Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Martial Academy of the Capital

After speaking, Ye Hua walked forward several dozen steps, coming to the center of the open ground. He focused his gaze and saw faint undulations all around—clearly, a restrictive formation had been set up to prevent reckless destruction of the surroundings during cultivation.

A flash of black light appeared in Ye Hua’s hand as a short sword materialized. Gripping it in his right hand, he swung it forcefully at a giant boulder ahead. With a resounding clang, a beam of light cleaved straight into the rock. The massive black stone, several tens of feet long, was split nearly twenty feet deep before the brilliance slowly faded.

Ye Hua felt a surge of satisfaction at how deeply his slash had penetrated. He mused, “These last few weeks have been fraught with worry, yet I’ve not neglected my inner cultivation—in fact, I’ve made great progress. Just a few months ago, I doubt I could have cut so deep.”

As he pondered this, five voices cried out in unison. Turning, Ye Hua saw that at some point, Shi Lei, Zhang Lan, and Gu Yunqi had arrived—the five of them were staring at the split boulder, their faces filled with shock. Though the strike seemed simple, its unadorned power revealed astonishing skill. While others might not know, these five understood: the short sword had cut through black-gold rock, a material of exceptional hardness they’d specially procured for training.

They hadn’t expected Ye Hua’s sword to cleave six or seven feet into the stone. The group was stunned for a long moment before Zhang Ke finally recovered and called out to Ye Hua from afar, “Junior Ye, I never imagined your sword would be this powerful!”

Ma Fei glared at Ye Hua as if seeing him for the first time and muttered, “How is this possible? That’s black-gold rock, and he’s only at the sixth level of the Seven Treasures!”

Shi Lei and Zhang Lan exchanged glances—though they knew Ye Hua’s cultivation was extraordinary, his strength still surpassed their expectations. Only Gu Yunqi seemed delighted, chuckling, “Heh heh... I told you, didn’t I? If he were ordinary, how could my flying sword be restrained? Heh heh, ha ha ha!”

Ye Hua walked over slowly and said to the group, “Ah, I’ve made a spectacle of myself. My meager skills aren’t worth displaying before you all.”

Zhang Ke was overjoyed. “Junior Ye, you’ve truly broadened our horizons! Come, take a short rest. Today, we’ll head to the Capital Martial Hall, pay our respects to the elders, and inquire about Master Zhiguang and Chan Master Xukong!” The others all agreed in unison.

Following Zhang Ke, they walked from the inner residence to the outer courtyard. Along the way, Shi Lei kept nodding at Ye Hua, humming approvingly. Ye Hua felt uneasy under his gaze and whispered, “Brother Shi, why are you looking at me like that?” Shi Lei chuckled, “Junior Ye, it’s a pity you’re only at the sixth level. Once you break through again, your cultivation will deepen even more—heh, even the Four Young Masters may not be your match!”

Ye Hua blushed and protested, “Brother Shi, don’t tease me. How could I compare to the Four Young Masters?” Shi Lei nodded, “In terms of technique, perhaps not yet. But in raw internal strength, you’re not far behind them—not at all!”

Once in the outer courtyard, they rested briefly in the hall before Zhang Ke led them out onto the street. They hailed a carriage and rode northeast, passing through several bustling districts. The road ahead became hilly. Peering out the window, Ye Hua saw distant mountains layered like indigo brushstrokes, a nearby shallow lake shimmering with emerald waves, the scene picturesque as a painting.

Seeing Ye Hua peering outside, Zhang Ke smiled knowingly. “The Capital Martial Hall is on Jade Fragrance Mountain, facing the Clear Hall across a peak. This area, famed as the ‘Three Mountains and Five Gardens,’ is the capital’s most renowned cultivation ground—you’ve surely heard of it.”

Ye Hua nodded. “Indeed, I’ve long heard of the Capital Martial Hall and that its headmaster is Master Tianfeng of Heaven Wind Mountain—is that true?”

Zhang Ke replied, “Exactly. Master Tianfeng is accomplished in both demonic and Daoist arts, his cultivation reaching unfathomable heights. His reputation is unmatched in the capital. Though he holds no official post and doesn’t meddle in politics, he is revered as a guide by all young cultivators.”

Ye Hua asked, “Do you think we’ll have the fortune to meet Headmaster Tianfeng at the hall?”

Ma Fei sighed, “The hall has hundreds of instructors, and even the most renowned are rarely seen. To meet Master Tianfeng himself, as the headmaster, is all but impossible.”

Zhang Ke said, “We’re actually going to visit Elder Qingling, the patriarch of the Fifth Institute.”

After a pause, Zhang Ke continued, “Speaking of Elder Qingling, his story is long indeed. Years ago, he traveled to Yingzhou, just as King Fengchenxiu unified the land there—his civil and martial accomplishments rivaled those of the Central Realm. It was there that Elder Qingling mastered profound demonic arts.”

Later, he journeyed alone to the far north, encountering the incursion of western fiends in a great upheaval, where he learned the secret arts of the Eastern Party. Gifted and diligent, he broke through to the Jade Splendor Realm more than a century ago, and now, it’s rumored, he’s on the verge of ascending to the Supreme Unity Realm—a figure of great renown in the Martial Hall!”

Ye Hua was shocked. “The Supreme Unity Realm! That… that’s the summit of cultivation. Elder Qingling must be truly formidable!”

Seeing Ye Hua’s astonished look, Zhang Ke smiled. “The Supreme Unity Realm is likely just a rumor. If he’d really reached that height, news would have spread like wildfire—the capital would have gained another towering legend. Don’t be too surprised, Junior Ye.”

Ye Hua gave a wry smile. “Even if not, he’s surely at the peak of the Jade Splendor Realm—that alone makes him a figure of awe.”

Zhang Ke laughed, “No matter how lofty his cultivation, he cannot escape the bonds of worldly affairs. My father and Elder Qingling were friends in adversity, so I’ve known him since childhood—though, truth be told, it’s been over a year since we last met, even living in the same capital.”

Their pace was swift. After another half hour, a solitary, elegant peak came into view, wreathed in clouds and mist. Zhang Ke alighted from the carriage and noticed flashes of light flickering around the mountain. He frowned, thinking, “Strange—why are there so many visitors to the Capital Martial Hall today?”

No time to ponder, he channeled his internal energy to probe ahead. Suddenly, the air shuddered and a stone gate appeared, inscribed with the words “Capital Martial Hall Grand Academy.” Two guards flanked the entrance and called out, “Who goes there?”

Zhang Ke cupped his fists and replied, “Zhang Ke, of the Zhang family of Yuantian Estate, here with friends to pay respects to Elder Qingling!”

The guards gestured, and the stone gate gleamed with white light. Ye Hua felt his vision blur, and in the next instant, they were inside the gate. Ahead, dozens of peaks rose, covered in countless pavilions and towers. Lights crisscrossed the sky, while crowds thronged the bustling streets below.