Chu Lingwei found herself wondering where her third senior brother, Su Yan, had obtained the spirit beasts he gifted her.
Hearing his junior sister's indirect question, Nangong Luo burst into laughter. "He made them himself. There likely isn't another like them in this world."
"Third senior brother made them?" Chu Lingwei looked at Nangong Luo in surprise. The spirit beasts were actually crafted.
"Yes, your third senior brother… you should try to get to know him better," Nangong Luo said enigmatically.
Chu Lingwei's curiosity about her third senior brother deepened. Being able to alter the genes of spirit beasts at will suggested his abilities were far beyond mere beast taming.
"However, if you want any particular kind of spirit beast, just go find your third senior brother. As long as you can imagine it, he can definitely find it for you," Nangong Luo said, not directly looking at Chu Lingwei.
Yet, in Chu Lingwei's eyes, her second senior brother's words held deeper meaning.
Chu Xiyin had contracted a truly disgusting divine beast, destroyed the Hengtian Secret Realm, and stolen spirit herbs from disciples of major sects. Everyone in the Xuanxin Continent knew about it.
She believed her second senior brother must have also heard about third senior brother's involvement.
"Alright, if I need anything in the future, I will definitely seek out third senior brother."
Chu Lingwei nodded, confident that they wouldn't publicize the matter.
"Junior sister, remember not to associate with the disciples from that mountain in the future," Nangong Luo instructed, pointing towards a mountain.
Chu Lingwei followed her second senior brother's gaze. It was a mountain suspended in mid-air, not touching the ground, floating ethereally. It looked incredibly beautiful, like a dream.
"Why is that?"
"Just remember what your second senior brother said." Nangong Luo seemed hesitant to discuss that place. He then led Chu Lingwei to the main courtyard of the Spiritual Cultivation Academy, the very place where Bei Chenfeng had first brought her, walking.
"That's the mess hall ahead. If you want to eat, you can go directly there. Just use the token your Master gave you to purchase your meal."
Nangong Luo pointed to a courtyard. As he spoke, two characters, "Mess Hall," materialized before the courtyard before quickly vanishing.
"Take out the token you have. It can help you identify the names of all places."
The courtyards here had no names, a precaution against intruders. The disciples' tokens served as their passes.
Chu Lingwei took out her token, a piece of warm jade, pure white, inscribed with the character "Ling."
When she channeled spiritual energy into it, her information appeared.
"So, that's how it works."
"Master must not have told you any of this," Nangong Luo chuckled. Their Master was a very casual person and didn't bother with such details.
Chu Lingwei smiled. Apart from needing her for specific matters, their Master was rarely seen.
"Let's go, I'll show you the study halls. This is likely where you'll spend most of your time for the next three years."
Nangong Luo walked up to a courtyard and lightly swiped his hand, opening the gate. Immediately, various discussions reached Chu Lingwei's ears.
Disciples of the Spiritual Cultivation Academy could be seen moving about in different directions.
"These are disciples from various peaks, coming here for their studies." Nangong Luo produced a map and handed it to Chu Lingwei. "This is a distribution map of the study halls here. Memorize it. You will have to complete everything here in the future."
Chu Lingwei saw her second senior brother hand her a small card. Upon closer inspection, it was covered in a dense layout of study halls, course introductions, and the required learning level for disciples of each peak – extremely detailed.
"So, we also have to study these things here."
The Xuanxin Sect also had study halls for outer disciples offering theoretical instruction. No one had mentioned this to her since arriving at the Spiritual Cultivation Academy, and she had assumed she wouldn't need to study.
"These are all basic common knowledge. Every sect requires their disciples to learn them." Nangong Luo couldn't help but shake his head. Their Master's teaching method was to impart powerful cultivation techniques and then let them learn independently.
However, much of this theoretical knowledge was crucial for venturing out on trials and needed to be firmly grasped.
"Yes, I will study diligently." Chu Lingwei put the map away. When she returned to her cave dwelling, she planned to thoroughly research the subjects and study halls offered, creating a study schedule for herself.
Nangong Luo nodded. "Indeed. No matter how strong your combat skills and spiritual power are, you must master these fundamental aspects. Otherwise, you might suffer setbacks over the simplest matters."
"Mm, I understand." Chu Lingwei was very grateful to her second senior brother. The information he shared today was precisely what she lacked the most.
"Every ten years, our Spiritual Cultivation Academy hosts disciples from other sects for study. Therefore, not everyone studying here is a disciple of our Spiritual Cultivation Academy."
Nangong Luo pointed to a man conversing with others. "He is currently a teaching disciple in the Hall of Laws at the Spiritual Cultivation Academy."
Chu Lingwei looked at her second senior brother in surprise. The man he indicated appeared to be at the peak of the Spirit Wheel realm.
Could someone of such power teach at the Spiritual Cultivation Academy?
Nangong Luo smiled and explained, "Our Spiritual Cultivation Academy has tens of thousands of disciples, with new ones enrolling every three years. The powerful cultivators within the academy cannot spare the time to teach these disciples who have no foundational knowledge."
"The introductory study halls are all taught by disciples at the peak of the Spirit Wheel realm. This is also one of the academy's tasks, which they can choose to undertake."
Chu Lingwei nodded.
The Spirit Wheel realm was a threshold for cultivators to step into true strength on the Xuantian Continent. Some individuals could spend decades cultivating in this realm without advancing. Since progress was slow, life had to go on. Completing academy tasks, going on expeditions, adventuring in various places, and seeking cultivation resources were daily considerations for cultivators.
"It's the same for you. You must complete the academy's three mandatory tasks. When you have free time, you can visit the Task Hall," Nangong Luo said. Before he could finish, he saw the man he had just introduced to his junior sister approaching them.
A smile that was difficult to read flickered across Nangong Luo's lips. "He must have recognized you. I forgot to mention earlier, he is a disciple of the Xuanxin Sect. Do you know him?"
Chu Lingwei looked at Ye Bingcheng as he walked towards them, but no memories of him surfaced.
Disciples from other sects sent to the Spiritual Cultivation Academy were invariably elites of their respective sects. These elite disciples generally shared a common trait: they disliked associating with those deemed "waste."
And Chu Lingwei happened to be such a person.
"Chu Lingwei?"
Ye Bingcheng stopped a few steps away from Chu Lingwei, looking at her face with a glint of joy in his eyes.
"Yes, I am Chu Lingwei."
Chu Lingwei replied. The affairs between the Xuanxin Sect and Chu Ze had caused a massive stir across the entire Xuantian Continent, and no one was unaware of it.