Pure Origin Breath-Absorbing Visualization Method

The next day, dawn was just breaking.

Rustling sounds came from inside one of the stone huts.

Before long, Zhang Jing, already dressed and brimming with energy, pushed open the door and curiously surveyed his surroundings in the faint light.

The surroundings were quiet and secluded.

Though it was the eleventh lunar month, the island remained lush and green.

Birdsong sounded from all directions now and then.

Nearby, light began spilling through the door cracks of the cramped stone huts identical to the one behind him, one after another.

Clearly, no one dared forget what Instructor Wang had said yesterday.

Looking back inside his hut, Zhang Jing could not help smiling and muttering to himself:

"It was far too late yesterday to take a close look. Now that I can see it today, this stone hut might be the worst, Third Grade accommodation, but it's actually quite decent."

"Apart from being a little small..."

Indeed.

Yesterday, Zhang Jing had originally intended to choose a Grade B single-story house. At least those looked like somewhere to live.

After asking a servant, however, he had decisively turned around and headed for the stone huts.

There was no other reason. It was purely a matter of silver.

Had he chosen a single-story house, he would have had less than five taels of silver left.

Having already experienced the academy's way of doing things yesterday, Zhang Jing absolutely refused to believe that accommodation would be the only thing that cost silver.

To be safe, he would save wherever he could.

Fortunately, the stone hut only looked crude from the outside; inside, it had everything. A bed, chairs, stools, bedding, ladles, basins-not a thing was missing.

He took some dry rations from his bundle and ate a little.

After estimating the time, Zhang Jing eagerly set off for the Teaching Hall.

There was a spring in his step.

He had longed for this for years, and the moment was finally about to arrive.

Along the way,

Zhang Jing noticed that the vast majority of those who had come from Hui Prefecture this time had made the same choice as him.

Only a dozen or so people were staying in the single-story houses.

Judging by their clothes, they were either wealthy or noble.

As for the Grade A Courtyards, only Ji Bochang and the other three occupied them, just as expected.

As Zhang Jing passed the courtyard area, he happened to see the flamboyant Ji Bochang stepping out of his courtyard.

Their eyes met.

A brilliant yet sleazy smile immediately appeared on Ji Bochang's face. He opened his painted fan with his left hand and sauntered over to Zhang Jing.

"Brother Zhang, why didn't you choose-last night?"

Inside the Teaching Hall,

Ji Bochang, seated on a meditation cushion at the very front, suddenly turned around and asked quietly.

Behind him,

Zhang Jing was about to answer when heavy footsteps abruptly rang through the Teaching Hall, interrupting Ji Bochang.

Ji Bochang swiftly turned back around.

Zhang Jing likewise looked toward Instructor Wang, who had abruptly appeared on the platform.

"Very good." Instructor Wang glanced at everyone sitting upright below and said approvingly, "It seems no one is late. Then let's get straight to the point."

With that,

Instructor Wang swept one hand over a pitch-black Beast-Skin Bag at his waist, and a Jade Slip instantly appeared in his hand.

The Jade Slip was crystalline and translucent, with a mysterious pattern traced in some sort of runes faintly visible on its surface.

Below the platform, Zhang Jing's eyes narrowed.

Since he was sitting in the second row, he had seen it perfectly clearly.

That Jade Slip had plainly appeared out of nowhere in Instructor Wang's hand.

Zhang Jing's gaze unconsciously swept over the black Beast-Skin Bag at Instructor Wang's waist. He guessed that it must be some sort of spatial Law Artifact.

Mustard seed containing Mount Sumeru?

As for that Jade Slip-

"The Jade Slip in my hand contains one of the Dragon Lake Dao Academy's foundational cultivation methods, called the Pure Origin Breath-Absorbing Visualization Method."

Instructor Wang's voice rang out again.

At once, the Jade Slip drew the burning gazes of almost everyone below.

Every one of them was tremendously excited.

Why had they come to take the academy's assessment? Wasn't it to step onto the Immortal Dao? Now that a cultivation method lay right before their eyes, they were naturally overwhelmed with excitement.

Zhang Jing likewise stared fixedly at the Jade Slip, though his face looked calm.

With the Jade Talisman by his side, along with the Mind’s Eye Dao Seed and the Nether Dragon Void-Swallowing Dao Impartation, he had ample confidence that he could pass the assessment and step onto the Immortal Dao.

That was why Zhang Jing could suppress his excitement.

On the platform, Instructor Wang swept his sharp gaze across every face below, as though trying to see through them all.

Children of Immortal Dao aristocratic clans? There are actually four.

Could our Seventh Temporary Academy be about to shine brilliantly in this academy assessment? If we place in the top three in the overall rankings, how much Dao Merit is the reward again...?

At that thought, Instructor Wang raised his voice and said solemnly:

"The rules for this academy assessment are as follows:"

"After learning the Pure Origin Breath-Absorbing Visualization Method, everyone will have thirty days to cultivate."

"After thirty days, those who have reached the introductory level of the visualization method will pass the assessment and enter the Dragon Lake Dao Academy's Outer Court to cultivate. Those who fail will have their memories relating to the Pure Origin Breath-Absorbing Visualization Method erased before being sent back to their respective schools."

As his words fell,

Those below who had been excited just moments earlier looked as though a basin of cold water had suddenly been poured over them. Panic instantly filled their faces.

For a moment, even the air throughout the Teaching Hall seemed to congeal.

"Did everyone hear that clearly?" Instructor Wang's rough voice thundered in their ears.

"Yes."

Everyone answered in unison.

Instructor Wang nodded and extended his large hand. A streak of white light flashed at his fingertips, and the Jade Slip immediately left his hand to float before him.

He glanced at Ji Bochang and the other three at the very front.

Then the Jade Slip floated straight toward Chu Lingyun in the middle.

"What is your name?"

"Instructor, my name is Chu Lingyun."

"Chu Lingyun?" Instructor Wang paused. "Chu... ahem, well, Lingyun, you'll keep this Jade Slip for the time being. Make sure everyone learns the Pure Origin Breath-Absorbing Visualization Method today."

"Rest assured, Instructor. Lingyun will complete the task!"

Chu Lingyun raised her head, her expression solemn.

"Mm. When learning it, place the Jade Slip against the point between your brows, then try to concentrate and connect with it."

"Lingyun understands."

Then Instructor Wang looked at everyone below and said:

"Once you have learned the visualization method today, you may try visualizing and cultivating. Everything you need to watch out for is fully annotated and explained in the inheritance. Tomorrow, a quarter-hour after the beginning of the mao hour, I will expound on the Dao here. Anyone interested may come and listen."

With that,

A flash of light passed, and Instructor Wang vanished from the Lecture Hall.

Where she stood,

Chu Lingyun rose to her feet, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes:

"Everyone, please remain in the Lecture Hall for now. You can return after learning the visualization method Instructor Wang imparted. Since there are so many of us, we will naturally have to arrange an order for learning it. Please bear with me."

"As an apology, Lingyun will have a meal prepared at the Spirit Cuisine Hall in three days. I hope you will all honor me with your presence."

Chu Lingyun cupped her hands toward everyone, her soft charm carrying a touch of boldness.

"You're too courteous, Fairy Chu."

"Indeed, Fairy Chu, you need only say the word. Let's see who would dare object to your arrangements."

"Exactly, exactly. Fairy Chu, arrange things however you like."

Voices below chimed in one after another.

"In that case, let Lingyun thank you all in advance."

After speaking, Chu Lingyun turned back toward Ji Bochang and the other two. Pointing at the Jade Slip with her delicate hand, she asked, "Would you three brothers like to go first?"

"There's no need, Lingyun. Since the instructor chose you, you should study it first," Wu Mingyuan hastily declined.

Deng Yuan and Ji Bochang first glanced at Wu Mingyuan in unison, then nodded to Chu Lingyun, indicating that she should study it first.

"Then Lingyun won't stand on ceremony."

A pink blush crept over Chu Lingyun's fair, pretty face. She pressed the Jade Slip between her brows and closed her eyes.

Time passed quickly.

It was nearly evening when Zhang Jing's turn finally came.

As one of those arranged to receive the inheritance last, he had already mentally rehearsed the motions of using the Inheritance Jade Slip dozens of times.

Thus, after receiving the Jade Slip, Zhang Jing did not hesitate for even a moment. He pressed it directly between his brows and tried to marshal his mental focus to connect with it.

In an instant,

Vast streams of complex information erupted forth, directly engulfing Zhang Jing's consciousness.

On the mysterious Jade Talisman,

A new line of tiny characters slowly appeared.

[Pure Origin Breath-Absorbing Visualization Method · Not yet initiated (0/50)]