Gu Yuan stared blankly at the scene before him, utterly speechless with shock.
Before him lay a vast plain dotted with various buildings. Figures in uniforms bustled about. At the center of the plain stood a colossal tower, at least five hundred meters tall from Gu Yuan’s perspective. Beyond the plain, towering peaks shrouded in mist rose majestically, exuding an aura of immortal grandeur.
“What do you think? First Martial Arts University hasn’t disappointed you, has it?” Di Liu asked, a hint of pride in his voice as he observed Gu Yuan’s awestruck expression. He recalled having the same look on his face years ago.
Gu Yuan gazed at the breathtaking panorama, which reminded him of the special effects in blockbuster movies from his previous life, except this was real. He turned his head with difficulty to face Di Liu and asked, “How come this doesn’t quite match what I saw online?”
“Hahahaha!” Di Liu burst into hearty laughter.
“The pictures online are indeed real,” Di Liu explained. “However, those depict the outer areas of First Martial Arts University, what’s commonly known as the non-supernatural campus. The campus we’re in now is the supernatural campus.”
“The non-supernatural campus is concerned with civilian infrastructure and industries related to people’s daily lives – food, clothing, housing, and transportation. The supernatural campus, on the other hand, is where martial arts academies are located, specifically schools for cultivating martial artists. Does that make sense to you?”
Gu Yuan nodded, indicating he understood.
Di Liu smiled slightly, grasped Gu Yuan’s shoulder, and unleashed his internal Zhen Qi, enveloping them both.
Just as Gu Yuan was about to struggle, Di Liu’s voice reached him, “Don’t move. I’m taking you to see the principal.”
“Ah! See the principal? So soon?” Gu Yuan was bewildered. He was merely a martial artist at the Meridian Opening realm. How could he possibly meet the principal at this stage, a formidable figure at the seventh tier?
“Yes, the principal specifically requested to see you. You’re truly amazing, kid!” Di Liu’s voice clearly reached Gu Yuan’s ears.
“…” Gu Yuan had no idea why he had attracted the attention of a seventh-tier expert like the principal.
He could only play it by ear, Gu Yuan sighed inwardly.
In less than ten minutes, Di Liu led Gu Yuan to a small pavilion deep within the academy.
Gu Yuan curiously surveyed his surroundings. It appeared to be an ordinary two-story pavilion, bearing the marks of time. Perhaps his current strength was insufficient to discern its true nature due to its high level.
“Follow me,” Di Liu turned and said to Gu Yuan, then led the way.
Gu Yuan nodded and followed Di Liu quietly.
As they ascended the stairs to the second floor, Gu Yuan blinked in surprise. He felt as if he had entered a wondrous realm, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. However, he knew he had detached from the original world.
Di Liu, sensing Gu Yuan’s anomaly, smiled and said, “Are you feeling it? This is the external domain of a seventh-tier martial artist, manifested in the outside world.”
Gu Yuan was startled. He hadn’t expected seventh-tier experts to be so powerful as to manifest their external domains.
The will of martial artists, through continuous tempering, transformed their internal domains into external ones. The manifestation of this internal domain into the external world was a crucial characteristic of a martial artist’s advancement to the seventh tier.
Di Liu led Gu Yuan to a wooden door marked with weathered lines and knocked.
A benevolent voice from within replied, “Come in!”
With the reply, Di Liu grasped the doorknob and pushed the door open. Gu Yuan followed him in, his gaze falling upon a large floor-to-ceiling window that cleverly offered a view of the main entrance of First Martial Arts University.
To the right of the window was a desk, behind which sat a kindly old man with white hair and beard, a full wall of bookshelves behind him.
On the other side was a combination of a sofa and a coffee table.
The entire setting exuded an antique charm, possessing a unique sense of nostalgia.
“Principal, I’ve brought the person you requested,” Di Liu said respectfully.
The principal, who had been working at his desk, looked up and saw Gu Yuan bowing behind Di Liu. A smile flickered across his face. “Thank you, Teacher Di. Please wait outside for a moment. I have a few things to discuss with this student, Gu.”
Di Liu nodded, turned, and exited the room. As he closed the door, Gu Yuan and the principal were left alone.
The principal rose, walked over to Gu Yuan, and pulled him down to sit on the sofa.
The principal smiled and said, “Gu Yuan, there’s no need to be so nervous. Let me introduce myself. I am the principal of this school, my name is Ye Yuanming.”
“Greetings, Principal Ye!” Gu Yuan replied, showing no lack of respect.
Noticing Gu Yuan’s nervousness, Ye Yuanming said nothing. After all, the young man was only eighteen. Regardless of his status as principal, his seventh-tier cultivation alone would naturally make Gu Yuan apprehensive. Cultivation was, in essence, the process of lower beings evolving into higher ones. Ye Yuanming was like a mighty tiger, while Gu Yuan was at best a tiny mouse. How could he not be nervous?
“Let’s get down to business then. I heard from Di Liu that you have opened one hundred and eight qi meridians, is that correct?” Ye Yuanming asked with a smile.
Gu Yuan nodded. Seeing this, Ye Yuanming’s smile deepened. “Excellent. Teacher Di will take you for a test later, and the reward for opening one hundred and eight qi meridians will be directly delivered to your dormitory.”
“Next, you are considering breaking through to the True Qi realm. Have you made up your mind? This is no small matter,” Ye Yuanming’s expression turned serious.
“I’ve made up my mind!” Gu Yuan’s face was resolute.
“Good. I recall that your enrollment reward includes an opportunity to inherit a ninth-tier cultivation technique. You can choose a ninth-tier technique that suits you and then proceed with your breakthrough to the True Qi realm,” Ye Yuanming greatly admired people like Gu Yuan. Once they made a decision, it was difficult to change. Such individuals often achieved great things in martial arts, as the path of martial arts demanded unwavering progress. Indecision would surely lead to an early end.
“Once you break through to the True Qi realm, Teacher Di will guard you. You can use the academy’s best cultivation chambers for your breakthrough with peace of mind,” Ye Yuanming further arranged the matters concerning Gu Yuan’s breakthrough.
“Thank you, Dean Ye!” Gu Yuan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Ye Yuanming. He hadn’t even enrolled yet and was already receiving such care. This felt truly wonderful.
“Alright, I won’t keep you any longer. Hurry and select your cultivation technique. Get yourself in the right state, the academy is counting on you to achieve good rankings,” Ye Yuanming revealed another piece of information.
Gu Yuan pondered inwardly. Relying on himself to achieve rankings… Was he the main force in this martial arts league? It seemed this substantial benefit came with a price.
After bidding farewell to Ye Yuanming, Gu Yuan left the office. The principal sat on the sofa, watching Gu Yuan’s retreating figure. In his spiritual consciousness, behind Gu Yuan, stood an indistinct divine figure, silently watching over the boundless starry sky. Observing this anomaly, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, his thoughts unfathomable.
Stepping out of the office, Gu Yuan let out a sudden sigh of relief. Di Liu, seeing Gu Yuan emerge, didn’t ask what he had discussed with the principal and immediately led him away.
Outside the small pavilion, Gu Yuan said to Di Liu, “Teacher Di, please take me to choose a cultivation technique.”
Di Liu was momentarily stunned before reacting. He nodded, grabbed Gu Yuan’s shoulder, and his figure transformed into a gust of wind, soaring towards another magnificent building.
A ninth-tier cultivation technique… Gu Yuan’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, wondering what it would be like.