The next few days proceeded mostly as normal. The school year began on the first day of the year, so they had a while to get prepped. Yujie stuck to the other two like they were already best friends, but to be fair to him, he was a great motivator. Of interest to Jiayun specifically was the village, which was abnormally temperate despite it being the dead of winter. Apparently when the Isle’s weather control infrastructure was being upgraded, the village took an old system off the EDCC’s hands and used it. Apparently, also, it sometimes...didn’t work right and it would become searing hot or freezing cold or other, even stranger kinds of things until it was fixed, Jiayun’s digging being sufficient enough to learn that “fixing” usually meant beating on it with a hammer till it worked.

In fact, she was interested enough in the Isle that she bought a map of the whole place from a store right before they boarded the ferry to take them to the school, packed in with hundreds of other new cultivators. She studied it while it languidly approached the island, projecting a powerful defense barrier to ward off mythic beasts. How convenient, she thought. More annoying, in her mind, was the fact that they were crammed like sardines in a can. Weren’t they supposed to be glorious martial heroes?

The Isle was a roughly square-shaped island split very cleanly into four parts, each corresponding to a cardinal direction and each of which clearly meant to test different kinds of terrain. The west section was a massive dense field of plains and thick forest, a few mountain ranges poking through. The north was almost entirely a freezing mountain range with almost no flat ground, save for a slight tundra in the far northwest. The east was a swampy and marshy wetland with literally thousands of minor rivers and streams leading off from a few gigantic rivers which crossed the whole area and bled into the sea. The south was a roiling desert, its northernmost part being parched savannahs and badlands at the foot of mountains and the rest being endless wastes of sands. Finally, in the center, was a single circular island with a mountain at the top.

Of note was that a small amount of cities and towns were on the isle. Jiayun presumed they were for students to stock up without having to head all the way back to their schools. The Isle even had a halfway decent highway system, though many sections would require going on foot or enduring dirt roads. Speaking of the academies, they all were on the central island...but Flowing River wasn’t even listed on them.

Thankfully, by now, they had boarded land, and were on a train to the center of the Isle. This was far more quiet and suitable for grilling Yujie endlessly.

“I got several questions.” She said with furrowed eyebrows, glancing at Yujie next to her. “First of all, people seem to actually live on this place?”

“Someone’s gotta keep the place running when cultivators aren’t around, and many of us live on the island too. They bring their families along and eventually they make towns and cities.”

“Yes, but this place is apparently teeming with mythic beasts...” Jiayun looked out the window and scenery passing them by. They boarded on the western section of the Isle, so all she saw were seemingly endless forests of thick trees. “Isn’t it horribly dangerous for mortals?”

“The towns all have state-of-the-art defense artifacts that repel anything. Of course, once you’re out of them...you’re on your own.”

“There has to be some kind of beast so strong it can break through them...”

“You underestimate how extremely powerful these defense systems are. You are at least aware of the ranking system, right? Even a Rank 10 beast can’t get through them, and the Isle’s youkai are bound by an ancient geas to not attack humans inside the towns. Outside though...as I said, some youkai may be sentient and murderous.”

Nashara, for the record, was sitting next to Jiayun, absorbed in a cultivation novel. He had bought an ungodly amount of them a few days earlier and somehow managed to finish nearly all of them by this time.

Yujie snorted. “You know those things are full of crap, right? That pulp stuff barely resembles actual cultivator lives at all.”

“Don’t break the magic for me!” Nashara glared at him, though a knock at their door interrupted any argument.

“It’s me, Clavius!” Nashara quickly opened the door and Clavius strode in, looking the same as he always did. “’Sup. We’re about to reach the Grand Celestial Peak and enter the train loop that connects all the schools, so stay sharp.”

“Oh, wow, really!?” Nashara immediately clambered over an extremely annoyed Jiayun to get a good look out the window. Luckily, they were on the side of the loop facing the mountain, and the sheer enormity of the peak was staggering. There wasn’t a single place in the Isle where the Grand Celestial Peak wasn’t blatantly visible in the sky. It was large enough that entire valleys existed in on its slopes, covered with trees and rivers. Since it was winter, the entire mountain and island were blanketed in thick glinting snow and the highest rivers were clearly frozen solid. “Godsdamn, it’s even bigger than I thought!”

Jiayun craned to see it. “I find it hard to believe such an enormous mountain could form normally...”

Clavius raised a finger and waggled it. “It didn’t! An ancient cultivator who had ascended to beyond Terrestrial Rankings and had reached the Celestial Domain carved it themselves.”

“...cultivators are that powerful?”

“Almost none these days are, to be fair...”

Of course, the main attraction was the schools. They ringed the island in four clusters, each housing five schools—except for the western cluster, as that had six including Flowing River. When they saw the schools, both Nashara and Jiayun’s jaws dropped.

Elaborate jade pavilions, massive brick libraries, huge castles—these schools boggled the mind. Their grounds extended for miles and the buildings themselves exhibited such artifice only cultivators could have made them. By far the most impressive was 100 Jade Lotus Academy, a massive eastern-style castle compound dotted with pagodas and enormous red lecture halls and roadways literally made from jade, their various paths forming an artful design of a lotus when viewed from up above. Even the thick snow blanketing the grounds could not outshine the sheer level of artifice on display.

“That’s 100 Jade Lotus Academy...I have a lot of relatives in there!” Yujie explained. “It’s easily the most brutal of all the schools. It only takes A-Ranks and above, and is the only one that takes SSS-Ranks...there, even an A-Rank is a small fry.”

Jiayun quickly counted up the grounds. It was rather easy, as the five schools there were all wildly distinct in shape an architectural style, and the map she had bought also included pamphlets on all the schools, including aerial pictures. She saw 100 Jade Lotus Academy, Highweald University of Cultivation and Magical Arts (a massive castle situated in the beginning slopes of the mountain), Nine-Pointed Star School of Body Refinement (another eastern-style school, though this one looked more Sakura Shogunate-ish), The Lyceum of Martial Excellence (a flat, rather Roman-esque set of white marble parthenons and open forums, and finally, Deva’s Grace Gymnasium, whose temples and buildings definitely resembled something from the Southern reaches of the Grand Expanse. The schools were surprisingly far apart from each other—close enough to walk in about half a day’s each, but far enough to justify driving. “Where’s Flowing River?” She scanned the area for it, but it was the one school the map didn’t have a pamphlet for. “It’s not listed on my map and I don’t have pictures for it.”

“Oh, it’s right there.” Clavius pointed directly next to 100 Jade Lotus Academy. “See it?”

“But there’s nothing there, there’s just some crappy buildings...oh. Oh no.”

Jiayun was right. Directly outside of 100 Jade Lotus Academy’s thick vibrant walls was a complete dump. It was far smaller than the other schools, and while the buildings would have been pretty impressive back in Lavonia, they looked like poorhouses compared to the other schools. One section of the tiny grounds was covered by a massive building which was half rubble and the other half clearly having been never touched for decades. Most of the buildings were rather dull colors, as well, the direct proximity to 100 Jade Lotus Academy making them even more drob. “That can’t possibly be Flowing River.”

Clavius responded with zero shame. “Yup! It is.”

“It looks like it’s about to be condemned!”

“Well, to be fair, it is...”

“We’re going to school in that place, right next to the most impressive school on the Isle!”

“Yeah, 100 Jade Lotus students sometimes pick on us...”

Yujie frowned. He had known about Flowing River for a long time—being in a clan of cultivators brought him to 100 Jade Lotus Academy enough as a kid that they couldn’t hide its existence forever—but now it just dawned on him that the same relatives who had mocked him for not having cultivation talent wouldn’t stop just because he had it. Now they’d just mock him for having F-Rank talent. Especially that one young master…

//////////

Jiayun exited the train rather matter-of-factly, hauling her luggage behind her. Nashara and Yujie on the other hand had literally waterfalls of tears streaming down their face as they realized just how much of a crap hand they had been dealt.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Yujie, sometimes I wonder if I should have just withdrawn and spent life as a normal mortal...”

“Stay strong, Nashara...though I can’t blame you for shedding manly tears.”

Jiayun looked back at them with frost eyes, rolling them after several silent seconds. “Come on.” The train had let them off half a day’s walk from Flowing River and 100 Jade Lotus Academy, at a very small “town” that was really just a quick stop to grab supplies and food. Of course, the 100 Jade Lotus Academy students quickly bullied their way past the Flowing River students. Since cultivation talent was effectively random, it didn’t look like a bunch of well-robed bourgeoisie bowling over the proletariat—some of the Lotus Academy students were paupers in barely-passable hand-me-downs, and some of Flowing River’s student body was luxuriously garbed. Rather, the difference was clear in their mannerisms. The Lotus Academy students carried themselves with a smug air of superiority that only a few suppressed. The Flowing River students had a sort of humbleness to their actions, which the Lotus Academy’s student body ruthlessly exploited. Soon, a variety of shuttles came to deliver the students to their schools. Of course, the shuttles were paid by the schools, and Flowing River’s looked like veritable deathtraps compared to the almost offensively opulent Lotus Academy’s shuttles, the former having worn paint and leaking smoke whereas the latter were decorated with elaborate gold filligree on the sides making beautiful lotus patterns.

Nashara himself tilted his head in confusion at the veritable parade of glorified taxis. “Using a bus doesn’t sound very cultivator-like...”

Yujie slapped him in the back, the force making Nashara have to maintain his posture. “Dude, you’re acting like we have to use mystical crap ALL the time. No point in wasting a core on some precious treasure when we can just drive there...I told you those books were full of crap.”

“Dammit, don’t remind me! Ah, they said it was so much more exciting than this!” Nashara walked to a bench and slumped in it. “Where’s the part where I punch people!?”

“It is, I swear. Just gotta deal with annoying EDCC fat cats sometimes!”

“Augh...I gotta make the best of this. Very few people get this chance. I just wish I hadn’t gotten screwed on every single thing related to this, you know.”

Yujie remained silent for over half a minute. Nashara only glanced at him. Finally, the Xiaolong scion rose up and took a series of deep, controlled breaths. “Nashara Zaras. The blood of cultivation doesn’t flow in anyone, you know. Only those who don’t back down from challenges, who aim higher and higher constantly, are the ones who get it. If you don’t have the heart for cultivation, you’ll know soon. Just remember: the Dao of the cultivator is to be as strong as solid steel, as relentless as crashing waves, as patient as grinding glaciers, and as vibrant as an orchard. So stop worrying about it! You will see very soon that you’re not as mortal as you think you are.”

“Sheesh man...” Nashara got up and fist-bumped Yujie. “You’re a dork. But you’re a damn cool dork. Come on, let’s go get something to eat before the shuttles leave.

//////////

Head Motorized Palanquin Cavalier (read: head bus driver) Tao watched the students mingle. It was blatantly obvious which group were the Lotus Academy and which were his flock. He took a bite of the sandwich sitting on his dashboard, the discolored plastic showcasing many grease stains from his previous hundreds of meals. Sitting directly behind him, on a chair facing the rear of the bus, was an extremely straight-faced lady with long white hair. Adelaina Xufeng: Headmistress of Flowing River.

Adelaina merely getting up was enough to make the bus lurch in ways it probably shouldn’t have. “Tao, this might be your last year here. Have you thought about where you’ll go?”

“No way, boss. Right now I’m more worried about having enough gas to get back to the school, actually...”

“Well, since we’re getting shut down anyway...get some gas. Here’s the money.” Adelaina tapped a ring on her finger and a large hose materialized in thin air. This wasn’t some fancy artifact. It was just...a hose. “Oh, you probably need a mint for afterwards...” She produced a small green mint and threw both in his hands.

“Aw man, I gotta siphon gas again? Doctor said if I do that anymore I might actually get brain damage next time.”

“You know our funds are tight! The Lotus Academy buses are unguarded for an hour, so hurry!”

Just then, Clavius hopped on board, waving to the two of them. “’Sup. Can’t believe these old behemoths are still running. And they don’t even look that bad!”

Tao snorted. “Yeah, if you ignore the squeaking seats, the nearly flat tires, the broken suspension, the worn paint, the completely lifeless steering and--”

Right then a massive hideous sound of shearing metal sounded throughout the bus, Adelaina and Clavius plugging their ears and grimacing. Tao remained as stoic-faced as ever, only taking another bite into the sandwich. When the three of them turned around, they saw that the floorpanels of the bus had simply broken off. There was now a giant hole in the floor, big enough for a grown man to literally fall into and bonk their head on the driveshaft.

“...that’s fixable, right?”

“I mean,” Tao finished his sandwich off and stared Clavius. “It’s fixable. I don’t think it’s worth the money, though. They’re cultivators in training, they can walk around the hole. Adds character.”

////////

Jiayn had noticed that awful noise—damn near everyone around had, and watched with slightly horrified eyes. That bus was a literal deathtrap. Was this the first test of her cultivation, merely surviving getting to Flowing River in the first place! While the Lotus Academy students laughed at the absurd sight, she walked up and peeked in the door. “How can you still drive this thing?!”

Tao looked down at her and shrugged. “Kid, I do the driving. You do the sitting in the chairs. Not row 8, though, that’s one’s been due to collapse into the street for like, 6 months now. I wouldn’t risk it.”

“How on earth...what happened to Flowing River? How did this place get like this…?”

“Kid...lemme tell you: the EDCC has its favorites and we sure ain’t one of them. It’s amazing we’ve survived this far at all. Have fun with your only year here. The people are nice and friendly , but in the world of cultivation, being friendly’s a bad idea...”

Jiayun frowned. “...the more I learn, the more it seems like this place isn’t some dump but a well-meaning place that’s just been screwed constantly.”

“Haha...yeah, that’s maybe it. Oh, don’t mind the girl behind me. That’s our headmistress.”

“Oh!” Jiayun’s eyes opened wide. Adelaina was quite a pretty and voluptuous woman. “Nice to meet--”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT MY SWORD, TALENT PEASANT?!”

That conversation was quickly ended as the arrogant rage of a well-dressed man adorned in blue robes with gold highlights sounded throughout the area. All three of them turned their eyes to see said man alongside...Nashara?

Nashara was holding an extremely elaborate saber. Too elaborate, even. An incredibly busy amount of detailed engravings and greebles were all over it, and it an absolutely hideously gaudy array of rainbow colors. The thing looked like it could barely cut anything without spiritual power. Nashara had seen it up against a wall and said “What the hell is this chintzy garbage?” Then, exhibiting probably a suicidal amount of boldness, he picked it up. It was exceptionally heavy for its size. Suddenly, that blue-robed man had yelled at him. Nashara turned to him. “I said what the hell is this chintzy sword? It looks like a 12-year-old had designed it. Is this yours? Sheesh, dude.” Nashara cocked his arm back and flung the sword at the man.

The man caught the spinning weapon with zero trouble and pointed it at him. “You Flowing River trash...I am Xiaolong Yifeng, SSS-Rank talent cultivator and disciple of 100 Jade Lotus Academy...I understand that you can’t understand such transcendent graceness when you see it, but if I had asked for a pauper’s opinion on my Nine Rainbow Saber, I would have asked for it. Which I would ever have asked! Ever! Ling and Huang, deal with...where the hell are you two!?”

“Oh shit, boss’s calling us...” Two men, one in green, one in red approached from the crowd, all eyes having locked on Nashara and Yifeng. Both of them looked rather plain, and the one in green was...stuffing a burrito in his mouth? “Boss, you gotta try this burrito, man, this thing is the bomb!” The one clad in green motioned towards Yifeng, his words slurred from the food in his mouth. He didn’t appear to be taking this very seriously.

Yifeng turned nearly so red with rage he looked he might blow his top and punched the green-clad lackey in the gut, though it didn’t appear to do much. “You IDIOTS! Why weren’t you at my side and guarding my sword!? And Ming, stop shoving your mouth full of that damned burrito!”

“Sorry boss, I was hungry as hell. And, like, once I saw this burrito in the nearby gas station--” Ming took some time off to take another bite, grinning in delight. “I had to have to, boss. Let’s just go, man.”

“I can’t just GO. This talent peasant insulted my precious treasure!” He turned back to Nashara, his face red-hot. “You! You have no idea how valuable this is! It’s carved from five kinds of jade, and inlaid with crystals forged by artisans from all over the Great Expanse!”

“Mmmm, oh my gods…dude, they put like, five cheeses in this burrito, it’s just nutty. Holy shit. I gotta go back there.”

“The handle is made from a mythic oak deep within the forests of Midgard, having absorbed essence from the world for 1000 years, harder than almost any steel, wrapped in the thin yet strong shed skin of 30-foot long serpents!”

“boss, we just got that handle at a cultivator flea market for like, 50 bucks”

“It’s even been drenched in the blood of snipes whose thick veins run with jade blood to make it even stronger!”

“That’s not even real, boss.” Ming leaned over and looked at Nashara. “He’s making up like half this shit, really, we just bought the sword from some cultivator because literally no one wanted it.”

“MING IF YOU DO NOT SHUT UP THIS INSTANT I WILL PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!”

Ming shrugged and wolfed down the last of his burrito. “Chill dude, we still wrapped it up. I gotta go if you’re just gonna yell at this dude.”

Yifeng grabbed his ear forcefully and pulled him to his side, grimacing and literally quivering with rage. “You will not be going anywhere until my business is finished!”

Ming thrashed about. “Aw come on, maaaaaaaan! It’s Taco Tuesday!”

Yifeng growled and hurled him away in a flash, Ming flying through the air comically and landing perfectly square center into a trash can and falling over. “Ow! Come on boss, I’m in literal garbage right now! ...oh, yeah, an unopened chip bag.” Soon the sounds of plastic being torn open and munching sounded through the gas station’s lot. “Sweet, it’s Flaming Hot flavor too!”

Yifeng stepped towards Nashara before this farce got any worse. He pointed his gaudy mess of a sword at him. “You! What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Me?” Nashara dug his hands in his pockets and scoffed. “I don’t have to say anything. Just because you’re a buster who can’t handle someone clowning on his crappy sword doesn’t mean I have to be nice about it.”

“YOU….” Yifeng laid down the sword and thrust it into the ground. The sheer force made the area slightly shake, plumes of snow blowing through the area. The sword remained straight upright in the ground, the crowd ooohing-and-aaahing at the sight...until the imbalanced detailed bits made it fall over into the snow with a pathetic fwomp.

“Nice sword, bro. Where’d you get it, back of a cereal box?”

“...your school is going to be shut down in a year. I’ll make sure its final year starts properly—by beating one of its students into the dirt!”

“Really man?” Nashara rolled his eyes and coolly strode up to him. “You’re doing the whole ‘hot-tempered young master’ thing without even the slightest twist? Dude, I read stories with tropes less stereotypical than you. Ah, screw it.”

His heart burned to take this challenge head on. There was no way he could back down now. “Sure, why not. Bring it.” Truth be told, this was an idiotic move, but Nashara had too much fire in his veins to not take it on.

Yujie watched from afar...his relative was an SSS-Rank, yes, but his martial training was extremely lazy and unfocused. “Nash might have a chance...”