It was three days later when they returned to Godwind Academy from the Heavenly Wind Mountain Range.
That evening, Feng Qingxuan called his two sons into the study.
"Xiaotian is already rank thirty-two, so he can move on to the intermediate academy. Lingtian's admission notice from the junior academy has arrived too." Feng Qingxuan looked at the brothers. "Take tomorrow off. The day after, you'll each go to your academy."
The brothers nodded in agreement.
Early the next morning, the two finished their morning exercises in the courtyard as usual. Feng Xiaotian withdrew his Soul Power, and Feng Lingtian stopped as well. One after the other, the brothers walked over to the stone table beneath the parasol tree. Four stone stools stood beneath it, and they sat side by side on the two nearest the tree. Late-autumn sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, spreading a layer of shattered gold across the ground.
Feng Qingxuan came over from the veranda, glanced at his two sons, and sat on the stone stool opposite them.
"You're both leaving for your academies tomorrow. There's something I thought about all night, and I still think I need to discuss it with you." Feng Qingxuan paused before continuing, "Have you heard of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament?"
Both sons shook their heads.
"It's the highest-level academy tournament on the entire continent, jointly hosted by Spirit Hall and the two great empires, Heaven Dou and Star Luo. It takes place once every five years. Competitors must be no older than twenty-five, and each academy sends a team of seven." Feng Qingxuan looked at them. "Given your ages, you could compete both in the tournament four years from now and the one after that. Beyond that, Xiaotian would be over the age limit. Although Lingtian could keep competing, having to build teamwork all over again wouldn't be worth it. So my suggestion is to enter either the tournament four years from now or the one after that. What do you think?"
Feng Xiaotian thought for a moment. "Four years from now is too soon. Our ranks won't be high enough. We wouldn't get far even if we went."
"Besides," Feng Lingtian added, "the strong upperclassmen at the academy won't have graduated four years from now. We wouldn't get our turn on the team anyway. We might as well set our sights on the tournament after that."
Feng Qingxuan glanced at his younger son. "Xiaotian would be twenty-one then, and Lingtian fifteen. Your ages would qualify."
"Perfect," Feng Lingtian said. "I need time. I haven't refined the pills yet, and I haven't gotten my hands on the immortal herbs either. Once I have all of that ready, we can raise our whole team's strength by a huge margin. Entering the tournament then would give us a better chance of winning the championship for Godwind Academy."
Feng Xiaotian glanced at his younger brother, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "I choose that tournament too."
Feng Qingxuan took in his sons' reactions and nodded. He said nothing more, rose, brushed off his robes, and turned to leave.
Once again, only the brothers remained beside the stone table.
Feng Xiaotian leaned against the stone table, his gaze still resting in the direction their father had left. "Lingtian, we need to prepare early for that tournament Dad just mentioned."
Feng Lingtian turned to look at him. "What do you have in mind, Brother?"
"A team has seven people. Aside from us, we still need five. Control System, Defense System, and Support System are the three most important positions." Feng Xiaotian looked at his younger brother. "Keep an eye out at the junior academy, and I'll do the same at the intermediate academy. If you see anyone suitable, make a note of them first."
Feng Lingtian thought for a moment. "Then some of the people we find on either side are bound to have overlapping specializations."
"That's a good thing." The corners of Feng Xiaotian's mouth lifted slightly. "Take Control System types, for example. If they're both Control System types, we keep whoever is stronger. That way, the five we choose will be the strongest."
Feng Xiaotian stood and patted his younger brother's head. "All right. Search properly. No slacking."
With his thoughts exposed, the tips of Feng Lingtian's ears reddened slightly. "Who's slacking? You'd better not slack off yourself!"
Feng Xiaotian laughed, said nothing more, and turned toward the house.
On the morning of the third day, the brothers parted at the academy gates. One headed east to the intermediate academy; the other headed south to the junior academy.
"Brother," Feng Lingtian suddenly called.
Feng Xiaotian looked back.
"Don't forget what we agreed on yesterday."
Feng Xiaotian nodded. "You too."
Feng Lingtian paused. "Brother, I'll come join you at the intermediate academy as soon as I can. I won't keep you waiting too long."
Feng Xiaotian glanced at his younger brother. "All right. I'll be waiting."
The brothers exchanged a look, turned at the same time, and went their separate ways.
Godwind Academy occupied a sizable area. The intermediate academy lay to the east, and the junior academy to the south. Feng Lingtian walked south for roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn before reaching the junior academy's gates.
He looked up at the sign above the gates. He would spend the next few years here. For the first day of school, the entrance was far quieter than he had imagined. He had probably arrived late, and the new students were already inside.
Just then, a gentle voice came from behind him.
"New here?"
Feng Lingtian turned. The speaker was a woman in her thirties, dressed in plain-colored robes, with gentle features. A junior academy instructor's badge was pinned to her chest.
"My surname is Qin. I'm your class instructor. Come with me. I'll take you to your dormitory first."
Instructor Qin led Feng Lingtian to the residential area and pushed open a dormitory door.
The room was small, with four beds. A tall, thin boy sat on the bed by the window. His skin was very pale, and his narrow eyes held a drowsy languor. He held a book and did not look up at the sound of the door opening. The quilt on the bed beside his was neatly folded, with a closed book beside the pillow. Its occupant was clearly out. Of the two beds near the door, one was empty, while someone lay on the other with a coat over his face, seemingly asleep.
"This one is yours." Instructor Qin pointed to the empty bed.
Feng Lingtian set his cloth bundle on it. After giving him a few more instructions, Instructor Qin left.
Feng Lingtian opened the bundle, took out the changes of clothing his mother had prepared one by one, and arranged them at the head of the bed. The last thing he took out was a palm-sized bronze furnace, its body engraved with cloud patterns and birds, wrapped in an old cloth. Feng Lingtian unwrapped it, wiped its surface, and wrapped it up again as before.
Rustling came from the bed beside him. Its occupant rolled over, and the coat slid off his face, revealing a round face above broad shoulders and a thick waist. He opened his eyes groggily, realized there was someone new in the room, froze for two seconds, then scrambled upright.
"New here?" He rubbed his eyes and grinned, revealing a row of slightly crooked teeth. "I'm Zhong Yue. Got here yesterday. You?"
"Feng Lingtian."
Zhong Yue's gaze fell on the cloth-wrapped bundle in Feng Lingtian's hands. "What was that thing you just put away? Looked like a furnace to me."
"A medicinal furnace. For refining pills."
Zhong Yue's eyes lit up. "You can refine pills too?"
"A little."
"What does 'a little' mean?" Zhong Yue persisted. "What can you make? The kind that raises your rank when you eat it?"
Feng Lingtian paused. "Yes."
Zhong Yue's mouth formed a circle, and it took him quite a while to close it. "You're only six, and you can refine pills and have a Soul Ring." Zhong Yue slapped his thigh. "I've decided. I'm sticking with you from now on!"
An extremely soft laugh came from the bed by the window, carrying a hint of dismissiveness.
Both looked over. Lu Hanxiao was still reading with his head lowered, as if nothing had happened, but the curve at the corner of his mouth had not quite faded.
Zhong Yue glared at Lu Hanxiao, then turned back to keep questioning Feng Lingtian. "When can you make those pills? Can I reserve one now?"
"I don't have enough ingredients. We'll talk about it later."
"Then it's settled!"
Feng Lingtian said nothing more and put the Wandering Cloud Furnace into the small cabinet at the head of his bed.
That evening, Instructor Qin told all the new students to assemble at the training grounds.
More than twenty children were already standing there, boys and girls on separate sides. Feng Lingtian glanced around, and his gaze was soon drawn to a black-haired girl. She stood at the edge of the girls' group, her smooth black hair falling to her waist, her eyes curving as she smiled and chatted with those beside her. Noticing Feng Lingtian's gaze, she turned and openly winked at him.
Feng Lingtian had not expected the girl to respond so directly. He froze for a moment, then looked away. Even if she did not mind, staring at someone like that was indeed rather impolite.
For a moment, Feng Lingtian did not know where to look, and his gaze wandered aimlessly along the edge of the crowd. Suddenly, he noticed someone different at the back of the girls' group. She was a girl with long, light-brown hair. Amid the surrounding children chatting and laughing in twos and threes, she alone stood quietly, holding a small cloth bundle against her chest, her head lowered, as though she had shut herself away from the lively gathering.
Instructor Qin stood before the group, her voice gentle. "Starting today, you are students of Divine Wind Junior Academy. Over the next three years, you will study the fundamentals of being a Soul Master here and undergo systematic physical and Soul Power training."
After they were dismissed, Feng Lingtian was about to return to the dormitory when a clear voice came from behind him.
"You're Feng Lingtian?"
Feng Lingtian turned to see the black-haired girl.
"How do you know my name?" Feng Lingtian asked curiously.
Su Mei'er curved her lips. "The son of Godwind Academy's main academy dean, Peregrine Falcon Martial Soul, innate full Soul Power. You're the most famous of all the new students enrolling today."
Feng Lingtian said nothing.
"Your brother Feng Xiaotian is famous too. A twelve-year-old Soul Elder-who at the academy hasn't heard of him?" Su Mei'er looked at Feng Lingtian. "You brothers are both pretty interesting."
Feng Lingtian glanced at Su Mei'er. "Did you come to me just to say that?"
"Not exactly." Su Mei'er openly held out her hand. "Let's get acquainted. Su Mei'er, Wind-Winged Spirit Fox, Control System type. We might end up in the same class."
Feng Lingtian shook Su Mei'er's hand. "Feng Lingtian."
"I know." Su Mei'er smiled and turned to leave. After a few steps, she looked back and waved at Feng Lingtian.
Control System type. Feng Lingtian took another look at Su Mei'er's retreating figure.
Feng Lingtian withdrew his gaze and was about to move when he suddenly noticed that the girl with long, light-brown hair was still standing where she had been, seemingly waiting for everyone else to leave before setting off. She held the small cloth bundle against her chest, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the cord at its opening.
Feng Lingtian walked over. "Why aren't you leaving?"
The girl gave a slight start and looked up. Her eyes were clear, like a pool of water without a ripple.
"I... I'm waiting until everyone has left."
The girl's voice was very soft, but unexpectedly pleasant.
"My name is Feng Lingtian."
"I know." The girl lowered her head again after speaking. "I heard you talking just now."
Feng Lingtian waited two seconds. Seeing that the girl had no intention of offering her name, he asked, "And you?"
"Ye Qingyu." The girl paused, then added, "Wind Zither Martial Soul, Support System type."
Support System type. Feng Lingtian made a mental note. Sound-based support had a wide range and was not easily interrupted. Paired with her quiet disposition, it was truly a perfect match.
"Support System types are great," Feng Lingtian said. "In a team, the Support System type is the core."
Ye Qingyu raised her head and glanced at Feng Lingtian. Her lips moved as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only gave a quiet "Mm."
Feng Lingtian did not linger. He turned and headed back.
Night fell, and Feng Lingtian lay in bed. Zhong Yue was already snoring, while Lu Hanxiao's breathing was light and even.
Feng Lingtian went over the people he had met that day. Zhong Yue, a Defense System type who could fly and talked a lot. Lu Hanxiao, an agility attack and Control System type, who did not like to talk but was not entirely unresponsive. Su Mei'er, a Control System type who treated strangers like old friends. Ye Qingyu, a Support System type. All of them were worth continuing to observe.
I'll think about it tomorrow.
Feng Lingtian closed his eyes.
The junior academy was quiet at night. A few faint insect calls drifted from the distance, and moonlight passed through the window lattice, casting pale patterns of light and shadow across the floor.
No one noticed the silver-gray bird of prey perched silently on a branch of the tallest old locust tree outside the academy. Its golden eyes gazed through the darkness toward the cluster of low school buildings. Only after a long while did it spread its wings and leave without a sound.