Time is a river that constantly flows.
Before Li Shen knew it, almost three years had passed since his fourteenth birthday.
And he had been quite busy during those years, especially since the sudden turmoil caused by the missing Hidden Fragmented Realm.
Inside the Inner Academy, on the Sword Pavilion Mountain. A new courtyard was built to signal the forming of a new Faction.
Not many people paid attention to it when it was first built.
But over the coming months and years since it was established, it gained a mysterious reputation among the Sword Pavilion disciples.
It wasn’t because of the fact that the Faction Leader was the infamous Second Prince, but because of weird events that took place in the mornings and evenings.
Disciples could be seen leaving and exiting this courtyard, but they weren’t considered the Factions members. It wasn’t that big of a deal at first, but when those disciples start gaining recognition for their rapid improvement in cultivation, everyone’s eyes started to turn to this place with curiosity.
These disciples were all promoted from the Out Academy, and most were ones that were written off since they’ve reached an unbreachable bottleneck in their cultivations. They were reduced to obscurity after basking in the spotlight of becoming an Inner disciple when they were younger.
But after leaving that place, they’ve become completely different people. Surpassing the bottleneck that was holding them back, and renewing their talents.
As for the few that were young disciples who just joined the Inner Academy, and were fated for the same outcome, they’ve beaten and overcome that norm that said Outer Disciples will eventually be left behind by Sky grade innate talent geniuses.
How could anyone not be curious as to what was going on in that place?
But no one was allowed to enter, one can only be invited. And the ones who’ve been selected have all kept their mouths shut as to what happened in there. Thus making this place’s reputation in the Inner Academy as mysterious and profound as it could be.
But the mystery didn’t end there, this Faction was called the Divine Sword Music Faction, and no one knew how many members it had.
Was it a lot?
A small amount?
No one knew the extent of its power, but for the past two to three years, this Faction’s contributions to the Academy against the forces of the Demonic Cult were no less than those of the top faction. Thus making everyone baffled at how this faction could spring up so suddenly and gain this much recognition in such a short amount of time.
Obviously, they were doing something right, but their secrecy make sure no one else knew what that was.
Though with such a setup, there will inevitably be some who cast doubt on this place. Saying that since the incompetent Second Prince was involved, he was most likely using his family’s influence. That all this mysteriousness was just him fooling everyone.
And even the people who overcame their bottlenecks, he was just giving them precious pills from his father.
However, mention such slanderous words in front of someone who had left that courtyard and you better prepare to have them bare a strong grudge against you.
Despite joining new factions and gaining reputable and high positions in those factions, those people would still stick up for the Divine Sword Music Faction, making one wonder what that notion entailed.
The only Factions that hadn’t been touched by those people in the Sword Pavilion, were the Factions of the Six Major Clans.
They absolutely refused anyone who left that courtyard from joining their Factions. However, some rumors said that the Bai Clan had allowed more than a few to enter theirs.
It was currently morning with nice weather. Birds were chirping happily while a warm breeze slowly blew throughout the mountain.
Disciples of the Sword Pavilions and the academy as a whole were already up and about doing their mourning routine of training, going on missions, or completing errands around the academy.
On a section of the Sword Pavilion mountain, a youth no more than fifteen was seen rushing to the mysterious courtyard as his life depended on it.
A few disciples seeing this only took a cursory glance, but others who were passing by mot from her stopped to take a look.
The youth wasted no time to open a smaller gate to the side of the tall double-gated one, and entered.
“Look, that youth was allowed in.”
“Yeah, I really wonder what goes on in that place.”
Two young men were heard saying before they resumed their strides. Nothing out of the ordinary with them other than the fact that they were without... shoes??
Actually, quite a few disciples were walking without shoes, making one scratch their head and ask whether this was a new trend among financially stable disciples.
Inside the courtyard, the youth entered and briskly moved towards a specially designed hall in the courtyard.
Upon entering the large hall, he immediately closed the door behind him and walked around the dozens of other disciples who were seated on mats inside.
After reaching an empty mat beside another disciple, he took a seat while sighing in relief.
“Thank god I wasn’t late.”
The disciple next to him immediately asked.
“Where were you? What if you had missed this week's morning session, you know Elder brother doesn’t like tardiness.”
The youth that just came in wore an embarrassed expression upon hearing his friends scolding, but it soon turned excited as he said.
“I had a breakthrough last night! It took me the enter morning just to stabilize my cultivation, that’s why I was late!”
Hearing that, the youth’s friend's eyes go wide before he accidentally blurted out.
“You had a breakthrough?!!”
They were whispering before but with that shout, they had drawn more than a few disciples' attention in the deathly silent hall.
Seeing this, the youth who had the breakthrough hurriedly cupped his fists and said.
“I’m sorry senior brothers for my friend's interruption.”
The friend also cupped his fists and nervously apologized.
However, an older youth nearby chuckled and said.
“Why so nervous? We aren’t going to attack you if you speak loudly or announce your successful breakthrough.”
“Hm, that’s right. In fact, if you don’t burst through that door bragging about getting a breakthrough from Elder brother’s teachings, then you aren’t doing it right.”
The two nervous youths that were worried about ruining the atmosphere were taken aback by these senior brothers' words.
Seeing the surprise on their faces, the first senior brother said.
“You both are new here right? That means you’ve been in the academy lecture halls before, but you’ll soon realize that this place isn’t like those lecture halls those old fogies Elders of the Academy conduct.”
“That’s right, here you won’t be looked down upon for improving your cultivation, After all, that’s what we’re all here for. If anything you getting a breakthrough means that us old seniors can benefit from Elder brother’s methods.”
“Who went through a breakthrough?”
A voice suddenly echoed out before a slightly older-looking Li Shen entered the hall.
Completely golden hair that was casually tied into a ponytail, and casually dressed appearance with a casual air about him. All in all, his casual and nonchalance demeanor were top-tier.
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