Morning sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a golden glow across Lin Fei's face.
Lin Fei slowly opened his eyes and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling for a moment before remembering—he was already at Giantwood Academy.
On the bed beside him, Li Chen was already awake, sitting cross-legged in meditation.
"You're up so early?" Lin Fei rubbed his eyes.
Li Chen opened his eyes, a faint spark of energy visible in them.
"Yeah. My grandfather told me to meditate and regulate my breathing every morning."
"Regulate your breathing?"
"It's basically quiet breathing exercises while sitting still," Li Chen explained. "The foundation of internal cultivation."
Lin Fei nodded as if suddenly enlightened.
"Come on," Li Chen jumped down from the bed. "Let's go eat breakfast. After that we'll have our first class."
They washed up and stepped outside.
The academy in the early morning was unusually peaceful. Stone steps wound upward through the campus, flanked by pavilions and elegant buildings. Curved rooftops emerged faintly through the morning mist while birds chirped softly in the distance.
As they passed the training grounds, they saw several senior students already practicing. Some were sparring with fists and kicks, while others moved their fingers in intricate patterns, seemingly forming hand seals for certain Lin Arts.
Beyond the training grounds stood a two-story hall built into the mountainside. A spring flowed from the rocks behind it, and students continuously walked in and out.
This was the academy dining hall.
Inside, many students were already eating.
Lin Fei immediately noticed Zhou Ping, the boy from the Kunlun Kingdom. He sat alone in a corner, calmly eating a steamed bun with a bowl of porridge in front of him. Several seats around him were empty—no one dared sit nearby.
At a table opposite him sat the Lu brothers, Lu Zhenhuan and Lu Zhenyu. They ate quietly while occasionally glancing at Zhou Ping, but neither approached him.
The liveliest table, however, belonged to Hu Mei.
Dressed in her light pink dress, she sat surrounded by boys. They eagerly handed her food—some offered buns, some soy milk, others peeled eggs.
"Hu Mei, I saved this meat bun for you!"
"Hu Mei, drink my soy milk—it's still hot!"
"Hu Mei, where are you sitting in class later? I'll save you a seat!"
Lin Fei stared in amazement.
"Why is she so popular?"
Li Chen glanced briefly before looking away.
"Well… she's pretty."
The two grabbed their breakfast—porridge, buns, eggs, and pickled vegetables—and found a quiet corner to eat.
Halfway through their meal, a pink figure drifted over.
"May I sit here?"
Hu Mei stood beside the table smiling. A few boys lingered behind her reluctantly but didn't dare follow her over.
Lin Fei froze.
Li Chen nodded first. "Sure."
Hu Mei sat across from them and looked at Lin Fei.
"You two also have full spiritual power, right?"
"Yeah," Lin Fei answered. "I have pure wood attribute, Level Ten. And Li Chen has wood and earth dual attributes, also Level Ten."
Hu Mei smiled brightly.
"Then why don't we go to class together later?"
Li Chen nearly choked on his bun.
Lin Fei scratched his head.
"Why only us two? There are three others with Level Ten too." He pointed toward Zhou Ping and the Lu brothers.
"Because we all have wood attribute spiritual power," Hu Mei said with a smile. "It's more suitable for studying together."
"Oh… alright."
After finishing breakfast, the three walked toward Mingde Hall for class.
Li Chen remained unusually quiet the whole way, while Hu Mei occasionally started conversations.
Just as they were about to enter the hall, a chubby boy approached carrying a box of pastries.
"Classmates! Want some snacks?" he asked with a friendly grin.
He handed them crispy pastries.
"My family made these—they're delicious."
Li Chen waved his hand.
"No thanks, we just ate."
"Take them!" the boy insisted, stuffing pastries into their hands.
"My name's Liu Jinfan, but everyone calls me Little Fatty. We'll be classmates from now on, so let's take care of each other!"
Lin Fei took a bite.
It really was delicious.
"Thanks," he said.
"Don't mention it!" Liu Jinfan grinned, sneaking glances at Hu Mei.
Hu Mei tried one too.
"It really is good. Li Chen, aren't you going to eat yours?"
Li Chen's face reddened slightly as he quickly finished his pastry.
The four of them entered Mingde Hall together while Liu Jinfan introduced himself nonstop.
His family owned Xin Ji Pastry Shop, the most famous pastry chain in Senluo City. His father had once been a Lin Master but left the Senluo Hall to run the family business. His mother was an ordinary person, and as their only son he had been spoiled since childhood.
"My spiritual test yesterday was Level Six," he added proudly. "Metal and water attributes."
"My dad was thrilled I passed, but my mom was worried. She says being a Lin Master is dangerous, so I should make lots of friends and avoid trouble."
"So will you become a Lin Master or inherit the family business?" Lin Fei asked.
Liu Jinfan chuckled.
"My dad says it's best to become a Lin Master first so I can protect myself. If cultivation gets too hard, I can always go home and take over the business. We're not short on money."
"You can't be afraid of hardship if you want to be a Lin Master," Li Chen said seriously. "Ordinary people rely on Lin Masters to protect them."
"I know, I know," Liu Jinfan laughed. "That's why I'm sticking with you guys!"
They found seats just as the morning bell rang.
A figure slowly entered through the side door.
It was the same elderly man who had conducted the spiritual test yesterday.
His name was Shen Jingnian, the headmaster of Giantwood Academy.
He looked around calmly.
"Many of you have already seen me yesterday," he said. "I am Shen Jingnian, the headmaster. Today's first lesson will be taught by me."
The hall fell silent.
"Since you are sitting here," he continued, "it means your spiritual power is at least Level Five. But do you know what cultivation truly means for a Lin Master?"
No one answered.
"Cultivation is divided into two categories: cultivation techniques and Lin Arts."
Two glowing words appeared in the air.
TechniquesLin Arts
"Techniques are divided into internal and external cultivation."
"Internal cultivation strengthens spiritual power itself. Those with deep internal cultivation possess spiritual energy like an endless ocean."
"External cultivation strengthens the body—bones, muscles, agility, and senses."
"Internal and external cultivation complement each other. Only by developing both can one truly progress."
He paused before continuing.
"Lin Arts are divided into four types: Five Element Arts, Forbidden Arts, Immortal Arts, and Sacred Arts."
A wave of murmurs spread across the hall.
"Five Element Arts are the most basic. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—these elements generate and restrain each other."
He explained the elemental relationships.
"If your spiritual power is wood attribute, you will learn wood techniques much faster. But you cannot cultivate metal techniques, since metal restrains wood."
"Fire techniques are also risky for wood cultivators, because wood generates fire, causing unpredictable changes."
"This rule must always be remembered."
Lin Fei silently memorized every word.
"Forbidden Arts are far more powerful but come with restrictions," Shen Jingnian said gravely.
"Some require specific bloodlines. Others demand a price—blood, lifespan, or rare materials."
"Immortal Arts originate from powerful spirit beasts," he continued. "Ancient beasts such as divine dragons or vermilion birds possess power far beyond humans."
"If one gains their recognition, they may inherit their techniques."
Lin Fei suddenly thought of the dragon beneath Fallen Dragon Lake.
"And Sacred Arts…"
Shen Jingnian's eyes grew distant.
"They are the ultimate techniques left behind by ancient sages. Each contains profound truths of heaven and earth."
"But to learn them, one must reach the Heavenly Being Realm."
"Only then may you enter the Heaven-Piercing Tower, controlled by the Star Palace, to seek its inheritance."
Lin Fei silently remembered the name.
The headmaster continued.
"The path of cultivation contains nine realms:
Spirit Motion Realm,Qi Refining Realm,Foundation Establishment Realm,Transcendent Body Realm,Golden Core Realm,True Spirit Realm,Asura Realm,Heavenly Being Realm,Divine Transformation Realm."
Nine glowing characters appeared in the air.
"Beyond these nine realms… there exists a legendary tenth realm."
He paused.
"Ascension to Godhood."
The room became completely silent.
"Only two people are said to have reached that realm," Shen Jingnian said slowly.
"The Star Lord of the Star Palace… and the Evil King, Wan Tian."
"Their battle a century ago caused the Burning Heaven Catastrophe."
A student raised his hand.
"Headmaster, has anyone from Giantwood reached the Deification Realm?"
Shen Jingnian smiled slightly.
"Yes. The First Lin Master, Ye Feifan, and the Tenth Lin Master, Lin Feng."
Lin Fei felt a strange stir in his heart upon hearing that name.
After the lecture ended, the students left the hall in groups.
Lin Fei suddenly turned and walked toward Zhou Ping.
"Hello," he said, extending his hand. "My name is Lin Fei. We met yesterday at the mountain gate."
Zhou Ping glanced at him calmly.
He didn't shake hands, only nodded slightly.
"I'm Zhou Ping."
Then he left.
Li Chen hurried over.
"Why were you talking to him?"
"Just saying hello," Lin Fei replied.
That evening in the dormitory, the two boys lay in bed talking about the academy chores.
"Where are you choosing?" Li Chen asked.
"I'll rotate through all of them first," Lin Fei said.
"I'm going to the Spirit Beast Stables," Li Chen replied.
"Why?"
"I want to learn how to raise spirit beasts early," he said quietly.
"My grandfather once had a legendary beast… the Ape Demon."
"But after he was injured, he never summoned it again."
"You want to help him?" Lin Fei asked.
Li Chen nodded.
"If I learn how to summon spirit beasts… maybe my grandfather will teach me how to summon the Ape Demon."
Moonlight shone through the window.
Lin Fei smiled.
"When you summon it someday, you have to show me first."
Li Chen grinned.
"Of course."