To make acquaintance

Once the boy had left the central square, he could ride his sword through the air.

First, he took out the sword called Flying Azure from his storage ring.

He lifted his fore and middle fingers, sensing with his spiritual awareness. The sword floated up at his command; then, with a surge of spiritual energy, he shaped an enlarged illusion of the flying blade and leaped lightly onto it.

Standing upon the sword, he rose slowly into the air to a height of some thirty feet. In only two breaths, he covered more than a hundred meters.

His speed was already on par with a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Once his bloodline was awakened, he would be able to match a mid-stage cultivator.

So thinking, the boy arrived at the Azure Study Academy.

This was the largest and only public academy in Qingning City. Children seeking learning, between the ages of eight and twelve, could study the basics of cultivation here, including history, herbs, body tempering, qi-refining methods, fundamental beast taming, and so on.

After the spirit-root test at the age of twelve, some outstanding children could choose to join one of the Five Great Clans for further study. They could also remain here; if their aptitude was still decent, then between the ages of twelve and sixteen they could continue their education within the academy at a reduced cost.

At that stage, they would study higher-level qi-refining methods, as well as introductory and intermediate formations, talismans, beast taming, and more.

In the great cities of every prefecture, these academies held competitions every five or ten years, and the people paid close attention to them. The results were included in the kingdom's performance evaluations for those cities.

Culture, strength, economic contribution, talent supply, public sentiment, disaster response, demonic threats—the state of Great Qian kept track of everything with meticulous order.

The clan elders had once explained all this while helping the boy with his lessons.

The Azure Study Academy was the public academy of the great city, independent of the city lord's authority, and one of the pillars from which the bloodline of Great Qian sprang.

It had many elders and stewards teaching there. The academy elders were usually assessed jointly by the clan lords of the Five Great Clans. Each clan would first select several outstanding elders from within its ranks, and the elders ultimately chosen would serve under the dual-elder system.

This affected a person's voting weight and status, and the clan elders all welcomed it.

Within Azure Study Academy, the grand elder was Zhao Tiangang, who was also the grand elder of the Zhao Clan—a title he truly deserved. The academy dean was selected in rotation from among the five clan lords, and if one was elected city lord, one could not hold the post again.

Azure Study Academy was also vast, with ten elders, a hundred acting elders, and a thousand stewards. More than fifty thousand students studied there.

Even so, more than half of the qi-refining children could not enter the academy and instead attended private tutors or studied on their own within smaller clans. As for commoners, there was no need to say more—they had no qualifications and no spirit roots.

Having arrived here, the young boy quickened his steps into the academy, walking over the blue stone tiles. After turning twelve, he did not come here very often.

Thinking of it, his brow furrowed.

After twelve, there was even more to learn within the clan. Second Grandfather taught herbs; First Grandfather taught formations and artifact forging; Uncle taught talismans.

He knew all too well: herb lore was vast, talismans were difficult to draw and often failed, formations were cumbersome, and artifact forging demanded years of labor. He was also expected to study beast taming on his own afterward.

Others only needed to temper their bodies and cultivate all manner of methods and divine arts.

He himself could only squeeze out time to cultivate and grow stronger.

And whenever he was close to breaking down, Zhao Jinming seemed to hear a voice: Do not be sad. Do not give up. This is all for your own good. Just keep trying.

He shook free of his passing thoughts and walked straight ahead until he reached the Examination Hall.

Someone had mischievously carved "I shall wander today" onto the wall.

This spacious, grand hall had often been used by elders in the past to test students' state of mind.

They would ask, in particular:

Who are you?

Why do you cultivate immortality?

What is cultivation?

What is cultivation for?

It was strange, but when students at Azure Study Academy had their spirit roots tested, and again when they graduated at the coming-of-age ceremony, they were always asked these same questions.

For the students of Azure Study Academy, three major events always drew their attention: spirit-root testing at twelve; bloodline testing at sixteen; and graduation at twenty.

In this world, cultivators first possessed spirit roots and spiritual meridians. Later, their bloodlines, nourished by spiritual energy, would be awakened; once they reached a certain grade, those bloodlines could help form and strengthen the body in cultivation.

Bloodline testing was similar to spirit-root testing and could be used to discern aptitude. Even if an excellent bloodline was discovered, it still needed assistance to awaken, for within it lay wondrous power.

The boy still had about four months before his bloodline test, as did many disciples within his clan.

The elders often joked that before the test, one ought to eat more treasured things. There was, after all, some theoretical basis for that.

At the sight of things, memories stirred. At the sight of landscapes, recollections returned.

During his first state-of-mind assessment in years past, the clan's grand elder had personally sought him out.

Back then, Zhao Tiangang stood before him in loose Daoist robes. Among the crowd, all revered Zhao Tiangang as the True Man of Thunder Arts, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

As the Zhao Clan's grand elder, he held immense authority within the clan; even the clan lord and the uncle from the second branch had to yield him some respect. Zhao Tiangang carried a natural, imposing dignity, his gaze deep and unfathomable. The boy had merely looked back at him without answering, because he truly did not know any of the answers.

A newborn calf fears no tiger. Perhaps because his eyes shone with clarity, the grand elder said he was very good.

Of course, Jinming was already imagining how the next state-of-mind assessment would go.

The academy and the clan's internal examinations did not use those illusion realms and temptations. Their great cultivators believed that sincerity of heart could reach the path, and steadfastness of heart could reach the path.

Putting his thoughts away, the boy's gaze hardened slightly.

He had made a special trip here to take a look and make preparations.

After that, he intended to leave, and the boy resumed his usual leisurely stroll, entering the lakeside corridor.

And there, in the corridor, he unexpectedly met Sister Xiahe.

"Long time no see, Little Junior Brother. Have you missed your senior sister? You look much better now, so handsome and graceful—such a charming young master. Very appealing to the girls."

Sister Xia was always so uninhibited, letting flattering words spill out at once.

Jinming felt quite pleased with himself.

"Indeed, it has been a long while, Senior Sister. Have your studies gone well these past few years? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Sister Xia said she was doing very well, but when Jinming suggested that she go to the Zhao Clan for further study, she refused.

Later, he gave her a cloud ring to express gratitude for her care over the years.

A top-grade yellow-rank spirit ring, containing medicinal pills.

If one studied at Azure Study Academy between the ages of eight and twelve, the academy would specially assign an especially capable senior sister to accompany the direct descendants of the Five Great Clans who were just beginning their studies, helping to care for their daily lives.

This boy did not follow the path of ruthlessness.

He walked on, and just as he neared the end of the lakeside corridor, he saw another fair and handsome youth standing there, as if starlight gleamed in his eyes.

On his brow was a yin-yang mark, black within white and white within black. As the youth approached, he noticed that the mark gradually blurred and faded away.

He was somewhat astonished.

A forehead mark was not something a cultivator applied to himself. Anyone born with such a mark was often a spirit body or a Dao body—rarer even than an extraordinary bloodline.

The two looked at each other for a second.

"You are... Zhao Jinming?" The youth with the yin-yang mark broke the silence first, his tone carrying a trace of uncertainty.

"That is correct. And how should I address you?" Jinming cupped his hands.

"You may call me fellow Daoist, or Brother Dao. My name is Fan Yifeng... of the Fan Clan in Tianding City."

"Haha, fellow Daoist, then I shall accept that address. You seem unhappy today; I, too, feel somewhat displeased."

"Would Brother Fan care to stroll with me through Qingning City? I imagine you have come from afar."

"You can tell that I am unhappy?"

After a moment's recollection, he said, "Indeed, I have not felt happy for a long time."

The Fan Clan of Tianding City—Jinming vaguely remembered that among the eight great clans of the royal capital, the second-ranked one seemed to be the Fan Clan.

In any case, he was likely some young master from elsewhere who had traveled far to come here, and they might as well try to become friends. In cultivation, it was easier to go far with fellow Daoists and Dao companions.

Fan Yifeng understood, and nodded.

Thus the two set out together. They rode flying swords over the northern and eastern parts of the city, then strolled through the gentle waters, and flew into a certain medicinal garden to gather herbs and appraise spiritual plants.

Have you forgotten? In the south of Qingning City, spiritual energy breathes life into charm and grace, and in all four seasons the flowers bloom as though it were spring.

In such a scene, Fan Yifeng wore white robes, sword dancing amid the spring ripples.

In the west of the city, they even came upon a tavern, where they drank spirit liquors in merriment and lifted the heart and sharpened the spirit.

"All cultivation requires only that one's thoughts find release and clarity," Fan Yifeng said.

The next morning.

"Those words were no lie..."

Jinming awoke as if from a dream.

Only after asking Zhao Sansheng did he learn that yesterday he had drunk too much spirit liquor and had not had time to sit down and refine it with proper breathing. Exhausted, he had unknowingly fallen asleep, and Young Master Fan had ridden his flying sword to the clan gate to bring him back.

Clearing away the confusion in his mind, Jinming sat up to regulate his breath and channel his energy, only to discover that his cultivation had become more stable, with even a trace of progress.

He remembered that all the spirit liquor from yesterday had been paid for by Brother Fan.

Perhaps cultivation truly required vast resources, Jinming thought, glancing again toward the clan.

"Good little brother, Zhao Sansheng."

A carefree voice rang out, and he gave up thinking about it.

"Here, Brother Ming."

"Come with me to the Spirit Plant Garden," said the carefree voice.