C12 So You Want to Take Advantage of the School

Lee Yu eagerly anticipated the look of surprise on Huang Xiu's face when she saw the gift he had given her. To his astonishment, as he stepped out of the room, he found Huang Xiu pointing at the ginseng on the table, her expression one of confusion.

"Yu, why would you buy this when it looks like that?" she asked.

Lee Yu was dismayed. "Xiu'er, how can you not see?"

"It's ginseng!" Lee Yu said, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "A friend of mine acquired it. I have no use for it, so I thought you might like it."

"Ginseng?" Huang Xiu examined it more closely, then exclaimed in astonishment, "It's so large; it must be incredibly valuable. I can't accept this."

Lee Yu was aware that the ginseng he had sent out today was bound to cause a sensation among certain circles. He intended to take a break from the business after this sale, but he had decided to gift Huang Xiu the most impressive-looking ginseng.

After all, Huang Xiu's beloved elder was getting on in years, and a ginseng of such value, worth millions, would surely do wonders for the elder's health.

After much persuasion, Huang Xiu finally accepted the gift. Later that night, after tutoring until past eleven, she went to freshen up and rest.

Once Lee Yu was sure Huang Xiu had settled down for the night, he lay in bed, closed his eyes, and with a mere thought, transported himself to the Otherworld.

"Squeak~"

As Lee Yu pushed open the wooden door, light spilled out from the room across the way, and there stood Mu Yinhua, clad only in her undergarments.

The sight made Lee Yu gulp. The attire here was quite relaxed. On the square that day, the clothing had been similar to what was worn on Blue Star, albeit made from animal hides. But it seemed that was reserved for more significant occasions. On regular days, men often went shirtless, draping beast skins from their waists, while women, though covered, tended to wrap the skins around themselves haphazardly...

At that moment, Mu Yinhua was scantily wrapped, leaving Lee Yu unsure of where to direct his gaze.

"Aren't you asleep yet?" Mu Yinhua inquired, her curiosity evident.

"I'd like to take a look at the night sky," Lee Yu said offhandedly. "You go ahead and get some sleep."

"No worries, I'm not sleepy either. How about I join you for a walk?" Mu Yinhua offered, shaking her head.

"What's your take on our place?" Mu Yinhua quietly observed Lee Yu as they walked.

Except for the testing day, Lee Yu had never stayed overnight in the village, which lined up with Elder Mu's speculation. It was typical for members of prestigious families to look down on such places. Plus, Lee Yu's clothing was always meticulously crafted.

Such fabrics, unsuitable for the mountains, seemed to be the choice of only the likes of young masters, Mu Yinhua mused to herself.

"The night sky here is breathtaking," Lee Yu remarked, filled with wonder.

Here, two crescent moons graced the sky—a spectacle impossible on Blue Star. And with industrialization clouding the heavens there, starry nights had become a rarity.

Lee Yu had never witnessed a more splendid starry sky than this.

"Speaking of which, aside from Elder Mu, doesn't anyone else in the village practice cultivation? I haven't seen anyone else like that," Lee Yu steered the conversation, eager to learn more about the enigmatic power Elder Mu had once wielded.

Often, it was Mu Yinhua who showed Lee Yu around the village or imparted basic knowledge to him. Lee Yu considered her a potential key to unlocking more insights.

"I'm somewhat of a practitioner. Grandfather mentioned that the path of Divine Cultivation is quite demanding, and I'm the only one in the village who fits the bill," Mu Yinhua said, twirling a strand of her hair.

Lee Yu made a mental note—Divine Path, rigorous cultivation. It made sense now; when Mu Yinhua had shielded him from the boulder, it hadn't seemed like mere physical strength. Perhaps she wielded a mysterious force akin to Elder Mu's.

"Would you mind showing me the cultivation technique you're practicing?" Lee Yu inquired, his smile tinged with bashfulness and curiosity.

Mu Yinhua gave him an odd look, then after a brief pause, she replied, "Sure, but just so you know, Grandfather said the technique he taught me is quite basic."

"That's okay," Lee Yu replied, managing to keep his excitement in check. "I'm simply curious."

Lee Yu had initially intended to seek out a cultivation method once he arrived at the Great Imperial Capital. However, after selling the ginseng, it dawned on him that the villagers seemed to believe he was from a prominent family. This misconception provided him with ample opportunity to maneuver.

The reality was, children from impoverished families who picked out fine dishes were assumed to have never tasted such delicacies, whereas children from wealthy families were thought to have a discerning palate.

Leveraging this perceived "high-to-low" status gap, Lee Yu realized that requesting to see a cultivation technique wouldn't come across as too abrupt. Mu Yinhua wouldn't suspect him of trying to steal the knowledge; she'd likely assume he was simply unfamiliar with external cultivation methods and was eager to learn.

And sure enough, Mu Yinhua took the bait.

Lee Yu's heart raced with excitement, abandoning his previous composure. He hurriedly ushered Mu Yinhua back to the room, urging her to share everything she knew in detail.

Humans had two primary cultivation paths: Martial Tao and Divine Tao. Martial Tao cultivation was straightforward—consuming tonics could enhance one's potential. Divine Tao, however, relied on the power of one's bloodline, and only individuals with a certain grade could advance in Divine Tao cultivation.

"So, Martial Tao is like physical training; continuous practice and supplementation can boost one's power?" Lee Yu pondered. "And Divine Tao is bound by one's innate talent. Since I possess the Thunder Bloodline, I could pursue the Thunder Divine Tao?"

Mu Yinhua, oblivious to Lee Yu's internal musings, continued her thorough explanation. "Divine Tao cultivation is far superior to Martial Tao. A Divine Tao practitioner can effortlessly overpower a Martial Tao practitioner of the same rank. My grandfather has a Seventh Grade bloodline, and I have a Sixth Grade bloodline. He once mentioned that if I were to venture into the outside world, my cultivation level might far surpass his by now."

"Why don't you leave, then?" Lee Yu interjected, his curiosity piqued.

Mu Yinhua gave him a puzzled look and replied, "My grandfather went through life-threatening challenges to acquire the Divine Tao cultivation method. He battled on behalf of a family for over a decade before he succeeded."

"Ah, the value of something is often most appreciated by its owner," Lee Yu mused, understanding the reason behind Mu Yinhua's meaningful glance.

In contrast to the favorable "knowledge-sharing" environment on Blue Star, this world operates differently. Here, families are the primary social unit, with blood ties forming the strongest bonds. Family members are the ones who practice cultivation, and these methods are considered "strategic" assets. Why would they ever train individuals from rival clans?

Over-teaching could compromise the family's martial prowess. Mu Yinhua must not understand the complexities of running a household to ask such a naive question.

Lee Yu was more of a listener than a talker, paying close attention to Mu Yinhua's patient explanations. He felt a deep sense of gratitude; after all, he was the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing, with everything about him being forged or feigned. Mu Yinhua's insights were crucial for his footing in this Otherworld.

A thought struck Lee Yu, "Elder Mu wanted me to bring someone to the Great Imperial Capital. That's you, right?"

Whether it was showing him around the village or teaching him the script, it was always Mu Yinhua whom Elder Mu had appointed. Clearly, there was an intention to foster a bond between them.

"Yes," Mu Yinhua replied, her gaze fixed on Lee Yu with a hint of anxiety, hoping he wouldn't take offense. But Lee Yu remained impassive, which allowed her to continue, "Grandfather believes that with your Thunder Bloodline, the Great Imperial Capital's academy will surely invest in your training. Then, I could accompany you as your study partner."

...

"So, you're looking to benefit from the academy," Lee Yu acknowledged with a nod.

He was pleasantly surprised by the villagers' sincerity and simplicity. They engaged in fair trade yet felt they were getting the better deal.

But Lee Yu had gleaned a crucial bit of information: the Great Imperial Capital. That mentioned place might just hold what he was searching for.

His only disappointment was that Mu Yinhua's Divine Path cultivation technique didn't suit him. As she explained, the technique her grandfather had taught her was tailored for those with an affinity for the wood element.

"It seems I'll have to check out the Great Imperial Capital," Lee Yu sighed, though not overly disheartened.

He was prepared for any outcome; something gained would be a bonus, and nothing lost, no real harm.

After more conversation, a glint appeared in Lee Yu's eyes as he learned another vital tidbit: in two days, a retail merchant would visit the village, possibly bringing items that could aid in Divine Path cultivation.

"Retail merchant? That must mean a peddler. I'll have a look; it's a good way to learn more about this world," Lee Yu mused. "I might even pick up a few items. You never know when they might come in handy..."