Ten Directions Sword Master

The ripples caused by Lu Li during the exchange between the four academies are gradually subsiding.

The main issue is that few people witnessed him defeating Jiang Linyuan, so it's hard to say exactly what level of strength he possessed.

Everyone's attention was still focused on Shen Qing, who had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, eagerly anticipating whether he would be listed on the Human Ranking when it was updated next time.

For many years, no disciple from Bailu Academy has been able to make it onto the list. The last person to achieve this was a disciple who was in the same class as Gu Jingyu, the academic master.

That person opened his spiritual platform before he was thirty years old, reached the half-step of the Refining Spirit realm, and quickly gained fame.

Unfortunately, he went north to travel and seek a breakthrough, but he never returned.

The dean even made a special trip to the desert, but still couldn't bring the person back.

It is said that he was besieged by several tribes and died deep in the desert.

This incident was a major blow to Bailu Academy, as it lost an outstanding disciple who was capable of making it onto the Earthly Ranking.

A few days later, new rumors emerged that the White Deer Academy, a secret realm set to open in two months, had allocated three spots, and Lu Li's name had appeared on the list of those favored by the higher-ups.

Although it was only an alternative, it still caused a great uproar.

Regardless of the benefits, being selected for the secret realm demonstrates a disciple's status within the academy and their future order of training.

With his unique Foundation Establishment cultivation and outstanding achievements in the Four Academies Competition, Shen Qing undoubtedly secured a spot.

The remaining two spots were expected to be filled by the other three of the four prodigies and Song Yuming, who had recently been admitted to the hospital.

Song Yuming is an orphan girl that the dean brought back from Guiyang County last year. Her parents were both heroes in the county who sacrificed their lives to defend against the water bandits.

At the tender age of 28, he has already drawn qi into his body and is personally instructed by the dean on a daily basis.

Her cultivation level was a bit low, but her aptitude was outstanding and her background was a plus. The key point was that the dean had the idea of ​​taking her as his successor.

Therefore, it was acceptable for everyone to include Song Yuming among them.

Where did this Lu Li come from? He's been in the academy for years without making a sound, and he just defeated a disciple of Yuelu Academy.

Jiang Linyuan is not Jiang Linhai. Who says that if the elder brother is a dragon among men, the younger brother must be an outstanding person?

The Four Prodigies had many followers, and Song Yuming couldn't easily suppress them, so the criticism came all over Lu Li.

Lu Li himself was oblivious to everything else, focusing solely on the lunar chart.

There are only a few days left before the scroll needs to be returned to Dean Yu Ziqi, and it would be best to determine the new solar terms before then.

Otherwise, he couldn't afford to wait several years like other practitioners of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique.

Fatty Luo was called back home by his elders. His father spent a lot of money to find a medicinal bath, hoping to break through to the Qi-inducing stage in one go.

Otherwise, the chief officiant during the ancestral worship ceremony during the Lunar New Year will really have to be replaced.

The elders of the Luo clan have proposed to select outstanding members of the clan to relocate to the main branch.

For now, Luo Pangzi's father can still keep things under control, but once the controversy grows, who knows when another adopted nephew might appear.

"Senior Brother Lu, someone from your family has delivered a letter and is waiting outside the courtyard."

This junior student from the academy brought a letter along the way and delivered it to the door.

Lu Li thanked them and opened the letter, which contained a note from the head of the fifth branch of the family.

As usual, it was about family matters. At the end of the letter, he mentioned that a cousin from the eldest branch of the family would be enrolling in the academy this year, and asked him to help look after some things.

The fifth branch of the family was sparsely populated, and the head of that branch was Lu Li's great-uncle in terms of seniority.

In the battle on the Lansha River back then, the fifth branch of the family contributed the most, risking their lives to stop the smuggling fleet, thus buying precious time for the main force of the family to gather and surround them.

This battle destroyed the largest smuggling fleet on the river, seized over 100,000 gold coins worth of goods, and restored the Lu family's prestige on the Grand Canal.

Seven members of the fifth branch died on the spot, and two more died from their injuries afterward, almost leading to the extinction of their lineage.

Lu Li's father died in this battle.

The ship crew needed manpower in many places. After the Lu family members came of age, they either went on the ship or stayed at the dock.

His exceptional talent was still recognized when he was admitted to Bailu Academy, partly due to the clan's desire to compensate him and take care of the only son of the fifth branch of the family.

"The eldest grandson of the main branch, actually went to the academy instead of being kept in the clan and soaked in body-strengthening medicine..."

Lu Li put the letter away, only retaining a vague impression of it, and didn't even remember the name.

He clearly remembered the mocking smiles of the other branches of the family when he was the laughingstock of the family before he obtained the Nebula Compass.

The relationships between the different rooms were just so-so.

As I walked out of the academy, I saw a lean old man standing under a tree, with a carriage parked next to him.

"Uncle Qiu, you're getting old. Let the younger staff handle the delivery."

Lu Li sighed. The old man was his great-uncle's long-time attendant and had worked for the Lu family his entire life.

"Young Master Li... if I don't come to see you, how can Master rest easy when I get back?"

Qiu Bo bowed and untied the brocade pouch from his waist.

"Twenty gold beads, ten from the clan, and ten added by the master... Originally, we were supposed to receive one Sheng Sheng Yu Jin Pill at the end of the year, but I heard that the medicinal herbs are not growing well this year, so it's probably unlikely."

"This will save my uncle from having to ask the eldest branch of the family for favors regarding the elixir. I've been behaving quite well lately, and the academy will reward me with a Qi-nourishing elixir later."

Lu Li sneered inwardly. What's wrong with the medicinal herb harvest? It's probably all going to the younger generation of the eldest son's family.

The currency system of the Great Chu Dynasty, from smallest to largest, consisted of copper coins, silver dollars, and gold beads.

One hundred copper coins for one silver coin, one hundred silver coins for one gold coin.

A liter of rice can be bought for no more than thirteen or fourteen copper coins in a good year.

Years of famine and poor harvests have led to rice prices exceeding thirty copper coins.

The fifth branch no longer holds any position in the shipping guild, and their annual dividends are limited, naturally not as high as those of the other branches.

After chatting for a few more minutes, the old man got into the carriage, intending to go into the city to buy a few things to take back with him.

"Tch, what arrogance! How come I didn't know the academy had a program to reward pills?"

Just as Lu Li was about to leave, a mocking laugh rang out, causing him to frown.

These were merely words to comfort his great-uncle, lest he humble himself before the eldest branch of the family and beg for cultivation resources.

Besides, there are still several months until the end of the year. Maybe I'll have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage by then, so I really won't care about the Life-Giving Jade Pill.

Unexpectedly, someone overheard this and used it to ridicule Lu Li for lying and boasting.

She was a tall woman with plain features, dressed in black tight-fitting clothes, with a knife and a sword at her waist.

"It was just to reassure my family and prevent them from worrying... Senior Sister Shen, peeping into other people's conversations is not the behavior of a gentleman."

The newcomer was none other than Shen Qing, one of the four prodigies of the academy, who had now risen to the top. Since the other party's words were barbed, Lu Li didn't need to be polite.

Logically, Shen Qing should definitely be included in the secret realm's quota, so there's no reason for her to jump out and mock me first.

"Lu Li, I don't care whose connections you used to get your name on the secret realm candidate list, but as long as I'm leading the team, you can forget about joining the group to reap the rewards!"

Shen Qing's cold face remained expressionless, her gaze sharp, as she uttered a warning.

"Secret Realm slots are hard-won; giving them to you would be a waste! They can only reach their full value when they're in the hands of someone truly suited for them!"

"So, in Senior Sister Shen's heart, who is the right person?"

Lu Li recalled Shen Qing's information: a peasant girl who was selected to enter Bailu Academy due to her outstanding talent.

His physical constitution and martial arts talent are both top-notch.

Being the first to break through the barrier under pressure further proves that his character is also exceptional.

Shen Qing stopped in his tracks, his hand touching the hilt of the knife, a fierce aura rising within him. He hadn't expected this person to dare question him.

Not to mention that the four prodigies were already separated from ordinary disciples, after she broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, an invisible barrier was formed between her and others.

Many disciples naturally bowed their heads in her presence, not daring to argue or refute her at all.