Ming Li instantly awoke, sat up, and frowned in contemplation.

Was this a dream born from her worries, or… No, that couldn’t be. Her junior brother was already quite powerful himself and a disciple of Bei Dou’s Yaoguang Academy. Such things couldn’t possibly happen to him.

Besides, although the person in the dream looked identical to Zhou Zixi, he bore no resemblance whatsoever to the person in her memories.

From a clean and gentle youth to suddenly becoming bloody, violent, and overwhelmingly oppressive.

Ming Li closed her eyes to recall, but the memory was blurry. She only vaguely felt that the patterns on that altar seemed somewhat similar to the emblem of Nan Que.

A bell rang outside—the martial academy’s summoning bell, generally used to announce classes.

Then someone knocked on her door, and Qian Li called from outside: “Zhou Li! Are you awake?”

Ming Li rose to open the door.

Qian Li and Fang Hui stood outside. Fang Hui looked unchanged, but Qian Li appeared deflated. He raised his hand to greet her, then pointed toward the ringing bell and said: “Since some new people arrived earlier, Teacher Mo Chou plans to give one last lesson before the Martial Supervisory Alliance comes to demolish the academy. Would you like to join?”

Ming Li went along.

At this moment, dawn was just breaking, and only one light was lit in the academy building, with many students hurrying over.

A black-robed elder stood at the entrance of the academic building, leaning on a walking stick, quietly waiting for all the students to arrive.

There were fewer people than Ming Li had expected. In her understanding, even a martial academy in a small place should have at least a hundred students.

About twenty or thirty students stood before the black-robed elder. After Ming Li’s group arrived, no one else came.

Qian Li whispered to Ming Li: “That’s Teacher Mo Chou, the strictest person at Flying Fox Martial Academy, and also the most responsible.”

Ming Li stood quietly in the crowd, observing the black-robed elder in front.

The black-robed elder spoke, his voice withered: “It seems everyone has arrived. You should all know that the Martial Supervisory Alliance will soon send people to demolish the academy. Before that happens, I am willing to give one last lesson to some of the newly admitted students.”

“The newly admitted students have just entered the Perception Realm, have not yet awakened, or have just awakened and are still unfamiliar with the eight meridians.”

After surveying his surroundings, he slowed his pace and said: “Let’s start with the most basic concept: what is stellar power?”

“It comes from the sun, moon, and stars, exists everywhere between heaven and earth, is eternally renewable, inexhaustible, and limitless in use.”

Humans have stellar meridians that resonate with the power of heaven and earth. If one can perceive stellar power, one can become a cultivator.”

“In the Perception Realm, the wonder of stellar power will affect your bodily functions to varying degrees. The most common effects are greater strength than others, the ability to run very fast, and senses that are more acute than ordinary people’s.”

The black-robed elder raised his head to look at the dim sky. “This moment is the time of day when stellar power is most abundant and obvious. You should all be able to feel it.”

Many students subsequently mobilized their stellar power, causing the two flowering trees in front of the academic building to sway without wind, making rustling sounds.

The black-robed elder nodded with satisfaction: “Stellar power is the most basic and also the most indispensable element for cultivators.”

“Stellar meridians carry the circulation of stellar power, materializing the formless stellar power into different spiritual techniques and abilities.”

“There are eight stellar meridians, divided into eight palace positions, governing different domains of the human body. Such as the five senses, blood, yin and yang, body techniques—each meridian has spiritual techniques and abilities of different levels, thus divided into seven boundaries, and each boundary contains seventy-nine heavens.”

A meridian at the seventh boundary indicated that power had been elevated to its peak, but in this world, very few people could achieve full passage of all eight meridians. At least now, there were only seven in the entire continent.

“Now we should discuss awakening.” The black-robed elder’s gaze swept over those students who had just awakened and said, “The Perception Realm is merely the entrance to cultivation. Only by perceiving stellar power can one awaken stellar meridians, and only after awakening stellar meridians can one learn to use spiritual techniques.”

“Everyone should know that awakening is a crucial turning point for cultivators.”

“During awakening, not all eight meridians will respond. Some people may only awaken a single meridian or double meridians, and a single meridian passing completely through all seven boundaries would take a lifetime.”

In matters of cultivation, talent and effort—at least one was necessary.

The black-robed elder said, “Only in extremely rare cases does a second awakening occur. In the several thousand years of Tonggu Continent’s history, there has been only one such case so far. That is the well-known—Supreme Leader of the Martial Supervisory Alliance, the current Literary Saint of Great Qin.”

At the mention of this person, many students’ eyes revealed admiration. Setting aside the four super sects, the Literary Saint was the most admired and respected figure among ordinary people in Great Qin, even surpassing the current emperor.

Because the Literary Saint had proven to everyone, especially those who had awakened seven meridians yet were forever separated from becoming pilgrims by just one meridian, that as long as you don’t give up, there will always be hope.

The Literary Saint had become an inspirational figure mentioned in basic courses at every martial academy.

Ming Li merely felt that this Literary Saint had deeply hidden thoughts and was dangerous, yet she inadvertently glimpsed the disdain in Fang Hui’s eyes, who stood to her left.

That was refreshing.

Ming Li discreetly withdrew her gaze.

The black-robed elder continued: “There are also those who reach full boundary upon awakening. Such people are one in ten million, undisputedly extraordinary talents. For example, the youngest pilgrim on the continent today, Ming Li of the Bei Dou Seven Sects.”

Ming Li: “…”

She hadn’t expected to hear her name in this situation.

“At the age of ten, she awakened eight meridians, with seven of them at innate full boundary. In just six short years, she crossed the seventh life-and-death boundary, and a month later, advanced to the continent’s top tier, becoming a pilgrim. She was only sixteen then.” The black-robed elder’s expression showed slight admiration. “Unfortunately…”

Ming Li silently gazed skyward, knowing without being told what was unfortunate.

Qian Li, standing to her right, said regretfully: “Unfortunately, she died.”

After composing himself, the black-robed elder said, “Regardless of talent, cultivation always requires diligent effort. You are all still young; the future world will belong to young people like you.”

His concluding words were all meant to encourage the students, who listened with emotion. Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, people from the Martial Supervisory Alliance arrived.

A resonant male voice, austere and cold, came from above the academic building: “Martial Supervisory Alliance demolition. All irrelevant personnel leave immediately.”

The black-robed elder nodded: “Go now.”

Ming Li walked out with the crowd. Outside the academy, she could see people from the Martial Supervisory Alliance already beginning to set up formation arrays, while a small team went in to inspect and ensure no living persons remained within the demolition area.

Qian Li, gazing at the soon-to-be-demolished academy from a distance, murmured: “This is simply heaven’s way of destroying me.”

Fang Hui, flipping through the book in his hand, said: “You can join another martial academy.”

“Then it would be too late to participate in the martial academy trials, and I couldn’t go to Nan Que this year.” After feeling dejected for a moment, Qian Li perked up again. “No, I need to think of a solution.”

Ming Li said, “If you want to go to Nan Que, why not go directly to Nan Que and challenge for entry into the mountain?”

Qian Li replied: “That won’t work. According to Nan Que’s recruitment rules, even if you’re not an outstanding student who came through the martial academy trials, you must still be a martial academy student to qualify for the mountain challenge.”

Ming Li gave a small “oh,” realizing that Nan Que’s rules were different from Bei Dou’s. She had gained a new piece of knowledge.

She politely said, “Since the martial academy is gone, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Hey!” Qian Li called out. “I haven’t given you an identity transit document yet!”

Ming Li asked: “Isn’t that only available after joining a martial academy?”

“These things can be forged by specialized people; whether you’re in an academy or not doesn’t matter much.” Qian Li waved his hand. “Come on, I’ll take you. For a young girl traveling alone, not having an identity transit document is very inconvenient.”

Ming Li suddenly understood and blinked. Qian Li clutched his heart and said: “Are you at the full boundary of the Second Palace of the eight meridians? Otherwise, why does my heart beat so hard every time I look into your eyes?”

“No,” she replied.

Fang Hui, who had been reading his book all along, asked: “Then what realm are you in?”

Ming Li said, “Eight meridians awakened.”

Fang Hui: “…”

“Damn!” Qian Li suddenly raised his voice, then covered his mouth and whispered, “Eight meridians awakened? A genius!”

Qian Li put his arm around Fang Hui’s shoulder and enthusiastically said to Ming Li: “He has seven meridians awakened, I have six. The three of us together are invincible!”

Fang Hui asked Ming Li again: “How many meridians are at the seventh boundary?”

Ming Li gently shook her head and said, “It’s hard to say.”

Indeed, it was difficult to explain.

Her stellar meridians were at their peak but suppressed by the pilgrimage fire. Her stellar power felt unfamiliar, and she couldn’t mobilize much power.

To claim eight meridians at full boundary would be false, as she couldn’t display that level of power.

The person who had just called her a genius would then call her a liar.

But Qian Li and Fang Hui thought Ming Li meant she didn’t trust them enough to tell them.

To gain her trust, Qian Li eagerly said: “Then let us tell you first. I’m at full boundary for three meridians, with three others barely managed.”

He tilted his head toward Fang Hui: “This guy is the same, though he’s faster than I. His fourth meridian has already reached the seventy-eighth heaven, at the critical point.”

Three meridians at full boundary and four meridians at full boundary—their strength was not too bad, but the true manifestation of power was in the spiritual techniques and abilities they had mastered.

After speaking, Qian Li and Fang Hui both looked at Ming Li.

Ming Li was still considering how to answer.

Qian Li laughed and said: “It’s fine if you don’t want to tell us. Anyway, our combined strength is enough to protect you.”

Ming Li said, “Single meridian at full boundary, the Third Palace.”

Fang Hui withdrew his gaze from her, while Qian Li stroked his chin and solemnly said: “It seems you do indeed need protection.”

Ming Li replied: “You’re the first person to say that.”

Qian Li: “Really? I feel quite honored then, haha!”

He led Ming Li to get an identity transit document. Distracted by the topic of Ming Li’s eight awakened meridians, Qian Li had forgotten the sadness of the academy being demolished and kept talking along the way:

“I’m serious, the world is strange these days. In recent years, there’s been an evil organization that can’t stand talented people. They specifically hunt and kill those good seedlings with eight awakened meridians. Even the Martial Supervisory Alliance can’t do anything about them, so it’s quite dangerous for you to travel alone. I’m very willing to do my part to protect a future pilgrim of Great Qin!”

But Ming Li wasn’t interested in hearing this. She asked: “You mentioned earlier that Bei Dou suffered many casualties. Who died?”

Qian Li scratched his head: “I heard that a sect leader from one of the sects died, and the Supreme Sect Leader returned heavily injured. As for the specifics, an outsider like me wouldn’t know.”

Fang Hui said expressionlessly, “Tian Quan and Yu Heng died. Tian Ji and Kai Yang each lost an arm. Yaoguang was severely injured and remains unconscious.”

Ming Li lowered her gaze.

Her father hadn’t gone to Bei Jing Gui Yuan but had stayed to guard Bei Dou. What kind of person could have severely injured him in Bei Dou?

Qian Li optimistically said, “Well, several years have passed, and Bei Dou has gradually recovered. A thousand-year-old super sect like theirs isn’t so easily toppled. It’s just that Nan Que, for some unknown reason, suddenly became hostile and openly started bullying them. Sects like Tai Yi and Dong Yang are still quite nice to Bei Dou.”

Nan Que.

Ming Li walked thoughtfully when Qian Li suddenly stopped: “We’re here!”

By now, daylight had fully broken. A man who had just opened his shop and set up his stall had bare arms, with thin sweat on his defined muscle lines.

“Uncle Xu,” Qian Li smiled at the man, waving. “Could you help me with two more items?”

The man called Uncle Xu carried two stacks of what looked like heavy wooden boxes to the door and set them down. Ignoring the others, he only glanced at Qian Li: “Tell me.”

Qian Li pointed at Ming Li and said, “Help me get an identity transit document for my friend, and a martial academy competition certificate for me.”

After hearing this, Uncle Xu silently went back inside.

Ming Li looked at Qian Li with newfound respect. Despite his young age, he had quite a few unorthodox connections.

Qian Li turned to Ming Li and said, “He agreed. We’ll get the things from him soon.”

Ming Li asked: “You want to forge a martial academy certificate to enter the competition?”

“That’s the solution I just thought of. They don’t check these things too strictly anyway. As long as we get a ranking in the competition, we can go to Nan Que to challenge for the mountain entry. However…” Qian Li rubbed his nose, smiling ingratiatingly at Ming Li, “Each martial academy needs at least three people to compete. Look at us—one, two, three—not too many, not too few, just right!”

Ming Li didn’t respond.

Qian Li pressed his palms together pitifully and said, “Actually, our goals are the same. If you want to go to Nan Que, you also need to challenge for mountain entry first; otherwise, you can’t get in at all. Then the exciting scenario of dominating the competition and declaring your intention to join Bei Dou won’t happen—”

Ming Li: “I never said I wanted to participate in the Four Directions Tournament.”

“But you can!” Qian Li said firmly. “Regardless, our common goal is to go to Nan Que!”

The young man pleaded with a howl: “Genius sister, please agree! Otherwise, I’ll kneel and beg you!”