Chapter 37: Flowing Light, Dark and Dawn

Beneath Tianzhu Mountain lies the Five-Layer Jiangcheng.

A colossal steel city, majestic and towering, built tier upon tier against the mountain.

The sky above surges with flowing light, countless shuttles rising and descending.

Neon beams blaze like daylight.

“Five-Layer Jiangcheng: one hundred million souls.”

“Within this vast steel-and-neon expanse.”

“Each person is like an ant.”

Jiang Jian gazed out the window, his mind calm.

Night fell.

Outside the Whale-Ray shuttle, Jiangcheng still burned with unceasing light.

The cabin’s blue lights flickered; a mechanical voice spoke: “New students, prepare for landing!”

“Whale-Ray shuttle descending soon!”

“Three-Layer Jiangcheng!”

“Linjiang Academy, First-Year Zone!”

The Whale-Ray shuttle glided slowly, slicing through gaps in the torrential rain of light.

After entering Three-Layer Jiangcheng,

the Whale-Ray shuttle slowed further.

“That’s Linjiang Academy!”

Shi Xuan clicked his tongue in awe.

Jiang Jian stood before the viewport, following his gaze.

North of Three-Layer Jiangcheng,

dozens of grand, opulent mansions stood towering.

At their summits, deep-blue torrents surged, interconnected.

Forming a terrifyingly immense academy array.

“This cluster of mansions occupies nearly a third of Three-Layer Jiangcheng.”

“It can accommodate one million souls.”

“This is Linjiang Academy, First-Year Zone.”

Shi Xuan smiled, “I lived in Linjiang Province as a child.”

“But I’ve never set foot in Linjiang Academy.”

As he spoke,

the Whale-Ray shuttle pierced through the deep-blue light curtain.

And landed.

Below, the academy’s landing field held many Whale-Ray shuttles.

“Landed!”

“New students, please wait patiently.”

“Academy gates open at 9:00 a.m.!”

The cabin flashed with blinding blue light.

After the mechanical announcement, silence settled.

Shi Xuan cursed: “It’s only 6 a.m.—we’ve got three hours to wait!”

Jiang Jian looked out the window.

The other Whale-Ray shuttles sat motionless.

No one stirred on the landing field.

“All we can do is wait.”

Jiang Jian opened his identity device and checked his messages.

They were packed tightly.

Over a hundred messages had accumulated.

Jiang Jian swiped through, glancing at spam.

His gaze settled on five messages marked “Important.”

The first was the academy’s admission notice and summary.

“Linjiang Academy, Admission Guidelines.”

“Earth Citizen, Jiang Jian, citizen ID masked.”

“March 2, 3227.”

“Congratulations! You have been admitted to Linjiang Academy!”

“Linjiang Academy is the premier Divine-Grant university of Linjiang Prefecture.”

“The academy has stood for 352 years, with deep historical roots.”

“Over centuries, it has produced many illustrious figures.”

“Including high-ranking Alliance officials, high-level cultivators, business magnates, and divine scholars…”

…

Nearly an hour passed.

Jiang Jian finally finished reading the message.

“If this information isn’t exaggerated,”

“Linjiang Academy’s foundation is indeed profound.”

Jiang Jian smiled faintly, unconvinced.

He opened the second message: New Student Code.

“Linjiang Academy, New Student Code.”

“Linjiang Academy students must abide by Solar System Ordinances and Earth Alliance laws.”

“Obey the Solar System Ordinances, obey the Planetary Resident Ordinances.”

“Obey the Earth Alliance Law, obey the Earth Citizen Management Law.”

“Obey the Non-Citizen Protection Law, obey the Anti-Public-Feeding Discrimination Law, obey the Aircraft Operation Law…”

…

Jiang Jian finished reading the New Student Code and deleted the message.

He opened the third message.

This one was brief.

“Linjiang Academy, Identity Verification Email.”

“Please enter your citizen ID to complete enrollment.”

Jiang Jian tapped the translucent screen.

A private password box instantly appeared before him.

He entered his Earth citizen ID.

He tapped Confirm.

“Ding!”

A clear alert tone rang out.

“Linjiang Prefecture, Anhezhou, Guangling City.”

“Jiang Jian, age 17.”

“Tier-3 Talent, Art: Pure Spirit Flame.”

“Congratulations!”

“You are now officially a first-year student of Linjiang Academy!”

“Your identity device has been granted permissions.”

“Permission Level: First-Year Student.”

On the device,

a faint glow flickered.

Jiang Jian fell silent for a moment, then opened the fourth email.

Another identity verification email.

The campus is divided into seventeen departments.

Each department offers different resource subsidies.

Students from different departments hold different campus permissions.

“Department One, Special Identity Verification!”

“Detection: You have been enrolled in Department One, eligibility confirmed!”

“Please tap the Verify button!”

On the translucent screen, the “Verify” button glowed.

Jiang Jian tapped it.

'Beep!'

'Authentication successful!'

'Identity device permissions upgraded!'

'Permission level: First Academy freshman.'

'Additional permission info: Level 3 talent.'

On the identity device.

It flashed again.

Brighter than before.

'The last one is the freshman benefit and resources.'

Jiang Jian swiped past the message and looked at the fifth communication.

This message was different from the others.

Its edge had a golden border.

A golden-bordered message meant it was certified and issued by the Linjiang Prefecture Office.

Jiang Jian opened the communication.

The screen immediately glowed with a soft golden light.

'Verifying identity...'

'Verification successful!'

Prompt tones kept sounding.

Lines of information appeared within the message.

'Linjiang Academy, Freshman Benefits.'

'300 academy credits, usable to purchase items on the academy platform (credits are precious and hard to obtain; use wisely).'

'30,000 Alliance credit allocation, usable to purchase items on the Linjiang network (cannot be directly exchanged for Alliance currency; only for items of equivalent value).'

'Level 1 talent orb, random type (for placement in the Shenque point to unlock a second talent).'

'Three core theoretical disciplines, complete textbook set: 18 volumes — "Scientific Foundations," "Acupuncture Mastery," "Theology Overview."'

The Linjiang Academy’s freshman benefits were not abundant.

They could barely cover the most basic cultivation needs.

Below the information.

A 'Claim' button glowed golden.

Jiang Jian did not claim it yet.

His gaze shifted slightly as he continued scrolling down.

'Linjiang Academy, First Academy Benefits, (identity verified).'

'500 academy credits, usable to purchase items on the academy platform (credits are precious and hard to obtain; use wisely).'

'100,000 Alliance credit allocation, usable to purchase items on the Linjiang network (cannot be directly exchanged for Alliance currency; only for items of equivalent value).'

'Level 2 talent orb, self-selected type (for placement in the Shenque point to unlock a second talent).'

'Level 2 divine-gifted weapon, self-selected type.'

Below the information.

Another golden 'Claim' button.

Jiang Jian read through the First Academy benefits.

He continued scrolling.

The bottom message was the longest.

Its edge glowed even brighter with gold!

'This final message is not an academy benefit.'

Jiang Jian saw the message title and immediately understood.

'This is the resource package granted by the Linjiang Prefecture Office for a Level 3 talent!'

(End of chapter)