C30 Graduation

At this moment, atop the back mountain of Black Tortoise Academy, a handsome young man stood against the wind. With his hands clasped behind him, he stood tall and proud, his chest thrust forward, gazing intently into the distance. His snow-white robe and fiery red hair billowed in the breeze. Beside him, a white tiger, now half as tall as a man, stood quietly, their long shadows stretching out in the setting sun, resembling a pair of statues.

Suddenly, a golden spear materialized in the young man's grasp. With a powerful push off the ground, he soared into the air, brandishing the spear. His movements were swift and strong, his steps agile, and each strike cut through the air with a fierce gust.

"Eighteen Tornado Strikes!" he bellowed, accelerating his assault. He launched an attack on a distant tree, and the speed was such that his spear cast a long shadow, blanketing a wide swath of ground before him.

With a resounding "Boom," the tree splintered into fragments, scattering to the ground, reduced to nothing in mere moments.

"Snow Tread, what do you think of that move?" Aotian, confident in his technique, inquired of the white tiger after witnessing the might of his attack.

"Aooo!" The white tiger responded with a glance at Aotian's handiwork and a roar.

"En, it seems even after two years of practice, I still haven't fully mastered the true essence of that move," Aotian mused with a quiet sigh.

The young man before us is none other than our protagonist, Aotian. Two years have passed since his last adventure in the Devil Beast Forest, and tomorrow, Aotian will turn 16. He's been in the third stage for nearly two years now. A year ago, he mastered the "Gale Storm Spear," but despite a year of dedicated practice with the "Eighteen Tornado Strikes," perfection eludes him.

Approaching Snow Tread, Aotian patted the little companion who had been by his side for two years, reflecting on how swiftly time flies. Snow Tread now stood as tall as Aotian's waist. Moreover, in their playful scuffles, Snow Tread had revealed impressive strength. By Aotian's estimation, Snow Tread now possessed the prowess of a swordsman, a testament to its astonishing rate of progress.

"Let's get moving, Snow Treading! Time to head back! We've got to return to the clan tomorrow!"

Aotian, watching the sun dip below the horizon, gently patted the snow and spoke softly. Tomorrow would mark his 16th birthday, and with it, his coming-of-age ceremony. A few days earlier, he had received a summons from Loong Qian, calling him back to the family. Reluctantly, Aotian had agreed, despite his reservations.

Back in his dorm, Aotian endured another session of bone-burning before finally taking a shower and collapsing onto his bed to catch his breath. Despite two years of this grueling practice, the intense pain was something he could never grow accustomed to. Cultivation was always a torturous affair, leaving him battered and exhausted, and just the thought of it gave him a headache.

"Kid, are you rested up? If so, it's time to get back to training!" Matt's voice broke through the silence. Aotian, spurred on by his master's words, rose to continue the training he had been undergoing for nearly eight years—enduring his master's mental assaults.

After a grueling two-hour session, Aotian finally wrapped up his day's cultivation and began to settle down for some well-deserved rest.

"Kid, you're heading home tomorrow, right? The academy's been on break for three days now, and I bet you're the last graduate still hanging around," Matt teased.

"What about the underclassmen?" Aotian replied lazily.

Matt chuckled. "I meant the students who've graduated, like you!"

Indeed, Aotian mused, it had been three days since his graduation. He had spent three years at the Black Tortoise Academy, and just like that, he was a graduate. In all that time, his life had revolved solely around cultivation, with little room for anything else. He wasn't even sure when the last martial arts competition had taken place. Perhaps his most significant takeaway from these years was his friendship with Rohlin. Despite often finding him annoying, Aotian had to admit he enjoyed their camaraderie.

"Yeah, looks like I'm the last one here. Everyone else must have gone home by now, either to take on a trial or to prep for the advanced academy's enrollment exams later this year," Aotian mused slowly.

"Kid, got any plans of your own?" Matt inquired, having listened to Aotian's thoughts.

"Not at the moment. I suspect my family will discuss this issue when they call me back," Aotian replied.

"You're probably right, but it's best to be prepared. Given your family ties, I doubt they'll offer much help. If you're lucky, they might just assist you in getting into the advanced academy for your studies," Matt reflected, then added.

"I'm aware of that. I've never intended to depend on them," Aotian responded, his voice steady.

"Alright, then don't dwell on it too much. Though, if you could get back into an advanced academy, that'd be great—you could continue your training for a few more years. But if it's not possible, no big deal. With your current abilities, whether you attend school or not won't make much of a difference," Matt reassured him.

Noticing Aotian's downcast look, Matt realized he was likely ruminating over his family's treatment and quickly offered consolation, "I agree. I reckon I've got the strength of a swordsman by now! The Advanced Academy is just for training swordsmen, so it's no big deal if I don't get in. I'd rather use this time to return to the Devil Beast Forest for some serious cultivation."

"You're thinking of heading back to the Devil Beast Forest? Well, that's a solid plan. Training there will do you good, especially since you've reached the upper echelons of the Bone Incinerating Stage. It'll definitely aid in your breakthrough," Matt encouraged.

"Yeah, I should get some rest now. I've got to head home tomorrow," Aotian said before slowly lying down on his bed to rest. Whether he truly slept or lay awake with his thoughts was something only he knew.

"Hey, Aotian! You're still at the academy?" The next morning, as Aotian was packing up and getting ready to leave, he unexpectedly ran into Rohlin, whom he had just been thinking about the day before, on his way through the academy grounds.

"Oh, Rohlin, you're still here? I was just about to head back!" Aotian exclaimed upon seeing Rohlin.

"I've already been back for a while. I just came to the academy today to grab a few things! Why are you only heading back now? And hey, are you planning to continue your studies at our academy next term, advancing to the higher levels?"

Rohlin, ever the smooth talker, launched into his spiel.

"I haven't really decided. I'm not even sure if I'll be accepted. You know how it is—limited spots and a ton of competition."

"What's there to worry about? If you want in, just go for it. I have faith in you!" Rohlin's voice rose with enthusiasm at Aotian's words.

"But the exam tests our martial skills, and that's not exactly my strong suit. How can you be so sure I'll make it?"

Aotian was puzzled by Rohlin's doubt. He hadn't showcased his martial skills at school, and even during the graduation exams, he had scraped by on physical strength alone. Could Rohlin possibly know about his connection to the Loong family?

The thought lingered in Aotian's mind.

"Relax, I'm confident in your abilities. Anyway, I've got to run; I have some errands to take care of. Catch you later, and I'll be waiting for you at the academy. If you get a chance, swing by 35 Vermillion Bird Street—you can find me there!" Rohlin called out, dashing away.

Aotian mused to himself that Vermillion Bird Street was predominantly a noble's quarter, and his own family owned property there. However, his grandfather despised the noble's pretentiousness and chose not to reside there. Rohlin lived there and bore the Elton surname—could he indeed be from the Elton family?

"Ah, whatever, no point dwelling on it. I should head back," Aotian decided, shaking off his thoughts and continuing on his way. Whether Rohlin was an Elton or not, it seemed to have little bearing on him.