Lin Feng's new life at the Azure Phoenix Academy began with a stark, exhilarating contrast to his quiet, intellectually solitary childhood. His dorm room, while sleek and modern, was spartan, designed for efficiency rather than luxury. His roommate was Gao Lei, the boisterous young man he'd met during registration. Gao Lei's boundless energy immediately filled the small space, his excitement infectious.
"Lin Feng, my man! Knew we'd be roomies, felt it in my Qi!" Gao Lei exclaimed, his voice booming as he tossed his duffel bag onto his bunk. "This place is insane! Have you seen the training grounds? They've got gravity chambers, elemental manipulation zones, even ancient spirit beast simulation rooms!"
Lin Feng offered a faint smile, a rare display of genuine amusement. Gao Lei's enthusiasm was a welcome change from the typical quiet intensity he'd grown accustomed to. "I haven't had a chance to explore yet. Just settling in."
"Nonsense! We'll explore together! Come on, let me show you the ropes," Gao Lei insisted, already dragging Lin Feng towards the door.
Their first few days were a blur of orientation sessions, campus tours, and meeting other bewildered but eager new students. The Azure Phoenix Academy was a sprawling complex, almost a small city in itself. Beyond the initial impressive architecture, Lin Feng discovered vast libraries filled with ancient cultivation scrolls in digital and physical form, high-tech lecture halls with holographic displays, and expansive training facilities that seemed to defy the laws of physics. The most striking aspect was the constant, almost tangible presence of spiritual energy (Qi) permeating the air. It was far denser than anywhere he'd been before, invigorating his entire being, accelerating the subconscious circulation of Qi within his own meridians.
Classes at Azure Phoenix were a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. Mornings were typically dedicated to lectures on cultivation theory, spiritual anatomy, energy manipulation principles, and the history of various cultivation sects. Lin Feng absorbed every piece of information like a sponge, his photographic memory and inherent understanding of the Dao allowing him to grasp complex concepts with effortless ease. While other students struggled with intricate diagrams of meridian pathways, Lin Feng could visualize them perfectly, remembering them as if they were once his own.
Afternoons were for practical training. Students were divided into groups based on their initial aptitude tests. Lin Feng, due to his "unique energy signature," was placed in an advanced foundational group, much to the envy of some and the confusion of others. In these sessions, they learned basic Qi absorption techniques, meditation stances, and rudimentary Qi control exercises.
His progress was startling, even to himself. While his classmates struggled to perceive their first wisps of Qi, Lin Feng could already guide it, albeit gently, through his body. When instructed to condense a small orb of Qi in their palms, most students managed a faint flicker. Lin Feng, though consciously holding back, could form a stable, golf-ball-sized orb that hummed with quiet power. His innate understanding of energy flow, a remnant of his past as a Supreme God, allowed him to bypass the usual trial and error. He merely knew how to do it.
His instructors, experienced cultivators themselves, quickly took notice. Professor Yuan, an elderly woman with sharp, kind eyes and a cultivation level in the Nascent Soul realm, observed Lin Feng closely during a practical session. She watched as he effortlessly performed a complex Qi gathering stance, his movements fluid and precise, far beyond the capabilities of a beginner.
"Lin Feng," she called softly, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue. "Your control is... exceptional. Have you had prior tutelage?"
Lin Feng calmly shook his head. "No, Professor. I've only read about these techniques. I just... tried them."
Professor Yuan's eyebrows arched. She had seen prodigies before, but Lin Feng was on a different level. There was a raw, untamed power slumbering within him, perfectly controlled, yet utterly unrefined by conscious practice. It was like observing a wild beast that inherently knew how to move with grace and power, without ever being taught. "Remarkable," she murmured, making a note on her tablet. She resolved to keep a close eye on him, sensing that his potential far exceeded what his current cultivation level suggested.
His silent proficiency, however, did not go unnoticed by his peers. Some were impressed, others intrigued, but a few developed a subtle resentment. Jiang Wei, a proud young man from a prominent cultivation family, considered himself the top talent among the new recruits. He possessed a robust spiritual root and had been training since childhood. Lin Feng's effortless mastery chafed at his ego.
During a sparring session, where students practiced basic unarmed combat infused with minor Qi enhancements, Jiang Wei deliberately sought out Lin Feng. "Let's see if your 'natural talent' extends to real combat, quiet one," he sneered, his eyes narrowed.
Lin Feng accepted the challenge with a calm, almost serene expression. He didn't seek conflict, but he also didn't shy away from it. As Jiang Wei lunged, manifesting a faint Qi shield around his fist, Lin Feng's body moved with an instinctive grace that belied his age. He wasn't relying on brute force or complex techniques; instead, he subtly manipulated the flow of Qi in the air around Jiang Wei, disrupting his balance by a fraction of a millimeter. Jiang Wei's punch veered slightly off course, missing Lin Feng by inches.
Lin Feng then countered with a simple, yet devastatingly effective, palm strike. He channeled a tiny surge of Qi, not enough to cause serious harm, but precisely aimed at Jiang Wei's chest, targeting a minor Qi flow point. The impact wasn't powerful, but it sent a jolt through Jiang Wei's meridians, leaving him momentarily stunned and breathless, staggering backward.
Jiang Wei gasped, clutching his chest, his face flushing crimson with humiliation and shock. He had no idea what had happened; it felt as if his own energy had betrayed him. Lin Feng merely stood there, his expression unreadable.
"What was that?!" Jiang Wei sputtered, regaining his breath.
Lin Feng simply shrugged. "Basic Qi deflection. You were too reliant on your external shield." He was, in fact, applying a rudimentary understanding of energy manipulation, something far beyond basic Qi deflection, but he didn't want to reveal too much.
Professor Yuan, observing the spar, suppressed a small smile. Lin Feng's explanation was technically correct, but his execution was far more sophisticated than any first-year student should be capable of. She saw the potential for true martial prowess in his fluid movements and intuitive understanding of energy.
Life in the academy was rigorous, but Lin Feng thrived. The structured environment and constant exposure to Qi allowed his dormant powers to subtly awaken further. His dreams became more vivid, fragments of ancient battles and celestial landscapes flashing through his mind. He started to recognize certain energy signatures, feel the echoes of familiar techniques from his past life, though they remained just beyond his conscious grasp.
Even Gao Lei, though initially oblivious to Lin Feng's true depth, began to notice. "Man, you pick things up fast! Are you secretly a cultivation genius?" he'd tease, genuinely impressed by Lin Feng's consistent excellence. Lin Feng would only offer a mysterious smile in return, enjoying the friendly camaraderie he hadn't experienced before.
The Azure Phoenix Academy was more than just a school; it was a crucible. It was a place where hidden talents were forged, where raw potential was refined, and where the destiny of countless young cultivators began to unfold. For Lin Feng, it was the first crucial step on the long, arduous path back to his true identity, a path that would eventually lead him to reclaim his place as the Celestial Emperor. He was no longer just a boy; he was a sleeping dragon, beginning to stir.