Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 407 During the Banquet

There are regulations regarding the years of cultivation within the Nine-Bend Academy: three years to reach the fourth level, five years to break through to the sixth level, and nine years to achieve true mastery, which means cultivating to the seventh level.

Such regulations are actually designed with the difficulty of cultivating different levels of true skill in mind, following objective laws.

The Cold Yin Nine-Bend Palm has a total of nine levels.

The third level involves comprehending the visualization diagram and generating internal energy. The sixth level involves gaining personal insights and understanding based on the visualization diagram.

These two levels are the most crucial, testing a martial artist's comprehension, physical constitution, talent, and many other factors. They are also the two most difficult hurdles that prevent many disciples from advancing.

As for the other levels, they are nothing more than the process of converting vital energy, accumulating strength, and strengthening one's strength, which is not difficult.

Shen Qiuling is currently at the fifth level of true skill. The next level is the sixth level of true skill. Although the fifth level is a stage of strengthening strength, the difficulty is limited.

However, she has damaged her foundation, her most basic physical structure is compromised, and her strength is flawed, making it difficult for her to reach the fifth level.

She had little hope of even reaching the fifth level, let alone the even more difficult and intangible seventh level.

Therefore, she made plans well in advance.

“Senior Sister Shen, why do you say that? With your strength, you are more than capable of staying in the academy. You will definitely have a place in our Nine-Bend Academy, no matter what.” Sun Zheng asked in surprise.

Although the Nine-Bend Academy has a strict elimination mechanism for inner disciples, requiring them to reach the fourth level of true skill within three years, conversely, as long as they reach the fourth level within three years and meet the standard, there will be other options.

That is, to either graduate normally and leave Jiuqu Academy, or to continue staying in the academy.

"Graduating from the apprenticeship" simply means leaving the master's school voluntarily with the head of the academy's approval to seek better opportunities.

Of course, after completing the apprenticeship, many of the benefits enjoyed as a disciple will be canceled, such as the free access to subsequent true skill manuals, the monthly distribution of demon beast meat resources, free room and board, and guidance from the master, etc.

These resources, which disciples can enjoy by paying only a small tuition fee, require a large sum of money to purchase after graduation.

Putting aside everything else, let's just talk about cultivation.

Let's say you've completed your apprenticeship and left the inner courtyard, and your cultivation has improved. You want to cultivate the next level of true skill.

At this point, acquiring the next level of true skill won't be so easy. After all, you've already graduated, and to Jing Tian Manor, you're an outsider.

First, you have to submit materials to apply for the purchase qualification. After half of the academy leaders review and approve it, and finally the manor owner agrees and confirms that your identity, position and status are not in problem, you will be granted the purchase qualification.

Note that this is only a purchase qualification.

Each year, the number of times each branch of Jingtian Manor is allowed to release its true skills to outsiders is limited.

After obtaining the purchase qualification, you still need to spend a lot of gold tickets, resources, etc., to participate in the competition and have a chance to obtain the next level of content.

This is only the most basic content of the cultivation method. The corresponding beast meat, cultivation manuals and secret techniques, and related secret arts all require a lot of money to purchase.

Especially the meat of demon beasts. Basically, the meat of demon beasts suitable for cultivation in the seven courtyards of Jingtian Manor was monopolized by Jingtian Manor long ago.

Without the flesh of demon beasts, one cannot cultivate at all and will find it difficult to make progress.

This is why Sun Zheng was surprised by Shen Qiuling's decision and took the initiative to leave the inner courtyard to seek development outside.

"Junior Brother Sun has only been in the hospital for a short time, so he may not know this." Shen Qiuling smiled slightly, as if she was about to leave. Her fiery temper had softened considerably, and she spoke much more gently.

"Yes, after reaching the fourth level of True Skill, you are indeed free to choose whether to stay or leave. If you stay in the inner courtyard, your cultivation techniques, demon beast meat, secret skills, resources, etc., will continue to be supplied as usual, and may even increase as your cultivation level rises. It sounds like a good choice, but in reality..."

At this point, she picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and slowly said, "But in reality, while enjoying the benefits, one also has to bear a lot of responsibilities..."

Our Jingtian Manor is a large and powerful family, and many of our territories require manpower to maintain. Therefore, after reaching the fourth level of True Skill, we need to take on missions and assume responsibilities. These missions are not the easy, lucrative jobs like delivering messages, running errands, or doing odd jobs in the outer courtyard...

They're either extremely difficult and time-consuming city quests, or high-risk wilderness quests that could result in serious injury or death, like my senior sister's quests..."

She stuffed the meat and vegetables into her mouth and chewed slowly: "As one of the five major powers in Yunzhou, Jingtian Manor has offended quite a few forces from top to bottom. In order to maintain the dignity of Jingtian Manor..."

"After I reached the fourth level of True Skill, my senior sister has been constantly hunting down wanted criminals within the manor. These injuries, along with the damage to my foundation I suffered last time, are from fighting with those wanted criminals outside."

At this moment, she gave a bitter smile: "You really think I have a fiery temper, which is why I got into a fight? Who would want to fight a powerful enemy of unknown strength for no reason? I may have a bad temper, but I'm not crazy!"

I'm so fed up with this life of suppressing gangs, fighting and killing people everywhere, and having fights constantly coming to my door!

Sun Zheng was dumbfounded and speechless.

To be honest, his only impression of this hot-tempered senior sister was that she had a fiery temper; he never imagined there would be so many intricacies involved.

But now that I think about it carefully, it's impossible for an inner court senior sister who can cultivate to the fifth level of true skill to have such a high level of skill if she is just hot-tempered and has big breasts but no brains.

"Senior Sister Shen is right. Although there are many benefits to staying in the academy, there are also many restrictions. In addition to the regular duties, there will be random sect summons. Once a summons is received, you must return to participate in time."

Guo An interjected, adding that his left arm was still bandaged, and the injury from the punch hadn't healed yet.

"I estimate that I'll be leaving in the second half of the year, just like Senior Sister Shen."

"Senior Brother Guo, are you leaving too?" Sun Zheng asked, looking puzzled.

“If there’s hope of staying, it’s okay to suffer a little grievance… Junior Brother Sun, you’ve only been a disciple for a short time, you can’t understand the feeling of having no light at all, the feeling of despair…” Guo An sighed softly, “If you can’t reach the sixth level of true skill, it will all be for nothing in the end. You might as well go home and farm, break free from the sect’s shackles, and be free.”

“But what can you do if you leave the inner courtyard?” Sun Zheng paused for a moment. “We martial artists, apart from our martial arts skills, all we do when we go out is fight and kill, and there are plenty of dangers involved. It’s better to stay in the courtyard and enjoy ourselves.”

Like Han Yi, he had no background or family connections, so all he could do upon arriving at the Nine-Bend Academy was bury himself in practicing his skills.