C4 Sealing Academy

On the outskirts of the western city, a wide thoroughfare bustled with a scattering of people and the comings and goings of merchant caravans. Small paths branched off from the main road, leading in all directions.

To the south, a verdant bamboo forest stood tall and dense, with a trail cutting straight through to its heart.

Bathed in the cheerful sunlight, Yu Yin, his hunger abated by two steamed buns, made his way to the edge of the bamboo forest. Without a moment's pause, he stepped onto the path within.

The forest path ran straight and true, culminating at the edge of a vast natural lake.

Legend held that the lake was created thousands of years ago by a meteorite from the heavens. Its breathtaking beauty once made it a popular destination for leisurely excursions.

However, the site's fame soared when, five hundred years prior, the Emperor of the Heavenly Country graced it with his presence. Since then, it had been declared a site of national significance. The Northern Pine Sealing Academy was established here, shrouded in secrecy, and the area became off-limits to the common folk.

With no soul in sight and the path growing steeper, Yu Yin reached a plateau, his expression one of bewilderment. As he surveyed his surroundings, clarity dawned upon him.

He was taken aback by the sight before him.

An elongated iron chain bridge spanned the gap to a small, lush, oval island below. The island, tiny as a sesame seed nestled in a bowl, was cradled by the lake and embraced by emerald mountains, resembling a firefly cherished in the palm of the divine.

Beneath him, the cliff plunged a hundred zhang, its verdant face meeting the sparkling blue waters of the lake. The view left Yu Yin momentarily spellbound.

Regaining his composure, he gazed toward the island's end and mused, "That must be the Sealing Academy."

At the island's center stood a majestic hall with glazed tiles and sweeping eaves, encircled by four distinct courtyards, each separated by towering pines. The courtyards boasted rows of green-tiled buildings, yet they stood eerily quiet and deserted.

At the bridge's terminus lay a massive black stone, its base buried deep and obscured by the sandy lakebed.

Upon reaching the end, Yu Yin's attention was immediately drawn to the inscription atop the great black stone: "Northern Pine Sealing Academy."

Before him lay a dense forest of ancient pines, with only a narrow cobblestone path leading into the heart of the island. Without further hesitation, he made his way into the woods.

The cobblestone path ran straight towards the grand hall, and soon, Yu Yin found himself at its entrance. The ancient doors stood open, revealing two elders engaged in a game of chess beneath a towering pine to the left of the hall.

The massive pine was impossible to overlook, and Yu Yin immediately noticed the chess players. Their attire and demeanor exuded nobility, causing him to pause, uncertain whether to approach them with his questions.

"Looking for someone, young man?" After a moment, both elders seemed to notice him and turned their heads simultaneously.

Both were venerable figures with youthful faces and white hair, dressed in navy-blue robes, each sporting a purple triangular mark on their forehead. One had a long face with a ruddy nose, while the other was round-faced with a generous belly. It was the long-faced elder who had spoken.

"I... I am..." Yu Yin stuttered, slightly intimidated by their distinguished presence.

"There's still half a month before registration; you're not here for that, I presume. You must be seeking guidance on how to break through the seal's profound gateways, correct?" The long-faced elder inquired with a knowing smile.

The academy only recruited once every five years, and with registration still half a month away, those who visited at this time were typically fresh from their talent assessment, eager to learn how to break through the seals. The elder's keen observation had quickly discerned Yu Yin's purpose.

Such inquiries were an annual occurrence, as few ordinary individuals on the cusp of becoming cultivators knew how to navigate the profound gateways without the academy's assistance.

Realizing the elders bore no malice, Yu Yin felt a sense of relief and nodded, "Exactly."

"We at the Seal Academy impart our teachings only to those who have the potential to become Conjurers. Present your certificate from the Abstruse Root Hall," said the previously silent, portly elder, his brow furrowed.

The Abstruse Root Hall Test Certificate was widely recognized across the continent, serving as a testament to one's potential and status as a cultivator. Yu Yin had heard of its significance and, after a moment's hesitation, produced the certificate and passed it over.

The fat elder unfolded the golden sheet that Yu Yin had folded, his face betraying no emotion.

He scrutinized the certificate intently, knowing the years of savings he had invested in it. Yu Yin was determined to safeguard it, regardless of the stature of the person before him.

"How does it look?" asked the elder with the long face, a hint of a smile on his lips.

A peculiar gleam flickered in the fat elder's steady gaze, and with a slight nod, he responded, "He's a promising prospect." He nodded again, casting a glance at Yu Yin.

"Eh —" The long-faced elder's face registered surprise, as if he had heard something extraordinary, and he quickly snatched the golden sheet.

He had always known the fat elder to be sparing with his compliments. The fact that he had just referred to someone as a promising prospect was indeed astonishing.

Upon inspecting the golden sheet himself, the long-faced elder nodded in understanding.

Yu Yin, retrieving his prized possession, turned his attention to the two men.

"Do you know the types of cultivators that exist on the continent?" inquired the long-faced elder.

"Six types," Yu Yin replied with a nod.

"And what are those six types?"

"Heaven Secret, Longevity, Seal, Beast Transformation, Heart Seizing, and Wrathful Incantation."

"Do you know where their Profound Entrances are located?"

Yu Yin's thoughts flashed back to the weapon shop owner's words, and he quickly responded, "Li, Yu, Jiao, Shang, Gong, Xun."

"Correct. And for us Conjurers, the Profound Entrance is Jiao. Do you know where the Jiao Profound Entrance is located?"

"I'm not sure."

"It's at the Jade Hall Acupuncture Point."

"The Jade Hall Acupuncture Point?"

"Place your hand on your chest."

"No, that's not quite right, move it up a bit."

"A little higher."

"There, that's the spot. Focus on that feeling."

"I can guide you in breaking through the Profound Entrance, but heed my warning: this is no trivial matter. A single misstep could be fatal. — Whether or not you choose to proceed is entirely in your hands," the long-faced elder stated gravely.

Yu Yin gave a slight nod, his understanding clear.

As time slipped away, after imparting the method to break through the Profound Gate, the two exchanged a glance before watching Yu Yin depart.

"If this young one can overcome the Profound Gate, he might well consider pursuing the path of a long-life cultivator," the long-faced elder remarked with a smile.

"A thousand-year-old bastard, a ten-thousand-year-old turtle—what's the point if an ordinary person lives for an extra three or four thousand years? It's utterly pointless," the fat elder retorted dismissively.

Once a long-life cultivator surpasses the fifth level, each advancement adds five hundred years to their lifespan. Reaching the ninth or tenth level grants an additional thousand years. Including the increases from the initial levels, a cultivator at the tenth level could live well beyond four thousand five hundred years.

Yet, even with such longevity, a long-life cultivator's body remains largely indistinguishable from that of an ordinary person, which is precisely why the fat elder held such views.

In his eyes, only those endowed with unique abilities truly merit the title of cultivator. Practitioners of the life extension technique don't qualify.

"In light of this, the boy's only proper choice would be to join my Sealing Academy," the long-faced elder said, chuckling wryly.

"Exactly," affirmed the fat elder with conviction.

"Haha, by that logic, even the art of divination pales in comparison to my Sealing Academy."

"Diviners who meddle with fate are only hastening their own demise. What's the point in learning such a technique? It seems to me it's just a matter of a higher entry barrier," the fat elder mused.

"Haha, well, well, I can't argue with you there," the long-faced elder said, rolling his eyes in good humor.