"Lou-jiejie, how did your cultivation progress so rapidly?" Wu Xiaoya hurried over, a vivacious girl trailing behind her.
"Let me introduce Yun Ling'er," Wu Xiaoya said, pulling the girl forward.
Yun Ling'er spoke first: "I've long heard of Lou-jiejie's peerless beauty and prodigious talent. Today's meeting proves the reputation true. Your elegance is beyond compare, Lou-jiejie!"
Lou Mengyu smiled warmly. "You're the true prodigy here! Such sweet words."
Qin Yang's spiritual sense swept over them, his brow lifting. Yun Ling'er's cultivation matched Lou Mengyu's - both stood at the peak of the Qi Sea Realm!
He frowned at Wu Xiaoya. How has this girl's strength grown so formidable?
The three beauties standing together formed a dazzling trio that drew all eyes. Alongside Wei Linglong, the four great beauties each possessed their own unique charm.
Lou Mengyu embodied grace and refinement, the epitome of a noble lady. Wei Linglong radiated heroic spirit, her prowess rivaling any man's.
Wu Xiaoya's fiery sensuality stirred passions, while Yun Ling'er's playful charm danced with vivacity.
"The academy's four great beauties have gathered. Tsk tsk..."
"If we could recruit them all... ahem, into our guild, we wouldn't need any publicity!"
"Not just recruit them into the guild, we should form a special squad! These four beauties are all formidable fighters! Especially Wei Linglong—her cultivation might not match ours, but her combat strength is no less impressive."
The Zongshi Realm seniors whispered among themselves, their eyes burning with intense desire.
Unfortunately, Wei Linglong refused to join any guild, leaving them with no choice but to target the three new beauties first.
"Wow, Sister Lou, your skin is so smooth and soft!" Yun Ling'er exclaimed. Her adorable expression made Lou Mengyu unable to resist pinching her cheek.
As they chatted and laughed, Wu Xiaoya suddenly turned to Qin Yang and demanded, "Hey! You're the one who stole Sister Lou away, aren't you?"
Qin Yang bristled at the accusation. "What do you mean 'stole'? This is mutual affection!"
"A flower stuck in cow dung," Wu Xiaoya wrinkled her nose and snorted derisively.
Qin Yang rolled his eyes, examining himself. "Have you ever seen such a handsome piece of cow dung?"
"So what if you're handsome? You're still cow dung!" Yun Ling'er giggled mischievously.
Qin Yang's face darkened as he turned away. "I won't stoop to your level, you girls."
Damn it, this is ridiculous... he muttered inwardly.
The constant glances from the four beauties made Qin Yang increasingly uncomfortable. The hostile stares from the senior students only deepened his frown.
If this continued, Qin Yang would feel like he'd been submerged in a vinegar jar, his bones turning sour.
Ew! Sour! Too sour! I don't want to become pickled cabbage!
"Since the welcome ceremony..." Shangguan Jianshan's face stiffened as he spoke. "Since everyone is present, let the Newcomer Competition begin."
The freshmen exchanged bewildered glances. Newcomer Competition? What's that? We've never heard of such a thing!
Qin Yang was equally curious. This Celestial Academy completely defied his expectations. From the Celestial Ten Directions Token to the Ten Directions World's star-marked territories, everything felt more like a free exploration than a proper academy.
"A Newcomer Competition? Why? For rankings?" Qin Yang asked.
Shangguan Jianshan snorted, "This is Celestial Academy's tradition. How would we know which to choose if you don't compete?"
"Choose which?" Qin Yang frowned.
The freshmen buzzed with excitement. This seemed like their chance to showcase themselves before the upperclassmen. One after another, they volunteered to be first in the competition.
Jin Wanshan and Qu Qingge stood beside Qin Yang, showing little interest in this freshmen's tournament.
"That freshman—yes, you with the bow—Clear Breeze Hall claims you!" A young upperclassman called out, tossing a token directly at him.
Qu Qingge glanced up, then looked at Qin Yang. He made no move to catch the token.
The young upperclassman's face flushed with anger. He waved his hand to retrieve the fallen token and snarled, "Don't you know your place?"
"Jin Wanshan? Would you care to join our Qianjin Hall?" another upperclassman from the Rong Clan asked mockingly.
"Qianjin Hall? A hall full of women?" Jin Wanshan sneered.
The Rong Clan upperclassman's fists clenched. He sneered, "Very well. I'll see which guild you choose then!"
Qin Yang stared in confusion. What was going on here?
Jin Wanshan, having prior knowledge of the situation, explained, "At the academy, students form their own guilds. If new students are chosen by senior members and accepted into these guilds, it brings tremendous benefits in cultivation, resources, and even star mark illumination."
After a pause, Jin Wanshan continued, "Even the trials for star mark illumination are typically carried out in small teams. The Ren family, being at odds with my family, deliberately act this way to make their stance clear. They want other guilds to avoid recruiting me, lest they oppose the Thousand Gold Hall."
Qin Yang had an epiphany, while at that moment, the new students participating in the competition were being favored by the Zongshi Realm senior members. They threw out olive branches, and the new students eagerly joined their guilds.
"Is it really not possible to not join?" Qin Yang asked.
"Not join? Don't take this personally, but as new students who know nothing, you'll only survive comfortably in this Tenth District's paradise for one year. After that, you'll likely die instantly during trials in other districts," Shangguan Jianshan said disdainfully.
"One year?" Qin Yang's curiosity was piqued again.
Jin Wanshan's home was in Free City, so he had some understanding of Celestial Academy. He explained, "The academy branch in the Tenth District's Peach Blossom Springs is run by each year's new students. It's like a normal city—new students can open various shops on the streets, and all profits go to them."
"However, resources, goods, information, and such require support from upperclassmen. We can't let the shops run out of stock. Moreover, we can't purchase anything from the outside world. Everything sold must be obtained within Celestial Academy's Tenfold Secret Realm."
"This period lasts one year. After that, all shops are cleared out, and the next batch of new students takes over. Meanwhile, we'll participate in various trials."
At this point, Jin Wanshan added, "This year is also when we enhance our strength and gain understanding of Celestial Academy's Tenfold Secret Realm."
Qin Yang nodded in understanding, but this still didn't seem to have anything to do with joining someone else's guild.
"What? Third-rank supreme-grade Face-Preserving Pills? And even fourth-rank supreme-grade ones?" Wu Xiaoya was stunned.
"One pill per day?" Yun Ling'er's eyes also widened.
Wei Linglong couldn't help but keep glancing at Qin Yang. Could this brat actually concoct pills of supreme quality?
Qin Yang picked at his ear. The sound's penetration is too strong... Is this some kind of divine sense attack?
"Can't we just form our own guild?" Qin Yang asked.
"Your own guild? That's hilarious! Who would dare join a guild you create? You might not fear death, but do you want to drag others to their doom?" Shangguan Jianshan sneered.
"Why is it always you?" Qin Yang frowned. "With your mid to late Zongshi Realm cultivators, you're just overgrown wolves with big tails!"
The hall fell silent. All the Zongshi Realm seniors' faces darkened. They were elite members of major guilds, yet this freshman dared to look down on them?
Shangguan Jianshan smiled inwardly. I don't need to strike you down. You've already kindled the crowd's fury!
"Boy, Celestial Academy isn't as simple as you think. If raw power were enough, would you consider yourself strong enough? Our academy has plenty of Stellar Realm cultivators among its students!"
Several guild leaders present were even Stellar Realm cultivators!
"Isn't graduating just a matter of lighting up eight star marks?" Qin Yang asked, his face full of astonishment. "My goodness, being a student in the Stellar Realm and still not graduated? How utterly incompetent can you be?"
The entire crowd fell silent, especially the senior students who had been so proud earlier. Their expressions turned as if they'd swallowed a fly.
Qin Yang looked around. Everyone's attention was focused on the four beauties. He shifted his gaze and cleared his throat. "I'm going to form my own guild!"
He immediately turned to Wei Linglong. "Weren't you eager to challenge me? Will you join?"
Wei Linglong hesitated.
The senior students all started laughing. Trying to recruit Wei Linglong directly? They might as well dream! Wei Linglong would never join any guild!
"Yes," Wei Linglong nodded.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Qin Yang looked at Wu Xiaoya and Yun Ling'er. "Want premium Face-Preserving Pills?"
Wu Xiaoya and Yun Ling'er nodded repeatedly.
"Only members of my guild get them," Qin Yang said bluntly.
"I'll join!"
"Me too!"
"Despicable!" Shangguan Jianshan roared, voicing the sentiments of all the senior students.