The next day, the losers packed their stuffs and returned to their different clans, while the others were moved, also through aerial beasts, to the academy; the Junior Academy of the Gifted.
Since we were already in Arerat City, from the city centre to the academy took just a mere twenty minutes on the wings of Transient Mortal realm savage beasts.
The academy was like another city entirely. The width of the wall, as we approached, stretched several thousand miles such that we couldn't see either of its edges. Its location was also in a mountain range — with lots of spiritual energy in the air.
Yes, this was going to be the place I'd learn the things that'd make me one of the greatest people who'd ever lived. My spirit boiled with anticipation. Raising my head up, I realised that the sky was covered with thousands of savage beasts — an even more terrible sight from what I'd seen at the Phantom Dynasty's city centre!
In front of the academy's gate were written these five, majestic words: Junior Academy of the Gifted.
At the moment, I was still in the back of the aerial beasts. There was a kind of little space built upon the back of these beasts that could contain several people. So we were all secure and didn't fear falling off.
"All drop!" came a voice boosted with true essence. Immediately, the beasts began to descend at an incredible amount of speed.
They dropped with a swoosh, causing everyone to loose balance of themselves and fall on one another, causing — as well — a shrill of laughter.
Getting out, the scene on the outside of the academy walls seemed to have been entirely different within. I even had to look behind me to confirm we'd passed through the gate, before getting reassured.
Spring. The season right before winter. The air was rich in the heavy scents of flowers from the umbrella of trees just about everywhere. The air was soothing, thicker here, and much comfortable, I heard someone mentioning something about it being implemented by a formation.
We were taken to the Main Hall right before us that stood as an entrance to the schools in the academy. Our names and blood droplet got recorded down, and we were divided according to our individual schools.
There were nine grand buildings in this school, in accordance with the nine respective professions: Beast Taming, Thaumaturgy, Poison, Physician, Apothecary, Blacksmith, Music, Painting, and Formation.
The Junior Academy of the Gifted was like another city entirely. There was a local market where students traded, either by barter or cash.
There was also a student square where general announcements were made. We were taken there. The whole place was bustling with excited and curious faces. Mixed in the crowd were thousands of newbies like me and hundred thousands more adorned in their respective school robe.
I felt heavy pressures coming from all corners. This was what it felt like to be within top-notch cultivators. I couldn't bare the pressure any longer, so I had to unrein my cultivation. After releasing the hold on my true essence of Transcendent Mortal realm pinnacle stage, the pressure from the rest of the crowd finally alleviated.
We were left to wait before the high platform of the student square, like the rest of the crowd, while the elder who brought us stepped over, into the platform, in his majestic robe which had a portrait of a roaring lion with wings of a dragon, and fur of an inferno-phoenix. It was a kind of portrait that caused shivers in one.
Next, he was soon joined by another elder, and then another, until the ninth. They probably each represented the nine schools in the Junior Academy of the Gifted.
Using true essence, in unison, they all declared: "We are the nine principals of the Junior Academy of the Gifted, the powerhouses of authority to all cultivators!"
Next, there was a round of applause for these figures. The elder who had accompanied us earlier, stepped forward.
"I am the elder of the Beast Guild, Principal Dongwu." After those words, three pressurising aerial beasts in the air made a resounding roar, as if to signify acknowledgement of his words.
Another elder stepped forward. It was a woman. She was dressed in a magnificent, sparkling gown, as though made of silver. She held a paintbrush in her right hand, and her arms were folded.
"I am the elder of the Painting Guild, Principal Yan-se."
Another man stepped forward. He had eyes as piercing as a blade. Without looking twice, only by his posture, one can conclude that he was a master in swordsmanship. However, he was holding a humongous hammer that seemed to carry the weight of a mountain, and cause sweat trickling down one's back. His flowing beards were covered in white. He'd obviously lived for over a century.
"I am the elder of the Blacksmith Guild, Principal Daozi."
A handsome elder with a clean shaved chin, and well cutout haircut which carried the aura of agedness, stepped forward next. His chin was tilted to the sky, like an expert who had seen all the vicissitudes of life. His true essence made him feel like an extremely friendly and approachable person.
"I am the elder of the Formation Guild, Principal Xiezi."
A smiley woman catwalked forward, each step forming a peculiar tune that somehow felt familiar to me, which was too strange. It made me feel like I've heard that tune all my life, yet I couldn't press a pin to any memory at all, which left me partly frustrated, partly curious.
Out of the numerous gazes shot at this woman, she seemed to feel mine, and quickly shoot me a glance before nodding a greeting and smiled, before turning her attention to the rest of the crowd. Due to how crowded the square was, no one could catch the exact person her eyes had met with.
I felt baffled. Wasn't that too creepy?
"I am the elder of the Music Guild, Principal Shige."
A plump man strode forward. He was head and shoulder taller than the others. He had slim moustaches, and was robed in a pure, white gown that gave one the feeling that he was unblemished from the stains of the rest of the world.
"I am the elder of the Physical Guild, Principal Zhihao."
Following this, a slim man with a cold expression stepped forward unleashing an unfathomable aura. He was robed in a pure black robe. His head was also covered in black hair, obviously a middle aged man. He seemed to be the youngest of all the elders.
"I am the elder of the Poison Guild, Principal Buneng."
Another elder stepped forward. His garment was a crimson one, reminiscent to a scorching fire.
"I am the elder of the Apothecary Guild, Principal Yisheng."
Finally, a slim elder, almost the height of Principal Zhihao of the Physical Guild, stepped forward. His robe was blue, and on it was embroided several half moons and numerous stars. He was as old as the hills, yet strong and agile as a youth.
"I am the elder of the Thaumaturgy Guild, Principal Mofa."
They stood in all grandeur, causing everyone to bow as sign of respect and reverence. All the while, the person who really trapped my attention was Principal Shige of the Music Guild. I felt she had an explanation to give me. That look was too peculiar to neglect. The other elders noticed this clearly, I was sure. They'd discreetly exchanged gazes, although I couldn't interpret what these expressed.
They charged their true essence into a weird contraption which then pushed a projection into the vast sky, revealing a face. I heard someone close by saying to another that the contraption was called the Headquarter Video Projector, and it was used to pass only important messages from the headquarter at Magnificent Spirit kingdom.
Before the duo could finish their conversation, a handsome face was projected in the sky. It was an old man with a middle-aged man's build, and a heavy and imposing aura. One could only imagine how this man could be in real person... it could be very terrible having to face such an aura. Still, his smile was warm and amiable.
The whole place went silent as soon as he opened his mouth to speak.