Chapter 62: The Blue Academy Library

The Blue Academy is the supreme institution of learning in the Lanru Continent and the Central Prefecture. It is said to house the most exquisite cultivation techniques and magical artifact legacies from ancient times to the present, and the techniques of all academies across the continent originate from it," City Lord Tang said with a yearning expression. "Only the most outstanding disciples from each academy are qualified to enter the Blue Academy, and those with great fortune even have the chance to obtain special legacies. Rumors have it that among these legacies, there are even opportunities to break through the Celestial Realm."

"Is it really that powerful?!" Qiu Ci was somewhat surprised, but she suddenly thought of the Immortal Alliance that once dominated the Linyuan Continent. "Does that mean the influence of the Blue Academy is even greater than that of the Five Great Academies?"

"Influence? The Blue Academy is not a faction at all," City Lord Tang blurted out, before laughing as realization struck him. "Fellow Daoist Chu has misunderstood. The Blue Academy is not an academy in the traditional sense; it is actually just a place of heritage. As long as one can enter the Blue Academy and bring items out from within, those items belong entirely to the individual."

Qiu Ci breathed a sigh of relief and immediately understood. In short, the Blue Academy was somewhat like the most comprehensive library on the continent.

"Therefore, I suggest that you join the Twin Star Academy," City Lord Tang continued. "I have heard that among those who have historically had the opportunity to enter the Blue Academy, the largest number come from the Twin Star Academy. Moreover, the current headmaster of the Twin Star Academy once obtained a legacy from the Blue Academy, and quite a few elders of the academy have also seized opportunities from within."

"So that is how it is," Qiu Ci nodded.

"Furthermore, the Blue Academy is located right inside the Twin Star Academy—it enjoys proximity to the water, as the saying goes. With Fellow Daoist Chu's aptitude, you will certainly have a chance," City Lord Tang gave her a look that said, "I have confidence in you."

Wen Qi and Kang Chen, standing nearby, also nodded successively, and upon recalling something, offered a reminder.

"I have heard that the entrance examinations of the Twin Star Academy are notoriously strict. Every year, tens of thousands of Core Formation cultivators wish to enter the academy, but in the end, only a few hundred are left standing. Every single one of them is a genius selected from ten thousand."

"Indeed. If Fellow Daoist Chu wishes to bring your few Core Formation juniors to join the academy together, I fear it might prove rather difficult."

Is the admission rate really this low? Qiu Ci suddenly thought of the national college entrance examination.

"If Fellow Daoist Chu has this intention, I do have a suggestion," Kang Chen said, having thought of something. "Over the years, almost all Core Formation cultivators who enter Edge Sea City and head toward the Lanru Continent come for the purpose of joining the Five Great Academies. Therefore, there are many businesses in the city related to the examinations. For instance, the Trial Pagoda here was built in the exact image of the entrance examination of the Twin Star Academy."

"Ah, yes, the Trial Pagoda! How could I have forgotten about that?" City Lord Tang slapped his thigh and nodded in agreement. "Fellow Daoist Chu can have those Core Formation junior friends of yours enter the Trial Pagoda to experience it and familiarize themselves with the examination format. If they can successfully clear the levels, it will also increase their chances of success in the future academy examinations."

So there was actually a place for mock exams in the city. Qiu Ci was pleasantly surprised and quickly agreed.

City Lord Tang did not waste any time; he agreed with her on the specific time to enter the tower, and after a few more casual remarks, the group dispersed. After all, having crossed the Stormy Sea this time, although no one was injured, their spiritual energy consumption had been quite significant, and it was indeed time to rest properly.

Qiu Ci also returned to the rented immortal cave. She did not have much spiritual energy left in her body, but fortunately, she possessed an abundance of spirit stones. Back when she was restoring Beast City, the beasts had dug up far more spirit stones than she could ever use, so she had casually tossed the rest into her storage pouch, thereby achieving financial freedom.

She took out some spirit stones and sat in meditation, running through a few cycles of breathing to replenish her spiritual energy. Then, she casually sent a message to Feng Ting and the other two regarding the Trial Pagoda, before finally pulling out the system's small ball of light.

"System, pull up the map of the Lanru Continent."

[Understood, Host!]

The next moment, a light screen visible only to her popped up. It displayed two maps: one was extremely crude, consisting only of simple black lines and sketchy symbols—the very same map Zhen Yi had bought from a street vendor. The other map was completely different, exquisitely detailed like a high-altitude aerial photograph, complete with various colored auxiliary lines. It was even in 3D and could be zoomed in or stretched at any time.

The latter map was the continent map scanned by the system after they emerged from the Stormy Sea.

"System, are you certain the base is located near this city?" She pointed at the circled area in the middle of the two maps.

[Yes, Host! However, there seems to be some kind of interference nearby, making it impossible to pinpoint the exact location of the base. We can only determine that it is within a five-hundred-li radius of this place.]

Qiu Ci looked closely at the specially circled location. On both the crude and detailed maps, a spot slightly to the left within the red circle was marked with a striking name—Twin Star Academy.

The base she needed to find was right near the Twin Star Academy. She had to admit this was a damned coincidence. This was also why she had inquired City Lord Tang about the Five Great Academies in the first place; whether to find the base or for the cultivation of Feng Ting and the others, she had no choice but to make a trip there.

Qiu Ci waited in the inn for another three days. Seeing that the appointed date to enter the tower with City Lord Tang had arrived, Jing, the social phobia sufferer, finally came out of seclusion right on schedule. As she had expected, nothing went wrong, and his cultivation realm was thoroughly consolidated.

"Not bad!" She probed his sea of consciousness and found that his Nascent Soul was intact and rather plump, prompting her to offer immediate praise.

"Thanks to Senior's magical artifacts, I was able to successfully form my Nascent Soul," Jing bowed to her respectfully. If not for those magical artifacts, not only would he have perished directly beneath the tribulation lightning, but he would also have been entirely incapable of forming such a flawless Nascent Soul.

"Think nothing of it. It was simply my initial plan that wasn't thorough enough," she thought, blaming the damn system. "Right, you don't need to call me Senior anymore. Just like Feng Ting and the others, call me Sister Xiao Ci." With her Divine Transformation stage cultivation, she was just about average in the Lanru Continent anyway.

"But..." Jing frowned in a troubled manner, but seeing her insistence, he had no choice but to nod obediently.

"Alright, it's almost time. Let's head to the Trial Pagoda first," she beckoned to Feng Ting and Zhen Yi, and together they headed toward the center of the city.

Along the way, she explained a few things about the academies to them, as well as the purpose of having him enter the tower. Upon hearing that it was a mock exam, the group's eyes instantly lit up, and they all declared that they would perform their best.

When they arrived, Qiu Ci caught sight of City Lord Tang waiting there immediately, primarily because his figure was far too conspicuous.

"Fellow Daoist Chu!" City Lord Tang waved at her from afar and walked over with brisk steps. "You've arrived."

"City Lord Tang," Qiu Ci greeted him, and Feng Ting along with the other two respectfully cupped their fists.

"No need for formalities!" City Lord Tang chuckled heartily. He took a careful look at the three youths, lingering for a moment on Jing, and said with an expression full of appreciation, "These must be the juniors Fellow Daoist Chu mentioned. Truly extraordinary aptitudes."

"Sorry to trouble the City Lord this time," Qiu Ci replied politely.

"What is Fellow Daoist Chu saying? It is merely a matter of raising a hand," City Lord Tang said. Without dragging things out, he turned sideways and pointed at the tall pagoda behind him. "This is the Trial Pagoda. It contains thirty-three layers of illusions and was meticulously crafted by the Biazhen Pavilion to be identical to the entrance examination pagoda of the Twin Star Academy. I happen to have some friendship with the Biazhen Pavilion, so getting these young friends of yours into the tower will be no problem at all."