The imperial city of Da Yan bustled with activity, vendors lining the streets calling out their wares. Lin Fan observed the stream of people passing by, his mood lightening considerably.
Compared to life within the sect, Lin Fan much preferred strolling about here, although he only intended to stay temporarily. As for settling down permanently, he had never considered it—hestill aimed to grow stronger and return to his senior and junior brothers with a tremendous surprise.
He imagined the sight of himself, possessing unmatched cultivation, suddenly appearing before them. What would their reactions be?
Cheerfully, Lin Fan walked along the brick-paved road. With no specific destination in mind, he decided he should first explore the imperial city thoroughly.
“Hey there, are there any influential clans in this city?” Lin Fan casually asked while sipping tea at an open-air teahouse.
“Of course! The Yan, Han, Xiao, and Yun families—they are the four ancient and prestigious clans of Da Yan. Thanks to them, we can live in peace and stability,” replied the young teahouse owner, his tone tinged with admiration.
Lin Fan nodded and left the payment on the table—silver he had taken from Qu Xiangge—before continuing his exploration of the imperial city.
He passed many grand mansions and saw the four great clans the teahouse owner had mentioned. Just from their residences alone, they were indeed the top four—luxurious and wealthy beyond doubt.
In truth, Lin Fan had ulterior motives. At present, there were only a few ways to improve his cultivation: killing others, slaying fierce beasts, or consuming pills.
Among these, Lin Fan found consuming pills the most straightforward—fast and without side effects.
However, when he arrived at a heavily guarded location, he paused for a long time.
This was the imperial palace.
The residence of the emperor of Da Yan.
A treasure trove…
And also a high-difficulty trial.
“What are you doing loitering around… don’t run!”
At that moment, Lin Fan noticed palace guards approaching him from the entrance, so he immediately took off running, feeling indignant—was it really necessary to be so unfriendly just for staring a little longer?
After confirming the guards had not pursued him, Lin Fan finally exhaled in relief.
He planned to visit these places often, scout them out, and once he was familiar with the situation, he would make his move.
In front of the Tianfu Academy.
Lin Fan wasn’t sure where he had wandered to, but upon seeing the Tianfu Academy, he stopped. Two notices hung at the entrance, prompting him to pause in thought.
What he lacked most now was an identity. The academy was currently recruiting both teachers and students.
Of course, for Lin Fan, becoming a student was too beneath him—hewas determined to be a teacher, convinced that he possessed the proper demeanor for such a role.
Outside the academy, a long line had formed, mostly consisting of teenagers around thirteen or fourteen years old.
Lin Fan approached another recruitment desk, where there were hardly any applicants.
“Hey, I’m applying to be a teacher,” Lin Fan announced at the counter.
A fat man with a mustache sat there. Seeing someone finally apply, he straightened up eagerly.
“A teacher, huh?” The man scrutinized Lin Fan carefully, his eyes gleaming.
“That’s right,” Lin Fan nodded.
“Great! The Tianfu Academy offers generous benefits for teachers, but first, there’s a ten taels registration fee,” the man grinned.
Lin Fan had no real concept of money—it was all taken from others anyway. Without hesitation, he tossed the small amount of silver he had onto the table.
Seeing the money, the man’s heart leaped with joy, and he warmly welcomed Lin Fan.
“Follow me. Once you pass the test, you can officially become a teacher at Tianfu Academy,” he said.
…
Soon, the man led Lin Fan to a small wooden house. “Inside, someone will assess you. Good luck.”
After Lin Fan entered, the man closed the door, weighed the silver in his hand, and smiled to himself. “Good, good. Another ten taels in the bag.”
In his view, this fellow would soon come out bruised and battered.
It was true that Tianfu Academy was hiring teachers, but the requirements were extremely high. Despite countless applicants since the announcement, all had failed.
He waited cheerfully by the door, mentally counting the time to see how long this one would last.
Then, someone came out.
The man was startled. So soon?
“Failed?” Seeing it was Lin Fan, the man expressed regret, pretending to feel sympathy.
Lin Fan twisted his neck slightly and smiled faintly.
“Send him to Class Yi of the Ding level,” came a voice from inside—calm on the surface, but barely concealing a hint of anger.
The man was taken aback, clearly unable to believe it—this person had actually passed? Over a hundred applicants had failed before him.
But Ding level Class Yi didn’t sound too promising. It seemed this fellow was just lucky. His skills probably weren’t that high, but he might manage teaching those unremarkable students.
“Understood.” The man respectfully responded to the voice from within and led Lin Fan away.
Before leaving, Lin Fan glanced back. This time, he had finally tested his true abilities.
The streets of the Great Yan Dynasty bustled with people, and vendors continuously called out their wares. Lin Fan, observing the diverse crowd, felt his spirits lift considerably.
Compared to life in the sect, Lin Fan much preferred strolling around here, albeit only for a short stay. He hadn’t thought about settling down permanently because he aimed to become stronger and return to surprise his sect brothers with his newfound prowess.
Imagining the look on his brothers’ faces when they saw his invincible cultivation, Lin Fan chuckled as he walked aimlessly on the brick-paved roads, deciding to explore the imperial city first.
“Hey, are there any prominent families in the imperial city?” Lin Fan casually asked while sipping tea at an open-air tea stall.
“Yes, the Yan, Han, Xiao, and Yun families. These four have been the longstanding pillars of the Great Yan Dynasty. Our peaceful life today owes much to them,” the young stall owner replied with a hint of envy.
Lin Fan nodded, left some silver he had confiscated from Qu Xiangge, and continued his exploration of the city.
He passed by many luxurious mansions, including those of the four prominent families mentioned by the tea stall owner. Their residences were indeed grand and opulent, befitting their status.
Lin Fan had a small plan in mind. Currently, there were only a few ways to enhance his cultivation: killing people, slaying beasts, or consuming elixirs. To him, consuming elixirs was the quickest and most convenient method, with no side effects.
However, when he arrived at a heavily guarded area, he stood there for a long time.
It was the imperial palace, the residence of the Great Yan Dynasty’s emperor—a treasure trove and a highly challenging “dungeon.”
“What are you doing here? Stand still… don’t run!” Seeing the guards approaching, Lin Fan bolted, feeling indignant. He had merely taken a few extra glances; was such hostility necessary?
After ensuring the guards weren’t following him, Lin Fan sighed in relief. He decided to scout these places frequently and strike once he was familiar with the terrain.
At the entrance of Tianfu Academy, Lin Fan paused, noticing two announcements. He fell into deep thought.
What he lacked now was an identity. Tianfu Academy was recruiting both teachers and students. Naturally, Lin Fan considered the student role too lowly; he aimed to be a teacher, confident in his ability to embody the dignity of an educator.
A long line of young teenagers, around thirteen or fourteen years old, stood at the academy’s entrance. Lin Fan approached another recruitment booth, which was empty.
“Hey, I’m here to apply as a teacher,” Lin Fan said to the recruitment officer, a portly man with a mustache.
The man perked up, eyeing Lin Fan with interest. “You want to be a teacher?”
“Yes,” Lin Fan nodded.
“Great! Tianfu Academy offers generous benefits for teachers, but there’s a ten-tael silver application fee,” the man said with a smile.
Lin Fan, indifferent to money, tossed the few silver taels he had onto the table.
The man’s eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically guided Lin Fan. “Follow me. If you pass the assessment, you’ll become a proud teacher of Tianfu Academy.”
Soon, they arrived at a bamboo hut. “Someone inside will assess you. Good luck,” the man said, closing the door behind Lin Fan.
As Lin Fan entered, the man weighed the silver in his hand, smiling. “Not bad, another ten taels.”
He expected Lin Fan to come out bruised and battered soon. The academy’s teacher recruitment was genuine, but the requirements were stringent. Many had tried and failed.
However, when someone emerged shortly after, the man was shocked. “Failed?” he asked sympathetically, seeing it was Lin Fan.
Lin Fan cracked his neck and smiled slightly.
“Assign him to Class Ding,” a voice came from inside, calm but with a hint of suppressed anger.
The man was stunned. Lin Fan had succeeded where over a hundred others had failed. Though Class Ding wasn’t prestigious, it seemed Lin Fan’s luck and moderate skills made him suitable for teaching less promising students.
“Understood,” the man replied respectfully and led Lin Fan away.
Before leaving, Lin Fan glanced back, now able to formally assess his own strength. He hadn’t used “Reversing Heaven and Earth” or “Black Tiger Steals the Heart,” but instead relied on the orthodox “Chasing Wind Sword Technique” and “Unshakable Emperor Fist.”
He also realized the subtle use of true essence, enhancing its destructive power. With 2200 units of true essence, comparable to the fifth stage of the Innate Realm, he could hold his own against anyone below the Divine Transformation Realm.
The man then took Lin Fan to his assigned residence at Tianfu Academy.
“If you wish to move out later, just let us know. I’ll notify you about your appointment as the teacher of Class Ding. You can start tomorrow,” the man explained.
“How is Class Ding?” Lin Fan asked, feeling a bit excited about his first teaching experience.
The man glanced at him. “Tianfu Academy has four levels: A, B, C, and D. Class Ding is the lowest, consisting mostly of commoners with limited talent and future prospects.”
Lin Fan rolled his eyes. The man was being petty, assigning him the worst class just because he had cut his clothes. But the worst class suited him fine; he wasn’t here to teach but to conceal his identity. The four prominent families and the imperial palace wouldn’t escape his grasp.
At the same time, Lin Fan realized the secret lay in the clever use of true energy—enhancing its destructive power.
The streets of the Great Yan Dynasty bustled with activity, vendors calling out their wares incessantly. Lin Fan, observing the diverse crowd, felt his spirits lift considerably. Compared to life in the sect, he much preferred strolling here, though it was only a temporary stay. He hadn’t considered settling down permanently, as his goal was to grow stronger and return to surprise his sect brothers and sisters with his newfound prowess. Imagining the look on their faces when he revealed his invincible cultivation, Lin Fan couldn’t help but chuckle as he walked along the brick-paved road. With no particular destination in mind, he decided to explore the imperial city first.
“Hey, are there any prominent families in this imperial city?” Lin Fan casually asked after sipping tea at an open-air tea stall.
“Yes, indeed. The Yan, Han, Xiao, and Yun families are the four long-established great families of the Great Yan Dynasty. Our peaceful lives today owe much to their contributions,” the young stall owner replied with a hint of envy.
Lin Fan nodded, didn’t inquire further, left some silver he had confiscated from Qu Xiangge, and continued his exploration of the city. He passed by many grand mansions, including those of the four great families mentioned by the tea stall owner. Judging by their residences, they were indeed as wealthy and magnificent as reputed.
Lin Fan had a small scheme in mind. Currently, there were only a few ways to enhance his cultivation: killing people, slaying beasts, or consuming elixirs. To him, taking elixirs was the most straightforward and quickest method, with no side effects. However, when he arrived at a heavily guarded area, he stood there for a long time.
This was the imperial palace, the residence of the Great Yan Dynasty’s emperor—a treasure trove and a highly challenging dungeon.
“What are you doing here? Stand still… don’t run!” Seeing the guards at the gate approaching him, Lin Fan panicked and bolted, feeling indignant. Was it really necessary to be so unfriendly just because he had looked around a bit?
After ensuring the guards weren’t chasing him, Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief. He planned to scout these places frequently and make his move once he was familiar with the situation.
At the entrance of Tianfu Academy, Lin Fan stopped in his tracks, not knowing exactly where he was. Seeing the academy, he noticed two announcements posted at the gate and fell into deep thought. What he lacked now was an identity. Tianfu Academy was currently recruiting both teachers and students. Naturally, for Lin Fan, being a student was beneath him; he was destined to be a teacher, confident in his scholarly demeanor.
A long line of young people, mostly around thirteen or fourteen years old, stood at the academy’s entrance. Lin Fan approached another recruitment desk, which was relatively empty.
“Hey, I’m here to apply as a teacher,” Lin Fan declared at the recruitment desk.
The man behind the desk, a portly fellow with a mustache, perked up immediately upon seeing a potential candidate.
“Want to be a teacher?” The man scrutinized Lin Fan, his eyes gleaming slightly.
“Yes,” Lin Fan nodded.
“Great, our Tianfu Academy offers generous benefits for teachers. However, there’s a ten-tael silver registration fee,” the man said with a smile.
Lin Fan, indifferent to money since it was confiscated anyway, tossed the few silver taels he had onto the table. The man’s eyes lit up at the sight of the money, and he enthusiastically ushered Lin Fan in.
“Follow me. Once you pass the assessment, you’ll become a proud teacher of Tianfu Academy,” the man said.
Soon, they arrived at a bamboo and wood house. “Inside, someone will assess you. Good luck,” the man said, closing the door behind Lin Fan. He weighed the silver in his hand, smiling contentedly. “Not bad, another ten taels.”
The man expected Lin Fan to come out bruised and battered soon. While the academy was indeed recruiting teachers, the requirements were extremely high. Many had tried and failed before.
However, when someone emerged from the house, the man was shocked. It was Lin Fan.
“Failed?” The man said with feigned sympathy.
Lin Fan stretched his neck, revealing a slight smile.
“Assign him to Class Ding,” a voice came from inside the house, calm but with a hint of suppressed anger.
The man was stunned. Lin Fan had actually succeeded, something that had eluded over a hundred applicants before. However, Class Ding wasn’t exactly prestigious. It seemed Lin Fan was lucky; his skills weren’t top-notch, but sufficient to teach these less promising students.
“Understood,” the man replied respectfully to the voice inside and led Lin Fan away.
Before leaving, Lin Fan glanced back, now able to formally assess his own strength. He hadn’t used “Reversing Heaven and Earth” or “Black Tiger Steals the Heart,” but instead relied on the orthodox techniques “Chasing Wind Sword Art” and “Unshakable Emperor Fist.” He also realized the subtle use of true essence, enhancing its destructive power. With 2200 units of true essence, comparable to the fifth level of the Innate Realm, he could hold his own against those below the Divine Transformation Realm.
The man then took Lin Fan to his assigned residence at Tianfu Academy.
“If you wish to move out in the future, just let us know. I’ll inform you promptly about your assignment to Class Ding. You can start teaching tomorrow,” the man explained.
“How is Class Ding?” Lin Fan asked, feeling a bit excited about his first teaching experience.
The man glanced at him. “Tianfu Academy is divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D. Class Ding is the lowest, consisting mostly of commoners with limited talent and future prospects.”
Lin Fan rolled his eyes. The man was being petty, assigning him the worst class just because he had ruined his clothes. But the worst class suited him fine; he wasn’t here to teach but to conceal his identity. The four great families and the imperial palace wouldn’t escape his grasp.
Then, the man led Lin Fan to the accommodation arranged by Tianfu Academy.
“If you wish to move out in the future, just let us know. I’ll inform everyone that you’re the teacher for Ding Class Yi as soon as possible. You can officially start tomorrow,” the man explained all necessary details.
“How is Ding Class Yi?” Lin Fan felt a bit excited. This would be his first time teaching students, and he was curious about how it would turn out.
The man looked at Lin Fan. “Tianfu Academy is divided into four levels: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding. Ding level is the lowest class, usually filled with children of commoners with mediocre talent and limited future potential.”
Lin Fan rolled his eyes. This guy was too petty—was it really necessary to assign him the worst class just because he had sliced through his robe?
But perhaps the worst class wasn’t so bad after all. He wasn’t here to teach—it was just a cover. The four great clans and the imperial palace—none could escape his grasp.
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