Chapter 239 (1/2)

On the first official day of school, all students reported in to their teachers or to their seniors, either way, if there were any absentees, the schools would quickly become aware of it.  As for those who were foolish enough to not attend without a damn fine reason, they would not have the opportunity to return until the next enrolment, if they could pass the entrance tests.

Leon reported in to his Teacher, Sagi, while Jin Li reported in to Teacher Corvus... because it was convenient.  And then the Martial Arts student was given permission to go into closed cultivation for the duration.

Closed cultivation, for both Teachers and Students, usually took place in a mountain to the north of the Institute, a fair distance from any of the schools.  This was because of the lightning tribulations.  Lightning tribulations were considered to be both a test and punishment from the Heavens, for Cultivators were considered upstarts who dared challenge them.  Whether this was true or not, or whether it had more to do with the balance of the world, when Cultivators breached certain bottlenecks in their cultivation, it was highly likely to draw the phenomenon to their location.  As it happened, completing core formation was one of these certainties.

So, those needing the shelter not only to protect themselves from the ambush of the lowest scum of life, but also in order to face those tribulations, Teachers and Students would seclude themselves in White Stone Mountain.

In ages past, the numerous caves that pock marked the mountain were simple; smooth walls and a sealing boulder that only the occupant, if still living, could open.  Nowadays, Cultivators have realised that 'simple' did not have to mean 'uncomfortable', so the cold stone floors had been covered by soft rugs and Mage globes sit in small indentations along with some clean cloths and an Enchanted Bowl of Refreshing Water.  There was also a wooden bed.  As it was winter, a single Fire Mage crystal expelled warmth into the cold interior from a small side table. Jade bottles of fasting pills were given to those who had yet to complete Body Tempering, namely the students.

In one of these caverns, Jin Li sealed the opening with his spiritual energy then sat upon the bed in lotus position.

Meanwhile, Teacher Sagi was speaking with his three immediate students; Hue, Stygar and Leon.

The weather was still cold, even if the freezing temperatures and heavy snows that covered certain mountains in the region had abated somewhat. In the outer school of alchemy, they were somewhat sheltered, but the effects of their surroundings could still be somewhat felt. This meant that only the hardiest of herbs would grow in the fields, such as purple spirit grass and sweet sunclover, or those that favoured cold weather. Others had gone into a period of dormancy; these were usable if already mature, but seedlings were generally of no use. A few had wilted and died, leaving their seed or roots in the shelter of the ground ready for the spring in which they would reform once more, the latter as well as the dormant had the chance of becoming coveted one hundred year or even one thousand year herbs one day.

As the weather was not very pleasant, the four, one Teacher, three students, had gathered in one of the rooms in the lecture hall. Stygar had a particular aversion of the cold and had placed fire mage crystals close by, which warmed the air. Leon was particularly glad of this and was thinking of asking his senior how to obtain some of the crystals for his own home, which currently relied on the kitchen stove for warmth.

”In a few weeks, the Interschool exchange will begin once more,” Teacher Sagi reminded them, to which Leon looked completely blank, as did Hue for a different reason, while Stygar sneered. ”Now, now, you are all seniors and talented, it's not like there won't be anyone seeking to add you to their teams.”

”Er...” Leon wondered how to bring up the fact that he had no idea of what his Teacher was speaking of.