Every morning, Nagira's routine was the same. The only variable was whether or not he woke up from sleep, or hadn't slept at all.
Being a powerful cultivator of the Dao Nurturting realm, Nagira did not need things like sleep, food or even water. They were luxuries to him; things he could dip his toes in every now and then. All he needed was the Dao he had painstakingly integrated with his soul. It was the only thing that could sustain him now.
On this particular day, Nagira had spent all night attempting to grasp hold of the ever-elusive meditative state he desperately sought. Ever since the conundrum of Jin Huang had reared its head, he was unable to ever rediscover that ethereal state of peace and enlightenment.
At his cultivation level, that was paramount. Not pills, scriptures or treasures, but peace of mind through meditation.
Failing to find it once again, Nagira got up and prepared to leave his floating cloud abode in order to head down to the lecture hall just beneath his home. After making himself presentable, he glided down to the lecture hall at almost the same time that the very last of the students were arriving.
As he glided, his ear twitched and he looked off in the direction of two students having a spirited chat. One of them was a fifth-year, the other a first-year; Jin Huang and Hei Shisan.
As he looked at him, his eyes shimmered and a small smile formed. He continued on his way to the lecture hall.
With his entry, all conversations ended, and the very last of the students entered and took their seats.
"Good morning, students. This morning we don't have an All-Aspect Cultivation class, but rather an advisory period- homeroom, if you will. I will be taking the time to listen to any and all questions, concerns etcetera and try to help you out as best as I can."
Hearing that, hands started going up immediately.
"Yes, Bai Qing?"
A ginger-haired young man with freckles stood up, "Hey, Mr. Nagira. So, like, I was just wondering about the Martial Arts classes. Are we going to be graded based on our ability to utilize all types of martial arts, or only the ones that better align with us?"
Judging by the murmurs that followed that question, it was evident that a number of others had been contemplating this as well.
"Well," Mr. Nagira started, his voice quieting the chatter, "martial arts classes are meant to test your aptitude in understanding and putting into practice the various disciplines. However, there are instances where your own affinities get in the way of your performance. For things like movement techniques and battle skills, your affinities will be of the utmost importance."
"However, the basic forms that you will be required to know- sword stances, basic sealing techniques, qi control- you must have a thorough understanding of these in order to get a good grade."
Bai Qing thanked Nagira and sat down, then another hand went up almost instantaneously.
"Guo Chang'an," Mr. Nagira acknowledged.
Standing, a slender young man with slightly dark skin and thick black hair stood, "Bossman, look. Is it not possible to just abandon the principles that we just have no talent for? Can't we just take the classes that teach stuff we're good at and say fuck off to the others? Pardon my ancient highborn-ese."
Nagira's eyes twitched imperceptibly. "Guo Chang'an, at the Interplanetary Academy of Cultivation, we teach all things related to cultivation up until the fourth year. As you prepare to leave the third year, you will be given a chance to choose the areas you wish to dedicate your last few years of study to. However, you will only be granted access to those classes if your performance in them is satisfactory."
"I strongly advise you to make the most of every opportunity. If you truly fail after giving it your best, then that field of study was simply not meant for you. Don't write them off now, before you've even given it your best shot."
Sucking his teeth, Guo Chang'an plopped down into his seat, "Screw that, I'm sticking to what I'm good at."
Some of the students in his vicinity reached over and patted him on the shoulder or gave him high fives. A bulging vein and a nondescript smile were Nagira's only responses.
Li Qingyu's hand went up, and Nagira nodded in his direction.
"What are the academy's views on duels between students?"
Nagira smiled, "They aren't frowned upon, however you have to follow the guidelines: A duel is only recognized if both parties agree, and they must be conducted at one of the arenas with a member of staff present. If you wish to challenge a student any number of years above you, you must sign a waiver and have it stamped by either myself, a dean or the Headmaster."
Li Qingyu thanked him with a deep nod and sat down.
There were a few other unimportant questions like whether or not students could challenge teachers to duels and if there would be some kind of handicap, as well as questions pertaining to the marital status of some staff members and even Nagira himself.
It took everything for him to remain placid and hold back his desire to pummel some of those students.
"Mr. Nagira, I have a question about pill concoction."
Nagira gestured, indicating that Tang Xianyu could go ahead and ask her question.
"Well, every time I try to concoct a cleansing pill, or a blood-jade pill, the effects are always slightly... off. No matter how closely I follow the manual, I just can't seem to get it exactly right."
Nodding thoughtfully, Nagira said, "It's possible that something about you and your intent is affecting your alchemy- perhaps even something deeper, like the dao. I think that the more familiar you become with yourself and your alchemy, the easier it will be for you to figure out why that happens."
"For now, my advice to you is to keep practicing, keep making mistakes, keep learning."
Tang Xianyu bowed, "Thank you, Mr. Nagira."
Looking around, Nagira saw that there were no other hands raised. He took a breath and was about to say something, but then a hand finally shot up.
Trying his best to hide his smirk, Nagira said, "Yes, Jin Huang?"
Jin Huang stood, all eyes finding themselves on him in spite of themselves. "I don't really have a question, just something I want to say to you and everyone here."
It was no secret that Jin Huang could not cultivate, and thus he was looked down upon by the majority of students- not just in the class but in the entire academy. Everyone who heard of Jin Huang heard one of two things:
That he was a gluttonous beast with a bottomless stomach, or that he was a country bumpkin that was unable to do anything related to cultivation.
Admittedly, his perfect mortal foundation appearing seemingly out of nowhere had shocked a lot of his peers, but since not much had actually changed about him, that was soon disregarded.
Looking around now, Jin Huang saw the students sneering and even glaring disdainfully, but also saw that they were nonetheless interested in what he had to say.
"I heard that this academy, above all else, valued the cultivation journey of the individual. Despite all their misgiving about a student, as long as they were able to rise in their own way, the academy would support them. The 'Thirteen Unteachable Students' are proof of that. Students so horrible that no one wanted them in their classes, yet who were able to find their own paths and thus were still given support."
Jin Huang found himself staring intently into the eyes of the students around him, meeting their disdainful looks of ridicule with a glare of his own- one that would not waver.
"Having said that, I am going to declare myself as unteachable, and claim the title of the Fourteenth. I say this now to all of you: If you truly wish to look down on me, do it in the arena after you've beaten me bloody."
Jin Huang chuckled, a fist raised, "I hereby challenge you all to a duel in exactly two month's time! Who dares to accept?"
Nagira could no longer hide his smirk; in his eyes, the image of Jin Huang and Hei Shisan flickered past. "Interesting."