C7 Saint

As the sun climbed higher, the hours swiftly passed. Amidst the echoing cheers, a bloody head dropped to the ground.

The crowd began to thin out as Yu Yin watched a woman and two others enter the opulent mansion.

"The Feng Mansion," he noted to himself before turning to leave.

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Country's Imperial City, also known as one of the Three Great Holy Cities, Tiger Stallion City, a grand scene unfolded within a majestic hall. An elderly man, his hair white and his face marked by age spots, lay gasping on a lavish bed, looking up at the middle-aged man standing before him.

This man, clad in imperial robes and exuding authority, was none other than Zhuang Mi, the reigning monarch of the Heavenly Country.

"If the Sage departs, who will guide our nation's fate?" Zhuang Mi inquired.

"Your Majesty, have no fear. Upon my passing, the next Sage will surely emerge!" the old man assured him with difficulty.

"And how shall I find this person?"

"I have divined the celestial fate for you, Your Majesty. This individual is currently within the Imperial City. When I pass away, the eastern anomalies will lead you to them."

"But... this person is still unripe, not yet ready to be the Sage of our Heavenly Country. I hope... I hope Your Majesty heeds my advice."

"Speak, Sage. Your words will not be forgotten."

"The Sage's journey is fraught with endless trials. For the long-term welfare of our country, Your Majesty must... must protect them diligently."

"That goes without saying. When the time comes, I will bring them to the palace. Who would dare harm them?!"

"Your Majesty! That must not happen!"

"What do you mean?"

"How can a sapling grow tall without wind and rain? How can the Sage's path be without obstacles?"

"Your Majesty may protect, but remember... remember not to coddle them into complacency."

Zhuang Mi nodded, deep in thought. "I understand..."

With those words, the old man's smile faded, his gaze grew distant, and he closed his eyes for the last time.

Zhuang Mi, startled, wasted no time and dashed out of the hall.

Simultaneously, in the eastern part of Tiger Stallion City, a dazzling red light burst forth from a chamber in an extravagantly lavish mansion, shooting straight into the sky, capturing the gaze of the entire city.

Inside the room, a young man with a slender build and a face as fine as jade was absorbed in writing. On the pristine white paper before him, the character for "Fool" was boldly inscribed.

"Young Master, are you there?" came a voice, accompanied by a knock at the door.

"Have you located the Phoenix Blood Stone?" the young man inquired, his expression cool and composed.

There was a moment of silence from outside. "Take twenty lashes and then return to speak," he commanded.

"Yes, sir!"

Xuanlong City —

Time flew by, and before long, it was the day for the Cultivators Academy's enrollment.

The sun shone brightly as Yu Yin walked through the city, his attention caught by a crowd gathering ahead.

"The Sage is dead, heavens above!" he heard as he drew near, surrounded by a chorus of shocked voices.

"The Sage is dead..." Yu Yin paused, taken aback.

He was familiar with the concept of the Sage, a wise figure born from the destiny of nations, a guide to prosperity so revered they were often called the Son of Heaven.

Each nation had its Sage, cherished by the populace and esteemed by rulers, capable of steering the country's development, truly a national treasure.

The news of the Sage's death was hard to believe, even for him.

"Why all the noise? The proclamation states that a new Sage has already been found," an irritable soldier nearby exclaimed.

"Oh, that's right."

"That's a relief. With the Sage among us, we can rest easy."

Yu Yin made his way through the crowd to read the announcement. Despite the Sage being a figure beyond the reach of ordinary people, Yu Yin, like everyone else, was deeply invested in their existence.

"The Sage has departed, a significant loss for our nation. But by the grace of the heavens, a new Sage has emerged. To show my gratitude, I hereby decree an amnesty across the land. Those sentenced to death shall receive corporal punishment instead, and those serving life sentences shall have their terms reduced to ten years. Anyone with less than a ten-year sentence shall be released. This amnesty extends to all citizens in every city."

After pushing through the crowd and feeling the tender bruises on his face, Yu Yin made his way to the Main Sculpting Hall, where he had learned the academy registrations were taking place.

Sculpting Hall —

The elevated platform was teeming with people, with three white jade tables set before the grand hall's entrance, each flanked by two seated individuals.

Yu Yin surveyed the crowd from atop the platform, his eyes searching for the Seal Academy.

The tables were arranged in a row, prompting a look of confusion from him as he noticed the stark contrast in registration activity.

To the left, a table was surrounded by a boisterous throng, while the table on the right was less crowded but still lively. In stark contrast, the central table had only a handful of people queuing up, making it stand out.

"Could you tell me what's happening here?" Yu Yin inquired, grabbing a man's attention. He was beyond the point of formalities.

"The Wrathful Incantation Academy is on the left, the Seal Academy in the middle, and the Beast Transformation Academy on the right," the man explained, anticipating Yu Yin's question.

Yu Yin, biting back his initial query, expressed his gratitude with a fist-and-palm salute.

"There's no need. Isn't that what we're all here for?" the man replied with a light smile before striding toward the Beast Transformation Academy.

Beneath the relentless sun, Yu Yin joined the queue at the Seal Academy.

"Another genius in the making," murmured an onlooker, envy evident in their tone.

"Indeed, it's a veritable hub for the gifted," another remarked.

"That's not necessarily the case. I just saw a man with superior Vein Power opt for the Wrathful Incantation Academy. It simply shows that everyone has their own aspirations," a third observer commented with a chuckle.

"Quite true. The path of Wrathful Incantation is formidable. A low entry barrier doesn't equate to weakness."

As time slipped away, Yu Yin's turn arrived.

The Seal Academy's examiner was a strikingly graceful young woman. She glanced at him and requested, "Your talent certificate, please."

Yu Yin promptly presented it.

Upon examining the certificate, the woman's eyes widened in astonishment before she passed a piece of black jade from the table to him.

"This object is the Seal Profound Gate Lock. Keep it close to your chest. If it turns white after the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, it signifies that your Profound Gate of the Horn has opened. If not, then it remains unopened."

Yu Yin quickly placed it against his chest beneath his shirt.

The woman watched him intently before turning her attention back to the golden scroll.

"Young man, you possess remarkable talent. It's unfortunate that we don't have an Academy of Eternal Life here. With your abilities, you'd surely be admitted."

"Living longer doesn't change the fact that I'd still be just an ordinary person. I have no desire to become an Eternal Life Cultivator," Yu Yin declared, looking up.

"You're not seeing the full picture. Eternal Life Cultivators aren't just about longevity," the woman said with an amused smile.

Yu Yin looked at her, taken aback.

"Eternal Life Cultivators are akin to living elixirs. Any medicine, when infused with just a drop of their blood, has its potency increased tenfold. It's far from simple," she explained.

"Doesn't that make them a target for constant danger?" he asked, furrowing his brow, aware of the depths of human depravity.

"Consider the opposite: what if it's a poison that becomes ten times more potent? Take, for instance, a hallucinogenic like 'Hallucination Powder'?" she said with a teasing smile.

"Never underestimate Eternal Life Cultivators. They may lack the brute force, speed, agility, and control of wrathful incantation users, but their ability to survive is unmatched among all cultivators."

Yu Yin nodded, only partially comprehending.

As time seemed right, the woman gestured for him to check the Seal Profound Gate Lock.

He pulled the black jade from his pocket, and upon seeing it transformed into a pristine white jade, a look of wonder crossed Yu Yin's face.

"Congratulations, you've opened the Corner Profound Gate. Are you ready to become a Conjurer?"

"Yes!"

"A cultivator can only choose one path in their lifetime. So I ask you one last time, are you certain you wish to become a Conjurer?"

Yu Yin nodded with gravity.

His attention shifted to the man with the aquiline nose beside him. The woman gave an affirming nod and slid the golden parchment toward him.

The man briefly examined the information on the parchment before taking an ancient-looking seal from nearby and stamping it onto the dragon head medallion.

The word 'Seal' stood out in blood-red letters on the medallion.

"Bring me a drop of blood," the man requested, offering a slender needle.

Noticing Yu Yin's confusion, the woman clarified.

"This medallion was generated from your aura during your test at the Refinement Hall. To prevent identity theft, we must authenticate it."

"If the medallion absorbs your blood, it confirms the certificate belongs to you."

"If not, the opposite is true."

Understanding dawned on Yu Yin, who promptly pricked his finger with the needle without further delay.

As blood welled up, the man quickly used a square jade token to collect it and applied it to the medallion.

All three watched intently for any reaction from the blood on the medallion.

To Yu Yin's relief, the medallion absorbed the blood almost instantly.

"It's settled! Regarding the Conjurer level seal, once you officially enroll and reach the first level of cultivation, the academy will arrange for the Refinement Hall to bestow your seal," the woman said with a gentle smile.

Yu Yin looked on, puzzled.

"The seal is unique to each cultivator's profession. You'll learn more from an academy tutor later on."

"And the inverted triangle on your forehead?" Yu Yin inquired, having noticed the triangular Astral Nebula pattern on their foreheads earlier.

"Yes, that's the Conjurer's exclusive mark, known as the Star Ocean Mark," the woman confirmed with a smile.

Handing back the golden parchment to Yu Yin, the man instructed, "Make sure to report to the academy before noon tomorrow. Don't be late."

Though still brimming with questions, Yu Yin saw the pair turn their attention to the queue behind him and knew it was time to depart.