Chapter 28: The Reactions of the Royal Court and Jixia

The stir caused by the eight King-level academies of the human race could naturally not be concealed from the supreme institution above them all.

Jixia! A colossal academy built directly into the heart of a mountain range, nestled within a vast valley. Its silver-white aesthetic exuded an air of mystery and immense power. Human powerhouses, individuals who stood at the pinnacle of the world, frequently appeared within the valley; anyone who stepped out of Jixia was a formidable figure capable of making any human kingdom tremble.

At this moment, a young messenger hurried toward a massive gate, presenting his credentials.

"I have an urgent matter to report to Elder Fan!"

"Please, enter."

Inside the grand gate, beneath a circular dome, an elderly man with white hair was reading a book at his leisure.

"Elder Fan! A high school graduate with Level 9 martial arts talent has appeared during the college entrance examinations!" the messenger exclaimed urgently.

The white-haired elder’s fingers froze mid-turn. He looked back, his gaze sharp. "Are you certain? Level 9?"

"Absolutely! Right now, all eight King-level academies are racing toward Tianhe City in the Great Xia Kingdom!"

"King-level academies? Hah, a Level 9 martial arts talent hasn't appeared in decades. Do they really think Jixia will let those minor King-level academies snatch him up?" The old man smiled faintly. "Have the other elders been notified?"

"Yes! All five elders are being informed!"

"Then I certainly cannot let those old fools beat me to it." A flicker of hidden longing appeared in the old man's eyes. If he could secure this child with Level 9 talent, the future of Jixia would effectively be in his grasp.

"Depart! I will go personally. Tianhe City, Great Xia, is it?"

"Yes!"

At the same time, the other four most powerful elders of Jixia also rushed out in haste. It must be understood that they held such high and powerful positions that even when the royals of the eight kingdoms came to call, they could only pay their respects in person. Yet today, because of Lin Yin, the entire upper echelon of Jixia was mobilized, signaling to the world an unquestionable attitude: This child, we must have!

***

The Royal Court. The core region of the human race.

Upon receiving the news from Tianhe City, the high-ranking figures deep within the Royal Court were also stirred. In a secluded courtyard, a massive character—"Yang"—was prominently displayed above the doorway. This was the heartland of the Yang clan of the Royal Court, which was itself composed of various super-families.

The door opened, and a woman emerged—Yang Hui’er.

"Little brother, I leave it to you. You must bring Yin back. Whether he is confined to the Royal Court or Jixia, he simply cannot continue to make one mistake after another. Forbidden techniques may grant great power, but they are fueled by overdrawing one's life force; sooner or later, they will kill him."

A middle-aged man followed behind her, smiling. "Don’t worry, sister."

"Also! Make sure this news doesn't leak. Our Yang family is one of the faces of the Royal Court. If others find out that a child of the Yang family has used a forbidden technique, they will surely use it as a pretext to attack us, and the world will criticize us for being unworthy of our position."

"Understood!" The middle-aged man’s expression grew grave. "Consider it done."

As she spoke, Yang Hui’er walked out of the courtyard gate.

"Young Master! Young Master! Something major has happened!" A servant rushed over. "A Level 9 martial arts talent has appeared in Tianhe City. All the academies of the human race have gone mad; they are all mobilizing!"

Yang Xiao was shaken to his core. "Is that true?"

"It is, it is!"

Suddenly, a low, solemn bell tolled deep within the Royal Court—three times in succession!

One toll signified a standard meeting; two tolls meant a major matter requiring the presence of secretaries-general; three tolls meant an emergency, requiring the immediate attendance of all clan heads or young masters!

Hearing the bells, Yang Xiao realized it was linked to the Level 9 graduate. "Sister, I won't see you off. I will handle what you asked as soon as the meeting is over!" With that, he hurried away.

In the Royal Court meeting hall, the young masters and clan heads arrived one after another. A figure clad in dark yellow armor sat at the head of the chamber.

"Everyone, Jixia is the academy closest to the Royal Court, and the source of the lifeblood that keeps the Royal Court eternal."

"Do you remember the beginning? How the Royal Court was established?"

"It was bought by our ancestors, who carved a path through the demon lands until the four Great Demon Emperors of the demon race retreated a thousand miles."

"This graduate possesses talent comparable to our ancestors. His potential is immeasurable, but he is a razor-sharp double-edged sword."

"Therefore, if this student cannot be controlled by Jixia or the Royal Court, he must be eliminated."

"Surely, none of you want the status of your great Royal Court clans to be threatened, do you?"

Hearing this, Yang Xiao immediately grasped the subtext of the Human King, a sense of horror and disappointment rising in his chest. The Human King meant that if the boy could not be used, he should be destroyed. But a Level 9 talent hadn't appeared in decades. Once grown, he would undoubtedly be a peerless weapon for the human race against the demons. This was a matter of racial survival; how could it be reduced to a private tool?

Yang Xiao could not help but hesitate. "My King, I believe that no matter which academy this child stays in, it is a blessing for the human race..."

"Yang Xiao?" The figure in the dark yellow armor cast a faint glance, yet it felt like a mountain pressing down, forcing Yang Xiao to bow his head.

"Have you forgotten that the human race does not only face external enemies like the demons? There are internal enemies as well."

"Since ancient times, the human race has never been truly united. We require either the pressure of external foes or the unification by a strong leader to maintain cohesion."

"If Jixia and the Royal Court did not loom over the eight kingdoms, do you think the human race could be as it is now?"

"If that child were obtained by a human kingdom and cultivated with vast resources, and once he grew to possess the absolute power to crush other kingdoms, Yang Xiao, do you think the monarch of that kingdom wouldn't harbor restless ambitions?"

"If this child grew to the point of threatening the Royal Court and Jixia, do you think the kingdom holding him wouldn't spark a war to swallow the world? The number of people lost in such civil strife would likely exceed those killed by demons."

"Or, as his power increases, if he lacks the racial consciousness instilled by Jixia and the Royal Court, will his ambition not grow? History has seen individuals challenge the old order. What if he rebels against humanity? What if he marches on the Royal Court to rule? Have you considered these things, Yang Xiao?"

Yang Xiao’s lips moved, but he lowered his head in despondency. He realized the King’s words held truth.

With that, the Human King in the dark yellow armor set the tone for the meeting with a final pronouncement:

"Either we control him within the Royal Court or Jixia, where we can be confident in molding him into a peerless champion who loves his people, serving as the sharpest sword and shield of the human race!"

"Or, we do not give him the chance to grow at all, and strangle him in the cradle of Tianhe City, Great Xia!"

"The human race would rather maintain the status quo than plant a hidden mine that could potentially destroy us all!"