C18 Chapter 18
The three academies all have one thing in common: the bar is sky-high. For ordinary people, getting in is incredibly difficult.
Most folks spend their entire lives training at local practice halls and still can’t pass into any of the three.
And only Flying Star Academy and Immortal Feather Academy accept students based on their background and strength through evaluations. The Royal Academy won’t take anyone without a letter of recommendation.
Tang Yao tried his hand at the town’s training hall and realized he couldn’t even beat the weakest fighter there.
The problem was that this guy’s palm could spit out fire and scorching clouds. He only used that one move over and over, but Tang Yao had no answer for it.
After admitting defeat, Tang Yao treated him to a big meal and asked around in detail.
Turns out most people on this continent are born with Genuine Spirit power inside them. If they follow the right training method to awaken it, then cultivate it according to the matching laws, they can bring that Genuine Spirit power into play.
Genuine Spirit power is divided into eight types. Besides the common five—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—there are also wind, lightning, and light.
Of course, those last three are rare.
This man had a fire-type Genuine Spirit, so he trained in fire laws. Even though he’d only reached the first stage after more than ten years, he was still far stronger than the average person.
But if he wanted to enter one of the three academies, he’d probably need to grind for another twenty or thirty years before he’d even have a chance.
Tang Yao asked if there were people born without a Genuine Spirit.
The man answered that of course there were—those were the bottom rung, lives as insignificant as ants.
After learning all this, Tang Yao actually managed to dig up memories about the Genuine Spirit from the original owner of this body.
It was just that after the original owner joined the army, he had nowhere to vent his anger. On top of that, his Genuine Spirit had been destroyed. Little by little, he numbed himself and stopped thinking about Genuine Spirit and training at all, which was why Tang Yao’s understanding in this area had been so limited.
Now, though, more of it started coming back. He remembered that the original owner had once trained up to the fifth tier—but for some reason, during one training session he lost control, his Genuine Spirit was badly damaged, and from that day on, he could no longer train.
The original owner had tried, too, but there wasn’t the slightest sign of her core recovering. She died with that regret still weighing on her.
Under those circumstances, there was no way Tang Yao could rely on her own strength to get into Flying Star Academy or Immortal Feather Academy.
After turning it over again and again, Tang Yao decided to go back to Feng City—to return to the Tang family.
From what she’d learned, if she wanted to make a real life for herself on this continent, the only path was to enter the Royal Academy through a letter of recommendation.
At the moment, the one thing about the original owner’s life Tang Yao could tolerate was this: she had a father with a decent enough standing.
A free advantage was still an advantage.
So, a month later, after a long, grueling journey, Tang Yao finally arrived in Feng City.
And right now, she was standing inside a shabby room draped in cobwebs.
This was the west side courtyard of Tang's Mansion—quiet and damp, a separate little compound with only three rooms.
The yard was tiny. Ivy crawled over the surrounding high walls. The gate was a plain iron one, its lock already rusted through, and the wind made the metal rattle and clang.
Calling it a home was generous. It felt more like a prison.
Tang Yao hadn’t planned to return to the Tang family right away. Based on what she knew, this year’s major exam was already over, and the next chance to enter the Royal Academy wouldn’t come until next year. She wanted to get a clear read on the Tang family first.
Know your enemy and know yourself—then you won’t lose.
