Destiny in Cinders

Truth be told, Principal He kept a low profile and looked like any ordinary, middle-aged school staff member, yet An Jing’s instincts screamed that this man was incredibly dangerous. He was strong and deadly, like a double-edged sword that cut others just as easily as it cut itself.

”Wow... a pure sword immortal through and through!” Drawing upon the keen perception unique to an immortal sword, Yvelbane came to the same conclusion as An Jing. ”He is quite impressive... His sword intent is crystal clear, reflecting some sort of water-metal intent. His foundation is rock solid. If I’m not mistaken, his immortal foundation falls under ’White Banners Fluttering Over Golden Sandcliffs.’ But something’s odd...”

Yvelbane sounded quite perplexed, ”He’s already passed the three hurdles, Building the Foundation, Profound Insight Seeding, as well as Mind Illumination Clear Psyche. He can now turn numinosity into a vital-origin ability and vivency into an immortal body. As his ability merges with genuine qi, he can anchor his soul within the great void to make it indestructible and become a true Purple Mansion sage. So why is he stuck at the very last step?”

”Is he lacking something?” An Jing silently noted. ”His physique doesn’t seem particularly strong, about the same as that adept from the Seated Mirage Sect. But his sword intent is far purer than that heartsword guy.”

”The path of qi refinement doesn’t emphasize physical strength; instead, it focuses on numinosity and vivency,” said Yvelbane. ”Whether you begin with numinosity or vivency, both must be perfected by the third hurdle. The three hurdles of the immortal body are Sacred Embryo Nurturing, Gold and Jade Body-Tempering, and Reverting Vivency to the Prime. Ultimately, the sacred embryo transforms, triggering a foundational change and improvement in numinosity. Likewise, after overcoming the Mind Illumination Clear Psyche hurdle, one’s ability tempers the physical form and rapidly boosts vivency.”

”I see.” An Jing said, looking thoughtful. ”What about cultivating both in parallel instead of starting from one or the other?”

”Ah, cultivating both at the same time, huh?” Yvelbane chuckled. ”With both ability and an immortal body, that final leap will undoubtedly be extraordinary. This will allow you to condense a wisp of immutable metal nature ahead of time, which adds a potent catalyst for forming a goldcore during Seven Reversions and Nine Cycles, the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm. Because it can elevate the quality of the goldcore, those aiming for the best will attempt cultivating both, though the path is exceptionally arduous. Unless you are strictly aiming for perfection, it’s really not worth putting yourself through that much trouble.

”Principal He here focuses on numinosity... But it appears a problem has arisen with his state of mind. His sword heart has begun to waver and hesitate, making it impossible for him to achieve total illumination of the mind and psychic clarity. As a result, he cannot break through the barrier between the purple mansion and the void to bind his soul. He has languished in this realm for over twenty years, wasting away his time. What a pity.”

While An Jing couldn’t pinpoint the exact issue with Principal He’s mental state, he was keenly aware that this man was more powerful than any adept he had ever encountered. Even the Lord Inspector of the West’s blood-lethal-qi clone would likely be a step below Principal He in terms of strength. After all, the clone wasn’t a real Clearing Realm adept with a formation world in his body.

Though it made the comparison sound cheap, the truth was that the blood-lethal-qi clone was still the strongest opponent An Jing had ever fought. He had needed a boost from the terrestrial veins, support from Ming Guangchen, as well as a variety of unexpected trump cards to defeat the clone. Furthermore, the Lord Inspector of the West had never actually intended to kill him. Instead, the man’s only goal was to capture him alive to be used as raw material for refinement.

Principal He frowned slightly, feeling a brief, sharp sting from An Jing’s gaze. However, the expression quickly melted into a smile. The fact that An Jing’s sword intent could evoke such a sensation meant the boy possessed exceptional potential. ”I must thank you for your help with Nian Quan. It’s quite clear to me that his sudden surge in strength was due to the two of you.”

Skipping the small talk, he extended an invitation. ”It’s sudden, I know, but are you two interested in joining Third Middle School?”

Huo Qing glanced at An Jing and replied first. ”I’m afraid I’m too old for that.”

”You’re right, but that’s a small issue.” Principal He looked at Huo Qing, acknowledging the young man’s solid physical foundation. He was quite a promising prospect. ”I know you already have auditing privileges at the training academy for the four prime dao academies. However, I can give you an official recommendation from Third Middle School, allowing you to attend as one of our young talents. That’s a lot more valuable than a regular pass, and it comes with quite a few perks.

”And what about you?” Principal He turned to look at the boy whose extraordinary demeanor stood out instantly. An Jing was his real target. ”I can see that your strength is remarkable. How about joining Third Middle School? I can offer you a special admission slot. Although you might find teachings that rival those in the city, the badlands can never match a proper school when it comes to a comprehensive and well-rounded education.”

Principal He’s invitation was undeniably sincere, so An Jing had no choice but to seriously consider the offer. ”Principal, I must confess that I’m tempted to accept. My... cult sent me to Deepnight City for the sake of making further progress. Enrolling in Third Middle School and establishing myself here in Deepnight City would be a huge benefit to me and my backers. But as a chosen successor, I must return to discuss the necessary procedures and make the proper arrangements. I’ll only be able to give you an answer within three to six months.”

An Jing’s response was entirely genuine. Getting the chance to study at one of Deepnight City’s schools and gain a comprehensive understanding of the qi refinement system was an absolute jackpot. Not to mention, the school library was bound to be packed with countless techniques and the cultivation insights of his predecessors. Perhaps he could even draw inspiration from them and achieve a monumental leap forward in his own cultivation.

But with An Jing disappearing for once every three days, attending classes regularly was nothing more than a pipe dream. Before he could commit to anything, he had to first retrieve Yvelbane’s fragment at Brokeblade Mountain to extend the time he could stay in Skysource.

”Very well.” Principal He knew An Jing was making excuses, but it was true that a major decision like this wasn’t up to him alone. Although most city folk looked down on badlanders, he was well aware that the number of eccentric masters and hidden talents out there far exceeded the imagination. The weirdos who refused to be kept like cattle in safe zones, geniuses who had ventured out to explore ruins of the ancient Dao Court and never returned, and powerful figures who wished to break free from their constraints and establish their own sects eventually chose to head into the badlands. Though the badlands had no primordial deities and could never truly rival the four major corporations, it was still a force to be reckoned with.

An Xuan must either have a sword immortal’s legacy or a sword cultivator who’s at the very least at my level backing him... No, someone stronger than me. Perhaps it’s a Purple Mansion sword immortal. It would be wonderful to establish a connection with whoever’s backing him... Then again, even if there’s something big happening behind the scenes, it has nothing to do with me right now.

It was his sharp eye for talent that made him value An Jing so highly. Being a sword immortal himself, he recognized the value of ailment sword qi and Armorpierce Impetus. Techniques of this level were considered secret core teachings entirely out of the average person’s reach, even within Deepnight City. Out in the badlands, such techniques were strictly reserved for the core successors.

”If you ever decide to apply ahead of time...” With his mind working at lightning speed, Principal He smiled and extended a business card to An Jing. ”This is my personal contact information. Reach out to me whenever you’re ready to apply for a chip, or for any other matter.

”One more thing...” Seeing An Jing take the card, he nodded gently. ”I noticed that you two were looking to buy something in the special market? It has good items every now and then, but the supply is unpredictable. If you’re looking for something, you’ll find it much easier to use my channels.”

After some consideration, An Jing told him what he needed. At times, cutting ties wasn’t as simple as just wanting to do so. The more one avoided incurring favors, the more curious the other party became. Since that was the case, it was better to make a few demands. Not only was it to his advantage, but it also put the other party’s mind at ease and smoothed the way for future cooperation.

”Drones and lethal-qi-resistant gear for hazardous environments?” At An Jing’s words, understanding flashed across Principal He’s face. ”Are you planning to enter the immortal ruins?”

No. An Jing remained silent. If others wanted to jump to conclusions, then so be it. After all, he certainly couldn’t explain that he was actually planning to explore the cave of a Purple Mansion great fey with potent toxic lethal qi.

”That’s nothing.” Taking An Jing’s silence as a confirmation, Principal He’s eyes flashed as he forwarded the request to his contacts through his chip.