The next morning.
The lingering chime of the Daoist School’s Bell pierced the morning mist, awakening the slumbering mountain forest.
The four occupants of Room B-7 had already washed up and changed into the uniform bluish-gray student robes issued by the Daoist School. They set off together toward the instructional area.
Along the way, they saw other new students in the same attire everywhere, gathered in groups of three and five, their faces alight with excitement and anticipation.
For most of them, after all, this was the first day they would truly step through the gates of the Cultivation Realm.
"I hear our Class Three instructor is a real hardass."
On the way, the well-informed Zhou Tong muttered under his breath, "Don’t know if it’s true, though."
"A little strictness is good." Jiang Kuo, on the other hand, was more open-minded. He chuckled, fanning himself with his folding fan. "A strict master produces a skilled student, as they say. Since we’re here, we’re not just trying to slack off."
Chen Shi remained silent and reserved, clutching a few of the basic texts that had been handed out the day before, his eyes filled with a look of intense earnestness.
Chu Bai walked in the middle, listening to his roommates’ idle chatter, a sense of anticipation building in his heart.
Back in Anping County, his fundamentals had been rather lacking.
The drawbacks of that "Self-Taught Path" of Cultivation had been laid bare during the County Examination—if he had been able to identify those Spiritual Qi Attributes earlier, would he have had to win in such a perilous fashion?
’Now that I’m in a proper Daoist School, it’s the perfect opportunity to shore up my weaknesses and fill the gaps in my knowledge.’
Before long, the four of them arrived at the classroom for Class Three.
It was a spacious and brightly lit hall, filled with dozens of neatly arranged low desks, each with a meditation cushion behind it.
Chu Bai chose a seat near the front and center, and Jiang Kuo and the other two naturally gathered around him.
At precisely 7:00 AM, just as the Bell fell silent, a figure strode into the classroom right on time.
The newcomer was a middle-aged man dressed in the black robes of an Instructor. He had a resolute face and eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. As he walked, he was trailed by the faint, almost imperceptible sound of wind and thunder—a clear sign of his profound Cultivation.
The noisy chatter that had filled the classroom instantly vanished, replaced by dead silence.
The man walked to the lecture platform, his gaze sweeping across the room. His voice was steady and powerful. "My name is Zhou Changkong, and I am the primary instructor for Class Three. From now on, I will be teaching your General Knowledge course here at the Daoist School."
"As for specialized courses like Magic Techniques, combat, and the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, other Instructors will be responsible for those in the future."
Hearing the word "combat," Chu Bai’s heart skipped a beat.
He currently possessed a body full of Magical Power, but his only offensive means were a few moves from the Spirit Water Needle technique. In a complex battle, he would be completely out of his depth. Combat training was precisely what he was lacking most.
However, he also understood that great things have small beginnings, and the General Knowledge class before him was equally important.
’The Cultivation Realm is bizarre and fantastical. If I just bury my head in training, I probably won’t even know what killed me when the time comes. Knowledge is sometimes more important than Magical Power.’
"For our first lesson today, we will discuss the ’Difference Between Immortals and Mortals.’"
Zhou Changkong wasted no time with pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"All of you have already undergone Qi Introduction and crossed the threshold of Qi Cultivation. In the eyes of worldly Mortals, you are already high and mighty ’Immortal Masters.’ But what, exactly, is the difference?"
"Is it merely because you can conjure a Fireball, or control a few drops of water?"
Zhou Changkong shook his head, answering his own question. "No."
"The core of Qi Cultivation lies in drawing nature’s spiritual energy into the body, converting it for your own use, and completing a Circulation of Heaven. This isn’t just an increase in power; it is a leap in one’s very level of existence!"
"Mortals eat grains, suffer a hundred illnesses, and rarely live past a hundred. But a Qi Cultivation Cultivator uses Energy Introduction to cleanse the physical body, allowing them to avoid sickness and prolong their life. Once you achieve Foundation Establishment, your lifespan extends to two hundred years, and you are reborn from the inside out!"
These words made the hearts of the youths below surge with emotion, their eyes filled with a craving for long life.
Chu Bai also nodded slightly.
Ever since he started practicing the Small Qi Gathering Technique, he hadn’t felt any obvious extension of his lifespan, but the improvement in his physical condition was tangible. The feeling of being full of energy, with sharp hearing and clear sight, was something no Mortal could compare to.
"Since you have Magical Power, you will naturally have Magic Techniques," Zhou Changkong continued, "Some of a Cultivator’s simple little tricks are like miracles to Mortals. Today, I will teach you a small gimmick, which will serve as your first introduction to the ’Hundred Skills of Cultivation.’"
With that, he gave a casual wave of his hand.
Dozens of yellow streaks of light shot from his sleeve, flying as if they had eyes of their own to land precisely on each student’s desk.
Chu Bai looked closely. It was a palm-sized yellow sheet of talisman paper, inscribed with several lines of cinnabar. It faintly emanated a weak fluctuation of Spiritual Power.
"This is a Clothes Cleansing Talisman, a basic Tier One Low-Grade Talisman."
Zhou Changkong explained, "Its purpose is singular: to remove dust and grime and cleanse one’s clothes. For us Cultivators, it is common to enter seclusion for days or even months at a time, making this Clothes Cleansing Talisman an essential item."
"Now, try to channel the Spiritual Power in your bodies, infuse it into the talisman paper, sense the flow of its inscriptions, and activate it."
As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound filled the classroom.
Everyone eagerly picked up their talisman paper and began their attempts.
"Oof, why isn’t anything happening?"
"Don’t rush, take it slow. Control your Spiritual Power output..."
Some turned red in the face with clumsy effort, yet the talisman paper in their hands remained inert; others used too much force and burned their paper to a pile of ash.
Chu Bai took a deep breath and pinched the talisman paper between two fingers.
With a flicker of intent, the pale blue Magical Power within him—a fusion of Pure Qi and Purifying Spirit Flow—slowly circulated, flowing from his fingertips into the talisman paper.
HUM!
The cinnabar inscriptions on the talisman paper glowed faintly, then transformed into a soft white light that instantly enveloped Chu Bai’s entire body.
The sensation was like a cool breeze washing over him, carrying away all the dust and grime.
When the white light faded, Chu Bai felt completely refreshed. The specks of dust that had been on his robe were gone without a trace, as if it had just been laundered.
’So this is the way of Talismans? Truly miraculous.’
A sharp glint flashed in Chu Bai’s eyes.
Though it was only a simple Clothes Cleansing Talisman, it had allowed him a glimpse through a new door.
Before long, white lights began to flash one after another throughout the classroom as the majority of students succeeded in activating their Talismans.
Zhou Changkong observed the scene and nodded slightly. "Not bad."
"The way of Talismans is vast and profound. Although it is not a required subject for you at this stage, as Qi Cultivation Cultivators, you must at least be aware of its existence and uses. You must learn to use external aids like Pills, Talismans, Artifacts, and formations to assist your Cultivation."
For the remainder of the class, Zhou Changkong went on to explain in simple terms the classification of Spiritual Qi into the Five Elements, common cultivation paths, and some of the basic rules of the Daoist School.
Everyone listened, completely engrossed, and even when the Bell rang to signal the end of class, they were left wanting more.
"Alright, that is all for this class."
Zhou Changkong gathered his documents and swept his gaze over the students. "The Magic Technique class will begin in a quarter of an hour. Make sure you are focused and ready."
"After the Cultivation Technique lecture, you may go and collect your enrollment benefits."

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