Princess of Wu State

  Dean Tao took a golden scabbard and a letter of recommendation from the hands of a teacher standing beside him, and handed them over to Ye Chen.

  "Ye Chen, as a commoner's son, this title is not easily obtained. In the future, you must work hard to cultivate and strive to break through the late stage of Body Refining, becoming a national-level warrior!"

  Dean Tao smiled and nodded in approval.

  "Disciple Ye Chen, I will definitely not disappoint the principal's high expectations!"

  Ye Chen stepped forward as the first in line, slightly bowing his head, with a respectful expression, and received the precious sword and the letter of recommendation.

  Zheng Zicheng took out a Blood Jade Ring from his bosom, looked at it with some regret, and flicked it to Ye Chen with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth. "Kid, you're quite lucky, not bad! Although this Blood Jade Ring has some flaws, it's still worth a lot. I don't know how many warriors want such a treasure."

  "Thank you, young master Zheng!"

  Ye Chen silently stretched out his hand and grabbed the Blood Spirit Ring.

  Ye Chen always felt somewhat uncomfortable, Zheng Zhicheng's unintentionally revealed high and mighty arrogance made it difficult for him to produce even a little bit of good feeling.

  Ye Chen obtained the Blood Jade Ring and retreated back.

  Then Yan Han and Wei Xunyu went on stage to receive the second and third prizes from Dean Tao.

  Yan Han also obtained a precious sword, while Wei Xunyu got a pair of golden silk gloves. Such a fine sword would be worth at least 100 taels of gold in the Wu Kingdom.

  The rest of the more than 30 students who passed the graduation assessment could only get a letter of recommendation.

  There are still a few unlucky students who didn't even pass the assessment, and they have to continue practicing for another half year before taking the assessment again. If their age exceeds 20 years old, then they don't need to participate in the graduation assessment either, and can directly roll up their bedding and leave the academy.

  The Dean of Tao said a few words of encouragement, and after the assessment, the students were considered to have officially graduated and could leave the academy.

  The students on the martial arts training ground dispersed with either excitement or disappointment.

  It's already late now, of course it's impossible to leave the academy at this time, and I'll have to stay overnight and leave tomorrow.

  Ye Chen's intense excitement, through the graduation assessment of Beifeng Academy, he can go out and gain experience, to Wu Guo, even travel to various countries in Yunzhou, while broadening his horizons, tempering his body and cultivating martial arts.

  "I've finally graduated from Beishan Academy, I plan to join the Wu State Border Army and fight on the battlefield. A man's life is not complete without experiencing the battlefield, it would be a pity if one didn't go. Ye Shixiong, Zou Shidi, what are your plans? Shall we three go together?"

  Wei Zhen burst out laughing.

  "This... border military power is quite strong, I don't know if Ma Ruyuan's affair has left any hidden dangers. It's better to go to the imperial court, it's safer. What about Brother Ye?"

  Zou Yi hesitated.

  "I haven't thought it through yet. After a month of accumulation in the Beifeng Mountain Range, I'll go back to take a bath and sleep for now, and make plans again tomorrow."

  Ye Chen shook his head.

  He actually planned to travel around and find treasures that could restore the Xianfu ancient painting scroll's power, but this matter couldn't be told to those two.

  "Director, the little princess has arrived!"

  A teacher hastily came to Dean Tao's side to report.

  "Ling Xiang Princess?"

  Dean Tao's expression changed slightly, and he immediately led the high-level officials of the Academy to go and greet them.

  Rumbling, several women riding precious horses and dozens of cavalrymen rushed to the Beishan Academy in the north, galloping all the way to the front gate of the Beishan Academy.

  "Ugh!"

  A fifteen or sixteen year old girl in red, with her sleeves fluttering, held the reins. She looked at the entrance of Beimang Academy and found that no one had come to greet her. With a flick of her whip, she showed her displeasure, "This princess has rushed from Wangcheng, how is it that there isn't even anyone here to welcome me?"

  She was accompanied by several female attendants.

  A group of elite cavalrymen with a stern and murderous aura dispersed around them, guarding and being vigilant.

  "Princess Ling Xiang!"

  Dean Tao hastily brought people out and was surprised to see the woman, "Ah, how did Princess Ling Xiang come to Beishan Academy?"

  "Mr. Tao, I have come on the orders of my father, the king, to inspect the situation of this year's graduation examination at the academy. You wouldn't be unwelcoming, would you?"

  Wu Lingxiang smiled and dismounted his horse.

  "Come in, princess! After such a long journey, you must be exhausted. I'll have someone arrange for your accommodations!"

  Dean Tao hurriedly.

  Wu Lingxiang nodded slightly and saw a young man in the crowd of the academy, frowning slightly. "Zheng Zhicheng, what are you doing here?"

  "I've met Princess Ling Xiang! Before my master went into seclusion to cultivate, he had me come to inspect the North Mountain Academy and supervise the examination. What a coincidence, I ran into the princess."

  Zheng Zicheng smiled elegantly and bowed his hands in greeting.

  Wu Lingxiang also didn't have the heart to talk much.

  Everyone was in a cold sweat, and Dean Tao accompanied Wu Lingxiang into the guest house of Beifeng Academy.

  A group of cavalrymen accompanying Princess Wu were also stationed around the pavilion.

  Inside the attic, there was no outsider, only Dean Tao and Wu Lingxiang were left.

  "In the past, the graduation assessment of Beilu Academy only sent one or two officials to inspect, why did the princess come in person this time?"

  Dean Tao asked strangely.

  Princess Wu sat down at the upper seat, her face, which had been radiant with spirit, had already dimmed. "In recent months, our country has been surrounded by four neighboring countries and the border has frequently sent urgent messages. My father is currently recruiting soldiers from all over the country. However, it's easy to get soldiers but hard to find generals, urgently lacking a batch of capable mid-level military officers who can lead troops well. My father asked me to come personally to inform you, Uncle Tao, about our country's situation. Uncle Tao, you are my father's closest friend and we need your help."

  "I will do my best. However, the royal families of various countries in Yunzhou are mostly descendants of immortal cultivators. The Wu family of Wuguo is a secular descendant of the Wu family of Jinding Gate. Logically speaking, with the support of Jinding Gate, the surrounding four countries should not easily cause trouble. Does the Wu family of Xiandemen not care about this matter?"

  Dean Tao's expression turned solemn as he asked.

  "Wuguo Wushi and Xianmen Wushi had always relied on the national teacher Zhengyuan's thousand-mile transmission symbol to convey messages. But after Zhengyuan closed his doors, all messages could no longer be conveyed."

  Princess Wu shook her head, her powdered face filled with anger. "Hmph, not mentioning him is fine, but as soon as he's mentioned, it's infuriating. Zheng Yuan, as the Guardian Master of the Wu Kingdom, at this critical moment, suddenly uses closed-door cultivation as an excuse and ignores everything. Father suspects that Master Zheng Yuan is secretly sabotaging and betraying the Wu family, so I was ordered to go to the Golden Tripod Gate and request an audience with the Ancestor of the Xianmen Sect."

  "Zheng Yuan actually dares to be so reckless!"

  Dean Tao burst into a rage, his eyebrows standing on end, but he quickly calmed down. "Even the National Master is interfering in this matter, it's probably not a trivial thing. The princess must go to see the Xianmen Wu family as soon as possible. Otherwise, the country of Wu will be in danger at dawn."

  "I came to the Beifeng Academy this time, ostensibly for inspection, but actually to go to Xianmen. However, my father, the king, is worried that I will be assassinated on the way to Xianmen, and that the martial artists in the capital are too eye-catching and prone to betrayal. Moreover, we need to pass through several national borders along the way. So he asked me to come to the academy to select a few unfamiliar guards to go to Xianmen for help. This time, is there anyone suitable among the graduates of the academy? No need to be too many, three or five people will do, traveling lightly and avoiding attention."

  The princess nodded and said.

  "The princess arrived just in time, if it were a day later, these students would probably have left the academy. Among this batch of students who graduated from the academy, the three with the strongest abilities, Ye Chen, Yan Han and Wei Xuan Yu, are at your disposal, Your Highness! I will immediately summon them to pay their respects to you!"

  Dean Tao hastily said.