Tianyuan Academy

Tianyuan Academy could be said to have pupils everywhere under heaven, and it was also one of the powers on the Tianwu Continent that could least afford to be offended.

Once, a lineage with One Sect Three Emperors had coveted the many Emperor Scriptures and Emperor Weapons possessed by Tianyuan Academy and launched an attack upon it. Yet the other imperial lineages of the Tianwu Continent joined forces to besiege them. In less than a month, that sect was wiped out, showing just how vast Tianyuan Academy's network of connections was.

Thus, disciples from countless Divine Dynasty Sacred Lands and Eternal Families all longed to join Tianyuan Academy and receive its cultivation.

After Tianyuan Academy's disciples had completed their studies, they could leave of their own accord and return to their original forces. The academy never demanded that its disciples serve it. Even so, quite a few experts willingly extended a helping hand whenever Tianyuan Academy faced danger.

Tianyuan Academy was situated atop the Tianyuan Mountain Range, and today was the annual day when Tianyuan Academy recruited disciples on a grand scale.

Gu Changge followed the crowd up the mountain as well.

He saw grand and magnificent palaces scattered across the mountains. Looking out, similar structures stretched across peaks spanning tens of thousands of li, much like the palace complex before him.

At the entrance of the foremost palace stood an enormous stone tablet. Two elders of Tianyuan Academy stood beside it, examining the crowds flooding in from all across the Northern Region.

People continuously lined up, one after another placing their hands upon the stone tablet. Whenever the tablet came into contact with someone being tested, it emitted light—white, green, or yellow.

"The Tianyuan Stone Tablet was refined by Great Emperor Tianyuan, the founding ancestor of Tianyuan Academy. It can test the cultivation talent of disciples entering the academy. Those who come forward may place their hands upon it, and the tablet will release light."

"The light released by the stone tablet is divided into seven grades: white, yellow, green, blue, red, gold, and black. White is the poorest, while black is the strongest."

An elder of Tianyuan Academy standing beside the stone tablet spoke.

"Yellow grade, menial disciple."

"White grade, menial disciple."

"Blue grade, outer disciple."

Watching the light released by the stone tablet, the elder addressed each person who came forward.

Those with white or yellow light could only become menial disciples of Tianyuan Academy. Those with green or blue light could become outer disciples. Those with red or gold light could become inner disciples. As for the highest grade, black, one could directly become a Dao Child of Tianyuan Academy.

However, disciples with red or gold light were exceedingly rare, appearing perhaps once in a thousand years. As for disciples with black light, they were geniuses seen only once in ten thousand years.

More common were disciples with white and yellow light. Green and blue already counted as rare talents.

Soon, it was Gu Changge's turn.

Gu Changge placed one hand upon the Tianyuan Stone Tablet.

The stone tablet instantly erupted with dazzling black radiance that shot straight into the heavens.

"Th-this is... black light!"

The elder froze the instant he saw the black radiance piercing the sky.

"Quick, invite the Palace Master!"

Another elder hurriedly said.

"This young friend, please wait here for a moment. I will go invite the Palace Master."

That elder said.

"Palace Master, joyous news! Joyous news!"

The elder ran to First Peak of Tianyuan Academy, to the great hall where the Tianyuan Palace Master resided, and shouted loudly.

"Elder Liu, what joyous news could it be? Sit down and tell me slowly. There is no need to be so anxious."

The Tianyuan Palace Master leisurely brewed two cups of tea and spoke unhurriedly.

"Palace Master, hurry and take a look! Black light! Our Tianyuan Academy has finally waited for another Dao Child-level genius!"

The elder said.

"What? A Dao Child-level genius? Quick, Elder Liu, take me to see him!"

The Tianyuan Palace Master no longer cared to drink tea. He immediately spoke in delight, following Elder Liu to the Tianyuan Stone Tablet where disciples' talents were tested.

"Palace Master, it is this young friend."

Elder Liu said.

"May I ask how this young friend is addressed?"

The Tianyuan Palace Master asked.

"Gu Changge."

Gu Changge said.

"Haha, so it is young friend Changge. I wonder, would young friend Changge be willing to join our Tianyuan Academy?"

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy asked.

"That is precisely why I came here."

Gu Changge said.

"Good. Then from this moment onward, I announce that Gu Changge shall be the Dao Child of Tianyuan Academy."

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy said.

"Palace Master, th-this may be somewhat improper. The heirs of the major forces are all people of extraordinary talent. They came to Tianyuan Academy to study the Dao, and all became candidates for Dao Child, determined to obtain that position. Now, Gu Changge has only just entered the academy, yet he is to be given the position of Dao Child. Is that not..."

Elder Liu said at this moment.

"Hmph, so what? Those disciples from other forces come here only for Tianyuan Academy's Emperor Techniques and Emperor pills. In the end, do they not simply leave and return to their original forces?"

"Besides, the highest talent among those people is merely red-grade. How could they compare with young friend Changge?"

"I see that young friend Changge is handsome in appearance and upright in his innate bones. At a glance, he is fine material for cultivation. Rather than letting those fellows have it, it would be better to let young friend Changge take the position."

The Tianyuan Palace Master said.

"But..."

Elder Liu still wanted to say a few more words.

"Enough. My mind is made up. Elder Liu need not say anything further."

The Tianyuan Palace Master said firmly.

In ordinary sacred lands, immortal sects, and demonic sects, disciples were divided into menial disciples, outer disciples, inner disciples, core disciples, and the highest-ranking Dao Children, immortal seeds, and demonic seeds. They enjoyed the sect's greatest cultivation resources and possessed authority equal to that of elders, their status second only to the sect master and Old Ancestor.

"Changge, this is your Dao Child identity token. From now on, you will cultivate on First Peak of Tianyuan Academy. With this token, you may open the Dao Child cave dwelling on First Peak and cultivate within it."

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy took out an exquisite token, engraved with the six golden characters "Tianyuan Academy Dao Child," and handed it to Gu Changge.

Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission: Join Tianyuan Academy (1/1). Reward: one Tianyuan Ancient Zither (Emperor Grade Low Rank), 200 System Points.

"Yes."

Gu Changge replied.

He then headed toward First Peak of Tianyuan Academy.

Tianyuan Academy was built along the mountains, established within the Tianyuan Mountain Range. It had selected a range of the loftiest mountains as the site of its academy.

This mountain range contained sixty-one peaks in total. Thirty outer peaks formed the outer sect. Next came twenty peaks closer to the inner region, forming the inner sect. The ten peaks in the inner region were the cultivation grounds of core disciples. The single peak at the very center, First Peak, had no elders teaching the Dao each day nor stewards tending to it each day. It was where the Dao Child, Palace Master, and Old Ancestor resided.

"A menial disciple's monthly stipend is ten Star Grade Top Rank Spirit Gathering Pills and one hundred Spirit Stones."

"An outer disciple's monthly stipend is ten Star Grade Top Rank Spirit Gathering Pills and three hundred Spirit Stones."

"An inner disciple's monthly stipend is ten Moon Grade Top Rank Spirit Gathering Pills and three thousand Spirit Stones."

"A core disciple's monthly stipend is ten Day Grade Top Rank Spirit Gathering Pills and five thousand Spirit Stones."

"A Dao Child's monthly stipend is ten Emperor Grade Top Rank Spirit Gathering Pills and ten thousand Spirit Stones."