"That's how the events unfolded. Headmaster, do you think this year's academy competition should be nullified?" After Qiu Chuzi left with his disciples, Yao Xin lost his enthusiasm for presiding over the competition and immediately sought out She Xiang, the dean of the Inner Court, after ordering people to treat Liu Xi and Shaluo.
"No, the results of the competition will stand. The only adjustment will be to the top eight rankings, treated specially. According to Qiu Chuzi's demands, let his two disciples enter the Xuan Technique Pavilion on a chosen date to select their Dark Techniques. We don't want him to think that our Inner Court is so stingy as to begrudge even two Dark Techniques. Besides, even if those two students from the Outer Court have employed trickery to win this competition, it doesn't mean that their shallow cultivation can deceive the ivory stone tablet. If they luckily manage to cultivate Dark Techniques, especially those beyond their level, you must immediately inform me. I'll find an opportunity to talk with them in private and, if possible, allow them to enter the Inner Court. After all, in a few days, the Royal Academy will no longer have an Outer Court," said the woman with curly hair and a charming appearance who appeared to be just over thirty, but her eyes were filled with cunning and worldly wisdom.
Yao Xin quietly acknowledged and withdrew.
"Unable to use Dark Energy but capable of defeating Liu Xi and Shaluo, both of whom have achieved Small Success of Jade Dark. Could he truly have found a way to become a top martial artist without cultivating Dark Energy? Impossible, in this world, only those who cultivate the orthodox ways of the Dark Sect are the strongest," She Xiang paced the room thoughtfully.
After returning to the Outer Court, Yue Jinghua and her companion inevitably faced a severe reprimand from Qiu Chuzi.
The two did not argue, and after Qiu Chuzi walked away, yawning and grinning, an awkward silence fell over the room.
"What place is the Xuan Technique Pavilion?" "Yue Jinghua" herself had never been in contact with Dark Techniques and had heard of the famed Xuan Technique Pavilion in the Shang Kingdom for the first time.
"It's the place where various Dark Techniques are stored for Dark Practitioners to cultivate. The Dark Techniques are divided according to different levels of Dark Realm," Shalman explained, relieved that Yue Jinghua didn't bring up the past unpleasantness between them, and met her gaze frankly.
A smile appeared on both their faces.
One night in the year 11899 of Canglong Continent History, the future course of Canglong Continent was significantly influenced by two people who, looking at each other, dissolved their grudges with a smile. Unbeknownst to them, in the countless years to come, their friendship would become the most blazing legend on Dragon Road.
The fellowship between gentlemen is as pure as water; the friendship between women as ardent as fire.
The Xuan Technique Pavilion was akin to a modern library, except that instead of books, it housed various ivory stone tablets inscribed with Dark Techniques.
Some of these steles were carved from previous memories, others arose directly from them.
Being students of the Royal Xuanji Academy, nearly everyone could control Dark Power.
However, even among students at the Dark Human Ninth Layer, the outcome of a match between one who has cultivated Dark Techniques and one who, despite having achieved Small Success of Jade Dark, has not, could be unpredictable.
A good Dark Technique is like a whetstone, sharpening the Dark Practitioner's Dark Power to lethally strike unseen.
Every student of Xuanji Royal Academy, upon admission, gets a chance to enter the Dark Skill Pavilion according to their Dark Rank to obtain a Dark Technique once.
After breaking through to Jade Dark, they get a second opportunity to enter the Xuan Technique Pavilion.
So on and so forth, until they reach Dark Heavenly, students of the academy earn the chance to enter the Xuan Technique Pavilion.
In addition, the winners of the annual academy competition are granted an extra opportunity to enter the Xuanji Pavilion.
"Since there is only one chance to win the academy competition. Taking Prince Fa Xiao Yi, who watched today's competition from the stands, as an example, he entered the Royal Jixue Academy at the age of thirteen and never participated in the academy competition until he reached the Dark Earth Realm. Only then did he compete and won first place in the academy competition, entering the Xuan Technique Pavilion only after achieving the Dark Earth Realm," Shalman said enviously.
"What's there to be sentimental about? He's just performing a formality. Since the Royal Xuanji Academy originally belonged to the Imperial Family, the Dark Techniques within are hardly a secret to Fa Xiao Yi. Chances are he's even browsed through the cultivation techniques of the Dark Heavenly Realm," Yue Jinghua scoffed, alluding to Prince Fa Xiao Yi and Lie Sisi, the sly fox-like couple.
"You are wrong there. The ivory stone tablet isn't something that everyone can see. The ivory stone tablet, also known as the wordless Xuan stone tablet, requires comprehension from each person wanting to cultivate Dark Techniques, varying according to their aptitude—short as a few hours or as long as several days. On ordinary days, it doesn't show any Cultivation Technique. Only when combined with the Dark Practitioner's own cultivation and having obtained the Secret Key from Xuanji Academy, can the corresponding wordless Xuan tablet reveal its form," Shalman explained, who being from the Sha Family, was very knowledgeable about the ivory stone tablet.