Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 209: Forbidden Ground of Jiuluan Mountain

In the first year of the Zhenyuan era of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

September 1st.

It is auspicious for travel, groundbreaking, and starting work.

The Forbidden Ground of Jiuluan Mountain in the Autumn Wind Academy is opening, presided over by the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, the Deputy Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and the Head of the Autumn Wind Academy, Venerable Hongsi Wei.

There are 367 "entrants"! Including outstanding talents from various academies, government departments, imperial military officers, and prominent families.

Nobles from the capital, royal families, and people from various professions will also participate in observing and selecting talents.

Those selected will be appointed as officials in the Six Ministries.

It can be said to be a flourishing era of martial dao.

The Jiang family.

In the early morning, the Old Lady, princesses, ladies, young ladies, and stewards have gathered in the Viewing Clear Courtyard to see off the Jiang family members who are "entering the forbidden ground".

There are a total of five participants this time, including two members of the Jiang family's branch, Miss Jiang Yuqi, and her granddaughter Jiang Nüying. These four individuals possess two to three types of Five Elements True Qi.

The last person is the heir, Jiang Yuqing. His identity is somewhat unique. He was the first person invited by the Autumn Wind Academy, and his current martial realm is still unknown.

The Old Lady and the other ladies are most concerned about the heir. They first instructed Jiang Yuqi and the others to fully support him within the forbidden ground, and finally earnestly reminded Xin Zhuo:

"Yuqing, remember to be careful and not reckless. If something is not right, you can withdraw immediately!"

Xin Zhuo didn't show much expression or emotion, he just felt that the concept of this forbidden ground was too strange! This time, they are just going in to perform a ritual, nothing more.

Looking at the worried old and young members of the family, he wanted to demonstrate that he truly knows martial arts, but also felt a bit embarrassed. He nodded and said, "Rest assured!"

He turned and boarded the carriage.

Jiang Yuqi and Jiang Nüying followed suit.

The convoy slowly left the gate, accompanied by four princesses, Liyun, Chanyi, and two other skilled Jiang family members.

The lineup is quite luxurious!

"Brother Zhuo, may you succeed in your endeavors!" Jiang Yugui's face showed a hint of loneliness as he bowed.

Liyun, the steward, was the last to leave and stood by the Old Lady's side.

The Old Lady looked at the sky for a while before speaking in a deep voice, "The heir must have some confidence, I don't know what it is, but... I'm afraid that his youthful temperament might be a problem. Remember to remind the young ones in the Jiang family to support him. If anything happens to the heir, report it immediately!"

"Yes!"

...

Inside the carriage, as it traveled on the road, the body swayed slightly. There were seven people inside the spacious carriage.

Xin Zhuo and his five maidservants, as well as Chanyi.

Chanyi tied her hair with a simple hairband today, wearing a tight black outfit that looked very neat and clean. Her voice was crisp, "This forbidden ground will last for three days. The highest realm of the participants is the tenth among the Ten Great Princes, Lu Jiu, Mu Qing'er from the Autumn Wind Academy, Linghu Yi, and Tuoba Linger, the daughter of the General of the Divine Strategy Army. They are all at the Half-step Grand Great Master realm!

Be careful of Li Yannian, the son of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Households. He is the legitimate son of Madam Li from the Eastern Manor who was captured by the heir last time. He holds a deep grudge against the heir for frightening his mother. Although he is only at the small Grandmaster realm, his cultivation technique is exceptional.

There is also Ling Junyao, the eldest granddaughter of the Chief Monitor of the Strategy and Mystery Department. Her cultivation technique is mysterious, and she is at the small Grandmaster realm. She is ruthless and cunning.

Although there are many young disciples in the family and under the sect, I'm afraid that the heir will be alone!"

"Understood."

Xin Zhuo took a sip of chilled watermelon juice and frowned slightly as he looked at the bear's paw. The latter quickly lowered his head, a hint of a secret smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

The carriage raced forward, and after half an hour, it had arrived at the Autumn Wind Academy. Outside, there was a congestion of carriages and horses, and a surge of people. Some took advantage of the situation to sell cool tea, alcoholic beverages, and snacks.

Xin Zhuo got off the carriage and saw a variety of carriages in different colors and styles, as well as a crowd of people wearing wide robes, large sleeves, and summer clothes.

Naturally, the crowd also noticed the Jiang family's convoy. They were instantly attracted by the tight security and the presence of the five women from the Sai Qingzhu family. They knew that the Jiang family's eldest son, who had caused a stir in the city recently, had arrived. Without needing to be scolded, they voluntarily made way for them.

Xin Zhuo looked at the majestic Autumn Wind Academy, nestled by the mountains and water. It was truly impressive and incomparable to the Fulong Mountain Autumn Palace.

Soon, they entered together with the four widowed princesses.

The Autumn Wind Academy had 108 palaces and pavilions, with a very elegant environment. However, at this moment, there was a solemn atmosphere. They walked for three sticks of incense from the gate to the forbidden courtyard, and when they arrived, the courtyard was already filled with people.

On both sides were ten-zhang high platforms, where thousands of people were sitting upright. In the middle, hundreds of young men and women stood, each exuding a calm and sharp aura.

When the four princesses arrived, everyone in the courtyard stood up and saluted.

Princess Zhengguo nodded slightly and waved her sleeve to signal them to dispense with the formalities. Then, she looked at Xin Zhuo and whispered, "Be careful, Eldest Son!"

Xin Zhuo chuckled, "Aunt, rest assured, I know my limits!"

"Eldest Son, be careful!" Sai Qingzhu and Ying Jianying also bowed their heads and saluted. They were extremely serious when it came to protecting their shelter and livelihood.

Xin Zhuo led Jiang Yuqi and the other three towards the crowd in the middle.

Jiang Nüying looked around, feeling a bit timid, and whispered, "Sixteenth Uncle, what do you think it's like inside?"

"Well, it should be interesting!"

In fact, as soon as Xin Zhuo entered the courtyard, he first looked for the Eastern gentleman. Not seeing him, he then searched for any special forbidden areas, but the surroundings were also "empty" with nothing out of the ordinary. He didn't know where to enter from. If it was just a game like the Shaolin 18 Bronze Men formation, it would be too disappointing!

As they approached, the hundreds of young men and women in front turned their heads to look. Their expressions varied from goodwill to teasing to indifference.

Xin Zhuo responded with a smile, his heart undisturbed. The scene couldn't help but become vulgar, and even by observing their footsteps, one could tell their respective intentions.

But after the group stood still and waited for a while, when the dozen or so young men and women who were late finally arrived, the two court officials in front were already holding an imperial edict and reciting official words similar to the imperial examination. This was to be expected.

Then, an old man with white hair and wide robes walked out, his face full of kindness as he smiled and cupped his fists in greeting. Without wasting any words, he lightly waved his sleeve, and a powerful force of wind and waves swept towards the palace on the opposite side.

Suddenly, the palace split in a strange manner, revealing a passage emitting a mist of five colors.

Amidst the gaze of the crowd, the frontmost group, led by Lv Jiu, had already entered with large strides.

"Brother, let's go in too!" Jiang Yuqi pulled Jiang Nüying and quickly went forward.

Xin Zhuo was surprised. This forbidden area's entrance was quite novel. He deliberately slowed down his pace and was the last one to approach the mist. He reached out and touched it, feeling a smooth whirlwind. It was difficult to discern the principle behind it.

He simply felt that... could this be used for a spiritual ceremony?

Looking back, there was no one behind him. On the stone platforms on both sides, nearly a thousand people were looking over. Among the crowd, there were unexpectedly an old man similar to the Eastern gentleman and an old nun. Both had calm expressions, showing no signs of anything unusual.

He smiled, then swiftly entered.

The whirlwind howled around him, obscuring his vision. It was hard to distinguish the scenery. When his sight focused, the surroundings suddenly became clear, revealing a chaotic forest. There was not a single figure in sight. The people in front seemed to have disappeared.

Had they dispersed?

He reached out and felt the direction of the wind. There was no wind, and it seemed to be some kind of illusion or something else?

At this moment, outside the courtyard, the head of the Autumn Wind Academy, Hongsi Wei, along with three old scholars and seven court officials, joined forces. With the roaring True Qi, nine huge stones flew towards the surroundings of the passage, aligning with the nine cardinal directions. Ripples appeared on the stones, and gradually, a picture emerged in mid-air, depicting the current situation in the forbidden area.

They could even move the stones and rotate the picture!

Fortunately, Xin Zhuo didn't see this, otherwise, he would have exclaimed in astonishment. A 2.5D picture, how did they achieve that?

This kind of plot has been written to death, a bit cliché, but there's no way around it. Don't abandon it!

(End of this chapter)