I departed from the city with my goal clear in mind. Even though I was seated in a carriage, the training room within my spatial storage ensured no one could see me. With no other passengers beside me, I immersed myself in cultivation throughout the journey.
The days on the road were long, but far from wasted. By the time the city walls of my destination came into view, my progress had already reached forty-three percent toward the third stage of Body Refining.
Upon stepping into the new city, something immediately caught my attention — the claypots. They were everywhere, and not only that, they were immensely popular. I couldn't help but laugh under my breath.
> "So… my little startup idea really did spread this far."
After booking a room at a decent inn, I wandered the streets, asking about the process to become a teacher. That's when I learned an unexpected requirement — before even attempting the 1-Star Teacher assessment, one had to first teach at an academy for at least a year. Only then could they apply for the official ranking.
Curious about the academies in this city, I asked around and got a list. There were many options, but the third on the list instantly caught my attention — White Tiger Academy. The moment I heard its name, it felt like love at first sight. Without hesitation, I made my way there.
Upon arriving, I learned that the academy would be holding a recruitment exam for tutors in eight days. With nothing else pressing, I settled into my training routine, also spending time experimenting with my body's new capabilities. I discovered something interesting — even if I twisted my joints to impossible angles, they would heal quickly. Painfully, yes, but the regenerative abilities of my body had clearly advanced.
Time passed quickly, and the day of the examination arrived. When I reached the academy gates, I was met with a crowd. Although the academy needed only five new teachers, hundreds of applicants had shown up. Clearly, the prestige of the profession was no joke.
At the entrance, the guides verified each applicant's cultivation realm before granting entry. To my surprise, they only checked realm — not stage. I had thought those at higher stages within the same realm would be prioritized, but no such distinction was made.
Once cleared, each participant received a token with their name. The tokens were pentagonal, deep blue in color, and gave off a subtle air of luxury. Before the tests began, anyone over the age of twenty-five was immediately disqualified.
The examiner stepped forward and addressed the crowd:
> "The assessment will consist of three stages. First — demonstration of a martial or cultivation technique. Second — evaluation of knowledge. Third — a practical teaching test."
For my demonstration, I had prepared several exercise sequences, but I chose one that concentrated all the power in my body into a single point. The moment I executed it, the pressure it released surged far beyond the norm for my current stage.