C6 The Sixth Chapter

In the Ancestral Home.

Xia Yi sat cross-legged on his bed, hands lifted high above his head, each breath long and laden with effort.

He was attempting to master the 'Spirit Guidance Technique' as chronicled in the 'Spirit Secret Records'.

The Xia family were not warriors by tradition.

The 'Spirit Secret Records' were a heritage passed down from the family's first ancestor, who had instructed his progeny to keep the secret record alive through generations.

Most of the cultivation methods and Spirit Gathering Formations detailed in the 'Spirit Secret Records' were quite common, save for one particular formation, the 'Spirit Gathering Transformation', which barely qualified as a superior cultivation method.

It was by employing the 'Spirit Gathering Transformation' that Xia Yi had previously caused a meteorite to fall.

The 'Spirit Guidance Technique' was a practice designed to channel the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth through the body. Although Xia Yi lacked a Martial Spirit, the technique's introduction explained that it could still be cultivated without one, albeit at a significantly slower pace.

For an individual endowed with a Martial Spirit, ten days of cultivation could match a hundred years for someone without. Such was the disparity.

For Xia Yi, meditation was as natural as drinking water. It's worth noting that during his studies of talisman arts with the old Taoist, he had also dedicated ten years to meditation.

With a mind clear and detached, he lost the sense of self. Amidst the rhythm of his breathing, a faint glimmer began to emerge within the depths of his consciousness, smaller than a sesame seed.

It resembled a solitary lamp in the pitch-black night, its feeble light flickering, seemingly on the brink of being extinguished with the slightest touch.

Despite this being Xia Yi's first encounter with it, he recognized it instantly from the descriptions in the secret record.

It was the Seed of Spiritual Qi, the very essence of all spirits.

The goal of drawing the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth into oneself was to nourish and expand this Seed of Spiritual Qi.

The Seed of Spiritual Qi appeared weak and intermittent in Xia Yi's consciousness, causing him considerable concern. He began to apply the 'Spirit Guidance Technique', but to his surprise, not only did he fail to draw in the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, but the already dim light of the Seed of Spiritual Qi grew fainter still.

To prevent any mishaps, Xia Yi had no choice but to exit the realm of consciousness and pause his cultivation for the time being.

During dinner, Xia Yi shared with Xia Ye the day's progress in his cultivation, which left Xia Ye utterly alarmed. "Brother! The Seed of Spiritual Qi is the Seed of Life. When it's weak, you must cultivate in an area rich with Spiritual Qi. If you deplete the Seed of its Spiritual Qi, and it extinguishes, you won't survive."

"That serious? Where can I find a place with abundant Spiritual Qi around here?"

...

Under the luminous moon, Xia Yi sat cross-legged at the bottom of the massive crater he had formed with his own body. He offered Xia Ye, who looked on with concern, a reassuring smile before closing his eyes to focus on his breathing.

This crater, carved out by Xia Yi's own impact, was the location with the richest Spiritual Qi in the vicinity. It's no wonder Xia Yi had previously chosen this spot for his Spirit Gathering Array.

This time was different. Although invisible to the eye, Xia Yi could sense countless white specks of light dancing in the air around him.

Before long, the dim light within his consciousness began to twinkle. With meticulous care, Xia Yi employed the 'Spirit Guiding Technique' to draw the white specks—the Spiritual Qi—towards the glimmering point.

Initially, the Spiritual Qi Seed was reluctant, darting away at the approach of the Spiritual Qi. Fortunately, Xia Yi was the epitome of patience, calmly directing the Spiritual Qi wherever the Seed fled.

At last, as the Spiritual Qi Seed neared extinguishment, a wisp of Spiritual Qi gently enshrouded it. The Seed flickered and then remained still.

More and more strands of Spiritual Qi began to cling to the Seed, gradually increasing its luminosity. Having experienced the benefits, the Seed became receptive, no longer resisting the incoming Spiritual Qi. Instead, it actively sought out the elusive Qi, brightening from its once dim state.

Approximately three hours passed, and the once feeble Spiritual Qi Seed had made a full recovery.

It no longer flickered in and out of existence but instead hung steadily in the center of his consciousness, spinning contentedly in place.

The spiritual energy that Xia Yi channeled into the spirit seed continued to flow without end, but frustratingly, even though the spirit seed was desperately absorbing it, there were no visible changes on its surface.

The spirit seed could be likened to a bottle, and the spiritual energy to water. If the bottle's volume remained unchanged, then no matter how much water was poured in, what good would it do?

Water spills over when the bottle is full.

Realizing this, Xia Yi's confusion dissipated. He breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.

Outside the pit, Xia Ye watched him intently, their eyes locked. For some reason, her face, hidden beneath a veil, flushed with color.

...

Over the past few days, Xia Yi had devoted his time to entertaining distinguished guests, aside from when he was studying the secret scriptures in his leisure time.

Xia Ye had spread the word that Xia Yi was seeking employment, and within three days, notable guests had come knocking.

Though Xia Yi's fame had waned, he was still a force to be reckoned with, and many in Insasari remembered him well.

Lan Tianye, the Left Minister, sent his eldest son to extend an invitation for Xia Yi to take up a position in his household.

The King of Chu went even further, sending a letter with a military token enclosed. The message was clear: as long as you're willing to come, regardless of whether you possess a 'martial spirit,' you will still be my former undefeated vanguard general.

In addition to these prominent figures, various well-known scholars and gentlemen lined up to extend their invitations. They came in droves, from dawn till dusk, employing every tactic from appealing to emotions to presenting logical arguments, offering money, and even people, in their attempts to sway him.

The Xia residence buzzed with activity once more.

Consequently, even the Xia clan members who had been looking for trouble with Xia Yi held their peace.

The offers from the visiting dignitaries grew increasingly generous, yet Xia Yi remained undecided about whom to accept.

Join the military?

He had absolutely no interest...

Heading to the Prime Minister's residence?

Civil servants were far more treacherous than warriors; one misstep could cost a life.

Xia Yi was meticulous in his choices for two reasons: the abundance of options and a clear objective. In a world where supernatural strength was the norm, failing to swiftly enhance his own abilities meant not only abandoning his master's wishes but also struggling to survive.

After much deliberation, Xia Yi settled on an excellent profession.

He would join the Dragonflight Cloister as a teacher.

Xia Yi had three reasons for this decision.

First, it was safe, stress-free, and relaxing. As a teacher, he wouldn't need to engage in constant scheming; his sole focus would be on educating his students.

Second, the Dragonflight Cloister was under the patronage of the Kisal royal family. Even the highest-ranking nobles had to heed the royal command. The position came with a generous compensation of two hundred silver taels per month and a mansion.

Third, and most importantly, the academy offered a wealth of knowledge. Xia Ye had mentioned that the Dragonflight Cloister housed an extensive collection of martial techniques and a rare fifth-grade spirit gathering tower, offering the quickest path to acquiring a 'martial spirit.'

This was the one.

Xia Yi took the yellow silk appointment letter and affixed his seal.

Resolved, Xia Yi wasted no time in approaching Xia Yan to express his desire to leave the family.

Xia Yan and his wife had long wished to rid themselves of the Xia siblings. Xia Yi's decision played right into their hands. Upon signing the agreement and affixing his seal, Xia Yan, notoriously stingy, uncharacteristically handed over a thousand gold taels as a severance for Xia Yi.

A decade earlier, upon Xia Yi's initial mastery of the Unification of Martial Spirit, the reigning monarch had rewarded him with ten thousand gold taels. But Xia Yi was no longer concerned with the past. He accepted the thousand gold taels, claimed the secret records left by his ancestors, and took nothing more than some personal clothing.

Xia Yi made the decision and acted immediately. On the very day the family split, he left the Xia Mansion with Xia Ye and moved into Dragonflight Cloister.

Securing a place for Xia Ye to study at Dragonflight Cloister was one of the conditions Xia Yi had agreed to in exchange for his teaching services.

Having settled into their new home, it was only natural to purchase some everyday essentials. However, while Xia Yi and his sister were out shopping, an infuriating incident occurred.

A sleazy-looking, short, and thin old man with a goatee stepped in front of Xia Yi with a calm demeanor and proclaimed, "Young man, your forehead is dark and your eyes lack luster. If my predictions are accurate, you're bound to encounter a violent misfortune today."

Xia Yi shot him a fierce look, "I foresee that your days are numbered, and you likely won't last much longer. You'd best hurry home and make your final arrangements!"

The old man's face contorted with displeasure, "I've read your face and foretold your fate. You may not believe me, but there's no need for such rude remarks."

"What does my supposed misfortune have to do with you?"

Xia Yi's retort left the old man speechless, and he only regained his composure after the siblings had walked a considerable distance away. He then approached a well-dressed young man and whispered ominously, "Young man, your forehead is dark and your eyes are dull. My divination suggests you're destined for a bloody disaster today."

The young man became visibly distressed, "Is that so? Then... could you please tell me how to avert this impending calamity?"

The old man stroked his goatee with an air of mystery and replied, "To avert the disaster is not too difficult, but first, one must sacrifice some wealth. As the old adage goes, part with your wealth to ensure your safety..."

...

Dragonflight Cloister was the premier institution of the Kisal Dynasty, renowned across all of Foglaostein.

The academy was nothing like the ancient cloisters Xia Yi had envisioned. Secluded and far from the bustling city center, Dragonflight Cloister stood alone, its grandeur fully visible. The academy was majestic, refined, dignified, and robust.

At the southernmost point of Dragonflight Academy, a mysterious tower soared into the sky. This was the Rank Five Spirit Gathering Tower, a symbol of strength and power!

Dragonflight Academy was an entirely insular institution. Entry required a special order from the principal himself.

Those who managed to walk through the gates of Dragonflight Academy, whether students or teachers, were either of distinguished lineage or unparalleled talent. To put it simply, there were no average individuals here.

"In Dragonflight Academy, there's just one thing you need to keep in mind: don't provoke anyone. Among them are many individuals you definitely don't want to cross. Of course, if you can forge good relationships with them, I'm willing to bet you'll reap endless benefits," a warm-hearted female teacher advised Xia Yi.

Xia Yi felt a particular fondness for this passionate teacher, especially in contrast to the aloofness of the others. What he didn't anticipate, however, was that his very first lesson at Dragonflight Academy would be met with an unexpected incident.

Xia Yi's subject was moral cultivation and the Way of the Gentleman.