Reverend Insanity: Heaven Illusion Demon Venerable

Chapter 6: Academy



 Chapter 6 - Academy

Li Tianhuan strode through the mist-shrouded paths, his destination looming ahead: the Yanxiao Clan's Academy. As he approached, the faint outlines of towering structures began to emerge, their silhouettes stark against the foggy backdrop. The academy was an imposing complex, a testament to the clan's dedication to cultivating its younger generation.

The main building, situated at the heart of the complex, was constructed from dark stone, its surface polished to a mirror-like sheen that reflected the diffused light of the overcast sky. Intricate carvings of Gu worms and cultivation symbols adorned its facade, each one telling a story of the clan's illustrious history. The roof curved upward at the edges, reminiscent of traditional Chinese architecture, and was crowned with a pair of stone phoenixes that seemed to guard the structure.

Surrounding the main building were several smaller structures, each serving a specific purpose. To the left, a long hall with open sides acted as a lecture area, its rows of wooden benches and desks designed to accommodate dozens of students. To the right, a more secluded structure emitted faint energy fluctuations—the resource building, where primeval stones, manuals, and low-rank Gu worms were distributed under strict supervision.

Behind the main building stretched a vast open ground, but it was far from an ordinary playground. The earth here was uneven, dotted with jagged stones, and the air carried a faint metallic tang. This was the sparring field, where students tested their techniques and trained their Gu in controlled duels. Wooden dummies and stone targets were scattered across the field, many of them scarred and pitted from repeated use. A ring of stone pillars surrounded the area, each engraved with suppressive runes to ensure no techniques escaped the boundaries.

To the far end of the complex stood a tall, rectangular tower—the cultivation pavilion. Its windows glowed faintly with a soft, ethereal light, a sign of the primeval essence formations inside. This was where students meditated and refined their apertures, a sacred place strictly reserved for those who proved their worth.

Li Tianhuan paused at the edge of the academy, taking it all in. Groups of students moved purposefully between the buildings, their robes marked with the insignias of the clan—a swirling pattern of smoke that seemed to shift and dance subtly. The design symbolized the Yanxiao Clan's mastery over illusions, with the smoke representing the transient and deceptive nature of their cultivation path.

With a deep breath, he adjusted his cloak and stepped forward, to enter the academy.

Just as he was about to take another step, a voice called out from behind him. It was a female voice, clear and familiar. "Li Tianhuan! Wait up!"

He turned around to see a young girl approaching him. Her robes bore the insignia of the Yanxiao Clan, and her expression was one of cheerful familiarity. It was Yan Yueqing, a friend from the same generation in the clan. Her black hair was tied neatly in a braid, and her sharp eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she closed the distance between them.

"Yueqing," Li Tianhuan greeted with a faint smile. "It's been a while. What brings you here so early?"

"What do you mean it's been a while? It's only been a day since we met," Yan Yueqing replied with a laugh.

Li Tianhuan chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eye. "For me, a day without seeing you felt like a hundred years of loneliness."

Yan Yueqing's face flushed red as her voice stuttered, "What do you mean by that?"

Li Tianhuan asked innocently, "I mean that without a friend at home, it felt boring, like a hundred days of loneliness. What did you think I meant?"

"Nothing, just leave it," Yan Yueqing said, thinking to herself, 'This idiot can't even understand what love means.'

Li Tianhuan broke the brief silence. "So, Yueqing, did you refine the new Gu you received from your parents?"

Yan Yueqing nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I managed to refine that Gu just last night. It was so difficult that I used up a total of 20 primeval essence stones. What about you?"

Li Tianhuan scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "You know I'm poor and don't have any Gu with me since my parents passed away. I can only access their Gu when I turn 18."

"Sorry for reminding you about that," Yueqing said as she bowed her head.

"It's okay, Yueqing," he replied.

As they walked together toward the classroom, their conversation carried a lighthearted tone.

When they reached the classroom, Li Tianhuan and Yan Yueqing stepped inside, the room bustling with students settling into their seats. The rows of desks were arranged in a tiered layout, and the first row by the window was reserved for the most promising students.

Li Tianhuan took a seat by the window, appreciating the soft light filtering through the fogged glass. Yan Yueqing sat beside him on his left, her expression relaxed but attentive. The first row was strictly reserved for A-grade and B-grade students, a privilege that marked them as the most promising cultivators of their generation. The tiered layout of the classroom placed those with lesser aptitudes farther back, subtly reinforcing the hierarchy of the clan.

Li Tianhuan glanced out of the fogged window beside him, noting how the muted light cast faint shadows on the desks. The weight of expectation was palpable; sitting in the front row meant that every action, every result, would be closely watched by instructors and peers alike. It was both an honor and a burden.

"Fu*k this sh*t. I just need to reach Rank 4 to get out of this place," he thought to himself, his resolve hardening as he surveyed the room.

As he was thinking, the door creaked open, and the Academy Elder entered the room. The elder was a stern-looking man with a long beard that flowed like a silver river down his chest. His piercing gaze swept across the classroom, immediately silencing the chatter of the students. His robes, embroidered with intricate patterns of smoke and clouds, exuded an air of authority and experience.

"Settle down," the elder commanded, his voice calm yet firm, as he made his way to the front of the room. Standing before the class, the elder began, "Today, we will review the fundamentals of primeval essence and apertures. These are the cornerstones of cultivation and must never be taken lightly."

He swept his gaze across the room, ensuring every student was paying attention. "Your aperture is your foundation. It is the space within you that holds your primeval essence, which powers all Gu worms and techniques. Depending on your aptitude, your aperture size and essence recovery rate will vary."

The elder raised a hand, and a faint glow emanated from his palm. "Primeval essence is divided into grades based on its purity. From green copper to red steel and eventually to rank-specific essences, each level reflects the cultivator's progress and their ability to refine and use higher-level Gu worms. Maintaining and refining your essence is as crucial as cultivating your aperture."

He gestured toward the diagrams etched onto the classroom's black stone wall. They depicted apertures of different grades and their respective capacities. "A-grade apertures have the largest capacity and the fastest recovery, making their owners the most likely to succeed in cultivation. B-grade, while slightly lesser, still holds significant potential. For those below… their journey will be far harder."

As the elder spoke, Li Tianhuan's mind was on something else. That is the Check-in.


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