"It's getting late. Pardon my insolence but I have something else to do." Ling quickly withdrew himself before things escalated.
"Hey wait-" The elder wanted to stop him but Ling was already long gone. "Hmm, his short legs are quite fast, isn't he?"
He knows from experience, an old man like that elder must have some wicked mind behind their benevolence appearance.
Ling's heart was still pounding fast. He would've never thought to encounter an elder on his first day of school.
"Tsk! I was too careless! I have to pay more attention to my surroundings when I am still so weak!"
***
Later that day, the handout paper regarding the Sorting Ceremony had been shared to all freshmen.
Sitting alone at the corner of the cafeteria while enjoying his tea, Ling read the pamphlet with a boring expression.
Many freshmen students have their meal here, Ling eavesdrops on their chatter in silence.
Most of them were discussing which house they wish to be accepted in but they hope to enter the House of Qinglong, the most prominent house out of four houses available.
Ling couldn't care less which houses would accept him as long as he can cultivate in peace and strengthen his power.
Before long, Ling sensed a presence behind him. He expects that Luo Shen's lackeys came back again to pay back his defeat. However, Ling was completely wrong.
The presence belonged to a cute and petite girl. Wearing a beautiful cerulean robe with a big ribbon tie on her left hip.
Her body was slim and slender, her chin was pointy with pinkish lips. Her long black hair cascaded down freely about her back.
Judging from her appearance, the girl was about Ling's age or maybe a tad older than him.
Give her a few more years, then she would be right in Ling's strike zone.
"E-excuse me… But can I sit here? The benches are fully packed for some reason, hehe." She says, looking at Ling with a smile.
Ling glanced at his surroundings, it was true that the cafeteria was full since the senior students were also here to grab their food.
"Sure." Ling scooch over, giving the girl some space.
"Thank you so much! Finally somebody would talk to me, hehe." she says, placing her food tray on the table. "Have you had a meal?"
"No...I haven't."
"Then, how about we share my meal? I think I picked too much for myself, hehe." says the girl, giggling innocently.
"Thank you for your kindness. But I am fine, you can have your meal for yourself. If you can't finish them right now, you can ask the waiter to wrap them up for you."
The girl seems dispirited after Ling rejects her offer. It seems like she's desperate to make friends in the environment.
Ling, however, doesn't have a solid reason to befriend new people, at least for the time being.
"If you'll excuse me. I still have something else to do. Farewell, young lady."
"Wait!" She exclaimed, before Ling left the cafeteria. "What's your name?"
"Name's Ling, Ling Zhao of Zhao Sect."
"Mine is Qiqi! Nice to meet you, Ling."
Arthur cupped his fist to show some respect towards her. In his thoughts, it's better to be courteous towards her since she might have a bigger family on her back.
After he walked a bit further, Ling realized one fact regarding that girl.
"If she doesn't know my name, it means that she's my senior. But… she's about my age right? Also, her presence is very thin, I couldn't sense her presence until she's about ten meters from me. She's not a simple young girl I see."
***
Few days later, the day that the freshmen had been waiting for.
The Sorting Ceremony was held in the Grand Stadium of the Royal Academy.
All of the teachers and staff also attended this ceremony.
High above the grandstand, there were four seats, where the head of each house oversaw the Royal Academy.
The seniors also present themselves in this event. Trying to pick up suitable 'disciples' that they can use for their own merits.
Meanwhile, the freshmen huddled together on the field, facing the stage which had been prepared for them.
Vice-Dean Li Bingbing came forth to the stage, carrying a small bird. Reddish in color and chirping merrily while perching on her finger.
"May I have your attention, please." she exclaimed to the freshmen, silencing them in an instant.
"Now we shall begin the Sorting Ceremony. Those whose names are called, please come forth and let The Phoenix judge your heart, your personality and your value."
With that said, the students were called to the stage. The bird glared at them one after another with its small yet bewitching eyes.
The bird couldn't talk but it possessed boundless wisdom that surpassed humans. A truly magical little bird.
It hopped on the student's head and then it flew towards the sigil that represents each house.
"Wang Ge! House of Qinglong!" Li Bingbing announced the result.
All students of House of Qinglong erupted in cheers to welcome their new member.
Everybody had been sorten to their representative house except for Ling who happened to be the last person in the line.
"We meet again, Li Bingbing Shizun." Arthur paid his respect, bowing and cupping his fist. "This disciple will humbly accept any outcome of the test.
The little bird nodded, and hopped into Ling's head.
After that, it flew towards the sigil. However, the bird seemed confused about which house was suitable for Ling.
It flew back and forth for a brief moment and then finally perched back to Li Bingbing's finger.
"Well this is the first time that the bird had this confusion."
"Maybe the bird is just a bit tired? How about we try it again?"
Li Bingbing also had the same thoughts as him. When she was about to command the bird to do it again, a voice echoed throughout the whole grand stadium.
"There's no need for retrying. This kid is a special case. I will personally take him as my Inner Disciple!"
After this was said, a male figure appeared on the stage, emerging from a white mist as if he had traveled from another dimension.
Li Bingbing immediately knelt before this old man. "Disciple Li Bingbing is honored to have your presence. Fang Zhen Shizun!"
Ling recognized this old man from his last encounter at the herb garden. What's is even happening right now?