Chapter 397: Towards the Great Zhou Empire

Before Zhu Yi officially became Lin Feng's disciple, he worked exceptionally hard to pass the county examination to officially become a scholar. This time around, he planned to do the same and try his best in passing the Great Zhou Empire's spring examination to achieve the title of the graduate.

Before he became Lin Feng's disciple, according to Zhu Yi's initial plan in life, he should have participated in the examination three years ago and attained the title of a graduate. With that title, he could have moved out of the house of Marquis Xuanji and lived independently since he would be entitled to own a property. However, ever since he became Lin Feng's disciple, everything was delayed.

There was no need to bring up things of the past anymore. Unless Lin Feng fell out with the emperor of the Great Zhou Empire, Zhu Yi should have absolutely no issues entering and exiting the House of the Marquis of Xuanji as he wished.

Since then, he was already a cultivator of the intermediate Aurous Core Stage. However, truth to be told, he was as strong as an elder of the Nascent Soul Stage. His level could not be matched by any of the other sons of Zhu Hongwu.

In fact, Zhang Hai, who was the household manager and an expert combatant of the House of the Marquis of Xuanji, may not even be his match anymore. Now, the only person in the House of Marquis of Xuanji who could stand a chance against him would be the Marquis of Xuanji himself.

Last year, after the Spiritual Conference of Huanghai, the emperor of the Great Zhou Empire had already sent someone to prepare and handed the necessary documents to Zhu Yi for his examinations. All he had to do was to concentrate and focus on the upcoming examinations. After attaining the title of graduate when one had passed the examination in the spring, the next examination to become a palace graduate would be six months away.

He would have the status of palace graduate, which had been Zhu Yi's dream ever since he was a kid.

However, he lost his motivation and interest in becoming one ever since he followed Lin Feng and found out the truth about what happened to his mother. Becoming a palace graduate was no longer that important to him.

The purpose of Zhu Yi's participation in the examination was purely just a personal test of his capabilities and attain a certain level of peace within himself.

At this level, simply meditating and constantly practicing to improve was no longer as efficient and sufficient. He had to rely on long hours of grinding, which was highly ineffective.

Over the course of Zhu Yi's journey in cultivation, the principles of being a scholar and the principles of being a cultivator had always been intertwined with one another. The examination he was about to take was a test of his knowledge as well as a process of grinding for his own mantras and cultivation.

If things were to go as anticipated, he would have definitely made great advancements in his masteries of mantra.

Lin Feng had always supported and encouraged his disciples to be flexible. Instead of rigidly following what Lin Feng taught them, it would be more beneficial if they came up with the individual ways to practice.

The Celestial Sect of Wonders and the Great Zhou Empire were still in the honeymoon phase and there were not much conflicts of interest.

Thus, Lin Feng decided not to visit the capital city of the Great Zhou, Tianjing. Although he was keen on visiting the emperor of Great Zhou Empire, Liang Pan, and Zhu Yi's father, Zhu Hongwu, he felt that it was still premature.

Shi Tianhao, Tun Tun and Zhuge Fengling decided to follow Zhu Yi to Tianjing.

Zhu Yi laughed, "I am worried that the entire city will be turned upside down if you all are to go."

Shi Tianhao giggled, "Second Senior, you do not have to be too concerned about us. Instead, you should be more concerned about yourself. Recently, your life has only revolved around scriptures like Yi Zi's Eight Trigrams Variorum. Would you even be able to pick up the pen and start writing poems and prose again like how you used to?"

Zhu Yi smiled and said, "Easy peasy."

Shi Tianhao gave Zhu Yi a thumbs up and said as he smiled, "The last time I went there was with the master when I was little, but we left after a while. This time around, I am definitely going to take a good look and explore the majestic city!"

"The most important thing is to look for delicious food!" Tun Tun interrupted.

"Besides eating, what other useful things can you do?" Shi Tian Hao rolled his eyes and replied.

"You are the last one in this world who can say such a thing to me," Tun Tun retorted.

Shi Tianhao was upset. "Why not? I used to be a glutton but that was in the past! Now that I have grown up, I am no longer like you!"

Zhu Yi, Yue Hongyan and Yang Qing who were by the side started cracking up. Shi Tianhao pouted a little and said, "Come on guys, if you guys do not believe me, go ahead and check on storage of delicacies in Wasteland Valley. I only occasionally let loose of myself and eat them."

After hearing what Shi Tianhao said, the raging Tun Tun suddenly smiled and gave an ill-intentioned look. "If that is the case, I am sure you would not mind giving me your share right?"

"Dream on! I would rather use them to raise a beast than to give it to you!" Shi Tianhao rudely replied.

Shi Tianhao suddenly became serious and grabbed Tun Tun, "You have to follow Second Senior and I to Tianjing. Or else, I would have to trouble master to look after you again."

"I am not going! I am staying on the mountain!" Tun Tun said as she struggled to break free.

Everyone else laughed and shook their heads as they were entertained by the interactions between Tun Tun and Shi Tianhao.

Jun Zining who was staring into space suddenly turned around, sighed and shook her head.

Shi Tianhao glanced at her for a moment and said, "Are you going?"

Jun Zining thought for a while and hesitantly replied, "I hear that Tianjing is pretty cold and I have never been there before. But..."

Before Jun Zining could finish her sentence, Shi Tianhao interrupted. "Okay, understood. We shall not bring you along then."

Dumbfounded, Jun Zining stared blankly at Shi Tianhao as she was still in the state of disbelief.

"Usually we do not really have to bother with what you are saying if you are adding an adverb such as "but", "then" or "however" in between your sentences. That simply means that whatever you said before those adverbs mean nothing." Shi Tianhao said cheekily.

"You do not have to go if you are not keen on going."

Crushed by Shi Tianhao's words, Jun Zining was tongue-tied and taken aback as she was just trying to show the ladylike side of her.

Looking at Shi Tianhao who was secretly laughing and Jun Zining who was dumbfounded, Yang Qing laughed as he shook his head, "Although Tianhao has been claiming that he has grown up, it seems otherwise.."

Zhu Yi smilingly defended Shi Tianhao and said, "Little Junior is only like that when he is with us. When he is outside, the way he does things really do show some sense of maturity in it."

"Are we not also like that when we are around each other?" Zhu Yi whispered softly.

Yang Qing indisputably agreed and nodded his head.

Remaining silent on the other side, Yue Hongyan was only there to send Zhu Yi off and had no intention of following him.

Lin Feng looked at Yue Hongyan as she remained silent.

"Master, I am afraid that I would not be able to control myself."

Yue Hongyan had been to Tianjing previously but her intentions then were to kill. If she were to go this time around, she definitely would not be able to take action as easily and that would make her extremely frustrated.

Especially when the Great Zhou Empire was getting more robust and united as time went by. This was in contrast to her own nation that had been destroyed - this would only make Yue Hongyan more flustered.

Lin Feng had no intentions of forcing Yue Hongyan to follow them although it could have been a good form of test for her but Lin Feng felt that it was a little too inhumane to do so.

"Whether you want to go is entirely up to you. It is also not a bad thing for you to stay here and continue practicing. In fact, revenge is only possible if you continuously improve and advance in your masteries of mantra," Lin Feng said apathetically.

"Hongyan, you are tough and strong by nature and you have no fear of death. During your test on core formation, the problem of life and death is not going to be an issue for you. As long as you have been consistently practicing your masteries of mana and have a good understanding of your body and soul, you can start trying to break through to the Aurous Core stage."

Yue Hongyan understood Lin Feng and nodded with respect as she was relieved that Lin Feng was not against her taking revenge.

That was enough.

Everything else was like what Lin Feng said. Only if she was stronger in mind and body could she reach her goals.

Meanwhile, the rest came to a consensus that Yue Hongyan was going to stay in the mountains to continue her training along with Xiao Yan, Yang Qing would also stay and rather take care of the spiritual herbs and medicine.

Zhu Yi then entrusted the rest of his disciples and Li Xingfei to Yue Hongyan and Yang Qing while the rest followed him to Tianjing.

Zhu Yi did not know what to feel about their company as the four of them giggled and said, "Rest assured, second senior, you do what you have to do while we carry on with our 'exploration' of Tianjing."

Zhu Yi smiled and shook his head, "Please do not ask me to rest assured. If I do not keep an eye on you guys, trouble will come."

Amidst the laughter, Lin Feng manipulated the void of Mount Yujing and left the Kunlun Mountain Range. Soon, he arrived at within the borders of Great Zhou Empire and left the void at Mount Yujing open for them.

Although Lin Feng did not have to supervise and follow his disciples this time around, he still sent the two demon kings, the Kui Cow King and the Feilian King to follow them.

After domesticating the Feilian King for the past six months, the Feilian King has been fully tamed. Therefore, he voluntarily allowed Zhu Yi and friends to ride on him.

The Kui Cow King was in the Intermediate Demonic Lord stage and the Feilian King who was in the Beginner Demonic Lord stage. Their combined powers boosted the overall strength of their entire company.

Extremely touched by Lin Feng's actions, Zhu Yi bade his farewell. He was elated to be back inside Tianjing City after so many years. Thinking back, he could feel the blood boiling in his veins and the call of his ambitions.

After sending Zhu Yi and friends off, Lin Feng stood on Mount Yujing and thought, "Since I am here, there is a place I must visit."

He manipulated Mount Yujing in the void while allowing his psychic awareness to connect with the world as he distinguished the location of the terrain.

"I am here." Ling Feng came to a stop with Mount Yujing. He was positioned inside the void and his original body was still unmoving on top of the mountain. He used mana to protect himself as he sent the Steel Tree Avatar down Mount Yujing.

An endless mountain range which was extremely majestic appeared in front of Lin Feng as he left the void and back into the Greater World. The mountain range and plain land that appeared in front of Lin Feng were sprawling, endless and magnificent.

Even though it was not as colossal as the Kunlun Mountains, this majestic mountain was located in the hinterlands and possessed a relatively exotic and majestic aura.

Walking amidst the mountains, Lin Feng came to a stop after a long while and took a deep breath.

"Is this the Holy Ground known as the Great Thunderclap Temple?"