Chapter 852: Outer Courtyard Training

Ye Liuyun and his party arrived at Qian Long Academy without any trouble.

They arrived almost half a month earlier than the deadline set by Lu Xiaoyao.

"Good fellows, from a distance the Qian Long Academy looks like a coiled giant dragon," Wei Pangzi exclaimed.

"It means a hidden dragon in the abyss!" Liang Xinyu explained.

Ye Liuyun also looked over and found that the Qian Long Academy's shape, when seen from afar, truly resembled a coiled giant dragon. Its Dragon Head was slightly raised, its dragon eyes half open, like a dragon about to awaken and soar.

Spiritual Qi swirled around the dragon's body in a misty veil, making the giant dragon appear even more mysterious.

The surroundings of Qian Long Academy were towering mountain ranges.

"A hidden dragon in the abyss? That's a fine implication!" Ye Liuyun whispered in admiration.

When their warships approached, they truly felt the scale of Qian Long Academy, which was at least several times larger than Ye Liuyun's own domain.

"This academy is absurdly huge; do we really have to shuttle through it on warships?" Yuan Datou shouted.

The gates of Qian Long Academy were spacious enough for several warships to sail side by side.

Instead of steering the warships straight into the academy, they docked early, stowed the vessels, and walked into the courtyard.

The gatekeeping disciples of Qian Long Academy were all at the First Rank of Creation, and they spoke to them very politely.

After clarifying their purpose and having Ye Liuyun show Lu Xiaoyao's token, a gate disciple led them to find Lu Xiaoyao.

The Outer Gate was not far from the academy gate, yet they walked for nearly half an hour before locating Lu Xiaoyao.

Along the way, they marveled at the abundant spiritual Qi here, finding everything astonishing.

Because Ye Liuyun possessed the Primordial Spirit Secret Technique, his walking did not hinder his absorption of spiritual Qi.

He thought that staying here for a while would definitely save him many Spirit Stones.

The guide was also pleasant and explained many things to them.

"You arrived just in time to catch the tail end of Outer Courtyard training!"

Lu Xiaoyao retrieved his token, surveyed Ye Liuyun and the others, and was pleased to see Ye Liuyun's realm had advanced one rank, feeling that the time he gave them was not wasted.

"Outer Courtyard training?" Ye Liuyun and the others were puzzled.

"Let's go, I'll first issue you identity tokens and explain as we walk,"

Lu Xiaoyao said, leading Ye Liuyun and the others to process their identity tokens.

On the way, Lu Xiaoyao praised Ye Liuyun: "You haven't wasted any time, not only advancing your realm but also becoming a Marquis!"

"You already know about my being ennobled as a Marquis?" Ye Liuyun asked, puzzled how Lu Xiaoyao knew such information.

"Of course. What did you think Qian Long Academy was? This is a training academy exclusively for the dynasty's offspring, so news circulates freely. Any matters concerning the academy's disciples are reported, even prospective disciples," Lu Xiaoyao explained.

Then Lu Xiaoyao continued to tell them about the Outer Courtyard training.

"Each year, newly recruited disciples must undergo training and testing before they can enter the Outer Courtyard. The training lasts three months. The three months I gave you are your training period,"

Lu Xiaoyao paused, then continued: "Training means having dedicated mentors to guide your cultivation issues and help you strengthen your power. It does not provide resources. Before becoming formal disciples, the academy will not give you any resources."

"What about the test after training?" Ye Liuyun asked.

"After training, about half the disciples pass the test. However, during training, another half are eliminated," Lu Xiaoyao smiled at them.

"Training eliminates half, testing eliminates another half. So the final pass rate is only a quarter!" Ye Liuyun thought, "These people are elite selections from across the lands, yet so many are still cut here!"

The others also showed worried expressions.

"Just be mentally prepared. Here, if you don't improve your strength, you'll be eliminated. A slip and your life is gone!" Lu Xiaoyao looked at them and gave a faint smile.

Just hearing Lu Xiaoyao, Ye Liuyun and the others felt that Qian Long Academy was fraught with danger, their faces showing utmost caution.

Later, they followed Lu Xiaoyao to register, received training disciple identity tokens, a uniform set, and a booklet outlining the academy's rules.

Then Lu Xiaoyao led them to their lodging.

The few of them were assigned to a small courtyard with five rooms, one per person.

Each room was built to the standards of a Cultivation Room, without even a bed.

"We live here? Do we have to provide our own beds?" Liang Xinyu and Su Manning were most concerned about these details.

Lu Xiaoyao smiled: "Telling you won't help; you'll have to experience it yourself. Here, you'll only do one thing—cultivate nonstop. Even if you have a bed, you won't have time to rest. Once you get used to it, you'll understand."

Afterward, Lu Xiaoyao told them, "You won't make today's training. Start cultivating now; tomorrow morning join the others for training!"

Having said that, he left Ye Liuyun and the others unattended.

Ye Liuyun and the others each chose a room and went in to rest.

Ye Liuyun first flipped through the booklet, which listed precautions for training disciples; through it, he learned a great deal about this training.

Then he changed into the training uniform and began cultivating with peace of mind.

But before long, the commotion outside drew all of them out.

Outside the courtyard, many disciples in training garb returned to their quarters, many bearing injuries.

Two disciples, for reasons unknown, started fighting, sending dust billowing.

Yet few onlookers gathered; each wore a weary expression and returned straight to their rooms to cultivate. Clearly, the cultivation pressure here remains high.

Ye Liuyun and the others stood at the doorway, watching the scene.

Disciples from the neighboring courtyard spotted them and, with schadenfreude, warned, "Newcomers? Remember to have Healing Elixirs ready. If you don't, hurry and buy some; the academy's pill pavilion sells them."

"What does that mean?" Yuan Datou asked, puzzled.

"You'll find out tomorrow!" the person smiled and returned to his room.

The others glanced at them briefly and hurried back to their rooms.

Su Manning, irritated, said to Liang Xinyu, "What a poor eye these men have, ignoring us! Should I use some charm technique?"

She had been holding back after entering the academy to avoid trouble.

She didn't expect to be ignored by those male disciples.