The Right Way to Start a Genius's Journey

"The greatest mistake on the path of cultivation is to build a cart behind closed doors. Jia Nan Academy recruits students from across the entire continent, and everyone who makes it into the Inner Academy is exceptional. I'm planning to go." A multitude of thoughts flashed through Ye Qingzhou's mind in an instant, and he told Ye Xinlan of his plans.

"Then I'll go with you, cousin." Ye Xinlan's heart leaped with joy.

With Ye Qingzhou accompanying her, she would no longer have to wait several years before setting out.

"You're going too?" Surprise flashed in Ye Qingzhou's eyes, and he asked in confusion, "Xin Lan, at your current level, you'd have to study at the Outer Academy first. You could only enter the Inner Academy after passing the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. The family there can't compare to our clan."

"Wouldn't it be better to stay and cultivate in the clan until you break through to Da Dou Shi and raise your alchemy to the fourth tier? Then you could enter the Inner Academy directly through special recruitment."

"If it were just me, of course I'd do as you said, cousin." An admiring smile appeared on Ye Xinlan's face. "But now I have you, cousin. When the time comes, couldn't I just enter the Inner Academy with you as your maid?"

"So that's what you're plotting." Ye Qingzhou raised a hand and pointed at Ye Xinlan, laughing despite himself. "Are you attaching yourself to me?"

"How could that count as attaching myself to you?" Ye Xinlan's cheeks flushed slightly as she grabbed Ye Qingzhou's arm. "Cousin, you took my fourth-tier medicinal pill, and you promised to be my teacher for the next year. You can't go back on your word, can you?"

"All right, I'll keep my word." Ye Qingzhou reached out and gently brushed a finger over Ye Xinlan's high nose. "But Xin Lan, I remember there are special requirements for bringing a maid into the Inner Academy. Not just anyone can do it, right?"

"Those special requirements won't be difficult for you at all, cousin." Ye Xinlan loved being close to Ye Qingzhou, and even spoke in a coquettish tone, completely unlike the aloof flower who kept strangers at a distance when facing others.

There were three ways to join Jia Nan Academy.

The first was the most common. Every year, Jia Nan Academy sent recruitment teams to tour specific regions. The teams gave applicants a preliminary talent rating, with a detailed assessment to follow once they were brought back to Jia Nan Academy.

The vast majority of students brought back to Jia Nan Academy through this method entered the Outer Academy first and could study there for up to ten years. During that time, those who passed the Inner Academy Selection Tournament became Inner Academy students and continued their studies. Those who failed had their future paths determined by an assessment, and most returned to their places of origin.

The second method was an advanced version of the first. Every three years, an Inner Academy elder led a team to recruit students at a designated location. Disciples who passed the assessment were taken directly into the Inner Academy to cultivate. The requirements for talent and strength were strict: the first basic requirement was to break through to Da Dou Shi before the age of twenty, or possess a special skill.

The third method was for the academy's higher-ups to specially recruit talented disciples they encountered while traveling the continent.

Ye City was the territory of the Ye Clan, one of the Pill Tower's Five Great Alchemist Clans. Every three years, a Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy elder led a team there.

If Ye Xinlan missed this year, she would either have to take the ordinary entrance examination the following year, enter the Outer Academy first, and then enter the Inner Academy through the normal process, or wait three years.

Besides those options, there was also a shortcut, such as becoming a talented disciple's maid. This was a privilege granted by the Inner Academy, but the rating required was very high.

Moreover, students who joined the Inner Academy this way had far fewer rights than those who passed the normal entrance examination, and even needed their "master" to provide their cultivation resources.

"You certainly have confidence in me." Ye Qingzhou gave a faint laugh and said calmly, "Then I'll make an effort when the time comes."

"Don't just make an effort. You have to do your utmost to get it, your utmost!" Ye Xinlan puffed out her cheeks.

"All right, all right, I'll do my utmost." Ye Qingzhou poked Ye Xinlan's cheek.

If he gave it his all, that would be a little too easy.

"Don't just think about relying on me. Cultivate diligently yourself, and try to pass the assessment and become a Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy disciple directly when the time comes."

"Now, start cultivating the Crimson Flame Bodhi Scripture. I'll continue teaching you."

Time never stopped for anyone, and it seemed to pass even faster when one was absorbed in a task.

In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed since Ye Qingzhou broke through to the Dou Ling realm.

By now, the clan head had formally announced his status as a seed of the clan.

In fact, however, he could privately draw on all kinds of resources at the young clan head's level.

For example, a Dou Emperor elder personally instructed him in Dou Techniques, a sixth-tier alchemist personally taught him alchemy, and he could study Low Earth Tier Dou Techniques in the library.

He had now gained a preliminary grasp of three more Dou Techniques. The first was the High-grade Profound Tier Dou Technique, Heavenly Flame Hand. Its combat power was not particularly strong among techniques of the same level, but it could improve a cultivator's control over flames, making it a very useful auxiliary fire-attribute Dou Technique for alchemy.

The second was the Low Earth Tier movement technique Earth Fire Meteor, an advanced version of Spark Step, the mid-grade Profound Tier movement Dou Technique Ye Qingzhou had previously cultivated. As a result, he mastered it quickly.

The third Dou Technique could be used to attack, defend, escape, or catch people off guard. It was called Blazing Flame Body.

Normally, this Dou Technique was used to condense a flame clone from the Dou Qi within the body, then send it charging forward to explode and catch an opponent off guard.

Someone with a powerful soul force could also control the clone to fight alongside them, then detonate it at a crucial moment.

There was a third way to use it, which required the cultivator to have refined a Beast Flame or a Heavenly Flame and to possess a powerful soul force.

They could then condense a flame clone with the Beast Flame or Heavenly Flame at its core, giving them greater control over it.

With Ye Qingzhou's current status, the clan had directly bestowed a high-grade Na Ling and a sixth-tier magical beast's Beast Flame upon him. He had chosen the Dark Wood Flame of the Dark Wood Fire Flood Dragon, which gave a slight boost to alchemy.

With the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame seed, he did not need a Beast Flame to boost his combat strength. Perhaps because the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame had come from the diary, or perhaps because Heavenly Flames made Beast Flames submit, there was not the slightest conflict between the two flames he controlled.

With the diary's boost, most of what he gained from these benefits was doubled.

The elders who taught him cultivation and alchemy were all awestruck, exclaiming that there was hope for the Ye Clan's revival.

Ye Zhong was overjoyed as well, but on the surface, he still put on an air of composure. "You lot, Qingzhou earned the ancestor's approval and received his inheritance. What are these achievements in comparison?"

Ye Zhengqing and Ye Liu nodded repeatedly, indicating that he was right, but grumbled inwardly, If you're so calm, you wouldn't make us report on Ye Qingzhou's cultivation every day.

"Um, Father." After some consideration, Ye Zhengqing decided to tell Ye Zhong that Ye Qingzhou wanted to study at Jia Nan Academy.

"Hmm?" Ye Zhong frowned. "I told you to use my title when discussing clan affairs in the ancestral hall."

"Father, we're in your secret chamber right now."

"We're discussing official business." Ye Zhong snorted. "You dare question your old man?"

"All right, First Elder." Ye Zhengqing felt as though he were a child who had been picked up and brought home. He said, "Qingzhou says he wants to study at Jia Nan Academy."

Hearing this, Ye Zhong replied without hesitation, "You really don't know how to handle things. Qingzhou is the clan's hope of retaining its status among the Five Great Clans. Whatever he wants, you should... Hmm?"

"What did you say!?"