First Lesson

The next day, Shangguan Ye and the others gathered and headed for the academy. Led by Nie Li, the three quickly arrived at the academy gates.

"Identification plates." The guard stopped them, and the three handed over their plates.

"Go in."

The moment they entered, a Golden-haired Youth approached them.

"May I ask where you three are from?" Jin Yan asked.

"Little Exquisite World."

"Oh, I heard that yesterday's Spiritual Root Test produced a Fifth Grade Heavenly Spiritual Root, an Eighth Grade one, and someone so powerful that they even shattered the Crystal Ball. Their cultivation is also at the Heavenly Star Realm. That must be you three. I'm Jin Yan. Our Jin Clan values talent above all else. We should sit down and have a chat sometime," Jin Yan said delightedly.

"Maybe later." Nie Li rejected him outright, and the three continued onward.

As soon as they left, Jin Yan's expression darkened.

"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit? Just wait!"

"Nie Li, I think we offended him. Is that really okay?" Lu Piao asked.

"Don't worry. No one would be foolish enough to oppose neutral geniuses. Joining a faction too early would be a bad thing instead," Shangguan Ye explained.

While they were talking, an old man walked in from outside. Though elderly, his powerful physique and formidable aura made no one dare underestimate him.

"Hello, everyone. I am your instructor, Venerable Chi Ling. Now, all of you, enter the Training Room first." Venerable Chi Ling led everyone into the Training Room.

"Take a seat."

Everyone sat down.

"Our class has a total of thirty-six students, all newcomers of this generation. Every one of you is a genius with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, and some of you even surpass the Heavenly Spiritual Root." At this point, Venerable Chi Ling glanced at Shangguan Ye. Everyone followed his gaze, but Shangguan Ye remained utterly calm despite so many people looking at him.

"One year from now, the five strongest among you will enter the East Court. If you lose this opportunity, you will remain in the West Court for much longer. You are all geniuses, so none of you should want to lag behind others. After all, once you fall behind by one step, you fall behind at every step."

"The stronger your Soul Fire, the stronger your soul will be, and the stronger your Fate Soul will be when you break through to Heavenly Fate." As he spoke, a large mass of white flame appeared in Venerable Chi Ling's hand.

"Alright, begin sensing your Soul Fire."

Everyone focused intently and began to sense it. Before long, a small cluster of Soul Fire ignited in the hand of a Pink-haired Girl.

"Long Yuyin? As expected of a direct descendant of the Dragon Seal Family."

Jin Yan soon condensed his Soul Fire as well.

"Mm, not bad. It may be small, but it is very pure."

Several more people succeeded in quick succession. Nie Li and Lu Piao also succeeded without surprise, leaving only Shangguan Ye.

"I heard this Shangguan Ye is already in the Heavenly Star Realm. I wonder what kind of performance he'll show?" Venerable Chi Ling looked toward Shangguan Ye, and those who had succeeded also turned to watch him.

Shangguan Ye raised his hand. Without even deliberately concentrating, a cluster of Soul Fire instantly ignited. Then the flames grew larger and larger, nearly reaching the ceiling.

"This... he condensed it so casually. Even with my current strength, the Soul Fire I could condense would not be as large as his. And he is only in the Heavenly Star Realm. His future is immeasurable." Venerable Chi Ling stared blankly at Shangguan Ye's Soul Fire.

"Ahem, very good. Thirteen people succeeded in condensing their Soul Fire this time. Those who failed need to work harder. That concludes today's lesson. We will begin the next lesson in three days."

Everyone rose, preparing to leave, but the Pink-haired Girl blocked the path of Shangguan Ye and the other two.

"You're from the Little Exquisite World?"

"That's right. Don't tell me you're here to recruit us too, just like Jin Yan?" Lu Piao asked.

"I admit that the two of you have quite good talent, but not enough for the Dragon Seal Family to invite you personally. But you—I'm very interested in you. You also came from the Little Exquisite World, so why are you already in the Heavenly Star Realm?" The Pink-haired Girl looked at Shangguan Ye with an arrogant air that made him extremely displeased.

"None of your damn business." Shangguan Ye turned his head away, unwilling to look at her.

"You! Fine! No one has ever dared speak to me like that since I was young. Just you wait!" The Pink-haired Girl stormed off in anger.

"Ha ha ha, being noticed by Long Yuyin means you're in trouble," a Purple-haired Man suddenly appeared beside the three and laughed.

"Long Yuyin?"

"Let me tell you, that woman is a super genius of the Dragon Seal Family. She possesses the Scarlet Dragon Bloodline and can withstand a Second Grade Treasure Artifact with her physical body alone. She's also cold by nature. During a tournament two years ago, she crippled her own fiancé, leaving him unable to function as a man ever since."

"That ruthless?" Lu Piao instinctively covered his prized possession.

Long Yuyin! In my previous life, she killed Master and threw the Feather God Sect into chaos. No wonder I didn't recognize her—she was only a Maiden now. Though the grudge from my previous life had nothing to do with this one, I still had no good feelings toward the Dragon Seal Family. Nie Li's expression darkened.

"Ha ha, then what's your name?" Lu Piao asked.

"Just call me Lord Bei."

"Thank you for the warning, Brother Bei." Lu Piao hurried forward and shook his hand.

Lord Bei? In my previous life, when Long Yuyin threw the Feather God Sect into chaos, only he could restrain her. And purely through his comprehension of the Sword Dao, he reached such heights. Nie Li walked over to Shangguan Ye.

"Shangguan, this man is worth befriending."

"Indeed. I don't sense any hostility from him." Shangguan Ye nodded.

"Actually, I already knew your names. Shangguan Ye, Nie Li, Lu Piao, right? Geniuses like you are watched by every faction the moment you enter, especially a freak like you, Shangguan Ye."

"Huh? Don't tell me you're after us too?" Lu Piao asked.

"Hehe, of course not. I'm only interested in that little lass Long Yuyin," Gu Bei said with a lecherous grin.

"Oh? You like her? She even crippled her fiancé. Do you have masochistic tendencies?" Lu Piao immediately leaned closer and asked.

"Of course not! Don't you think a woman like Long Yuyin would be especially satisfying to conquer? They may seem cold on the surface, but they're fiery underneath," Gu Bei said with a lecherous grin.

"Hehe, I think we can discuss this," Lu Piao said with an equally lecherous grin.

"Oh? Brother Lu is a fellow man of culture. I can't believe we met so late!" The two threw their arms around each other's shoulders, turning away as they chatted and laughed.

"Those two really are birds of a feather." Shangguan Ye rubbed his brow.

"Ha ha, after knowing them this long, you only just noticed?" Nie Li patted Shangguan Ye.

"Let's go look around." After leaving, the three parted ways with Gu Bei.

The three arrived before a notice board.

"There are so many jobs, but they all look difficult. None of them are something we can take on yet." Lu Piao looked them over regretfully.

Suddenly, Lu Piao spotted one that was different.

"Miss Gu Lan of the Gu Clan has been bedridden after suffering a mishap in cultivation. Anyone who can cure her will be rewarded with one thousand spirit stones. One thousand spirit stones! Nie Li, Shangguan, are you confident?" At the sight of money, Lu Piao could no longer move.

"Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I also have the Guiding Art, so what are we afraid of? Besides, Shangguan should have a way too, right? The cells you gave us before were incredibly powerful. Not only did they greatly increase our Soul Power, they also gave us powerful regenerative abilities."

"Indeed. We'll play it by ear. If I wanted to, I could cure her today." Shangguan Ye said confidently. With the Divine Tree in hand, he could use Yang Power to cure many stubborn ailments.