The silence in the room stretched, the ticking of the old clock on the wall the only sound filling the space. Zhao Meng's thoughts drifted in and out, disconnected from the students around him. He scanned the classroom lazily, his eyes flicking over his classmates, all of them caught in their own little worlds.
Xiang Yimu, still composed and serene, had not once moved. She sat quietly with an air of elegance, a quiet strength emanating from her that caught his attention. But Zhuo Meng had learned long ago not to waste his energy on chasing after things that didn't directly concern him. He noted her presence but didn't dwell on it.
He let his gaze wander, landing on one student in particular, though not because he was interesting. Rather, it was because he was trying too hard. A boy sitting in the middle row, arms crossed, his posture perfect, his attire impeccably tailored. His sleek, silver hair was combed back, almost to the point of appearing artificial, and his jade hairpin gleamed with wealth and status. This was a boy who wanted to be noticed, a boy who believed that his appearance alone would place him above the rest.
Zhuo Meng felt no urge to mock or confront him.
And then, the door to the classroom creaked open.
A wave of stillness swept through the students, their eyes instinctively turning to the entrance.
A woman entered.
Zhuo Meng's senses flared the moment she stepped inside. It wasn't loud, nor was it overt. But there was a presence to her that immediately demanded the room's attention. She entered with quiet dignity, tall and composed, her posture exuding authority without a single word. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a neat bun, though a few rebellious strands framed her sharp face, giving her an effortless elegance.
The faint scar on her right cheek, almost invisible at first glance, only added to her aura.
Her eyes, dark and deep, scanned the room with a calculated calmness. They didn't linger on anyone for too long, but they pierced through each student, one by one, like an unspoken assessment. When they landed on Zhuo Meng, he met them with a steady gaze, feeling something in the air shift, just slightly. It wasn't fear, nor was it awe. It was the kind of recognition you give to someone who doesn't need to prove anything, because their presence alone is enough.
Zhuo Meng couldn't help but be intrigued. This woman did not hide behind false kindness or overly sweet words. Her aura was not cloaked or disguised as the typical teacher's would be. She wasn't here to make them feel comfortable or to fit into their preconceptions of authority. No, she allowed her strength to radiate openly, unapologetically.
Her gaze lingered for a moment longer than necessary, but only just. And then, without a word, she took her place at the front of the room, waiting as the last murmur of whispers died down.
"I am teacher Mei Shun." she said, her voice calm, smooth, but cutting through the air with an undeniable edge of authority. "I don't need to explain who I am. You've all heard my name, and if you haven't, you will in the future. But more importantly, I am here to nurture you."
A quiet stillness fell over the room. There was no dramatic pause, no slow buildup to her words. It was simply the calm before the storm, and every student could feel the weight of her statement hanging in the air.
"Unlike most teachers, I will not hold your hand. I will not pamper you. If you wish to grow, it is up to you to decide how far you are willing to go. You may think you know what it takes to succeed here, but in truth, most of you have only scratched the surface. I will not stand by while you waste time and squander opportunities."
She stood still, not moving an inch, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. Zhuo Meng couldn't help but feel her presence grow even more intense in that moment.
"The academy has no room for those who seek comfort in familiarity." Teacher Mei continued, her gaze unwavering. "Those of you who've come here because you think you'll be coddled will quickly learn that this place is a crucible. You will either rise, or you will burn."
Zhuo Meng felt the slight shift in the atmosphere. The words didn't land as a threat but as a challenge. There was a certain clarity to her message. It wasn't about making them feel welcome, it was about preparing them for the grind ahead, whether they were ready or not.
Teacher Mei's gaze flicked over the students, her lips tightening into a subtle smile that never quite reached her eyes. She had already sized them up, and she knew exactly how to draw them in, how to push their limits without needing to explain herself.
"Now." she said, breaking the silence with a swift change in tone. "Let's begin with something simple. Everyone here knows the basics of cultivation..."
The words hung in the air, and in an instant, Zhuo Meng's thoughts narrowed on the present moment. His mind caught onto the rhythm of the class. He was keenly aware of how much more there was to understand, even though, for now, the lesson felt almost like an echo of all that he had already learned.
The rest of the class passed in a blur. The material was not new, but the way teacher Mei approached it made him feel as if even the most basic concepts carried a deeper weight. Her questions were never just about right or wrong answers, but about self reliability.
...
A few days later.
Zhuo Meng sat in stillness, his legs crossed beneath him as he focused inward. The Thousand Silent Bloom, glowing faintly in his stomach. His mind swirled with thoughts as the qi within him stirred.
The Thousand Silent Bloom core was very special even among first grade cores. It granted the cultivator a near perfect combat system, its abilities were as powerful as any other grade one core. However, it had a pretty big weakness, the amount of qi consumed was off the charts.
Though little research has been done on the Thousand Silent Bloom, each core shares a special bond with its cultivator. Usually, the stronger your cultivation and the higher the stage of your veil, the stronger this connection will become.
This was especially true when Zhuo Meng reached the fourth sub realm, it triggered a qualitative change that allowed him to better understand the abilities and limitations of his core.
Outside, Zhuo Meng took a deep breath, the cool air brushed against his skin as he moved, walking out into the open courtyard where sunlight filtered through the leaves. His thoughts were sharp, but the usual undercurrent of doubt had quieted for the first time.
He stood for a moment, feeling the earth beneath his feet, the rhythm of his pulsating blood. He focused the qi within him, concentrating on directing it.
Slowly, a flicker of multicolored light began to form in his palm. At first it was small, like a spark of fire catching the wind, but it grew quickly, swirling as if alive. The glow deepened to a vibrant and dangerous ball dancing in the air.
Zhuo Meng's eyes widened slightly, though his expression remained calm. The multicolored ball hovered in his palm, flickering as it pulsed with intensity.
Zhuo Meng smiled and, with a wave of his hand, aimed at the sturdy willow. The multicolored ball quickly flew toward its target.
On impact, a bright light flashed several times in rapid succession. The strange thing was that no sound was heard.
Unbelievable, even though it's the most basic ability the Thousand Silent Bloom core offers, I wasn't expecting it to be this weak, it didn't do any damage. Hmph?!
Swirl. Swirl.
The multicolored light flickered violently, then even began to expand, then shrink, then coalesce into a bright green light, before finally fading out.
Zhuo Meng began to grin uncontrollably, his pupils shrinking to the size of a pin, before he began to laugh maniacally.
"Hahahah!" I certainly never thought it would have that effect! It absorbed the willow tree's qi and condensed it just right for me!
"It must be the effect of Resounding Madness's ability, it seems Zhuo Meng is making good progress." Jin Shufen analyzed Zhuo Meng before her gaze retracted to her husband.
"Indeed, if this goes on, in two to three years we will be rich!" Jin Fen assured her wife before kissing her.
I can feel it in my core, if I use this ability on a few other willows, I should be able to fuse their qi with my own to use their ability whenever I want.
This is how the Thousand Flowers Emperor managed to copy the abilities of other people. This directly bypassed the limitation that other cores possessing the ability to copy had. In their case, their qi was not suited to use those abilities.
But in my case, I directly mix the specific qi with the qi in my core, slowly familiarizing my core with it. It means that as long as I have qi in my core, I can use it to turn it into the kind of qi I need.
Obviously there are some downsides, it is rather a slow process currently, but the speed at which the phenomena occurs must be equivalent with the amount of qi absorbed by the ball.
Even at my cultivation, I could absorb the willow tree's entire qi with a single hit, it shouldn't have had a lot of qi in the first place.
Another drawback is qi consumption, this ability has almost depleted my qi reserves. It's not practical at the moment and consumes the qi I should be using to cultivate my veil.
However this ability just saved me in a different way. Resounding Madness...
From what I've learned from Jin Fen, Resounding Madness is very unique even among first degree cores. It has two aspects, beast control, which causes nearby beasts to go into a frenzy and attack whoever the cultivator wishes. And the second aspect involves strengthening the body using the qi of defeated beasts, borrowing their abilities.
Although it's pretty weak on its own and in hand to hand combat, but under the right conditions and with enough preparation you could take on several cultivators single handedly.
But the most important thing is that as long as I absorb enough beast qi using the Thousand Silent Bloom ability, I should be able to gain enough time to become strong enough to live in this place.
The sun began its slow descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Zhuo Meng lifted his gaze, his eyes sweeping across the vast expanse. The clouds, like wisps of cotton candy, drifted lazily, illuminated by the dying light. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient trees, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and distant blossoms. He took a deep, invigorating breath, the cool evening air filling his lungs, a sense of quiet contentment washing over him.