Was that not the case?

"Come in."

The two pushed open the door and entered. Unexpectedly, the interior of Jiang Yunyao's room was nothing like its unremarkable exterior.

The first thing they saw was an exquisite carved wooden screen. Beside the window stood a desk, with fresh, dew-speckled flowers in a vase atop it.

Off to one side was a display shelf holding several objects of varying sizes.

At the very back, the gauze curtains on either side of an alcove bed had been rolled up. A woman with striking looks and a pure bearing sat on it, sizing Jiang Yan up.

The room looked nothing like a place used for sordid business. Instead, it resembled a lady's private chamber.

"Are you Cousin Yunyao?"

"That's me. Which branch are you from, and what's your name? When did you arrive at the Prefecture Academy?"

Jiang Yunyao was fairly welcoming. She also waved a hand, signaling for the servant who had led him there to leave.

"I'm Jiang Yan, from the fifth branch. I only arrived at the Prefecture Academy yesterday. Cousin Jiang Chi told me to come find you..."

"What did you say? That beast Jiang Chi sent you here?!"

Jiang Yunyao's previously friendly expression abruptly darkened.

She even waved her hand and sent a strand of Law Power attacking Jiang Yan.

Hm? Jiang Yan frowned and likewise released Law Power to counter it.

Fortunately, Jiang Yunyao had not used any spell in this attack. She had merely intended to throw him out the door with Law Power, which was why he could block it.

"Cousin, what is the meaning of this?"

When her strike failed, a flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Yunyao's eyes.

"You've already cultivated Law Power? Hmph, with talent like that, why would you willingly sink so low!"

Seeing that Jiang Yunyao had no intention of attacking again, Jiang Yan finally drew back the foot he had poised to leave.

"Could there be some misunderstanding, Cousin? I'm only here to deliver letters. Before I came to the Prefecture Academy, the clan asked me to bring quite a few along."

Even after hearing this, Jiang Yunyao still looked doubtful.

"Is that really true?"

Without a word, Jiang Yan took out the remaining letters.

Jiang Yunyao pulled one out, opened it, and began reading.

She read several letters in succession. In them, the elders discussed matters known only to the people corresponding, things no outsider could possibly know.

Only then did she believe Jiang Yan, and her expression turned awkward.

Jiang Yan spoke at the right moment:

"Why did you attack me just now, Cousin? What happened between you and Cousin Jiang Chi?"

"Sit down first. I acted rashly just now. I simply hate that beast Jiang Chi to the bone! You got caught up in it."

"When Jiang Chi told you I was here, did he mention the conflict between us?"

"He didn't. Was it because Cousin Jiang Chi married into another household?"

"Heh, married into another household? Who told you that?"

"He merely became that old bastard's male pet. How does that count as marrying into a household?"

A mocking smile hung at the corner of Jiang Yunyao's mouth as she continued her barbed remarks.

"Let me guess. Did he meet you as soon as you arrived and even find you a place to stay?"

"Yes."

"Then he probably didn't tell you that Prefecture Academy disciples receive a stipend from the Dao Academy at the end of every year?"

Hm?

Jiang Yan was no fool. Jiang Yunyao's two questions instantly made him realize something.

Perhaps Jiang Chi wasn't as kindhearted as he appeared?

His preferential treatment might not have stemmed from guilt toward the clan, but from some other purpose.

Seeing Jiang Yan remain silent only confirmed Jiang Yunyao's deduction.

But she did not continue discussing Jiang Chi. Instead, she changed the subject.

"New disciples often feel a gap between their expectations and reality when they arrive at the Dao Academy. That's normal."

"But it certainly isn't that the Dao Academy doesn't care about its disciples. That beast probably didn't explain things clearly to you yesterday."

The moment Jiang Yunyao spoke, she addressed the very question that had puzzled Jiang Yan most.

"To be honest, Cousin, that was exactly what I was wondering. The Immortal Dynasty rules over countless realms, so it shouldn't lack resources. Why does the Prefecture Academy do things this way?"

"There's no shortage of resources, but don't forget that the Prefecture Academy's purpose is to train Seventh-Rank Daoists capable of joining the Dao Army in battle."

"When waging war on other planes, being a Seventh-Rank Daoist is the minimum requirement for enlistment. On the battlefield, they're cannon fodder.

"They're generally scattered and sent to infiltrate behind enemy lines. If they don't learn to be a little crafty, how could they survive?"

"As far as I know, once you enter the Commandery Academy, things are the complete opposite of the Prefecture Academy.

"You don't have to deal with mundane matters at all. Every day, you only need to cultivate various combat Dao arts."

So that was it. Dao Academies at different levels were responsible for different kinds of training.

The Prefecture Academy was simply meant to develop the survival skills of future Seventh-Rank Daoists!

As for those of the eighth and ninth grades, below the seventh grade, they did not need to participate in planar wars and had clearly not been included in these considerations.

For those of the sixth grade and above, survival on the front lines became the priority instead.

Everything suddenly became clear to Jiang Yan. As the Immortal Dynasty's best place for cultivating talent, the Dao Academy truly did not shoot without a target.

Seeing that Jiang Yan seemed to understand, Jiang Yunyao continued:

"Besides, the Prefecture Academy doesn't leave us entirely to our own devices. At the end of every year, disciples receive a sum of cultivation resources according to their cultivation realm."

"And as a Prefecture Academy disciple, no matter what, you wouldn't end up living like those people out on the streets.

"Although I'm in this building, it's merely a necessity of my Dao Path."

"It's just that most of the senior disciples have gone out for their annual assessment this month, so you haven't seen them.

"That beast Jiang Chi deliberately kept all this from you to leave you floundering in wild suspicions."

In just a few words, Jiang Yunyao had explained the Prefecture Academy's true circumstances.

With the conversation turning back to Jiang Chi, Jiang Yan asked again.

"What exactly did Cousin Jiang Chi do to make you resent him so much?"

"Cousin?"

A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Yunyao's mouth again.

"After he advanced to the eighth grade, under the Prefecture Academy's rules, he should still have had forty years to cultivate."

"But he thought painstaking cultivation was too slow. Somehow, he got acquainted with an old bastard and even became his male pet."

"If that were all, so be it. It had nothing to do with me anyway.

"But that old bastard was no good either. He actually wanted me to join them!

"The three of us sharing a pillow and bed, serving as playthings for someone else!

"Of course I refused, but that beast Jiang Chi actually helped him scheme against his own clanswoman.

"I let my guard down for a moment and was nearly harvested by that old bastard!

"My Dao Path was almost ruined! Isn't that worse than a beast?!"

Jiang Chi, who had seemed so considerate of him in every respect, had actually done something like that?

Then why was he being so attentive to him?

At that thought, Jiang Yan could not help frowning.

"It looks like you've thought of it too? Once you came to the Prefecture Academy, you were bound to meet me sooner or later.

"Our Jiang Household has few people and little influence here at the Prefecture Academy. How could we have someone specifically assigned to welcome newcomers?

"Jiang Chi probably timed the arrival of new disciples every year these past few years, and finally managed to catch you.

"Before you came here, he deliberately kept his conflict with me from you.

"If you hadn't already cultivated a strand of Law Power, I would have sent you flying out with that strike just now.

"You didn't know the truth, and he was the only person you knew at the Prefecture Academy. You might even have been injured by me.

"Then, with a little more coaxing from him, he might have brought you along to become that Desire Corpse Daoist's male pet too!

"He really is worse than a beast, always setting his sights on his own clansmen to scheme against!"

As Jiang Yunyao spoke, she angrily cursed Jiang Chi a few more times.

Hearing this, Jiang Yan recalled what had happened then.

Apart from him, only a handful of disciples from major clans had indeed been met by someone.

And he had never asked Jiang Chi how he had known he would arrive at the Prefecture Academy this year.

Seeing Jiang Yan remain silent, she thought he was frightened at having been targeted the moment he arrived at the Dao Academy, and spoke again to comfort him.

"But you don't need to be afraid. That Desire Corpse Daoist isn't a member of the Dao Academy. He's merely an immortal citizen of the East River Realm.

"Even if he had several times the nerve, he wouldn't dare force you. But you'll have to be more careful if you leave town to explore."

Leave town to explore! Hearing this, Jiang Yan remembered the advice Jiang Chi had given him yesterday.

"I suggest you find opportunities to go exploring a few times as soon as possible, so you won't be caught unprepared when the time comes."