The Immortal Dynasty, Inside and Out

In the heartland of the Central Plains, north of Shengjing.

Looking out from Yong'an Avenue, one sees vast forests atop mountain peaks. Below, a divine path is carved into the mountainside, leading up to a white jade gate that stands taller than the sea of trees. At the summit, five great halls are nestled, hidden within the clouds.

This is the Great Xia Sacred Sect's Celestial Academy, with a profound heritage passed down from ancient times.

Here, two ornate carriages arrived before the divine path, and two figures alighted from them.

One was nearly sixty, with white hair but a ruddy complexion and a vibrant spirit, dressed in a purple robe. The other was tall and imposing, wearing a jeweled crown and jade belt with a flower-embroidered robe, exuding extraordinary nobility.

"This old servant, Wei Li, pays his respects to His Highness Prince Chong."

"Prime Minister Wei, please rise. There's no need for such formality between us."

Prince Chong stepped forward and helped the elder statesman, who had served two dynasties, to his feet. "I heard His Majesty has been overworking himself these past few days and is not feeling well?"

Wei Li narrowed his eyes and chuckled lightly. "It's all because he's been pondering new policies to restore imperial power. He's fallen ill from overthinking."

"His Majesty, like my imperial brother, still doesn't understand that this world doesn't belong to him, but to the Immortals. Under Immortal authority, what room is there for imperial power?"

"Your Highness Prince Chong speaks the truth." Wei Li agreed, then suddenly shifted his gaze. "However, I heard His Majesty summoned Ye Sheng back from Han Tie Pass. I wonder if it has anything to do with these new policies?"

Prince Chong's brow furrowed at the mention. "Is the war in the Northern Plains over?"

"It is said that General Ye broke through his cultivation on the battlefield and is now at Perfection of the Upper Five Realms. He slew the enemy general with a single strike, and the Witch Barbarian tribes have temporarily retreated."

"He has no lineage to inherit. Perfection of the Upper Five Realms is the end of his path."

Wei Li repeatedly agreed, then produced a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Prince Chong.

The bottle contained a Blood Pill refined by an elder of the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion. Wei Li delivered these monthly to officials of the Pro-Immortal Faction, as they could nourish one's roots and aid cultivation.

After presenting the pill, Wei Li turned his gaze towards the Celestial Academy's divine path. "I was busy collecting taxes and tributes a few days ago and haven't had a chance to ask. Why has the Celestial Academy's admission ceremony been suddenly postponed?"

"I only just learned that this year, the Celestial Academy's selection process includes someone under twenty years old who has achieved Perfection of the Lower Three Realms. They were just delivered to Shengjing."

"Is that so? Then Prince Chong will have to pay an extra sum for tribute?"

Outer Court disciples of the Celestial Academy could not receive the tribute of the common people unless they reached the Upper Five Realms.

However, there were always influential officials in the capital or wealthy noble families who would eagerly offer tribute and seek to befriend them. After all, Immortals who reached the Upper Five Realms were top-tier existences among mortals. Prince Chong understood this well and spent a considerable amount of money each year to support Celestial Academy disciples.

This time, however, he shook his head, showing little interest in this additional person.

"That's quite strange. Usually, you snatch up all the prodigies under twenty who have reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms."

"This time is different. That person is not a descendant of an Immortal clan or a progeny of a noble family, but a rogue cultivator from the countryside."

Wei Li was slightly taken aback. "A rogue cultivator?"

Prince Chong stood with his hands behind his back. "I already support thousands of Outer Court disciples, spending a fortune each year, yet very few truly achieve greatness. This is because after reaching the Upper Five Realms, each subsequent realm requires a vast supply of immortal herbs and spiritual medicine, which even I cannot afford."

"So, Prince Chong is no longer interested in them?"

"No, I am determined to secure the other two scholars."

Prince Chong couldn't help but curve his lips upwards. "Chu He, the younger brother of Chu Xian, the personal disciple of the Xuan Yuan Sect Master. This entire family is exceptionally talented. As for the other one, they have the Yunzhou Lu Family behind them, who control the Yunzhou spirit mines."

Wei Li narrowed his eyes. "Your Highness Prince Chong's ambitions are great."

"Hey, don't say such disrespectful things. Let's go, it's almost time for the ceremony."

Prince Chong stopped Wei Li from speaking and walked into the academy with his hands behind his back.

Inside the academy, cultivators in white robes came and went, some walking, some floating, some riding swords, all exuding an air of immortal grace.

Moving further up after entering, one reached the White Jade Ascension Platform.

The talented youths from the Nine Provinces who had just entered were gathered here, whispering and chatting amongst themselves.

They had been at the Celestial Academy for three days and had already become acquainted. However, they were puzzled as to why the admission ceremony was delayed, given that everyone had arrived.

Rumors had it that the Celestial Academy had found someone in the remote Fengzhou this year who was under twenty years old and had achieved Perfection of the Lower Three Realms, and was a rogue cultivator.

They had never heard of a rogue cultivator reaching Perfection of the Lower Three Realms before, and while surprised, they were also filled with curiosity and doubt.

This was because, even at this moment, that person had yet to appear.

Just then, Prince Chong, Wei Li, and the noble families of the capital had all gathered on the White Jade Platform. Suddenly, a celestial light bloomed within the sea of clouds deep within Mount Ni, revealing five figures descending from the sky. In an instant, they landed on the White Jade Platform.

These were the Five Hall Masters under the Celestial Academy's Sect Master.

Upon witnessing this, the assembled disciples straightened their postures, their eyes filled with reverence.

After the arrival of the Five Hall Masters, they looked towards the disciples below. As their gazes swept over a man and a woman standing at the front, they exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

The man wore a tall crown and a long sword at his waist, standing proudly against the wind.

This was Chu He, the second son of the Chu family, whom Prince Chong had mentioned.

The Chu family was widely recognized as a family blessed with great fortune in this era. Every member of their family had reached the Upper Five Realms, and Chu He's elder brother, Chu Xian, was a personal disciple of the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion's Sect Master.

Because of this, ever since he began cultivating, countless Immortal Sects had kept a close eye on Chu He, hoping to recruit him.

The Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion had the best chance initially, as his brother was a personal disciple of the Immortal Mansion. However, Chu He did not wish to live his life under his brother's shadow and thus, unexpectedly, chose the Celestial Academy.

The other figure was a tall woman with exquisite makeup. Even her immortal robe could not conceal her slender waist and long legs.

Most striking was the phoenix hairpin on her head, carved from the spirit core of a deep spirit vein. This was Lu Qingqiu of the Yunzhou Lu Family.

The Lu family, with a thousand-year legacy, started by finding veins and opening mines, amassing countless wealth.

Both were under twenty years old, had achieved Perfection of the Lower Three Realms, and were considered prodigies in their respective provinces.

The Celestial Academy had very few spots for its Inner Court each year, making them natural rivals.

Just then, a commotion arose from the crowd. Chu He and Lu Qingqiu turned their heads simultaneously, spotting a man and a woman arriving fashionably late with a senior disciple.

Upon seeing this, discussions erupted instantly from both on and off the stage, with all eyes focusing on the fierce bandit. Even the Five Hall Masters of the Celestial Academy couldn't help but glance over.

"Is there really another one under twenty years old who has achieved Perfection of the Lower Three Realms?"

"They say he's a rogue cultivator from the countryside. It's truly unbelievable."

"On his first day at the academy, Chu He swore a solemn vow to enter the Inner Court next year. Now, he has an additional opponent."

"He can hardly be called an opponent. Reaching the upper five realms requires the aid of spiritual medicine and immortal herbs. Chu He can afford them, but can this newcomer?"

Amidst the murmurs, Ji You stepped onto the White Jade Stage, appearing somewhat weary.

They had traveled from Yuyang, taken an immortal ship from Changning Ferry, and only arrived in Shengjing at dawn today.

Kuang Cheng had left earlier in Shengjing to prepare for the examination at Spring Breeze Post Station, while they had rushed to Mount Ni. They were brought to the White Jade Stage without even a moment to rest.

"Is this how they train cultivators? This is practically training special forces."

"Ji You, you stand at the front with those two."

"Ruoyao, you come with me to the back..."

The Celestial Academy's admission ceremony involved the Eight Outer Court Instructors awarding them plaques, followed by the Five Hall Masters giving lectures on doctrines and academy rules, lasting about two hours.

Once the plaque awarding and lectures concluded, the Five Hall Masters departed, and the stage was set for the important officials of the court and the noble families of the capital.

Prince Chong had already prepared invitations and headed straight for Chu He and Lu Qingqiu, inviting them to his manor for a chat. Others also received numerous invitations from various noble families and prominent clans.

Only Ji You, Fang Ruoyao, and others who had secured their spots through alternative means stood alone on the White Jade Stage, feeling quite out of place.

This was the rigid hierarchy of Great Xia, cast like molten iron. Even someone as exceptionally talented as Ji You would not be their first choice. It was an uncomfortable feeling of class boundaries being challenged.

"I've never seen a cultivator with Perfection of the Lower Three Realms treated with such disrespect."

"After all, he's just a rogue cultivator from the countryside..."

"Chu He has already received eight invitations..."

"Miss Lu has seven as well..."

Comparison breeds resentment, and at this moment, all the resentment seemed to be directed at Ji You.

Others who were not from prominent families, like Fang Ruoyao, felt somewhat fortunate that they weren't as dazzling as those with Perfection of the Lower Three Realms.

Standing on the stage with cultivation but no one paying attention, yet still being the center of everyone's gaze, was perhaps more awkward than having lower cultivation.