Chapter 160: Jiuli Sword

Just at that moment, an extremely heavy aura washed over from outside the hospital ward.

Even lying in bed, Xiao Nan could feel the floor vibrate slightly.

He knew this wasn't because the newcomer was forcefully stamping their feet, but rather due to the profound traction of their all-encompassing bodily energy, which allowed his acute senses to perceive it.

It was an intuition born deep from within.

Although his spiritual power was currently scattered like a tangled mess of hemp, the faint sensory function of the bronze mirror still remained.

"Gu Liang, Director Gu of the Ten-Mile Crossing River! What brings you to Yuanjiang?"

Instructor Yun Xi's voice rang out from outside, pitched an octave higher. Gone was the aloof indifference she had previously displayed when lecturing Tang Zhixuan and Qin Shuang, replaced by a touch of vibrant liveliness.

So this instructor wasn't always so detached and cold; she simply adjusted her attitude based on who she was talking to.

The person who had arrived must hold quite a high status. A director of what, exactly?

Puzzled, Xiao Nan wondered inwardly.

The very next moment, he had his answer.

A voice like a booming bronze bell resounded: "You prestigious northwestern universities come all the way to our southeastern territory to recruit students, yet you won't allow my East Ocean University to stick a hand in?

Haha, Yuanjiang Prefecture has produced such a rare genius, how could I, Gu Liang, possibly sit still? We must compete fairly and let Xiao Nan make his own choice. That's fair, isn't it, Yun Xi?"

"Fair enough," Instructor Yun Xi said, taken aback and momentarily stunned by the rapid-fire barrage of words.

I wasn't even planning to recruit him for Qingning Academy anymore, wasn't I about to leave?

Before she could fully process what was happening, she saw Gu Liang exchange a glance and a brief inquiry with a young woman standing nearby, then push open the door to the ward.

Before she knew it, she had followed him inside.

She actually recognized that young woman; during her previous visit, she had seen her come to the hospital to check on the patient, and knew her to be Jiang Yu, the master of the Yuanjiang Four Seasons Sword Club.

Standing beside Jiang Yu was a petite woman in her twenties with delicate facial features, though she had a large saber strapped across her back that looked thoroughly uncoordinated with her frame.

"That's Ning Yue, the Eight-Direction Saber," Tang Zhixuan whispered, seeing that her instructor didn't recognize the newcomer.

As peers, they frequently crossed paths during off-campus missions, so they were well aware of each other's appearance and reputation.

Since they were in a hospital ward, and Gu Liang had arrived in such a rush, there were no lengthy introductions or polite pleasantries; he simply pushed the door open and walked in.

As soon as he entered the ward, Gu Liang caught sight of Xiao Nan looking over with curiosity. His eyes instantly lit up as he loudly proclaimed, "Junior martial brother! I've finally laid eyes on you!

Hearing that you were severely injured felt like a knife twisting in my heart. If I had known, I would have requested this mission myself and personally come to Yuanjiang to hold the fort. We wouldn't have let those barbarian god apostles cause such devastation.

Come, let's go to East Ocean City. There are countless renowned physicians there; no matter what kind of injuries you have, it'll be a breeze."

"Who on earth are you?" Xiao Nan was completely bewildered. This burly fellow was awfully familiar; the moment he stepped through the door, he had been slapping his chest like a resounding drum and calling him his junior martial brother with an air of great intimacy.

Jiang Yu stood to one side in silence, a faint smile hanging on her lips.

The petite woman beside her, however, covered her face, unable to bear the sight.

Unable to watch any longer, Qin Shuang spoke up, "This is the dean of the East Ocean University Martial Arts Academy, Gu Liang of the Ten-Mile Crossing River, the 'Crossing River Sword'. He's in charge of admissions this year."

Gu Liang cast an approving look at Qin Shuang, his expression turning slightly awkward. Acting the way he did, given his status, was indeed rather baffling.

"Student Xiao Nan, before I set out, President Li personally instructed that we must recruit you into East Ocean University, and he intends to take you on as his personal direct disciple."

"President Li?"

Before Xiao Nan could speak, Yun Xi looked over in utter disbelief, blurting out in shock, "Could it be President Li Shanmin, the Nine-Liquidity Sword?"

That was a senior grandmaster.

"Of course it's him! My teacher is someone who loves to elevate the younger generation. Especially when he encounters someone with peerless talent, he thirsts for talent like parched earth craves rain. That's why I was handling matters in Nanshui when a single phone call from him summoned me straight to Yuanjiang, all because he was terrified of missing the opportunity."

Instructor Yun Xi was even more baffled now, standing by at a complete loss for words.

The student she had given up on and decided not to recruit was actually being personally requested by the president of East Ocean University to become his direct disciple.

What's more, terrified that something might go wrong, the president had sent his senior disciple, Gu Liang, to make the trip in person...

The sheer weight of this importance was completely beyond her comprehension.

After offering that explanation, Gu Liang looked eagerly at Xiao Nan. Fearing that the youth might be unwilling, he pressed on, "I'm telling you, Junior martial brother, don't hesitate anymore. Going to our East Ocean University comes with countless benefits.

Look right here—this junior martial niece of yours went to East Ocean, completed her graduation assignment brilliantly, and is now at the mid-stage of the Fifth Grade.

Right now, her governing Yuanjiang Prefecture as city lord and clearing out the Yuanjiang beast-god cultists is merely a transitional phase. In a couple of years, she'll likely soar to the skies, with a future simply limitless."

"Junior martial niece?" Xiao Nan's eyes glazed over. Although this petite woman looked young in the face, she was older than him by any measure.

On top of that, she was a graduate of East Ocean University and currently the lord of Yuanjiang Prefecture.

"I am Ning Yue, and I also graduated from Yuanjiang No. 1 High School. We can be considered alumni," Ning Yue said with a smile. "Director Gu is my teacher. He's always had this straightforward, direct temper—he says whatever is on his mind, so don't read too much into it."

Her voice didn't quite match her petite frame; her speech was crisp and decisive, cutting through the air like a madly swung saber, carrying a sharp edge.

Yet the intent behind her words was quite warm and amiable.

Very well then, he had brought along Jiang Yu as a familiar face, and even brought his own school senior. They certainly showed a lot of sincerity.

Could it be that he wasn't aware of his actual condition?

Looking suspiciously at Ning Yue, Xiao Nan greeted her with a smile and said to Qin Shuang, "Help me up."

Having managed to sit up straight, Xiao Nan didn't show much expression as he simply asked, "Since Director Gu came all this way for a special recruitment, I would normally have agreed without a second thought. However, you might not know..."

"I know. Isn't it just that your physical flesh and blood essence have collapsed, and your meridians are severed? If East Ocean University lacks anything else, medicinal herbs are in endless supply. Even if your body has been reduced to that of a cripple, it can still be tempered until it's as sturdy as gold and iron."

Reaching behind his back, Gu Liang pulled out a pitch-black, massive heavy sword and slashed it directly against his left arm. *Clang...*

Sparks flew in all directions, sounding just like a blacksmith hammering iron.

A low, humming reverberation echoed through the air, causing the entire room to vibrate and the desks, chairs, cups, and plates to leap in unison.

Xiao Nan's eyebrows twitched. He realized that the fellow's sword strike was viciously powerful; wielded so casually, it carried no less than seven or eight thousand catties of force.

Furthermore, Gu Liang's left arm wasn't using any internal energy for defense; he had relied purely on the raw physical strength of his body to take the blow head-on, leaving only a white mark that vanished in the blink of an eye.

That was a remarkably persuasive demonstration.

Gu Liang sheathed his sword, grinned broadly, and continued, "If you're talking about your spiritual power becoming weak, that doesn't matter either.

You're merely injured, not lacking in innate talent; you can slowly train it back up over time. Our Nine-Liquidity Sword school never put all that much emphasis on spiritual power anyway.

Besides, after pulling off what you did in Yuanjiang, you're bound to stand at the crest of the storm. Even though that barbarian god apostle's soul was shattered to pieces, nobody can guarantee what kind of methods might be deployed against you in the dark.

To be safe, you can move your family into the residential district of East Ocean Martial Arts University so they can be protected close at hand."

***

Today is a bit late; the next chapter is still being typed and will be updated in the afternoon.