When Lin Xiao emerged from the Martial Arts Pavilion's deep starry expanse and bathed once more in the warm sunlight of Cloud Creek City, his entire spirit had undergone an indescribable transformation.
His realm remained at the Body Refinement Sixth Level. His strength had not increased in the slightest. Yet deep within his sea of consciousness, the "Unbending" imprint formed from that gray orb of light pulsed slowly like a heart. With every beat, it radiated an indestructible will that fused perfectly with his soul.
This was an elevation originating from the level of the soul.
Even the way he viewed the world seemed to have changed. In his eyes, whether it was a person or an object, superficial strength, status, and worth no longer mattered. From the very essence of their existence, he could vaguely sense a unique "momentum."
Xiao Lang's momentum was sharp and exposed, tyrannical and fierce, like an unparalleled murderous weapon drawn from its sheath. Shi Lei's momentum was heavy and steady, solid as a rock, like an immovable towering mountain. Su Yue's momentum was agile and swift, elusive and unpredictable, like an untouchable wisp of breeze.
And after comprehending the Unbending True Meaning, his own momentum had finally taken shape—it was an undercurrent hidden beneath an abyss, seemingly tranquil yet containing the power to overturn everything. Silent as a cicada, then astonishing the world with a single cry!
"Lin Xiao, are... are you really all right?" Su Yue looked at Lin Xiao's increasingly profound eyes, and for some reason, a trace of awe rose in her heart.
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Lin Xiao came back to his senses and smiled gently. That heart-palpitating momentum instantly vanished without a trace, and he became that approachable youth once more. "Let's go. Head back and familiarize yourselves with your new equipment. Our real academy life officially begins tomorrow."
After returning to the dormitory area, the three of them celebrated briefly before returning to their own rooms.
Shi Lei could not wait to begin refining the Immovable Wisdom King Art, while Su Yue held the Firefly Soft Sword and danced gracefully beneath the moon, familiarizing herself with the divine weapon's properties.
Lin Xiao, meanwhile, sat cross-legged and immersed his mind in the system.
[Name: Lin Xiao] [Realm: Body Refinement Sixth Level (physical body, half-step to the extreme realm)] [Level: 5 (121/200)] [Techniques: Basic Breathing Technique, Book of Ten Thousand Laws (fragment)] [Martial Arts: Basic Fist Technique (Perfect), Basic Swordplay (Perfect), Basic Movement Technique (Perfect)... (1,324 techniques in total)] [Special Ability: Unbending True Meaning (Initial Glimpse)] [True Meaning Effect: When the host is in adversity (HP below 30% or facing an enemy of a higher realm), all attributes increase by 10%, and insight into enemy weaknesses increases by 50%! The firmer the will, the stronger the effect!] [Merit Points: 350] [Novice Gift Pack (Opened)]
Looking at the additional line, "Unbending True Meaning," on his status panel, Lin Xiao's heart overflowed with lofty ambition.
This was his greatest gain this time!
Cultivation techniques and Martial Skills were ultimately external things, mere arts. But the True Meaning of Martial Dao pointed directly at the source—the Dao! Only with it could Lin Xiao be said to possess a unique core advantage truly his own!
He did not immediately begin cultivating. Instead, he took out several foundational texts on formations, alchemy, and artifact refinement, then began madly absorbing this knowledge he had never encountered before with the system's powerful analytical ability.
He knew perfectly well that his future path would never be limited to becoming a mere martial artist. He would combine the thinking of modern science with this world's profound and mysterious system, carving out an all-encompassing path that no one had ever walked before!
The following morning.
At the training grounds of Cloud Creek Academy's outer court, several thousand new students who had passed the assessment stood in formation according to their respective classes.
The Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow classes were clearly separated, like the waters of the Jing and Wei Rivers.
The Heaven Class students all possessed powerful auras and arrogant expressions, basking in everyone's reverent gazes. Meanwhile, most Yellow Class students hung their heads in dejection, looking dispirited and feeling themselves inferior to others.
Lin Xiao, Shi Lei, and Su Yue stood within the ranks of Yellow Class Nine.
Unlike the classmates around them who wallowed in self-pity, all three wore expressions of curiosity and anticipation.
"I really didn't expect all three of us to be assigned to the worst class," Shi Lei said, scratching his head with a simple, honest smile.
"Isn't that perfect? If no one pays attention to us, we can develop in peace." Lin Xiao was quite happy to have the quiet.
Just then, a middle-aged man in a gray mentor's robe slowly walked to the front of Yellow Class Nine. His face was rigid, and there was a hint of weary decay in his eyes.
He first swept a lazy glance over the listless students below the platform, making no attempt to hide the impatience and disdain in his gaze.
"My name is Fang Yuan. From today onward, I will be the teaching mentor of your Yellow Class Nine."
His voice was so flat that it carried not a single ripple, as though he were merely going through the motions.
"I know many of you are dissatisfied and humiliated at being assigned to the Yellow Class. But I want to tell you that the academy's allocation is absolutely fair!"
The corner of Fang Yuan's mouth curled into a mocking arc.
"The reason you are here is not because you were unlucky, but because your aptitude and potential only qualify you to remain here! Cloud Creek Academy is a place that values talent! Without talent, no matter how hard you work, you are nothing but trash!"
His merciless, even vicious words made every student below look even worse.
Fang Yuan seemed to enjoy the pleasure of striking others down with words. He cleared his throat and continued, "I have reviewed all your aptitude test results. Most of you are 'low-grade' or 'mid-grade.' There isn't even one 'high-grade.' Oh, right, our class seems to have someone even more impressive. Their aptitude test result was... 'none'?"
His gaze landed on Lin Xiao in the formation with the precision of a venomous snake.
"Hehe, what an absurd joke! A piece of trash without even a spiritual root actually managed to pass the assessment and sneak into the academy. You really stepped in an enormous pile of dog shit! But let me remind you: luck will run out someday. At Cloud Creek Academy, without talent, you are doomed to accomplish nothing. In the end, everyone will trample you beneath their feet, and you will be driven out in disgrace like a stray dog!"
At those words, everyone's gazes turned in unison toward Lin Xiao, their eyes filled with sympathy, contempt, and schadenfreude.
Shi Lei's face flushed crimson with rage, and his clenched fists crackled as he nearly exploded on the spot.
But Lin Xiao grabbed him and held him back.
Lin Xiao's face still held that calm expression, as placid as an ancient well. He merely looked Fang Yuan in the eyes from across the platform.
There was no anger in that glance, no humiliation—only an unfathomably deep calm.
For some reason, the instant Fang Yuan met Lin Xiao's gaze, his heart gave an inexplicable jolt, as though that youth had seen through every thought in his mind.
That feeling made him extremely uncomfortable.
"Hmph! What are you staring at? I'm talking about you! Don't think you're impressive just because you exploited a loophole to get a high score during the assessment! Let me tell you, that little bit of empty fame is worthless before absolute talent!" Fang Yuan barked in embarrassed fury.
After the lecture came the first class of the day—Fundamentals of Spiritual Qi.
Standing at the lectern, Fang Yuan mechanically recited the textbook's contents. His voice was dry and utterly emotionless, making the students below drowsy.
"...Spiritual Qi is the most fundamental unit of energy that makes up our world. Drawing Spiritual Qi into one's body to temper oneself is the first step of cultivation. Whether one can sense and absorb Spiritual Qi, as well as the efficiency of absorption, depends on a cultivator's spiritual root aptitude..."
Just as everyone was drifting off, a calm voice suddenly rang out in the classroom.
"Mentor Fang, this student has a question."
Everyone froze and followed the voice, only to see that the person speaking was Lin Xiao, whom Fang Yuan had publicly humiliated moments ago.
Fang Yuan immediately frowned and said impatiently, "What question? It had better be related to the lesson. Don't waste everyone's time with some random nonsense!"
Lin Xiao rose to his feet and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Mentor, you just said that Spiritual Qi is the most fundamental unit of energy that makes up the world. But this student saw records in certain ancient books within the Library Pavilion stating that above Spiritual Qi, there seems to be an even more primordial energy called Primal Qi. The books describe Primal Qi as formless and intangible, yet present everywhere. It is the source of all things, even Spiritual Qi itself. May I ask whether this claim is correct? If it is, then should the essence of cultivation not simply be absorbing Spiritual Qi, but pursuing the even more primordial Primal Qi?"
The instant that question was asked, the entire classroom fell deathly silent.
The students who had been drowsy moments before now gaped in shock.
Primal Qi? What was that? They had never even heard of it!
On the lectern, Fang Yuan's expression became extraordinarily vivid in an instant. First, his face reddened like pig liver. His mouth opened and closed several times, but not a single word came out. Then the pig-liver shade gradually faded, turning iron-green.
Because he had heard of the "Primal Qi" Lin Xiao mentioned! But even that was only from one or two vague, incomplete records in certain extremely obscure ancient solitary manuscripts! It concerned the very origin of the cultivation system, a level of "Dao" that even core mentors of the inner court might not be able to explain clearly!
How was he, a lowly outer-court mentor, supposed to explain it? Was this not forcing a duck onto a perch?!
He simply could not answer!
Being cornered at the lectern before the entire class by an academic question he could not answer, posed by the "trash" student he had just belittled as worthless—this was simply the greatest humiliation of Fang Yuan's life!
"Utter nonsense!"
In his embarrassed fury, Fang Yuan slammed his hand on the desk and roared, "What kind of messy unofficial histories and idle chatter have you been reading? Primal Qi? What a joke! Let me tell you, the greatest taboo on the path of cultivation is being someone like you—aiming too high and indulging in wild fantasies! You have not even understood the most basic Spiritual Qi, yet you dare prattle on about some illusory Primal Qi! You don't know the first thing!"
Unable to refute Lin Xiao in theory, he began attacking him personally.
"You! Yes, you! Don't think that reading a few lousy books gives you the right to grandstand here! Anyone can fight on paper! If you have the ability, then demonstrate for everyone how you draw Spiritual Qi!"
He pointed at Lin Xiao, his face full of venomous sneering.
He wanted Lin Xiao to make a fool of himself before everyone! How could a piece of trash without spiritual roots possibly draw Spiritual Qi? He wanted everyone to see that this boastful brat could not even step through the door of cultivation!
"All right."
To everyone's surprise, Lin Xiao calmly nodded and agreed.
He slowly walked to the empty space at the center of the classroom and, under everyone's gaze, assumed the most basic and standard horse stance.
Then he slowly closed his eyes.
The mocking smile on Fang Yuan's face deepened.
But the next second, the smile on his face froze completely.
The air around Lin Xiao's body seemed to warp ever so slightly, so faintly that it was almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Then, specks of multicolored light like fireflies began emerging from the void, growing ever more numerous and brighter!
"Spiritual... Spiritual Qi light particles! My heavens! They're so dense!" "How is that possible?! Doesn't he have no spiritual roots?!"
The classroom instantly erupted in a heaven-shaking uproar!
Those motes were ownerless Spiritual Qi drifting between heaven and earth! Only those with exceptionally high affinity could trigger such obvious Spiritual Qi phenomena while breathing and cultivating!
And this was only the beginning!
The Spiritual Qi motes drawn over did not enter Lin Xiao's body as they would for anyone else. Instead, as though guided by some mysterious force, they began slowly circling his body in an arcane yet rhythmic trajectory!
They seemed to possess life itself, dancing joyfully around Lin Xiao!
At that moment, Lin Xiao looked solemn and sacred, like an exiled immortal who had become one with the Dao!
He was not absorbing that Spiritual Qi. He was merely "expounding."
With his own body, he expounded to everyone what it meant to be "one with heaven and man"!
Fang Yuan stared blankly at the miraculous scene before him. It was as though he had been struck by lightning, and his mind went completely blank.
He knew he was wrong.
Wrong beyond measure!
How was this some piece of trash without spiritual roots? This was clearly the legendary Innate Dao Body, one found only once in ten thousand! It was a supreme constitution capable of directly communicating with heaven, earth, and the myriad Dao without the need for spiritual roots!
He had actually publicly denounced such a peerless piece of Uncut Jade as trash?!
At that thought, endless regret and terror instantly swallowed him whole.
Lin Xiao slowly finished his cultivation, and the Spiritual Qi motes circling around him gradually faded back into the void.
He opened his eyes, calmly looked at the already ashen-faced Fang Yuan, and slowly said:
"Mentor, this student believes that the essence of cultivation is not taking, but resonance."
After saying that, he did not spare Fang Yuan another glance. Amid the reverent gazes of his classmates, who looked upon him as though he were a god, he calmly returned to his seat.
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