Chapter 125: The Black and White Academy

Within Antan Prefecture, beyond the Yinglong Guard and the Antan Marquis’s estate, there exist eight supreme powers: three major sects, three great tribes, and two religious orders. Each possesses an incredibly long history, deep-rooted foundations, and unfathomable strength, with every one of them boasting multiple Immortals among their ranks.

The three major sects are the Black-White Academy, the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect, and the Hundred-Flower Fairyland. The Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect specializes in swordsmanship and excels in slaughter, commanding a vast number of disciples. The Hundred-Flower Fairyland recruits only female disciples, and its mountain gate is situated within a separate, small world independently crafted by a mighty figure, hence its name.

The three great tribes are the Donghe, the Lielong, and the Mulen. The Lielong tribe possesses an exclusive, secret divine ability suited for archers, often producing formidable marksmen. The Donghe tribe excels in water manipulation. The Mulen tribe is the most ancient of the three, comparable to the Beishan clan of Antan; they established their tribe in the era of Gods and Demons and are renowned for their skill in crafting puppets.

The two religious orders are the Heavenly Saint Sect and the Blood God Sect. The Heavenly Saint Sect acts with integrity yet remains domineering; it is ancient and shrouded in mystery. The Blood God Sect, founded a mere sixty million years ago, is evil and fanatical. Its members are essentially madmen, frequently committing heinous crimes that draw the pursuit and judgment of the Yinglong Guard.

Among these eight, the Black-White Academy is the strongest. It once produced a Celestial Immortal and, at its zenith, stood equal to the Beishan clan of Antan and the Yinglong Guard. Though eons have passed and that ancient Celestial Immortal is long gone, the Black-White Academy remains the pinnacle of the eight powers.

While other sects and tribes occupy territories spanning tens of thousands of miles, and the Hundred-Flower Fairyland resides in a separate spatial dimension, the mountain gate of the Black-White Academy is located right within Antan City. Its disciples are exceptionally few, numbering only a few hundred from Immortals down to Zifu disciples. The academy houses over one hundred Zifu cultivators, more than two hundred Wanxiang Adepts, thirty-some Primordial Spirit Daoists, and several elusive Immortals—reportedly at least six.

Entry into the Black-White Academy is notoriously difficult, and its fame reaches even the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty. Each year, they recruit at most three to five disciples, and sometimes none at all. Unless one possesses peerless talent and truly stunning brilliance, the academy will not accept them. Those who gain entry are the prodigies of the great tribes within Antan Prefecture, or even geniuses sent from powerful factions beyond its borders. The fact that outside forces send their best to this academy speaks volumes of its allure.

The Black-White Academy possesses a supreme treasure: the Black-White Diagram. It is a massive carving of a black-and-white millstone. Though it appears ordinary, its intricate textures and interwoven black and white lines contain boundless mysteries, embodying the profound essence of the Dao. It frequently draws experts from other sects to observe and contemplate its depths. Naturally, as a supreme treasure, access is limited; only by becoming a disciple of the Black-White Academy can one contemplate it without restriction.

The Black-White Diagram was discovered by an Immortal in a small world and brought back. It was through this diagram that the academy rose to prominence, eventually renaming itself the Black-White Academy—the origin of its current name.

Yun Tian had arrived in Antan City several months ago. Time passed quickly, and it was now the twelfth lunar month. From the first to the third of the month, the various sect outposts in Antan City held their unified recruitment drives. Before arriving, having learned he was within Antan Prefecture, Yun Tian had already decided to join the Black-White Academy. This was not only because it was the foremost of the eight powers but also because he knew that Ji Ning, the protagonist of the world of Desolate Era, would eventually join as well. Although he did not know Ji Ning’s current circumstances or when he would join, that did not stop Yun Tian from pursuing his own path into the academy.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Yun Tian bid farewell to Yun Chen and arrived at the Black-White Academy. The gates were thrown wide open to the public. Upon arrival, he saw a bustling crowd of cultivators from all directions, all hoping to join. Each stood with bated breath, accompanied by spirit beasts, servants, or even friends and family.

"So many people—thousands upon thousands—yet how many will truly be accepted?" Yun Tian thought with a shake of his head and a smile, merging into the flow of the crowd. Because the line was so long, he had to wait patiently for his turn to undergo the academy's entry examination.

"Hm? Is that... could it be Ji Ning?" After waiting for a long time, Yun Tian’s eyes caught sight of a young man in unassuming animal skins. Beside him, the divine white dog, Bai Shuize, made Yun Tian’s gaze brighten. "That youth’s soul aura is not weak; it must be Ji Ning. What a coincidence!"

As he moved forward, he saw a lake with a boat floating upon it. A middle-aged man with black hair sat at the prow, casually holding a wine jug. High in the air hung a massive bronze mirror, casting its light upon the cultivators approaching one by one.

When it was Yun Tian’s turn, he soared gracefully forward, allowing the mirror to bathe him in its light. He felt as if his skin, bones, and flesh were being laid bare, causing him to knit his brows slightly. This mirror was truly something.

"Hm? Godfiend Body Refining? What a powerful divine body!" The black-haired man looked up in surprise. He took a breath and nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent aptitude. And your Godfiend Body Refining has reached the Zifu perfection stage, has it not? Rare, truly rare. And your divine body seems perfect—what technique do you practice?"

Yun Tian looked at the man and replied calmly, "The Chaos Golden Body."

"The Chaos Golden Body?" The man frowned, confused. He had never heard of such a powerful Godfiend Body Refining technique. However, there were countless such techniques in the Three Realms, and no one could know them all. He didn't dwell on it, instead giving Yun Tian a long look, offering a few words of encouragement, and telling him to enter. Yun Tian’s composure had left a positive impression.

The man did not know that Yun Tian had restrained his aura; in truth, his Godfiend Body Refining had already reached the Primordial Spirit stage. Based on his physical body alone—which was stronger than a Heaven-ranked magic treasure—he could already contend with an Earth Immortal.

Yun Tian crossed the lake and sat cross-legged on the grass on the opposite bank. Not long after, Ji Ning arrived. Because he practiced the Crimsonbright Manual and had reached the seventh stage of the Zifu level, he attracted the attention of a youth in black who also practiced the same art. When the youth asked about his progress, Ji Ning ignored him due to his arrogant attitude, a scene that made Yun Tian chuckle inwardly.

As time passed, more young men and women arrived—some from great tribes, others from beyond Antan Prefecture, and even members of the Beishan clan. Yun Tian watched the spectacle, never engaging with anyone, and offering only perfunctory replies if addressed.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the black-haired man retracted the bronze mirror, concluding the recruitment. He led Yun Tian and the nine hundred or so others who had passed the examination into a deep canyon.