Life Spirit Academy
"Born in spring, grow in summer, reproduce in autumn, and die in winter; this is the way of many living beings."
"After birth, Covet to grow; after growing, Covet to reproduce; after reproducing, one resists death. Humans experience joy because of emotions, and they also experience sorrow because of emotions; this is what distinguishes humans from animals."
"Death is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Whether you embark on that journey sooner or later, the outcome is the same."
"The deceased should not grieve, and the living should even rejoice, for they have already experienced death before they had lived their lives to the fullest, and from now on they will no longer fear death."
The Bai Cai sighed, "The cycle of life and death, apart from the gods, who can escape it?"
In the Sea of Consciousness, Ice Empress instantly transformed into human form, her long, emerald-green hair swaying gracefully. "If you don't know life, how can you know death? The longer the years pass, the more attachments one has, and thus, the more one fears death."
"The lifespan of a marine worm is less than ten days, which is like a mustard seed to you. The lifespan of an ordinary human is less than a hundred years, which is also like a mustard seed to me."
"For you, life and death may be equivalent; for me, life is constant, death is the exception."
Short-lived and long-lived races have completely different views on life and death. Since they need to pursue permanence, they should change their views on life and death and adapt to permanence in advance.
Holding onto the fleeting nature of life and death, yet pursuing the eternal meaning of existence, as time flows by, one either changes their perspective or is worn away completely.
It was noon, the sun was shining brightly, a gentle autumn breeze was blowing, and it was incredibly warm.
Ross quickly regained his composure and began to explain the customs and culture of Belun. The dead are gone, but the living remain. If the living are trapped by the dead, suffering even more than the deceased, wouldn't that be a reversal of right and wrong?
"Belun has countless specialties: rice, tea, silk, wine, ceramics, and beautiful women—these are the six major specialties of the Belun region."
Ross pointed to the shops along the street, leading the way and explaining, "This shop specializes in tea, which is popular throughout the Three Kingdoms; this shop specializes in silk, which is mostly used in the clothing of nobles; this shop specializes in ceramics, whose secret glaze is renowned in the Dou Ling Empire."
"Of course, the Belun region is famous for its wines. Forty percent of the wines produced by the Dou Ling Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire come from the Belun region, and within Belun itself, seventy percent of the wines come from the Belun Winery."
After boasting about the family business, Ross revealed a mysterious smile, "As for beauties, the current head of the family is the Flower of Belun, a genius girl from the Skywater Academy. The nobles who come to propose to her have more barrels than there are in the winery."
Bai Cai repeated, "Skywater Academy?"
"Indeed, the Life Spirit Academy usually recruits local Soul Master; however, local Soul Master are not required to choose the Life Spirit Academy. The patriarch's mother graduated from Tianshui Academy, and since his Martial Soul was inherited from his mother, he chose Skywater Academy."
Bai Cai could certainly understand, "Skywater Academy's admission criteria require Martial Soul to primarily focus on water or ice, or one of the two."
Skywater Academy specializes in one area, with its Water-type being stronger than that of the Life Spirit Academy, but its overall strength is weaker than that of the Shrek Academy.
To graduate normally from the Shrek Academy, one needs to reach at least the Soul Ancestor. To graduate normally from the Skywater Academy, one needs to reach at most the Soul Elder.
The top student at the Skywater Academy is at most Soul King, Shrek Academy can not only assemble a team of Soul King, but also has two more Soul Emperors.
That said, the Belun family head's talent for cultivation is mostly average. With innate seventh-level Soul Power or above, the normal choice would be Shrek Academy.
Innate Soul Power of level five or above can be called a cultivation genius. However, Innate Soul Power of level five and Innate Soul Power of level seven are completely different concepts.
Ten thousand years ago, Shrek's exemption criteria were: level 25 or above, under thirteen years old, Innate Soul Power of level seven or above, and reaching twelve years old after six years of cultivation. Normally, this would be level 25, just barely meeting the exemption criteria.
The reason is that those with innate seventh-level Soul Power cannot break through to the Titled Douluo!
The Flower of Belun?
A genius girl from the Skywater Academy?
Stripped of its luster, it is undeserving of its reputation.
"The patriarch devoted himself to cultivation and reached the Soul Elder at the age of fifteen."
Ross said cryptically, "It just so happens that I lack friends my own age."
In essence, friends must be on the same level in terms of talent and status; at the very least, they should be genius Soul Master.
The nobleman who proposed marriage was not particularly talented, but he had a huge appetite. He talked about winery properties all the time, and his words were full of lewd desires. The head of the family was already fed up with him.
This White Night is not only clean, but also pure, and possesses extraordinary insight. If one could...
"Reached the Soul Elder at fifteen."
Glancing at Ross, Bai Cai was slightly surprised. "Such talent is enough to sustain wealth for a hundred years. The previous head of the family was quite capable."
The current head of the family inherited his mother's position. Theoretically, the mother's side is also quite powerful, and the previous head of the family was at least a Casanova.
"Cough cough, perhaps that's true."
Ross coughed awkwardly; his words were too direct and even caused him physical discomfort.
As they were talking, a row of guards suddenly came over and began to clear the street. Nearby residents quickly made way, either going up to the restaurants along the street or into the shops.
Then, guards escorted a carriage, which quickly drove across the street, seemingly heading towards the city gate.
Has the selection of the chief priest begun?
Ross suddenly panicked, "What to do, what to do? I haven't handed over my sacrificial wine yet."
"The chief priest?"
Bai Cai asked, "A fine wine competition?"
"Indeed, in the Belun region it's called the selection of the chief priest."
Ross briefly recounted the process. "The wineries outside the city select the finest wines, which are then presented to the Gui Family and sprinkled under the trees in accordance with ancient rituals to pray for a bountiful harvest. The finest wines are used in sacrificial rites, hence the name 'sacrificial wine.'"
"I am the Silver Star Brewer, responsible for brewing a type of sacrificial wine. The process has never gone wrong before."
Ross said anxiously, "However, because they were away, the chief priest has not yet handed over the wine. The Gui Family has already gone to the winery, and that carriage is the city lord's vehicle."
"The consequences will be serious?" (The Bai Cai is returned to the street.)
"Of course it's serious!"
Ross repeated himself, then apologized, "I'm sorry, but now..."
Bai Cai said in a low voice, "Perhaps we still have time. Go get the sacrificial wine, and find a fast horse. The city lord's carriage is slower than a fast horse."
"However, there are only three jars of wine for the sacrificial ceremony, and unless we travel by carriage..."
Before Ross could finish speaking, Bai Cai extended her right hand, her Blue Ring gleaming brightly in the sunlight.
Soul Tool!
Storage-type Soul Tool!
Ross understood instantly, "Please come with me."
Silver Star Winemaker trotted back home in a flash, then kicked open the cellar, took out three jars of wine from the pile of jars, hired a skilled rider, and took the Bai Cai to the winery outside the city, while he followed closely behind on horseback.
The carriage moved slowly. Ross and his party retrieved the libation wine, rode their horses to the vicinity of the winery, and finally saw the carriage again.
The city lord and his entourage proceeded with the handover as usual. Ross immediately dismounted and ordered his servants to hand over the libation wine.
Several servants wrote down the record, and the three jars of libation wine were finally handed over. Ross breathed a sigh of relief and finally relaxed.
"Lord Gui Yue is gentle and kind, and never holds these kinds of things against her. If it were the previous lord, the documents would most likely have been returned before the deadline."