Cultivating Spells, Attending a Lecture

Lu Qing did what he said.

Now that he'd reached the mid-to-late stages of the Qi Nourishment Realm, it didn't matter much whether he took Fasting Pills or not. He was gradually fasting already. Spirit Stones could be earned again after they were spent, but his cultivation and spell techniques were the true foundation he could rely on.

"Choose a spell that conceals one's aura."

Countless balls of light appeared, each enveloping a jade slip.

Lu Qing was already thoroughly familiar with the process. After carefully selecting one, he exchanged for an ordinary Concealment Art.

"At the introductory stage, it can conceal one minor realm. At minor mastery, it can conceal three minor levels. At major mastery to perfection, it can conceal one major realm. Limited to those below Core Formation."

"A perfectly respectable Concealment Art. This one, then."

The realms beyond were still far too distant from Lu Qing's current level. He wasn't one to reach too high. It wasn't as though there were no better, rarer aura-concealing spells, but those had cultivation requirements. As someone in the Qi Nourishment Realm, Lu Qing naturally didn't qualify.

After spending over a dozen Spirit Stones, Lu Qing quickly immersed himself in cultivation once more.

Cultivating, cultivating—Lu Qing hadn't left Dao Peak at all.

The mountain peaks were shrouded in chilly mist, yet the plaza remained open beneath the radiance of sun and moon.

Compared to other times, whenever cultivation conditions were favorable, Lu Qing chose to cultivate at dawn, bathing in the morning glow. Spiritual Power was especially pure then, carrying a faint trace of elusive Purple Tenuity Qi. After dusk, when the moon rose over the willow branches, cool moonlight spilled across the earth.

Strands of radiant light were absorbed by the meditating Lu Qing.

Suddenly, his aura flickered in and out of existence. Looking at him again, if one closed one's eyes, then unless one was a cultivator of a far higher realm, it would be difficult to sense any aura from him.

"Morning light and evening drums really do have their reasons. The essence of heaven and earth gathers at these times, and cultivating Spiritual Power is faster too."

Another three days passed.

"An elder is giving a lecture. I should go listen."

After receiving the notice through his jade token, Lu Qing swiftly prepared to leave Dao Peak and attend the lecture.

Without any spirit artifact or magic artifact to ride, Lu Qing didn't need to walk either. Since the journey was distant, he summoned White Crane Boy.

"Boy, these are the Spirit Stones from last time—or this time."

Lu Qing handed the Spirit Stones to the White Crane Boy.

"Good, good, good. This boy truly didn't misjudge you."

"Where'd you run off to before? Don't tell me you've been cultivating the whole time."

The man and the white crane got along rather well. Once they began chatting, White Crane Boy heard that Lu Qing had been cultivating even while tediously taking on missions, and he was deeply impressed.

"That explains it. No wonder I haven't seen you around."

"Many disciples from the Outer Academy have been making quite a splash. My ears have practically grown calluses from hearing about them lately. Why don't you go have a few bouts on the arena and let others taste what you're made of?"

White Crane Boy suddenly brought up the matter.

Lu Qing was slightly speechless. He hadn't expected the commotion caused by the minor competition from about a month and a half ago to still be going on.

"You're joking, Boy. I've never enjoyed fighting."

What was contested on the arena was reputation. By becoming famous in the Outer Academy, they might obtain what they wanted.

But Lu Qing had no such inclination.

What he hadn't expected was that when he arrived at the lecture grounds, countless cloud couches had appeared. On the highest platform of cloud couches, no elder had yet arrived.

Yet the place was already packed with people, and quite a few cloud couches were occupied.

Moreover, they weren't quietly cultivating. A noisy clamor had risen instead.

Naturally, Lu Qing hadn't left home intending to arrive at the last moment.

Seeing so many disciples arrive in advance, he already guessed that something was going to happen here.

He said nothing and first observed the situation.

With one look, he immediately understood where the disturbance had come from.

At the very front, beneath the elevated cloud couch platform, sixteen cloud couches stood along either side.

Lu Qing looked over and felt that those sixteen cloud couches resembled spectator seats more than anything else.

Upon each cloud couch, amid the figures dressed in green robes, some had their eyes closed as they cultivated cross-legged, some were conversing with disciples on neighboring cloud couches, while others watched the disciples beyond those sixteen couches with indifferent expressions...

The source of the argument was at one corner of the cloud couches.

Lu Qing counted them in order and found that it was the fifteenth cloud couch.

"Junior Brother Cheng! Are you sure you won't give up this position?"

"As far as I know, Junior Brother, your cultivation isn't sufficient yet, is it?"

The speaker's voice was loud, carrying a hint of indignation.

Lu Qing immediately realized that he'd arrived at just the right time.

The moment that voice sounded, all the other disciples on the sixteen cloud couches—regardless of who they were, even those cultivating with their eyes closed—opened their eyes and turned toward that spot.

Cold light flashed in some eyes, while others watched with keen interest. The two utterly different attitudes of enjoying the spectacle and looking on with detached indifference appeared among these disciples.

"These dozen or so people are probably the strongest group of disciples in the Outer Academy."

Lu Qing didn't recognize them, but there was no need to think hard. Anyone seated up there at this time was undoubtedly among the Outer Academy's strongest disciples.

"Junior Brother Cheng?"

When Lu Qing arrived, he had originally been at the edge. He didn't go closer, instead choosing a seat farther back and watching the situation in the distance.

Over there, two people were confronting each other.

Both wore green robes.

The burly disciple's aura was striking and extraordinary. Judging by it, he was much stronger than the other man.

Yet the disciple called Junior Brother Cheng showed no fear whatsoever. He gave a cold laugh, then said with a proud expression, "Senior Brother, those with fate may enter. You couldn't sit here, but I could. How could this junior brother possibly give it up?"

The moment those words were spoken, the surrounding area fell silent.

"Good! Very good, Junior Brother Cheng. It seems you won't be giving it up."

A chill flashed deep in the burly disciple's eyes. Gritting his teeth, he laughed and said, "In that case, I'll yield it to Junior Brother."

"I only hope Junior Brother can keep his seat on that cloud couch secure in the future."

With that, he snorted coldly and walked directly down from the cloud couch, landing on one among the central couches rather than any of those sixteen.

"Hmph." Cheng Du gave a mocking smile, completely unconcerned.

"Senior Brother Liu actually gave up like that?"

"You don't know? I heard this Junior Brother Cheng Du is the personal disciple of the Inner Academy elder giving today's lecture. His aptitude is heaven-grade, and he was born with Immortal Spirit Qi. Though he hasn't been in the sect long, several high-ranking Inner Academy elders value him greatly."

"No wonder. I was wondering how someone who seemed to be a newly initiated disciple could act like this, but it turns out he has someone backing him."

Lu Qing wasn't in a hurry to offer an opinion, because from the successive whispers coming from the neighboring cloud couches—voices that weren't actually lowered—he had already learned the full story behind this dispute over the cloud couch.

Lu Qing had cultivated for over two months immediately after entering the sect, unlike others who could speak at length about every person and event.

Those on the cloud couches at the back were evidently disciples from the same batch of initiates. Knowing they couldn't compete with the senior brothers and sisters ahead, they began chatting among themselves in the rear.