Before the Grand Competition

Feng Yang looked at the ten mu of high-grade spirit bamboo before him, his joy overflowing and his smile so wide he couldn't close his mouth.

He didn't know how Shen Yi had managed it, nor did he wish to ask—everyone had their own secrets. He guessed that Shen Yi must have encountered some kind of opportunity in the Yunluo Mountain Range.

"Not bad, Body Forging Peak. In less than a year, you've made rapid progress. You're a good seedling."

Feng Yang couldn't help but draw a sharp breath inwardly as he observed Shen Yi's cultivation. At Body Forging Peak, he was already among the top combatants among his peers in the Immortal Academy. In another month or two, he would surely break through to the Qi Condensation Realm.

"Thank you for the praise, Dean. I was merely fortunate."

As he spoke, Shen Yi pulled a jade bottle he had prepared earlier from his chest and handed it to Feng Yang.

"I was lucky enough to obtain this Essence of Flora. I swallowed half of it but haven't fully refined it yet. I offer the other half to the Immortal Academy for you to handle as you see fit."

Essence of Flora!

Even Feng Yang couldn't remain calm at the mention of Essence of Flora. He quickly took the jade bottle and opened it, seeing a green light cluster the size of a bean inside, brimming with a powerful life force.

"To resist temptation and remain composed and self-controlled." Sensing the vast vitality surging within Shen Yi's body, Feng Yang was certain he wasn't lying—that was indeed the immense spiritual energy of the Essence of Flora. He added another mark of approval for Shen Yi in his heart and quietly formed a plan.

Then, Shen Yi detailed to Feng Yang how Wang Minghui had ambushed a fellow disciple on the outskirts of the Yunluo Mountain Range and how he himself had killed him.

"Qingxuan Sect!"

After hearing this, Feng Yang couldn't help but furrow his brow. The Qingxuan Sect was nothing to fear, but behind it stood the Azure Cloud Sect, a top-tier existence across the entire Huafeng Prefecture. Moreover, both sides had lost disciples, and the one they had killed was the Great Elder's own son. If this matter were handled carelessly, it could spark conflict between the two factions.

"Set this aside for now. One day, we will demand justice! The matter of you killing Wang Minghui must not be known to a third person!"

Feng Yang warned Shen Yi sternly. Clearly, he had already made his choice—protecting Shen Yi's growth came first. As for the grudge, it could be set aside for now. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years.

Hearing this, Shen Yi understood Feng Yang's intent and said no more. He asked for Senior Brother Long Tao's address and took his leave.

"In time, this child will surely achieve great things."

Woniu Village.

A small village under the jurisdiction of Ninghai Town.

Shen Yi arrived at Long Tao's residence. He intended to push open the door and inform them of his death.

But seeing the simple, honest middle-aged couple in the courtyard, their words filled with nothing but hope for their son, he couldn't find the words to make them accept the reality of losing him.

He placed the spirit stones the Immortal Academy had compensated into Long Tao's Storage Bag, paused, then added many of his own spirit stones. He hung the Storage Bag on the firewood door and turned to leave.

Compared to a cruel reality, a faint, illusory hope was perhaps the most perfect answer Shen Yi could give them for now.

"One month from now, the Immortal Academy will hold its Annual Assessment. Students at Body Forging seventh layer and above may participate in the Immortal Academy Grand Competition. The top five will enter the Spirit Sealing Grotto-Heaven three months later! Students below Body Forging third layer will be assigned to the Immortal Academy's External Affairs Hall to mine spirit stones."

As soon as the announcement was made, the entire Ninghai Immortal Academy erupted in uproar—some rejoiced, others worried.

"Alas, with my Body Forging second layer cultivation, I'm destined for the External Affairs Hall."

"Body Forging sixth layer—one month. I have to break through to Body Forging seventh layer and fight for that Grotto-Heaven qualification."

"Forget it. With your meager cultivation, you won't last a single round against my Young Master."

Everyone reacted differently, but deep down, they all felt the cruelty of the cultivation world.

"Have you heard? Among the top ten Class A disciples of this cohort, aside from Shen Yi, everyone else has broken through to the Qi Condensation Realm on their own. Jiang Miaoyi is said to have already reached the Qi Refining fifth layer."

"I heard Yuwen Yue has also broken through to the Qi Refining fourth layer."

"Hmph! All worthless opponents. My Young Master is the truly gifted one. This time, securing the Grotto-Heaven qualification will be a sure thing."

"Um... who is your Young Master?"

"Li Yue!"

Walking through the Immortal Academy, Shen Yi caught many pieces of news. He was quite curious about Jiang Miaoyi and Yuwen Yue.

"Come to think of it, I've been at Ninghai Immortal Academy for a full year, yet I don't even know my peers well. Many of them I've never even seen."

Shen Yi lowered his head and laughed at himself.

"Hey, isn't that Shen Yi? Look at him with his head down, not saying a word. Clearly, he has no confidence in this competition."

"I bet he's still at Body Forging fifth or sixth layer. What can he use to compete with those geniuses? Looks like he just got lucky back then."

"He did manage to stir up trouble in the academy, so he's got some skill. But his good days are about to end."

Shen Yi's forehead was covered in black lines. He really wanted to go up and show them his true strength right now, but then he thought—wouldn't it be even more satisfying to reveal his power on the day of the competition and watch their jaws drop?

Ignoring the crowd's mockery, Shen Yi headed to the Scripture Repository.

"Senior, I'd like to pick an offensive cultivation technique."

Shen Yi bowed and then went inside to the first floor.

At Body Forging Peak, and with the nourishment of the Essence of Flora, the first layer of his Indestructible Scripture, Undying Skin, was nearly perfected. Even ordinary Qi Refining cultivators couldn't seriously injure him. Today, Shen Yi had come to find an offensive cultivation technique.

"Great Heavenly Net Finger," a Yellow-grade Mid-tier cultivation technique. When mastered, it spreads like a heavenly net, trapping the enemy within and killing them with a single finger! Price: three thousand five hundred spirit stones.

"Hidden Wind Sword Art," a Yellow-grade High-tier cultivation technique. The sword style conceals the wind, killing without a trace. When mastered, a single swing unleashes several gusts of wind, stirring up sand and stones, unstoppable! Price: four thousand spirit stones.

"Godfall Halberd Art," a Yellow-grade Low-tier technique. The halberd art was overwhelmingly domineering, capable of splitting rock and cleaving metal; only those with an exceptionally strong physique could wield it. When mastered to perfection, it could destroy heaven and earth, slay gods and immortals! Price: seven thousand Spirit Stones.

Shen Yi's eyelids twitched. A Yellow-grade Low-tier technique, hyped up so mysteriously, and priced so exorbitantly—yet the requirements of this technique suited him best.

"Buy it or not?"

After mulling it over for a long time, Shen Yi finally gritted his teeth and bought it, because Feng Yang had secretly transmitted a message: action speaks louder than hesitation. He could give him a twenty percent discount and throw in a Precious Halberd as a bonus.

"One last month—I'll use it for Secluded Cultivation."

Shen Yi looked at the Storage Bag piled high with herbs, enough to sustain him for a month.

"Breaking through to the Qi Condensation Realm, achieving mastery of Undying Skin, and training in the halberd art—these are the main goals of this Secluded Cultivation."

Shen Yi stared at the long halberd lying on the ground, somewhat helpless, a surge of anger rising within him. Feng Yang had indeed tricked him; that halberd was clearly only a Low-grade Magic Tool—how could it ever be called a Precious Halberd?

Shaking off distracting thoughts, Shen Yi began his Secluded Cultivation.