Looking back at the figures of my father and Mr. Foster in the distance, I felt somewhat uneasy. I had always hoped to leave my hometown and venture out, but now, having lost all my abilities, I was heading into the unknown like a useless person, ready to face ridicule and challenges. This was completely contrary to the future I had once envisioned.

Chapter 3: Wanling Academy

The Longling Federation is situated on the Longling Continent, where the powerful Seven Spirit Gods are worshipped. It is the Seven Spirit Gods who bring spiritual power and prosperity to the land. The entire Longling Federation is divided into four major regions: the Northern Territory, Eastern Territory, Southern Territory, and Western Territory, each ruled by several major powers. Among them, the Hundred Saints Alliance of the Su family, the Gale Domain of the Tang family, the Spirit Sparrow Hall of the Southern Territory, and the Sunset Hall of the Western Territory were all once flourishing forces. These powers form the vast federation, and the chief executive of the federation is respectfully called the Grand Chancellor, a position currently held by Charles Sutton of the Hundred Saints Alliance.

The Valkyrie Sarah Sutton is the younger sister of Charles Sutton, so... that's why Sister Emily said there was no need to offend them.

Accompanied by the rumbling sound, we didn't reach our destination until late at night.

...

A majestic city appeared on the horizon, sprawling across the land like a giant beast, stretching for over a hundred miles. Inside the city, various buildings were interconnected, palaces clustered together, and the prosperity was unmatched. On the city walls outside, strands of holy radiance shimmered, with countless inscriptions faintly visible—this was the city's protective formation. As the capital city, its defenses were naturally incomparable to those of a small city like Silverleaf City.

From afar, soldiers clad in armor and holding spears stood like a forest atop the city, guarding not only Linxue City but also the spiritual cultivation world of this region.

Linxue City, the capital of the Northern Territory, home of Wanling Academy—we had arrived!

After entering Linxue City, the surroundings became brighter. Rows of streetlights illuminated the night, reflecting the splendor of this grand city, and the streets along the way were ablaze with lights and festivity.

Seeing me entranced, Emily Baker gently bumped my shoulder and smiled, " Little Ethan, isn't Linxue City beautiful?"

"Yeah, it's beautiful!"

"Wanling Academy is even more beautiful. Here, take this first." She handed me a card.

I glanced at it. There was a string of numbers on the card, along with the big words "Alternate Student." I was stunned: "What's this?"

"Your student card for Wanling Academy. From now on, this is your identity. With this card, you can eat in the academy cafeteria every day. Of course, you can't eat too much—meals are rationed."

"Why am I an alternate student?"

"You haven't awakened your talent, so you can't officially join the new students. You'll have to start as an alternate!"

Looking at my cousin's radiant smile, I felt like I'd fallen into her trap and became wary. "If there's anything else bad, Sister Emily, just tell me now."

"It's really nothing much. Because you're an alternate, you can't attend classes with the new students for now. I'll arrange for you to join a very interesting department in the academy called the Sword-Grinding Office!"

"Sword-Grinding Office? What does that mean?" My sense of foreboding grew stronger.

The driver up front chuckled, "The full name is the Wanling Academy Sword-Grinding Office, a place for students to grind swords and run errands."

"What!?"

I almost thought I'd misheard.

My cousin glared at the driver with wide eyes and said, "Shut up, don't say another word!"

"Yes, Vice Dean!" The driver trembled.

Then, Emily Baker turned to me with a gentle face and said, "Anyway... the Sword-Grinding Office is a very special place, maybe with opportunities that other departments don't have. In short, make the most of this chance. Don't worry, how could I possibly set you up? There's an elder in the Sword-Grinding Office, a very easygoing person. He'll tell you what you should and shouldn't do every day. I'll also visit you often."

I was half-convinced, half-doubtful. "Sis, even though I'm not your real brother, but..."

"I know..."

Emily Baker smiled and said, "Just keep a calm mind and train your body every day. Even if your spiritual veins are ruined, you can't give up on tempering your body. Do your best in the Sword-Grinding Office. I'll do my best to find a way to restore your spiritual veins."

I knew, too, that my cousin was doing all this for my sake. If she didn't care, why go to all this trouble?

...

The car slowly drove into the eastern district of Linxue City. A bit further ahead, two enormous statues stood tall in the night sky—one was a warrior holding a greatsword and clad in armor, the other an elder holding a staff. Both were lifelike and full of power, as if they could shatter the heavens with a single blow. The car drove straight between the two statues, and on the ancient stone-carved gate were four large characters—Wanling Academy.

We had arrived.

It was already late at night, and the academy was silent. Even so, I could still vaguely make out the buildings and training grounds, and even see the wooden and iron stakes standing in the training field, covered with dense sword marks. Some even had sword cuts ten centimeters deep into the iron stakes—whoever could make such a cut must have reached a very high level in swordsmanship.