A five-meter-tall black stone stele stood majestically on the earth, its surface inscribed with the words "Seven Luminaries Martial Academy" in bold, crimson characters that seemed to pierce through the stone itself.
Wang Shenglei, his face ashen, pulled out five red banknotes, each worth ten thousand, and handed them to Chen Zong. This represented most of the money he'd brought from home, and he knew the days ahead would be difficult.
But one must accept the consequences of one's bets.
Chen Zong took the notes, distributing one to each of the others and keeping one for himself. The others were instantly stunned.
Seven Luminaries Martial Academy
Behind the black stone stele lay a winding mountain path. After walking about a thousand meters, they came to a flight of 188 bluestone steps. At the top lay a massive circular bluestone Martial Training Ground known as the Eight Directions Martial Ground.
Paths radiated from the ground, each marked with a signpost.
"Chen Zong, I practice fist techniques, so the Martial Glory Hall is the best fit for me," Chen Zhong said, his voice tinged with excitement.
"I'll go to the Sword Radiance Hall," Chen Zong replied.
Tang Junluo chose the Arms Luminaries Hall.
The Seven Luminaries Martial Academy comprised seven halls: the Celestial Luminaries Hall, Terrestrial Luminaries Hall, Punishment Luminaries Hall, Martial Glory Hall, Arms Luminaries Hall, Sword Radiance Hall, and Blade Luminaries Hall.
Sword practitioners were best suited for the Sword Radiance Hall, with the Arms Luminaries Hall as a secondary option. Blade practitioners belonged in the Blade Luminaries Hall, again with the Arms Luminaries Hall as a secondary option. Martial artists specializing in other weapons, such as spears, staffs, or axes, were best suited for the Arms Luminaries Hall.
Martial artists skilled in fist techniques, footwork, and palm strikes were suitable for entering the Martial Glory Hall.
The four halls—Sword Radiance Hall, Blade Luminaries Hall, Arms Luminaries Hall, and Martial Glory Hall—could be joined freely. In contrast, the Celestial Luminaries Hall, Terrestrial Luminaries Hall, and Punishment Luminaries Hall had strict admission requirements.
The Li Clan's noble scions, naturally, all trained with swords and flocked to the Sword Radiance Hall. The Zhao Clan's scions went to the Blade Luminaries Hall, while the Tang Clan's scions all joined the Arms Luminaries Hall.
Sword Radiance Hall
The path to the Sword Radiance Hall was paved with uniformly silver gravel, straight and smooth like a sword, cutting forward without hesitation.
Chen Zong, Chen Kaiyue, Li Zhenshi, and the others walked along the gravel path. Alongside the Wind Martial City disciples, numerous other Martial City disciples were also arriving.
After walking about a thousand meters and passing through a small bamboo grove, the scenery suddenly opened up. The first thing that caught their eye was a three-meter-tall black sword-shaped stone stele inscribed with the words "Sword Radiance Hall" in bold red characters. Each character was like a silver hook or iron stroke, seemingly composed of swords, radiating a piercing sharpness.
Looking further, rows of neatly arranged buildings came into view.
"New disciples, register over there. No cutting in line!" A figure clad in a standardized martial robe and carrying a longsword gestured ahead.
Chen Zong and the others formed an orderly queue.
Soon, it was Chen Zong's turn. He presented his admission certificate for registration.
Wind Martial City, Chen Clan, Chen Zong.
Next came the choice of residence.
Admission to the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy was free, but housing was divided into three tiers: low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade. The low-grade dwellings were arranged in rows, with each person assigned a single room, free of charge.
The mid-grade courtyards were small, independent compounds, though modest in size, offering privacy and freedom from disturbance. They required a monthly fee of one thousand White Jade Coins. Failure to pay meant relocation, and their number was limited: only one hundred mid-grade courtyards existed within the entire Sword Radiance Hall.
The high-grade small buildings were expanded versions of the mid-grade courtyards. Not only were they twice as large, but they also featured a second floor and more exquisite, refined decor. They even came with dedicated maids to handle daily living needs, indirectly saving time for cultivation. However, the cost of these high-grade buildings was substantial, and their number was limited: only ten existed.
"One ten thousand White Jade Coins a month..." Chen Zong gasped inwardly. All his savings amounted to just over sixty thousand White Jade Coins. If he moved into a high-grade building, it would last him at most six months. It was simply too expensive.
Conflict Over Residence
Moreover, these sixty thousand White Jade Coins were not easily obtained. Ten thousand came from his bet with Wang Shenglei, and fifty thousand were the reward for winning first place in Wind Martial City's Battle of Heroes. Both sources were not easily replenished.
"There are two remaining High-Grade Small Buildings, one Mid-Grade Courtyard, and many Low-Grade Dwellings. Which one would you like?" The Senior Sister in charge of registration urged Chen Zong, "Please make your choice quickly."
"Mid-Grade Courtyard," Chen Zong replied.
"How long will you stay?" A flicker of envy appeared in the Senior Sister's eyes, and her tone softened slightly.
"Wait, I'll take the Mid-Grade Courtyard!" Before Chen Zong could answer, another person rushed over and interrupted. "I'll stay for three years."
This newcomer wore a lavish Martial Robe woven from gold and silver silk, a square emerald pendant at his waist, and carried himself with arrogant pride. He slapped a stack of money notes heavily onto the table.
Chen Zong remained silent, turning to the Senior Sister to await her response.
"Junior Brother, the Martial Academy's rules follow the principle of first-come, first-served," the Senior Sister replied, her tone now even more courteous, showing no impatience despite the newcomer's ostentatious display of wealth.
"I don't want to put you in a difficult position," the newcomer said, turning to Chen Zong. "Friend, I'm taking the Mid-Grade Courtyard. Any objections?"
"If you have the money, why not get a High-Grade Small Building?" Chen Zong replied calmly.
"You're mocking me," the lavishly dressed youth said, his gaze turning cold and sharp as a drawn sword, piercing Chen Zong.
"I'll be staying for a year," Chen Zong said, ignoring the other youth. He took out a red money note and two white ones, handing them to the Senior Sister in charge of registration.
"Give me the Mid-Grade Courtyard, and I'll pay you ten thousand White Jade Coins," the lavishly dressed youth said, his sharp gaze fixed on Chen Zong.
"One hundred thousand," Chen Zong countered.
The youth froze, his eyes twitching, his face turning ashen.
If he had to pay an extra hundred thousand White Jade Coins just to get into a Mid-Grade Courtyard, he might as well use that money to rent a High-Grade Small Building instead.
Of course, Chen Zong wasn't joking. If the youth was willing to pay a hundred thousand White Jade Coins, why not give up the Mid-Grade Courtyard?
"Remember, my name is Bai Yulou. I'm from the Bai Family of Supreme Martial Main City. Within Seven Luminaries Martial Academy, you'll find members of my Bai Family." The youth's eyes turned even colder, his voice icy with implied threat.
"Supreme Martial Main City!" When the others heard this, their expressions tightened.
The Eastern Continent had five Main Cities in total, and Supreme Martial Main City was one of them. It oversaw thirty-six Martial Cities, and the seven Martial Cities near Seven Luminaries Martial Academy accounted for less than a quarter of them.
Just as people from small towns inherently revered those from Martial Cities, so too did residents of Martial Cities revere those from Main Cities.
Chen Zong was also surprised that the applicant was from the Supreme Martial Main City. He didn't know the Bai Family's status there, but he understood one thing: any family that could establish itself in the Main City must have at least one True Martial Realm expert as its pillar.
Settling In
But so what?
This was the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy. If family influence could interfere here, what purpose would the academy serve?
After registration, Chen Zong received a residence permit for a mid-grade courtyard, valid for one year. To renew it, he would need to pay again.
Collecting his standardized martial robe and academy rules, Chen Zong turned and left.
Bai Yulou desperately wanted to slam his hand on the table and demand a high-grade small building. But at twelve hundred thousand white jade coins per year, it was too expensive. The Bai Family was vast and influential, and although he was a member of the Bai Family from the Supreme Martial Main City, the entire clan didn't revolve around him.
His gaze, fierce and piercing, followed Chen Zong's retreating figure, as if trying to stab him through with his eyes alone.
"You've taken the last mid-grade courtyard," Li Zhenshi said with a wry smile. His family's wealth could easily afford a mid-grade courtyard, but the high-grade small buildings were prohibitively expensive.
"If the mid-grade courtyard weren't so essential for my cultivation, I'd gladly let Brother Li have it," Chen Zong replied with an apologetic grin. He needed to practice the Body Tempering Art and concoct the Ice-Fire Tempering Membrane Ointment, and an independent courtyard was undoubtedly better suited for these purposes than a low-grade dwelling.
After a moment, Li Zhenshi's expression turned serious. "Chen Zong, getting into a conflict with the Bai Family on your first day here could lead to significant trouble in the future."
"What about the Bai Family?" Chen Zong asked, his interest piqued.
"As far as I know, Supreme Martial Main City doesn't have as many influential factions as Wind Martial City. The most powerful include nine major families, and the Bai Family is one of them," Li Zhenshi said gravely. As the young gang leader of the Li Clan, his understanding of the world, especially regarding family dynamics, surpassed even Chen Zong's current knowledge. "Every year, some of the Bai Family's disciples enter the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy. It's likely that some will end up in the Sword Radiance Hall."
"I came here to cultivate, not to be pushed around," Chen Zong said firmly. "If they truly want to make trouble for me, I won't go down without a fight."
"Regardless, less trouble is always better. Focus on your cultivation," Li Zhenshi said with a smile. "I'll challenge you again in a few months."
"Bring it on," Chen Zong replied, and the two parted ways.
The Low-Grade Dwelling and the Mid-Grade Courtyard were in different directions.
The only remaining Mid-Grade Courtyard was No. 88. Chen Zong found it and pushed the gate open. The courtyard wasn't large or small, about the same size as Courtyard No. 1 in the Clan Hall. It looked simple and clean.
There were three rooms: a bedroom, a bathroom combined with a toilet, and a small kitchen.
The bedding in the bedroom was all brand new.
The conditions were decent, and Chen Zong was quite satisfied. The price, however, was high: one thousand White Jade Coins per month. If he hadn't acquired several tens of thousands of White Jade Coins, he wouldn't have dared to move in. But for the sake of better cultivation, he had no choice.
After putting down his bags and tidying up, Chen Zong changed into the standard Martial Robe of Sword Radiance Hall. The silver-gray robe was made of fine cloth superior to coarse fabric, and it fit him perfectly.
He picked up the courtyard regulations and began reading carefully.
The booklet contained the rules of the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy and various details about Sword Radiance Hall, such as the locations of the various halls.
For example, the locations of the high-grade small buildings, mid-grade courtyards, and low-grade dwellings.
For example, the location of the Sword Martial Pavilion, which houses various cultivation techniques, sword techniques, and martial arts, as well as other facilities.
For example, during their time at the Martial Academy, each disciple is entitled to one free selection of a mid-grade Human-Rank cultivation technique and a mid-grade Human-Rank martial art.
For example, each disciple can receive one free Crimson Blood Pill per month.
Chen Zong quickly finished reading the academy rules, committing their contents to memory.
Within the Sword Radiance Hall, besides the disciples' residences, there were also the Dining Hall, the Sword Martial Pavilion for cultivation techniques and sword techniques, the Thousand Swords Pavilion for various swords, the Hundred Medicines Pavilion for medicinal ingredients and pills, and the Hundred Affairs Pavilion for handling miscellaneous tasks and issuing missions.
However, whether it was cultivation techniques, sword techniques, swords, medicinal ingredients, or pills, obtaining any of them required payment—in the form of Seven Luminaries Points or Jade Coins.
It was a harsh reality.
For instance, swords: an ordinary iron sword cost twenty White Jade Coins, a refined iron sword cost two hundred White Jade Coins, a Precious Iron Sword cost two thousand White Jade Coins, and a Precious Iron Sword cost two hundred thousand White Jade Coins. The prices were roughly comparable to those in the outside world.
Similarly, cultivation techniques, martial arts, medicinal ingredients, and pills all had clearly marked prices.