Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 703 - Return to the Sect

Every classroom and dorm was filled with discussions on this topic. After all, the Imperial Academy had over ten thousand students, and not everyone qualified to enter the cultivation world.

"We have prepared a hundred spots this time and will select the best of the best. Review the outstanding students from the past two years and bring them to me," Fan Zhen instructed the Imperial Academy’s teachers and current headmaster, who were gathered around him. It had been a year since they had last met him, and their gazes had shifted from respect to reverence.

This was the stark difference between martial artists and cultivators. Upon stepping into the cultivation world, one could be deemed a cultivator. In contrast, martial artists, despite maximizing their potential in the mundane world, remained mere mortals.

Cultivators, on the other hand, could draw energy from their surroundings and achieve the impossible, like moving mountains or controlling seas. Those were unimaginable feats for the teachers and students of the Imperial Academy, but there was an opportunity for them to enter the cultivation world today, filling them with disbelief.

The selection was handed over to Zhao Enzhu, whom Fan Zhen believed could be impartial. The advanced class students all felt nervous, as there was a significant chance they would be chosen.

The news soon spread throughout the Great Yan Dynasty, sending shockwaves. They had initially thought there were probably a dozen spots, and Liu Wuxie would surely reserve them for those close to him.

No one had expected there to be so many spots. Now that the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had become the strongest of the ten major sects, it could gain access to more resources. In addition to the income from pills and spiritual talismans, it had already begun recruiting disciples.

It had been over a year, and Jin Jianfeng remained disheveled with an unkempt beard. Unlike his peers who visited Fan Zhen, he only sat alone in an empty classroom. Few students remained under his tutelage, and his performance wasn't optimistic.

The only thing he took pride in was having mentored an extraordinary talent like Liu Wuxie. However, everyone knew Liu Wuxie hadn't attended a single class taught by Jin Jianfeng in his six months there, and his achievements had relied entirely on himself.

A person had remained in seclusion ever since Liu Wuxie’s departure and had only exited recently after reaching the Marrow Cleansing Realm. She was Xu Lingxue's master in the Imperial Academy, Baili Qing.

She sat in her courtyard; the pride she bore before had vanished, reduced to a humbler demeanor. When Liu Wuxie had humiliated her in public and nearly crippled her cultivation, it had left a lasting blow to her pride.

A rigorous selection process began in the Imperial Academy, where prodigies were picked out among the students to be sent to the cultivation world. Some sought favors and connections with Zhao Enzhu.

Several teachers even went so far as to offer their beauty in hopes of securing a spot for their descendants, only to be sternly reprimanded by Zhao Enzhu.

This wouldn’t be the only chance to enter the cultivation world, as the old headmaster had reassured them they could send prodigies into the cultivation world annually. However, if there was a mistake during the initial selection, it could lead to consequences no one would be willing to bear.

Meanwhile, the Xu Clan's gates had remained shut when Liu Wuxie returned. No visitors were allowed—not even the Emperor himself.

"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, here are two Longevity Pills. It can help to extend your lifespans," Liu Wuxie said as he took out two pills for his in-laws. While their cultivation could be considered exceptional in the mundane world, they were equivalent to nobodies in the cultivation world.

The two didn't hesitate to swallow the pills that could extend their lifespan by fifty years.

Shortly after, Liu Wuxie took out a complete cultivation chamber, a gift from the sect. He planned to stay in the mundane world for half a year and use this time to help his in-laws and the higher hierarchies of the Xu Clan increase their cultivation.

......

Though the Xu Clan had reallocated from the Azure Crimson Gate, they still retained some businesses in the city.

The entire Song Clan was filled with celebration, joy, and laughter. They had long received news from the Imperial Capital, and Song Ling was no longer the chubby fatty from the past. When he stood there, he looked like a sturdy pine tree.

When Song Tianhao saw Song Ling after more than a year, he was so overwhelmed by his son's transformation that tears streamed down his cheeks.

The Song Clan wasted no time and threw a banquet, inviting every influential figure in the Azure Billow City. They even invited shopkeepers from the Xu Clan's businesses to the city.

Later that night, Song Ling called his parents to his courtyard with a solemn expression. He took out two Longevity Pills and handed them to his parents. He said, "Father, mother, here are two Longevity Pills, capable of extending your lifespans by fifty years."

"Good! Good!" Song Tianhao was overwhelmed by surprise. The Longevity Pill was only mentioned in legends, and their son could take out two for them.

"My son, we're proud of you!" Song Ling's mother was only an ordinary woman and was content to know that her son had succeeded in the cultivation world.

"Ling'er, how's the cultivation world?" Song Tianhao, the patriarch of the Song Clan, asked calmly. He was in no hurry to take the Longevity Pill. He understood his son’s nature well—Song Ling was a man with little ambition, content as long as he could fill his stomach.

"I've been doing very well," Song Ling replied as he recounted his experiences in the cultivation world, leaving Song Tianhao excited.

An entire night passed as Song Ling shared his tales. Liu Wuxie had not only given Song Ling several Longevity Pills but also provided pills to enhance his parents’ cultivation. Moreover, Liu Wuxie had granted the Song Clan ten quotas to enter the cultivation world, leaving their allocation entirely to Song Ling.

This meant Liu Wuxie wouldn't intervene even if Song Ling brought someone with no talent into the cultivation world.

"We won't be going. I'll pick ten talented disciples to assist you in the cultivation world," Song Tianhao said. He also hadn't expected Liu Wuxie to have taught Song Ling to craft spiritual talismans and be in charge of handling them. Although Song Ling hoped they could be together, Song Tianhao had other plans. He knew the Heavenly Dao Society had just been established, and he could follow his son to the cultivation world after a few years when the Heavenly Dao Society gained a firm footing in the cultivation world.

He would only be a burden to Song Ling if he went now.

Song Ling respected his father's decision. With the Longevity Pills already consumed, his parents' cultivation progress would remain steady. Thanks to the assistance of the pills, their advancement would not lag behind those in the cultivation world.

......

The entire Imperial Capital was bustling with activity. After Liu Wuxie had settled matters with his in-laws, he went to the Imperial Palace. His arrival was met with the highest honors. The second prince, the current Emperor, and the Old Emperor came out to welcome him. Even an Emperor from a high-tier nation might not be able to receive such treatment.

However, Liu Wuxie's status had surpassed even the Emperors of the high-tier nations. This wasn't Liu Wuxie's first time in the Imperial Palace, and the Old Emperor sat before Liu Wuxie.

"Wuxie, I hope Yan'er didn't cause any trouble for you," the Old Emperor said as he inquired about his daughter's condition. He still didn't know of the relationship between Liu Wuxie and Chen Ruoyan, or he wouldn't be so cautious in his tone if he knew.

Liu Wuxie had long considered Chen Ruoyan as his woman, so he visited the Imperial Palace. Since he had helped Song Ling, he couldn't mistreat Chen Ruoyan's family.

"She's doing well, and she was in seclusion by the time I left," Liu Wuxie replied honestly.

The current Emperor and the second prince didn't even have the qualification to intervene in the conversation and could only sit by the side. Before Liu Wuxie left the Imperial Palace, he left several Longevity Pills, cultivation manuals, and pills, which the Old Emperor regarded as treasure.

When the Old Emperor heard that a selection of talents was ongoing in the Imperial Academy, he wanted to say something but ultimately refrained from speaking out. The current Imperial Academy had become a cradle for Liu Wuxie, a source of talent.

In the past, the Imperial Academy served to nurture talents for the royal clan. However, the Old Emperor understood that the Great Yan Dynasty’s survival depended on the Imperial Academy’s stability. As long as it stood, the Chen Clan’s position on the throne remained secure.

The Xu Clan had no interest in authority, and after Xu Yilin's departure, its focus might shift to the cultivation world.

Xu Yishan would tie up the loose ends before entering the cultivation world to build a new Xu Clan.

Time flowed steadily. Ten days ago, Song Ling had brought ten disciples from the Song Clan to the Xu Clan, where they now awaited their departure to the cultivation world, scheduled in five days.

Meanwhile, the selection was still ongoing at the Imperial Academy. Every chosen student roared in excitement, and their families eagerly sent gifts in doves to the Xu Clan, but they could only leave the gifts outside as they couldn't enter.

The Xu Clan didn't accept any gifts; they donated all to the poor.

They were stumped when Li Shengsheng, Chen Qilin, and the others heard that they had been chosen. They weren't considered exceptional in cultivation; they had an unreliable teacher and had to rely on their own efforts.

The selection was completed in half a month, and all hundred students were ready to set off to the cultivation world. Their families were gathered outside the Imperial Academy, bidding farewell with endless words of advice. After all, they would no longer have any control over their lives once they entered the cultivation world.

In just half a month, Xu Yilin and Yang Zi had reached the pinnacle of the Heavenly Phase Realm, a speed only achieved because of Liu Wuxie’s help.

As for Xu Yishan, Liu Wuxie had brought his cultivation to the pinnacle of the True Core Realm, capable of making him unrivaled in the mundane world.

Fan Zhen brought out the warship and opened the doors, allowing the chosen disciples to enter.

"Old Patriarch!" The Xu Clan's guards and disciples fell on their knees.

"Everyone, stand up. Once the Xu Clan has secured our footing in the cultivation world, I will return and take all of you to the cultivation world," Xu Yilin said as he overlooked the entire Imperial Capital, his voice reaching every corner of the Imperial Capital.

The chosen students were excited as they boarded the warship before they could bid farewell to their families. As for those who weren't chosen, they stood with their heads lowered in disappointment.

However, the headmaster had told them there would be a day when the Imperial Academy would be moved to the cultivation world.

"Wuxie, take care of Yan'er on my behalf," the Old Emperor said as he patted Liu Wuxie's shoulder.

"I will," Liu Wuxie nodded. His relationship with Chen Ruoyan was complicated, but he said no more. Slowly, he ascended into the sky and boarded the warship, offering a final wave to those below.

Song Tianhao's face glowed with pride. The Song Clan, having their ten disciples enter the cultivation world, was an achievement unparalleled in the history of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Fan Zhen controlled the warship as it vanished into the horizon. But the people below remained in the same spot, unwilling to leave.