"This is the Academy uniform!"
The strong sense of honor immediately swept away the exhaustion of these new students. Many of them had long desired to wear something that symbolized their identity as members of Qingluan Academy.
Although the black cloaks handed to each of them bore no emblem, the pure black color and exceptionally soft, comfortable texture already made most of them feel excited.
"This is made from the fur of a Beihai otter. It doesn't reflect light at night and has excellent insulation and waterproofing. Most importantly, even when rain falls on it or during a sprint, it makes almost no sound." A new student from the Frontier recognized the material of the cloak and his expression changed slightly.
In the military, only elites of the Overseer rank or above would be issued such high-grade cloaks for protection against the cold and wet.
"Good eyes," the black-robed middle-aged instructor gave a rare nod. "This cloak is indeed made from Beihai otter fur. Each piece is worth fifty taels of gold. They are rare and not sold on the open market."
As many of the students were still gasping at the cloak's value, the black-robed instructor continued:
"Over fifty years ago, the forebears of the Academy proved its worth. Since then, the Empire has invested heavily into the three Great Academies to cultivate the elite—namely, you. But imperial resources are not infinite. That's precisely why there are strict limits on the number of freshmen admitted each year. From now on, remember your identity: you are the Empire's hope, its sword and shield."
"My name is Wang Yike. I will be your instructor for this first lesson," the man said, turning and continuing forward.
"You must prove yourselves worthy of what has been given to you." This was the core message Lin Xi picked up from the start of this lecture.
Very soon, all the new students understood why everyone was issued such a cloak.
As dusk thickened and their weary feet carried them past Lake Lingxia, a cold seasonal wind swept in from the Ascension Mountains, and the surrounding climate shifted from summer straight into deep winter.
Every student, including Lin Xi, wrapped themselves in the black cloak. The large cloaks shielded them from the bitter cold and made their faces seem a bit more alert.
In front of a field of withered yellow grass, the black-robed instructor stopped.
"We'll camp here for the night. Watch closely as I set up this marching tent. I will demonstrate only once. Afterwards, each of you must replicate it. Anyone who fails to set it up correctly will lose half a credit."
The initial relief from hearing they would camp turned quickly to anxiety.
The military-style tent was also black, sized for two to three people. The Academy's lecturers only brought one for demonstration, meaning the students would likely have to sleep in the open.
Meng Bai wrinkled his nose and pulled his cloak tighter. The cold irritated his sinuses. He figured this cloak would double as his blanket tonight.
At that moment, the ageless black-haired man from the Department of Warfare suddenly barked:
"New students of the Department of Warfare, assemble before me!"
Lin Xi and Li Kaiyun exchanged confused glances, then followed the other new Warfare students toward the man.
"That guy's crazy—Qin the Madman," one of the other professors muttered under his breath.
The stern black-haired man let out a bold, arrogant laugh, his true nature on full display. Turning into the cold wind, his black hair danced wildly:
"Come, sons of the Department of Warfare. We march on!"
Vice Principal Xia smiled faintly at the scene and said nothing.
"We still have to keep walking?" The Warfare students felt their hearts sink; their legs hurt even more now. Students from the other departments felt lucky in contrast. Only the thin, golden-haired boy from the Yu Hua clan muttered to himself,
"Only courage and loyalty, scars and trials, can forge the most dazzling glory."
His words earned curses from the nearby Spirit Cultivation students:
"Are you crazy? If you don't want rest, go walk with them yourself."
"So this is how our training begins?" Lin Xi, legs aching, found himself strangely curious and expectant.
"Lin Xi, here." Meng Bai ran up and stuffed a bundle into Lin Xi's hands.
"What is this?" Lin Xi blinked in surprise, but before Meng Bai could answer, both the black-haired man and Wang Yike spotted them.
"Little fatty, it's food, right?" the black-haired man laughed. "Looks like someone won't go hungry… others are in luck."
Meng Bai trembled with fear, but Wang Yike's stern voice then rang out:
"Knowing how to prepare rations on the march, and sharing with a comrade—half a credit bonus."
Meng Bai froze in place.
He had no idea what "credits" really meant yet, but everyone could tell they were important. He had indeed gotten lucky… though the truth was, he just liked to snack and had smuggled lots of food with him.
The black-haired man walked in front, Vice Principal Xia Yanbing beside him in a black and gold-trimmed robe. Lin Xi and the other Warfare freshmen followed behind.
It was now clear—Xia Yanbing was also a lecturer for the Department of Warfare.
"You need food to have strength. That's the simplest truth."
"If you go hungry long enough, it affects your strength, your thinking, your reflexes—even your judgment. Starting today, never forget that."
As they walked through the cold wind, the black-haired man lectured them slowly.
Then he said something that nearly made the group collapse:
"Xia Yanbing, I'm tired. You talk to them now."
To be this tired, yet insist on marching… and even say it aloud—this Professor Qin was clearly… a little mad.
"When you're exhausted, chatting with your comrades helps you distract your mind and go further. Even when severely wounded, staying calm and talking can help you survive longer," Xia Yanbing added.
With his handsome face, broad forehead, and a cleanly tied teal ribbon in his hair, Xia Yanbing had a calm demeanor. His presence didn't pressure the students nearly as much as the black-haired man's.
"I know many of you don't know much about Qingluan Academy or our Department of Warfare. From now on, you can ask me questions."
This excited the Warfare freshmen greatly. Without hesitation, Lin Xi drew a breath and asked the question he had long wanted to:
"Is Dean Zhang still here?… Will we get to see him after joining the Academy?"
Xia Yanbing's brow twitched. So did the black-haired man's.
"No one knows where Dean Zhang is," Xia Yanbing finally answered. "Sixteen years ago, he left Qingluan Academy one morning and went on a journey across the land."
This was the first time the others had heard of the famed middle-aged man's whereabouts. Their bodies stiffened in surprise.
"He's not at the Academy…" Lin Xi was hit by a wave of disappointment, left speechless for a while.
"Old friend, where are you? The apricot blossoms in Apricot Blossom Village are blooming again… and you still won't come back to see them?"
What Lin Xi didn't know was that at that very moment, back at the other departments' campsite, a one-armed old man—revered across the Yunqin Empire—sat quietly on a blanket, watching Wang Yike teach how to assemble the black marching tent. His eyes gazed far away, full of sorrow and longing.
"He's been gone for sixteen years, and even the Academy doesn't know where he is? Why hasn't he come back even once?" asked a chubby boy in the marching column, clearly someone who also idolized Dean Zhang.
"That's a dumb question," a muscular short-haired Frontier student replied angrily. "A man like him… who could know what he's doing? Maybe he's spent all these years doing something incredible for the Empire. Maybe he's deep in enemy territory. We just don't know."
Though his words showed blind admiration and belittled the rest of the Academy, Xia Yanbing didn't get angry. He merely nodded and said:
"Yes, that is a foolish question. Someone like Dean Zhang must have his reasons for everything he does. We cannot guess at them… next question."
"What are credits?" a timid, thin boy finally summoned the courage to ask.
Xia Yanbing nodded:
"Each department has many courses and trials. Completing them, or doing something commendable, earns you credits. The harder or more valuable the task, the more credits you earn. Accumulate enough credits and you can advance to the next level of training. You can also exchange them for items—medicine for cultivation, armor, weapons."