The Moon-Dwelling Courtyard was quiet.
Since Qin Xiyan’s departure, this exquisite villa seemed to have lost its soul.
Gone was the young woman’s lively voice, her figure reading under the corridor’s eaves, and even the faint scent of medicine in the air had diminished.
Gu Qing stood by the window, holding the black Formless Nether Jade in his hand.
Over the past three days, aside from eating and sleeping, his primary activity had been testing this jade pendant’s effects.
He had deliberately circulated the faint trace of spiritual energy within him when Qin Momo passed through the courtyard.
As a result, Qin Momo had merely given him a cursory glance, her gaze lingering on him for less than a breath before shifting away without any reaction.
One must know, Qin Momo was a master arranged by Qin Tianheng; her perception was undoubtedly terrifying.
Even she hadn’t detected anything, proving this “lucky find” pendant’s effect was astonishingly good!
“Haa…”
Gu Qing put away the jade pendant, his heart settling into certainty.
With a sense of security established, the next step was to truly take that first step.
He walked out of his room just in time to see Qin Momo sitting at the stone table in the courtyard.
“Momo.”
Gu Qing approached and respectfully bowed.
“Going out again?”
Qin Momo didn’t even lift her eyelids, her tone still cold.
Gu Qing had already prepared his excuse.
“Yes. This junior wishes to go to the Cloud Realm Illusion to listen to some music and relieve his boredom.”
“Hmm. Word has come from the Third Young Lady’s side. The treatment is proceeding smoothly. You need not worry.”
Hearing this, the heartstrings Gu Qing had kept taut for three days finally loosened a little.
“Thank you for informing me, Momo.”
“Go on.”
Qin Momo exhaled a ring of smoke.
Gu Qing bowed again and turned to leave.
Watching Gu Qing’s departing figure, a flicker of confusion passed through Qin Momo’s eyes.
This kid…
Is he truly worthy of entrustment?
She shook her head, dismissing the thought.
This wasn’t something she should concern herself with.
Tianquan City, Cloud Realm Illusion.
Standing once more before the blue jade pagoda, Gu Qing felt somewhat familiar with the routine.
This time, he didn’t opt for a temporary two-hour session like last time.
Walking up to the counter, Gu Qing took out his spirit stone pouch, his tone firm.
“I’d like to purchase a monthly pass. Additionally, I want exclusive use rights for private room ‘Zhi Seven’.”
The attendant behind the counter looked up in surprise, eyeing this customer wrapped up tightly, then offered a professional smile.
“Right away! Young Master has excellent taste. That ‘Zhi Seven’ room is a feng shui treasure. I’ll process it for you immediately!”
After completing the formalities and deducting a substantial sum of spirit stones, Gu Qing, holding the now upgraded golden jade card, entered the familiar small room.
Close the door, lock it, activate the formation.
A familiar sensation washed over him.
[Welcome to the Tianquan Spirit Network.]
[Detected that you have registered for the course: Instructor Zhao Tiezhu’s 108th Elite Beginner Course.]
[Class begins in one quarter of an hour. Enter the classroom now?]
“Enter.”
Light and shadow shifted.
When Gu Qing opened his eyes again, he found himself not in an imagined private school classroom.
But on a massive white jade plaza suspended in a void.
Mist and clouds swirled around the plaza.
In the distance, one could vaguely see immortal cranes dancing among jade towers and palaces, exuding an aura of utmost celestial grandeur.
But that wasn’t the main point.
The main point was that the plaza was already packed with people.
Gu Qing counted. Including himself, there were exactly thirty.
These people all sported a dazzling array of virtual avatars.
To the left was a golden lion walking upright, with the name [Western Regions Mad Lion] floating above its head.
To the right was a little girl in a pink flowing immortal dress named [Begging Senior Brother for a Carry].
There was even one that was simply the shape of a flying sword, hovering mid-air with a faint buzzing sound.
Gu Qing looked down at himself.
He hadn’t given it much thought, directly using his own appearance for the class. His name was also extremely perfunctory: [Passerby A].
The “Western Regions Mad Lion” next to him leaned over.
The lion’s head was vividly crafted, and when it spoke, a wave of sound effects accompanied its words.
“Hey, brother, you’re here for Senior Brother Zhao’s class too?”
Gu Qing nodded.
“Yes, first time. Want to learn some basics.”
“Hey, me too.”
The Mad Lion scratched its mane.
“I heard this Senior Brother Zhao Tiezhu is famous for his good temper among the North Dipper Immortal Sect’s inner disciples. If he takes a liking to you, you might even snag an internal recommendation spot.”
“Internal recommendation spot?”
“Yeah, why else do you think everyone’s here? Besides learning, it’s for the North Dipper Immortal Sect’s golden reputation.”
Gu Qing’s heart stirred slightly.
So these people weren’t just here to learn.
“Silence!”
Just then, a voice as resonant as a bell toll echoed across the entire plaza.
At the center of the plaza, on a raised platform, a beam of golden light descended from the sky.
As the light dissipated, it revealed a man in a dark blue Daoist robe.
Around thirty years old, with a square face, a longsword strapped to his back, and spiritual energy swirling around him—clearly a master who had attained the Dao.
This was the class instructor—Zhao Tiezhu.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao!”
The thirty students below, including the flying sword, all bowed in unison.
Gu Qing also clasped his hands in salute.
Zhao Tiezhu swept his gaze across the plaza, gave a slight nod, his expression quite imposing.
“Since you’ve paid the spirit stones and entered my classroom, it means we have a connection.”
“Today’s class is titled The First Step for Mortals Cultivating Immortality. I won’t speak of those ethereal and elusive Great Dao. I will only speak of the most practical matters—how to perceive spiritual energy, and how to choose cultivation techniques based on one’s own physique.”
That sounded very pragmatic.
Gu Qing took out the virtual paper and pen he had prepared in advance, ready to take notes.
“First, I need to assess your innate bone structure.”
Zhao Tiezhu waved his sleeve.
“The Spirit Network is marvelous, capable of perfectly projecting your real-world physical meridians here. Now, everyone relax your minds. I am going to activate spiritual sight and inspect each of you in turn.”
Gu Qing’s heart tightened.
Scanning meridians?
He couldn’t help but feel nervous.
He wondered what level his meridians, which had been cultivated with the Jade-Crushing Art, would be rated.
Although he hadn’t mastered it yet, his meridians had been broken and then rebuilt once. Would that make them appear unusual?
A soft white light swept down from above the plaza, enveloping everyone present.
Gu Qing only felt a slight warmth in his body, which then returned to normal.
He looked up at Zhao Tiezhu and saw that the other showed no sign of shock or peculiar expression. He felt a bit disappointed.
Seemed he had overthought it.
“Good, inspection complete.”
A scroll of light appeared in Zhao Tiezhu’s hand, densely packed with the data from the scan.
He began his commentary.
“Western Regions Mad Lion, fire-attribute mixed spiritual root. Meridians are broad but severely clogged. I suggest buying two bottles of Meridian-Clearing Pills to clear them first. Suitable for cultivating fierce and vigorous paths like the Blazing Fire Art.”
The lion head was overjoyed.
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!”
“That flying sword… are you a weapon spirit reincarnated? Ah, I see, a sword fanatic. Metal-attribute single spiritual root, decent aptitude, but your edge is too sharp, easily broken. Go back and read more predecessors’ insights. Cultivate the sword by first cultivating the self.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
Zhao Tiezhu commented quickly, giving each person only a sentence or two.
Finally, it was Gu Qing’s turn.
Zhao Tiezhu’s gaze fell upon “Passerby A,” and his brow furrowed slightly.
“Passerby A…”
He looked at the data in his hand, somewhat hesitant.
Because the data showed this person’s meridians… were too mediocre.
So mediocre they hardly seemed like someone preparing to cultivate immortality, more like an ordinary mortal farmer you might see anywhere on the roadside.
It was the worst five-element mixed spiritual root, with no attribute inclination whatsoever.
The spiritual root was utterly ordinary, yet within it seemed to hide a faint trace of something exquisite…
A bit strange.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought, chalking it up to his own overthinking.
“Ahem.”
Zhao Tiezhu cleared his throat, swallowing back the prepared commentary he had in mind.
“This fellow Daoist, your physique… is quite robust.”
He used a rather euphemistic term.
“Suitable for cultivating the body and nourishing life, extending one’s years. If you insist on cultivating, I suggest starting with gentle, health-preserving techniques like the Everlasting Spring Art. Remember, do not be greedy for quick progress or act rashly.”
With that, he directly skipped Gu Qing and looked at the next person.
Gu Qing: “…”
That’s it?
Robust?
Health-preserving?
He spent a thousand spirit stones just to be told he’s “suitable for health-preserving”?
Gu Qing felt a surge of unwillingness in his heart.
He hadn’t come here for a physical assessment.
He wanted to ask questions about the Eternal Verdant Qi-Introduction Art.
So, he raised his hand.
“Senior Brother Zhao, I have a question.”
Zhao Tiezhu stopped speaking and glanced at him with a hint of impatience.
Students with the worst aptitude often had the most questions.
“Speak.”
Gu Qing stood up, his tone sincere.
“Senior Brother mentioned the Everlasting Spring Art earlier. I have heard of it too. But from what I know, that’s merely an advanced version of mortal martial arts. What I wish to inquire about is—during true Qi-Introduction, when spiritual energy converts between the ‘Guanyuan Acupoint’ and the ‘Qihai Acupoint,’ how should one control that subtle vibration frequency? Also, if the circulation route of spiritual energy within my body differs from ordinary people, can I attempt reverse flow…”
“Stop!”
Zhao Tiezhu directly cut him off.
He looked at Gu Qing as if looking at a fool who hadn’t learned to walk but wanted to fly.
“Vibration frequency? Reverse flow?”
Zhao Tiezhu sneered.
“Student, have you been reading too many storybooks?”
“With your aptitude, you haven’t even grasped the sensation of Qi, and here you are talking about frequency, reverse flow?”
“Do you know what reverse flow is? That’s a risky move attempted only after the Foundation Establishment stage to break through bottlenecks! You, a mortal body, with ordinary meridians, want to try reverse flow? Do you have a death wish?”
A wave of laughter immediately erupted from below.
“Yeah, this brother is hilarious.”
“Talking about reverse flow, doesn’t even look at his own level.”
Gu Qing ignored the mockery and persisted.
“Senior Brother, I’m not aiming too high. I merely read related theories in books and wish to verify their feasibility. After all, what if there are special circumstances…”
“There are no ‘what ifs’.”
Zhao Tiezhu waved his hand, his expression cold.
“My classroom only teaches the standard, not the exceptions.”
“For you newcomers, the biggest taboo is wild fancies. Honestly following the standard procedure is the true path.”
Having said this, he seemed to feel the铺垫 was sufficient.
He changed his tone, a trademark professional smile appearing on his face.
“Of course, I also understand everyone’s eagerness to seek the Dao.”
“Today’s class is merely the basics of the basics, what you might call an open class.”
“Due to the large number of people, I cannot attend to each person’s special circumstances individually.”
“If you truly desire targeted guidance, want me to help you plan your cultivation path in detail, or even recommend you for entry into the North Dipper Immortal Sect’s outer disciple assessment…”
Zhao Tiezhu waved his hand, and a massive spirit rune array appeared in the sky.
“Welcome to sign up for my Elite Sprint Class.”
“One-on-one private tutoring, twelve hours a day online Q&A, plus complimentary auxiliary elixirs personally refined by me!”
“Original price one hundred thousand spirit stones. Sign up on-site today for only fifty thousand! Limited spots, first come, first served!”
Whoosh—
The entire plaza erupted.
“I’ll sign up! Senior Brother, I’ll sign up!”
“Me too! Senior Brother, look at me!”
The “Western Regions Mad Lion” was the first to charge forward.
Watching the surrounding students instantly descend into fervor, Gu Qing stood rooted in place, feeling only a wave of powerlessness.
Absurd.
So that’s how it is.
This thousand spirit stones didn’t buy knowledge at all.
It bought an admission ticket to listen to an advertisement.
Everything Zhao Tiezhu had talked about was all “correct nonsense.”
Any parts that touched upon core operations were all blocked with the phrase “that’s advanced content.”
For a student like Gu Qing, with mediocre aptitude and seemingly no intention of signing up for the class, he couldn’t even be bothered to offer a perfunctory response.
This was reality.
This was the so-called “famous teacher” of the cultivation world.
Gu Qing looked at the beaming Zhao Tiezhu on the platform and sighed silently.
He didn’t blame the other.
The man was just making a living, pulling in performance for his sect.
He only blamed himself for being too naive, thinking there truly were cheap shortcuts in this world.
Gu Qing shook his head and didn’t spare another glance at the bustling sign-up scene.
He lightly tapped his finger and selected [Exit Classroom].
Back in the deserted private space of Zhi Seven.
Gu Qing took off the sensory helmet and rubbed his throbbing temples.
Reality was cruel.
Large classes were watered-down; private tutoring was expensive.
To truly learn something suited to him, relying on this assembly-line training class was utterly futile.
Especially since he was currently cultivating the niche Jade-Crushing Art, and his physical condition was extremely unique.
Zhao Tiezhu’s standardized teaching was not only useless but could potentially mislead him.
“I need a… teacher who will listen to my questions, won’t brush me off because of my poor aptitude, and can also help me analyze the principles from a theoretical level.”
Gu Qing leaned back in the chair, staring blankly at the runes on the ceiling.
But this was undoubtedly searching for a needle in a haystack.
He still felt somewhat unwilling.
After all, the Eternal Verdant Qi-Introduction Art was taught by a Sword Immortal; it was definitely not simple.
“And… it has to be cheap.”
Gu Qing gave a bitter smile.
“Could it be I can only practice blindly on my own?”
He sat up straight again and reopened the blank search interface of [Cultivation Guidance].
This time, the look in his eyes changed.
Since “famous teachers” were unreliable, and “popular” meant marketing.
Then he would go against the grain.
In the filter bar, he blocked all tags like [99% Positive Rating], [Hot Recommendation], [Official Certification].
Then, as if guided by a ghost, he checked an extremely niche option—
[Sort by Sales, Lowest to Highest].
Since the mainstream path was blocked, he would try his luck in the neglected corners.
Perhaps, in those desolate, untraveled places, lay wild grass others looked down upon, but it might just be the life-saving spiritual herb he needed.
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