Shocking! The female protagonist unlocked her powers by killing people!

"Sister?" Lin Chengze looked at Ling Yi with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Ling Yi said, "This is your elder brother's idea."

"Oh," Lin Chengze replied, without asking any further questions.

Although he didn't know why his name had changed, since it was his older brother's idea, he would listen to him. Besides, his new name wasn't much different from his previous one, and he liked it.

"Xinze," the dean said with a smile, "is a good name."

Lin Xinze's eyes crinkled with laughter.

...

Seven days later, Feibiao arrived at the Imperial Academy, where the dean accompanied Ling Yi through the enrollment process.

First, go to the Spirit Testing Hall to test your spiritual root attributes and cultivation level.

He possesses dual spiritual roots of water and fire, and has the cultivation level of a ninth-grade spiritual master.

Upon seeing the results, the dean smiled and said, "He was only an eighth-level spirit master when he left the competition, and he has advanced so quickly."

Ling Yi said, "I dare not slack off on matters of cultivation."

The dean was even more satisfied.

Ling Yi looked at the dean and said, "Dean, I'd like Lin Xinze to be tested as well."

The dean nodded: "Test."

Three years old is the perfect time to test one's spiritual roots. They have spirit-testing stones here, so there's no need to go elsewhere to test them.

After the dean agreed, Ling Yi looked at Lin Xinze and picked him up with one hand: "Put your hands on it."

Lin Xinze obediently placed his hand on it.

Soon, the crystal representing the fire element lit up.

"Fire-attribute spiritual root," said the spirit test recorder beside him. "No cultivation."

"Thank you." Ling Yi thanked the spirit test recorder and then left the spirit test hall with Lin Xinze and the dean.

After they came out, the dean said as they walked, "Ling Yi, your cultivation level has been measured at level nine Spirit Master, but I'm thinking of assigning you to the Spirit General Academy. What do you think?"

Ling Yidao: "Isn't this inappropriate?"

“If it were anyone else, it would indeed be inappropriate for a level nine spiritual master to go to the Spirit General Academy, but you are different,” the dean said. “You won the Imperial Grand Competition, and they have all seen your strength.”

"Furthermore, you are promoted quickly. Even if we don't assign you to the Spirit General Academy now, you will be promoted soon. So why not just assign you there?"

After listening, Ling Yi said, "Dean, you can make the arrangements. I have no objections."

"Alright," the dean replied, then led Ling Yi to the Spirit General's Courtyard.

The Spirit General Academy is divided into five levels. The students in the first-level courtyard are Spirit Generals of Level 1 and Level 2, while the students in the second-level courtyard are Spirit Generals of Level 3 and Level 4.

Courtyards marked as Level 3 are for Spirit Generals at Level 5 to 6, Level 4 are for Level 7 to 8, and Level 5 are for Level 9 and 10.

The dean said, "Although we have set up five levels of colleges, there are not a single student in the fifth level colleges."

Ling Yi asked, "After all these years, no one has been promoted to the fifth-level academy?"

"Yes." The dean sighed, "As for cultivation, the further you go, the more difficult it becomes to advance. Those who can enter the fifth-level academy are all quite old. At this point, few people are willing to stay in the academy to continue their studies. Those who want to go further go out to travel and look for opportunities to advance. Those who do not break through for a long time try to use their cultivation to make a profit in other areas, and eventually give up their original intentions, making it difficult for their cultivation to advance any further."

Ling Yi said calmly, "The higher one's cultivation level, the longer one's lifespan. Why would one worry about age?"

Dean of Lingyang Kingdom Capital Academy, Level 2 Spirit General, 100 years old.

According to the Imperial Academy's system, those who can advance to the fifth-level academy must have a cultivation level of at least ninth-level Spirit General, and their lifespan will only exceed that of the Dean of the Lingyang Kingdom Capital Academy.

Age is not an excuse. Their unwillingness to continue cultivating stems not only from the obstacles in their cultivation level, but also from their own inner thoughts.

Power, money, the adoration of others...

The dean knew the truth, but didn't say it directly, and Ling Yi naturally knew it too.

“It’s all their own choice.” The dean sighed. “They can still cultivate outside, and the resources provided by those powerful families are even better than those in the academy.”

The resources provided by powerful families are indeed good, but they are not given away for free.

But they should have understood when they made their choices that they were all making their own.

"Ling Yi, I plan to assign you to the Second-Level First Academy." The dean said, "In the Second-Level First Academy, most of the generals are Level 3 Spirit Generals, and there are only a few Level 4 Spirit Generals. Based on your promotion speed, if you are assigned to the First Academy, you will have to be reassigned in less than two months. The Second Academy is the most suitable."

Ling Yi said, "Dean, I have no objection. You can make the arrangements."

"Okay." The dean responded, and then led Ling Yi to the Level 2 First Hospital.

The fact that the dean personally led the way showed how highly he valued Ling Yi. The teachers in charge of the secondary colleges did not dare to neglect him and quickly arranged everything for Ling Yi.

After completing the formalities, Ling Yi received the academy uniform, spirit stones, and meal card and left.

Also leaving with them were the teachers in charge of the dormitories. The Imperial Academy's dormitories were four people per room. Ling Yi arrived late, and the other three rooms were already occupied, leaving only the last room.

Usually, this last room is the worst one, not because it's poorly furnished, but because it's next to the other rooms and in a bad location.

However, Ling Yi didn't care about this. After confirming the dormitory, he led Lin Xinze to the courtyard where the dean lived.

As he left, Lin Xinze kept looking around.

As long as you remember the way, you can come find your sister whenever you miss her.

Upon arriving at the dean's courtyard, the dean, considering that Lin Xinze was only three years old, arranged for Lin Xinze's room to be next door, so that he could immediately detect any problems.

"Xinze, how about you stay here and live with Grandpa Dongfang from now on?" The dean looked at Lin Xinze and asked gently.

Lin Xinze nodded obediently: "Grandpa Dongfang, thank you."

He knew that if it weren't for Grandpa Dongfang, he would be even further away from his sister.

"Good boy." The dean patted Lin Xinze's head, then looked at Ling Yi: "Ling Yi, Xinze will stay with me and be fine. If you miss him, come and see him."

Ling Yi wanted to refuse, but before she could speak, she met Lin Xinze's expectant eyes. Looking at his little face, Ling Yi didn't say anything in the end, but just nodded: "Okay."

The dean said, "You'll be going to class tomorrow, so go home and rest early today."

"Okay." Ling Yi replied, glanced at Lin Xinze, and then walked out.

Lin Xinze immediately jogged after her, saying, "Little sister, let me take you there."

Ling Yi coldly refused: "No need, go back."

Lin Xinze ignored him and escorted Ling Yi out of the courtyard.

"Little sister," Lin Xinze asked cautiously after they came out, "Will you come to see me?"

Although Lin Xinze was young, he could sense the emotions others had towards him.

My older brother likes him very much and treats him very well. Grandpa Dongfang is very kind and treats him well too. My younger sister... my younger sister doesn't like him.

But he wanted to be with his sister.

Ling turned around and saw Lin Xinze's cautious yet expectant look.

Ling glanced at him and said indifferently, "Come whenever you have time."

An inaccurate answer, however, brought a smile to Lin Xinze's face: "Little sister, I'll wait for you."

"Okay." Ling Yi responded and prepared to leave, but before leaving, she added, "If there's anything, you can talk to the dean."

Lin Xinze nodded: "I understand, goodbye, little sister."

Ling Yi didn't say anything more, turned around and left quickly.

Lin Xinze stood there until Ling Yi was out of sight before turning back to the courtyard.

...

The next day.

Ling Yi had breakfast at the cafeteria and then went to the Level II First Affiliated Hospital.

Many students had already arrived at the academy, and they all looked surprised when they saw Ling Yi walk in.

Yesterday, the dean brought Ling Yi over to see the teacher in charge of the Second Academy directly, without coming to the academy, so the students had no idea.

"Isn't this the student who won the Imperial Competition?"

"It's that student from Lingyang Kingdom, named Ling Yi."

"I had heard before that our college teachers intended to admit her, but I didn't expect her to actually come."

"Even if she came, isn't she an eighth-level spirit master?" someone said. "She should be at the Spirit Master Academy, why is she here?"

"I don't know," another student chimed in. "It's probably what the teacher meant."

"If that's the case, wouldn't you say she got in through connections?" a student said unhappily. "She clearly hasn't reached the Spirit General level, yet she came here."

"That's true, but we've all seen her strength. In terms of ability, she didn't get into the Spirit General Academy through connections, after all, she defeated Bei Qianning."

"How can it not count? The rule is that only Spirit Generals of Level 3 can enter our First Academy."

The student who said Ling Yi didn't get in through connections was speechless: "If you're so dissatisfied, go talk to the teacher, talk to Ling Yi in front of him. I'm just telling the truth, why are you arguing with me?"

After these words were spoken, the discontent within the courtyard decreased significantly.

Regardless, Ling Yi's ability to defeat Bei Qianning demonstrates her formidable strength, and they might not fare well against her.

Furthermore, even if they are dissatisfied, they are unwilling to be the first to speak out; they will just watch.

After the courtyard quieted down, the other students arrived one after another. The second-level first academy, including the newly arrived Ling Yi, had a total of forty-one students, including thirty students with the cultivation level of third-level spirit general, ten students with the cultivation level of fourth-level spirit general, and one student with the cultivation level of ninth-level spirit master.

The front seats in the courtyard are for fourth-level spirit generals, followed by third-level spirit generals. Ling Yi, with his cultivation level, could only get a seat at the very back.

Ling Yi sat down by the window, listening quietly to the others' discussion, and said to Tian Yan, "The Mountain and River Mirror was broken into four pieces, and we've only found one so far. Can you provide any clues about the other three pieces?"

Ling Yi was quite eager to find the Qishanhe Mirror, because once she found it, she could unseal and devour it, and once unsealed and devoured, her cultivation speed would be much faster.

Tianyan Dao: [01, The system doesn't know the location of the other three pieces either; you'll have to rely on yourself.]

"You really don't know?" Ling Yi said slowly, "How could I not believe you?"

"It's true," Tianyan said. "I was able to provide the first piece because it contained the Mirror Spirit. The remaining three pieces do not contain Mirror Spirits; their presence is faint and difficult to detect."

Ling Yi sighed upon hearing this, realizing that it would be impossible to find it quickly.

Tianyan said: "[But the Mirror Spirits have now been found. They will slowly appear and then come towards you. Don't rush. You can use this time to cultivate diligently. The higher your cultivation level, the stronger the power you can withstand.]"