The First Summoner - Chapter 81

Instructor Zhu Hua stared at Zhuge Youlin with shining eyes, barely able to contain her delight at discovering such a genius. She hurriedly had him fill in his basic information, then handed him an entrance-test token.

After repeatedly confirming that he came from a small border kingdom, she found his talent even more astonishing.

And he was only seventeen!

His future was limitless!

Everyone stared at Zhuge Youlin with shock and envy. More than a few young women secretly fell for him on the spot. He was handsome, talented, and powerful—who could possibly remain unmoved?

With everyone’s attention fixed on Zhuge Youlin, Zhuge Weiran and Shen Yan completed their cultivation tests and registered without drawing any notice.

Zhuge Weiran was at Mystic-rank level one.

Shen Yan was even lower, at Yellow-rank level nine.

The pillar could only measure cultivation, not talent. To qualify for Western Region Academy’s entrance test, an applicant merely needed to have reached Yellow-rank level eight.

Zhuge Weiran seemed to have known his ninth brother’s cultivation all along and showed no surprise. Instead, he instinctively watched Shen Yan’s reaction.

She appeared mildly startled, but swiftly regained her composure.

Many academy heads had been lying in wait for talented candidates. They had not expected to truly find someone like Zhuge Youlin. They surrounded him on every side, each doing their utmost to recruit him.

Their pestering soon wore on his patience.

He looked back and saw Shen Yan and Zhuge Weiran waiting for him with smiles.

Zhuge Youlin quickly broke free of the crowd and strode toward them.

Just then—

It was Chi Yue’s turn to register.

Everyone craned their necks, eagerly waiting for the Chi Clan’s young master to emerge. Instead, a guard walked to Instructor Zhu Hua’s side and murmured several words. She nodded, picked up the testing pillar herself, and carried it to the sedan chair.

The crowd stared in shock.

Chi Yue would not even leave his sedan chair. He had made an instructor of Western Region Academy personally bring the testing pillar to him.

Instructor Zhu Hua stopped before the sedan chair, looked up, and smiled faintly.

“Extend your hand.”

The crowd held its breath. A hand parted the layers of white gauze and settled atop the testing pillar.

The young master’s hand was fair and immaculate, with clearly defined knuckles and long, slender fingers. It looked like something from a painting, compelling people to stare.

The pillar lit up.

An uproar swept through the crowd.

“Earth-rank level one!”

“What kind of monster is he?! Isn’t the Chi Clan’s young master a spirit-plant master? How can he be so strong?”

“The strongest of our generation is Pei Su. He was already at Earth-rank level two half a year ago, but now he’s missing and no one knows whether he’s dead or alive. Doesn’t that make Chi Yue the strongest now?”

“Spirit-plant masters are all show and no substance! How can he be called the strongest? The strongest is Wen Yuchu, Crown Prince of Ziyan Kingdom. He registered ten days ago, and he’s also at Earth-rank level one!”

“Yu Changying, the daughter of Western Region City’s lord, isn’t weak either. She’s reached Mystic-rank level ten!”

The discussions continued without pause.

The Chi Clan’s young master had already withdrawn his hand. He appeared entirely indifferent to the insults directed at him. He did not even sit up, but continued lying inside.

Instructor Zhu Hua’s face lit with pleasure.

Another peerless genius had arrived today!

One was Zhuge Youlin. The other was Chi Yue.

Registration would remain open for more than ten days. Who else might arrive before it closed?

Her anticipation grew.

A guard stepped forward to fill in Chi Yue’s basic information and collect his entrance-test token on his behalf.

Shen Yan glanced at the sedan chair.

Zhuge Youlin folded his arms and clicked his tongue. “Chi Yue is actually stronger than this young master.”

Zhuge Weiran wrapped an arm around him and coaxed him as though he were a child. “If you cultivate diligently, you’ll catch up with him eventually. It’s dark now. Let’s return to the inn and eat.”

“All right.”

Zhuge Youlin immediately broke into a smile.

Watching the brothers, Shen Yan found their bond enviable.

Catching her gaze, Zhuge Youlin raised an arm as if to pull her in as well, but she blocked him with one hand.

“Why so distant?” he asked.

“Men and women should maintain a proper distance. Besides, I don’t particularly like being touched.”

“Fine. This young master respects that!” Zhuge Youlin nodded. “Let’s go back and eat. I’m hungry. What about you two?”

“Yes,” Shen Yan said.

He grinned. “Then let’s go!”

The three headed back to the inn together.

Many people followed them along the way—the heads and elders of various academies, all eager to recruit Zhuge Youlin.

Hoping to earn the trio’s favor, they generously invited them to a restaurant for food and wine.

Shen Yan had no desire to go. She would rather squeeze out more time for cultivation.

Zhuge Weiran was not fond of lively gatherings either, so he politely declined.

When Zhuge Youlin heard that neither of them was going, he naturally…

Went anyway!

“Let’s go, let’s go! You’re the ones who offered to treat me,” he said with a grin. “Don’t expect me to pay when the bill comes!”

“Of course not!” the delighted academy heads, elders, and instructors assured him.

Shen Yan and Zhuge Weiran exchanged a glance, then returned to the inn. They ordered a few simple dishes, ate dinner, and retired to their respective rooms.

The moment Shen Yan entered hers, Feng Xingyao’s voice sounded in her sea of consciousness.

“Come inside.”

Assuming something had happened, Shen Yan entered the ability space.

Feng Xingyao sat on the couch as though he had been waiting for her. She paused, then asked, “What is it?”

He slowly raised his eyes.

“Didn’t you ask me to teach you how to use the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda?”

Understanding dawned on Shen Yan.

She had been busy cultivating and traveling, while Feng Xingyao had spent much of that time unconscious. Neither of them had had time for the lessons.

Feng Xingyao patted the space beside him.

“Come. Sit.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Shen Yan walked over and sat down, though she left a considerable gap between them.

Remembering her promise from yesterday, she said, “I’ll buy you several new sets of clothes in a day or two.”

A trace of amusement colored Feng Xingyao’s wickedly handsome face. He turned and stared at her without blinking.

“Thank you.”

Being watched so closely made Shen Yan feel strangely awkward. She avoided his gaze, summoned the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda into her palm, and asked, “What else can this pagoda do?”

Feng Xingyao answered lazily, “The Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda contains the Ninefold Array Forms. First Form: Beast Suppression. Second Form: Demon Subjugation. Third Form: Man-Slaying. Fourth Form: Spirit Banishment. Fifth Form: Ghost Exorcism. Sixth Form: Soul Annihilation. Seventh Form: Immortal Slaying. Eighth Form: Godslaying. And the Ninth Form… Demon Summoning.”

“Why is the ninth array form Demon Summoning?” Shen Yan looked puzzled.

The first eight array forms were all meant to attack or destroy. Yet the ninth was… to summon a demon.

Feng Xingyao regarded her with unfathomable eyes, an enigmatic smile lifting the corner of his lips.

“If the opportunity arises, you’ll understand one day.”