The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1389 - 717: Grand Opening Ceremony of the Academy (Part 3)

"Please speak, Young Hero Li!"

The president of the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce in the Capital brightened up at once.

He wasn't afraid of Li Yan extorting money, only that if the money wasn't used effectively, it could lead to their doom.

"Alright!"

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "The plan to build the Five Dao General Temple is indeed a good one. I will help plead for you, but after this, you must continue to push forward with it."

The Chamber President was taken aback, hurriedly nodding, "As you see fit, Young Hero."

He didn't understand what Li Yan intended, but spending a little more silver was nothing compared to saving his life.

Just after seeing the Chamber President of the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce Beijing Association Hall off, a familiar face arrived.

It was none other than Su Yu, the owner of Su Garden from the Golden Swallow Sect and Zhao Wanfang's master.

The reason for the visit was naturally to ask him to plead with Luo Mingzi.

This time, Su Garden merely lent the place and sent a message to the Yan Prince's Chief Steward to arrange the event.

They did not participate in the events that followed.

The Golden Swallow Sect held considerable influence, and since this had little to do with them, they were sure to escape disaster. What they feared was Luo Mingzi relentlessly chasing them down with repeated checks, forcing Su Garden to close.

Since both parties were already in a cooperative relationship, Li Yan readily agreed.

"Brother Yan."

After they left, Sha Lifei chuckled, "We've only been here a few days, and already people are coming to us for help. If we stay for a year or half a year, I'm afraid the threshold will be worn through."

"What's good about that..." Lv San muttered under his breath, a bit irritable, "The waters of the Capital are so muddy that you can't catch a clean fish! It's really frustrating!"

Li Yan's eyes flickered, and he nodded in agreement.

To be honest, ever since arriving in the Capital, he had felt mentally and physically exhausted.

The lurking, extremely troublesome Zhao Qingxu was manageable, but the power struggles, undercurrents, and political intrigues of the Capital were far more draining than fighting demons and monsters.

"Everyone!"

Thinking of this, Li Yan looked at his companions, his tone resolute, "The Capital is a place of trouble, a mix of dragons and snakes, and fame and fortune are a web. The longer we stay, the deeper we get entangled. We are traveling immortals; getting involved in this mess is pointless!"

"My intention is that after the Academy's opening ceremony, once we've refined the Magic Artifact and eliminated Zhao Qingxu, we leave this troublesome place immediately."

"The world is vast; where can't we find happiness?"

"That matches my humble opinion perfectly!"

Wang Daoxuan also nodded in agreement, "The Capital is a vast sea of red dust, shrouded in hostility; it's indeed not a place for cultivation."

Having made up their minds, they all felt a sense of relief.

This Capital is a field for achieving fame and success but also a huge, suffocating cage.

...

Amidst the tense and chaotic movements of various forces, the Academy's opening ceremony finally arrived.

At dawn on that day, the days of continuous drizzle eerily paused for a moment.

However, the leaden clouds still hung low, exuding a sense of oppressive anticipation of a storm.

In the East Suburb of the Capital, outside Qiankun Academy, there were guards every three steps and sentries every five.

The elite armor-clad soldiers of the Divine Machine Camp lined up in layers, their armor gleaming, firearms loaded, checkpoints set up along the way.

Except for invited guests, no one was allowed near.

In front of the enormous, imposing academy gate, a huge open-air platform was temporarily built.

The platform was covered with a vermillion red carpet, stretching all the way to the academy's main entrance.

The invited civil and military officials, noble factions, foreign envoys, and representatives of the Mystic Sect were subjected to strict checks and gradually arrived, taking their places according to rank and status on both sides of the viewing area on the platform.

Some faces were filled with curiosity, others with anticipation.

Their gazes met, whispering to each other, the air seemed to solidify, and everyone's focus instinctively fell on the massive outline, shrouded in a heavy curtain, behind the platform.

Li Yan was mixed in with the "Tribute" seat arranged by Yan Jiuling, with Sha Lifei and others behind him.

The Ministry of Rites officials announced every step, as the long and tedious procedure unfolded item by item.

"On this auspicious day, the universe is newly determined; the assembly of culture, the Emperor's grace abounds. From the vast heavens comes knowledge, only through precision, the sacred learning flourishes, eternal is the brilliant reign..."

The newly appointed Academy Director Yuan Feng read from the document on stage, but no one listened closely.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!"

At last, as the Director's voice fell, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.

Under countless gazes, several strong and powerful soldiers stepped forward, grasping the edges of the curtain.

With a deep breath in the center of the platform, the Minister of Rites loudly proclaimed:

"Presenting — the Divine Artifact that stabilizes the universe, reveal yourself!"

Wham—!

The curtain plummeted to the ground!

In an instant, a huge bell-shaped monstrosity, made of iron and resembling the legendary Earth Vein coiled around by a dragon, was exposed in the chilly morning light!

Thick, gnarled connecting rods, massive flywheels, a huge boiler wrapped in coarse cloth iron hoops and rivets, neatly arranged copper instruments gleaming coldly, and below, a complex transmission gear system.

Before they could discuss it, something even more astonishing occurred.

Li Yan's expression also turned extremely peculiar.

For out from the academy came a massive gilded Dragon Carriage, slowly moving.

The Dragon Carriage was steam-powered, belching black smoke as it moved forward.

Emperor Xiao Qixuan sat on the Dragon Throne, amid the mechanical rumble, coming to a halt outside the academy gate.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Long live the Emperor, long live, live long!"

Xiao Qixuan, long immune to such flattery, simply reached out to stroke the steam-powered Dragon Carriage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is what you have called the 'Divine Artifact'!"