NOVEL NEXT Chapter 168: Chapter 168
The Peace Town, also known as the entrance to the Jia Nan Academy, was built between the two majestic mountains.
The small town carried an ethereal aura, separating it from the rest of the Black Corner region.
Xiao Ning sighed after seeing it from afar; unknowingly, a smile appeared on Xiao Ning's face as he followed the yellow sand road that led to the entrance of the town.
As he got closer, Xiao Ning noticed the changes in people's behavior on the road; it was unlike what one would expect from the residents of the Black Corner region.
There was a tension in the air; it was like the wolf had become a sheep.
A few moments later, Xiao Ning stopped at the entrance gate, and the large black tree on the left attracted his attention.
'The famous Dead Spirit Tree,' Xiao Ning muttered to himself.
The black tree was tens of meters tall, and its crown spread in all directions as if showing its fangs; contrarily to the ethereal aura within the town, the black tree radiated a cold and ghostly aura.
The legend has it; that once, experts from the Jia Nan Academy slaughtered the troublemakers and hung the corpses of two Dou Kings and a Dou Emperor; ever since, no one dared to make trouble within the town and its surrounding areas.
Xiao Ning stood still momentarily and stared at the 'Dead Spirit Tree' as if it were a tourist attraction.
He smiled and entered the town, and the moment he stepped in, Xiao Ning sensed a strange undulation sweeping through him.
As an alchemist by profession, Xiao Ning's spiritual strength was equally terrifying, and he immediately found the owner's location.
Yet, he acted normally as if nothing happened and kept moving forward, but the same wasn't the case for others who also entered the town.
Even the civilians wandering on the streets could sense their nervousness and vigilance.
Xiao Ning looked at the children playing on the corner of the street and people coming and going, unaware of the dangers outside of the town.
Before he could ask for directions, Xiao Ning sensed qi fluctuation in the air and stopped in his tracks; he then raised his head and looked at the figures shuttling towards them.
Over ten figures appeared on the rooftop and glanced at Xiao Ning and others. One among them, apparently the leader, stepped forward and said, " Everyone who wants to enter the 'Peace Town' must report their identities; otherwise, they will be expelled.
After seeing that no one objected, the leader continued, "Additionally, you must consume this pill; he waved his hand, and a bottle of pale red pills appeared in his hand."
After seeing the uneasiness among the crowd, he waved his hand and said, "Rest assured, it is not poison, this pill is refined by the alchemist department of the academy, and its function is to sense the killing intent in your heart when you are staying within the borders of the academy."
"You don't have to worry; once you want to leave, you can go to the center of the town and take the antidote."
"Once the pill senses the killing intent, your bodies will emit a red glow, and our law enforcement unit will follow the red glow and eliminate the threat."
"I don't need to remind you how our academy has dealt with the lawless people of the Black Corner region?"
The moment he stopped, the crowd below exploded.
How could they eat something of unknown origin?
Even if the law enforcement unit of the Jia Nan Academy assured them, it wouldn't work.
They have been living their entire lives on the edge. Some refused and could only leave helplessly under the fierce eyes of the members of the law enforcement unit.
The law enforcement members had already unsheathed their swords to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation.
While some gritted their teeth and took the pill and swallowed it as if it was a matter of life and death.
"Do the academy's students also have to take this pill?" Xiao Ning asked when it was his turn to ingest the pill.
The member of the law enforcement unit handing out pills was stunned for a moment and asked back, "Are you a student of the academy? Where is your identity token?"
Xiao Ning replied helplessly, "Back then, I had passed the student recruitment test, but I had taken a long leave, and now I have to come to report."
The member looked at Xiao Ning suspiciously and asked, "What is your name, and who is your recruiting teacher?" At the same time, he waved at the leader, asking him to come over.
"Xiao Ning, Wu Tian City, Jia Ma Empire, Instructor Rou Ling." Xiao Ning responded neatly. He looked at the middle-aged man, took out a letter from his storage ring, and handed it over.
The middle-aged man smiled after reading the letter and said, " I am Hou De, the leader of the second team of the law enforcement unit of the academy and also the instructor of the Yellow rank class."
Hou De almost believed Xiao Ning and said, "Let's go to the administrative office; they will match your letter with the records, and if everything is true, then you don't need to consume this pill."
Xiao Ning followed the law enforcement team back to the administrative office.
On the way back, one of the team members kept looking at Xiao Ning and suddenly exclaimed in surprise. Everyone turned around and looked at him in surprise, their eyes looked at him as if saying spill it out fast!
The student was a bit taken aback after feeling everyone's gaze, but he still asked, "Xiao Ning, are you from the same city as Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun Er?"
The rest were also surprised and looked at Xiao Ning, waiting for his answer.
Xiao Ning took a deep breath, concealed his hatred for Xiao Yan, and answered with a smile, "Yes, I belong to the Xiao Clan of the Wu Tian City."
No one noticed the strangeness in his words; Xiao Ning did not confirm he belonged in the same clan as Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun Er; instead, he said, 'I belong to the Xiao Clan.'
Everyone let go of their vigilance after confirming Xiao Ning was their junior.