C2 Azure Cloud Academy

At that moment, the man in the suit was so terrified that he collapsed to the ground.

Shortly thereafter, the police, acting on a tip-off about a crackdown on criminal activities, arrived and took the group away.

In the wake of that incident, a number of students began to show interest in the Azure Cloud Academy, where Lee Xuan was, and they approached him for more information.

"Could you tell me, what are some of the popular majors at your academy?" a male student inquired.

"Immortal Cultivation!" Lee Xuan replied succinctly.

"Immortal Cultivation?" The question, along with the expressions of astonishment, wasn't just from the inquiring student but also echoed among the crowd of onlookers.

Was he simply out of his mind?

Or maybe just an eccentric with some impressive skills.

Lee Xuan, noticing the disbelief in the crowd, took out a megaphone and, with one hand behind his back, stood on an elevated platform, exuding the aura of a sage from another world.

"Since ancient times, or perhaps it's more accurate to say since the Primordial Era, humans have witnessed the world around them—lightning flashing, thunder rolling, the earth quaking. The forces of nature were overwhelming and elicited cries of despair. It wasn't the work of humans, so they believed in the existence of various deities."

"In truth, there are no deities. What does exist is the pursuit of the path to eternal life, the quest for the ultimate truth, which gave rise to the concept of Immortal Cultivation."

"Then, may I ask, do immortals truly exist in this world?" a female student asked.

"They do, but in places you cannot see. What you call science is merely what you can explain. So, I ask you, why have so many scientists ultimately turned to theology?"

"Why were the rulers of the Sumerian civilization able to govern for thousands, even tens of thousands of years? Was the ancient nuclear reactor the result of an Immortal Spirit's great battle? Was Liu Xiu's encounter with a meteorite just a stroke of luck?"

"Can science explain these phenomena?"

"That doesn't prove the existence of immortals, though," someone countered.

"And how can you prove their non-existence? The summer insect cannot comprehend ice; you only see what is within your capacity to see. We must maintain a sense of reverence for all that is unknown and not become like the proverbial frog at the bottom of the well, thinking the sky is only as big as the opening above."

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, and many were left in a contemplative silence after Lee Xuan's profound speech.

Lee Xuan watched his popularity value soar and let out a weary sigh.

If only his power wasn't so limited, he could have simply flown on his sword to demonstrate his abilities to them.

Luckily, after his lecture, a man and a woman approached him, eager to learn the ways of cultivation.

The man, Zhang Yi, was rather plain-looking and possessed a Middle Grade Spirit Root.

The woman, Qiao Yun, was somewhat playful and charming, also with a Middle Grade Spirit Root.

Lee Xuan courteously took down their contact details and instructed them to report to Azure Dragon Mountain on the outskirts of town the following day.

"Congratulations, you have successfully recruited two disciples. Your popularity value has increased by 20,000, bringing your current total to 42,000. As a reward, you receive two Immortal Spirit Pills and a physique identification."

The day's lecture had significantly boosted his renown. The two sign-ups accounted for 20,000, and the remaining 12,000 likely stemmed from the spectators.

Lee Xuan promptly consumed an Immortal Spirit Pill, and his strength ascended to the peak of the ninth level in Qi Refining.

Given the scarcity of spiritual energy in this world, he intended to set up a Spirit Gathering Array eventually.

It dawned on Lee Xuan that the popularity value might be exchangeable for items.

He browsed the system's marketplace only to find the items prohibitively expensive.

A second-tier pill furnace was priced at 50,000 points, while a piece of Heaven Cicada Clothing demanded a staggering 200,000 points!

And there was an array of treasures and spiritual medicines, all commanding exorbitant point values.

Reflecting on his past life with the Azure Cloud Sect, which boasted over 50,000 Inner Sect Disciples and more than 200,000 Outer Sect Disciples across five branches, thriving and prosperous, Lee Xuan sighed. The journey to restore the Azure Cloud Sect appeared to be a long one indeed.

As dusk fell, he decided to visit the sect's location to determine if any improvements were needed.

Lee Xuan's silhouette darted through the outskirts with swift grace.

In the veil of the night, a silhouette shot through the air with a "whoosh."

Suddenly, Lee Xuan heard a cry for help emanating from the nearby woods.

He paused briefly when a woman burst from the woods.

Bathed in the faint glow of a street lamp, he could clearly see the woman's features: a lovely face with a high nose bridge and cherry-like lips. Each feature was exquisitely crafted, yet her eyes were red, and her hair disheveled, giving her the appearance of a startled rabbit.

She clutched Lee Xuan's hand, pleading, "Please, someone is trying to kill me."

Lee Xuan shuddered at the touch of her hand.

Could it be?

A High-Grade Earth Spirit Root?

Spirit Roots are categorized into three stages: Heaven, Earth, and Man, each with Upper, Middle, and Lower levels. The three individuals he had encountered earlier merely possessed Human Grade Spirit Roots.

He assessed the woman with a more critical eye.

He was astonished to find such a remarkable Spirit Root in this world and made a mental note to recruit this woman into his Azure Cloud Academy.

Just then, several men in black caught up. Spotting the woman beside Lee Xuan, they yelled, "There she is, don't let her get away!"

The woman turned to Lee Xuan, her last beacon of hope. Yet, seeing his slender frame devoid of muscle, her hope waned.

A look of resignation and disappointment crossed her face as she spoke to Lee Xuan, "You should run. They're after me; there's no reason for you, an innocent, to be dragged into this."

Lee Xuan, now encircled by the men in black, shrugged and said, "In this situation, do you really think they'd spare me?"

"Bad luck, kid, running into us," one of the men in black sneered after hearing Lee Xuan's words, then gestured for the others to move in.

The assailants drew gleaming knives from their pockets and charged at Lee Xuan.

Despair washed over the woman's face. Was she to suffer and also doom an innocent bystander?

As the men in black neared, Lee Xuan sprang into action, darting towards one and delivering a kick to the wrist of the man wielding the knife.

The man clad in black felt a sensation akin to his wrist being struck by a heavy weight, the pain forcing him to drop the small knife he was holding.

Lee Xuan delivered another kick, sending the man flying two meters away. This was with Lee Xuan exerting merely 30% of his strength; had he used his full force, the man in black would have met his demise right then and there!

To his own astonishment, after ingesting two Immortal Spirit Pills, the power unleashed at the ninth level of Qi Refining was more than double that of the third level!

This display of strength caused the remaining assailants to hesitate, suddenly wary of advancing any further.

The woman, witnessing Lee Xuan's effortless dispatch of one of her attackers, had her surprise morph into a glimmer of hope. Could she be rescued?

The ringleader of the men in black, with a darkened expression, conceded, "Impressive skills, sir. We yield."

He then gestured for his cohorts to withdraw, casting a spiteful glance at Lee Xuan before departing.

Unfazed, Lee Xuan spoke coolly, "Looking for trouble? Remember the name: Lee Xuan of the Azure Cloud Academy."