After the test, the children were all feeling somewhat downcast. Apart from the boy who had been crying, another girl was also taken away for failing the test. Although it wasn't them who were being sent away, having spent over ten days together day and night, the sudden departure of their peers inevitably evoked a sense of shared sorrow.
During lunch, the usually lively northern dining hall was uncharacteristically silent. Baili Gelin sipped her soup quietly and murmured, "Only sixteen left... How many do you think will remain by the end of the year's training?"
Even the usually composed Ye Ye shook his head and sighed, "Survival of the fittest, but... it's just too cruel."
This was only the very first phase of training, barely ten days in, and already two children's dreams of immortality had been shattered. Back when they first arrived at the academy, how high-spirited and hopeful they had been. In the blink of an eye, they were sent back the same way they came. The thought of that feeling alone was chilling.
"I really thought once we got in, we'd never have to leave," Baili Gelin said with lingering fear. She had barely passed this test herself—perhaps in the next phase, she too might fail and be expelled like those two.
Noticing Li Fei keeping her head down and eating silently, she added, "Li Fei, being in the same group with those two jerks must have been tough, right?"
Li Fei shook her head. Tough? Not really. Over ten days of training together, the words exchanged between the three of them could be counted on fingers. They simply ignored each other, which was actually quite relaxing. The real issue was the immense, intangible pressure from their extraordinary talents.
Ji Tongzhou's talent was something she had known about from the start, but Lei Xiuyuan was truly astonishing. Chang Yue had once said his aptitude was unmatched in the current academy, and indeed, it wasn't an exaggeration. In just these few days of Alchemical Furnace training, he had progressed from struggling at first to effortlessly using up four thousand Curse Seals without breaking a sweat. Such terrifying potential was both enviable and jealousy-inducing. As for her, she had barely completed today's test just before noon.
A little later, and she would have been sent away like those two.
Hu Jiaping had said the Young Phoenix Academy wouldn't raise freeloaders—falling behind in training and being eliminated was normal. Cultivation was just that cruel. The black-veiled woman had also said that Immortals never cared about one's background, only their strength. Passing the academy's initial selections didn't mean smooth sailing—becoming an immortal was defying the heavens, requiring strength, perseverance, and luck, with none to spare.
Li Fei set down her chopsticks and stood up. "I'm done. I'll go ahead."
Baili Gelin asked curiously, "Where are you going?"
"To continue training."
"Huh?" Baili Gelin stared at her retreating back in surprise. "Why the sudden rush? You've been training all morning, and now you're skipping the midday break?"
Baili Changyue mused, "Perhaps the pressure from her two groupmates is too much. His Highness and Lei Xiuyuan are both once-in-a-generation geniuses."
"Ugh! Don't say that bastard Lei Xiuyuan's name during meals!" Baili Gelin pouted in annoyance. "Sis, should we find a place to train too?"
"Oh?" Baili Changyue showed a rare hint of a smile. "So you're finally willing to put in effort?""I don't want to fail another test and get kicked out. Li Fei is working so hard—I refuse to lose to her!" Baili Gelin downed her soup in one gulp, stood up, and wiped her mouth. "Hurry, let's go! Ye Ye, you're coming too!"
Many shared similar thoughts. Even during the lunch break, the western Martial Training Field was crowded with disciples persisting in their cultivation. After witnessing the Academy's elimination system firsthand, all previous notions of ease and comfort had vanished. This was no imagined paradise, but a place far more ruthless than the mortal world.
Li Fei sat on the Martial Training Field for a while, her body slowly absorbing Spiritual energy. She felt hollow inside. At this sluggish pace, she had no idea when she'd be able to replenish her energy fully. If she couldn't keep up with future cultivation progress, she'd undoubtedly be mercilessly expelled.
The constant noise of the training field grew increasingly irritating. Unable to bear it any longer, Li Fei rose and took off on her sword, weaving through the countless floating islands. Ten days had passed—Ri Yan should wake up today. She could share her troubles with him, and he'd surely offer guidance. But did she really want to rely on his advice forever? This body was hers, this unique constitution was hers. She wanted to find her own path through her own efforts.
She landed on a small floating island—modest in size, devoid of structures, encircled by a verdant ridge with a quiet spring, its ground covered in waist-high green grass. She'd discovered this island a few days prior; peaceful and beautiful, perfect for meditation.
Ri Yan had only mentioned that her body could automatically absorb Spiritual energy, but never taught her how to speed up the process. That morning, to pass the test, she'd exhausted all her energy, and even now, it hadn't fully replenished. Li Fei sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and focused her attention on the invisible Alchemical Furnace within her.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the furnace suddenly seemed to become visible. She could even see the shimmering Spiritual energy inside. The massive furnace was less than half full, as countless pores in her body tirelessly replenished it.
Li Fei attempted to accelerate the absorption rate. The moment the thought crossed her mind, the energy inside the furnace stirred as if by an unseen hand, beginning to rotate and gradually forming a colossal vortex. She felt an immense suction force growing within her. As the energy spun faster, the pull intensified. Her Eight Extraordinary Meridians seemed to suddenly expand, her pores stretching to their limits. An unending torrent of Spiritual energy cascaded like a waterfall into the furnace, merging with the swirling energy.
In just a few breaths, the furnace was completely full. The rotation slowed, her expanded meridians and pores gradually returning to normal. Finally, everything settled into stillness.
Li Fei's eyes snapped open. What... was that? Her energy was fully replenished!
But the sight that greeted her was startling. When she'd arrived, the island had been lush with green grass—now, it was entirely withered and barren! She scrambled to her feet in horror, surveying the island. It was the same place, the ridge and spring unchanged, yet the sea of dead grass was undeniably alarming. Had she done this?!Li Fei was startled by Ri Yan's sudden, hoarse voice in her ear. He sounded surprised, "Oh? This is... Spirit Absorption? You figured it out yourself?"
Already alarmed, Li Fei nearly jumped out of her skin at his abrupt appearance. "Why do you always pop up like that?" she exclaimed.
The snow-white Nine-tailed Fox materialized before her, holding his head high and looking down at her with arrogance. "Don't be so jumpy! So you've already grasped Spirit Absorption... Hmm, looking at you now... You've begun molting. No wonder..."
Molting? Don't make her sound like some kind of insect! Li Fei frowned at him.
"How did you suddenly learn Spirit Absorption? Are you lacking spiritual energy?" Typical Ri Yan—straight to the point.
With a sigh, Li Fei explained her recent Alchemical Furnace training. Nodding, Ri Yan remarked, "No wonder—your body isn't mature enough yet, so your absorption rate is naturally limited. It'll improve as you grow. But now that you've mastered Spirit Absorption, future cultivation won't be too difficult. However..."
He hesitated uncharacteristically, as if holding something back.
"However what?" Li Fei couldn't stand his cryptic behavior. This fox was always so secretive, never telling her anything!
Ri Yan said coolly, "However, you should use Spirit Absorption sparingly—and never in front of others. Look at these grasses. They withered because of you. Human cultivation methods don't include Spirit Absorption. If you display it openly, it might bring you trouble."
"But how can I cultivate without spiritual energy?"
"Fool! If you can absorb it, can't you release it too?! Keep expelling your energy a hundred times, and your body will realize it needs more, naturally speeding up absorption!"
What was this "release" thing now? Li Fei gave him a helpless look. He was always spouting terms she didn't understand.
"Sit down, close your eyes, and focus. Fool, absolute fool! A dignified Nine-tailed Fox like me actually has to waste time instructing a milk-fed brat like you!" Ri Yan grumbled indignantly, perching fiercely on her arm. After a long rant, he finally calmed down. "Well? Sit down already!"
What a temper! Li Fei swallowed her anger and sat as told, closing her eyes to concentrate. Soon, the massive Alchemical Furnace reappeared in her mind.
"Expel all your spiritual energy at once," Ri Yan instructed tersely.
When absorbing energy, the furnace's contents rotated clockwise. Now, to release it, she reversed the flow. Li Fei focused intently, not daring to slacken. Her Eight Extraordinary Meridians and pores expanded again, this time pouring her internal energy outward like a waterfall. Within moments, the furnace was completely drained. Li Fei felt utterly exhausted, as if she'd climbed a dozen mountains—drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
"D-done..." She opened her eyes to find the previously withered grass now lush green, even sprouting tiny red buds—had her released energy caused this?
"Quiet. Absorb again, then release. Practice this whenever you can—it's far more useful than the nonsense they teach at that Academy."
Following his words, Li Fei concentrated once more. The spiritual energy in her furnace began rotating as she performed Spirit Absorption again.Spirit Absorption, Spirit Release—she had no idea how many cycles she'd repeated. The pores and Eight Extraordinary Meridians that had expanded within her no longer shrank back to their original state. Li Fei exhaled slowly, ceasing the rotation of Spiritual energy within her body before rising to her feet. She glanced around—the island was now blanketed in vibrant red blossoms, fiery and resplendent.
Her body continued to draw in Spiritual energy on its own. Though not as fast as during Spirit Absorption, it was still much quicker than it had been that morning.
"Ri Yan, thank you." Li Fei spoke sincerely. Without him, she would have taken countless detours—perhaps even faced mortal danger.
The little white fox on her arm twitched his ears, his raspy voice impatient. "I don't like hearing that! Don't say it again! You saved my life—this is just me repaying the debt!"
"You're so difficult." Unable to resist, she flicked his tiny, fluffy body—but her fingers passed right through him as if he had no physical form.
"Hmph. You're human, I'm a Demon. Demons don't bother with human niceties. You saved me, so I repay you with action. If you want to thank me, do it with action—pretty words are useless!"
Li Fei smiled wryly. "You claim to be the legendary Nine-tailed Fox, so powerful. What could I possibly help you with?"
"Staying hidden on you is already the greatest help." The little fox twitched his pointed nose. "Hmph. If you really want to help more, jump down there!"
"Jump down?" Li Fei was shocked. "The teacher said that's a Restricted area teeming with Demons and monsters. I'd die!"
"Then why even ask? Idiot!"
This fox was so stubborn and foul-tempered... Brushing the dust off her clothes, Li Fei mounted her sword and took flight. The midday break was almost over—she needed to return to the Martial Training Field.
Suddenly, a gust of wind roared past. A flash of Golden light streaked across the sky as a young man landed on the island atop his sword. Amid the sea of fiery red blossoms, the two locked eyes—both momentarily stunned.
Lei Xiuyuan? Li Fei immediately tensed, watching him silently. What was he doing here at a time like this? Was he scheming to frame her again?
Lei Xiuyuan scanned the surroundings, his expression flickering with surprise at the sight of the blooming flowers. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "...Oh? You can make grass bloom?"
Li Fei replied coldly, "They were already blooming when I arrived."
"You're quite the liar." He smirked, clearly unconvinced.
"Do you need something? If not, I'm leaving." She had no intention of engaging with him further.
Lei Xiuyuan said nothing. He was faster—soaring away on his sword until he vanished from sight.
Ri Yan perched on her shoulder, ears twitching. "Who was that?"
"...A deceitful, cunning villain."
The fox fell silent for a moment before adding, "He's... never mind. Just... be careful around him."
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