Chapter 43

Zhang Jian’s gaze was sharp.

He scanned the crowd, then looked at Shi Luohua.

His expression softened slightly.

“According to the examination rankings.”

“You start first.”

At the sound of the voice,

the girl with a ponytail lifted her head and said softly, “I have nothing to ask.”

Zhang Jian paused, studying her closely, then said, “Then here is your resource package.”

With those words,

Zhang Jian turned around.

He waved toward the aerial shuttle.

More than a dozen staff members descended from the aerial shuttle.

Each carried a heavy crate.

In addition,

there was a man clad in star-patterned robes.

His expression was calm, standing to one side.

Zhang Jian stepped forward, gazing at the star-robed man with a smile: “Thank you for your efforts.”

The star-robed man shook his head and said, “Conducting the binding ceremony is the duty of the Prayer Hall.”

“Transporting the resource packages is merely incidental.”

“Nothing more.”

Even so,

Zhang Jian still bowed his thanks: “We are in your debt.”

As he spoke,

the staff moved with swift efficiency.

They had already delivered Shi Luohua’s resource package into her hands.

Among them,

was an extremely precious “Level 3 Talent Orb.”

Shi Luohua stepped forward.

She bowed slightly to the star-robed man.

The star-robed man waved his hand and said, “Take the Talent Orb and the Divine Gift Weapon.”

The girl obeyed.

In her fingers, she cradled a crimson stream of light.

Radiance shimmered brilliantly, drawing all eyes.

Crack.

A faint, delicate cracking sound echoed.

Shi Luohua’s body trembled slightly, her brows furrowing.

As if enduring pain.

A few seconds later,

the star-robed man said, “The Talent Orb has been placed into your Shen Que acupoint.”

“The Divine Gift Weapon has also been bound to you. You may begin using it.”

Zhang Jian looked at Shi Luohua and said, “Timing begins now: five hours!”

With those words,

a screen immediately appeared on Shi Luohua’s identity device.

“Remaining Time: 300 minutes.”

Shi Luohua glanced at her identity device.

Her face turned pale, and she stepped back.

Zhang Jian turned his head and continued calling names: “Liu Tiezhu.”

Liu Tiezhu stepped forward, his smile earnest, and asked, “Teacher Zhang, I do have some questions.”

Nearby,

Shi Xuan’s face darkened as he muttered, “Five hours—what can you possibly achieve?”

His talent was “Guiyuan Gangqi.”

Although it came with a corresponding cultivation method,

its cultivation speed was extremely slow.

Jiang Jian looked up at Shi Xuan and said, “Your second talent is Qi Transformation into Gang, isn’t it?”

Shi Xuan nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Jian said, “Qi Transformation into Gang comes with a cultivation method.”

“Begin cultivating with that.”

“It should be faster than your innate talent, Guiyuan Gangqi.”

Shi Xuan sighed. “I can only do this for now.”

Though he said so,

Shi Xuan knew well:

Qi Transformation into Gang was merely his second talent.

Its cultivation ceiling

could never compare to that of his innate talent.

But at this moment, with the ranking tournament approaching,

if he ranked too low,

and got kicked out of the First Academy by Zhang Jian,

it would be a terrible loss.

As they spoke,

Liu Tiezhu had already completed his binding ceremony.

He too began his 300-minute timer.

“Second place: Jiang Jian.”

Zhang Jian called out loudly, his gaze turning to Jiang Jian.

At the same time,

two staff members lifted a crate together

and set it heavily down before Jiang Jian.

“Student Jiang Jian, inside this crate

are the academy’s benefits, the First Academy’s benefits,

and the official seal and approval from the Prefecture Office—

a Level 3 resource package.”

As the staff member spoke, he opened the heavy crate.

Inside, neatly arranged, lay numerous cultivation materials.

Most striking of all,

in the corner of the crate,

a flow of Hua Yu light swirled and danced.

“Hold it in your hands.”

The star-robed man’s voice was gentle.

Jiang Jian extended his palm and lightly touched it.

The delicate petals of light immediately spiraled around him, dancing joyfully between his fingers.

“And your Divine Gift Weapon.”

The star-robed man spoke again, “Without a binding ceremony, you cannot use it.”

The staff member quickly bent down, retrieved a jade pendant from the crate, and handed it to Jiang Jian.

“The Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon you selected: Qiyuan Jade.”

Qiyuan Jade enhances divine affinity and slowly improves Qi recovery and circulation.

“Thank you.”

Jiang Jian stepped forward and took the Qiyuan Jade in hand.

Crack.

A faint, delicate cracking sound suddenly arose.

Jiang Jian felt a sharp pain pulsing in his Shen Que acupoint.

The next second.

The scattered flow of light had already vanished between his fingers.

Shenque Point.

Crimson flower rain danced and fluttered.

“Dark Scent.”

“Includes cultivation method: Dark Scent.”

Without a sound.

Jiang Jian already knew the precise details of the talent orb.

At this moment.

The simple binding ritual was already complete.

The Wish Jade was placed in the uniform pocket.

Against the heart.

The touch was cold.

Was it an illusion?

Jiang Jian instantly felt.

The flow of Qi had genuinely quickened slightly.

After the binding ritual.

Divine-gifted weapons establish a connection with Qi.

Even at the Shenque Point, there was now the aura of the divine-gifted weapon.

Making it hard to lose.

“One Wish Jade.”

“It is enough.”

“Binding more divine-gifted weapons will only scatter the Qi.”

Thinking of this.

Jiang Jian lowered his gaze to the jade bracelet on his hand.

The Qi Gathering Bracelet, manufactured with Jupiter technology, was worth 170,000 Alliance Coins.

Microscopic arrays were engraved on the jade bracelet.

It could absorb starlight to slightly accelerate cultivation.

It had arrived last night.

“This is a technological device.”

“It does not require Qi to activate.”

“It complements the Wish Jade.”

“It can increase my cultivation speed.”

“By thirty percent!”

Jiang Jian half-closed his eyes.

Carefully sensing the surging, vibrant Qi at the Shenque Point.

Not far away.

The staff member pointed to the crate and said, “We’ll deliver these cultivation materials to your dormitory building.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Jian took ten portions of cultivation herbs from the crate and packed them into his backpack. “Send the rest to my room.”

Zhang Jian looked at Jiang Jian and said gravely, “Jiang Jian, do you have any cultivation questions?”

Jiang Jian paused, then said, “Yes.”

Zhang Jian nodded. “Speak.”

Jiang Jian asked, “Can cultivation fully replace sleep?”

Hearing this.

Zhang Jian was stunned, then looked deeply at Jiang Jian and said, “Yes—but not yet for you.”

Jiang Jian fell silent.

Zhang Jian continued.

“Cultivation requires conscious awareness, or accumulated subconscious habit.”

“To draw in Qi.”

“And guide it.”

“To complete the cycle.”

“You’ve only recently participated in the Divine Gift Ceremony and just begun cultivation.”

“Your subconscious has not yet formed the habit of cultivation.”

“Not until at least six months later.”

“Will you be able to cultivate while sleeping.”

“At this stage.”

“Never abandon sleep.”

“Otherwise.”

“Your physical strength will weaken, your spirit will grow hazy, and your mind will become weary and heavy.”

“That is not beneficial.”

Saying this.

Zhang Jian activated the timer. “Five hours. Go cultivate.”

Toward Jiang Jian.

His tone was gentle.

As the department head.

Zhang Jian had watched all fifty students’ division evaluation videos.

A score of 97 was dazzling enough.

If Jiang Jian were not an out-of-region student.

He could very well have been the top-ranked newcomer among the 1,800 in this division evaluation!

He is very likely the top-ranked among the 1,800 new students in this divisional examination!

A notification came from his identity device.

“Remaining time: 300 minutes.”

Jiang Jian stepped aside.

Carefully sensing.

The subtle changes in Qi after “Dark Scent” was implanted at the Shenque Point.

“Cultivation speed has increased by thirty-five percent.”

“Half a percent higher than I expected.”

Jiang Jian activated the Pure Qi True Method, his eyes brightening slightly.

Since “Dark Scent” was a genuine Level 3 talent.

The activity of Qi at the Shenque Point had also increased accordingly.

Added to the divine-gifted weapon, the Wish Jade.

And the technological device, the Qi Gathering Bracelet.

Jiang Jian’s cultivation speed.

Had increased dramatically compared to before!

Beneath the indoor training ground were many cultivation chambers.

All these chambers had their doors half-open.

These quiet rooms all had their doors half-open.

Could accommodate one student.

Jiang Jian found a clean chamber.

Sat down directly on the floor.

Activated the Pure Qi True Method and began cultivating.

Above the chamber, slanted and bright, a skylight poured in.

Starlight converged into a single beam.

“Forty percent!”

Jiang Jian gently closed his eyes, feeling the warm sunlight.

Cultivation speed increased again!

Shenque Point.

Thin strands of Qi continuously formed.

Circulating again and again along the meridians.

Circling the meridians, again and again.

Each cycle slightly strengthens it.

The spiritual energy limit of the Shenque acupoint is also slowly increasing.

(End of Chapter)