Entering the Academy

"Ah, in such a short time, you've already gotten worked up. You really are young."

At that moment, a lazy voice shattered the heated atmosphere stirred up by Bai Ye's single remark.

Old Bai stroked his long beard in midair, his face full of smiles.

"In a month, you'll naturally have the chance to spar with one another. There's no need to rush."

"In a month?"

Duanmu Lei could not help asking.

The other new students pricked up their ears and listened closely as well.

"In one month, the New Student Tournament will be held. All new students will participate, and the rankings will be decided. That will be the time for you little ones to make a fuss."

Old Bai looked exceptionally amiable, but his words always managed to stir up everyone's enthusiasm at just the right moment.

One month. Duanmu Lei clenched his fists. In one month, he would definitely advance to the Heaven Merging Realm Initial Stage. By then, he would be qualified to fight the others.

One month was enough to change many things.

Everyone looked at the white-haired youth standing high above them, sensing the power within his spiritual energy and the indifference in his golden eyes.

The position he could reach was not necessarily beyond their grasp.

"Alright, since there are no more questions, go find your respective instructors."

Old Bai smiled faintly, and his body slowly vanished in midair without causing the slightest ripple.

Bai Ye watched his final fading smile, and a glint flashed through his gilded gold eyes.

That was a true expert. What an incredible movement spiritual art.

After Old Bai disappeared, dozens of figures emerged in midair. They transformed into streaks of flowing light and scattered in every direction, dividing the hundred thousand or so new students into groups.

The one who landed before Bai Ye and the others was a woman dressed in a blue robe.

She had a beautiful, striking face, but it was covered in frost. Her overall temperament was rather similar to Li Qing, who had been here earlier.

"Follow me."

The moment she landed, she did not introduce herself and merely spoke in an icy voice.

Such a cold yet beautiful bearing was bound to draw the attention of a great many male new students.

All those from the eastern stone platform had gathered around Bai Ye.

Since there were fewer people on that platform, only this one instructor was assigned to them.

"Instructor, could you please tell us your name first?"

At that moment, Hong Lingyue took the initiative to speak.

Her smile was radiant, and her attitude was excellent.

"There's no need."

The Blue-Robed Woman walked forward without even looking back.

Well, not only was her temperament cold, even her manner was equally aloof.

Hong Lingyue was not angered by the rejection and merely maintained her faint smile.

She liked this kind of straightforward personality the most.

That was also why she had especially liked the carefree little girl beside her throughout the journey. Su Ling'er was innocent by nature and could not have been easier to get along with.

Bai Ye did not hear those thoughts. If he had known that this was what Hong Lingyue thought of Su Ling'er, he would surely have smiled, shaken his head, and seriously told her—

If she wanted to say the girl was silly, she should just say it. What was the point of beating around the bush?

"This is where you will be staying."

After traveling for some distance, the group of several thousand arrived at an area.

Shaded by trees and filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, the environment alone was indeed first-rate.

Simple houses stood in clusters throughout the area. The Blue-Robed Woman tucked her hands into her sleeves, looked down at the grounds below, and spoke indifferently.

"A Spirit Gathering Array."

Bai Ye sensed the abnormal flow of spiritual energy within this stretch of heaven and earth, then immediately looked toward the area below.

Once he deliberately began searching, he could always find a few faint traces.

After all, he had traveled through the Great Thousand World with Aunt Jing. Whenever Aunt Jing made a move, she would always have him and Ling Xi watch from the side.

He truly had no talent for spiritual arrays, but in terms of eyesight, few young people of the same level could compare to him.

The Blue-Robed Woman was slightly surprised upon hearing his words.

She turned her gaze to his face. It was the first time she had seen Bai Ye's appearance clearly, and she froze for a moment. Yet after her eyes swept over his hair and eyes, she eventually recovered and spoke in a cool tone.

"A Level Four Spirit Gathering Array."

This answer caused many new students to cry out in surprise.

A large number of them had never seen a Spirit Gathering Array above Level Three even after cultivating to this point.

A Level Four array—this was their first time encountering such an advanced Spirit Gathering Array.

Bai Ye frowned slightly. He had no interest in Spirit Gathering Arrays. What puzzled him was the strange look that woman had given him earlier.

Though it had lasted only an instant, with Bai Ye's perception, it was easy for him to detect that something was off.

Why?

The Blue-Robed Woman did not notice Bai Ye's expression and continued, "This area is divided into Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C. The higher the grade, the closer it is to the center of the Spirit Gathering Array. Naturally, the monthly fees are also different. The place you are currently in is the Grade C Area, which is free of charge."

"Then what price do the Grade A and Grade B areas require?"

Someone asked at the right moment.

The Blue-Robed Woman turned around, her expression as cold as ever. "A Grade A Room costs two thousand spirit values per month. A Grade B Room costs one thousand spirit values per month."

Hiss—

That price seemed absurdly high.

Having just come out of the Northern Azure Realm, they did not even have two thousand spirit values in total.

Even Hong Lingyue and the others, who possessed Level Six Marks, did not have a thousand.

Seriously...

"Don't think this price is too high."

Rarely, the Blue-Robed Woman took the initiative to speak of something beyond the rules.

"At the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy, spirit values are everything. As long as you have spirit values, you can obtain precious cultivation resources. The right to use these rooms is already the most cost-effective thing available."

Once the Blue-Robed Woman said this, everyone present fell silent.

Earning spirit values was an urgent matter.

Afterward, the Blue-Robed Woman explained many things to them.

For instance, methods of obtaining spirit values, as well as places within the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy that were beneficial for cultivation.

Though her tone remained as cold as ever, she described these matters in great detail.

It allowed them to quickly gain a general understanding of the layout of the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy.

Once she had finished explaining, most of the new students descended from midair and headed toward the Grade C Area.

They had no choice. As bottom-tier new students without spirit values, they could only choose to live in the free outer area.

Hong Lingyue and Su Ling'er were no exception.

The other Heaven Merging Realm experts who possessed some spirit values made different choices. Other than Yu Xiaoyin, most chose Grade B Rooms.

Only the Yu Xiaoyin sisters chose to share a Grade A Room.

For a time, only Bai Ye and Yan Meng remained among the new students in midair.

"You go down and wait for me first."

Bai Ye spoke calmly.

Yan Meng gave a slight bow and descended below.

"Is there something you need?"

The Blue-Robed Woman asked coldly.

Bai Ye had deliberately chosen to select a room last so that he could have an opportunity to be alone with her.

"You were looking at me."

Though those words sounded somewhat conceited, this was Bai Ye's most direct question.

He was someone who never liked keeping problems bottled up inside. If something could be resolved, he wanted an answer immediately.

"Yes."

The Blue-Robed Woman answered honestly. Since he had noticed, then so be it.

It was not as though it was anything significant.

"Why?"

Bai Ye continued asking.

That look had been strange—strange enough to make him instinctively wary.

"I have no comment."

The Blue-Robed Woman answered in the same cold voice. This was a secret in her heart.

"I merely mistook you for someone else."

Mistook him for someone else?

Just because of a face?

"Is there anything else?"

Seeing him fall silent, the Blue-Robed Woman directly asked.

Bai Ye raised his eyes, a sunny and gentle smile appearing on his face. "No. Please assign me a Grade A Room, Instructor."

He took out his Spirit Value Token and handed it to the Blue-Robed Woman.

The woman gave him a deep look and accepted the crystal token containing ten thousand spirit values.

After performing some operations, she returned the Spirit Value Token to him.

"Upon entering a Grade A Room, the corresponding spirit values will be deducted automatically and your registration will be recorded."

Bai Ye nodded, put the Spirit Value Token back into his Mustard Seed Bracelet, then gestured to the Blue-Robed Woman and turned to leave.

But at that moment, Bai Ye suddenly turned back and swiftly asked, "Instructor, what is your name?"

"Bing..."

The Blue-Robed Woman's eyes widened as she looked at the handsome boy smiling before her.

Before she could say anything else, Bai Ye dropped directly from the air and landed steadily on the ground, not giving her any chance to speak.

The next moment, where no one could see, a cold expression appeared on Bai Ye's face.

Bing?

Just hearing that surname was enough to bring countless things to mind.

After all, his original name had been Bing Ye.

What a coincidence...

"Young Master, what is it?"

By the time Yan Meng turned around, Bai Ye's expression had already returned to normal. However, as a pure-blooded member of the Spirit Fox Clan, she could keenly sense the change in his emotions.

"Nothing."

Bai Ye smiled faintly and answered calmly.

It was fine. His hair and eye colors had changed due to various circumstances, which was why that woman had said she had mistaken him for someone else.

Blue hair and blue eyes were the defining symbols of that clan.

That would be enough to conceal his identity.

Besides, what if it could not be concealed?

A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Bai Ye's eyes. If it could not be hidden, then he would make them shut up forever.

In this world, no one could bind him. No one!

Yan Meng walked beside him, sensing that somewhat familiar spiritual fluctuation, and remained silent.

She had never forgotten that the youth had another title in Ying Longcheng.

Madman.

Meanwhile, the Blue-Robed Woman's figure had already silently disappeared from the sky behind them.

It seemed that everything was still normal...

Probably.