The morning was extra chilly with the autumn winds.
Inside the shabby wooden shed, Ni Wen changed into the old but mended academy uniform. There was some noise in the kitchen—her mother was preparing tofu pudding to sell in the market.
When Ni Wen reached the kitchen, the older woman in rags stood up and wiped her hands on her apron.
“Little Wen, you’re awake?” the woman said with a smile. She had beautiful features but the years had not been kind to her. The marks of age diminished her beauty, a flower worn out by life.
The woman took out a hard-boiled egg from her apron.
“Little Wen, are you going to the Spirit Pagoda today? You need to give your very best. Mother’s not capable of buying spirit crystals to help with your cultivation, but I know you can only change your fate through cultivation. If you manage to excel in the Imperial Examination, our lives will be a bed of roses. I don’t need to sell tofu pudding at the break of dawn.”
The woman tidied a few loose strands from her bun wrapped in cloth. There was a rare, hopeful glimmer in her weather-beaten eyes.
Ni Wen bit her lips and received the egg from her. Her mother had boiled it earlier in the morning. Worried it would be chilled by the autumn weather, her mother had kept it warm by wrapping it in her pouch.
“I will do my best!” Ni Wen said determinedly. She always gave her very best.
The woman tidied Ni Wen’s hair, satisfied, and said, “Go, remember to keep your distance from those rich kids. Your priority is the Imperial Examination.”
Ni Wen’s expression flickered after hearing her mother’s words. She quickly answered and ran off with the warm egg.
Fang Lang changed into a fresh set of robes. He then opened the door and stepped outside.
He stretched lazily in the chilly autumn and proceeded to the main quarters of the Fang Manor. Old Fang had stayed at the entertaining house until late at night, hence was still asleep but he had ordered the servants to prepare breakfast.
After Fang Lang had eaten, he carried the sword box containing the Blooming Lotus Sword and the Obsidian Sword and walked out onto the bustling main street. He walked towards the direction of the academy—the ground was a carpet of dried leaves blown by the autumn breeze.
Dang!
The timekeeper rang the bell.
The students gathered on the practice grounds started to move unwillingly toward the study block. Right at the center of the practice grounds was a gigantic lapis lazuli pagoda. There were nine floors, each shone brilliantly as if they were made of spirit crystals.
There were invisible runes surrounding the lapis lazuli tower, absorbing the spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, clearing up the atmosphere around the academy.
Before the pagoda stood fifty students in academy robes.
Headmaster Cui, Mentor Wen and two other court officials were present.
The two officials in official robes had solemn expressions on their faces. The energy around them was dense and focused. Their cultivation should not be underestimated when they were tasked with guarding the Spirit Pagoda.
“Headmaster Cui, it’s time. You can let the students in. The Spirit Pagoda will only stay open for two days. After that, we need to send it back to the Ministry of Rites,” one official said to Headmaster Cui respectfully.
Even though he was an official, he had to be respectful of this old man.
Headmaster Cui smiled gently, his white beard swaying in the autumn breeze. “Let’s begin.”
Immediately, two spell talismans appeared in the officials’ hands. Immense spiritual sense rippled out, activating the runes on the talismans. Two rays of light burst from the talismans and struck the lowest level of the lapis lazuli pagoda.
The Spirit Pagoda’s entrance slowly opened, releasing a strong burst of spiritual energy. The students were amazed by the exquisite architecture.
The two officials turned around and stared sternly at the fifty students.
“You’ve been selected by Luojiang Academy to enter Spirit Pagoda. This is your chance, start absorbing the spiritual energy and cultivate after entering the tower. It is forbidden to destroy anything inside the tower. You will be disqualified if you do so and shall be jailed according to the Tang Dynasty’s laws,” the official warned.
He then continued to brief them about certain rules upon entering the Spirit Pagoda. “Once you enter the tower, there are nine levels. Each level has a different density of spiritual energy. Similarly, the pressure caused by the spiritual energy will differ. You need to search for the level that contains the spiritual energy that is suited to your current ability. Remember not to go beyond your limits.”
Right after that, the two officials turned aside, opening the path towards the Spirit Pagoda.
The students on the practice field roared in excitement.
Ni Wen stood beside Fang Lang. They were whispering, a blush appeared on Ni Wen’s face from time to time.
Liu Bubai walked over and looked at Fang Lang. He raised his chin and said, “Lang’zi, stay behind me after entering the Spirit Pagoda. I’ve been waiting for this for the past few days. I can finally let it all out. I will definitely aim for the sword master level in the Spirit Pagoda! Most of the spiritual pressure will be aimed towards me when I rank up. You can avoid most of it if you stay behind me,” said Liu Bubai.
Then, Liu Bubai turned around to look at Ni Wen. He frowned and raised his chin. “You too. Follow me and you’ll succeed!”
Liu Bubai shouted his catchphrase.
He swore that he would not be the freeloader this time. He would be the one leading!
He wanted to prove himself!
Fang Lang’s eyes fluttered and he laughed. “I shall depend on you then.”
Ni Wen thought about it and answered softly, “Thank you.”
Liu Bubai harrumphed and lifted his head as he basked in the appreciation.
Leading others to victory was his forte!
“Children, it’s time to enter. Relax your mind and know your limits. Bear in mind, greed takes you nowhere,” Headmaster Cui reminded them kindly.
The students entered the Spirit Pagoda in an orderly manner.
Liu Bubai marched forward with his head raised.
Fang Lang and Ni Wen followed closely behind.
Mentor Wen, Headmaster Cui and the others watched while the fifty prized students of Luojiang Academy entered the Spirit Pagoda.
Upon entering the first level, they were surrounded by dense spiritual energies. There was a weight on their shoulders due to the immense pressure of the spiritual energy, also known as the spiritual pressure.
Fang Lang lifted his head to look at the peak of the Spirit Pagoda. He saw a spirit crystal suspended like a chandelier, shining brilliantly like a sun. it was enclosed by runes on eight sides—runes that put him under a trance. The inside of the tower was brightly lit by its brilliance.
This was the base of the Spirit Pagoda, created from the fusion between the ultimate spirit crystal and high-grade spell mastery runes.
There were nine levels, each level had increasing spiritual pressure. The spiritual pressure would be almost unbearable at the peak of the pagoda.
Most of the students took a deep breath once they entered the tower—immense spiritual energy rushed into their bodies.
The walls of the Spirit Pagoda were filled with profound rune carvings, containing all sorts of principles and dictums. Cultivation was made easy in a place like this.
This was the purpose of the Spirit Pagoda.
Boom!
The gates of the Spirit Pagoda sealed shut when all the students had entered, preventing the spiritual energy from escaping into the outside world.
The students tried to suppress their excitement and urge to run up the ancient stairs of the Spirit Pagoda to reach the higher levels.
Liu Bubai kept his composure as he ascended the stairs. After several steps, he noticed Fang Lang was by his side. He looked around in confusion.
“Lang’zi, hurry up. We’ll be heading to the fourth level. I can endure the spiritual pressure. Once I ascend, we can proceed to the fifth level,” said Liu Bubai.
Fang Lang just chuckled and glanced at Ni Wen. “You guys go ahead. I need some preparation on the first level. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
Liu Bubai and Ni Wen did not probe further.
“The spiritual energy on the first floor is not that valuable. Our time in the Spirit Pagoda is limited, don’t waste it,” Liu Bubai reminded Fang Lang before climbing the stairs.
Ni Wen looked at Fang Lang briefly before following Liu Bubai to the fourth level.
Fang Lang remained on the ground floor. He scanned through every floor and saw students taking their places at the fifth level and below.
‘Ding! Host has entered the Spirit Pagoda. Challenge mission initiated, absorbed spiritual energy: 0 (low-grade spirit crystal)’
The System notification rang in Fang Lang’s mind. He did not budge. Instead, he sat down with his legs crossed.
Inside the Spirit Pagoda, the students watched Fang Lang from the levels above with baffled expressions.
No one would waste their time on the ground floor. What was the top-scorer in the examination doing down there?
There was no time to waste. The students abandoned their questions about Fang Lang’s weird actions and started absorbing the spiritual energy.
Spiritual energy was highly sought-after, especially for the geniuses from peasantry background.
Fang Lang closed his eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
The next moment, his eyes snapped wide open!
He used two of the Physical Buff Cards he had prepared earlier.
The spiritual pressure on the first floor was not too strong, suitable for physical buffs. If the pressure was too high, it would hurt the physical body. That was the reason why Fang Lang chose to stay on the first floor.
‘Ding! Continuous activation of two Physical Buff Card. Estimated time required, 20 breaths. Good luck on your cultivation.’
Hiss! The moment the System’s reminder ended, a sharp, bone-stabbing pain ripped through his body. It crawled up his spine like a spider.
He felt pain coursing through all parts of his body.
Outside the Spirit Pagoda, Mentor Wen, Headmaster Cui and the two Ministry of Rites officials were observing the pagoda.
There were sparkles in their eyes. They used the spiritual sense to check on the situation inside the tower.
“Hmm? Why is someone sitting on the first floor?” one official asked in a puzzled tone.
“Fool. He should treasure every second in the Spirit Pagoda to absorb the spiritual energy. Naturally, one will benefit more at higher levels. The one who stayed on the first floor must be too afraid of the spiritual pressure. What a slacker, an utter waste of the position,” the other official said coldly.
Mentor Wen frowned as he recognized the person sitting on the first floor. He raised his eyebrow and wondered, ‘Fang Lang?’
Headmaster Cui’s eyes deepened while his smile faltered slightly.
Lady Jiang made use of her family’s ties with the Ministry of Rites to fast-track Luojiang Academy’s application for the Spirit Pagoda just for Fang Lang’s sake.
What on earth was he thinking!
Inside the Spirit Pagoda, the 20 breaths felt like an eternity to Fang Lang.
Fang Lang’s body gradually stopped trembling. The continuous usage of two Physical Buff Card was too much to handle, it nearly killed Fang Lang in the process.
Nevertheless, the physical buff was a success.
Every inch of his skin, every cell in his body became stronger. Most importantly, they were starving. Fang Lang was like a sponge that was squeezed dry, eagerly waiting to absorb spiritual energy to replenish his newly-buffed body!
Fang Lang opened his eyes—they were shining brilliantly!
Time to harvest!
He switched into Triple Binding Mode and activated the 3X Amplification Card!
Then, the black hole in his energy center churned!
Instantly, he attained the absorption power that was almost twice of Old Jiang’s!
The entire floor’s spiritual energy started circling like a hurricane and charged towards Fang Lang!
Absorb!
Absorb as much as possible!