It's been one year since Thadius entered the academy and he spent most of his time in seclusion to develop his art. The times he did go out, it was to complete academy missions. Since some missions required teams he had made a few friends especially Ajax and Kian. The three of them were in the fourth meridian stage and required resources. Thadius decided to take a dangerous mission which required three people. He chose Ajax because of his speed and as for Kian, Thadius had seen him in the library and formed an impression. After finding him and talking to him Thadius found that Kian was a simple and straightforward man. The two immediately struck a friendship. But Thadius wasn't impulseive and it was only after he had formed his art he decided to take the mission.
Thadius had developed an art which utilised both his mutant meridians and named it Resonance Frost Sutra. Even though the initial level wasn't yet completed he was still satisfied with what he had developed. Ajax and Kian had also studied their arts which were called Flashing Wind Art and Absolute Unyielding Art. Ajax got his art from the depository after completing missions and as for Kian his art was a family legacy art. The Uzorg family was known for their special physique which gave them innate strength and this art was developed after generations of trial and error.
Thadius felt the need to train his battle heart so he took the mission that required them to go through various battles. He took the two of them with him thinking he could use this to temper himself but was dissatisfied when he saw that the mission was not nearly as dangerous as he thought it would be. Still he got merit which he traded for resources for tempering his body since cultivators also had to temper their body.
A few days later Ajax came to his house with excitement visible in his eyes. It turns out the biggest event for the new batch was finally here i.e. the academy competition. The competition gave them a chance to compete amongst themselves and older inner disciples. They could even challenge elite disciples. The ones who stood out in the competition were accepted by the teachers and would become elite disciples. It wasn't impossible to becomes a core disciple since vice headmasters would also be present. There were five vice headmasters and their personal disciples would directly become core disciples. Though inner disciples could also become core disciples. It would would take huge amounts of merit for that promotion.
Even the headmaster would be present but becoming his disciple was something the inner disciples couldn't even think of
Thousands of students competed and the top ones would be given resources and merit according to their performance.
Thadius had also decided to participate and aim for the top position. He hadn't felt the rush that fighting gave him in a while so he hoped to let loose and temper his battle heart.