Chapter 2

In the scorching summer, the Chiyun Rainforest in the eastern part of the Federation was shrouded in mist, like a thin veil surrounding it. Towering ancient trees crisscrossed, their lush canopies occasionally giving way to a few birds that soared into the sky, crying out as they flew.

In the sky, the sun, which seemed to have existed eternally, no longer resembled what people remembered. Years ago, it was pierced by an enormous ancient bronze sword, revealing the tip of the blade!

This ancient sword, which seemed to have endured countless ages, came from the stars, exuding an endless sense of沧桑 (cang桑) and a powerful aura that formed a halo, enveloping the heavens. It seemed capable of suppressing the earth and making all living beings bow in reverence!

From a distance, this scene of the sword-pierced sun and the rainforest resembled a painting, until a buzzing sound broke the tranquility. A large red hot air balloon ship was slowly approaching above the rainforest.

The cabin of this hot air balloon was spacious, capable of accommodating hundreds of people. Many young men and women could be seen on the deck, gathering in small groups, occasionally bursting into laughter and joy.

They were students from Phoenix City, who had been admitted to one of the four major Dao Academies of the Federation, the Ethereal Dao Academy, and were now traveling thousands of miles on this Ethereal Dao Academy airship to pursue their studies.

Perhaps due to their anticipation of their studies, the journey was not boring for these young men and women. There was even a subtle attraction between them, adding a unique charm to the long journey.

Because of the long distance, the airship was equipped with dining halls, spirit cultivation rooms, medical rooms, and other areas.

At this moment, in the dining hall of the airship, many students were present. At one table, a chubby boy with a protruding belly was sitting.

This chubby boy was about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a loose blue robe. His round face, though plump, still had a clear and handsome appearance. He was patting his belly, making a slapping sound, while regretfully looking at the seven or eight empty plates in front of him.

"Another three pounds after this meal. Why couldn't I hold back? I can't die young if I want to become the President of the Federation." The chubby boy, looking worried and regretful, let out a belch.

This chubby boy was named Wang Baole, one of the students admitted to the Ethereal Dao Academy this time. His lifelong dream was to become an official, and his ultimate goal was to become the President of the Federation. This grand ambition was closely tied to his childhood experiences.

In his memory, when he was young, his father often patted his head earnestly and sighed.

"Baole, being an official is good. Remember, money can solve everything, but you can still be bullied. To avoid being bullied, you must become an official, a person above others."

At first, Wang Baole didn't understand. It wasn't until he was in elementary school that, because he didn't turn in his homework on time, he was scolded by the class monitor. After giving the monitor two candies, he was still reported to the teacher. This left an indelible mark on his young heart.

From that moment on, he wanted to become the class monitor, not to bully others, but to avoid being bullied himself.

As he grew older, he realized that there were many people who could bully the class monitor. So, he decided that becoming the highest official, the President of the Federation, would ensure that no one would dare to bully him. The reason he worked so hard to be admitted to the Ethereal Dao Academy was that all high-ranking officials in the Federation graduated from the four major Dao Academies.

However, his fate was not good. His family's bloodline was peculiar. He still remembered the night a year ago when his emaciated father showed him the family genealogy in the ancestral hall.

That was the first time Wang Baole saw the genealogy. He clearly saw that every ancestor who weighed over 200 pounds died young, not living past the age of 35.

That night, Wang Baole had a dream... he hadn't even become the President of the Federation when he joined the ranks of the fat grandfathers.

In the following year, losing weight became a top priority for him. Even after the Federation entered the Spirit Era, with the abundance of spiritual energy and the resurgence of ancient martial arts, various weight loss methods emerged, but Wang Baole tried almost all of them, and his weight continued to increase steadily.

The memory made Wang Baole clench his teeth and resolve to start dieting again the next day.

With this decision, Wang Baole felt much less pressure. He picked his teeth, hummed a tune, and looked out the window at the blue sky, his mind becoming more active.

"I wonder if Doctor Lu will like the gift I gave him. It's an antique I took from home. That old guy should like it, right?" Wang Baole consoled himself, thinking that if he could get close to Doctor Lu, he would have a small support in the Dao Academy.

"Teachers have limited power, but Doctor Lu, being old, must have a wide network of connections. I think I made the right move." Thinking this, Wang Baole felt elated, believing he was one step closer to becoming the President of the Federation.

He was very confident that he could become the President of the Federation, a confidence mainly derived from his lifelong study of the autobiographies of all high-ranking officials, from which he had even summarized a few key strategies for becoming an official.

Feeling pleased, Wang Baole looked out the window at the blue sky, finding it particularly beautiful.

However, soon his eyes widened as he noticed a black cloud gathering in the distance, spreading like a veil covering the sky. Lightning flashed within, slowly approaching. This scene caught the attention of many students, who let out cries of alarm.

"It's a magnetic storm!"

Wang Baole was also startled. Since the Federation entered the Spirit Era, the emergence of spiritual energy had led to many astonishing weather phenomena, making it difficult for traditional flying vehicles to travel safely. This led to the creation of hot air balloon airships powered by spirit stones.

As the cries of alarm continued, a loud thunderclap suddenly echoed, the sound deafening. The magnetic black cloud rapidly expanded, with lightning spreading like a black web, flashing across the sky, making hearts race. The airship, which had been moving, began to slow down.

Just as everyone was feeling uneasy, the dining hall door was pushed open, and a gust of wind blew in. An old man in a white Dao robe walked in. His face was full of wrinkles, but he had a dignified and ethereal appearance, with a straight face and bright, piercing eyes. His righteous aura spread in all directions. As soon as he arrived, his stern voice echoed throughout the dining hall.

"Everyone, report to the spirit cultivation room immediately, put on your magnetic spirit suits. In half an incense stick's time, we will enter the magnetic storm zone!"

Upon hearing this, the students in the dining hall all stood up in reverence.

Wang Baole's eyes lit up. The old man in front of him was none other than Doctor Lu, to whom he had given a gift. Seeing the old man's imposing demeanor, Wang Baole felt even more confident that his previous investment was worthwhile. He thought to himself that this old man must be extraordinary, and he had made a wise move.

Just as he was feeling smug, the old doctor's gaze swept over the room and landed on Wang Baole. He grunted and walked over, taking out a half-black mask from his pocket and throwing it at Wang Baole.

"Don't put your young mind on trivial matters. You haven't even entered the Dao Academy, and you've already learned to give gifts. I've seen many things, and you should keep this mask for yourself." The old doctor's expression was stern, as if he was disappointed in Wang Baole.

Wang Baole caught the mask, his heart sinking. He could tell the old doctor was angry. Feeling anxious, he was about to explain but then remembered the key strategies he had summarized from the autobiographies of high-ranking officials. One of them was to admit mistakes boldly in front of superiors, which often turned big issues into small ones.

So, he took a deep breath, quickly put on a repentant look, and admitted his mistake.

"Teacher, you're right, I was wrong!"

The old doctor was somewhat surprised. The words he had been about to say to scold Wang Baole were now hard to utter, given the boy's quick admission of guilt.

Seeing the old doctor's expression, Wang Baole felt relieved and a bit smug, thinking that the autobiographies of high-ranking officials were indeed useful.

The old doctor grunted, looked around the dining hall, and pointed at the students.

"And you, you are all future students of the Ethereal Dao Academy. Look at what you've been like these past few days. Remember, we martial artists must first cultivate ourselves, then our words, and finally our actions!"

The old doctor's words echoed through the dining hall, making everyone lower their heads in shame. Wang Baole's eyes suddenly lit up, thinking it was time to show off.

He quickly took out a small notebook and started writing, occasionally looking up at the old doctor with a listening expression, nodding seriously as if trying to remember every word. This was another key strategy he had learned from the autobiographies of high-ranking officials.

The other students watched this scene as if they were seeing a god.

The old doctor, upon seeing this, was momentarily stunned, a strange feeling rising in his heart. He had welcomed many batches of students, but this was the first time he encountered such a peculiar person. He looked at Wang Baole a few more times and then began to chuckle.

"Little boy, my flattery isn't that easy to win. You should thank the magnetic storm; otherwise, I could lecture you for three days and three nights, and I doubt you could write it all down in your little notebook!"

The old doctor's words carried a different aura, a strong presence emanating from him, like a pressure that enveloped the entire dining hall. The students were all stunned, feeling that the old doctor was clearly the more experienced one in this confrontation.

Wang Baole blinked, touched the recording jade slip in his pocket, and after much deliberation, decided not to take it out, thinking it was not shameful to be cautious in front of a superior.

Seeing the students' reactions, the old doctor felt satisfied and continued to speak passionately.

"Remember, focus on your cultivation. In the future, don't be greedy, don't be unrighteous, and don't always think about finding a girlfriend. Remember, the character for 'color' has a knife above it, and your behavior these past few days has been unacceptable!"

Just as he was speaking, a sweet voice suddenly came from the old doctor's communication bracelet.

"Doctor grandpa, where are you? I can't tie this magnetic spirit suit. Please come and help me."

The voice was seductive, and the old doctor's body involuntarily trembled. He coughed dryly and glared at the students before turning and leaving in a hurry, speaking into the communication bracelet.

"Coming, coming, little darling, don't worry, I'll come and help you."

This sudden reversal and stark contrast left everyone stunned, including Wang Baole, who was also taken aback. After a moment, he drew a deep breath and, along with the other students, couldn't help but burst into laughter. Wang Baole gritted his teeth and cursed a few times.

"Shameless! This old pervert, all his previous words were nonsense! There are only so many female students, and we don't have enough to go around. He's so old and still trying to compete with us for resources, just because he's an official!"

Wang Baole felt increasingly angry, and in his discussions with the other students, his resolve to become an official grew even stronger.

As the alarm intensified, the students ended their discussions and, with resentment in their hearts, went to the spirit cultivation room.

The spirit cultivation room was located in the core area of the airship, a place for students to cultivate and the most protected area when the airship passed through special regions.

At this moment, in the spirit cultivation room, with the students gathered, the teachers from the Ethereal Dao Academy arranged for everyone to sit in rows and put on the magnetic spirit suits provided by the Dao Academy.

Just as Wang Baole, still feeling resentful towards Doctor Lu, put on his magnetic spirit suit and looked around, his already gloomy mood worsened when he caught a glance from someone in the distance. He frowned, looking disdainful.

The person he was looking at was a girl with long, slender legs, very attractive, but she was also frowning, looking disgusted. Clearly, they were familiar and extremely disliked each other.

"Bad luck!" Both of them muttered, quickly avoiding each other's gaze, as if even a glance was unbearable.

"Wherever I go, I run into this flat-chested Du Min. So annoying!" Wang Baole muttered, remembering that he and this girl, Du Min, had been in the same class since childhood. She was always arrogant, using her position as class monitor to bully him. The two candies he had given her were for her...

"What's so great about being a class monitor? Once we get to the Dao Academy, with my official strategies, I can also get a position!" Wang Baole grumbled.

Soon, after everyone had put on their magnetic spirit suits and the teachers from the Ethereal Dao Academy had checked them, they gave a series of instructions, sternly warning everyone that entering the magnetic storm zone would be dangerous and could even be life-threatening.

Seeing the students' expressions change, the teachers left solemnly, and the door to the spirit cultivation room was sealed, the lights gradually dimming.

At this moment, in the spirit cultivation room, although there was still low chatter, the tension grew as time passed, and eventually, no one spoke, and the room fell into complete silence.

In this silence, where even the sound of their heartbeats could be heard, even Wang Baole, still feeling resentful, couldn't help but feel nervous. Half an incense stick later, the entire airship suddenly jolted, entering the magnetic storm zone!

From the outside, the magnetic black cloud was vast, like a huge mouth, swallowing the relatively small hot air balloon airship.

This weather phenomenon seemed to contain destructive power, capable of sweeping everything away. Perhaps only the sword-pierced sun, which had been piercing the sky for thirty-seven years, could ignore everything, as if it had been watching the world for even longer.

This year was the thirty-seventh year of the Spirit Era.

In the year 3029 AD, Earth's technology had developed rapidly, with no national boundaries, achieving global unification and entering the Federation era. It was during this time that a large sword flew from the stars, piercing the sun, causing a global sensation.

The hilt of the large sword, perhaps already damaged, broke into many fragments during the intense vibrations, scattering across the stars, with some landing on Earth.

With the arrival of the bronze sword and the falling of the fragments, Earth suddenly gained a new, seemingly endless energy source, later named... spiritual energy!

Spiritual energy, like air, was abundant in some places and scarce in others. Because the Federation and various forces obtained the fragments, they found various cultivation techniques, alchemy, and spirit stone refining methods on them, with the text on the fragments being ancient, leading to a trend of studying ancient texts.

The emergence of spiritual energy quickly replaced the existing energy sources, changing people's lives, forming a spirit network, and altering the course of Earth's civilization, ushering in a new era of cultivation.

From then on, ancient martial arts flourished, and a great transformation began, leading to a new era of universal cultivation.

This era is known as the Spirit Era.

At this moment, within the magnetic black cloud, the red hot air balloon airship, surrounded by countless lightning strikes, was protected by a gentle light barrier, ensuring its stability.

In the core area of the ship, in the main cabin, about seven or eight teachers were present. Some were drinking tea, others smiling, and they were chatting casually, a stark contrast to their previous intimidating demeanor towards the students.

The leader was an old man with a wrinkled face, holding a smoking pipe, taking puffs. If Wang Baole were here, he would immediately recognize this old man as the shameless Doctor Lu.

"Headmaster, everything is ready. Can we start the regional trial for this year's Ethereal Dao Academy students?" asked a middle-aged teacher.

"Begin!" the old doctor, smoking his pipe, smiled.

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Even though it's just one update, it's nearly 5000 words. Dear readers, please give me some encouragement, favorites, and recommendations!

This new book is like a young sapling, needing care and protection.