C22 Sealing Skill

As each student stepped out with excitement, the atmosphere buzzed with noise once more.

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Yu Yin."

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Xia Chen."

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Zhuang Jiujing."

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Ou Lu."

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Huixiao."

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Dongmen Ai."

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Zhao Cai."

"White Courtyard's Class Sixteen, Zhang Ziyue."

"White Courtyard's Class Seventeen..."

Among the group of mentors, Huajun was accompanied by Long Yang and others from the White Courtyard.

Long Yang commented with a smile, "Huajun, it looks like your class is full of promising students."

With a light chuckle, Huajun replied, "These youngsters are indeed quite diligent."

Yu Ying observed her and remarked, "Had it not been for you two selecting the students at the end, I might have suspected you had cherry-picked all the promising ones beforehand."

"Teacher Yu, what are you saying? Didn't Class Fifteen also have seven students who reached the First Grade?" Huajun responded with a playful smile.

Yu Ying shook her head gently, choosing not to continue the conversation.

Wan Feng sat behind a desk, flanked by three men in red standing quietly by his side.

It was almost Yu Yin's turn. His gaze briefly met that of the Palace Master, whom he had encountered once before, then settled on the box before him.

The box, adorned with an intricate yellow dragon, contained ten seals of varying colors. Each seal was triangular, about the thickness of a pinky finger. As each student approached, Wan Feng would press a seal to their forehead, leaving behind a gray inverted triangular Astral Nebula pattern.

"So this is the mark of a Conjurer's identity..." Yu Yin whispered to himself.

After Wan Feng had applied the seal to a chubby student, he gestured for the next in line.

The chubby student lingered, touching the mark on his head with concern. "Master, what if I accidentally wash it off while cleaning my face?" he asked.

Wan Feng, momentarily taken aback, managed a bemused smile.

"This seal is crafted from the horn of the ancient Water Dragon and hundreds of other precious ingredients. Unless you're planning to gouge it out, skin and bones included, it won't be damaged in the slightest. Rest assured, it's not going anywhere," he reassured the student with a smile.

Soon, it was Yu Yin's turn. He approached Wan Feng.

Wan Feng instructed, "Lean forward and remove your headscarf."

Yu Yin promptly did as told.

"That guy wears his scarf all day; he's quite the oddball," Long Yang commented with a chuckle.

"The academy hasn't mandated hair tying, and he's quite obstinate. I'm at a loss with him," Huajun admitted with a sense of resignation.

She had indeed tried to persuade Yu Yin to forgo his headscarf and tie up his hair, but he reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on, bristling at the suggestion and adamantly refusing. She eventually had no choice but to let it be.

The cool sensation on the mark on his forehead seemed to clarify his thoughts. Yu Yin was taken aback, not expecting the mark to have such a soothing effect on his mind.

At noon—

Once the sealing ceremony was over, Wan Feng and his group departed. The students, guided by twenty-eight mentors, assembled in front of the hall. Zuo Xiao and Zhang Yi stood on the platform, hands clasped behind them, surveying the crowd.

Zuo Xue announced, "Starting tomorrow, the academy will establish a ranking board here, displaying all students' origin power. It will be updated monthly, and the top twenty students will receive a monthly reward of five hundred copper coins. I hope you all diligently strive to make the most of your exceptional talents."

Some mentors joked upon hearing this, "This year, Long Yang and Yu Ying have certainly made a fortune in copper coins."

"Given their talent and dedication, it's well-deserved. Envy alone is pointless," other mentors responded with laughter.

Huajun couldn't help but smile at Long Yang. "I wonder what our genius thinks of this new student ranking."

Long Yang gave her a sidelong glance, knowing she was jesting, and chose not to respond.

Huajun teased, "It's such a shame. From now on, no one will be using those five hundred copper coins to treat me to a meal."

Long Yang was momentarily taken aback. "Nonsense. If you're willing, I'd be happy to treat you every day."

"I don't want it. The money tastes better when it's hard-earned," Huajun said with a smirk.

"Mentor, I'll treat you in the future," Yu Yin declared earnestly from behind.

Rolling her eyes, Huajun responded without turning around, "Kid, your mentor doesn't need your treats."

"Don't underestimate me, Mentor," Yu Yin said, frowning in displeasure.

Huajun's lips twitched as she turned and gave him an exaggerated eye roll.

Long Yang gave him a look. "Don't underestimate the two hundred people at the Seal Academy. Getting into the top twenty won't be a walk in the park."

"Yu Yin, it seems your Instructor Long doesn't have much faith in you," Huajun teased.

Then, with a conspiratorial smile audible only to the two of them, she asked, "What, still aiming to keep a low profile?"

Yu Yin was at a loss for words.

Seeing his silence, Huajun lost interest and turned to him with a serious expression, "So tell me, what rank are you aiming for?"

After a moment of contemplation, Yu Yin replied, "As long as I can earn five hundred copper coins."

Huajun nodded, taking mental note.

Outside the hall, Zuo Xue saw that matters were nearly settled and gestured for everyone to disperse.

Liu Ju stood idly by a group of students beneath the hall's high-hanging inscription 'Only Idealism,' yawning from boredom.

Zhang Yi Wen whispered briefly to Zuo Xue before approaching Liu Ju, "Young Master Liu, please come with me."

Inside the hall stood eight towering red pillars, flanked by two massive bookshelves filled with books and stairways leading upstairs. The spaciousness of the hall was accentuated by the arrangement.

Beneath the grand sandalwood bookshelves were a writing desk and a rack for displaying curios. Zhang Yi Wen and Zuo Xue led Liu Ju to the left-side desk and sat down, looking up at him.

Zuo Xue began, "Young Master Liu, we hold your father in high regard, but if you wish to join our academy, you must abide by our rules. Are you willing to accept this?"

Liu Ju's brow furrowed slightly, sensing a shift in their demeanor towards him. After a moment of thought, he spoke.

"Of course I understand. No need for further discussion—just expedite my admission process, please."

"Kindly present your talent certificate to this old man..."

White Courtyard —

Huajun led Yu Yin and the other seven individuals to the second floor of the pavilion.

Upon reaching the top, the entire room greeted them with three large mahogany bookshelves, the rich scent of books permeating the air.

Huajun guided the group to the bookshelf on the left.

"Beyond the nine major sealing techniques, these shelves hold a wealth of knowledge, including detailed analyses of various professions, the geography of our continent, weather patterns, ancient creatures, medicinal herbs, and rare treasures. Should you wish to delve deeper, feel free to ask me about borrowing these books in the future."

The group nodded in acknowledgment.

"The first three shelves here are dedicated to the nine major sealing techniques, with five volumes per technique, amounting to a hundred sets in total. Each shelf is clearly labeled, so you can select two types of sealing techniques that meet your needs. Once you've made your choices, come downstairs to register with me. Your mentor awaits you there."

With that, she descended the stairs.

As soon as Huajun departed, Dongmen Ai eagerly began his selection, and the others followed suit, each searching for their desired texts.

Yu Yin, having previously researched the nine sealing techniques, quickly scanned the bookshelf and made his choices: Chasing Wind and Nine Deaths. The deadly Nine Deaths and the speed-enhancing Chasing Wind would serve him well, he thought, whether in victory or retreat during combat.

"Blind Traps, Severed Injury, haha, let's see who dares to cross me in the future. They won't know what hit them," Ou Lu declared, clutching ten books with a triumphant laugh.

"I've picked Weak Pulse and Blind Eye. Hehe, anyone who crosses me will first lose their sight, then become utterly useless," Dongmen Ai added with a sly grin.

Listening to the pair, Yu Yin and the remaining six felt a shiver of apprehension. They had not anticipated such ruthless intentions from their companions.

Downstairs, Huajun sat serenely at the table, patiently waiting. Before her lay a lotus-colored ledger with gold trim and a set of writing brushes.

Shortly thereafter, Yu Yin, followed by seven others, descended the stairs in succession.