In the centre of each major settlement in a realm under the jurisdiction of the Ridge Head Sect, there are Realm Gates set up by elders of the sect for easy travel between realms for cultivators who cannot break the barriers between realms.
"So, looks like the failure is back to look at the Realm Gates again"
"What are you looking at us like that for? Get out before we kick you out again you failure without a Golden Core!"
Once again Tong Fan approached the Realm Gates, however, unlike many times previous in his life, this time he had something to show the arrogant gate guards. Flaring his aura, he showed them the might of the Golden Core Realm that he had achieved.
"What? How could this be! The failure has achieved the Golden Core Realm?"
Surprised by the golden aura emanating from within Tong Fan's Spiritual Sea, the guards had no choice but to back off.
"Hmph, just watch! Not only have I achieved the Golden Core Realm now, but I will also go further than you puny gate guards ever will. Today you ridicule me, tomorrow I will be able to crush you like ants!"
"Don't get too ahead of yourself you Fan Tong (rice bucket), you may have broken through to the Golden Core Realm but that is nowhere close to being able to do anything in your life!"
"Foolish ones, don't you have any new material? Your insults mean nothing to me now. I will be heading to another realm, and once I come back, I will be able to end you within a breath!"
"Courting death! I'd like to see you try once you come back. Crushing you now would mean nothing."
Passing by the gate guards, Tong Fan appeared before the realm gate terminal at the centre of town. Each realm had small and medium gates for realms near to it, and large realm gates for access to the 5 academies of the level each realm was at.
"Hello young master, which realm would you like to vis- ugh how did this trash sneak in here? Guards! Come kick this trash out."
Looking at the attendant directly in the eyes, Tong Fan flared his aura. "Is this enough to stop calling me trash"
"Kgh, how could one such as you achieve the Golden Core Realm?" Though speaking rude and questioning words, the attendant quickly changed their posture to become more welcoming and the expression on their face also softened.
"Through my many years of living, I have been denied access to the realm gates many times. I know I must be going to an academy realm, so just direct me towards that realm gate."
Still somewhat unwilling, the attendant still fulfilled their duty and let Tong Fan toward the central areal where the realm gates towards the 5 academies resided.
"Here is the academy realm area. Since you have somehow been able to come in here, I assume you would have no knowledge of the different academies. Each academy pertains to one of the 5 regions of our sect, each being Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. With each academy further separated into Central, Outer, Far and Fringe levels. This realm is a Fringe realm of the Metal region, so you can only access the Fringe level academies."
"I see. And of course, due to our region being the Metal region, the Metal academy would also be the most popular. Is that true?"
"Seems there is still a brain knocking around in there. I guess achieving the Golden Core Realm made even a trash able to comprehend words."
Ignoring the insults, Tong Fan thought to himself. "Which academy could benefit me the most? Each one must have their specialties but asking this attendant any more would cause me to be at the limit of my anger. I guess I shall go to the Metal Fringe Academy. Maybe I will even see some familiar faces."
"-and that is why a trash like you would be better off staying in a fringe realm even after achieving the Golden Core Realm."
"I have made my decision. I shall head to the Metal Fringe Academy."
"Did you not hear what I just said? You trash are overestimating your limits."
Ignoring the still-rude attendant, Tong Fan plunged into the realm portal labelled with Metal Fringe Academy. Delving through the realms was not an easy task, and each Academy was located in the central area of their jurisdiction. To ensure that the gates continue working as intended, elders of the sect regularly come out to test their stability, especially for gates connected to Academy realms.
Arriving at the gate terminal for the Metal Fringe Academy, I could immediately feel the difference in energy. The grandness of this terminal was nothing compared to the somewhat run-down look of the gates within my hometown. The amount of people going in and out of gates was also constant, looking as if it were flowing water rather than people passing through gates. Seeing many small gates around my gate in my room I could see Golden Core Cultivators slightly younger than me appear periodically.
"There's no time to observe others, I should hurry towards the Academy to begin training."
Making my way out of the room where my realm gate resided, I could see the many corridors and rooms which held other realm gates, as well as the hustle and bustle of cultivators travelling between realms. But where could the exit be?
"You look lost. Is this your first time at this terminal?"
Turning around, I could see a sickly-looking woman. With sunken cheeks and dark eye sockets, I questioned whether she was even a cultivator and how she got to this terminal.
"Ah the way I look? Don't worry about it. I can guide you to the exit of this terminal if you'd like."
To think that I look so pitiful that even a sickly woman would offer help to me, my cultivation must still be severely lacking
"I would be grateful for your help. It is my first time in another realm after all."
"Oh! You must be someone aiming to qualify for the Metal Fringe Academy! I'm glad that I found someone like me right when I entered the realm with the same goal as me. My name is Gang Meihong."
Quite suspicious she would approach me like this. My cousins have proven to me that even family members are not to be trusted in this world, so how would I be able to trust a passerby? Though if she can guide me to the academy that would be of great benefit. "It seems I've embarrassed myself lady Gang, If you would be so kind as to guide me I would be grateful for your help"
"You can just call me Meihong…let's go"
"Alright then lady Meihong, and many thanks for helping a country bumpkin such as I."
Meihong then guided me to the exit of the realm terminal and towards the Fringe Metal Academy. The academy realm was many times vaster than the fringe realm that my home was in. The first thing I saw as I came out of the realm terminal was the grandness of the academy. Sitting across the city from the realm terminal, one would think that it would be a small building due to its fringe status, but it was as if it were scraping the sky. It took up the sky as if a large shadow looming over the city and shining with the luster of an unknown metal. To call such an academy fringe, how vast must the inner academies be?