Entering the Dao Academy

The old man named Mo Youyu soon returned. He showed no visible injuries, but his expression was exceedingly grim.

There was no need to ask. One look at his face told them that old Demonic Path thief had escaped.

The time of one incense stick had run out.

Quite a few of those who should have returned had already come back, but anyone with eyes could see that the numbers were off.

A group of people was missing.

The final genius found to possess Superior Aptitude was missing as well.

Lu Qing saw lingering fear on many faces. They had narrowly escaped death.

This had truly been a matter of luck. The divination had not said where the attack's range would be. If someone charged headfirst into it, they would be unlucky beyond measure.

"Someone was attacking people in the city."

"It was too terrifying. I didn't go far, but I saw some people being killed."

"Yeah, weren't they outrageously bold?"

"I heard it was a Demonic Cultivator!"

They were all only teenagers. Suddenly facing an indiscriminate slaughter, some of them had gone deathly pale.

Elder Mo's expression was incomparably ugly. "Quiet. We return to the Dao Academy now."

"With this old man here, there is no need to worry!"

As for what had happened, this batch of youths could only speculate among themselves.

A Flying Boat appeared out of thin air, expanding from small to large as it emerged in midair.

The Flying Boat headed toward the Dao Academy, and there were quite a few rooms inside.

After Lu Qing chose a room, the tension in his heart gradually drained away.

The dead were not frightening. What was frightening was dying without even knowing how.

Outside the Flying Boat, blue skies and white clouds stretched overhead, the scenery pleasant and serene.

When mealtime came, people formed small groups of twos and threes.

The three with Superior Aptitude were sitting together for a meal as well.

"My name is Li Jiuming. What are your names?"

Li Jiuming's clothing made it clear that his family circumstances were good. He was deliberately trying to get acquainted with the other two.

"Lu Qing."

"I... I'm Liu Er."

Liu Er sat there, cramped and uneasy.

The atmosphere soon fell silent again.

Li Jiuming smiled indifferently. "We'll be fellow disciples in the future anyway. Do you know what the Dao Academy is like?"

He was clearly trying to show off.

Lu Qing truly did not know. Hearing this, he realized Li Jiuming already had an answer. "What is it like?"

"The Dao Academy is divided into five great peaks. Those of us recruited together like this will all be assigned to the Outer Academy, unless there are a very few exceptional ones. Like the Earth-Grade Aptitude genius who appeared this time—they can go directly to the Inner Academy."

Li Jiuming said enviously, "Compared to the Outer Academy, the Inner Academy is the true gathering place of Heaven's Pride. I heard that even Earth-Grade Aptitude disciples are not uncommon there."

"Also, if one of us catches an elder's eye after entering and gets chosen as a disciple, our future will be boundless. But generally, everyone receives centralized training at first."

"One of my distant relatives went through it that way."

By the end, Lu Qing understood. So there was someone from his family within the sect.

"And I heard there are quite a few cultivation associations and such inside. In any case, it's all very complicated."

"Thank you, Brother Li, for telling us this. I truly didn't know the ins and outs."

Hearing this, Lu Qing found it somewhat strange that this was not a purely sect-like structure. Still, he only took note of it. What it was truly like would have to be seen for himself.

As the three chatted, Liu Er occasionally added a word or two.

But most of the time, Li Jiuming was the one speaking. He knew more than the others, and during their conversations, he increasingly spoke with Lu Qing.

Three days later, Li Jiuming said, "Lu Qing, I heard people over there have already begun cultivating. How are they so fast?"

The two who came looking for him were clearly startled, then hurriedly ran over to find him.

What was this supposed to mean?

He knew that they were currently probationary disciples. The word "probationary" was the crucial part.

"What do we do? There will be an Entry Trial Tournament later. We don't know how it will be conducted, but cultivating one step earlier can't be wrong, right? Should we start cultivating in advance too?"

"I heard there's someone over there who has connections."

Their eyes had been blinded because it involved their own interests.

Lu Qing did not believe that Elder Mo, who piloted the Flying Boat, was unaware of what was happening.

He shook his head. "Don't forget that we still have to take part in the second round. Beginning cultivation is important, but our foundation must suit the Profound Heaven Dao Academy."

He pointed it out tactfully. "We don't need to rush for the moment."

With their aptitude, they should not lose the big picture for a small gain.

Were they cultivating in advance because they wanted to make a splash at the Entry Trial Tournament?

Lu Qing did not know, nor did he wish to wade into this muddy water.

Even though Calamity Avoidance had not appeared, anyone could tell with their feet that this was undoubtedly a waste of effort.

The moment Li Jiuming heard this, realization dawned on him. He slapped his forehead hard. "Damn, I was muddleheaded too. Seriously."

"If you hadn't said it, Lu Qing, they would've made me anxious as well."

Lu Qing rather agreed with that.

The atmosphere and environment mattered greatly.

As three days passed, the atmosphere aboard the Flying Boat did not ease. Instead, after each small group had people they knew, and with entry matters involved, the mood slowly kindled like firewood catching flame, growing increasingly anxious.

Strands of anxiety crept into their hearts, making them want to be one step ahead at every turn.

Lu Qing remained calm and unhurried. With the Golden Finger on him, he had nothing to be anxious about.

Thus, his mindset remained extraordinarily steady.

Another three days passed.

Elder Mo looked down with great satisfaction. He had noticed several fine seedlings with outstanding temperaments.

As for that cultivation method, it was merely a basic Meridian Opening method. To cultivate it, one first had to temper one's meridians.

This was the first step of cultivation in their Dao Academy.

As for those eager for quick success and instant gain, his face remained expressionless.

Among them, he was satisfied with Lu Qing's performance. From beginning to end, Lu Qing had shown neither anxiety nor unease.

His aptitude was extremely good. Though he could not compare with those monstrous prodigies, he was still a fine genius.

Lu Qing did not yet know Elder Mo's assessment of him.

He only knew that he did not need to worry about his Lifespan. He was destined to be a Longevity Species, and time could outlast everything. Since that was so, why rush for the moment?

With a hum.

The Flying Boat came to a stop.

They stepped off the Flying Boat.

Lu Qing's expression froze slightly. They had stopped halfway up a mountain, on a jutting platform over a cliff. Beneath their feet lay a bottomless abyss, while ahead stood a staircase white as jade, winding into the clouds and mist, its radiance stretching ten thousand miles, immortal aura faint and ethereal.

All around them, clouds and mist curled like jade ribbons between countless mountain peaks. Elegant and magnificent palace complexes appeared and disappeared among those peaks, while at the very front, atop the mountain summit, stood a city.

Setting everything else aside, merely seeing a vast city atop a mountain was enough to astonish anyone.

"Alright. First, come with me to the Disciple Hall for your second assessment."

Elder Mo took out a token. A massive formation suddenly appeared beneath their feet, and the world spun around them. In an instant, the mountain scenery vanished, replaced by the sight of a grand hall.

Lu Qing steadied himself.

This move alone showed from the side just how powerful this Dao Academy truly was.

Lu Qing had never intended to remain bound to a single sect. His very first thought had always been to cultivate.

Now that the Dao Academy was powerful, that was naturally a good thing.