The starting point is auspicious; the fiancée will not call off the engagement.

The next morning, Fang Zhou was woken up by Moon Shadow Cat stepping on him.

The silvery-white fur ball had somehow emerged from his arms and was now sitting on his chest, its front paws clasped together and its tail gracefully coiled around its body, looking down at him.

Fang Zhou sighed and sat up. Moonshadow Cat jumped onto his shoulder and meowed softly in his ear.

He suddenly realized that he should buy a nest for the Hakimi so it wouldn't have to sleep with him.

Fang Zhou exchanged a glance with the cat on his shoulder. Its amber eyes were watery and calmly watching him.

"...Okay." Fang Zhou got up to change his clothes. "I'll go buy you a place, Hakimi."

Shops selling spirit beast supplies are concentrated in the spirit beast market in the west of the city, across the street from the pill shops and magic weapon shops.

Fang Zhou walked along the main street, with Moonshadow Cat perched steadily on his shoulder, its tail swaying gently behind him, its chin slightly raised, as if inspecting its territory.

Several shops in the Spirit Beast Market have eye-catching signs hanging at their entrances. The largest one is called "Spirit Beast Residence," with a storefront spanning three bays. Its shelves are stocked with everything from spirit beast food to spirit beast toys.

As soon as Fang Zhou entered the door, the Moon Shadow Cat on his shoulder perked up its ears and looked toward the row of cat beds in the corner.

He followed its gaze and discovered that the price difference between the row of cat beds was enormous.

The cheapest bamboo-woven nest costs only ten spirit coins; it's simply lined with a layer of soft grass. The most expensive is a spirit cat nest carved from a single piece of moonwood, with spirit-gathering and nurturing arrays engraved on its surface, priced at eight thousand spirit coins. There are several other options in between, with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand.

Fang Zhou naturally walked towards the middle row.

The Moon Shadow Cat on my shoulder suddenly stood up.

It leaped down and landed steadily beside the moonwood cat's nest, circled it halfway around, and then sat down. It sat there quietly, its tail draped over the edge of the nest, its posture dignified, its head slightly turned as it looked at Fang Zhou.

Fang Zhou looked at the cat, then at the price tag, and then examined the cat from head to toe.

"Eight thousand," Fang Zhou said.

Moonshadow Cat didn't respond, it just tilted its head slightly.

"That damned Hakimi."

Fang Zhou took out his spirit card and swiped it for eight thousand spirit coins under the shopkeeper's enthusiastic gaze.

Moonshadow Cat let out a joyful meow.

As Fang Zhou carried the cat bed out of the shop, the cat nimbly leaped back onto his shoulder.

After buying the cat bed, Fang Zhou didn't go straight back.

He continued walking along the main street, through the market, past the drill ground, and finally stopped at the easternmost part of Cheng'an City.

Before us lies a vast complex of buildings, with a plaque above the main entrance bearing the four characters "Cheng'an Academy".

Through the wall, one could faintly hear the sounds of reading and martial arts demonstrations coming from inside. Occasionally, a few young men and women would run out from the side gate, dressed in uniform plain robes, carrying books in their arms, their steps hurried.

Fang Zhou stood at the door for a moment, and Hakimi peeked out from over his shoulder, also looking in the direction of the school.

He reached out and lifted the cat off his shoulder, letting it nestle in the crook of his arm, and stepped inside.

The school was larger inside than it appeared from the outside. Several rows of classrooms were arranged along the central axis. After passing through the main road, there was a wide training ground with several rows of weapon racks on the side. Several teenagers were practicing in the field. Further away, there was a library and several meditation rooms.

Fang Zhou stood by the training ground for a while before someone noticed him.

A young cultivator dressed in the outer disciple robes of the Wansheng Sect walked over from the direction of the classroom. He had a handsome face and looked no older than Fang Zhou.

He glanced at Fang Zhou, his gaze lingering on Moon Shadow Cat for a moment, before cupping his hands and saying, "This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting Cheng'an Academy?"

"Yes." Fang Zhou returned the greeting. "My name is Fang Zhou, and I haven't been in Cheng'an for long. I'd like to ask you some questions about the entrance examination for the Wansheng Sect."

The young cultivator nodded: "My name is Cheng Wenyuan, an outer disciple of the Ten Thousand Saints Sect. I currently teach basic classes to the children in the academy. Fellow Daoist, would you like to join the Ten Thousand Saints Sect?"

"Yes," Fang Zhou said, "but I don't have a certificate of completion from the academy."

Cheng Wenyuan nodded, showing no surprise, and simply gestured for him to follow.

The two sat down on a stone bench by the training ground. Moonshadow Cat jumped out of Fang Zhou's arms and lay down on the other end of the bench to sunbathe.

"It's actually quite common for people to not have a school certificate," Cheng Wenyuan said, "especially independent cultivators and those from remote areas. Are you wondering why the Wansheng Sect insists on a school certificate?"

Fang Zhou nodded.

Cheng Wenyuan thought for a moment and explained, "Simply put, the Wansheng Sect doesn't just look at cultivation talent when accepting disciples. The disciples who travel outside the sect year-round represent the Wansheng Sect in every word and deed."

No matter how high one's cultivation level, if one acts without moral principles, one will become a menace outside. The academy certificate is not used to prove one's character, after all, character cannot be proven by a piece of paper, but at least educated people will have some sense of reason.

Having read the classics, one knows what should and shouldn't be done, and has a basic understanding of good and evil, making it less likely to go to extremes in one's actions.

He paused, then pointed to the teenagers practicing in the training ground: "Most of the children in Cheng'an Academy are orphans rescued by disciples of sects when they went out for training."

They study and cultivate here. After graduation, some will go to the sect for assessments, and some will become sect disciples. Others may choose to govern other cities or live as ordinary people. Regardless of their path, the foundation laid in the academy over the past few years will influence their entire lives.

Fang Zhou listened in silence, and in his heart he agreed, as there was a similar saying in his previous life.

"What about people who don't have proof?" he asked.

"There are three paths." Cheng Wenyuan held up three fingers. "The first path is to go to the City Affairs Hall and take on a mission. There are two types of missions: doing good or eliminating evil. Missions involving doing good involve completing a certain amount of volunteer service within the city, such as teaching at a school, helping out at a clinic, or maintaining order in the market. These missions are recorded by the people at the Affairs Hall."

The "evil-eliminating" mission involves venturing out of the city to clear out rogue cultivators or demonic beasts causing trouble in the surrounding areas. This is more dangerous, but completing one mission generally earns you certification. Both paths require third-party verification—the recipient of the volunteer service must sign, and the accompanying officer must keep a record—proving that you indeed performed these tasks and possess the corresponding character and ability.

He withdrew one finger, leaving two: "The second path is simpler, but it takes more time. If you live peacefully in Cheng'an City for a year without a criminal record, you can go directly to the Affairs Hall to get a certificate of good citizenship. With that, you can still participate in the sect's assessment."

The third path takes longer, requiring students to re-enter the school, complete their studies, and graduate after passing the examinations.

When Fang Zhou heard the words "enrollment", his eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

Cheng Wenyuan probably noticed his expression and chuckled, "Think it's too much trouble? Then you should just take on a mission. If you're quick, you can finish it in a few days, but it's much more difficult than waiting a year."

Fang Zhou lowered his head and thought for a moment. Taking on a mission to eliminate evil from the affairs hall was obviously more suitable for him. As a peak Dharma Aspect cultivator, it would be a piece of cake for him to go out of the city and clear out a few rogue cultivators and demonic beasts.

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Cheng." He stood up and scooped the Moon Shadow Cat, who was still sunbathing, back into his arms.

Cheng Wenyuan also stood up and waved his hand: "No need to be so polite. If Brother Fang takes on the mission of eliminating evil, we might be able to travel together. I will also be leading a team out of the city in a few days to clear out a batch of newly emerged monsters. If we encounter them then, I hope Brother Fang will take good care of me."

Fang Zhou smiled but didn't say anything more.

He carried the cat out of the Cheng'an Academy gate and walked back the way he came. Moonshadow Cat climbed back onto his shoulder and squinted its eyes in the warm afternoon sun.

Next, let's get ready to fry the fish!