Chapter 37: Yuelu Academy

  Yuelu Academy is one of the four most famous ancient academies, with a long history and rich cultural heritage. Many ancient books are stored here, but after all these years, I don't know what will happen to them.

  The two didn't walk far before arriving at the famous Yuelu Academy of ancient times. Although Yuelu Academy is not very far from Yuwang Stele, their conditions are vastly different. Ye Chen and the other were relatively disappointed as the academy that entered their eyes was not intact but rather like many buildings outside Xingcheng, all dilapidated.

  On both sides of the gate, the couplet "Only Chu has talent, and it is prosperous here" can be faintly seen, but the plaque above is hung crookedly, and it has not been repaired for a long time.

  Although the two were disappointed, they did not fall into despair. They looked at each other and walked into the Yuelu Academy. What they saw was a scene of wild grass growing everywhere, a desolate landscape that had clearly been uninhabited for a very long time.

  Crossing the main gate, passing through the second gate, walking through the lecture hall, one can faintly see those literary atmospheres, but these are of little help to Ye Chen and his companion. Their main goal is the Imperial Book Building of Yuelu Academy.

  Chen Tao is unfamiliar with this place, and although Ye Chen has read relevant books, he also doesn't know where the Yu Shu Lou is.

  The two of them split up to search, having agreed on a way to contact each other. They then began searching separately. As one of the four major ancient academies, Yuelu Academy covers a large area, and finding the Imperial Edict Pavilion is not an easy task.

  After parting with Chen Tao, Ye Chen also carefully searched around here, being cautious and prudent. Ye Chen couldn't be certain if there were any demonic beasts gathering here, but being careful outside of Xing City had already become second nature to him, so his search wasn't particularly fast either.

  What surprised Ye Chen was that the Yue Lu Academy seemed to have no signs of demonic beasts for a very, very long time. This was somewhat unusual compared to the Star City outside where demonic beasts were everywhere and Ye Chen had grown accustomed to it.

  This made Ye Chen even more cautious, but along the way, Ye Chen didn't encounter any crises, and wherever he passed by, it was calm and peaceful, without a single ripple, let alone any danger.

  From books, I know that Yuelu Academy is divided into several major blocks: the gate, the lecture hall, the teaching quarters, the Imperial Book Tower, the Temple of Culture, the Stone Pavilion, the Stele, and the Creek...

  But their respective locations are not very clear, except for the main gate and the second gate, the rest are really unclear where they are located in the academy.

  The surrounding buildings, some collapsed and some tilted, formed a broken wall that made it impossible to tell which direction was which. Not to mention the winding paths and secluded gardens, now they can't be seen at all.

  Ye Chen could only search and identify one by one, fortunately the Yushu Building he was looking for was very recognizable, as long as there were enough hidden books, it would be almost certain.

  Just as Ye Chen was carefully searching, a sudden burst of bird calls sounded urgently in the west, and Ye Chen's face changed suddenly.

  This is a secret signal between me and Chen Tao, this urgent voice indicates that the other party has encountered danger, and it's a threat to their life.

  Ye Chen didn't hesitate and rushed towards the direction of the sound, Chen Tao was now his best partner, Ye Chen wouldn't want to see anything happen to Chen Tao.

  The weeds around scattered in all directions under Ye Chen's full-speed run, as if intentionally making way for him.

  Ye Chen's speed was very fast, passing through several collapsed walls, Ye Chen soon arrived at the place where Chen Tao had just made a sound.

  Baichuan Xuan, a name that somewhat surprised Ye Chen, the plaque above the gate was intact and undamaged, with three ancient and vigorous large characters presenting themselves on it, giving people a sense of grandeur and a feeling of being naturally formed.

  Baiquan Xuan, from the name itself, it can be seen that many streams converge to form it. Someone even praised it with "Baiquan Xuan Ji", "Like snow like ice, like a ribbon like a crane..." The eight characters after that, Ye Chen couldn't remember clearly at the moment, and at that time, he only remembered them because they were beautifully and vividly depicted.

  Ye Chen didn't linger in front of the door for long, although it was unexpected, but Chen Tao's life was more important.

  Ye Chen pushed the door open and suddenly stopped, the scene in front of him was one that Ye Chen rarely saw, he didn't know if it was the changes of the past hundred years or if it had always been this way. Three snow-white streams poured down, surrounded by lush trees, majestic mountains, and a harmonious whole, the gentle breeze brushing against his face made him feel as if he were inside a painting.

  "Don't look, my little brother's life is almost gone." A voice that was not suitable for the occasion sounded in Ye Chen's ear, instantly making Ye Chen come back to his senses, and he couldn't help but feel a little regretful. The feeling of being in this mountain just now made Ye Chen very comfortable.

  Ye Chen turned his head and took a sudden jump. Chen Tao's bald head was sweating profusely, his body was completely drenched, and he had no idea what had happened.

  "What's wrong?" Ye Chen asked in surprise.

  "This thing is absorbing my internal energy!" Chen Tao shouted hastily, waving his arms.

  Ye Chen followed Chen Tao's arm and looked over, a transparent object that seemed to touch his hand emerged from the clear spring water and wrapped around Chen Tao.

  With each gulp, it seemed like something was being swallowed down, and with each rise, Chen Tao's face turned paler, his painful expression also seeming to increase a bit.

  Ye Chen didn't think much, and in an instant, he raised the long sword in his hand to slash at the transparent tentacle. Chen Tao's face changed, wanting to loudly shout for Ye Chen to stop, but it was already too late.

  Ye Chen's long sword slashed onto the transparent tentacle, and he felt his sword pause for a moment, as if cutting through cotton, with a sudden loss of force.

  A sharp internal force burst out, and all that was heard was a tearing sound. The tentacles wrapped around Chen Tao's arm were cut off in an instant!

  Whoosh, the severed tentacles quickly retracted into the clear spring water, and the remaining tentacles also released Chen Tao's arm, bouncing back and forth on the ground before slowly coming to rest, lying horizontally on the ground.

  "What is this thing?" Ye Chen asked in surprise, his previous feelings making him somewhat curious about it.

  Upon hearing Ye Chen's inquiry, Chen Tao suddenly became excited, and even the near-death experience earlier was thrown to the back of his mind.

  "Yechen, quick, look at this thing, is it the legendary spiritual medicine?" Chen Tao pointed to the center of the stream.

  Ye Chen glanced over and saw that in the middle of the creek, where the emerald water was rippling, a single emerald lotus stood quietly upright. What made Chen Tao think it was the divine medicine were the nine golden lotus seeds on top of this emerald lotus.

  "Nine Sons Golden Lotus!" Ye Chen exclaimed in shock!

  "Jiuzi Golden Lotus? Isn't it a great spiritual medicine?" Chen Tao asked excitedly. After getting Ye Chen's nod, he became even more excited.

  "I knew it, this lotus seedling looks special, how could it not be a spiritual medicine? I, Chen Tao, can see that it's at least a top-grade heavenly material."

  Ye Chen looked at Chen Tao with some speechlessness, but also felt envious of Chen Tao's good luck.