Chapter 160: Mission Complete, Otherworlders' Binge-Watching Journey (Fourth Update)

"A worthy descendant of the Xu family's fierce generals, standing far above the crowd! Excellent! Excellent! This novel spiritual artifact... how was it crafted?" This was the Emperor.

"This technique of controlling swords, where on earth did you obtain it? Why have we never seen it before?!" This was Deputy Palace Master Xu.

"You few seem to have had a rather difficult time at Lingyun Academy. Would you consider joining our Shengjing or Xiyi?!" These were the other two Deputy Palace Masters.

"Get lost, all of you! That old scoundrel Qin Bing, I will personally strip him of his post the moment I return!" Upon hearing that Lingyun Academy had actually suppressed its own disciples to such an extent—causing more than half of those capable of achieving great results in the national examination to miss it entirely—Deputy Palace Master Xu was already trembling with rage.

Had it not been for this wretched affair, he would not have been so riddled with anxiety, nearly storming out in front of the Emperor and losing face entirely!

These disciples of Lingyun Academy, who had achieved such brilliant marks in the national examination, were almost constantly besieged by these questions.

"Boss Fang! The sword-controlling technique can actually be used like this?!" Mu Donglai's state had gradually shifted from terror to shock, and then from shock to pleasant surprise, as he slowly stood upright atop the flying sword.

"This is an advanced form of the technique, sword-riding flight," Fang Qi remarked. "This thing is no easy feat to master; even I had to spend quite a bit of time to perfect it!"

"This is far too swift! Too convenient!" Mu Donglai exclaimed in astonishment. "If one could master this method of flight, wouldn't it be vastly more convenient than piloting a spiritual vessel?!"

"Naturally."

...

At this moment, Qin Bing hurriedly snatched up his communication jade. He now had only one remaining chance: to have the instructors of the entire academy launch a joint petition. By leveraging the collective power of all the Lingyun Academy instructors, he might yet preserve his position.

Right then, however, Qin Bing suddenly received a message: "Chief Instructor Qin, more than half of the Lingyun Academy instructors have already gone to the Origin Internet Club to watch the live broadcast of the national examination. Everything happening on the examination grounds is completely known to them now!"

"What?!" Qin Bing collapsed entirely, his strength vanishing!

With that, Qin Bing’s faction within Lingyun Academy crumbled completely.

...

Within the Golden Chimes Palace of the Grand Jin Imperial Court.

Ji Wu, the Emperor of Grand Jin, sat upon his throne, pondering the events of the national examination.

"Shengjing suffered a setback, Xiyi was defeated, and even the original elites of Lingyun Academy were utterly dispirited. Is the root of it all truly that establishment named Origin in Jiuhua City?"

"The descendant of the Xu family utilized a peculiar spiritual artifact that requires very little of one's own power to activate; does that also originate from that shop?"

"Why exactly did such a shop appear in Jiangnan, and is it a boon or a bane to my Grand Jin Empire?"

"For the time being, however, though it has stirred up some storms, everything this shop has done appears beneficial to our Grand Jin."

"Chancellor Zhang, what say you?" The Grand Jin Empire was a realm teeming with masters, yet at this very moment, standing beside the Emperor to deliberate on national strategy was a civil official—one utterly devoid of cultivation!

The man he addressed as Chancellor Zhang was an elderly statesman well over seventy, with hair and beard as white as snow and a lean, elegant frame. He bowed and spoke, "In your servant's humble opinion, those who have rendered service to the dynasty should not be treated with undue severity. Even if Your Majesty harbors doubts, it would be best to investigate and visit firsthand to ascertain the truth before passing judgment."

"I am beset by a myriad of state affairs and cannot divide myself," Ji Wu said. "I wonder if the Chancellor might look into this on my behalf?"

"It is my earnest desire, though I dared not presume to ask."

Ji Wu nodded. "Then I shall trouble the Chancellor."

...

Shengjing Academy.

"Lingyun Academy was able to triumph all because of a small shop in Jiuhua City?!"

"The sword-controlling technique is something from that small shop?!"

At this very moment, almost every disciple was discussing the endless array of methods the Lingyun Academy disciples had deployed during the national examination.

The sword-controlling technique, combat arts, and firearms.

There was even that young man who had departed aboard a flying sword after the conclusion of the examination.

He had left a profound impression in everyone's hearts!

So it turned out they were not truly inferior to others after all!

The moment this realization dawned upon them, their previously dejected spirits surged with renewed vigor!

"Enough, enough!" Liang Heihu roared. "Tomorrow, I will lead the way. All disciples of this academy who performed excellently in this national examination shall come with me to see exactly what kind of sacred existence is hidden within that shop!"

"Leng Yu, you come along tomorrow as well!"

"Yes, Master!"

...

Xiyi Academy.

Presently, the disciples of Xiyi Academy remained within the Shengjing residence.

Having previously boasted that they would seize the crown in this national examination, they now found themselves ranked at the very bottom!

All their prior efforts and hardships had vanished like bubbles in an instant; such a blow was undeniably devastating to them.

Ying Zongxuan clenched his fists tightly. To think he had actually lost to a commoner warrior!

Luo Yun likewise grit her silver teeth. She spent the entire year battling demonic beasts abroad to temper herself, but when someone informed her that the disciples of Lingyun Academy had already slaughtered gods and slain demons...

Only then did she comprehend just how vast the chasm between them truly was!

They resolved that henceforth, the academy would lease an ultra-large spiritual vessel to organize batches of their most elite disciples to travel to Jiangnan every single day, just to play games at the Origin Internet Club!

"I will use every ounce of my effort to play every single game well!" Luo Yun vowed silently. "One day, I will surpass you all!"

It was not just Shengjing Academy and Xiyi Academy that were beginning to organize plans to head toward Jiangnan; even within the imperial palace, the Eldest Princess and the Second Prince were weighing whether they should pay Jiangnan a visit.

Meanwhile, the onlookers who had crossed paths with Fang Qi at the time—such as the elder in the black robe and Daoist Wuyun from before—were also pondering: "Should we... take a trip to Jiangnan?"

...

Considering the circumstances, Song Qingfeng, Nalan Mingxue, and the others no longer had any desire to hold a victory banquet. They wished only to return as early as possible, lest there be no seats left at the internet cafe.

However, basic procedures and necessary etiquette still had to be observed, meaning any return to Jiangnan would have to wait until the following day.

Inside Fang Qi's small shop, since the prohibition from Lingyun Academy had completely dissolved, the internet cafe was now filled not only with the academy's disciples but also with a vast number of its instructors.

In the evening, a cool breeze blew gently. By this time, the group of suppressed disciples had already gone to the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Pavilion to hold their celebratory feast, and Fang Qi had once more returned to the internet cafe.

"To think so many games have been added now?" Fortunately, with the disciples of Lingyun Academy away, the mainstream clientele was absent, leaving the internet cafe reasonably uncrowded. Mu Donglai was spared from having to line up once again.

"Diablo? Legend of the Sword and Fairy? And Counter-Strike?" Mu Donglai scanned them one by one. "This is truly a difficult choice..."

"Amaxing... just activate all of them for me!"

"Ding! The mission 'The Outworlder's TV Series Journey' has been completed!" Right at that moment, the system's prompt resounded.