New Arrival At Xia Jing Academy, Different Atmosphere

Lin Moyu tidied up his belongings with swift efficiency.

The talisman in Bai Yiyuan's hand floated into the air, transforming into a shimmering teleportation array. Without hesitation, both stepped into the circle, disappearing in a burst of radiant light.

As the last flicker faded, the small cabin was plunged back into stillness and shadow.

Lu Yun lingered for a moment, sighing deeply as he closed the door behind him. The street, bathed in the stillness of the late night, was utterly silent.

Who could have known that this humble, worn-down house had produced not one, but two students bound for Xiajing Academy? And one of them, the national champion, no less.

Lu Yun's eyes turned towards the distant lights of Xia Jing, his heart swelling with hope. "Go on, kid. Show them what you're made of," he whispered softly, his words filled with warmth and aspiration.

Meanwhile, Lin Moyu felt the journey through the teleportation array dragging on, a stark contrast to the instantaneous jump he'd experienced earlier that day. The Shenxia Empire was vast, its lands sprawling in all directions. As one of the most powerful human nations, distances were immense, and Xiajing Academy lay thousands of kilometers away from Xihai City.

Broken, fragmented lights flickered past Lin Moyu's vision, magical images swirling before him in disjointed patterns. The experience left him disoriented, a sense of time and space warping around him.

He felt the queasy pull of displacement but maintained his composure, his face betraying only a slight paleness. Ten long seconds passed before they finally landed on solid ground.

As the unsettling sensations dissipated, Bai Yiyuan glanced at him, offering a subtle nod of approval. "You have remarkable endurance," he remarked, his impression of Lin Moyu improving even more.

The stark contrast between the sleepy Xihai City and the vibrant capital of Xiajing hit Lin Moyu immediately. Even in the depths of the night, Xiajing City was ablaze with light, its brilliance rendering the moonlight almost insignificant.

And then, it loomed before him—the grand gate of Xiajing Academy. Towering tens of meters high and stretching hundreds of meters wide, it was an awe-inspiring sight. Magnificent, powerful, and commanding, the gate exuded a palpable aura. Lin Moyu felt his insignificance in its presence, as well as a flicker of something else—danger.

"This gate," Bai Yiyuan explained, his voice breaking Lin Moyu's reverie, "is not just an entrance. It's a formidable weapon. Even the strongest experts would pay dearly if they tried to force their way in."

Patting Lin Moyu on the shoulder, he added, "Let's go."

As they approached, Lin Moyu sensed something probing him, akin to a detection spell but far more refined. His identity confirmed, the colossal gates opened silently before them.

The academy at night was far from quiet. As they walked deeper into the grounds, Lin Moyu became increasingly aware of the constant energy fluctuations rippling through the air.

"They're practicing," Bai Yiyuan explained, reading his curiosity. "Many of the students here use this time to train their skills."

Lin Moyu nodded, asking, "Do all skills require practice?"

"Most," Bai Yiyuan responded casually. "Though it depends. Some skills can be perfected with use, but others need more than just repetition."

Lin Moyu, ever the learner, filed that away as they continued. Energy bursts lit up the night sky periodically as students honed their abilities. It was a stark reminder that everyone here was constantly working to improve, even in the middle of the night.

After a long walk through the expansive grounds, they arrived at their destination.

"This is the residential area," Bai Yiyuan informed him. "You'll stay here tonight. Someone will fill you in on the details tomorrow. And remember, most things in Xiajing Academy can be traded. Just make sure it's voluntary. No forced dealings."

As they approached the entrance, a figure hurried over, bowing respectfully. "Lord Baishen," the man greeted, his voice filled with deference.

Bai Yiyuan's presence commanded a level of respect that Lin Moyu noted silently. He had already developed an unspoken respect for the man, even if he wasn't the most expressive about it.

"I leave him in your care. I have other matters to attend to," Bai Yiyuan said.

"Take care, and rest well," he added, turning to Lin Moyu with a brief but meaningful nod. Then, as swiftly as he had arrived, Bai Yiyuan vanished into the night.

Lin Moyu's expression remained calm and composed, his response equally subdued, "Understood."

The man beside him, taken aback by how calmly Lin Moyu addressed someone as important as Bai Yiyuan, stood silent for a moment. Few would dare to be so blunt in his presence.

But Lin Moyu's demeanor never wavered.

"Are you Lin Moyu?" the man asked after a moment, a touch of nervousness in his tone.

"Yes," Lin Moyu replied, his voice flat as always.

The man, slightly uneasy with Lin Moyu's cold attitude, hesitated before continuing, "We have several accommodation options for you. Where would you prefer to stay?"

Xiajing Academy's campus was vast, and the residential area offered multiple choices—shared dormitories, private rooms, or even villas with training grounds.

Each option came at a price, and Lin Moyu now had more than enough points to choose whatever suited him.