Chapter 42: Divine Navel

Beep!

The communication sound rang out.

Jiang Jian snapped out of his daze.

“Jiang Jian, there’s something important!”

Shi Xuan’s voice came through the identity device.

Jiang Jian said, “Go ahead.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the time.

It was already 6 p.m.

Shi Xuan said, “I’ve received information from within the Shi family.”

“Tomorrow morning, the Prayer Temple staff will arrive.”

“They’ll bring the talent orbs from the official treasury.”

“They’ll also perform a simple binding ritual to help us bind our divine weapons.”

“Therefore,”

“Tonight, you must choose the divine weapon you want.”

“Or spend money on the Linjiang network to buy one suited to you.”

“The Prayer Temple staff are very busy.”

“The next binding ritual won’t be until half a year from now.”

Upon hearing this,

Jiang Jian nodded and said, “I understand.”

The communication ended.

Jiang Jian opened his identity device, his gaze lingering briefly on the “Wish Jade.”

He then opened the Linjiang network.

The equipment page had two categories.

The first was divine weapons.

The second was technology equipment unrelated to the divine.

But even technology equipment belongs to divine technology.

After purchase, it still requires binding through the Prayer Temple ritual.

Only after authentication and registration can it be used.

“There’s only one binding ritual every six months.”

Jiang Jian’s eyes narrowed in thought, “Each additional divine weapon bound taints the spiritual energy slightly.”

“Technology equipment has no such risk.”

“But its cost-effectiveness is extremely low.”

Jiang Jian skimmed through the listings.

He gained a sense of the prices for technology equipment.

High-quality tech gear often cost hundreds of thousands of Alliance credits.

Yet their effectiveness was only comparable to a Level 1 divine weapon.

Cheaper options were even more useless.

But even the cheapest still cost tens of thousands of Alliance credits.

“Aside from the Wish Jade, I won’t bind any other divine weapon.”

“This will preserve the purity of my spiritual energy as much as possible.”

“Although technology equipment has abysmal cost-effectiveness,”

“I’ll buy and bind one for now.”

“It might slightly accelerate my cultivation.”

As he pondered,

Jiang Jian scrolled through the dense list of items.

After a while,

His gaze suddenly stopped.

“Qi Gathering Bracelet, 170,000 Alliance Credits.”

“Manufactured using Jupiter technology, engraved with micro-arrays that absorb stellar light to slightly accelerate cultivation.”

Jiang Jian’s finger paused on the word “slightly.”

“So expensive.”

“One hundred seventy thousand Alliance Credits,”

“Could support a lifetime in Guangling City.”

“Cultivation doesn’t care about money.”

Jiang Jian turned his head, looking at the screen in front of the machine butler.

“Tonight’s meal menu.”

“Spicy Phoenix Meat, 4 Alliance Credits.”

“Pork Belly Tofu Soup, 3 Alliance Credits.”

“Double Chili Chicken Noodles, 1 Alliance Credit.”

……

“I’ll have the Double Chili Chicken Noodles.”

Jiang Jian said.

The machine butler erased the screen and bowed, “Please wait a moment; I’ll fetch your meal.”

It walked into the mechanical room, the door closed, and slowly sank downward.

The machine butler had its own dedicated elevator shaft.

Jiang Jian turned back to the identity device screen.

His finger swiped.

“Purchase successful!”

“Your expenditure: 170,000 shopping credits.”

“Your remaining shopping credits: 60,000.”

“Your item will be delivered to your door within three hours by dedicated personnel and vehicle.”

A series of notifications flashed continuously.

Jiang Jian paid no attention.

Others buying tech gear usually seek powerful offensive or defensive capabilities.

This kind of auxiliary tech gear isn’t overpriced.

For the same price, you could buy a decent divine weapon.

Its only advantage,

Is its own internal power source.

It doesn’t require spiritual energy to operate.

As long as it’s maintained once a year and its array core is replaced, it can be used long-term.

Therefore,

Using technology equipment

Won’t make the spiritual energy in your Shen Que acupoint impure.

As he pondered,

The mechanical room door opened.

The machine butler entered, carrying a tray with a broad smile.

“Double Chili Chicken Noodles.”

The large bowl on the tray steamed hotly.

The spicy, numbing, savory aroma rushed to his nose.

Beep!

A new communication arrived on the identity device.

“Linjiang Academy, First-Year District, Class Schedule.”

Jiang Jian picked up the tray.

As he ate, he opened the communication.

The schedule was clear and concise.

Only four classes per week.

Monday: Cultivation class.

Tuesday: Theory class.

Wednesday: Theory class.

Thursday: Theory class.

The rest of the time is for free cultivation.

“Four classes per week.”

“One cultivation class, three theory classes.”

Jiang Jian ate while pondering, “So cultivation basically relies entirely on self-discipline.”

The robotic butler stood beside him and asked, “Would you like some soup?”

Jiang Jian waved him off.

After finishing the meal.

The mechanical butler stepped forward automatically, cleared the table, picked up the tray, and walked into the mechanical room.

Jiang Jian returned to his bedroom and sat down.

“The Net Spirit True Method—the cultivation technique inside.”

“It requires stellar light to aid cultivation.”

“I’ve studied it for a long time, yet I can barely activate it.”

Jiang Jian pulled back the curtain.

Outside the mansion, the sky was dark.

Jiang Jian half-closed his eyes and activated the Net Spirit True Method.

Faintly,

there was a barely perceptible spiritual energy.

Flowing toward him from all directions.

At the Shenque point, spiritual energy churned.

Every time he activated the Net Spirit True Method,

the upper limit of spiritual energy increased.

But the increase was minuscule.

Almost imperceptible.

“If this continues,”

“even if I sit still for a hundred years,”

“I still won’t fill it.”

“The spiritual essence needed to fully saturate the Shenque point.”

Jiang Jian halted his scattered thoughts.

He cast aside distractions.

Gradually sank into quiet cultivation.

Unconsciously,

another dozen hours passed.

Jiang Jian did not sleep.

He remained in a state of light dozing.

Continuously cultivating the Net Spirit True Method without pause.

This state,

though not true sleep,

was still a form of rest.

At 7:30 a.m.

The sun’s light was bright and blinding, shining through the windowpanes into his pupils.

Jiang Jian opened his eyes.

He exhaled slowly and deeply.

After a night of cultivation,

the upper limit of spiritual energy at the Shenque point had increased slightly.

But the magnitude of this increase,

was less than a single hair’s width.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Jiang Jian lifted his gaze toward the golden-red star.

He felt no despair.

His resolve grew even firmer.

“No wonder,”

“everyone says cultivation is harder than climbing to heaven.”

“That’s truly accurate.”

“But,”

“cultivation is inherently dull.”

“Only through relentless day-and-night practice,”

“can one glimpse even a sliver of hope for breakthrough.”

Jiang Jian stood up and opened the bedroom door.

The robotic butler stepped forward: “What would you like for breakfast?”

Jiang Jian looked.

On the semi-transparent screen, over a hundred breakfast options were displayed.

“Pork dumplings, tofu soup, fried egg—2 Alliance coins.”

“Pan-seared hot dog, toasted bread, fresh milk—2 Alliance coins.”

“Beef patty veggie burger, chicken congee—1 Alliance coin.”

…

Jiang Jian walked toward the bathroom, saying, “The hot dog set.”

“Understood.”

The robotic butler retracted the screen and smiled, reminding him, “You have a cultivation class today at 9 a.m.”

Jiang Jian nodded and walked straight into the bathroom.

After bathing,

he changed into clean undergarments.

Jiang Jian dried his hair and entered the living room.

He immediately saw,

a brand-new uniform neatly folded on the sofa.

The uniform’s fabric was soft and of premium quality.

The embroidered patterns were crafted with fine artistry.

“According to academy regulations, you must wear the uniform.”

The robotic butler bowed slightly.

Jiang Jian picked up the uniform and put it on entirely.

The matching shoes also bore river patterns along their sides.

Before the full-length mirror,

Jiang Jian looked up.

The boy in the mirror was exceptionally handsome.

Dark, fine strands of hair fell over his forehead, making his complexion appear pale against the luxurious uniform.

His eyelids slightly lowered, his gaze deep and somber.

“Breakfast is ready.”

The robotic butler placed the meal on the table.

A plate of pan-seared hot dogs.

Three slices of toasted bread.

A large glass of fresh milk.

Jiang Jian picked up the toasted bread and wrapped it around the hot dog.

On his identity device, a faint glow flickered.

Alert tones kept sounding.

Jiang Jian ate while

opening a new communication.

Shi Xuan: “Jiang Jian, aren’t you up yet?”

“Today’s cultivation class is at the southern indoor training ground.”

Seeing this,

Jiang Jian replied: “I’m eating. I’ll leave shortly.”

A few seconds later, Shi Xuan sent: “I’m waiting for you downstairs.”

Another message.

It was a communication from Mu Ying, the student representative.

“Jiang Jian.”

“Go to the indoor gymnasium on the south side of campus before 9 a.m.”

“Don’t be late.”

Jiang Jian swiped his finger to close the communication.

He had eaten.

Jiang Jian picked up Han Guang, wrapped in black cloth.

He tied it to his backpack.

He pushed open the door and stepped out of the room.

Inside the large elevator, he encountered no students.

Only a few staff members in uniforms.

When they saw Jiang Jian’s ornate school uniform, they all showed respect.

They bowed slightly and stepped aside.

Within the campus,

the faculty and students held the highest status.

All other staff

were permitted to work on campus only to serve the faculty and students.

“Jiang Jian!”

At the entrance of Loufu.

Shi Xuan held Zhenyue Dao, smiling, “You didn’t leave your room all yesterday.”

Jiang Jian stepped out the door, offering a polite smile: “I was tired, fell asleep as soon as I lay down.”

Shi Xuan nodded: “It’s almost nine. Let’s go.”

He raised his hand and tapped his identity device repeatedly.

A few seconds later,

a small aerial shuttle hovered before them.

“Please board!”

A mechanical voice sounded.

This small aerial shuttle was unmanned.

Its purpose

was to transport people within the campus.

“Yesterday,”

“Mu Ying’s aerial shuttle was far more luxurious.”

Shi Xuan stepped onto the shuttle and sat down. “We’re not student representatives—we don’t have Xu Kequan—so we can only use these unmanned shuttles.”

Jiang Jian sat beside him and said, “Apart from being slower, there’s no difference.”

As he spoke,

the shuttle accelerated and rose slowly.

Like a nimble bird, it glided between towering buildings.

Racing swiftly toward the campus’s southern side.

The indoor gymnasium was another majestic building.

But this building was unusual.

From the outside,

it looked like a giant bowl inverted on the ground.

Its interior was completely hollow.

It could hold hundreds of thousands simultaneously.

“Jiang Jian.”

“Our First Academy truly has privileges.”

Shi Xuan tilted his head, gazing at the approaching indoor gymnasium.

“I heard,”

“other academies have different schedules.”

“Their cultivation classes are staggered from ours.”

“Only the First Academy,”

“has cultivation class at 9 a.m. on Mondays.”

“Some later academies,”

“even delay their cultivation classes until Tuesday—or Wednesday!”

As he spoke,

the shuttle passed through the gate and entered the indoor gymnasium.

Along the edge of the gymnasium,

numerous aerial shuttles were parked.

Most of the First Academy students had already arrived.

“It’s almost nine.”

“The academy’s head instructor hasn’t come yet.”

Jiang Jian stepped off the shuttle and looked up.

Dozens of students in school uniforms stood nearby in small groups.

All waited in silence.

Beside him, Shi Xuan suddenly tensed.

Jiang Jian followed his gaze.

Indeed.

Dozens of meters away,

a girl with a ponytail stood alone, swiping her identity device.

A few seconds later,

Shi Xuan relaxed, deliberately avoiding looking that way.

“The head instructor’s here!”

“Look!”

“What a massive shuttle!”

The students stirred in excitement.

The indoor gymnasium was not open-air.

The building’s roof connected to the academy’s spiritual array.

But its entrance was extremely tall.

A massive shuttle, lights flashing, passed through the gate and glided in slowly.

The shuttle’s cabin door opened.

A towering figure stepped out, his instructor’s robe billowing.

The next instant,

the figure leapt straight down.

He jumped from the cabin door, dozens of meters above the ground!

Gasps erupted among the students.

Boom!

Dust scattered.

“I’m Zhang Jian.”

He brushed off nonexistent dust from his robes. “In the First Academy, I’m in charge.”

He wore an elegant instructor’s robe, his face handsome.

His eyes were bright as falcons.

Zhang Jian stood there, radiating immense presence.

The students applauded.

Jiang Jian clapped along, but his mind turned to another thought.

The campus’s deputy director was named Zhang Tianzhi.

Their names were similar.

It was exactly nine.

Zhang Jian scanned the surroundings, his gaze passing over fifty students.

His eyes paused for a moment on Shi Luohua.

No matter what.

A Level 4 talent is always a figure of great attention.

“Get into Linjiang Academy and assigned to the First Academy.”

“That alone proves your ability.”

Zhang Jian stood with arms crossed, expressionless, “But here.”

“Underperformers will be eliminated!”

His expression turned suddenly cold, “The First Academy is not a place to loaf around and wait to die!”

“The First Academy.”

“Is the top class among seventeen departments!”

“Is the gathering place of the brightest geniuses in this campus!”

“And the cradle of future champions!”

“And the face of Linjiang Academy’s first-year class!”

Zhang Jian’s lips curled in a cold sneer.

“So.”

“Today.”

“I will hold a temporary ranking match.”

“The five students at the bottom of the ranking.”

“Will be kicked out of the First Academy!”

As soon as these words fell.

Dozens of students erupted in uproar!

“The department assignment is already complete—how can it be changed arbitrarily!?”

“This clearly violates academy rules!”

“This is unfair!”

Around them, chaos and clamor surged.

Shi Xuan’s expression also shifted slightly; he muttered, “In my memory, Linjiang Academy has never had such a precedent.”

Jiang Jian remained silent.

He quietly activated the Pure Spirit True Method.

He cultivated in silence, drawing upon the brilliant light of the star.

Zhang Jian had already announced the rules of the ranking match.

“Everyone’s cultivation method is different.”

“Now.”

“Each of you.”

“Has one chance to ask me a question.”

“I will help you truly begin your cultivation!”

“After that.”

“I will give you five hours.”

“After five hours, the match ends!”

“The higher the increase in Qi capacity at the Shenque point.”

“The higher your ranking!”

The rules were fully stated.

Many students looked grim.

The ranking match’s rules seemed simple.

But what they tested was extremely comprehensive!

For cultivation,

Patience, resilience, comprehension, and talent strength—

All were under scrutiny!

(End of Chapter)