Black and White Academy

Atop the giant eagle, Qin Jishi walked to one side and gazed into the distance.

Imperial Capital City was vast. A single prefecture alone spanned tens of thousands of miles, and its large and small powers were just as countless.

Qin Jishi estimated that traveling from the south of Imperial Capital City to the central prefecture would take at least half a day.

"Baihe, do you think Old Man has left the Black and White Domain?"

A thought stirred in Qin Jishi's mind.

"It's possible!" Baihe's voice rang out in his mind.

"Can't you tell me about Old Man's background?"

"No comment."

Qin Jishi's brows twitched. He had asked the same question more than once, yet he had always received the same four-word truth.

For a time, Qin Jishi fell silent.

The reason he suspected Old Man had left the Black and White Domain was that he had heard Baihe mention more than once just how vast this world was. The Black and White Domain was merely the tip of the iceberg.

More importantly, whenever she faced Old Man, Baihe seemed deeply afraid of him.

The fact that even Baihe feared him made Qin Jishi extremely curious about Old Man's origins.

After a moment, Baihe finally spoke again. "When you can gather the materials needed to Reshape Flesh Body for me, I'll tell you about his origins."

Qin Jishi: "..."

The materials to Reshape Flesh Body? That left him helpless at once.

Baihe had once told him what materials she needed to reshape her body.

Ghost Lotus Root!

Heavenly Silkworm Silk!

Yin-Yang Grass!

Starlight Water!

Forget seeing such things—he had never even heard of them.

Even with the power of World-Saving Pavilion, after searching the entire Azure Wave Continent, they had ultimately found nothing.

Old Man, just who are you? Why did you come to the Black and White Domain?

Tell me, do you want me to do something for you?

"Senior Brother."

Just as Qin Jishi gazed into the distance, lost in thought, a thin young man walked up to him.

The young man had a fair, clean face and fairly handsome features. His cultivation was at Nascent Breath Level 7.

Qin Jishi turned his head, smiled faintly, and nodded.

He was fairly familiar with this young man. It could be said that the reason the other could become a menial servant of Black and White Academy was entirely thanks to him.

If the Round-faced Youth had not died, would he have had a chance?

"My name is Ye Han. If not for you today, Senior Brother, I wouldn't have had the chance to become a menial servant of Black and White Academy. If you need anything in the future, just give the word."

Ye Han had witnessed Qin Jishi's strength with his own eyes, and he admired him from the bottom of his heart.

Without mystic energy, he had still been able to rely on brute strength to kill a martial cultivator at Nascent Breath Level 8. Even martial cultivators of the same rank could not accomplish that.

"My name is Qin Jishi. Junior Brother Ye, there's no need to be so polite. You became a menial servant of Black and White Academy because you have sufficient strength. It has little to do with me."

That was simply the truth. Even without what had happened today, he would likely have become a menial servant of Black and White Academy next year.

"Senior Brother Qin is too modest."

Ye Han admired Qin Jishi's temperament somewhat.

Aside from being a little cold, he was not like others—arrogant and overbearing. After all, at their age, with such accomplishments, who would not hold their head high and look down their nose at others?

Qin Jishi only chuckled and said nothing.

Seeing that he remained silent, Ye Han stood shoulder to shoulder with him. "Senior Brother Qin, I heard that the Menial Labor Quarters we've joined are extremely harsh. We'll need to be careful in the future."

"Oh?" Qin Jishi asked with interest. "From the sound of it, Junior Brother Ye, you seem quite familiar with Black and White Academy?"

Seeing Ye Han's slightly proud expression, he presumably knew all sorts of little bits of gossip.

"You jest, Senior Brother Qin. I wouldn't say I'm familiar with it. I've merely heard a little."

Ye Han appeared rather modest.

"Hehe." Qin Jishi laughed softly. "Then tell me, Junior Brother Ye."

"You may not know this, Senior Brother Qin." Ye Han swept his gaze around. After making sure no one was paying attention, he lowered his voice. "Black and White Academy has five great academies, each governed by one of the five great scholars. The Menial Labor Quarters we joined belong to Five Elements Academy."

"Five Elements Academy?" Qin Jishi feigned surprise. "May I ask what the other four academies are?"

He could tell that Ye Han was very talkative. Since he had nothing better to do, he might as well use this to pass the time.

At the question, reverence appeared on Ye Han's smiling face.

"Other than Five Elements Academy, the remaining four are Dusk Academy, Profound Harmony Academy, Earth Nether Academy, and Heavenly Mechanism Academy."

Qin Jishi said nothing. He knew Black and White Academy very well.

The five great academies were named after the five great scholars, which showed the status those scholars held within Black and White Academy.

Naturally, the five great academies also had rankings. Heavenly Mechanism Academy was the strongest and housed the top geniuses of Black and White Academy. Nearly all of the so-called top hundred on the Heavenly Rankings came from Heavenly Mechanism Academy.

Earth Nether Academy came next.

Profound Harmony Academy and Dusk Academy followed after that.

Five Elements Academy was at the bottom.

Naturally, conflict among the five great academies was unavoidable.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Qin Jishi could not help clicking his tongue. "Junior Brother Ye, you really know a lot."

"Hehe!"

Ye Han chuckled. "Just hearsay, just hearsay."

"Ah..."

As the laughter faded, Ye Han let out a sigh.

"Why are you sighing, Junior Brother Ye?" Qin Jishi looked at him in confusion.

"You may not know this, Senior Brother Qin. Among the five great academies, the Menial Labor Quarters of Heavenly Mechanism Academy are the most sought-after. I heard that when some elders are in a good mood, they even reward servants with pills, and they aren't low-grade either."

"There's such a good thing?" Qin Jishi said meaningfully. "No wonder everyone rushes to join Black and White Academy. If they are fortunate enough to obtain a few pills, they might even break through their cultivation."

"What a pity." Ye Han shook his head. "Our Five Elements Academy doesn't enjoy such treatment."

"Not only do we not receive that treatment, I've also heard..." Ye Han once again looked around, afraid someone might overhear him. "Our academy is the harshest of all. Some elders and stewards even exploit us."

"There's such a thing?" Qin Jishi put on an indignant expression.

Thinking about it, though, it was understandable. As the lowest-ranked academy, Five Elements Academy naturally had fewer cultivation resources than the others. Exploitation was only normal.

After all, heaven and earth would destroy anyone who did not act for themselves.

"Shh."

Seeing Qin Jishi's indignant expression, Ye Han quietly cautioned him, "Senior Brother Qin, it's enough for us to know about such things. Never show it, especially before Steward Jiao. He's extremely scheming."

"Right, right, right!" Qin Jishi nodded in agreement. "Junior Brother Ye is right."

"Keep it down."

"Keep it down."

The two talked for a while longer. Then, with nothing more to say, Ye Han tactfully moved aside and sat cross-legged to meditate.

The giant eagle sped onward. As they drew ever closer to the central prefecture, everyone grew increasingly uneasy.

The central prefecture lay at the very heart of Imperial Capital City and stretched ten thousand miles in every direction. Aside from Black and White Academy, Treasure Pavilion, Hundred Beasts Sect, and Joyful Union Sect were all located there.

From afar, the entire central region appeared to be shrouded by some powerful formation. Mist curled around it, creating a stark contrast with the eastern, western, southern, and northern cities.

The former resembled an immortal realm, its palaces like celestial residences.

The latter buzzed with the clamor of the marketplace, brimming with laughter and the warmth of mortal life.

"Everyone, stay alert. Up ahead is where our sect is located."

As Jiao Ju spoke, everyone rose to their feet and looked down below.