Seeing the curiosity in Jiang Yan's eyes, the disciple on duty explained:
"Most of the names in this register belong to disciples who failed to break through before reaching the academy's yearly time limit. They can only be struck from the rolls.
"Some died away from the academy, and those cases have to be verified before they can be submitted to the higher-ups."
So that was it. Presumably Li Shun and Xiao Sheng, whom I killed with curses back then, went through this too.
Afraid that further questions might touch on some taboo, Jiang Yan merely nodded and said no more.
Fortunately, he did not have to wait long before two more Daoists stepped through the doors of the main hall.
One was An Ling, dressed in a blue-green Daoist robe that set off her snow-white skin.
A matching ribbon bound her hair, which flowed down her back.
The person accompanying her was also a female disciple.
She likewise wore a blue-green Daoist robe and had a serene face, but she looked somewhat more composed. She was probably not a disciple who had entered the Prefecture Academy within the last few years.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, you have come to discuss the Dao. My greetings."
Upon entering the hall and seeing Jiang Yan, An Ling first offered a polite greeting, then turned sideways to introduce the woman beside her.
"This is my senior sister, Daoist Mingling.
"Senior Sister, this is Fellow Daoist Jiang, whom I met in the Fire Vein last time."
"Jiang Yan greets Senior Sister Mingling."
They were all disciples of the Prefecture Academy, so Jiang Yan naturally addressed her as a fellow disciple of the same generation.
If his guess was correct, Daoist Mingling held a position similar to that of his second senior brother, Dragonflame Daoist.
After