Chapter 19: The First Qi Refining Class

After finishing that round of errands, Fang Cun had obtained his student plaque, scriptures, robes, and code of conduct. He breathed a small sigh of relief inside. At the very least, stepping out of the Academy gates now, he was no longer an ordinary citizen, but an Academy Disciple…

However, receiving these things wasn’t his main concern. For him, having entered the Academy meant stepping onto the path of Qi Refining. What fascinated him most was naturally the Qi Refining method that would help him embark on cultivation. While the identity of an Academy Disciple was certainly prestigious, only by learning the Qi Refining Method and grasping extraordinary abilities would he truly gain confidence.

Inside the Teaching Pavilion, an old Steward inquired about Fang Cun’s foundation: “Have you refined Qi before? If so, to what stage? What is your foundational root?”

Fang Cun answered honestly: “I’ve never refined Qi. Not even stage one. Absolutely no foundation whatsoever!”

Upon hearing this, the Steward gave him a curious look.

While it might seem that the Qi Refining Method was taught by the Academy here in the Great Xia Dynasty, both among noble families and esteemed masters, anyone with any background trained their juniors from childhood, imparting abilities early. Some hadn’t even entered the Academy yet but had already cultivated skills up to several stages, only lacking the attainment of a Treasure Body. Fang Cun, as the well-known younger brother of the Little Immortal Master… If the Little Immortal Master had guided him, the Steward wouldn’t have been surprised if Fang Cun had achieved a Treasure Body immediately upon entering the Academy. But to be completely ignorant?

“I’ve heard people say that the Second Young Master of the Fang Family has no learning or skills. I didn’t expect…” The Steward shook his head, clicking his tongue softly. Clearly, he didn’t believe Fang Cun never had the opportunity to learn. He figured Fang Cun had just been idling on the streets, wasting precious time. His gaze held an unconcealed hint of disdain.

Fang Cun was already accustomed to this. He slapped a handful of silver banknotes into the man’s face.

The Steward cleared his throat, becoming much more amiable. He smiled at Fang Cun and said, “Since you haven’t learned anything at all, a blank slate, then we must start you from the very beginning. However, the Academy enrolled its disciples two years ago. By now, most of the others are already quite deep into their cultivation; some delve into the Nine Classics, some nurture their Treasure Bodies. If you joined them, you wouldn’t understand a thing. It can’t be helped, you need to start at…” He paused, thought for a moment, and marked a spot decisively with his brush: “…the Yuanzhi Pavilion!”

Then he added in a lower voice with a smile, “When Second Young Master Fang has made progress in his cultivation, come find me again. We can arrange something better for you then!”

Fang Cun understood immediately.

Those with higher cultivation levels and deeper studies had already moved on to comprehending profound doctrines. Even though he had entered the Academy, he had to start from scratch. Going elsewhere wouldn’t do him any good because he wouldn’t follow. So, he was assigned to Yuanzhi Pavilion. He didn’t need the Steward to spell it out; he could guess that Yuanzhi Pavilion was likely a gathering place for the… less accomplished students. Presumably, the things taught there would be more rudimentary.

“No one willing to take me as a personal disciple?”

Fang Cun considered this briefly, then chuckled lightly and agreed.

Before entering the Academy, he had learned quite a bit about it.

Most disciples simply followed the Instructors step by step, gradually refining techniques and cultivating their skills. Over three years, they steadily learned increasingly complex things. The relationship between these disciples and their Instructors was merely a standard teacher-student bond…

There were exceptions, however. For instance, those with high talent might catch the eye of an Instructor, or even an Elder Mentor, who would regard them differently, take them under their personal wing, personally guide their cultivation, and even pass on their legacy. When such disciples reach the pinnacle of their training, sometimes the teacher would leverage their contacts to recommend them to familiar County Sects, helping them forge a path forward. That was considered a true master-disciple relationship.

In regular public classes, the Instructor or Elder Mentor might not necessarily teach you the true profound mysteries.

But once becoming a true master-disciple, they would practically want to give you everything they had!

His elder brother, Fang Chi, back in the Academy days, had been the legacy disciple of an old Instructor. His brother had caused plenty of trouble within the Academy, and it was that old Instructor who, time and again, protecting him regardless of cost, ensured he steadily embarked on his cultivation journey.

Logically speaking, Fang Cun had already revealed considerable aptitude during his challenge of the Rear Mountain. He should have caught the attention of some Instructors, perhaps even an Elder Mentor, enough to make them consider taking him as a personal disciple. Yet, since entering the Academy and meeting so many people, no one had even mentioned it. Undoubtedly, it still had to do with his status – these people were unwilling to get too close to him.

However, thinking about the secret he inherited from his brother, Fang Cun felt that perhaps it was better not to be too close. Being too close might risk exposing his secret!

……

Carrying the stack of items, he made his way to the rear courtyard of the Academy where his carriage awaited. He climbed inside and changed into the Academy robes. Surveying himself, he saw a figure clad in elegant white robes, possessing an otherworldly air. His hair was simply tied up, fastened with a pale blue jade hairpin threaded with faint gold inlays. The moon-white robe, the blue jade hairpin, paired with black cloud-patterned Suzhou embroidery suede thick-soled boots…

Hmm. That’s the look!

Xiao Qingliu, seated in front of the carriage, held up a bronze mirror for the young master to admire himself. “Truly handsome, Young Master! Absolutely incomparably handsome!”

“Enough flattery. At most, I’m reasonably handsome and distinguished, with an air of transcendence…” Fang Cun waved dismissively and casually tossed a jade pendant to him. “A reward for you.”

Xiao Qingliu gushed even more: “The Young Master is humble as well…”

Fang Cun smiled, glanced once more at his reflection in the mirror, and muttered, “Wonder if it’ll attract a few pretty young junior sisters…”

“Definitely not…” Xiao Qingliu shook his head. “The Young Master enrolled two years later than others. Everyone here is a senior sister now. What fun would that be?”

Fang Cun gave him a look. “Sounds like you’re an amateur!”

Instructing Xiao Qingliu to wait patiently here until the end of classes, Fang Cun slung his book box onto his back and strode purposefully towards Yuanzhi Pavilion. Admittedly, while he hadn’t started refining Qi yet, dressed in the Academy robes with the book box on his back, walking along the pebble-strewn path flanked by strangely fragrant, swaying exotic plants, under a bright blazing sun, with a gentle breeze touching his face…

That felt awesome!

As he walked further, the status of Yuanzhi Pavilion within the Academy became clear. An unwritten rule here was that the Instructors and Elder Mentors of higher status and cultivation levels preferred teaching their lessons from pavilions deeper within the Academy grounds, always in locations boasting fine feng shui and beautiful scenery. The highest-ranked even favored teaching directly amidst mountain streams and wild paths, emphasizing simplicity and naturalness.

The Yuanzhi Pavilion Fang Cun was heading towards, however, was merely after traversing two corridors, tucked right into a corner on the Academy’s periphery. The pavilion itself was an ancient-looking building, its corners adorned with lion-ornamented flying eaves. The lattice wooden windows were wide open. Before Fang Cun even stepped inside, the incessant buzz of chatter, laughter, and debate drifted out. For a fleeting moment, it transported Fang Cun back to his previous life’s… less prestigious university experience.

When Fang Cun, carrying his book box, entered the Yuanzhi Pavilion, the noisy clamor inside died abruptly. Numerous eyes snapped towards him – looks of curiosity, anticipation. Instantly, Fang Cun felt like he was standing under a spotlight.

“Is that him? The Little Immortal Master’s brother? Second Young Master Fang?”

“Hmph, yesterday he was the one who succeeded in the Rear Mountain challenge? Became the seventeenth in three years?”

“Thought he’d have three heads and six arms. Turns out… just good-looking?”

……

Fang Cun cleared his throat softly. After a quick glance around, and under the collective scrutiny, he calmly walked towards the back of the study pavilion, carrying his book box. Several small desks were empty back there. He felt quite pleased with the location of these back desks. Somehow, whether in this life or his last, seeing those back rows always gave him a sense of coming home…

Inside the pavilion, murmurs instantly rose again. Everyone pointed fingers, leaned close to whisper to each other, eyes constantly flickering towards Fang Cun.

After yesterday’s Rear Mountain event, Fang Cun had obviously become a minor celebrity within the Academy.

Of course, even without the Rear Mountain incident, he would have still been famous.

“Second Young Master Fang, do you still remember me?”

Someone near him stood up, clasping his hands in a slight salute towards Fang Cun, smiling as he spoke.

Fang Cun looked up and saw a young man, around eighteen or nineteen, with a stocky build, draped in ornaments, and a face full of coarse, scowling features.

“Senior Brother Shen, it’s been a long time…”

Fang Cun smiled, clasping his hands in return. He recognized this person.

He was another scion of a Willow Lake City noble family. They had once fought each other over a street-performing young lady!

Shen Shiming scrutinized Fang Cun for a few moments, his smile tinged with mockery. “Fancy that, Second Young Master Fang. All the young toughs back in Willow Lake City used to look up to you as their leader. But times change, don’t they? Here you are now, transformed into… my junior brother?”

Fang Cun made a pained expression. “Does that mean… I should come to my Senior Brother Shen for guidance often?”

Shen Shiming’s face lit up with unconcealed smugness. He snorted coldly. “We’ll see. If I’m in a good mood, offering some guidance wouldn’t hurt!”

Sigh…

Here he was, the reputable Second Young Master Fang. At the very least, he had entered the Academy by succeeding at Rear Mountain challenge – if not a genius, certainly an outstanding prospect! It was only because no one would take him as a personal disciple that he ended up here in Yuanzhi Pavilion, where the most rudimentary things were taught. Yet Shen Shiming and the rest? They entered the Academy with everyone else two years ago and still had to remain in this lowest-level pavilion! And they had the nerve to strut around like big shots here?

Fang Cun sighed helplessly inside. Why should he even argue with people like this?

If he cursed them, they wouldn’t get the subtlety. If they cursed him, he understood it perfectly clearly. That wasn’t fair!

……

Just as they were speaking, the sound of footsteps came from outside the doorway. The disorderly pavilion grew instantly silent.

Even Fang Cun involuntarily straightened his spine slightly.

He actually attached some importance to this first Qi Refining class of his in this life…

While he was thinking this, a young Instructor, looking about thirty years old, entered. He was clad in black robes and cradled a scroll of scriptures in his arms. His features were actually quite refined. Despite looking young, his face was expressionless, completely devoid of any smile, giving him an air of severity. Judging by the pavilion’s name, this man’s name should be Yuanzhi. Fang Cun hadn’t expected him to be this young.

The Instructor’s gaze swept the pavilion. Everyone was sitting ramrod straight, not daring even to breathe loudly.

Then his gaze traveled around the room before finally landing squarely on Fang Cun, seated right at the back. He spoke tonelessly: “You are Fang Cun?”

Fang Cun stood up. “Yes, Instructor, I…”

Before he could finish, the man pointed towards the doorway.

“Out!”