C3 Loong Ling

Azure Cloud Academy.

The man in black was somewhat taken aback, as if the name was unfamiliar to him. He made a mental note of it.

"Congratulations, host! For championing justice under the banner of the Azure Cloud Academy, you've earned a popularity value boost of 20,000, and as a reward, you receive a Beginner Spirit Gathering Array!"

A smile of satisfaction spread across Lee Xuan's face. He hadn't expected that doing good deeds would bring rewards, especially the Spirit Gathering Array he had been wanting. Even though it was just a beginner level, it was more than sufficient for now.

The woman beside him continued to express her gratitude, asking, "My name is Loong Ling. What's yours?"

"Lee Xuan. Would you be interested in joining me in cultivation? You won't have to fear those people ever again," Lee Xuan offered.

Cultivation?

She was a singer, already well-known for her beauty. To follow Lee Xuan into cultivation would mean abandoning her hard-earned fame. She hesitated.

"If you leave now, those men in black will just keep coming after you," Lee Xuan observed her hesitation and added.

After a moment of thought, Loong Ling realized he was right. Besides, this man had just saved her life. She had no choice but to nod in agreement.

They soon arrived at Azure Dragon Mountain, the highest peak in the region. Lee Xuan ascended with ease, while Loong Ling struggled, drenched in sweat and eventually collapsing to the ground from exhaustion.

Bathed in moonlight.

They came upon an ancient structure. The first thing they noticed was a massive, dust-covered wooden door, standing as tall as two people and suggesting a long history.

A large signboard hung on the door, with two characters inscribed in golden, flourishing calligraphy.

"Azure Cloud!"

Lee Xuan pushed open the grand wooden door, as though turning the pages of a dusty, ancient tome.

Inside, the courtyard's layout was just as he remembered: the meditation hall, the alchemy room, and the loft were all in their familiar places. It was the same setting from his past life in the Azure Cloud Sect, down to the last detail.

Tears involuntarily filled his eyes as he clenched his fists, making a heartfelt vow: "I must make the name of the Azure Cloud Sect echo throughout the world!"

At the crack of dawn, three figures were gasping for breath as they finally reached the summit of Azure Dragon Mountain.

"Ahahaha, we made it at last!"

"I'm exhausted. Why on earth is the academy located on this mountain?"

"Climbing this mountain feels like I've done a year's worth of exercise!"

These three were none other than Zhuh Feng, Zhang Yi, and Qiao Yun, who had previously signed up with Lee Xuan.

Lee Xuan, standing at the entrance, breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected all three to actually show up. He maintained a serene exterior, but inside, he was a bundle of nerves, having worried that they might have had second thoughts and not come after all.

The trio had become quite close on their journey, and now Loong Ling shyly greeted them.

"Wow, she's stunning."

"Isn't that Loong Ling, the singer? I can't believe there's a star here. That's incredible!"

Loong Ling was pleasantly surprised to be recognized and was quite delighted.

After exchanging introductions, Lee Xuan invited them, "Follow me, please."

As they trailed behind Lee Xuan, they admired the mossy corridor and the expansive complex of buildings behind it. The three newcomers were filled with awe, while Loong Ling, having already spent a night there, was accustomed to the surroundings.

Something seemed amiss as they looked around, but they couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

"Why is there nobody else at the school?" Zhuh Feng inquired.

It dawned on the rest that, apart from themselves and Lee Xuan, the vast academy was eerily silent, devoid of any other soul.

"Seriously? Where are all the students and teachers?"

They looked to Lee Xuan, puzzled, wondering what he had in store for them.

Upon reaching the Hall of Tranquility, Lee Xuan offered them a faint smile and revealed, "Currently, I am solely responsible for the roles of the teachers, the principal, and all the school's staff."

"And as of now, you are the academy's inaugural students."

"Ah?!"

"You're both the principal and the teacher? Are you kidding us?"

The four were stunned. So, he just picked a random spot and duped us into coming here?

They all looked at the diminutive Lee Xuan before them, feeling as though they'd been conned. What they found hardest to swallow was that Lee Xuan was indeed both the teacher and the principal.

In their minds, a principal should be an ancient figure in a grayish-white Taoist robe, with a flowing white beard and a horsetail whisk, exuding the aura of a thousand years.

"I knew it was too good to be true. How could there be such a thing as cultivation in this world? And to think I fell for it!"

"Just as I suspected, everything in novels is made up. Here I was, dreaming of pursuing the path of immortality and fighting for justice, only to end up being exploited and deceived."

"They talk a good game, appearing so upright, but in reality, they're nothing but scammers! I bet those people at the school were actors he paid to fool us into believing his lies!"

Zhuh Feng, Zhang Yi, and Qiao Yun didn't hold back their words, hurling insults at Lee Xuan without any regard for his feelings.

Loong Ling, however, remained somewhat composed. She had clearly witnessed Lee Xuan's capabilities the previous night; those men in black couldn't have been actors Lee Xuan had hired.

Loong Ling spoke up, "Yesterday, when I was abducted, Lee Xuan sent a man flying two meters with a single kick. I don't believe he was faking it. Let's at least hear him out!"

Zhang Yi scoffed, "It's all a sham. He did the same thing during a talk at our school, sending a burly man flying. All actors hired to convince you. Think about it, how can a nearly two-hundred-meter-tall burly man be kicked that far? How much strength would that require? Do you really think he's Superman or a Super Saiyan?!"

Zhang Yi looked visibly upset, feeling as though he'd been swindled. His college entrance exam scores were well above the threshold for top-tier universities, yet he had always been drawn to those tales of cultivation and martial arts from a young age. He believed that many elements from those stories, like the epic battles between the Yellow Emperor and Chi You, were based on real events, where Chi You, even after being beheaded, did not die—a testament to reaching the pinnacle of physical cultivation.

He had once dreamed of a day when he could cultivate his abilities, champion justice, and leave his own unique mark on history. That's why he had come here in secret, without his family's knowledge, to see for himself. If the Immortal Cultivation Academy was legitimate, he would continue his studies; if not, he would return home and dutifully fill out his college applications.

Qiao Yun's affection for Zhang Yi was the sole reason for her presence. Their families were old friends, and she had grown up alongside Zhang Yi, following him in all his endeavors. When she heard Zhang Yi's aspirations to cultivate, she believed him wholeheartedly and, deceiving her parents, joined him on this journey.

Zhuh Feng's disappointment was palpable. His motivation for coming here was to avoid tuition fees and to secure a bonus. How could Lee Xuan, who seemed no older than a high school student, possibly award him a bonus? Resigned to his fate, he decided it was time to find work and support his younger siblings.

All three were deeply disheartened, their faces etched with a frosty dismay, their eyes blazing with a fire that seemed ready to consume Lee Xuan.

At that moment, they shared a single, unwavering resolve — to leave this place.

Without another word, Zhang Yi turned and started back the way they had come. Qiao Yun and Zhuh Feng, seeing him leave, quickly followed suit.

"Do you think it's easy to get into my school, as if it's as simple as choosing any college you wish during exams? I have to assess your aptitude," Lee Xuan said with an air of mystery. "Just yesterday, countless people approached me, wanting to cultivate, but I turned them away for lack of aptitude. You four, however, were chosen because my spiritual force detected your potential."

"The Azure Cloud Academy never recruits the unworthy; we only seek out exceptional talents. You should recognize the fortunate position you're in."