Following the address displayed on the notice board, Yu Xiaogang led Tang San directly into the heart of Heaven Dou City. They moved with a clear purpose, navigating the complex web of streets and alleys without needing to stop and ask for directions. It was as if Yu Xiaogang had memorized the map of the city in an instant.
Heaven Dou City was truly magnificent, a bustling metropolis that screamed of prosperity and power. The streets were not simple dirt roads; they were paved with high-quality blue bricks that clattered rhythmically under the wheels of passing carriages. Every main street was incredibly wide, easily rivaling the main thoroughfare of Soto City. The sheer scale of the capital was overwhelming, filled with a vibrant energy that never seemed to sleep.
They soon arrived at their destination. The entrance to Lanba Academy was impressive, designed to look almost identical to the city gates of Heaven Dou City itself. Although it was thinner than the actual city walls, the gatehouse still stood a towering ten meters high. It was carved entirely from white marble. While it wasn't decorated with overly flashy gold or jewels, it possessed a dignified, imposing presence that commanded respect.
High up on the gatehouse, eight large, gilded characters caught the sunlight: "Lanba Advanced Spirit Master Academy."
Upon arriving at the entrance, Yu Xiaogang didn't hesitate. He walked straight up to the reception desk located next to the guard post. A sign on the desk read 'Recruitment Registration Room.'
Sitting behind the desk was a middle-aged Spirit Master, likely in his forties. He looked up as the pair approached.
"Excuse me," Yu Xiaogang said, his voice carrying a tone of practiced authority. "Are you here to accept applications for Academy teachers?"
The reception teacher didn't answer immediately. instead, he narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Yu Xiaogang from head to toe. His gaze was questioning, bordering on skeptical. As a Spirit Master whose own Spirit Power had already exceeded level forty, he had a keen sense for the strength of others.
The fluctuating Spirit Power aura emanating from this "Grandmaster" standing before him was weak. It was pitifully weak. The receptionist highly doubted that this man's Spirit Power had even reached level thirty, let alone the required level forty.
However, Yu Xiaogang's demeanor was confusing. He stood with his hands behind his back, his chin lifted high, and an expression of arrogant indifference on his face. It was the kind of attitude usually reserved for Titled Douluos or high-ranking bishops. This conflicting signal made it difficult for the teacher to make a snap judgment.
Deciding to be cautious, the teacher chose to probe with a question first rather than rejecting him outright.
"That is the department's function," the teacher said slowly. "May I ask your purpose?"
Yu Xiaogang revealed a stiff, mechanical smile and nodded slightly. "That's right. I am here to apply for the position of a teacher at Lanba Academy. And this child next to me is my disciple."
He placed a hand on Tang San's shoulder. "If I can successfully get hired here, I have a condition: I hope my disciple can also be enrolled in the Academy to study."
The reception teacher looked at Tang San, then nodded. "If a teacher is hired, their direct family or disciples can be considered for enrollment. However, students also need to pass an assessment for admission. We have standards."
He paused for a moment, thinking. "How about this? You take our test first. If you can prove you have the capability to become an Academy teacher, I think the Academy can make an exception to accommodate your disciple attending classes here. After all, the official new student registration period has already passed, and your disciple looks a bit too young for an Advanced Academy."
Generally speaking, even the most excellent young Spirit Masters needed to be at least sixteen to eighteen years old to enter an Advanced Spirit Master Academy. The average age was usually around twenty. Tang San, standing there quietly, certainly didn't look anywhere near eighteen yet.
"Testing is fine," Yu Xiaogang said instantly, nodding his head. He seemed incredibly confident, as if the outcome was already decided. "Where do we go?"
Tang San, on the other hand, felt a cold sweat forming on his back. He looked visibly nervous.
He knew the truth that the receptionist suspected. His teacher, while brilliant in theory, was physically weak. Yu Xiaogang was a Spirit Grandmaster, stuck forever at level twenty-nine due to a variation in his Spirit. The minimum standard for teachers at Lanba Academy was clearly stated on the notice board: a Spirit Ancestor above level forty.
Tang San couldn't understand where his teacher's confidence was coming from. It defied logic. In Tang San's honest opinion, given their current status as fugitives and his teacher's low level, applying for the two janitor positions mentioned in the ad would have been much safer. It would be low profile, and they would be less likely to be exposed. Besides, Tang San was very good at cleaning; he had done it for years at Nuoding Academy.
The reception teacher didn't notice Tang San's internal panic. He had been sitting at this desk for several days, and the number of high-level Spirit Masters applying was disappointingly small.
The reality was that for a Spirit Master with a cultivation of level forty or higher, the benefits of working as a teacher couldn't compare to being affiliated with a large noble family or the Spirit Hall. Those were the best paths for wealth and resources. So, seeing a teacher suddenly apply with such a positive and confident attitude gave him a glimmer of hope.
"Follow me," the teacher said, standing up. "I'll take you to the testing area."
Stepping through the gates of Lanba Academy, the atmosphere changed completely. It felt quite different from the imposing, landscaped beauty of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
If Heaven Dou Royal Academy was a masterpiece of architecture built against a mountain, taking advantage of the cliffs and lakes, then Lanba Academy was a hidden gem built in the center of a forest.
Although it didn't have the breathtaking mountain scenery, everything here gave off a very grand, natural feeling. Spacious paths paved with flat stones led directly into the interior, flanked by dense groves of ancient trees on both sides of the road. The air was fresh and filled with the scent of pine and earth.
At the end of the main path, a large sports field came into view. It was massive, with a diameter of over two hundred meters. Surrounding this central sports field was a circle of sturdy three-story buildings.
As they walked, the reception teacher introduced the layout to Yu Xiaogang.
"These buildings surrounding the field serve different purposes," he explained, pointing around. "We have facilities for simulated environment cultivation, student dormitories, and the main teaching buildings."
He gestured to the greenery surrounding them. "The unique feature of Lanba Academy is that the buildings are surrounded by forest. Around the teaching buildings, the remaining area of the campus is all untouched woodland. It is said that this is the largest plant community within the walls of Heaven Dou City."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in appreciation. To preserve such a massive forest within the capital city, where land was worth its weight in gold, spoke volumes. Who would dare say that Lanba Academy had no background? The financial cost alone of maintaining this land was staggering.
The reception teacher led Tang San and Yu Xiaogang to a building with a sharp, pointed roof. This structure appeared to be the most solid and reinforced among all the Academy's buildings.
Walking inside, they found themselves in a spacious hall. There were no partitioned rooms or offices inside; it was just one vast open space. Transparent light streamed into the room from high windows on all sides, making it extremely bright without the need for lamps. The floor was paved with heavy granite slabs, clearly designed to withstand impact. The walls were simply whitewashed, without any decoration. It was a place designed for combat.
"Wait here," the reception teacher told Yu Xiaogang. "I will fetch the examiners."
He left them alone in the hall. Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed, and a total of three Spirit Masters walked in from outside.
These three men also appeared to be in their forties. They had ordinary appearances, the kind of faces you would forget instantly in a crowd. However, what they had in common was the stern seriousness etched onto their faces. They carried themselves with the stability of experienced fighters.
The three stopped at the inner side of the hall. The leader of the group, a man with broad shoulders, spoke up.
"If there are no surprises, this should be the Spirit Master who will be participating in the assessment, correct?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded with a slight, polite smile. He took a step forward, his hands still clasped behind his back. "That is correct. Excuse me, how will the assessment be conducted?"
The Spirit Master who spoke earlier didn't waste time with pleasantries. He briefly introduced the assessment rules.
"The rules are simple. First, please release your Spirit. We need to verify that your Spirit Power exceeds level forty. That is the hard requirement."
He paused, looking at Yu Xiaogang intensely. "Then, you must engage in a fight with one of the three of us. You do not need to win. If you can last for ten minutes without being defeated, you pass."
Spirit Power level was naturally the most important factor. In the world of Spirit Masters, raw power dictated status. Once the Spirit was released, the level and attribute of the Spirit Master, along with their Spirit Ring configuration, would be clear at a glance. There was no faking it.
As for the combat portion, it was a test of practical experience. As a teacher, simply having high Spirit Power wasn't enough; one had to know how to use it. A teacher lacking rich practical experience would only lead students astray.
While Yu Xiaogang was facing this critical test, a situation was developing back at the main entrance.
At the gate of Lanba Academy, two mysterious Spirit Masters suddenly appeared. They were dressed in dark clothing, and their expressions were urgent. They approached the guards and claimed to be from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
They stated clearly that they needed to see the Dean of Lanba Academy for an extremely important matter.
The receptionist, who had just returned to his post, dared not neglect someone from one of the Upper Three Sects. He immediately notified the Academy's high-ranking teachers. Upon hearing the news, a senior teacher arrived to escort the two guests to the Dean's private quarters.
The group walked away from the main campus, heading deeper into the forest. They walked through the fresh, cool air, the noise of the students fading behind them.
Suddenly, a faint, ethereal singing voice drifted from the depths of the woods ahead.
The singing was melodious and deeply moving, but it was filled with an intense sorrow. It sounded like weeping and pleading intertwined, a song of heartbreak that made those who heard it feel a sympathetic ache in their chests. The melody was looping and repetitive, incredibly soft and beautiful, yet heavy with emotion.
Continuing several hundred meters forward, the dense trees gradually thinned out.
They approached a particularly thick, ancient tree. Hanging on its trunk was a wooden sign with a line of text carved deeply into it: "Academy Important Area. Unauthorized Entry Prohibited."
Passing this large tree, the scenery immediately changed, opening up into a secluded paradise.
It was a small lake, perfectly clear, with a diameter of only about fifty meters. A small stream, about three meters wide, quietly flowed into the lake from the forest on one side and flowed out the other, keeping the water fresh and constantly moving.
Beside this tranquil pond, there was a simple thatched hut. The hut was built with wooden boards and dried grass, designed to completely blend in with the surrounding environment. It looked humble, yet peaceful.
Around the hut, there was a carefully maintained wooden fence. Inside the fence, a garden of various flowers was planted. They were blooming in competition with one another, vibrant reds, purples, and yellows creating a sea of color.
Right among those flowers, a woman stood alone.
She held a watering can in her hand, gently watering the flowers as she sang her sad song, completely unaware of the guests approaching her sanctuary.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse