Chapter 1724 Dark Currents

After four years, the Heavenly Mandate Academy’s internal operations were already well- developed.

The Supreme Elder of Heavenly Mandate Academy was in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall, and it was none other than Shen Luoxue, who was once the goddess of the Shen clan.

Those in the Shen clan possessed a special talent, and under the survey of the Divine Eyes, there was no secret that could be hidden from them.

The incident with Yan Huang was personally investigated by Shen Luoxue, who rarely involved herself in day-to-day affairs. The final result was that Yan Huang was indeed an undercover agent, whose purpose was to infiltrate into the core of the Heavenly Mandate Academy. He was to collect information and to get a hold of secrets inside the Heavenly Mandate Academy.

Of course, no details were disclosed to the public. Shen Luoxue’s investigation revealed that Yan Huang was to find out how Ye Futian was able to create the perfect Divine Wheel, what he had gotten from inside the God’s relic, and to obtain some exclusive methods in cultivation and to bring them back to the Solar Divine Palace.

In truth, the Heavenly Mandate Academy was a principality in preaching, not a clan. It did not necessarily require a strong sense of loyalty from its disciples. Since leaving after their cultivation had concluded wasn’t an issue for the academy, the assessment process was not actually as strict. As long as there are no great concerns, it was not insurmountable to become a core disciple.

But to become a disciple of the Cottage, or even to enter the absolute center of the academy, would require a strong sense of loyalty to the Heavenly Mandate Academy.

However, this did not mean that the Heavenly Mandate Academy would permit any actions that would endanger the Academy.

Therefore, the punishment for Yan Huang was to abolish his cultivation and expelled him from the Heavenly Mandate Academy.

They did not announce the true identity of Yan Huang, though it was really not so much a secret. Their discretion was to save the Solar Divine Palace the humiliation. As for the abolition of Yan Huang’s cultivation, if the Solar Divine Palace was not afraid of offending the Heavenly Mandate Academy by sending in a spy, the Academy wouldn’t care too much about the consequences of the punishment. It was all done with mutual understanding.

The incident this time was meant to set an example for the others. And it was the first time that the Heavenly Mandate Academy had sent such a warning to the people inside the Academy. The place of preaching also meant that no internal conflicts were allowed.

In the Sword Pavilion at the Heavenly Mandate Academy, a horrible sword intent flowed inside a sword matrix, with many figures sitting there quietly.

After a long while, a mild chiding was heard as the sword intent dissipated, and the power of the sword matrix disappeared.

“How do you feel?” the Swordmaster of Lihen asked several young people who were in the matrix.

“Although my Lord and Ye Wuchen have both reached the level of the sword emperor, their swordsmanship feels totally different,” Wang Chuan replied.

“Take the best from the experts but comprehend your own swordsmanship.” The Swordmaster of Lihen nodded slightly.

“It’s so depressing.” The person beside Wan Chuan sighed. “We all cultivated together back then. Now even Wuchen had proven the Way, and I am not even within reach of Nirvana.”

The speaker was Xu Que, the young master of Tingxue House in the land of the Nine States. His father, Xu Shang, was next to him, saying, “Everyone’s fortune is different. You will have your shot in the future.”

“Father, let’s not talk about me. Look at yourself; you are not even at my level,” Xu Que shrugged.

“Get outta here…” Xu Shang cursed, embarrassment written all over his face. This b*stard was looking to get hurt.

“Wuchen and I have had our own adventures, and we’ve had better luck.” The Swordmaster of Lihen appeared very calm, without the slightest air of an elder.

When they were at Emperor Xia’s Realm, Renhuang were legends. But in the Heavenly Mandate Academy, being a Renhuang was nothing worth showing off.

“Uncle Xu and Xu Que’s cultivation path is similar to that of the Clan of the Seven Slayers. Futian meant that you could ask them for some advice,” Ye Wuchen said. The Clan of the Seven Slayers had quite a few people who were currently cultivating at the Heavenly Mandate Academy. The Heavenly Mandate Academy generally welcomed everyone, as long as they were not sneaky like the Solar Divine Palace.

“Don’t be depressed. With all these years spent at Crimson Dragon Realm and the Heavenly Mandate Academy, you’ve already cultivated fast enough.” Next to him, Huang Jiuge spoke with a smile, and Xu Que nodded. This was the truth; back then, they would have never been able to imagine today’s scenario.

At that time in the Nine States, Saint Plane was already legendary, enough to stand on top of the Nine States.

And now, they were looking forward to the realm of Renhuang.

“Renhuang.” Huang Jiuge remarked in his heart. His own ancestors were in the realm of Renhuang, and now he had the opportunity to reach the realm of his ancestors. For the past few years, Ye Futian had spent a lot of time on them. He would come and visit them whenever he came out of the retreat and provided them the best resources for cultivation.

These young people aside, even those from the older generation in the Nine States, who had all reached bottleneck in their own cultivation, had their realms abruptly smashed through in recent years.

Douzhan, for example, was cultivating the powerful body refining formula of the Dou tribe, constantly breaking through the limit of his own physical body, and tempering his spiritual will power by various means. In such ways, even previous limitations could be broken.

“How is Futian’s cultivation? I wonder if he will break into the second level of the Divine Wheel,” Xu Que whispered. In the past few years, Ye Futian’s cultivation had been intermittent, and most of his time, besides spending on cultivation, was spent on being with Hua Jieyu and Nianyu.

“He just came out of the retreat and went to Uncle Hua’s, so let’s not disturb him for the time being,” Huang Jiuge smiled and said, and Xu Que nodded in agreement. Clearly, they won’t deprive Ye Futian of the opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet.

…

In the residential palace where Hua Fengliu was located, Nandou Wenyin had already prepared a table of food. Although Ye Futian no longer required meal intake at this point in his cultivation, he still quite enjoyed the simplicity and warmth afforded by sharing a meal.

“Nianyu hasn’t come back yet from cultivation?” Ye Futian smiled and asked.

“It should be soon,” Nandou Wenyin replied.

“Brother, sister.” Just as they were chatting, a clear voice came from outside, and a little girl, like a little fairy, came running toward Ye Futian and Hua Jieyu.

Hua Nianyu stretched out her hands to Ye Futian, indicating that she wanted to be picked up.

“Hey, you are too old for this.” Ye Futian smiled and rubbed Nianyu’s head. The girl was now nine years old, and she still wanted him to pick her up every time she saw him.

“We’ll stop when I’m ten.” Nianyu looked at Ye Futian pitifully.

“Deal. Let’s see how heavy you are now.” Ye Futian indulgently picked Hua Nianyu up, and the girl suddenly burst into a bright smile.

“How’s your cultivation coming along?” Ye Futian asked.

“Grandpa Xuan said that I’ve got potential and that I will definitely be better than you in the future.” Nianyu looked at Ye Futian with her big eyes.

“That’s for sure, Nianyu has to be better than me,” Ye Futian smiled and nodded, and put Nianyu on the chair.

When everyone sat down, Nandou Wenyin looked at Loulan Xue and said, “Loulan, come and sit with us.”

“No.” Loulan Xue shook her head.

“Come and sit together,” Ye Futian turned his head and said to her.

Loulan Xue glanced at him, then nodded gently, and sat down on the other side of Nianyu.

“You’ve worked hard these years, don’t delay your own cultivation,” Ye Futian said to Loulan Xue.

“Mmm,” Loulan Xue nodded slightly. Although her cultivation was weak, she couldn’t have imagined all that was before her eyes.

“However, if you return to the Nine States now, you would be someone great and could even become a clan lord in your own right,” Ye Futian said with a smile.

Loulan Xue gave him a look and said, “I’m not going back.”

“Um…” Ye Futian didn’t expect Loulan Xue to be so sensitive. Upon seeing his gaze, Loulan Xue explained, “I like Nianyu very much. I would be happy to take care of her for the foreseeable future.”

“Well, Sister Loulan is very good to me.” Nianyu said, “I don’t want Sister Loulan to leave.”

“I didn’t ask Sister Loulan to leave,” Ye Futian pinched Nianyu’s face and replied.

Nandou Wenyin watched in silence. She smiled and said, “The food is getting cold. Let’s eat.”

She was a woman, so she understood what Loulan Xue was thinking. This girl was way too stubborn. She would rather stay by Ye Futian’s side as a handmaid.

“Well, Masteress, please eat.” Ye Futian started serving Nandou Wenyin some of the dishes and then did the same for Jieyu.

“It’s enough to take good care of your own wife.” Hua Fengliu glared at Ye Futian, and then took the initiative to serve Nandou Wenyin. Of course, he also did so for Tang Lan, who was next to him.

Ye Futian had a completely innocent look on his face. “Master, you are too…”

“Don’t mind him,” Nandou Wenyin said with a smile.

“Big brother, eat.” Next to him, Hua Nianyu copied Ye Futian and started serving him the dishes.

“Nianyu, what about me?” Hua Fengliu looked at Nianyu and said.

“Dad, you have mom to help you,” Nianyu looked at Hua Fengliu innocently with her big eyes.

“…” Hua Fengliu looked at her, dumbfounded, and then at Nandou Wenyin, who was clearly trying not to laugh… He felt like a total failure.

When he thought of that, he gave Ye Futian another dirty look.

Ye Futian shrugged and stifled a smile on his face.

The family enjoyed the meal together. Afterward, Ye Futian left with Hua Jieyu.

“Do you want to go back and rest, or do you want to go to the academy with me?” Ye Futian asked Hua Jieyu.

Hua Jieyu thought for a moment, then looked at Ye Futian and replied, “I’ll go with you.”

Ye Futian smiled when he heard Hua Jieyu’s answer. He looked at the beautiful face so close to him and said softly, “Can I kiss you?”

This was his wife, but Ye Futian would never force her to do anything. He had always treated her in the gentlest manner.

Hua Jieyu gave him a strange look when she heard Ye Futian’s request. There was no embarrassment on her indifferent face, nor did she blush, but she seemed to consider the request seriously.

After a moment of silence, she nodded gently. “Mhmm.”

Ye Futian gently circled her waist with both hands, making Hua Jieyu a little nervous. Under the gaze of her beautiful eyes, Ye Futian approached bit by bit and kissed her forehead gently.

Hua Jieyu felt a little strange in her heart, but couldn’t tell just what that feeling was exactly. Could it be a little nervousness?

She didn’t quite understand it herself, but when Ye Futian asked her, she didn’t seem to mind.

Over the years, she seemed to have become accustomed to being with Ye Futian so that the voice inside her head that urged her to devote herself to cultivation had gradually weakened its influence on her.

He said that she was his wife, and she, too, felt that he was very familiar and kind.

But who was she?

Was she his wife?

At this time, in the distant Brahma’s Pure Sky, a strong aura fluctuated in a palace, and it seemed a little cold.

At the same time, someone had informed Lord Taixuan that recently, some things that were extremely unfavorable to the Heavenly Mandate Academy had happened in the outside world.

Many disciples from the Heavenly Mandate Academy had been assassinated while undergoing trials outside.

Lord Taixuan then ordered an investigation on the matter immediately. After four years of peace and quiet, were there now someone who started to attack the Heavenly Mandate Academy secretly?

This matter soon became known in the Heavenly Mandate Academy. There were more and more people being assassinated while outside!

…