defeat him. The opponent might have had unknown reasons, but the Young Miss's luck was unquestionable.
Next, the duel between Nangong Suxin and Zhan Bai was very exciting. Although Nangong Suxin won with a slight advantage, Zhan Bai's performance was surprising. A commoner with no resources, using extremely ordinary techniques, actually persisted to this point and could fight the genius girl Nangong Suxin, who was already close to King level, to a draw—all of this proved his value.
Although he lost, he gained more people's recognition—though defeated, he was still glorious.
This defeat didn't make those interested in him lose confidence. They still came to find him, wanting to recruit him into their sects and academies. Such geniuses were rare now. As long as he was given abundant resources, his future achievements would definitely not be weaker than genius-level figures like Nangong Suxin.
At this time, everyone suddenly discovered that Guxing also seemed to be a commoner. But why had she entered King level? Was it because her talent was too powerful, or because she had resources that commoners didn't have?
Curiosity about Guxing rose another level at this time. Busybodies went to gather information, but the news they received seemed unreliable. They said Guxing had a little servant who gradually cultivated Guxing.
Joking—could a servant cultivate such a figure? This was absolutely impossible.
Even more ridiculous, they said this servant was about the same age as Guxing, even one year younger. That's right, Xiaoyao was eighteen this year, just barely an adult.
This information made everyone feel incredible and unbelievable. Could a little servant be this strong? If this were really the case, would this still be a servant?
Even those old predecessors would find it very difficult to cultivate someone like Guxing, let alone an eighteen-year-old little servant. This was absolutely impossible.
"?? What are you saying? Of course not! Boss wasn't cultivated by me. I just provide her with a cultivation environment and prepare cultivation conditions. These are all her own efforts!"
Another dawn, Xiaoyao brought breakfast to Martial Saint Hall, eating breakfast with Guxing and others while chatting about what happened the previous day, both sides exchanging what they went to do and any interesting events! When Xiaoyao heard the Young Miss discussing the above-mentioned matter, he shook his head and said.
"Right, you provide her with a good environment and prepare conditions, but isn't this exactly what's needed to cultivate a person?" Nangong Suxin said.
"This shouldn't count, because I'm Boss's servant. Whatever she wants, I give. These are things she wanted herself—it doesn't count as me cultivating her!" Xiaoyao shook his head, denying this statement.
"..." Nangong Suxin was silent for a while. "Having such a little servant is really enviable. Guxing, when you don't want him anymore, let me have him!"
"No, I will never give him to anyone else in this lifetime!" Guxing shook her head and replied directly.
"Could you please respect me a bit? Don't pass me around right in front of me. Although I'm a servant, I also have the right to choose! If Boss says she doesn't want me, who can become my new boss—that's still up to me to decide, not you!" Xiaoyao said irritably.
"I won't not want you. I'm afraid you won't want me!" Guxing looked at Xiaoyao, saying somewhat wistfully. This kind of expression rarely appeared on her usually cold face.
"What right do you have to choose? You're just a little servant—this young miss wanting you is your honor!" Nangong Suxin said with a smile. Everyone knew she was just joking.
"Hmph, little servants also have rights. Don't force me to rebel," Xiaoyao said.
"You dare try rebelling! I think you really want to rebel... eh..." Nangong Suxin suddenly realized her words were very contradictory.
"Finished eating!" Every time Xiaoyao said this, it was when he was preparing to leave. At this moment, he suddenly stared into Nangong Suxin's eyes for a long time.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Are there dirty things in my eyes?" Nangong Suxin said somewhat guiltily. Although she was certain she was very clean, it was possible she hadn't washed completely.
Xiaoyao suddenly became serious: "Nangong Suxin, today I see your brow is darkened—it seems like there's a blood disaster. Do you have a match today? How about I accompany you?"
Nangong Suxin was stunned, then immediately said: "Bah bah! What are you saying so early in the morning! I do have a match today, but it's just to the point of contact—nothing will happen with so many people watching! You should focus on reading books. Although I'd really like you to come cheer me on, I can't delay your business!"
"Oh, in that case, be careful. If you encounter an opponent stronger than you, don't force yourself too much! Also, take this wound medicine for protection. Take however much you need based on injuries—as long as you don't die, I have ways to save you!" Xiaoyao said while handing Nangong Suxin a porcelain bottle.
(End of Chapter)