Chapter 80: Departure

If the calabash gourd wasn’t a first-rank high-grade magical tool, then whatever it contained must be.

Li Zhen removed the gourd from the Dragon Heart Space and began by examining the spirit markings on its surface.

After a semester of study, he could at least identify the general purpose of magical tools.

The gourd wasn’t a weapon or offensive tool; it was simply a container designed to prevent the spiritual essence of its contents from dispersing.

He carefully opened the gourd, and a burst of refreshing vapor wafted into his face.

“Second-tier spirit spring water!” Li Zhen recognized the spirit item stored within the gourd.

Second-tier spirit spring water was legendary, used exclusively by Foundation Establishment cultivators for refining pills and brewing spirit tea. Some varieties even had extraordinary effects.

Realizing it was second-tier spirit spring water, he immediately thought of its potential uses.

He retracted the gourd back into the Dragon Heart Space, then instructed the space to consume the second-tier spirit spring water.

As the gourdful of second-tier spirit spring water was absorbed, Li Zhen felt a surge of comfort throughout his body.

This sensation lasted only briefly before vanishing. He quickly opened his Identity Bracelet to check his personal information.

He noticed that his Water Spirit Root aptitude had increased from Water 20 to Water 21. Although it was only a one-point difference, this upgrade elevated his spiritual root from low-grade to mid-grade.

Feeling slightly disappointed, he realized that the effects of the second-tier spirit spring water were not as dramatic as he’d imagined. It had barely managed to push his Water Spirit Root aptitude into mid-grade territory.

None of the other loot included any spiritual items that caught his eye.

This wasn’t surprising; neither Steward Zhao, the Third Elder, nor the other two mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators would carry many valuables into battle.

The second-tier spirit spring water had been a trading item prepared by the Third Elder, which is why it was with him in the first place.

“Zhen’er, I’ve transferred 20,000 credit points to you,” Mother Li said, handing Li Zhen a suitcase. “Use these credit points when you need them outside. Don’t shortchange yourself!”

“Thank you, Mom!” Li Zhen accepted the offer with a grateful smile.

Pulling the suitcase behind him, he let his father drive him to school this time.

They arrived half an hour before 9 a.m., and Shi Xuan, Wang Rushi, and Fang Congzhi had already made it to the campus.

Li Zhen waved goodbye to Mr. Li, who didn’t even bother to stop the car.

“Is that all you’re bringing?” Wang Rushi couldn’t help but laugh, seeing Li Zhen’s single suitcase.

She noticed he had only one, while she had four herself. The other two senior male students each had two.

“Did you need to bring anything specific?” Li Zhen asked hurriedly. His mother had packed for him, but he worried something might have been forgotten.

“Actually, there’s not much you need,” Shi Xuan said with a smile. “Even if you don’t bring anything, it’s fine!”

Having interacted with Li Zhen during this period, they knew his family wasn’t well-off. Consequently, many everyday items weren’t necessary for him.

For instance, Wang Rushi’s luggage included cosmetics, jewelry, snacks, clothes, and magical artifacts.

As for Shi Xuan and Fang Congzhi, their second suitcases were filled with formal attire and extra magical artifacts for official events, aside from general belongings.

“If you’re missing anything, just buy it once we reach Tianchang City!” Wang Rushi suggested, also considering Li Zern’s family situation.

“How are we getting to Tianchang City this time?” Li Zhen asked.

Li Zhen was still very curious about this long trip. Although monsters outside the city posed little danger to mid-Qi Refining cultivators, the real danger often came not from beasts but other human cultivators.

How the school planned to transport them to Tianchang City was crucial for their safety.

“I’m not sure,” Shi Xuan shook his head, “but it definitely won’t be on the intercity shuttle!”

The intercity shuttle was the standard mode of transportation for cultivators traveling between cities. However, given the complexities involved with students, even teachers might be worried about putting them in such a public environment.

More importantly, while participants of the school’s challenge matches were relatively safe within the city, they would be much more vulnerable to attention from the Demon-Worship Cult once outside. Beyond the city limits, there was no protection from the Prefect or the city’s large defensive array.

As they conversed, Mr. Zuo arrived in a magnetic levitation car. Li Zhen glanced at his watch; it was now fifteen minutes until nine.

“Get in the car first!” Mr. Zuo beckoned them over.

“Mr. Zuo, we’re not going to Tianchang City in this magnetic levitation car, are we?” Li Zhen asked after climbing in.

While magnetic levitation cars could travel long distances, their safety record was only average at best, making them less reliable than intercity shuttles.

“No, you’re quite lucky. Today you’ll get to broaden your horizons!” Mr. Zuo replied with a smile.

The magnetic levitation car left the school, heading towards the city center.

“We’re heading to the county administration’s helipad!” Wang Rushi recognized the direction, exclaiming in surprise.

At that moment, Shi Xuan and Fang Congzhi’s eyes lit up; they had already guessed what they would be boarding.

The magnetic levitation car entered the county administration’s helipad, and Li Zhen saw a sky-blue aircraft parked on the ground.

A female cultivator dressed in fitted business attire stood beside the aircraft. Upon seeing her, Mr. Zuo hastily stopped the magnetic levitation car.

“Greetings, Secretary Mi. Thank you for your assistance!” Mr. Zuo stepped out of the car and bowed respectfully to the female cultivator.

“Mr. Zuo, no need for such formalities. It’s all part of the arrangements by the elders,” Secretary Mi replied with a smile, returning the gesture.

Her gaze swept over Li Zhen and his group, pausing slightly on Li Zhen himself, who stood out due to his young age.

“Board the aircraft now, departure is imminent!” she gestured for them to follow.

The entrance to the sky-blue aircraft opened, and Secretary Mi led Mr. Zuo inside first, followed by Li Zhen and his three companions.

Li Zhen found himself in a state of extreme shock; the spacecraft before him seemed to be of first-rate superior quality.

This wasn’t just any ordinary spacecraft—it was a first-rate magical artifact.

Upon entering, they discovered the vast interior. They were in the lower deck, with a ceiling about two and a half meters high.

This level was quite spacious, likely designed for storing goods.

Taking an elevator to the second deck, they found the front section dedicated to the cockpit. The rear housed a circle of soft sofas with a tea table in the middle, perfect for relaxing.

“Mr. Zuo, please have the students take a seat while I step away for a moment,” Secretary Mi said, pointing towards the sofas.

She moved towards the control panel. With a wave of her hand, the front half of the second deck became transparent.

Li Zhen watched as the spacecraft lifted off. If not for seeing it happen right before his eyes, he wouldn’t have even realized the ship had left the ground.

As the spacecraft ascended to a certain height, the ground became invisible. All that could be seen was the distant sky.

Secretary Mi set the course for automatic navigation before standing up and returning to the sofa area.

“I’ve activated cruise mode,” she announced. “We’ll reach Genius City in two and a half hours!”

“Wow, that fast! When will I be able to afford a private jet like this?” Wang Rushi marveled.

“Once you get accepted into any of the top seven universities in the Xian Empire, having a private jet like this won’t be such a big deal!” Secretary Mi replied with a smile. A hint of pride danced across her face as she spoke.

Li Zhen’s thoughts drifted to the “big shot” she’d mentioned earlier. This private jet belonged to that very person, likely a graduate from one of those esteemed universities.

Despite considering herself quite gifted, Wang Rushi couldn’t shake off her doubts about securing a place in one of the top imperial institutions.

These elite universities admitted only a handful of students each year, setting stringent eligibility criteria. Guided by the principle of quality over quantity, they’d rather leave seats empty than admit less qualified applicants.

“Look, if you all perform well in this competition, there’s a chance you might get scouted by one of the schools ahead of time,” Mr. Zuo offered reassuringly. “Even graduating from one of the twenty-four Xian Realm institutes is a significant achievement!”

Compared to the elite universities of the seven great Xian Nations, the admissions criteria for the Twenty-Four Xian Nation Academies were notably more lenient.

These academies often poached highly talented students in advance, with a particular focus on the annual school challenge competitions.

Li Zhen, however, wasn’t paying much attention to the conversation. His eyes were fixed on the private jet they were traveling in.

As the plane hurtled through the sky, a layer of energy shield enveloped its surface. This was particularly visible when the aircraft pierced through clouds.

It struck him as a revelation: The Xian Nations weren’t lacking in cultivation resources; they simply reserved them for the most gifted cultivators.

Take this private jet, for instance. The first-grade high-quality materials required to construct such a craft could have armed hundreds of cultivators at the late stages of Qi Refining.

At that moment, Li Zhen’s heart swelled with anticipation towards the seven premier universities of the Xian Nations. Only by gaining admission to one of these elite institutions could he truly delve into the core of the Xian Nations, access richer resources, and acquire the knowledge he craved.