Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 69 - 59: Snow Monarch Blade

Assistant Qiu glanced at Lu Fang and the others. Seeing they were mostly unharmed, she walked out with Chen Chuan.

Lu Fang and the others silently watched Chen Chuan’s figure recede into the distance. After a moment, a society member walked over and said, "Vice President, this..."

Lu Fang turned and asked, "Is everyone okay?"

The member replied, "We’re fine. He held back. They’re just minor injuries; a little medicine and we’ll be good as new."

Lu Fang sighed. "We were given a chance, but we failed to take it. There’s no point in pestering him further. Maybe he’s right. Maybe he can reach a higher level even without the Profound Image Force."

Someone, still unconvinced, said, "How is that possible? Even Senior Brother Jiang couldn’t do it back then. What makes him think he can?"

Lu Fang waved his hand dismissively. "Let’s not talk about this anymore. Since we can’t persuade him to change his mind, all we can do is wait."

"Wait for what?"

Lu Fang said, "If he just keeps to his path quietly, without any grand ambitions, then that’s that. It would be a shame to waste his talent, though. But if he decides to take *that* step, maybe we can find a way to help him in secret."

The other students remained silent.

Lu Fang looked at the group. "Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s get out of here. Jing Hao, help take the injured students to the infirmary. Bi Yang, go get some society funds and buy some good medicine for everyone who got hurt today. Also, let’s leave in separate groups."

Once he finished giving orders, they helped each other up and left. Even though they left in groups, they still drew a lot of stares. Fortunately, it was common for Fighters to get injured, so no one thought much of it at first. At most, they just found it a bit strange. ’Why are so many senior students suddenly injured today?’

When Chen Chuan followed Assistant Qiu back to the main hall, Feng Xiaochi had already finished his exam and left. Only Cheng Zitong and Madam Ni remained, chatting with each other.

Assistant Qiu went ahead to Teacher Ni’s side and whispered something in her ear. The old woman listened without a change in expression, then sized up Chen Chuan. "Hm, Xiaocheng, so this is your student? A spirited young man."

Cheng Zitong said, "Chen Chuan, this is Teacher Ni. She is a senior to me, your teacher. Come and pay your respects."

Chen Chuan came forward, bowed to Ni Xiaolin, and said, "Hello, Teacher Ni."

Teacher Ni was very pleased. She looked Chen Chuan over a few more times and asked, "Young man, what kind of weapon do you favor?"

Cheng Zitong’s spirits lifted, and he turned to signal for Chen Chuan to answer quickly.

Chen Chuan thought for a moment and replied, "The Long Blade."

Madam Ni gave an order to Assistant Qiu. A moment later, Assistant Qiu returned, carrying a Long Blade in a black Sword Scabbard.

She said, "The old madam has taken a liking to you, so she’s giving you this blade as a gift today."

Assistant Qiu came before Chen Chuan, held the blade vertically, and presented it to him.

Chen Chuan didn’t immediately take it. Cheng Zitong quickly said, "It’s a gift from Madam Ni. It’s a present for a junior upon your first meeting. You should accept it."

Chen Chuan nodded his thanks to Assistant Qiu and took the Sword Scabbard with both hands. It felt heavy, heavier than he had expected. He bowed to Madam Ni and said, "Thank you, Teacher Ni."

Madam Ni said with a smile, "Aren’t you going to take a look, young man?"

Chen Chuan slowly drew the blade. A flash of brilliant, snow-white light shone out. Once the entire blade was unsheathed, a chill seemed to materialize in the room.

Cheng Zitong exclaimed in admiration, "What a fine blade."

Madam Ni said, "Young man, see how this ’Snow Monarch Blade’ feels in your hand."

’This blade’s design reminds me of the Ming-dynasty long sabers I saw in my past life,’ Chen Chuan thought. Fine silver threads were wrapped around the hilt, and he estimated its total length to be over 1.6 meters.

He flicked his wrist, executing a light flourish with the blade.

’He had already sensed that this blade weighed a good eleven pounds. A typical blade was only two or three pounds, and even students at Wuyi Academy wouldn’t use one heavier than five. This one was nearly double that weight.’

’But with his Second Self, he wielded it effortlessly. It wasn’t that Wuyi students couldn’t use overweight blades, but an excessively heavy weapon would affect their center of gravity. This one, however, felt just right.’

He said, "It’s a perfect fit."

Teacher Ni said, "While you were fighting out back, Xiaoniao took note of your build and approximate strength. If you like the Long Blade, then this one is perfect for you right now. Of course, you young people grow fast, so who knows about the future. For now, just make do with it."

Chen Chuan held the blade vertically, gave her a fist-and-palm salute, and said solemnly, "Thank you, Teacher Ni."

Teacher Ni said with a smile, "This old woman’s family used to run a weaponsmithing shop back in the day. We may not have the craft anymore, but my eye for quality is still decent. We have quite a few weapons left at home, and I’m too old to use them. I figured I might as well give them to you young people."

Chen Chuan thanked her again.

Just then, Assistant Qiu glanced at the time and said softly to her, "Master, it’s time for your medicine."

Madam Ni nodded slightly, then used her cane to stand up. She said to Chen Chuan, "Young man, take good care of it. It will be useful."

Cheng Zitong also hurried to his feet.

As Madam Ni walked inside, leaning on her cane, she muttered, "A person is a person, and a blade is a blade. They should be kept separate."

After watching her leave, Cheng Zitong said to Chen Chuan, "We should go too."

Chen Chuan replied, "Yes, Teacher."

After they left and got into the car, Cheng Zitong said while fastening his seatbelt, "That old madam is something else. I was a bit irritated when she told me what was going on. But now that you’ve passed the test and she’s given you a blade... well, not only am I not angry anymore, I actually have to thank her."

Seeing Chen Chuan was quiet, he asked, "What’s on your mind?"

Chen Chuan said, "Teacher, back there with Teacher Ni, it felt like I had stepped into a bygone era."

When he was speaking with Madam Ni, the atmosphere and even the people around her seemed to belong to the past. It wasn’t until he stepped outside and saw the imposing modern buildings that he felt he had returned to the present.

Cheng Zitong was taken aback for a moment, then looked ahead and said with a sigh, "When people get old, they reminisce and immerse themselves in the past. There are circles everywhere in this world. There are circles inside and outside the academy, circles among teachers, and circles among students. You even have circles within your own heart. But you must never let yourself be trapped by them. You have to find a way to break out, or your world will become too narrow, and you’ll never see the whole picture."

Chen Chuan nodded. "You’re right, Teacher."

Cheng Zitong started the car and drove toward the dormitories. "Since Madam Ni gave you that blade, you’ll have to learn a Saber Technique, or it’ll be useless. I’ll teach you a basic Saber Technique later."

"Thank you, Teacher," Chen Chuan said. "But without a Weapon Permit, I can’t carry it outside."

Cheng Zitong said, "That’s why you need to get your Weapon Permit as soon as possible. That permit is more important than you think. Although you can get special authorization in some situations, the first step is to learn a Saber Technique. That way, once you get the permit, you’ll actually have a use for it.

Oh, right. You can start taking on some commissioned assignments in the next couple of days. Get ready. I’ll find someone to show you the ropes and help you complete the three assignments required for registration."

Chen Chuan replied, "Alright, Teacher. I’ll be waiting."

In an office at the very top of the academy’s administration building, the white-haired old man was practicing his calligraphy. A sheet of paper was hung on the wall, and he calmly wrote, holding the end of a two-meter-long brush between three fingers.

The young student walked in and waited for a moment before speaking. "Teacher, those students lost. Should we...?"

The white-haired old man swept his arm, and a sharp, hooked stroke appeared on the paper. He took a few steps back and looked at it with satisfaction. "There is no need to interfere further," he said. "The blade has been polished. Someone will naturally come to sharpen it."

"Yes, Teacher."

At a villa in Beifeng Manor, the group of Recommended Students also learned of the results from the training hall.

Someone said in surprise, "Circulation Technique? Does the academy even have a Force Technique like that?"

Senior Brother Jiang gave an order to an attendant behind him. The attendant quickly left and returned not long after, respectfully presenting a somewhat old copy of the Circulation Technique.

He took it and leaned back in his chair, reading it for a long time. He had originally thought there might be some hidden secret within the technique, but after looking it over, he concluded it was just a fancifully written Force Technique. He tossed it aside and gave his assessment: "Garbage."

Another Recommended Student picked it up for a look, his expression quickly turning to one of disdain. He said with a hint of schadenfreude, "He chose *this*? What was he thinking?"

Senior Brother Jiang, however, narrowed his eyes. "Even though he rejected the Profound Image Force, he was still able to defeat so many upperclassmen after only a month at the academy. It seems we’ll have to keep an eye on him."

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