Once Clifford achieved his breakthrough, Kheon started teaching him the basics, such as mobilizing Qi in combat and various ways of using it, like injecting it into objects and empowering his body. However, Clifford was dissatisfied. Beyond acquiring knowledge, it didn't mean much to him because he wanted to forge techniques and methods unique to himself.
With nothing else to learn from Kheon, who insisted he forge his path, fully believing he was strong enough to do so, Clifford decided to leave for Spiral City. Time passed slowly, and the parting day arrived. After giving him a low-grade spatial ring and a couple of spirit stones, Kheon bid him farewell.
As she watched him disappear into the forest, Kheon acknowledged that she had grown attached to him after all the time she spent looking after him. With a sigh, she returned to her residence, leaving the rest to fate. After speed-walking for a couple of hours, boredom started to assault Clifford, prompting him to take on a bird's form and fly toward the city.
Less than an hour passed at his current speed, and he finally reached the city by the afternoon. Continuing his flight, Clifford reached the academy, landing on the edge of its main building. Since his main reason for being there was to investigate his case, he didn't plan to do it peacefully. However, before proceeding, he hatched a plan to ensure his success.
Observing the academy's activity until the end of the day, Clifford watched as younger students left, leaving behind the instructors and cultivators, who went back to their dorms. Some instructors with special uniforms remained in the main building.
Targeting a young one of the late-staying instructors, Clifford approached him from behind. Sensing danger, a shiver ran down the instructor's back, prompting him to look behind. Finding nothing, the instructor breathed a sigh of relief before turning around and continuing on his path.
Slithering on the ceiling, the four-meter massive serpent followed the instructor quietly back to his office, mobilizing the Qi to hide his presence. As the instructor turned to close the door, he noticed something blocking it. Looking up, he was horrified to see the serpent above.
"How the hell did that get in here?" Sweating, the instructor tried to scream but couldn't due to sheer fright drying his throat. Before he could do anything else, the beast split its massive jaws and dove down, aiming for his life. Swallowing his head, Clifford kicked his corpse inside with his massive tail before taking on his human form and locking the door behind him.
Clifford sat on the desk, making up his mind. The academy had a hierarchy and secrets that were disclosed only to those with certain permissions. For example, the one he had just killed was a high instructor.
Naturally, this rank separated him from the rest and gave him access to manage the first underground level. Above him were the elders, who, apart from protecting the facilities such as the library and resources warehouse on the second underground level, would only guide those with special potential and prepare them for the main branch of the academy.
Instructors were simply cultivators at the second stage like him; their job was to teach the students and set them on the right path once they were ready. High instructors, on the other hand, were at the third stage of cultivation and were responsible for handling the affairs of the academy, keeping troublesome students in check, and providing assistance to instructors when needed.
The first underground level consisted of training facilities such as cultivation rooms equipped with special formations that gave them unique traits. Despite all this information, Clifford didn't find anything valuable related to his case except some information about the third stage.
Alas, not enough for him to fully understand as the instructor himself wasn't even halfway through. Thus, he spent some time contemplating how to proceed.
Logically, he had two paths to follow. One was his initial plan: to cause a rampage and slaughter anyone who came his way until he found the one responsible. The second option was to become an insider, hunt the instructors slowly, and potentially infiltrate the underground levels in the process.
After going back and forth, weighing the pros and cons, Clifford settled on the second option. Undressing the high instructor, Clifford proceeded to swallow his corpse before taking on his form. Once dressed in his new outfit, Clifford left the room looking for the rest which were spread around the academy.
Following the memories in his head, Clifford arrived at his destination. Knocking on the door with an insignia that matched the one from his previous victim, Clifford waited patiently for the door to open. Soon enough, an inquiring voice came from inside.
"Who's disturbing me at this hour?!" The voice came from inside seemingly annoyed by the fact that his meditation was interrupted.
"It is me, we need to talk." Coughing softly, Clifford responded to the one speaking from inside. Hearing the voice, Adin rushed to the door in a hurry.
The door opened shortly displaying a middle aged man seemingly in his thirties.
"What happened to your eyes, senior?" instructor Adin asked Clifford with a frown painted on his face the moment he saw Cliff's eyes.
"Eh, nothing. I'm completely fine" Responding awkwardly, Clifford feigned coughing as he remembered this ability's weakness. No matter what form he chose, his eyes would always remain the same. Thus risking himself getting caught.
Although suspicious of the person standing in front of him, Adin allowed Clifford inside. Slowly shaking off his thought.