Chapter 17 - Searching for Martial Academies

A week has passed, and Si Xuexi was walking along the village streets with Tian Longmeng. Thanks to her intensive cramming of common sense into Tian Longmeng's head, he learned about many human norms, such as money, status, geography, culture, and cultivation.

For example, Tian Longmeng just finished selling some beast bones for 2 Refined Jade Stones. The lowest form of currency in this world is unrefined jade stones, and 1 jade stone can buy a loaf of bread. 10 jade stones can pay for a night's stay at the inns.

A Refined Jade stone is the same as the ordinary jade stone; however, it was processed and refined to bring more value. Consequently, 1 Refined Jade Stone is the equivalent of 50 unrefined ones.

Moon Jade Stones were different as they were completely different ores than the regular Jade stones. These stones are also refined so that means that they come at the price of 100 refined jade stones for 1 Moon Jade.

Star Jades are also similar and is a highly powerful piece of currency. Si Xuexi has said that only the top echelons of cities and kingdoms have this form of money.

A star jade costs 1000 moon jades, or 5 Million unrefined jade stones! Tian Longmeng nearly screamed at the immensity of star jades. Only 1 star jade was needed to run everything to the ground.

Tian Longmeng avoided all of that and focused on his earnings. He was pleasantly surprised at how much money he was able to get from just his little bag of beast bones, and items.

Si Xuexi and Tian Longmeng however, came out this day to buy information about martial academies. Although they could be considered monstrous to village people, they would still need the martial guidance of a mentor, and a steady flow of resources to advance properly.

Tian Longmeng was interested in finding a martial academy because he could finally have competition and compare himself with other talents. It was the perfect environment to temper his competitive spirit.

Why Tian Longmeng did not consider Si Xuexi has regular competition was because she was abnormal, even for his standards. While being younger than him by a year, she still is at the Early Mortal Grand-Apprentice Realm. Not only that, she is also at the Mid Flesh Hardening Stage, which was only a small stage below his current cultivation.

What made it worse was Si Xuexi's vast knowledge about cultivation. She spoke of humans as if there were other lifeforms on earth different from just them and the beasts.

She even congratulated Tian Longmeng on the weirdest topic, "Great! You are planning to dual cultivate, no? Humans only cultivate the spirit so you would be able to easily stomp them with your bodily advantage."

Tian Longmeng figured that Si Xuexi meant the Essence Gathering path when she "spirit", however he was confused as to why she said it like that. He decided to just leave it at that.

"This girl says some weird things sometimes." He concluded.

Martial Academies, although being the lowest tier of martial houses behind sects and great sects, where the only martial houses on the Desolate Valley Continent.

In the Desolate Valley Continent, there are 10 Martial Academies. The strongest of them is the Sun Moon Martial Academy, which is located in Sun Moon City at the other side of the continent. Following on that list are the Void Spirit Martial Academy, Vermillion Altar Martial Academy, and the Yellow Dragon Martial Academy.

Si Xuexi was urging Tian Longmeng to venture across the continent with her so they can both enter a top-ranking Martial Academy; however, Tian Longmeng was reluctant to venture across the continent.

That would be paramount to abandoning his origin within the Desolate Wilderness. This was something that Tian Longmeng did not want to do, even though he knew he had to eventually.

....

Tian Longmeng and Si Xuexi stayed together for a month before she had to leave. They became close friends and often sparred together, not that Tian Longmeng won anyways. They ventured into the Desolate Wilderness together and Tian Longmeng even developed a nickname for her, Snowfield*.

This nickname was because of a mistake in her name; however, Tian Longmeng decided to keep that name because it suited her. Si Xuexi chuckled at this but did not bother to correct him on this mistake.

Si Xuexi wanted to stay with Tian Longmeng for much longer and even begged him again to accompany her; however, Tian Longmeng remained adamant in his decision.

Si Xuexi was not a fool to the reason either so as a parting gift, she helped Tian Longmeng locate the nearest martial academy.

"It seems that Tang Fei Martial Academy is holding their opening examinations at dawn next month." Si Xuexi told Tian Longmeng the information she found.

Tian Longmeng began to pack his things checked out of the inn. "Okay, you know where to find me then."

Si Xuexi smiled, "I hope you do not regret going to such a low ranking academy and getting left behind in my shadow."

Tian Longmeng giggled at her playful taunt, "I am sure I will catch up eventually." Si Xuexi and Tian Longmeng conversed until they said their goodbyes at the village entrance and went their separate ways.

As Tian Longmeng was leaving, something bothered his mind. "Strange, where did I hear of Tang Fei before?" Tian Longmeng could not remember so he shrugged it off instead.

*Xue (血) in Xuexi means blood, however, it can also be pronounced as Xue (雪) which means snow.