Xinyue Immortal Academy

The next day, early in the morning, Xiang Qi led Wang Qi towards Xin Mountain.

Xiang Qi looked at the young man beside her, her expression strange. "Hey, Wang Qi, why do you look so... creepy smiling today?"

Wang Qi blinked. "Do I?"

"Your eyes are vacant, your steps are unsteady, but you're smiling... smiling lewdly." Xiang Qi wore an indescribable expression. "You didn't sleep last night, did you?"

"I feel like Senior Sister's words are implying something..."

Xiang Qi eyed him suspiciously for a moment before shaking her head. "It's only natural to become strange after spending too much time with those guys from the Myriad Dharma Sect."

Am I self-deprecating here...

Wang Qi suppressed the urge to retort and instead looked towards the summit of Xin Mountain.

The manuscripts of the Unforgiving Taoist were all about transforming profound theories into exquisite techniques. For Wang Qi, who had been a researcher in his previous life, the value of the ideas and experiences in these manuscripts was immeasurable. Now, all he needed was to obtain the cultivation methods of the new era, and he could gradually master their intricacies. This would make it easier for him to make further progress in the path of the Free and Unfettered cultivator, just like the Unforgiving Taoist!

And as for the cultivation methods... hehe...

Wang Qi looked at the summit of Xin Mountain like a miser gazing at treasure.

Xiang Qi helplessly grabbed his head and turned it to the side. "Look this way!"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! What are you doing?"

"The summit is the Golden Hall of the Immortal Alliance. I understand your desire to cultivate divine arts, but your place of practice is halfway up the mountain."

The Xinyue Immortal Academy, located on the mountainside of Xin Mountain, was a top-tier institution of the Immortal Alliance. Thirty percent of the True Inheritances of the Five Absolutes were selected from here.

Wang Qi followed his senior sister up the mountain. As the altitude increased, the crowds gradually thinned, losing the bustling atmosphere of the inner city and gaining a sense of ethereal tranquility. The southern slope of Xin Mountain was gentle, but the soil was thin, with even exposed rock layers that couldn't support towering ancient trees. However, with the regulation of the climate by immortal arts, the area was now lush with vegetation, with short pine trees dotting the landscape among strange rocks, creating a unique charm.

Wang Qi's gaze, however, couldn't help but drift towards the three colossal statues situated halfway up the mountain. These statues were carved from local giant rocks, using the surrounding materials. Each statue stood a hundred meters tall, depicting three Daoist figures—two standing and one seated. Each of the three Daoists held a long sword, exuding an imposing aura.

Seeing her junior brother's curiosity, Xiang Qi explained, "Those three are revered seniors of the Immortal Alliance. The one on the left is one of the seniors who apprehended the Unforgiving Taoist that day, the Deputy Palace Master of the Sky Sword Palace, Senior Qian Xueshen, known as 'Five Masters' Extinction'. The one on the right is another Deputy Palace Master, Senior Qian Bingqiong, the 'Three Strengths Sword Saint'. And the one in the middle is the Palace Master of the Sky Sword Palace, Senior Deng Jiaxuan, the 'Sword's Roar in the Firmament'."

Wang Qi asked doubtfully, "Why are statues erected only for these three?"

Xiang Qi asked, "Do you know the motto of the Sky Sword Palace?"

Wang Qi shook his head, indicating he didn't. Xiang Qi replied, "To live in seclusion and protect the heavens, to shelter all people."

"Although the new era's methods have surpassed the ancient methods and nurtured the heavens and earth, there are no longer any individuals on the Divine Continent who kill to sustain themselves. However, there are still remnants of ancient cultivators on the many islands overseas."

"The four seas are filled with countless sea demons, far outnumbering humans. The Dragon race is naturally warlike, and their Dragon Kings are often not easily defeated even by ordinary Free and Unfettered cultivators! Moreover, sea demons are difficult to tame; unlike the Demon Race on land, they have not yet been civilized and constantly encroach upon our Divine Continent's maritime borders."

"Even within the Divine Continent, there are instances of internal unrest."

Speaking of this, Xiang Qi gave a wry smile. "And with the new era's methods, as you've just begun to understand, achieving great accomplishments requires arduous seeking and complete comprehension. Now, apart from a few Free and Unfettered cultivators, the top intellects of the new era's immortal path have all retreated into seclusion, fully dedicated to exploring the Great Dao. Hundreds of Free and Unfettered cultivators have vanished without a trace."

Wang Qi mused, "I've never heard of such things... Is it because of these three seniors?"

Xiang Qi sighed. "There have always been those who are willing to sacrifice the joy of seeking for the sake of the world. These three are such people. Hundreds of years ago, the Unforgiving Taoist's splitting of the Misty Palace caused great chaos in the immortal path, almost affecting the entire human race. Ancient cultivators retaliated, and the Dragon Kings emerged from their slumber. In that moment of crisis, the Sky Sword Palace, with its immense power, suppressed internal strife, restored order, repelled ancient cultivators from the outside, and drove back the sea demons by three thousand li, forcing the Dragon Kings to forge an alliance under the city walls, ensuring the Dragon race would forever remain three thousand li away from the Kyushu coast. Afterward, countless Free and Unfettered cultivators lamented that their existence disrupted the stability within the human race, and thus they all retreated into seclusion. Only a group of cultivators remained in the Sky Sword Palace, taking on the responsibility of protecting the Divine Continent."

"The Reaching the Heavens Hall on the summit is specifically for those exceptionally talented individuals who revolutionized the new era's methods and the supreme cultivators. Although the Palace Master of the Sky Sword Palace excels in combat, in terms of pure cultivation, he cannot compare to those Grandmasters listed in the Reaching the Heavens Hall. However, in terms of merit, the Heavenly Sword cultivators are no less than those predecessors who revolutionized the new era's methods."

After speaking, Xiang Qi bowed slightly towards the three statues halfway up the mountain, offering a salute.

Wang Qi followed suit, imitating her gesture. Having been born on the Divine Continent in this life, he too had benefited from the protection of these great beings.

Xiang Qi continued, "Furthermore, Senior Deng is also the Dean of the Xinyue Immortal Academy. He suffered internal injuries in his early years while practicing the Heavenly Sword method and rarely travels, staying in Xinyue. You must remember this clearly, and do not be disrespectful!"

Since they had already left the crowded areas, Xiang Qi simply took Wang Qi and used her movement techniques to hurry towards their destination—although flying was forbidden in the inner city, rapid movement was not.

Before long, the two arrived at their destination. The Xinyue Immortal Academy looked unremarkable, and its grounds were not extensive, with only about ten pavilions. Including the relatively spacious training grounds, the area did not even reach the standard of an ordinary university, so it wasn't very conspicuous from below the mountain. The academy had no walls, only a large gate with a plaque above it, inscribed with the four characters "Xinyue Immortal Academy."

Xiang Qi put down her junior brother and walked up with him.

Wang Qi said, "Senior Sister, it's fine to send me this far. As the saying goes, even a thousand-mile journey must end with a farewell."

Xiang Qi was the only friend he had left in the immortal path. She had taken care of him these past few days and now she had accompanied him here. As far as he knew, Xiang Qi becoming a Security Envoy was part of her trial before forming her core, and after her term ended, she was to return to the Burning Gold Valley for closed-door cultivation to break through to the core formation stage. Cultivation time passed like years, and the thought of not seeing her for several years made Wang Qi feel a pang of sadness.

—Especially since Xiang Qi was quite good-looking.

Xiang Qi shook her head. "I didn't come here specifically to send you."

Huh?

Wang Qi looked at his senior sister in confusion. Xiang Qi explained, "Yesterday, my sect seniors learned of my experiences and believed that my current agitated state was unsuitable for closed-door cultivation. They want me to spend a year to calm my mind. So, I took the opportunity to apply for a teaching assistant position at the immortal academy—speaking of which, I should have brought you here last night, but my transfer order only arrived today... Hey, Wang Qi? What's wrong?"

Wang Qi felt like crying. "Give me back my sense of being touched!"

Don't they know I'm in a hurry? I originally thought you were being incredibly thoughtful towards me, but I didn't expect you to delay me for half a day!

With mixed feelings, the two walked towards the mountain gate, or rather, the school gate that resembled a mountain gate.

Wang Qi saw from afar that someone was already standing at the school gate. As they approached, the person in the distance also walked towards them. Upon clearly seeing the other person's face, Wang Qi was greatly surprised. "Brother Su?"

It was the Myriad Dharma Sect cultivator Su Junyu, with whom he had played a few rounds of cards yesterday!

Su Junyu showed no surprise and greeted them warmly. "Yo, we meet again, Wang Qi. And it's been years, hope you've been well, violent girl?"

Xiang Qi angrily retorted, "I thought your description of Wang Qi yesterday sounded familiar, and sure enough, it's you, you rich snob!"

Wang Qi was dumbfounded. "You two know each other?"

Su Junyu chuckled. "We were classmates in the same immortal academy. Of course, I'm not very familiar with this tigress."

Xiang Qi smiled faintly. "It's been a few years, has your skin disease gotten worse, you rich snob? Do you want me to help you change your clothes?"

Su Junyu's body trembled almost imperceptibly. He chuckled, "I'm here to welcome you. My mission from above is to help the new assistant instructors and disciples integrate into the Immortal Academy. You can't lay a hand on me."

Xiang Qi sneered, "I'm not in a hurry to beat you up. Lead the way!"

Su Junyu gestured and said, "Please," before turning towards the main gate. Just as Xiang Qi and Wang Qi were about to follow, something strange happened.

A black-clothed cultivator suddenly passed by the three of them. A cultivator's senses far surpass those of mortals. Among the three, Su Junyu and Xiang Qi were no ordinary cultivators, yet none of them detected the black-clothed man beforehand. Wang Qi clearly heard Zhen Chanzi exclaim "Hmm?" in his spiritual sense when the black-clothed man appeared. This black-clothed man had actually managed to conceal himself from the senses of a Mahayana stage cultivator!

The black-clothed man's every movement was disjointed, as if fragmented and uncoordinated. However, his walking pace was continuous and steady. All his actions seemed meticulously calculated, incredibly precise. Each of his movements was a replication of the previous one, his posture and form unchanging.

Is this... a master?

Wang Qi was filled with doubt and surprise, then his heart immediately blazed with excitement.

This movement technique, the ability to hide from a Mahayana cultivator's spiritual sense, this is definitely a master! Not to mention that air of contemplation. Even while walking, he maintains this demeanor radiating wisdom. He even trips so gracefully...

Wait, trips?

Just as Wang Qi was imagining the man's "masterly aura," the black-clothed man ran headfirst into one of the gate's pillars.

Furthermore, because the black-clothed man had been using his movement technique, he hadn't slowed down before impact. This stone pillar, made of an unknown material, actually cracked from the collision! Caught off guard, the black-clothed man fell straight to the ground.

Since the entrance to the Immortal Academy was on a slope, the black-clothed man was practically head-down, feet-up. Wang Qi finally got a clear look at his face.

The man's appearance was unremarkable, with a somewhat naive look between his brows. His slightly thick lips were still mumbling, saying who knows what.

Xiang Qi and Su Junyu turned pale with shock and immediately bowed, "Disciple greets Martial Uncle Sect Leader (Chen the Sect Leader)!"

Zhen Chanzi quietly explained to Wang Qi, "Although this person's appearance is ordinary, his cultivation has reached a profound level. If he wished, he could ascend to Free and Unfettered at any time!"