Badass Celestial Emperor Returns!

(94) Winter Exam

Zi Yingjun contemplated. The Source Brush appeared in his grasp and a white thread of energy came out from it. The energy entered Zi Yingjun's forehead and a scene flashed. Ye Qinglan walked in a dark place but there is a leafless tree glowing in the middle. The tree was exceptionally beautiful, its wood was translucent blue with dots of white floating around it.

"Isn't it beautiful?" a man asked behind her. Ye Qinglan turned back and nodded. From the shadows, a man in azure robes stood there. His face was obscure, making Zi Yingjun unable to see who it was. The man approached Ye Qinglan and held her hand. He intimately embraced her from behind as Ye Qinglan blushed lightly. "Qingqing, there is a legend about this tree. It is said a spirit lives within it and if couples promised in front of it, the spirit can bless them as well. I want you to promise. Promise me that you will stay loyal. If you leave me, it will be painful, Qingqing."

"En." Ye Qinglan nodded without hesitation. She looked up when she saw a figure in white behind the tree.

"Do not promise." the white figure whispered but the man was unable to hear it.

"Brother Fu, that shadow spoke." Ye Qinglan pointed to the white figure. The man behind her smiled in secret.

"I didn't hear anything." he sounded concerned.

"But it spoke." she looked back with a stubborn gaze.

The stream of memory stopped playing. Zi Yingjun halted his steps. He already arrived in front of his room without noticing. That was a fragment of Ye Qinglan's memory. When he used the Source Brush, he also added a symbol to steal a portion of her memory. But since he is a quasi-rune grandmaster, the memory was short.

"Ye Zen probably doesn't know this." Zi Yingjun thought. He looked down the balcony in wonder. How come he never heard of humans bearing Authorities in his past life? Maybe a lot of super forces were collecting them and at the same time, hiding their existence. They never reached a century worth of life so they died quicker without being recognized. It is possible. A human bearing an authority is simply unstoppable. They are too perfect that the heaven's will granted a burden of short lifespan.

Outside the male dormitory, Zi Yan Yue was sobbing behind the tall walls. She saw it. The Xing Stone showed her a girl in the same white furry cloak in the male dorm. That girl was living with Ye Zen in secret. It was the same woman who made the rabbits tear Zi Yingjun and destroy Zi Clan. Why is Zi Yingjun hiding her?

"Oi, Zi Yan Yue." just then, Zi Gu Bo arrived with his same arrogant attitude. She quickly stopped her melancholy. "You never listen, do you?"

"What now?" she looked down, knowing he will reprimand her again. Zi Gu Bo sees Zi Gu Wen highly so he is always making sure nothing will go wrong for his cousin's life. That is why he keeps meddling between Zi Yingjun and Zi Yan Yue.

"Nothing." unexpectedly, Zi Gu Bo replied shortly and scoffed. "You never listen so I will not waste words on you. Hope you can be happy with this, heh."

Zi Yan Yue sent a glare as Zi Gu Bo left after scorning her. She is helpless as of now. Zi Yan Yue tore Zi Yingjun's trust. In her view, Zi Yingjun will no longer see her as his friend.

Finally, the Winter Exam arrived. Young masters and commoners are allowed to compete against each other. The first day of test, in order to eliminate students quickly, eight students are only allowed to stay. The method they used is simple. Each student have to race for the eight positions above the rows of stages. There are three stages that are getting narrow upon reaching above. Eight students will fight on the second day. Only two student will be left for the final competition by the third day.

There are hundreds of students from the commoner to master statuses. Zi Yingjun came on time with Ye Zen. A lot of their peers had expected this. They are likely friends in their view, one is a devil and the other is a deity.

"Hum, the stages are high." Zi Yingjun looked up to the upper level that are floating above air. The first level have snows and mountains of ice which can help a person to reach the second level. Each level have different seasons in truth. That is to make students persevere and train their adaptation. In his past life, he wasn't even able to reach the third level. Zi Gu Bo defeated him till the second level but that was in the past. Today, he will change it.

"This is advantageous for your aptitude. Aren't you an Ice Dao talent?" Ye Zen turned to Zi Yingjun. This level will be the easiest for Zi Yingjun. He assumed that not only was Zi Yingjun capable of mastering the Assassin Dao, he often used Ice Dao which made Ye Zen thinks Zi Yingjun will have the greatest advantage in this level.

"More or less." he turned ahead them where a group of students are blocking their way. Zi Yingjun glanced at Ye Zen and he understood what the other means. Just as the drums were struck, groups of their peers immediately attacked the two.

Ye Zen finds it childish. They are teaming up to eliminate the best candidates in order to reach the top on their own. He moved away from Zi Yingjun as the group was halved. Ye Zen thought of engaging a fight when Zi Yingjun ran towards him. A lot of students chased the two.

"Keep them distracted. Use your Bai Steel and raise enough water upwards the second level." Zi Yingjun instructed shortly. He left Ye Zen behind and leapt towards an icy peak. Ye Zen complained in his mind. He thought for a moment and retrieved Bai Steel. The null stone on it turned red. Ye Zen turned the snowy ground into a puddle of water. The students stopped, thinking he will aim it to them. However, he raised the sword and a huge wave of water rose up.