From Five Animal Exercises to being hailed as a saint and ancestor

Outside the courtyard gate, silence returned. Only the cold moonlight witnessed this silent confrontation.

Yao Mengkang did not relax immediately. He stood at the door, carefully sensing his surroundings.

After confirming that the two malevolent auras had indeed moved away and left no surveillance trails, he slowly retreated back into the courtyard.

"Squeak—" The wooden door closed gently.

He leaned against the cold door and let out a long, silent sigh.

The back of his clothes was already slightly damp with cold sweat.

Facing two cultivators in the mid-to-late stages of the Spirit Sea Realm, one of whom exuded killing intent, it would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous.

If it weren't for the stone bead suddenly transmitting its perception of the other party's emotions...

He accurately grasped the other party's change in mindset, and then invoked the dean's authority to intimidate the other party.

Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"My strength... is still not enough."

Yao Mengkang clenched his fist, feeling the immense power of the twelve-level meridian opening within his body, but this power still seemed weak in the face of a higher realm.

Today you can put on airs, but what about tomorrow?

The resentful look in the short, stocky black figure's eyes as he left was like a venomous snake, making him feel uneasy.

He walked into the courtyard, formed hand seals, and poured his inner energy into the barrier he had previously set up.

A thin but more solid halo of light flashed around the courtyard, and the barrier was reinforced.

Only after he had done all this did he return to the quiet room.

He didn't deal with anything immediately; he simply lay down fully clothed and forced himself to relax.

A barrage of distracting thoughts came to him, but he forcefully suppressed them all.

The most important thing now is to recover your energy. After today's events, Yao Mengkang understands this.

Possessing treasures when one lacks sufficient strength is the greatest sin.

Tomorrow, everyone needs to know that the Earth Vein Elixir has been used up. And who are those two people?

He closed his eyes, and his breathing gradually became long and steady.

It was a terrifying night, but his mind was firm, and he actually managed to clear his mind and fall into a deep sleep.

The next day, the sky was bright.

Yao Mengkang woke up on time, her eyes opening clear and sharp. The fatigue and tension of the previous night were gone, replaced by a cold determination.

Some grudges, though they cannot be avenged now, must be remembered.

He was not a petty person who held grudges, but he was by no means a coward who would let others bully him.

Those two dared to come in the middle of the night; they should pay the price.

He didn't make a fuss, nor did he go to any elders to complain.

Without any evidence or proof, relying solely on one side's account is insufficient to subdue two deacons at the Spirit Sea Realm.

Moreover, he didn't want to put himself in the spotlight; the matter of the earth vein spirit milk needed to be resolved immediately.

After washing up, Yao Mengkang changed into a clean blue shirt and walked out of the courtyard with a normal expression, as if nothing had happened last night.

He made no attempt to conceal his aura, and with his cultivation at the twelfth level of the Qi Refining Realm, he swaggered out.

He walked straight toward the "Spiritual Affairs Pavilion" in the outer courtyard, where miscellaneous tasks were handled, tasks were assigned, and some basic information could be accessed.

The Ling Shi Pavilion was bustling with people coming and going.

Yao Mengkang went directly to the side hall counter where information on disciples and lower-ranking officials was registered.

Behind the counter sat a kind-looking middle-aged deacon.

"Senior brother, I would like to inquire about the information of two senior brothers at the Spirit Sea Realm. I had a brief interaction with them yesterday and received some guidance. I would like to visit them in person to express my gratitude in the future."

Yao Mengkang's face showed just the right amount of "gratitude" and "respect," and his tone was sincere.

He is currently the first place winner in the Outer Courtyard Championship and is quite well-known within the academy. The steward has some impression of him.

The middle-aged deacon glanced at him, sensing his undisguised aura, and chuckled.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Yao! You've already undergone a complete transformation in just two days after obtaining the Earth Vein Spirit Milk."

"Which two senior brothers would you like to inquire about?"

Yao Mengkang pondered for a moment and said, "One is rather short and stocky, while the other is relatively tall and thin. I wonder which two senior brothers they are."

His description was vague, but combining the direction the two men left in the previous night with the excuse of "patrolling," he roughly narrowed down the area.

The middle-aged deacon, unsuspecting, pulled out a thick register and then took out a magical artifact resembling a compass.

Enter "Elemental Power," and the light and shadow will flicker, indicating the start of the filtering process.

After a moment, he pointed to a spot and said, "Based on your description, it should be Senior Brothers Zhou Tong and Zhao Qian, both of whom are at the Spirit Sea Realm."

Yao Mengkang's heart stirred, and his gaze fell on the information displayed on the roster and the compass artifact:

[Zhou Tong]

Cultivation level: Late stage of Spirit Sea Realm

Identity: Outer Court Deacon

Background: Formerly a disciple of the outer academy of Qinglu Academy. Due to being over twenty years old and unable to break through to the Spirit Sea Realm, he was kept in the academy for observation according to the academy's rules.

He was fortunate enough to break through at the age of twenty-two and was transferred to the position of outer court steward.

Temperament and evaluation: He is short-tempered and easily angered, and greedy for money. He was once reprimanded by the Discipline Hall for competing with his disciples for mission rewards.

He is skilled in the "Stone-Splitting Palm" technique, which is powerful and domineering, giving him an advantage in strength among those of the same level.

Zhao Qian

Cultivation level: Mid-stage Spirit Sea Realm

Identity: Outer Court Deacon

Background: Formerly a disciple of the outer academy of Qinglu Academy. Among his peers, he was of average talent and comprehension, but he was diligent and cautious. Through years of accumulating merit and careful management, he broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm before the age of twenty-three and became an outer academy steward.

Temperament and Evaluation: Meticulous and tactful, skilled in tracking and concealment, and proficient in the "Gentle Water Technique," having reached a minor level of mastery.

Its elemental energy flows continuously, making it adept at defense and close combat.

The information isn't particularly detailed, but it's sufficient.

Yao Mengkang firmly imprinted the names, physical characteristics, cultivation levels, special skills, and even residences of the two people in his heart.

At the same time, a clear rule regarding the whereabouts of the outer disciples of Qinglu Academy was once again clearly presented to him:

Outer disciples must break through to the Spirit Sea Realm before the age of twenty in order to enter the inner courtyard and pursue higher martial arts.

If a student fails to break through the barrier by age twenty, they can remain in the hospital for observation. However, if they still fail to break through by age twenty-three, they must leave the mountain on their own, and the academy will no longer provide them with support.

Those who break through between the ages of twenty and twenty-three lose their eligibility to enter the inner court.

However, they could be transferred to the outer court as stewards, stay in the academy, and be responsible for various general affairs, which could be considered a way out.

Zhou Tong and Zhao Qian are clearly the latter.

They are of average talent and only managed to break through at the last minute. Their character and moral cultivation are inevitably lacking. They are more eager for resources and act more recklessly.

This explains why they dared to take the risk and come in the dead of night to seize his earth vein essence.

"Thank you, senior brother." Yao Mengkang cupped his hands again, his smile unchanged, but his heart was already ice-cold.

Zhou Tong, Zhao Qian… He remembered them. He would surely repay their "guidance" last night handsomely in the future!

Upon leaving the Ling Shi Pavilion, Yao Mengkang saw that the huge bulletin board in the center of the academy was surrounded by layers upon layers of disciples.

The place was bustling with noise and discussion, and everyone's face showed excitement, longing, and disbelief.

"The Heavenly Dao Academy! It's actually the Heavenly Dao Academy coming to recruit students!"

"My God! That's the most prestigious academy on the continent, a sacred ground under the Heavenly Dao Sect!"

"An opportunity! This is a tremendous opportunity! If we can enter the Heavenly Dao Academy, our future will be limitless!"

"Hurry to the royal city! You absolutely must participate in the assessment!"

Yao Mengkang's heart skipped a beat, and he squeezed forward. He saw a magnificent notice posted on the bulletin board, radiating a faint golden light; its content was:

[A Letter to the Young Talents of the Great Xia Dynasty in the Eastern Regions]

By the decree of the Heavenly Dao Sect, in order to benefit all living beings and to recruit talented individuals, the Heavenly Dao Academy is now recruiting in the Eastern Region.

Within the territory of the Great Xia Dynasty, any young talents under the age of twenty with a cultivation level of nine or above in the Opening Meridian stage are eligible.

All can go to the Great Xia Royal City after March to participate in the entrance examination.

We will select the best candidates to enter our academy and receive the supreme Dao!

The inscription was signed "Recruiting Envoy of the Heavenly Dao Academy" and stamped with a rune seal that exuded a magnificent, majestic, and awe-inspiring aura.

The design depicts an open scroll with a detached eye looking down upon all living beings—the very symbol of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

The announcement was brief, yet it was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

This caused a huge uproar throughout the entire Qinglu Academy and even the entire Great Xia Dynasty!

The Heavenly Dao Academy! The sacred cultivation ground that every young cultivator on the continent dreams of!

Its status far surpasses that of a dynasty-level academy like Qinglu Academy.

It is said that the place gathers the most advanced techniques, resources, and teachers on the continent, making it a true shortcut to becoming a powerful figure!

Countless disciples were so excited that their faces turned red, they rubbed their hands together, eager to fly to the royal city immediately.

Yao Mengkang stood in the crowd, looking at the golden announcement with a flicker in his eyes.

The Heavenly Dao Sect... the force that Li Hanshan resisted... the "hypocritical sect" in Dean Ouyang's words... its subordinate academy actually came to the Great Xia Dynasty to recruit students.

Is it an opportunity or a trap?

He recalled Li Hanshan's appreciative glance and Dean Ouyang's complex gaze.

To go or not to go?

He felt the power of the twelveth level of meridian opening within his body, and a surge of pride and determination rose from the bottom of his heart.

The capital city is definitely a place we must visit.

Whether it's for a broader stage, to explore the truth behind it, or... to accumulate the strength to "thank" those two people.

The winds of change have quietly shifted from this outer courtyard to the magnificent royal city.