"Reverence fosters discipline, and tradition can establish faith. The Dean's rule probably carries that intent. But the first rule of the Freshman Hall… it's a bit strange. A bit inhumane."
Qiu Lu suddenly spoke up. The first part sounded insightful, but the latter made many roll their eyes. To go from discussing the badge of honor to criticizing the rule against entering others' rooms—his train of thought was wildly erratic.
"This was established by Dean Zhang. Naturally, there must be good reason behind it." Some of the freshmen already disliked the spoiled and arrogant youth with a tender face, so someone immediately rebuked him.
Qiu Lu sneered, "Who says everything Dean Zhang says is always right? I recall our professors telling us that Qingluan Academy welcomes all kinds of questioning."
Perhaps feeling proud of cutting down the Dean's rules using the Dean's own philosophy, a hint of smugness crept onto his delicate face.
But the one-eyed black-robed instructor coldly replied without hesitation, "What the Dean says is always right."
Qiu Lu froze, still unwilling to concede. "I don't mean any disrespect to the Dean. But no one's perfect. To say that everything he says is right is too absolute, no?"
"I say he is right not because he is perfect, but because he is powerful—so powerful that no one in the entire Yunqin Empire can defeat him," the instructor said coldly.
Qiu Lu's face paled. He suddenly realized that if he tried to argue logic with someone who could crush him with a flick of the finger, then that person was always "right."
Lin Xi, on the other hand, smiled slightly. It seemed that middle-aged uncle had indeed brought many changes to this ancient-style world. Even through such an exchange, the black-robed instructor had subtly revealed the academy's ways of doing things.
The instructor gave Qiu Lu a glance, then said, "Now I'll explain some basic academy rules. Besides the required courses of our Warfare Department, the academy offers dozens of electives... A detailed course list will soon be posted outside your Freshman Hall. Once you accumulate enough credits, you may leave the Freshman Hall and access more advanced courses and trials."
"The lesson I'm giving now is a core class for all departments: Soulforce Cultivation."
With that single sentence, silence fell over the grass-roofed hut beside the quiet stream.
"It's finally beginning." Lin Xi gathered his focus, his attention locked onto the instructor.
"If we think of our bodies as shells, then the blood flowing within us is the power that drives eating, sleeping, walking—everything. Soulforce is something like our blood. But most ordinary people have soulforce too weak to perceive, let alone use."
"Meditation and certain medicines can gradually strengthen our soulforce until it can be harnessed. At first, it can regulate our blood and body functions, enhance strength… Later, it can become tangible, even lethal."
"Nearly all meditative cultivation methods are similar. The key is inner peace. However, as far as we know, all spirit medicines that assist soulforce growth become ineffective after reaching the Fourth Stage—after Soulforce Condensation."
The hut remained silent, as all the freshmen knew the Warfare Department's core aim: to fight opponents, to kill in order to prevent killing. Soulforce was the power behind most combat techniques. No one dared interrupt.
"To have inner peace means to remain tranquil, free of distractions, to forget the self, to sense only one's mind and soul."
The instructor continued slowly and clearly, "The hardest part for all cultivators is sensing their own mind and soul. We know our thoughts and actions are directed by them, but we cannot pinpoint them."
"True, prolonged meditation will lead to spiritual growth, even if you don't feel it. But for most people, the time required is far too long. That's why so many never pass this threshold and become cultivators."
"Generally, late at night when all is still is the best time for meditation. That's when beginners are most likely to succeed. If someone intrudes while you meditate, the turbulence in their soulforce can cause unpredictable and even horrifying consequences—paralysis, insanity… That is why the Dean strictly forbids students from entering one another's rooms under any circumstances."
After saying this, the instructor took out a white jade bottle and said, "Each of you gets one pill. Take it immediately."
"You probably know what this is—it's the Bright Insight Pill, exclusive to Qingluan Academy. It helps you break through the barrier of sensing your own soulforce," he added as the freshmen's eyes lit up with fanatical excitement.
…
A pea-sized green pill landed in Lin Xi's hand.
Its glow was soft and misty, like the hazy rain over the southern provinces. The fragrance was slightly like gardenia.
"So this is how you've changed the academy… how direct."
Lin Xi smiled bitterly to himself and swallowed the pill.
Though the professors had already hinted during their grueling journey from Lake Lingxia that Qingluan Academy's strength lay in its unmatched resources, Lin Xi never expected they'd hand out such a valuable pill in the very first lesson.
From the instructor's brief words and the stunned expressions of the "Golden Spoon" students, Lin Xi could tell this pill was extremely rare.
It melted in his mouth, sweet and sour—like a kiss.
The instructor watched each student swallow the pill, his lone eye cold. "Now, try to find calm. Attempt to forget yourself. Begin meditating."
"Here?" several Golden Spoon students exclaimed in shock. "But teacher, didn't you just say night is the best time? And we're all crammed together…"
Even though the hut was quiet, the babbling brook, birdsong, and breeze made the place distracting. And for those who had dabbled in cultivation before, it was far from ideal.
But the instructor sneered and barked, "With your current strength, even if you pile together to meditate, your soulforce wouldn't affect anyone. If I can teach you here, why would you have problems meditating in your dorm later? Close your eyes! No talking! Open only when I say so."
Lin Xi closed his eyes, filled with anticipation.
The instructor's voice cut in sharply, "For first-timers who can't find calm, use the three methods: breath, awareness, guidance. Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth. When saliva forms, swallow it and visualize water from the sky pouring through your throat, irrigating your entire body. Repeat. Then try to clear your mind."
Lin Xi didn't try to brute-force his way into a trance. He followed the instructor's method step by step.
He had never trained in soulforce, but as someone who saw himself as a traveler, his heart was far purer than most in this world. With no entanglement in fame or gain, he reached the meditative state faster than even Tang Ke and several other students who had trained for years.
At first, his mind was filled with images from his hometown—grass swaying near the archway of Deerwood Town, the figures of two adults and one child plus an old yellow dog at the town gate—but these only made him more serene.
Gradually, he forgot his own existence. It felt like he was standing in a boundless space. Before his vision was a green disk-like glow, and beside it, wisps of heat gathered, slowly forming a stream of yellow light.
…
The one-eyed instructor silently observed the freshmen.
Sunlight shifted from soft to harsh and back again. Most students, at first twitching with changing expressions, now appeared calm. A few even snored.
"Enough. Open your eyes!"
The voice cut through the air like a drawn blade. Lin Xi and the others shuddered and opened their eyes. Those who had snored turned red with shame.
Lin Xi was stunned. Without realizing it, morning had turned to evening.