Before Mu Fan asked any follow-up questions, Lihua said, “My name is Zhi Lihua age sixteen, and my innate talent is at the Sky grade with my comprehension being at the Heaven Grade. My life goal is to protect the Li Imperial Family even if that means the cost of my life.”
Hearing that, Xi Shen nodded a few times before he pointed at Fang Chen and said, “Fang Chen, your next.”
“Hm.” Fang Chen made a sound of agreement before he firmly said, “My name is Fang Chen, age sixteen. My innate talent is low, at the Human Grade, but my Soul and cultivation attribute is at the Sky grade. My life’s goal is to spread the Nine Swords of Slaughter Sword Formation fame throughout the Maple Continent and beyond for my master.”
Fei Yin and the others were surprised at this, aside from Xi Shen, Fang Chen hadn’t told anyone about his goal.
“Following me was the right choice, I can provide you with opportunities to make that dream of yours come true. Alright then, Fei Yin your turn.”
“Yes, Young Master. My name is Wang Fei Yin, and I have a Human-grade innate talent. My life goal is...”
“Huh?!”
Before Fei Yin could say anymore, both Lihua and Mu Fan exclaimed at the same time in surprise.
Mu Fan was the one who spoke up first, “You, do you really only have a Human-grade innate talent? Are you joking? How come I sense your cultivation is in the Late Foundation Realm then? How old are you? Tell me your age?”
“I’m seventeen.” Fei Yin responded.
Mu Fan then lifted up his fingers and began counting.
After the arduous task, he then said, “You’re only two years my senior. To have such a huge cultivation gap with me is impossible. Maybe you're mistaken about your own talents. Yes, that’s it, that’s definitely it. What else could it be? The Celestial Academy wouldn’t have allowed you to enter if that was the case. You’d have to have a Sky grade foundation at the very least to become an Outer Disciple!”
After Mu Fan said that, Lihua who was equally confused said, “What that crazy person said was right.”
“Hey, what? Who are you calling crazy, have you seen that big nose of yours in the mirror?!”
Ignoring Mu Fan, Lihua continued to say, “How did you enter the Academy if that’s the case? And I’ve heard about your accomplishments, after becoming an Inner Disciple, you shockingly only took two years to reach the 7th Stage of the Foundation Realm. But to think you only had a Human-grade innate talent, is that even possible?”
The more Lihua thought about the more she found it absurd.
“I only got in by recommendation after I failed the Disciple Selection Ceremony.”
“Recommendation? From who?”
Xi Shen was the one who asked now, he already knew of Fei Yin’s circumstances, but he as well never understood how he entered the Academy with his talents in the first place.
Everyone listen to Fei Yin as they were all curious about how he got into the Academy.
However, Fei Yin frowned a bit and said, “I don’t know. After my innate talent was revealed, I was walking off the stage when suddenly the elder declared that a special recommendation had been issued for me to enter the Academy.”
Hearing that, a thoughtful look appeared Xi Shen on his face as well as everyone else.
“Should I continue?” Fei Yin asked.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Xi Shen said, “Yes, yes, we were side track, continue where you left off. And no more questions until the introductions are done!”
With that, Fei Yin went on to state his life goal, which was to repay his debt to Xi Shen. Questions appeared in everyone’s minds as to what he was talking about but held them back until Yang Su and Mu Fan were finished.
As for Yang Su, Xi Shen allowed him to reveal his Dao Foundation.
This was what Xi Shen had in mind.
These people will become his arms and legs in the future, and that meant them knowing secrets pertaining to Xi Shen that so far only Yang Su knew.
Of course, Lihua, Fang Chen, and Mu Fan were stunned beyond belief, and even after a long time, they couldn’t comprehend Xi Shen creating a Foundation.
Suddenly, as if a light bulb going off, questions pop up in their minds if whether Xi Shen had done the same for himself, and Lihua, thinking back on the feeling she had gotten from Xi Shen days earlier had her heart shudder.
With his Supreme-grade soul and comprehension, his future accomplishments would be the stuff of legends. The only reason why the Seven Major Clans hadn’t taken notice of him was because he couldn’t cultivate. If they were to out find out he could, things would become chaotic to an unimaginable degree.
Mu Fan had on a complicated expression as he looked at Xi Shen. He too realize what it meant with Xi Shen telling him this information, it showed the trust he was placing in them.
Well, Mu Fan wasn’t one to reveal secrets, but now he found out why Xi Shen had wanted him to make a Blood Oath. He had found it strange at first, but now he understood.
After revealing his Dao Foundation, Yang Su went on to state his life goal. And not to Xi Shen’s surprise, it was to become stronger by all means to protect the people he cared about.
Mu Fan was the last one, and before he opened his mouth, he looked around at everyone who was staring at him.
“Hey, what is this? I didn’t sign up to be a part of some cringey friendship group.”
Lihua scowled at that and said, “Just shut up and do it, everyone else has, you’re the only one left.”
Mu Fan smiled a bit and said, “Fine, fine, I guess having a knew ugly-looking sister isn’t so bad.” Mu Fan looked at a frowning Lihua as he said that. “And I guess gaining a couple of brothers is fine as well, I never had an older or a younger brother.” He looked at Yang Su next to him and the others while saying that.
"Elder brother." Yang Su corrected.
Mu Fan stared at him blankly upon hearing that. Fei Yin and Fang Chen had bitter smiles at this time.
After staring at Yang Su, Mu Fan recovered then cleared his throat and said, “My name is Mu Fan, I’m fifteen years old and my life goal is to have my Clan become the Eight Major Clan!”
Mu Fan puffed out his chest as he said that.
Although the others were surprised to hear such a boastful statement, they still frowned as they looked at him.
Mu Fan blinked, not understanding why everyone was looking at him like that.
“Fool, you didn’t mention your innate talent,” Lihua said exasperated at Mu Fan’s odd nature.
“Oh! My innate talent! It’s… um…”
Mu Fan suddenly put on a dumbfounded expression.
“Well, what is it?!”
Not only Lihua, Fei Yin, Yang Su, and Fang Chen were also curious about his innate talent, Xi Shen as well.
But in response to Lihua’s prompting, Mu Fan suddenly said, “I don’t remember.”
“What? What do you mean you don’t remember, how can you not remember?!”
“Well, it’s like I said, I don’t exactly remember, And it’s not as if I had gone through the Disciple Selection Ceremony like all of you have. So I don’t remember having my innate talent being tested,” Mu Fan said begrudgingly.
“If you didn’t enter the Academy by the Disciple Selection Ceremony, then how did you enter?” Xi Shen asked.
In response, Mu Fan said, “I was training my blade skills like usual in my clan, when all of sudden this massive hand reached down from the sky and scooped me up.”
Mu Fan stood up and began weirdly exaggerating his movements while telling his story.
“After it picked me up, I heard a voice telling my clan that I was chosen to become a Celestial Academy Disciple. Then before I knew it I was inside the Outer Academy cultivating my blade skills!”
After listening to Mu Fan’s story, Xi Shen and the others were completely speechless.
However, they soon began suspecting Mu Fan was making up crazy stories.
Seeing all the weird looks directed at him, Mu Fan became indignant and said, “What are you all looking at me like that for? I’m telling the truth, a massive hand pluck me from my clan and brought me to the Celestial Academy!”
Mu Fan motioned his hand in a plucking gesture as he said that.
Not really sure what to believe, Xi Shen said, “With all of the introductions done, you guys can ask questions between yourselves, I’m going for a morning walk. After, we should return to the Academy.”
Xi Shen stood up and dusted his robes a bit, and even though it was still a bit dirty, he began heading for the Mu Clan’s front gates anyway.
“Wait, what about you?”
Mu Fan suddenly asked Xi Shen.
Stopping and turning around with a confused look on his face, Xi Shen asked, “What about me?”
“Everyone introduced themselves but you. Weren’t you the one who thought up this idea, you should do the same! Come-on come-on, spit it out!”
Mu Fan said urgingly.
Thinking for a moment, Xi Shen smiled and said, “Nope.”
With that, he turned and left.
Mu Fan stared at his back dumbfounded before he pointed at him and cursed, “Bastard! What’s with that, how come you don’t want to say anything, huh?!”
Yang Su watched as Xi Shen went with a complicated expression on his face. The others weren’t that deeply affected by Xi Shen's refusal though.
Meanwhile, Xi Shen heard Mu Fan’s voice become fainter and fainter as he moved to leave through the Mu Clan’s front entrance.
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