At an oval hall of great proportions, an intense discussion was going on between seven mysterious entities that sat around a great round table.
"Elder Shen, we can not take this affront lightly, we must respond this with all our strength," exclaimed one of the elders, demonstrating clearly arrogance and superiority. "Otherwise, we'll lose our entire face."
The other elders looked at each other as if they had no objections. A terrible aura permeated the room, thus increasing the tension that settled in the environment, their faces writhed almost imperceptibly, it was as if the dangerous pressure could crush them at any moment.
To everyone's surprise, Elder Shen, who had been confronted earlier, did not even move a single muscle, naturally, at that same moment his own pressure emerged and dominated over the entire room.
His face was calm as the next words came out of his mouth "Brother Han, calm down! No matter how much your distress is understandable, this matter is no longer within our reach, so we must not take hasty actions."
Elder Han, being held back by Elder Shen's aura, was immensely nervous. As he tried to raise his aura to press back, his body completely surrendered to the power of Elder Shen, who again increased the power of his aura as naturally as possible.
As sweat trickled down the face of Elder Han, the other elders showed deep dismay. No one ever doubted the strength of Elder Shen, however, they did never imagine it would be that strong, enough to suppress Elder Han so easily.
Then, one of the elders who had just been watching finally lifted up and said, "I agree with Brother Shen. Everyone here is aware of his reputation, so I dare to say that he would never defend a disciple after such an infraction." The old man reached a conclusion, wearing simple costumes that conveyed humility, bowing slightly as he brought his fist closed toward his chest in a sign of respect.
At this moment a sign of disgust was visible at the face of Elder Han, after a brief analysis of the situation, he retracted his aura and sighed at the same time his expression of fury dissipated.
The environment once heavy enough to hinder even breathing, became again as light as a breeze. While his companion sat down after defending him, Elder Shen again addressed the word to Elder Han. "Brother, I didn't said we should forget this matter, it is undeniable that my disciple violated the rules, so, the misfortune brought to our Sect falls undeniably upon me, his master." Elder Shen said without showing signs of fear.
Upon rising, Elder Shen said without hesitation, "I, Elder Azure Shen, from now on, im resigning from the charge of director of the Heavenly Academy, and further, i assume all responsibility for the actions of the young Ming. Even if I end up condened to the exile, I wont dare to complain."
With such words, there was not a single present elder whose face did not instantly pass from a calm expression to astonishment, even Elder Han felt himself sudenly surprised.
"Brother, this is a little too much, don't you think? Undeniably, your talents and abilities are the best ever witnessed in centuries, so even if it were to be punishment, exile would be a little too much." said an old man in black robes, his name was Xiao Lin. "The mistake was made by your disciple hands, not yours. Logically, is the Master obligation to share his disciple guilt for not guiding the disciple correctly, but we can not afford to give up on your strength, you are one of the main pillars of our organization."
Elder Han cast a cold glance toward Elder Shen as he demonstrated to be thoughtful. Despite his arrogance, he was the one who best understood the strength of Azure Shen. Yet even if there were rules imposed by the Ancestral Gods forbidding the dispute between elders, there was no one who dared to doubt the strength both of the held, besides, Elder Han clearly was dissatisfied, recognizing his inferiority, he always wanted for an opportunity to prove himself.
"At present time, there is really nothing else we can do. I recognize my initial judgment was precipitated. If we went after the young Ming inside the Ancestral Land, we would end only provoking even more the fury of the Ancestral Gods. Please excuse me for my inadequate attitude." Replied Elder Han.
Although the discussion followed in the great hall with the presence of the greatest masters of all the kingdoms, each of them belonging to different worlds. Naturally the divergence in opinions was common, yet, there was no one in the oval hall who had not been selected by the Ancestral Gods themselves, based on the power and character of each. Even Han Elder, having the worst character of all, still had some principles.
...
While the meeting between the elders followed, the person behind all that confusion was walking in an immense desert whose sand resembled fragments of jade. When the sunlight hit that, it would produce a lush green light refraction effect, the impression transmitted by the desert was of an gigantic natural jewel. Despite the strenuous heat, the young man did not spill a single drop of sweat yet, his name obviously was Qi Ming.
Qi Ming drove through the desert to a tower so high it even surpassed the clouds, making it impossible to glimpse the region of the top. It emanated a monstrous energy so as to prevent approximation of ordinary existences, yet, even with such overwhelming pressure, Qi Ming did not feel intimidated and stomped toward the entrance. For him the pressure around was nothing, after all, his cultivation had already surpassed the Martial Elder level, which is considered by ordinary people as the apex of cultivation.
"I finally arrived," he said with a huge smile on his face. His excitement was visible as he stared at the colossal tower before his eyes.
...
Imperial Institute
At that moment, a commotion occurred in one of the corridors of the Imperial Institute, which was located in one of the seven mortal realms.
"Hey, did you hear?" Said a soft-spoken girly voice.
"No, what is it?" Another girl answered.
"Remember the rumor a few months ago that said about the Empress being pregnant again? So... apparently it was not just a rumor... yesterday, at my father's tavern, some drunken guards let escape by their lips that the Empress gave birth to another boy recently ... "
"Really?" The second girl asked. "The present prince will not be satisfied with this, now that there is a second prince at sight, the throne is no longer guaranteed by right to him."
A slender young man with blond hair approached the girls, his age was about fifteen. Realizing the approach, both girls shuted their mouths and immediately made room for the young man to pass.
"Hmpf" the elegant-looking young man passed between the girls, and stopped as he stared at them with a look of contempt. "The Imperial Academy is really going further into the lower levels, even commoners are being accepted now? Hahaha! What a joke!" He said in a tone of debauchery, waving his right hand as he turned back and left.
While leaving, the young man ridicularized the girls once again as he walked away. "Put yourselves in your places, filthy trash."
Despite his rudeness, most students kept in silence. By the countenance of some, became obvious the hatred for those words said just right now. Unfortunately for them, they were all powerless. After all, one thing the noble young man had said rightly: they were just commoners. Only being accepted at the Imperial Institute could already be considered a miracle, that's exactly why nobody dared to step ahead and confront him.
As some cast loathsome and contemptuous eyes upon the slender young man, there were those who dared to laugh at the misfortune of others, showing deep disdain for the students of humble origins. Obviously were other nobles.
The night fell slowly ...
Elsewhere in the Imperial Academy, a group of three specialists in black robes moved at an absurd pace around the main entrance.
As the students headed to their lodgings, this mysterious group crossed the Institute territories, following to the right side of a construction, and finally jumped toward a window located on the second floor.
The jump was impeccable, even though it was necessary to concentrate a huge amount of energy in the legs to carry out such an impulse, no movement was wasted, and without uttering any sound, the group had reached the room located on the second floor, spending as little energy as possible.
The architecture of the Imperial Institute differed completely from the pattern of buildings in the Imperial City. Five floors, full of wide windows, and even so, invading was no easy task for ordinary people. The security on the surrounds were also exceptional. Each corner was guarded by imperial guards and teachers themselves.
After entering the place, the group headed toward a tall man in the middle of the room. As they approached, they knelt down and held their fists in their bosom as a sign of respect.
"Master, the preparations have been completed, we are ready to strike at any moment." said the leader of the group.
The man in front of the group was a figure of extreme importance inside the Imperial City, his name, Heng Shui, was very-well known, his position at the Imperial Institute was also at the highest level, plus he was the patriarch of the Celestial Flames family.
Though young, his talent for martial arts surpassed all the masters of his own age and family. At age of 19 he received the position of Patriarch, at 20 he had already became professor at the Imperial Institute, being the youngest and most promising teacher of history, at 22 accomplished the greatest feat ever seen, reaching the peak of cultivation, becoming not only the most powerful master his family had been capable of producing in generations, but also the first Martial Elder under the age of thirty.
Beyond the great influence, his appearance did not stay a little behind. He had long black hair, face and thin eyebrows, also a solid expression always visible on his face, wearing white robes with blue flames embroidered on the back that represented the symbol of his clan.
"Very well, keep me informed. You all, dismissed until further orders."
"Yes, master!" The three of them nodded, next disappearing through the window.