Half a month later, Tongtian Academy.
A light boat landed on the lake, causing ripples to spread across its surface.
Zi Ji took out a paddle from the side of the light boat and began to row towards the shore, while Ji Xiu sat cross-legged beside Yun Ze, completely engrossed in his cultivation.
It had to be said, the terror of exceptional talent was truly frightening.
In just half a month, Ji Xiu had already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Yun Ze had done almost nothing, only offering guidance on the cultivation techniques he didn't understand, and then watched the boy progress at an astonishing rate.
It was a pity he had no Qi Casting Pills left, otherwise, he would have definitely arranged some for Ji Xiu.
Not to mention the ninth-level Qi Sea, at least an eighth-level Qi Sea would be worthy of his four-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root!
"Master."
After the light boat landed on the lake, Ji Xiu emerged from his cultivation state.
He looked up at Yun Ze and asked, "Is this Tongtian Academy? Are we... on the sea?"
"This isn't the sea, just a rather large lake," Yun Ze chuckled.
If he had come here before seeing the sea, he would have had the same confusion as Ji Xiu.
He habitually raised his hand and ruffled Ji Xiu's hair, "There are ten small islands in the center of the lake. The outermost one is Lingxiao Courtyard, where your Grand Master resides. After we complete the formalities, I will take you to meet him."
"Alright, Master."
Ji Xiu forced a smile and replied.
With the past half month, Yun Ze had finally managed to resolve a lot of the boy's inner turmoil.
At least now he knew how to smile.
Even if it was a forced smile, it was much better than the perpetual frown he used to wear.
"Mr. Tu, we've arrived."
The light boat quickly docked, and Zi Ji cupped his hands towards Yun Ze, "Thank you, Mr. Tu, for your care along the way. Zi Ji will bid you farewell here. I hope you will take care of your immortal body in the future. After I break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, I will visit you again."
This was only a matter of time.
After all, Zi Ji was merely an outer disciple. After temporarily participating in the Ascension Assembly with Yun Ze, he should naturally focus on his cultivation.
Only after he broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage would he be qualified to enter the lake and ascend the islands, becoming one of the ten-courtyard cultivators.
"Mm."
Yun Ze nodded and casually took out a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, "We traveled together, which is a form of fate. This shall be a parting gift, wishing you an early breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."
"This... Thank you, sir, for your generous gift!"
Zi Ji took the jade bottle and then walked towards the academy on the shore alone.
Yun Ze also led Ji Xiu ashore.
He casually stored the light boat into his Storage Ring and then turned to Ji Xiu, "Later, you will meet new disciples recruited from other places, and there will also be a small test to examine your spiritual roots and register them.
You don't need to be nervous, it's just a formality."
"Yes, Master."
"Oh right, about the title."
Yun Ze corrected as they walked, "Although according to the rules, disciples are qualified to choose their own masters to follow and cultivate, and it's not impossible to have one master per peak.
You haven't officially joined yet, so please refrain from calling me Master for now.
After you officially join, it won't be too late to call me Master again if you wish to learn anything from me."
This was Yun Ze giving Ji Xiu an opportunity.
After all, the boy had only just encountered the cultivation world and didn't know what a good master could bring him. If he were to rashly become his disciple, he might regret it later.
To avoid future trouble, it was better to wait until the young fellow had truly made up his mind.
He hadn't told him these things earlier mainly because he was afraid of disturbing his recently stabilized state of mind.
Now that his state of mind seemed to have adjusted well, and he was about to officially join, it was time to discuss this matter with him.
"This..." Ji Xiu hesitated.
"If you don't want me to get scolded, then listen to me."
"Alright."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiu could only nod in agreement.
However, he looked at Yun Ze and said, "I know Master... Mr. Tu is doing this for my own good, but please rest assured, Mr. Tu. Since I said I want to become your disciple, I will definitely become your disciple!"
With that, Ji Xiu strode forward quickly.
Yun Ze was stunned for a moment, then could only smile helplessly.
Still a child at heart.
He had been busy rushing, and had only sent a letter back to the academy detailing everything that had happened at the Ascension Assembly. However, it did not mention Ji Xiu's talent.
In other words, at present, only Yun Ze and Zi Ji knew how terrifying the boy's talent was.
After all, there would be another talent test before the formal induction.
When that time came, the entire Tongtian Academy would surely be in an uproar.
He wondered how many old monsters would emerge from their seclusion to witness this peerless genius.
When Ji Xiu encountered those old monsters, his desire to become a disciple would naturally waver. It would be difficult enough to become his disciple and learn the new Dao then.
This was also strange.
Senior Sister cared so much about this boy that she even chased him to the immortal gathering outside the Chengtian Dynasty. Why hadn't she appeared even once since he left the dynasty?
Although she couldn't interact with Ji Xiu in an official capacity, meeting him once to build some rapport would have been good.
It would have been more advantageous in competing for the position of master with those old monsters, wouldn't it?
But to not even show her face, it wasn't like her!
Could it be... there was some other reason he didn't know?
The two walked towards the academy on the southeast side of the lake.
As Yun Ze pushed open the main gate, he saw a group of troubled faces.
There were nine people in total, and including him, there were ten.
These ten were the Foundation Establishment cultivators sent out by the ten courtyards of Tongtian Academy to recruit disciples, one for each courtyard. The number of disciples recruited was determined by the overall ranking of the academy.
Courtyards ranked higher, such as Wudao Courtyard and Wushu Courtyard, had recruited at least twenty disciples this time, accounting for the majority of this year's disciples.
"Finally, they're here."
A Foundation Establishment cultivator from Wule Courtyard saw Yun Ze arrive and chuckled, "Fellow Daoist Tu, your cultivation is truly commendable. You can still travel so leisurely after such a major event. Your state of mind is truly far superior to ours!"
Yun Ze glanced at the other person, recalling their information.
Wule Courtyard, Luo Miaoyu.
She and Tu Sheng were outer disciples of the same intake and both excelled in music. Logically, their relationship should have been good.
Luo Miaoyu had also pursued Tu Sheng, expressing her desire to become his Dao companion and cultivate together, but Tu Sheng had refused.
Later, when Lingxiao Courtyard was just established, both of them were outer disciples and had the opportunity to become disciples of Yunxiao.
Later, Yunxiao chose Tu Sheng from among the many outer disciples to enter Lingxiao Courtyard and become an inner disciple with his Qi Refining cultivation. From then on, Luo Miaoyu became antagonistic towards Tu Sheng.
Later, Luo Miaoyu became a Foundation Establishment cultivator first and entered Wule Courtyard. Yun Ze, after becoming Tu Sheng, had never met her.
This was their first meeting.
Yun Ze asked no questions, merely glanced at the other person, and then took a seat in the corner on his own.
This was how Tu Sheng had always interacted with Luo Miaoyu.
It was quite hassle-free!
"Hmph, perhaps playing the zither has made her brain numb. She doesn't even bother to respond when spoken to," Luo Miaoyu snorted, her tone showing no concealment of her dislike for Tu Sheng.
"Alright, Miaoyu, you should say less."
A person from Wudao Courtyard spoke, "Since the last seat has arrived, let's begin the induction ceremony. After this is over, we have important matters to report back, so let's not waste time.
Come, who will go forward for the spiritual root test first?"
Unlike the spiritual root testing sphere at the Ascension Assembly, the spiritual root testing sphere for formal induction into Tongtian Academy was more accurate.
Just like Ji Xiu's Heavenly-grade spiritual root.
The Ascension Assembly could only determine it was Heavenly-grade, but not specifically whether it was low-grade Heavenly or high-grade Heavenly.
A single word difference was enough to change a person's destiny.
"I'll go!"
There were always those who rushed to be first among the crowd.
As one young boy and girl after another stepped forward for the spiritual root test, continuous reports followed.
"Li Yulan, three-attribute Profound-grade high-grade spiritual root!"
"Xiao Gui, dual-attribute Earth-grade mid-grade spiritual root!"
"Mi Xiao, three-attribute Earth-grade low-grade spiritual root!"
The reports continued to sound, while Ji Xiu silently stood beside Yun Ze, waiting.
Soon, only he remained untested. The Foundation Establishment cultivator from Wudao Courtyard glanced at him, "You, the kid over there, you're the only one left. Aren't you coming over quickly?"
"Yes."
Ji Xiu respectfully replied and then slowly walked forward, arriving before the spiritual root testing sphere.
Coincidentally, Luo Miaoyu was in charge of the spiritual root testing sphere at this moment.
Seeing that Ji Xiu was brought by Tu Sheng, she then smiled, "Why, even such a small child was selected? Don't tell me you couldn't find anyone suitable, so you found a child to fill the quota?"
Yun Ze remained silent.
Ji Xiu, however, grinned and cupped his hands towards Luo Miaoyu, "Senior, please step back a little."
"Oh, why?"
Luo Miaoyu stared at Ji Xiu, "Are you afraid I'll be knocked over? Then I'd like to see what kind of spiritual root you have to dare speak like that."
"Then please, Senior, take a good look."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Xiu injected a wisp of spiritual energy into the spiritual root testing sphere.
Instantly!
The entire spiritual root testing sphere overflowed with colorful light!
Almost simultaneously, a white-haired old man and a middle-aged man in purple robes suddenly appeared beside Ji Xiu.
Upon seeing the old man, everyone quickly rose and cupped their hands.
"Dean!"
"Dean?"
Hearing this, Ji Xiu also turned to look beside him and asked curiously, "Are you the Dean of Tongtian Academy?"
"Yes."
The white-haired old man smiled at Ji Xiu, wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes, "Child, what's your name?"
"My name is Ji Xiu."
"Ji Xiu?"
The middle-aged man beside him heard this, "That name isn't good, you should change it."
Hearing this, Ji Xiu frowned.
He turned to the middle-aged man and asked, "Who are you? Why do you say my name isn't good?"
"Me?"
The middle-aged man smiled, crouched down to Ji Xiu's level, "My name is Dan Jingsheng. Have you ever heard my name?"
Dan Jingsheng!
Upon hearing this name, Yun Ze's heart trembled!
This wasn't... the name of an Immortal Venerable!