1 Arriving at the Sacred Ground Academy
Jiā Lán Continent, one of the seven continents of the Mystic Heaven Continent, is nestled between Evergreen Continent and Tsukushi Continent. It boasts the largest landmass of the seven. Even a Mystic King, traversing Jiā Lán Continent by air, would require approximately a year of continuous, tireless flight.
Jiā Lán Continent is divided into five major regions: East, West, South, North, and Central.
The East and South are predominantly comprised of nations. While enjoying internal stability, these nations frequently engage in wars with each other. The West and North are largely controlled by sects, resulting in a more chaotic environment where murder and pillaging are commonplace. These regions also serve as a foothold for the Demon Realm. The Central region houses the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground, the most peaceful area on the continent. No one dares to cause trouble there.
The Sacred Ground Academy sits at the foot of the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground, separated by a vast forest and three thousand stone steps. It serves as the primary institution for cultivating talent for the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground.
After more than four days of travel, punctuated by various stops, the transport airship finally arrived back at the Sacred Ground Academy.
From the deck, looking down, one can see a series of magnificent buildings stretching across the land. It resembles a city more than an academy—a massive metropolis of learning, more impressive than the capital of any nation!
The Sacred Ground Academy is divided into the Outer and Inner Academies. These are separated by a vast and majestic river known as the “Dragon Gate River.” Within the river dwells the academy’s guardian beast, an ancient Jiao (Flood Dragon).
The Outer Academy is organized into four distinct districts: East, West, South, and North, each housing students from the corresponding regions.
The transport airship landed on the airstrip in the East District of the Outer Academy. Over a thousand students disembarked in an orderly manner, their eyes filled with curiosity as they gazed upon the cultivation grounds they had long dreamt of.
Yan Zhen also looked around, comparing the scene to the descriptions in the script while searching for familiar landmarks.
However, the Outer Academy is merely the “gateway” to the Sacred Ground Academy, lacking any truly remarkable features. The Inner Academy is the true heart of the institution, containing all the significant and symbolic structures.
For example, the “Four Cardinal Boundary Pillars” emit a repelling barrier that envelops the entire Inner Academy. Should anyone attempt to enter the Inner Academy through unauthorized means, they will trigger the barrier and be repelled.
Another example is the “Celestial Dome Pagoda,” a peculiar and immense tower that pierces the clouds. It possesses the ability to gather and harness the celestial energies of wind and thunder. The concentrated power of lightning dramatically accelerates cultivation speed. This is a benefit exclusive to Inner Academy students.
Consequently, Outer Academy students are incredibly eager to cross the Dragon Gate River and enter the Inner Academy, hoping to “leap the dragon gate” and achieve greatness.
To gain entry to the Inner Academy, one must first cultivate to the Mystic Master realm. Then, they must participate in the annual promotion assessment, known as the “Dragon Gate Selection.” The top one hundred students are granted admission to the Inner Academy.
Alternatively, students can apply for a special examination to enter the Inner Academy.
According to the script, Yan Zhen will only spend one month in the Outer Academy. Then, with the assistance of Instructor Yu Xuan, he will successfully apply for the special examination, triumph over his opponent, and gain swift entry to the Inner Academy, avoiding wasting time in the Outer Academy.
Yan Zhen’s second future wife, the Goddess Zi Xunyi of the Celestial God Clan, is a student in the Inner Academy.
Yan Zhen’s future mount, the Dragon Girl, is also within the Inner Academy. She is likely still unhatched, awaiting the vast amount of energy he will provide for her to emerge.
“…”
—Thinking a bit too far ahead.
Yan Zhen collected his wandering thoughts and, along with the girls, followed the two reception instructors to the new student dormitories, where they each received a key.
Unsurprisingly, the keys were distributed according to cultivation level.
Huangfu Wenqing received the first key, Yan Zhen the second, and the Third Prince of the Black Horn Empire the third. All three were at the Mystic Master realm.
The lower the number, the better the accommodations, just like on the airship.
As for Yan Meng’er, Yan Ruyu, Mi Xue’er, and Xiao Xinyan, because they had snuck in, they were escorted by Instructor Yu Xuan to her residence within the Outer Academy.
“We’re next door neighbors!”
Huangfu Wenqing, delighted, took Yan Zhen’s arm under the watchful gazes of the other students and entered the dormitory with him. They then proceeded to their respective assigned rooms.
The conditions in rooms one, two, and three were virtually identical, yet Yan Zhen felt a twinge of frustration.
In the script, Huangfu Wenqing didn’t come to the Sacred Ground Academy at all. He was supposed to have the highest cultivation among the new students and, therefore, receive the key to room number one.
Shortly after settling in, senior students from the East District would typically visit the new students to assert their dominance. As the top-ranked new student, Yan Zhen would naturally be their target. He recalled that in the script, the senior students came directly to his door.
Now, with Huangfu Wenqing occupying room number one, the senior students would likely target her instead, and the crucial plot point might not be triggered.
Should he go to room number one at the appropriate time?
In the script, Yan Zhen was caught off guard by the senior students shortly after settling in. If not for his strength, he might have been intimidated, especially being new to the academy.
Thinking of this, Yan Zhen left his room and knocked on his fiancée’s door.
The door opened, and Yan Zhen feigned shyness: “May I come in and take a look?”
Huangfu Wenqing, momentarily surprised, then beamed with delight: “Of course, come in.”
The room’s layout was similar to his own. Strangely, despite Huangfu Wenqing’s brief occupancy, the room was already filled with her delicate fragrance, transformed into a “maiden’s boudoir.”
Observing Yan Zhen pretending to look around, Huangfu Wenqing suddenly understood.
He was feeling nervous in this unfamiliar environment and sought out the closest familiar person (his fiancée) for comfort.
—Another opportunity!
“Yan Zhen, would you like to go for a walk and explore the surroundings?”
Yan Zhen immediately declined. He was waiting for the senior students’ challenge: “It’s too cold outside. Let’s stay inside where it’s more comfortable.”
Huangfu Wenqing blinked, puzzled, wondering if she had misjudged the situation.
—Wait.
Could it be that Yan Zhen came to her room for… intimacy?
She considered herself attractive, though her figure was comparatively less developed. However, Yan Zhen was surrounded by women with ample bosoms and curvaceous figures. Even if she was flat-chested, she was unique in that regard. Perhaps Yan Zhen also harbored a desire for her, but was simply too shy to admit it. After all, he had seemed quite… eager this morning.
Thinking of this, Huangfu Wenqing’s heart began to race, and her gaze towards Yan Zhen became alluring.
He was clearly interested in her, yet he refused to initiate, leaving her, a young lady, to overcome her modesty and make the first move. What a frustrating fiancé.
But she couldn’t deny her affection for him.
“You’re right. Let’s stay in the room then.”
Huangfu Wenqing shifted closer, pressing against Yan Zhen, and whispered, “Just sitting here is rather boring. Why don’t we… practice what a married couple should do?”
Huh? Yan Zhen looked surprised, wondering if Huangfu Wenqing was too eager. They had just arrived at the Sacred Ground Academy, and she was already thinking about such things. Was this appropriate?
—Yun Xiu sent you here to cultivate, not for this!