After the entrance ceremony ended, everyone dispersed.
Some students who knew one another formed groups, planning to first visit places like the White Jade Platform, Dao Comprehension Ground, and Bishui Lake, familiarizing themselves with the place where they would live from now on.
Ji You also left the White Jade Platform and returned to a small courtyard beside Bishui Lake.
The courtyard was not large, with white walls and black tiles. A short osmanthus tree stood in the middle, with a stone table and stools beneath it. Behind it stood a square, orderly room built of black bricks. Inside, tables, chairs, and benches lined the walls, a four-cornered brazier sat in the corner, and the inner room contained nothing but an empty bedframe and a long table.
This was a private courtyard specially prepared by the Celestial Academy for those who had reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms before coming of age. He did not need to squeeze into the men's dormitory with a crowd of others.
Cao Jinsong had gone to the Affairs Management Courtyard to report back. When he reached the White Jade Platform and learned that the ceremony had already ended, he hurried to Ji You's courtyard.
"Did you receive any invitations? How many? Which one did you decide on? Take them out. Your instructor will give you some advice."
Ji You, who was cleaning up, opened his mouth expressionlessly. "Received a whole lot of loneliness."
Cao Jinsong froze upon hearing that, thinking that Loneliness must be some aristocratic clan in the capital, and even one with a compound surname.
But soon, the smile on his face gradually vanished as he understood what this loneliness meant.
Were these aristocratic clans in the capital blind? They could not see such an extraordinary youngster right in front of them?
But after calming down and considering it, he could understand.
In previous years, if someone below the age of twenty reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms and entered the academy, the imperial clan and high-ranking officials in the capital would indeed compete to take them on as Attendants.
But Ji You, a self-taught cultivator from the countryside, was an exception because he had no aristocratic clan background.
To rise from Perfection of the Lower Three Realms into the Upper Five Realms, unless one could sense the Heavenly Book, required countless spirit pills, spiritual medicines, and spirit stones. It was practically a gold-devouring vault.
The aristocratic clans of the capital had always loved adding flowers to brocade. Who would be willing to send charcoal in the snow?
If they truly spent their entire fortune supporting him, only for him to fail at breaking through, or to make no further progress after doing so, that would be a blood-soaked loss.
The Lower Three Realms and the Upper Five Realms were completely different stages—one cultivated the body, while the other cultivated techniques.
If it had been Cao Jinsong, and he had not witnessed Ji You break through two realms in a single day in Yuyang County, he likely would not have had the confidence to make such a gamble either.
Yet Ji You was not discouraged, because he had never planned on becoming anyone's Attendant.
In Yuyang County, he had seen with his own eyes that those Attendants all came stained with blood.
But how was he supposed to live from here on?
Ji You put his hands on his hips, thinking, If I went up the mountain to become a bandit, at least I could rob immortals to aid the poor. Who can I rob now? Is there anyone who will let me rob them?
Cao Jinsong suddenly rose to his feet. "Young man, do not be discouraged. A boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge. How about this? This instructor will first show you around the academy, and explain the Celestial Academy's heritage while we are at it."
"And while we are at it, treat me to dinner, then lend me two taels of silver to buy study supplies."
"?"
Ji You looked at him. "You know I come from a poor background. If I starve to death, Instructor, you will lose face too."
Cao Jinsong's eyelid twitched. Though this youngster was extraordinary, why did it feel as if he had recruited a living father?
Ji You gave him no chance to refuse. Pushing him out the door, he led Cao Jinsong along the route through the Dao Comprehension Ground, White Jade Platform, Bishui Lake, and Sword Testing Forest.
He had visited the White Jade Platform today. It was where disciples gathered and ceremonies were held.
The Dao Comprehension Ground was the largest building in the outer court. Paved with spirit stones, it was circular and stood in the most open stretch of land, used for comprehending the Heavenly Dao.
Bishui Lake was a scenic lake, but it was said that the headmaster had left behind a divine ability within its waters, capable of gathering spiritual energy from all directions for the disciples in the Dao Comprehension Ground.
As for the Sword Testing Forest, it was a deep, tranquil bamboo grove. Many damaged stone steles stood within it, ancient and desolate, and it was a place for martial cultivation.
However, the Sword Testing Forest had been abandoned for a long time. Under normal circumstances, no one paid it any attention. Even the instructors had assigned only one person to it, who spent all day with nothing to do.
Ji You followed Cao Jinsong to the entrance of Sword Testing Forest. Looking at the crooked plaque over the gate, he asked in confusion, "Why is martial cultivation not valued?"
"Because martial cultivation does nothing to raise one's realm, so it is regarded as a minor path that wastes time."
Cao Jinsong stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the plaque. "You will understand once you enter the Upper Five Realms. An immortal cultivator one realm above you can make you tumble with a wave of Dao arts. How can martial techniques compare?"
Hearing this, Ji You understood somewhat.
Among cultivators of the same realm, someone who had refined their martial arts might possess extraordinary combat power. But no matter how refined they were, they could not defeat an enemy across realms.
Most crucially, tempering martial techniques required a great deal of time.
Thus, most immortal cultivators did not cultivate martial techniques. They became pure Dao cultivators, wielding the Heavenly Dao Laws, competing in the vastness of spiritual energy, and crushing others with their realm.
For example, even if your martial techniques had reached the pinnacle, if your opponent stood one realm above you, a mere wave of their hand could still send you tumbling.
Ji You pondered for a long time before speaking. "Are there no exceptions?"
"Exceptions... do exist."
Cao Jinsong stroked his long beard. "Some soldiers who have endured countless battles and been tempered by the aura of slaughter can enter Dao through martial arts. Ye Sheng, Great Xia's divine general, reached Perfection of the Upper Five Realms in this way."
"Enter Dao through martial arts..."
Ji You murmured those four words and turned to look into the depths of Sword Testing Forest.
Perhaps he should give it a try.
His spiritual essence was abnormal now. He did not know whether he could enter the Upper Five Realms by ordinary means, and becoming a pure Dao cultivator carried risks.
Second, he cultivated Dao very quickly and had enough time to practice martial arts.
On the way here, Pei Ruyi had encouraged them with her own experience. She said that Celestial Academy disciples generally cultivated for six hours each day, while she cultivated for nine, which was why she had become the chief disciple of the outer court.
She had also told Fang Ruoyao that talent was not so important, that sometimes human effort could overcome heaven, leaving Fang Ruoyao boiling with passion.
At the time, Ji You had remained silent for a long while, not daring to say that he had reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms by cultivating only two hours a day.
As for the third point, it was also the most important one.
If his spiritual essence truly exploded and he could not break through, resulting in his expulsion from the Celestial Academy, then Qiu Ru and the other children would be in danger.
Fengxian Mountain Villa had not been capturing people to refine pills for merely a day or two. Without the identity of a Celestial Academy disciple, there would truly be no protection.
When that time came, he would take to the hills as an outlaw and enter Dao as a bandit. He would need martial techniques to protect himself; after all, every bit of strength counted.
As Ji You thought, he dragged Instructor Cao to the Immortal Cuisine House for dinner. Afterward, he swindled another two taels of silver from him, took a brief turn around Shengjing city, and bought some daily necessities.
Shengjing was exceedingly prosperous, not like Yuyang County, where one could finish strolling through the few streets in no time. Every alley had more human traffic than the Ji Family's Archway Street.
Passing Chunhua Tower, he even saw some women upstairs who refused to dress properly, waving embroidered handkerchiefs down below.
Whenever men passed by, all those dressed in splendor entered the establishment, becoming prodigal sons at play.
"?"
"What yellow, yellow hearts people have."
Ji You admired the sight for quite some time. Even when one of the ladies flung her embroidered handkerchief into his face on the wind, its powdery fragrance rushing into his nose, he remained unmoved.
Poverty made me noble.
He returned to the Celestial Academy with his purchases and encountered the outer court's much-watched favored children of heaven, Chu He and Lu Qingqiu.
The two were going to Prince Chong's Mansion for a banquet. Seeing Ji You, who like them had reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms before coming of age, approaching head-on, they ignored him outright.
People in the academy said that this year's contest for entry into the inner court involved three people, but as far as they were concerned, there were only two.
This self-taught countryside cultivator, who could not afford pills or use spirit stones, was merely an amusing interlude.
Afterward, the two arrived at Prince Chong's Mansion and found the main hall already filled with rare delicacies.
To receive them, Prince Chong had even invited two Inner Court disciples.
According to him, both Inner Court disciples were his Attendants. They could provide cultivation guidance in the future, and his manner was entirely that of an academic magnate.
"Next year's Inner Court position should be decided between Young Master Chu and Miss Lu, should it not?"
Chu He cupped his hands at the banquet. "Reporting to Your Highness, next year's entrant to the inner court will be none other than me."
Lu Qingqiu sneered upon hearing this. "Brother Chu, the wind is strong. Do not let it twist your tongue."
"Since I dare say it, I naturally have such confidence. If Miss Lu has objections, why not test it at the Dao Comprehension Ground?"
Hearing the two needle against awl, Inner Court disciple Ban Yangshu could not help but freeze. "Your Highness Prince Chong, I heard that the outer court accepted someone this year who reached Perfection of the Lower Three Realms before coming of age. Could it merely be a rumor?"
Prince Chong raised his wine cup. "He is a self-taught cultivator from the countryside, with no aristocratic clan background, and he has never encountered immortal cultivators before. He likely does not yet know that the Upper Five Realms require spiritual medicines piled high."
"No wonder Prince Chong did not choose him..."
"Come, come, come. This prince has decreed that no one seated here tonight may return until drunk!"
(The entire work has been rewritten; the chapter comments are gone...)
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