The Sword God of the Universe

The entire square underwent a sudden change in atmosphere.

"City Lord, what do you mean by this?" Cang Long asked with furrowed brows.

"Mr. Cang Long, I too deeply regret the death of your disciple. However, your disciple Suo Wen challenged the Jing Family by setting up a duel arena and was ultimately slain by the Jing Family Disciples; the process conformed to duel rules, and Jing Yan is clearly innocent. Suo Wen set up the duel, so he should have been prepared to die. If Suo Wen had succeeded in killing Jing Yan, I wouldn't have blamed him either," Huo Chunyang's eyes narrowed slightly.

Indeed, he did not want to offend someone like Cang Long.

But if he had to choose between Jing Yan and Cang Long, he would certainly choose to offend Cang Long. No matter how significant Cang Long's background might be, could it be more considerable than that of Lord Bai Xue? Or more than the Prince?

It wasn't just that Jing Yan was faultless; even if Jing Yan truly were at fault, he would still protect him.

"Heh, City Lord, you mean to say that my disciple Suo Wen died in vain?" Cang Long's expression also grew dark.

He wasn't from Donglin City, so he dared to show his displeasure to Huo Chunyang. Huo Chunyang might be powerful, but would he dare to strike at him, Cang Long? He wasn't planning to stay long in Donglin City. Once he returned to Divine Wind Academy, he would have no further dealings with Huo Chunyang.

"Yes, your disciple Suo Wen simply died in vain. What, should I perhaps compensate you for your loss?" The look in Huo Chunyang's eyes hardened slightly as he spoke in a cold, stern voice.

"City Lord, you may not be aware of Mr. Cang Long's identity, but Mr. Cang Long's brother, Cang Yu, is a disciple of Pill Master Liu Zhaohai of Lanqu County City," Zhao Dangyuan, who had been silent until then, couldn't help speaking up now.

The development of the situation was completely beyond his control.

Jing Yan, who was supposed to have a definite death, seemed to have a twist of fate. How could he readily accept this?

As long as Jing Yan lived, he would not be at peace.

"Patriarch Zhao, there's no need to say more. No matter what connections Mr. Cang Long has behind him, it cannot change the facts." Huo Chunyang held up his hand and waved at Zhao Dangyuan.

Normally, when Huo Chunyang saw Zhao Dangyuan, he would be considerably polite. But when it came to Jing Yan, he absolutely stood by him. Huo Chunyang also knew why Zhao Dangyuan wanted Jing Yan dead—he was afraid Jing Yan would grow up and threaten the Zhao Family's position. In Huo Chunyang's mind, those who wanted Jing Yan dead were opposing him, something he would not allow.

Cai Family Patriarch Cai Yunjian had also intended to speak, but seeing that even Zhao Dangyuan was being ignored by the City Lord, he wisely kept silent. However, his eyes flickered with unresolved resentment.

Zhao Dangyuan, too, was secretly resentful.

Had they known that City Lord Huo Chunyang would protect Jing Yan, they would have acted sooner and killed Jing Yan as soon as they arrived at the City Lord Mansion. With his power, no one present then could have stopped him. He simply hadn't anticipated that Huo Chunyang would suddenly return to Donglin City and, even more surprisingly, protect Jing Yan.

It was frustrating!

But there was nothing they could do. Huo Chunyang's stance was clear; what more could they do? Within the City Lord Mansion, would they dare attack the City Lord? Not to mention Huo Chunyang's strength, even if his power weren't as great, once he attacked the City Lord, it would surely result in the downfall of the Zhao Family, and even his backers in Lanqu County City couldn't save them. Besides, Huo Chunyang was stronger than him. Should it come to a fight, it might be him who would be slain.

The scene momentarily fell into silence.

"Jing Yan!" Huo Chunyang, after a brief pause, looked at Jing Yan with a smile.

"Here!" Jing Yan promptly stepped forward, "Jing Yan, at your service, City Lord!"

"Uh, no need for such formality; you have done well. Even though you have experienced a downturn before, such an experience didn't cause you to lose the spirit of a Martial Artist, which is very good," Huo Chunyang openly praised Jing Yan in front of the many onlookers.

"Thank you for your praise, City Lord," Jing Yan respectfully expressed his gratitude.

Jing Yan was still uncertain why the City Lord was so amicably disposed towards him. Before, he seemed to have had no interactions with the City Lord.

Yet now the City Lord, to protect him, had directly offended people like Cang Long and Zhao Dangyuan. This was clearly unusual. Of course, Jing Yan was very pleased by this; it seemed his life was, at least for now, spared, and the Jing Family was preserved.

"Patriarch Zhao, Cai Family Patriarch, and Jing Clan Patriarch!"

"You three are all here, which gives me the opportunity to announce something."

"The assessment for the selection of new students for the Three Major Academies, the selection time for Donglin City will be set a month from now. One month later, after receiving a message from the City Lord Mansion, bring the most outstanding young Martial Artists under thirty from your families directly to the City Lord Mansion," Huo Chunyang then declared.

He had gone to Lanqu County City precisely for the matter of the Three Major Academies' new student intake. Now that he was back, it was naturally time to commence the selection process.

This time, the Prince Manor had also allotted a total of ten spots to Donglin City.

This means that within the territory of Donglin City, there will be ten martial artists under the age of thirty who will obtain the opportunity to participate in the exams held by the Three Major Academies. This opportunity is undoubtedly extremely precious.

Although Donglin City is a rather inconspicuous small city in Lanqu County, the vastness of the territory can be seen from the fact that it takes a martial artist from the Innate Realm more than a month to traverse it. Naturally, the number of young martial artists within Donglin City is extremely staggering, and selecting ten people from so many young martial artists to participate in the exams at Lanqu County City is not an easy task.

Therefore, this selection is not unrestricted. For example, the major families of Donglin City are also awarded a certain number of selection quotas based on the overall strength of each family, and each family can only send their finest young martial artists to participate in the selection.

"City Lord, how many selection quotas does my Zhao Family have this time?" Zhao Dangyuan asked again when it came to the exams of the Three Major Academies.

For any family, the entrance exams of the Three Major Academies are absolutely a major affair. The more disciples a family has entering the Three Major Academies, the stronger that family becomes, unquestionably.

In Donglin City, the Zhao Family had the most disciples in the Three Major Academies, far surpassing the Lin Family and the Jing Family.

Each family valued these selection quotas extremely highly.

"Zhao Family, this time you have six quotas," Huo Chunyang responded.

Last time, the Zhao Family also had six quotas, and this time the number of quotas remained the same.

Hearing that his family had six quotas, Zhao Dangyuan slightly nodded his head. He was quite satisfied with the number of quotas; Huo Chunyang had not reduced the Zhao Family's participation in the selection.

"Jing Clan Patriarch, your Jing Family also has six quotas this time!" Huo Chunyang then turned to Jing Chengye.

"Ah?" Jing Chengye could not help but open his mouth.

He was somewhat incredulous.

To be honest, Jing Chengye had not yet recovered from the previous events. He could not understand why the City Lord was so protective of the Jing Family, blatantly protecting Jing Yan without allowing any defiance. He did not know when the Jing Family had become so close to the City Lord.

Now, hearing the City Lord say that his Jing Family also had six selection quotas, he blurted out aloud.

You see, during the last exams for the Three Major Acadaciess, in the selections of Donglin City, the Jing Family only had three quotas. Yes, just three.

The leading Zhao Family had six quotas.

And the second family, the Lin Family, only had four quotas. The Jing Family, as the third ranking family, had three quotas. The fourth family, the Cai Family, had two quotas.

The other families of Donglin City mostly had one quota each, and each township within Donglin City's territory also had one recommended quota.

Jing Chengye exclaimed in surprise.

Others were even more shocked, staring at City Lord Huo Chunyang. What on earth was the City Lord up to?

Why did the Jing Family have six quotas? Given that the Jing Family ranked third in strength within Donglin City, if the Jing Family had six quotas, then the Zhao Family should also have six.

"City Lord, isn't this a bit inappropriate? My Zhao Family has six quotas, why does the Jing Family have six quotas as well? Then, how many quotas does the Lin Family have?" Zhao Dangyuan immediately asked.

He felt that having the same number of quotas as the Jing Family was an insult to the Zhao Family. In front of so many people, as the Patriarch Zhao, his face lacked honor. How could the Jing Family be considered equal to his Zhao Family? Of course, he had to inquire carefully.

"The Lin Family has four quotas," Huo Chunyang narrowed his eyes at Zhao Dangyuan, "Patriarch Zhao, mind your status. You better not question my decision, and you do not have the right to question it. The six quotas I have given to the Zhao Family are already showing you great respect."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dangyuan's face darkened immediately, and he coldly smiled. His gaze suddenly turned towards Jing Chengye, suspecting that Jing Chengye and Huo Chunyang had reached some kind of agreement. But what he could not understand was what could the Jing Family possibly have that made Huo Chunyang treat the Jing Family so generously. Such treatment must at least involve something that deeply interested Huo Chunyang, in exchange, right? What could the mere Jing Family possess to deeply interest Huo Chunyang?

"Jing Clan Patriarch, Jing Yan won't need to take up a quota. Before the exams of the Three Major Academies in Lanqu County City, Jing Yan will directly go with me to Lanqu County City; he does not need to participate in the selection!" Huo Chunyang then dropped another bombshell.

Not needing to participate in the selection, but going directly to Lanqu County City to undertake the exams of the Three Major Academies?

This seemed to be a rarity in the history of Donglin City.

By this time, even a fool could see that City Lord Huo Chunyang's treatment of Jing Yan was extraordinary. Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned towards Jing Yan, speculating about his relationship with Huo Chunyang.

Could it be that Jing Yan was Huo Chunyang's illegitimate child?

This possibility seemed the most likely. Otherwise, why would Huo Chunyang treat Jing Yan so well?

But then, why had Huo Chunyang not shown any special care for Jing Yan before this? Not long ago, when Jing Yan was expelled from Divine Wind Academy, Huo Chunyang did not say anything. When Jing Yan was ridiculed in Donglin City, the City Lord likewise did not stand up to say a word.