The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Please Let Jing Yan Speak Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Please Let Jing Yan Speak Not long ago, Steward Cang Long had taken his disciples to Donglin City to oversee the selection process for the assessments at the Three Major Academies.

Because Jing Yan had killed his disciple Suo Wen, Steward Cang Long was furious, wanting to kill Jing Yan to vent his anger.

Fortunately, the Lord of Donglin City, Huo Chunyang, returned in time to save Jing Yan’s life.

If it were not for Huo Chunyang’s return, Jing Yan might indeed have been killed by Steward Cang Long at that time.

It could be said that the enmity between Jing Yan and Cang Long was profound.

As Jing Yan’s gaze fixed on Cang Long, Cang Long also noticed Jing Yan.

Although there were many martial artists present in the square, from his elevated position on the high platform, he could almost clearly see the face of every martial artist.

Cang Long harbored a deep-rooted hatred for Jing Yan; he had been searching for him among the crowd when Jing Yan and Jing Luoyu arrived, and he almost immediately noticed them.

“Dean, that young man in green clothes with a handsome face is Jing Yan!”

Steward Cang Long, with a cold smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, stared at Jing Yan for a moment before turning to an old man standing beside him.

The “Dean” mentioned by Cang Long was the Outer Court Director of the Divine Wind Academy.

Within the academy, in the Outer Court, the Outer Court Director wielded the most authority.

This Outer Court Director was named Shang Qu.

“Oh?

This person is Jing Yan?” Shang Qu followed the direction pointed by Cang Long’s hand and looked over, his gaze settling on Jing Yan.

“Yes, he is Jing Yan from Donglin City!

Dean, this boy is young and arrogant, extremely haughty.

When I went to Donglin City to oversee the selections, he didn’t even regard me at all,” said Cang Long with a grave voice, gritting his teeth.

“Dean, this boy does not understand the immensity of heaven and earth, he is disrespectful of seniority.

Even if his talent is high, our Divine Wind Academy cannot allow him entry,” Steward Cang Long continued.

The reason he brought this matter up with Shang Qu was twofold: first, to prevent Jing Yan from entering the Divine Wind Academy; second, to slander Jing Yan, creating a negative impression of him in Shang Qu’s mind.

Of course, this was not the first time Cang Long had mentioned Jing Yan in front of Shang Qu; he had subtly brought up Jing Yan’s name a few days ago.

Steward Cang Long was the type with a narrow mind and a petty nature; he harbored a longstanding resentment towards Jing Yan and was always contemplating ways to take revenge on him.

He would not miss any opportunity to do so.

“Dean, I have also heard some details about this Jing Yan.

During the last enrollment assessment of the Three Major Academies, he had passed the assessment and entered our Divine Wind Academy.

Later on, due to some reasons, he was expelled by Steward Cang Long,” said a woman in yellow, a martial artist standing behind Shang Qu, suddenly speaking up.

She was also an Outer Court Deacon of the Divine Wind Academy, named Gao Jie.

In fact, she was not only familiar with Jing Yan but was quite knowledgeable about him.

When Cang Long decided to expel Jing Yan, she was the only one who wanted to prevent his expulsion.

However, she ultimately failed, and Jing Yan was still expelled.

She disapproved of Cang Long’s actions.

Now, hearing Cang Long slander Jing Yan in front of the Outer Court Director, Shang Qu, she could not help but speak up.

“Hmph, Deacon Gao Jie, let’s be clear.

Why did I expel Jing Yan?

After he had entered the Divine Wind Academy, his strength regressed, and within a few months, he had fallen from the Innate Realm.

Was I wrong to expel him from the academy?

Keeping him in the Divine Wind Academy would have been an insult to us!” Cang Long snorted coldly and glared at Gao Jie, asking in a questioning tone.

“Steward Cang Long, you might be being too autocratic.

Even if Jing Yan’s strength had regressed initially, he still should have been given time and opportunity.

It was only a few months, and you already expelled him from the academy; that was reckless,” Gao Jie also looked at Cang Long.

“This Jing Yan, how old is he now?” asked Shang Qu, slightly squinting his eyes.

“The last time he entered the Divine Wind Academy, he was just sixteen years old.

Now, he should be under nineteen,” Gao Jie responded.

“Oh?

So, he was in the Innate Realm by the time he was sixteen?” Shang Qu’s eyes opened slightly wider, seemingly quite surprised.

A sixteen-year-old in the Innate Realm was rare.

In Lanqu County City, that would be considered top-notch talent.

“It seems like he is a promising young man worthy of cultivation,” Shang Qu nodded.

He then turned to look at Cang Long, “Steward Cang Long, you seem to have been too hasty in handling this matter!”

“Yes, yes!” Inside, Cang Long disagreed, but outwardly, he would not dare to contradict Shang Qu, the Outer Court Director, and could only agree feebly.

“So now, what about this Jing Yan?

What is his cultivation like, Steward Cang Long?” Shang Qu paused, then asked again.

“This…” Cang Long frowned, pondering before saying, “I am not sure about Jing Yan’s current cultivation.”

“You recently went to Donglin City for the selection duties; how can you be unclear about Jing Yan’s cultivation?” Shang Qu frowned.

The people from the Three Major Academies went to various cities to oversee the selection process.

Although this selection was mainly led by the City Lord’s Mansions of each city, the representatives from the Three Major Academies had supervisory authority.

Steward Cang Long was responsible for overseeing the selection in Donglin City; how could he be unaware of Jing Yan’s cultivation?

“Dean, you can’t blame me for this!

I didn’t even see Jing Yan participate in the selection.

The Lord of Donglin City, Huo Chunyang, directly granted him the assessment qualification; Jing Yan didn’t participate at all,” Cang Long said, sounding aggrieved.

“Is that so?” Shang Qu shook his head.

However, he could not really say anything about it.

This selection was primarily managed by the Lord’s Mansions of the various cities.

The authority of the City Lords was significant, granting special privileges to one or two individuals was not a big deal.

Not only was the selection stage led by the City Lord’s Mansions, but the assessment itself was mainly governed by Prince Manor.

“Dean, Steward Cang Long may not know about Jing Yan’s cultivation, but I have heard some news,” Gao Jie spoke up again.

Gao Jie spoke, and the nearby Divine Wind Academy deacons all looked towards him.

“From what I know, Jing Yan’s current strength is already comparable to a Late-stage Innate Martial Artist,” Gao Jie glanced at Cang Long and said solemnly.

Inside the Donglin City Lord’s Mansion, Jing Yan had dueled with Zhao Zhenyan, who was in the Late Innate Realm.

It was not just Cang Long present, but also deacons from Dao Yi Academy and Red Lotus Academy.

If one paid attention, even in Lanqu County City, they would know about the incident.

“What?”

This time, Shang Qu was genuinely astonished.

He had just heard Gao Jie mention that Jing Yan was only eighteen years old.

Eighteen years old and possessing the strength comparable to a Late Innate Realm Martial Artist?

Indeed, that was quite shocking.

Other deacons from the Outer Court of Divine Wind Academy also showed astonished expressions.

Even among the Great Families within Lanqu County City, it would probably be difficult to find an eighteen-year-old Late Innate Realm Martial Artist, right?

If that were really the case, then Jing Yan could be said to be an exceptionally gifted prodigy.

At the very least, he could be considered the most outstanding genius martial artist in the entire Lanqu County City region within the last decade.

A gleam of brilliance flashed in Shang Qu’s eyes.

If he truly was such an exceptional martial artist, then Divine Wind Academy had to make every effort to recruit him once more.

“Deacon Gao Jie, you must take responsibility for your words!

What do you mean by ‘comparable to a Late-stage Innate Martial Artist’?

Are you saying that Jing Yan is a Late Innate Realm Martial Artist?” Cang Long was almost unable to hold on.

“I didn’t say that, Deacon Cang Long, don’t put this mess on my head!

I merely said that Jing Yan has the capability to contend against a Late-stage Innate Martial Artist,” Deacon Gao Jie shook his head and said with a light chuckle.

“Hmph, Jing Yan is only at the Early Innate Cultivation level!” Cang Long said in a somewhat angry low voice.

“Early Innate?”

“Deacon Cang Long, weren’t you just saying that you didn’t know Jing Yan’s cultivation?

How do you now know that Jing Yan is at the Early Innate level?” Gao Jie asked with a smile, looking at Cang Long.

Cang Long was also taken aback.

He had blurted that out, driven by urgency, after hearing Gao Jie mention Jing Yan’s ability to contend with a Late-stage Innate Martial Artist.

Shang Qu also frowned and looked towards Cang Long.

“Dean, Jing Yan really didn’t participate in the selection.

The reason I know he is at the Early Innate Cultivation level is because I have indeed seen him spar with other martial artists.

Back then, his cultivation was indeed at the Early Innate Realm level.

If Deacon Gao Jie says that Jing Yan is at the Late Innate Realm level, that’s not possible!” Cang Long explained frantically.

“Alright!” Shang Qu raised his arm.

“Cang Long, bring Jing Yan here.

I want to talk to him,” Shang Qu gestured to Cang Long.

Regardless of whether it was Early Innate or capable of contending with Late-stage Innate Martial Artists, the fact that Jing Yan was only eighteen years old made him an exceptionally outstanding genius martial artist.

If possible, Shang Qu indeed hoped that Jing Yan would enter Divine Wind Academy again.

“This…” Cang Long’s expression turned somewhat unsightly.

He had deep-seated enmity with Jing Yan, and now he was to invite Jing Yan over?

Where would he put his old face?

If he actively went to invite Jing Yan, wouldn’t it mean that he was showing weakness?

That he was bowing down to Jing Yan?

“Aren’t you going?” Shang Qu’s voice became a bit more stern.

“Yes…” Cang Long’s body trembled slightly as he replied.

Then, he walked to the edge of the platform.

“Martial Artists participating in the entrance exam of the Three Major Academies from Donglin City, Jing Yan, come here!” Cang Long did not descend from the platform but stood there, leveraging his Primordial Energy to shout loudly.

The entire plaza went silent!

Countless gazes also turned towards Cang Long on the high platform.

“That’s Divine Wind Academy’s Outer Court Deacon Cang Long!”

“Who did he just call?

Donglin City’s Jing Yan?

Which one is Jing Yan?”

“I don’t know.

I do know about Donglin City, a small city!”

Low murmurs intermingled, and at the same time, countless gazes were searching for the Jing Yan whose name was called by Cang Long.

Many here recognized the Outer Court Deacon Cang Long of Divine Wind Academy.

Even those martial artists who didn’t recognize him could easily find out by asking other martial artists around them.

However, the name Jing Yan was unfamiliar to most.

Only a very few knew Jing Yan, almost all of whom were those who had seen Jing Yan’s altercation with Chen Yan on the first floor of Juhua Restaurant that day.