501: A New Transmigrator, The Heavenly Spirit Academy Begins

Xuanzhen Realm, Tianling Academy, a corner of the Manual Labor Courtyard.

Outside a dilapidated wooden hut, a thin figure curled up in a corner, staring blankly at the drifting clouds on the horizon. The youth appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a faded grey utility uniform. He was sallow and emaciated, yet his eyes revealed a sense of confusion and unwillingness that did not match the age of this body.

His name was Lu Shaoyou. Three days ago, he was still a web novel author on Blue Star who stayed up late writing. Who could have known that upon waking up, he would have transmigrated to this cultivation world called the Xuanzhen Realm, becoming a bottom-tier Utility Disciple of Tianling Academy.

The original owner of this body shared his name. He was an orphan without parents. Because his Spiritual Root was incredibly mixed and cluttered, he couldn't even achieve the most basic Qi Condensation. He was regarded as a "waste" rarely seen in a century at Tianling Academy, suffering endless bullying and ridicule from his fellow Disciples.

“So what if my Spiritual Root is cluttered? I'm a man who has read countless cultivation novels; I don't believe I can't change my fate against the heavens!” Lu Shaoyou clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms as a flash of stubbornness crossed his eyes.

Over these three days, he had tried countless methods to achieve Qi Condensation, but as soon as the Spiritual Qi gathered in his Dantian, it was dispersed by the cluttered Spiritual Root, leaving not even a trace behind. No matter how good his mindset was, he couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated at this moment.

“Yo, isn't this our Tianling Academy's 'waste'? Daydreaming again?”

A mocking voice drifted over, interrupting Lu Shaoyou's thoughts. He looked up to see a group of youths wearing the same utility uniforms, surrounding a fat youth as they walked over. The fat leader was named Zhang Lei, a troublemaker in the Manual Labor Courtyard. Relying on his slightly better Spiritual Root, he had already touched the threshold of Qi Condensation and loved bullying the original owner most of all.

Zhang Lei swayed his fat body as he walked up to Lu Shaoyou, looking down at him with a mocking curl of his lip. “Lu Shaoyou, I heard you're still trying to achieve Qi Condensation these past few days? Tsk tsk, a piece of rotten wood like you can't be carved. Even if you practice for another hundred years, don't dream of stepping through the gates of cultivation!”

The several youths behind him also burst into laughter, their words extremely mean-spirited.

“Fatty is right! Spiritual Roots are innate. A waste is a waste; no matter how much you struggle, it's useless!”

“I think he should just get out of Tianling Academy sooner so he doesn't offend our eyes here!”

Lu Shaoyou frowned slightly, a surge of anger rising in his heart. In the original owner's memory, this Zhang Lei had bullied him plenty—stealing his food, tearing his bedding—it was simply too much.

“Zhang Lei, you can eat whatever you want, but you shouldn't say whatever you want.” Lu Shaoyou slowly stood up, his gaze coldly fixed on Zhang Lei. “A cluttered Spiritual Root doesn't mean I can't Cultivate.”

“Oh?” Zhang Lei acted as if he had heard the world's biggest joke and laughed exaggeratedly. “A waste like you dares to talk back? It seems if I don't give you a lesson, you won't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth!”

With that, Zhang Lei suddenly raised his foot and kicked toward Lu Shaoyou's chest. This kick was heavy and powerful; if it landed, he would be bedridden for at least ten days to half a month.

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Shaoyou's eyes. In the original owner's memory, every time he encountered this situation, he would swallow his anger, but he was not the original owner! He was the Lu Shaoyou from the twenty-first century, with his own pride and bottom line!

“You've gone too much!”

Lu Shaoyou roared, the frustration and anger accumulated over three days exploding instantly. Instead of retreating, he advanced, throwing a punch toward Zhang Lei's ankle.

This punch had no technique, but it concentrated all of his strength.

“Bang!”

Fist and foot collided with a dull thud. Zhang Lei felt a sharp pain in his ankle, and his massive body lost balance. With a "thump," he fell flat on his back, grimacing in pain and screaming repeatedly.

“Ouch! My leg! Lu Shaoyou, you waste, you actually dare to hit me!”

Zhang Lei's screams attracted many Utility Disciples to watch. Just then, a crisp sound suddenly rang out—

“Clatter.”

An ancient Jade Slip fell out from Zhang Lei's robes and rolled to Lu Shaoyou's feet.

The Jade Slip was about the size of a palm, greenish-grey all over, with three bold, flowing characters carved on it—Stone Shattering Fist.

Lu Shaoyou was stunned, and the spectating Utility Disciples were also stunned.

What was going on? Zhang Lei fell, and a Cultivation Technique Jade Slip actually fell out?

Zhang Lei ignored the pain, his eyes flashing with greed as he looked at the Jade Slip on the ground. “That's mine! Lu Shaoyou, give the Jade Slip back to me!”

As he spoke, Zhang Lei struggled to climb up, but Lu Shaoyou pinned his back down with a foot.

“Yours?” Lu Shaoyou sneered, bending down to pick up the Jade Slip. “This Jade Slip did fall from your person, that's true, but how would a guy like you, who hasn't even fully completed Qi Condensation, have the Yellow Rank technique Stone Shattering Fist?”

Stone Shattering Fist was the lowest-level technique that Utility Disciples of Tianling Academy could access, but even so, it wasn't something a half-baked person like Zhang Lei should possess.

Zhang Lei was pinned and unable to move, his face flushed red, yet he remained stubborn. “I worked hard to beg the supervisor for that! Let me go quickly, or I'll have the supervisor deal with you!”

Lu Shaoyou didn't bother with his shouting. His gaze fell on the Jade Slip in his hand, and a strong sense of curiosity rose in his heart. He subconsciously extended his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip, and a stream of information instantly flooded his mind.

Stone Shattering Fist, a Low Grade Yellow Rank technique. Once practiced to Major Achievement, a single punch can shatter stones and crack monuments, possessing boundless power.

At the same time, a warm current of air flowed out from the Jade Slip, following his arm and pouring into his Dantian. This current was gentle and pure; it was not dispersed by his cluttered Spiritual Root, but instead began to slowly circulate within his Dantian.

“This... this is a real technique!” A light of wild joy erupted in Lu Shaoyou's eyes, his heart pounding wildly.

Right then, something even more shocking happened. The Stone Shattering Fist Jade Slip in his hand suddenly flashed with a faint light, and immediately after, another Jade Slip fell out from within it, also rolling to his feet.

On this Jade Slip were carved the six characters—Introduction to Basic Cultivation Techniques.

Lu Shaoyou was completely bewildered.

One punch didn't just knock over Zhang Lei, it dropped a copy of Stone Shattering Fist, and now it dropped an Introduction to Basic Cultivation Techniques?

What kind of Heaven-Defying luck was this?

The spectating Utility Disciples also broke into an uproar, each one staring wide-eyed at this scene, their eyes full of envy and jealousy.

“My god! Lu Shaoyou punched out two techniques?”

“This is too incredible! Could his luck have reached such a level?”

“I don't think he's a waste; he's the Reincarnation of a lucky koi!”

Hearing everyone's discussion, Zhang Lei was so angry he nearly spat blood, struggling even harder. “Lu Shaoyou! You bastard! Those are my techniques! Give them back!”

Lu Shaoyou ignored him. He picked up the Introduction to Basic Cultivation Techniques from the ground and sent his Divine Sense into it. This technique detailed the secrets of Qi Condensation and the basic points of practicing Yellow Rank techniques; it was practically tailor-made for him.

“Great! With these two techniques, I can finally step through the gates of cultivation!” Lu Shaoyou was incredibly excited. He could feel that the content in the Introduction to Basic Cultivation Techniques seemed to have some kind of magic, causing his understanding of Qi Condensation to deepen significantly in an instant.

Just then, an old voice drifted over: “What are you all crowded here for? Not going to work, do you want to be punished?”

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice to see a white-haired Elder walking over slowly with his hands behind his back. The Elder wore a faded grey robe and his face was covered in wrinkles. It was the Manual Labor Elder of the Manual Labor Courtyard—Old Man Wang.

Old Man Wang had been at Tianling Academy for decades. Usually quiet and reticent, he rarely meddled in affairs, so everyone thought he was just an ordinary old man.

Seeing Old Man Wang, Zhang Lei felt as if he had seen a savior and quickly shouted, “Elder Wang! Please deal with Lu Shaoyou! He hit someone and stole things! He even stole my cultivation Jade Slips!”

Old Man Wang's gaze fell on Zhang Lei, then swept over him being pinned to the ground, finally fixing his gaze on the two Jade Slips in Lu Shaoyou's hands.

When he saw Stone Shattering Fist and the Introduction to Basic Cultivation Techniques, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in Old Man Wang's cloudy eyes, so fast it was impossible to catch. He stared at Lu Shaoyou for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly before quickly smoothing out.

“Oh?” Old Man Wang spoke slowly, his voice aged yet powerful. “Zhang Lei, you say these techniques are yours? Do you have proof?”

Zhang Lei was stunned, stammering and unable to speak. His Stone Shattering Fist was stolen from the supervisor; he didn't dare make a public fuss about it.

Old Man Wang snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the spectating Disciples. “I saw it just now. Zhang Lei was the one who first moved to bully Lu Shaoyou. Lu Shaoyou fought back in self-defense. The techniques fell out of Zhang Lei himself after he fell. How can you say they were stolen?”

Everyone nodded in agreement; they had all seen what happened just now.

Zhang Lei's face turned pale as he slumped on the ground, unable to say a single word.

Old Man Wang no longer paid attention to Zhang Lei. He walked up to Lu Shaoyou and looked at him with a gentle gaze. “Lu Shaoyou, are you alright?”

Lu Shaoyou shook his head, feeling somewhat puzzled. This Old Man Wang seemed exceptionally friendly toward him.

“It's good that you're fine.” Old Man Wang nodded, his gaze falling once more on the Jade Slips in his hand as he said softly, “Since you obtained the techniques through a stroke of luck, then they are yours. Cultivate well and do not waste this Opportunity.”

After saying that, Old Man Wang patted Lu Shaoyou's shoulder and turned to leave.

In the moment he turned, a sharp glint flashed in Old Man Wang's eyes again as he thought to himself, “I didn't expect that after a hundred years, another little fellow who can 'drop techniques by hitting people' would appear. This appearance of cluttered Spiritual Roots, this Heaven-Defying Opportunity—it's exactly the same as Dao Venerable Lu Chen back then. It seems the Legacy of the Great Dao has never been severed...”

Old Man Wang's figure gradually disappeared from everyone's sight. Lu Shaoyou watched his back, his heart full of confusion, but he didn't think too much of it.

His mind was now entirely occupied with cultivation.

He released his foot from Zhang Lei's back and gave him a cold glance. “Zhang Lei, next time you bully me, it won't be this simple.”

With that, Lu Shaoyou ignored the gazes of the crowd, took the two Jade Slips, and quickly returned to his dilapidated wooden hut.

Back in the hut, Lu Shaoyou impatiently closed the door and sat cross-legged on the bed. He first took out the Introduction to Basic Cultivation Techniques and studied it carefully. The content in the Jade Slip was easy to understand, explaining in detail how to guide Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into the body and how to transform Spiritual Qi into one's own cultivation base.

Following the method in the Jade Slip, Lu Shaoyou took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to attempt Qi Condensation.

His mind sank into his Dantian, and following the technique's guidance, he slowly guided the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. This time, the Spiritual Qi was no longer scattered like before, but instead flowed like a gentle stream into his Dantian.

Although some Spiritual Qi was still dispersed by the cluttered Spiritual Root, the majority of it successfully remained in the Dantian, circulating slowly.

“Success! I've finally achieved Qi Condensation!” Lu Shaoyou was wild with joy, nearly jumping up in excitement.

He suppressed the excitement in his heart and continued to circulate the Spiritual Qi according to the technique's guidance. After an unknown amount of time, he slowly opened his eyes, feeling refreshed all over and significantly stronger.

Immediately after, he took out the Stone Shattering Fist Jade Slip and began to Cultivate. With the foundation from the Introduction to Basic Cultivation Techniques, practicing Stone Shattering Fist became twice as effective with half the effort. In just one hour, he had practiced Stone Shattering Fist to the entry level.

Clenching his fist, Lu Shaoyou could clearly feel a weak force gathering in his hand. He threw a light punch at the wall, and with a "crack," a shallow fist print actually appeared on the wall.

“What a powerful Stone Shattering Fist!” Lu Shaoyou's eyes were full of excitement.

Over the next few days, Lu Shaoyou cultivated while completing his tasks in the Manual Labor Courtyard. His cultivation progress was rapid; in just three short days, he stabilized his Qi Condensation Realm, and Stone Shattering Fist reached Minor Achievement.

On this day, the Manual Labor Courtyard held a monthly competition. The winner would not only receive generous rewards but also gain the Opportunity to be promoted to an Outer Sect Disciple.

On the competition field, Lu Shaoyou's opponent was a Utility Disciple who had already achieved Qi Condensation. Seeing Lu Shaoyou's thin frame, the opponent showed a look of disdain and took the lead in attacking.

Lu Shaoyou's expression was calm. As the opponent's fist approached, he suddenly stepped aside to dodge, and immediately after, he threw a punch.

“Stone Shattering Fist!”

The fist carried the sound of breaking air, accurately landing on the opponent's chest. The opponent groaned and flew backward, crashing to the ground, unable to get up again.

Victory in one move!

The whole place was in an uproar!

No one expected that this Lu Shaoyou, known as a "waste," would actually be so powerful!

The supervisor in charge of the competition showed a flash of surprise in his eyes and secretly noted down Lu Shaoyou's name.

In the crowd, Old Man Wang watched the high-spirited Lu Shaoyou on the competition field, a gratified smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

No one knew that in the dead of night, while Lu Shaoyou was cultivating cross-legged, deep within his Sea of Consciousness, a faint, imperceptible purple light was quietly flickering. This purple light shared the same source as the aura of the Hongmeng Dao Platform, like a sleeping seed waiting for the day it would break through the soil.

And Lu Shaoyou was completely unaware of all this. He only knew that his Heaven-Defying path had only just begun.