Chapter 694: Upper Chamber Disciples

The Central Plains cultivation world maintains stricter control over cultivation methods. Not only cultivation techniques, but also other cultivation resources, such as spiritual veins—especially the higher-quality ones—are firmly in the hands of major powers. Lower-level cultivators aspiring to advance must align themselves with these influential forces.

The Central Plains cultivation world is tightly organized, making it difficult for lower-level cultivators to distinguish themselves. Most resources are concentrated in the hands of major powers. Cultivation families in the Central Plains are notably more united, and their systems are more mature.

Cultivation sects are the rulers of the Eastern Desolation, while cultivation families govern the Central Plains cultivation world. Within the dynasty, the imperial family stands as the most powerful cultivation family.

“Alright, let’s stop chatting,” someone said. “If we don’t reach the summit before sunset, we won’t get into Yingtian Academy, and we’ll have to wait another decade or more.”

The young man in green robes strode rapidly up the mountain.

Wang Tianwen shook his head. He didn't have high hopes for the young man in green robes, believing the Yingtian Academy assessment wouldn’t be so simple and that they would surely encounter trouble along the way. A full day was more than enough time for them to make several round trips.

He began walking up the mountain, maintaining a moderate pace.

Time passed slowly. The bluestone steps seemed endless, as if they would never reach their destination.

Over a dozen men, dressed in coarse cloth, strode rapidly up the mountain. Before long, ripples appeared in the void ahead, and they vanished.

Wang Tianwen was in no hurry, continuing his ascent step by step. Periodically, people would overtake him and vanish. Yet, when Wang Tianwen reached the exact spots where they had disappeared, there was nothing to be found.

Three hours passed, and they still hadn’t reached the summit. Many were panting, and some glanced behind them to see only a long, winding staircase.

Wang Tianwen did not look back, continuing straight ahead.

With no one overseeing them, some cultivators decided to cheat, secretly casting Wind Manipulation spells to increase their speed by more than half.

Not long after, they too vanished into the void, as if they had never existed.

By this point, more than fifty people remained near Wang Tianwen. Many were covered in sweat, their clothes completely soaked.

With the scorching sun overhead, they slowly ascended the mountain.

The sky gradually darkened as the blazing sun slowly descended, yet they still hadn't reached the summit.

Sweat soaked Wang Tianwen's clothes, clinging uncomfortably to his body. He hadn't used any spiritual power, and his legs ached, leaving him unaware of how many steps he had taken.

Fearing disqualification, some quickened their pace or secretly invoked Wind Manipulation spells. Others, seeking relief from the heat, used spiritual power to dispel the sweat from their bodies and simultaneously dry their clothing.

The damp clothes clung tightly, feeling sticky and unpleasant with every step. Logically, after walking for so long, they should have reached a higher altitude, but strangely, there was no breeze whatsoever.

The sun was nearing the horizon, and they still hadn't reached the summit.

Wang Tianwen remained unhurried. Wiping sweat from his face, he continued onward.

His vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself in a peach blossom forest. A rich fragrance permeated the air, and pink petals lay scattered across the ground. A group of beautiful young women, varying in build, danced amidst the blossoms. Their eyes held an amorous gaze, as if Wang Tianwen were their beloved.

“An illusion? How interesting,” Wang Tianwen mused with a faint smile. He closed his eyes and continued walking forward.

Soon after, a resonant male voice abruptly boomed, “How audacious! You dare not kneel before King Luyang?”

Wang Tianwen felt a push but ignored it, continuing his walk forward.

“Tianwen, come back quickly! Something has happened to the family; intruders are attacking our home! Come back!” Wang Qingkai’s voice suddenly resounded.

“Ninth Brother, Seventh Brother, I’ll fight them with you!”

Rumbling sounds continued, faintly mixed with the screams of men and women.

Wang Tianwen paused for a moment before continuing his advance.

Soon after, the screams faded away.

He felt himself collide with something solid. After several attempts, he realized he couldn't pass through. He opened his eyes to see two men and one woman standing before him.

Wang Tianwen’s gaze fell upon a young man in green robes. “Seventh Uncle,” he exclaimed in surprise, “what are you doing here?”

“Tianwen, how did you end up in the Central Plains cultivation world too? I’m just here at Yingtian Academy for a matter,” Wang Qingshan replied with a smile.

Wang Tianwen chuckled softly. “The so-called barrier is merely a figment of my imagination,” he said. “Seventh Uncle is only at the Foundation Establishment stage; it’s impossible for him to be at Yingtian Academy. He must be attempting to break through to the Core Formation stage. Seventh Uncle practices the Way of the Sword, and he despises the Confucian sect’s promotion of the Kingly Way. Something false will always remain false.”

He closed his eyes and continued walking forward.

Soon after, he felt himself bump into a warm object, as if it were a person.

“Alright, the fact that you’ve made it this far means you’ve passed the assessment,” a strong, clear male voice suddenly announced.

Wang Tianwen, acting as if he hadn't heard, continued forward but was blocked.

“Senior, you have passed the assessment; please open your eyes!” the man urged with a sincere tone.

Wang Tianwen hesitated for a moment before opening his eyes.

Two men, dressed as Confucian scholars, stood before them. One was in his early thirties, clad in blue robes, and the other a young man in his early twenties, wearing yellow robes. Both displayed spiritual power fluctuations, indicating they were Qi Refining cultivators. Behind them stood a magnificent palace, its plaque bearing the three large characters: “Yingtian Hall.”

Wang Tianwen looked around and noticed three other individuals beside him. None of the companions he had started with were present.

There was a black-faced man dressed in coarse cloth, a refined-looking woman in a purple skirt, and a stout, large-eared young man in golden robes. The young man in golden robes and the woman in the purple skirt were Qi Refining cultivators, while the black-faced man was a mortal.

“Congratulations on passing the assessment and officially becoming disciples of our Yingtian Academy,” the blue-robed man began. “Do you wish to become Lower Academy disciples or Upper Academy disciples?”

“May I ask, sir, what is the difference between the Upper and Lower Academies?”

“Lower Academy disciples have a high probability of becoming officials and governing common folk in the future. They focus solely on scholarly pursuits and do not practice cultivation. Upper Academy disciples, however, may choose to study or cultivate. To become an Upper Academy disciple, one must undertake tasks for the academy; excellent performance earns additional rewards, while poor performance incurs penalties.”

All four, including Wang Tianwen, desired to become Upper Academy disciples, as the prospects offered by the Upper Academy were clearly greater.

The blue-robed man said no more. He produced a silver jade plate and stated, “This is a Spirit Testing Plate. I will ask you some questions; do not lie, and answer truthfully. If the Spirit Testing Plate detects any falsehoods, you will be sent directly down the mountain.”

He proceeded to ask the four, including Wang Tianwen, about their backgrounds and origins. This was customary, as Yingtian Academy was, after all, a cultivation power, and only those with unblemished backgrounds were permitted to study there.

The other three were all natives of Luzhou. Wang Tianwen, without concealment, answered truthfully.

Learning that Wang Tianwen hailed from a cultivation family in the Eastern Desolation, the blue-robed man showed a hint of surprise but said nothing further. He registered them, handed each a token, and announced, “From now on, you are Upper Academy disciples. Our academy upholds one hundred and eight precepts; violating any one will result in punishment, so you must commit them to memory. I will now arrange your accommodations!”

Wang Tianwen glanced back at the bluestone steps behind him before following the others into Yingtian Hall.

Fifteen minutes later, Wang Tianwen, the black-faced man, and the young man in golden robes found themselves in a secluded courtyard. It contained three guest rooms, perfectly one for each of them.

“This will be your living quarters,” the blue-robed man explained. “You must attend classes on time; Master Lu will instruct you.”

“I am Liu Xian. From now on, we are classmates, so please bear with me,” the black-faced man said, bowing politely to Wang Tianwen and the young man in golden robes.

“Brother Liu, there’s no need to be so polite; it’s only natural,” Wang Tianwen replied with sincerity.

“I’m rather tired,” the young man in golden robes yawned. “I’ll get some sleep first; we can talk more tomorrow.” He then walked towards one of the guest rooms.

Wang Tianwen pushed open the door to another guest room. The interior was simply furnished: just a bed, a table, and a few chairs.

He exhaled softly, muttering to himself, “I wonder if Seventh Uncle has successfully advanced to the Core Formation stage. And Old Ancestor, I hope he is doing well.”

He secretly made a decision: once he found a high-level Confucian cultivation method, he would return to the Eastern Desolation.

He sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and slowly closed his eyes.

Soon after, a layer of white spiritual light emerged on Wang Tianwen’s body.