Dong—
Dong—
The deep, resonant toll of a bell echoed through the air.
As the first pale light of dawn spread across the horizon, the majestic Hundred Races Academy welcomed a new day.
“Hurry up, hurry up! If we’re late and the instructor catches us, the punishment will be severe!”
“Hey! Who’s flying their sword without watching where they’re going?! It sliced my pants right open!”
“…Brother, you’ve got a very nice ass.”
At the foot of Heavenly Dao Mountain, countless buildings stood in neat rows as people streamed in from every direction.
The younger generation of prestigious clans, great sects, imperial nobles, and aristocratic families all sent promising descendants to study at the Hundred Races Academy. Independent cultivators could also enroll, so long as their talent met the requirements.
In the end, however, most of those who remained at the academy were rogue cultivators. After all, the others all had powerful families or sects backing them.
Today, the Sword Cultivator Department was especially lively.
“Did you hear? A new sword cultivator joined our department.”
“Huh? Recruitment season is already over. How is someone still getting in? Could they be the descendant of some major figure?”
“No idea. Senior Brother Cao went to receive them, but I heard that after he came back… he looked completely dejected.”
“That’s impossible. Senior Brother Cao is one of the top ten sword cultivators in the department. The only ones stronger than him are those newly appointed instructors who have already broken through to the Fifth Rank.”
Amid the chatter, a handsome young man entered everyone’s view. Following behind him was an elderly, white-bearded instructor.
The instructor cleared his throat and introduced him to the class.
“Students, this is the new member of our Sword Cultivator Department. Everyone, please give him a warm welcome!”
Chu Feng swept his gaze across the room. There were roughly a hundred students present.
So these were the Sword Cultivator Department’s most talented disciples?
“Greetings, everyone. My surname is Xiang, given name Gong. I look forward to learning from all of you.”
The instructor nodded and pointed toward an empty seat.
“You can sit over there.”
“Yes.”
Chu Feng cupped his fists in salute before walking over.
The lesson soon began.
Naturally, today’s topic was the Dao of the Sword. Specifically the Intent of the Soft Sword, a path practiced by very few.
Some of the instructor’s explanations differed slightly from Aunt Zi’s. Even so, Chu Feng didn’t openly challenge his views. After all, everyone’s understanding of the Sword Dao was different.
As for himself, after listening to Aunt Zi’s teachings and combining them with his own insights, he had come to an entirely new understanding of the Sword Dao.
When the morning lecture ended, the instructor departed, leaving the students to study and reflect on their own.
As Chu Feng quietly contemplated what he had learned, a proud-looking young man strode toward him, followed by four lackeys.
Seeing the formation, Chu Feng’s heart sank.
Don’t tell me… on my very first day at school, I’ve already run into bullies?
The young man spoke without the slightest hint of courtesy.
“You’re Xiang Gong, right? I invite you to join my Azure Dragon Gang.”
Then—
Thud!
A storage pouch was tossed onto the desk in front of Chu Feng.
“There’s a thousand spirit stones in there. Join us, and you’ll receive another thousand every month.”
As he spoke, the young man flicked open a folding fan. Across it were written two bold characters:
Rich.
“Heh! Kid, you’ve struck the jackpot. This is Young Master Qian! You know the Xinghai Qian Clan, right? The family that’s said to be rich enough to buy half the cultivation world? Young Master Qian here is the son of the great-uncle of the aunt of the cousin of the younger brother of the Qian Clan Head.”
Uh…
After all that, Chu Feng had thought he was the Qian Clan Head’s son.
What a letdown.
“So… are you trying to buy me over?”
A thousand spirit stones wasn’t nearly enough to make him join some Azure Dragon Gang.
Besides, he had come here for a great opportunity. Sister Tiantian had told him there was an enormous fortuitous encounter waiting for him at the Hundred Races Academy. If he didn’t seize some opportunities to strengthen himself before facing the protagonist Lin Ruo, killing him would be far easier said than done.
“I wouldn’t call it buying you over.” Young Master Qian leisurely fanned himself. “I simply believe in making friends with heroes from all corners of the world. Since you’ve made it into the academy’s elite Sword Cultivator class, you’re obviously no ordinary person. Become one of my retainers, and this young master will support you for the rest of your life.”
If those words had come from a beautiful older woman with fair skin, Chu Feng would have agreed on the spot.
But coming from another man…
He’d pass.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. Living freely on my own suits me just fine.”
With that, Chu Feng rose from his seat, preparing to leave.
“Wait!”
Young Master Qian took a step forward, blocking Chu Feng’s path.
“Kid, if you’re planning to take the upcoming civil and martial arts examination, then without this young master’s financial backing, I’m afraid you won’t even make it through the entire competition.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Chu Feng frowned. Was there something he didn’t know?
“Hehe.” Young Master Qian smiled. “Judging by your name, you don’t seem to come from any prestigious clan. And among the major sects with established reputations, there’s no genius disciple by your name. So there’s a very high chance you’re a rogue cultivator.”
“The civil and martial arts examination doesn’t just test talent and cultivation. You’ll also burn through magical artifacts, talismans, and medicinal pills during the competition. The cost is astronomical. Without substantial financial support, making it to the semifinals is probably your limit.”
“Think about it. A decent bottle of Qi Recovery Pills starts at several thousand spirit stones. Top-grade ones cost over ten thousand. They restore your spiritual energy almost instantly and without side effects. Those aren’t prices a rogue cultivator like you can afford.”
“But I can provide all of that.”
After hearing Young Master Qian out, Chu Feng refused without the slightest hesitation.
“I’m sorry, but I think I can manage on my own.”
What a joke.
No one hands out this many benefits for free. There was no way there wouldn’t be a corresponding price to pay later.
Chu Feng might be weak in cultivation, but that didn’t mean he was stupid.
Watching Chu Feng walk away, Young Master Qian showed no sign of anger. Instead, there was a trace of admiration in his eyes.
The Xinghai Qian Clan, even if he was only a distant relative by marriage, had recruited plenty of rogue cultivators over the years.
But someone who had rejected him this decisively?
This was the first.
“Interesting.”
A wicked smile spread across Young Master Qian’s face.
“You’ve done an excellent job of catching this young master’s interest.”
Seeing that smile, the lackeys behind him instinctively covered their backsides.
Anyone even slightly familiar with the Xinghai Qian Clan knew one thing:
When a family had too much money, they were bound to develop some rather…unconventional tastes.
For example, the Qian Clan had a particularly strong interest in handsome young men.
After that little episode, Chu Feng had barely stepped out of the lecture hall when he spotted a refined scholar in elegant robes surrounded by a crowd of female students.
“Wow! It’s Instructor Cao!”
“What?! Instructor Cao? Why is he here today?!”
“What are you standing around for? If we’re too late, we won’t get to see Instructor Cao!”
The scholar appeared to be under forty years old. He was the very image of a handsome, mature gentleman, carrying himself with impeccable manners and speaking with refined elegance.
His name was Cao Yu, the most popular instructor among the female students of the Sword Cultivator Department. Not only was he an attractive older man, but he was also gentle and cultured. He was widely praised as the Sword Cultivator Department’s Number One True Gentleman. He had never once been involved in any romantic scandal, making him exceptionally popular with the academy’s female students.
Chu Feng was just about to quietly slip away when, to his surprise, the scholar walked straight toward him.
“This young gentleman, would you mind waiting a moment?”
Chu Feng stopped in his tracks. Not because he wanted to hear what the scholar had to say, but because as the man approached, the female students had completely blocked his path.
“Instructor, were you looking for me?”
“Hehe, you could say that.” Cao Yu smiled. “I’m Yunxiao’s uncle. I heard him mention you last night, so I came to see you for myself today.”
He carefully looked Chu Feng up and down before clicking his tongue in admiration.
“Although my name is Cao Yu which means jade seeing you today makes me feel that you are the one truly worthy of being called a youth as pure as jade, a graceful young gentleman beyond compare.”
“You flatter me, Instructor. I’m just an ordinary young man.”
Chu Feng replied modestly.
“Hehe. An ordinary young man wouldn’t leave Yunxiao feeling inferior.”
The moment Cao Yu finished speaking, the surrounding female students gasped in shock, covering their mouths.
This boy…
He had actually made Senior Brother Cao Yunxiao, the prodigy acknowledged as the most talented sword cultivator in the department, feel inferior to himself?!
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