The news of Jin Huang returning from the Abyssal Demonic Star System with thousands of Dao Integration level beast cores caused a tremor in the tranquility of the academy. Once again, students could not stop themselves from speculating, wondering if Jin Huang had somehow tapped into the insane amounts of vital energy he had eaten.
As he became the talk of the own among the students, he was also being discussed by the staff.
...
Within the Headmaster's office.
Mr. Nagira, as Jin Huang's All-Aspect Cultivation teacher, had been called in. Ms. Yao Lingzi, the first-year dean, was present as well, her sleeves barely hiding how animated she was, confusion and disbelief still written plainly on her face. Cho Yanshi was here too, calm as ever, yet unmistakably involved as the foremost expert on all things Jin Huang.
Tang Zhen massaged the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh. "Yao Lingzi, you followed him with your token. Are you telling me you don't understand this sudden change either?"
The dean shook her head, still clearly struggling to process it all. "For a time, I followed him closely. My first shock came when he somehow managed to kill a rogue Dao Integration expert who was attempting to rob and murder him. After that, I continued following him… until he encountered a hoard of demonic beasts. Judging by the traces, they were likely sent by that sadistic Keeper."
Her voice lowered slightly. "He leapt from the obsidian structure, straight down into the Abyss. I lost him there. When he emerged again… he was different."
Silence fell over the room. No one spoke. The Abyss was famous for only two things: endless darkness, and absolute emptiness. Nothing was meant to exist there, much less undergo a transformation.
"His physical strength was always anomalous," Nagira finally said, his tone heavy. "Even before forming his Mortal Foundation, it was already comparable to someone in the Inner Core realm. To think it could now reach the level of a Dao Integration expert…" He let out a disbelieving breath. "That is more than a hundredfold increase."
Tang Zhen turned his tired gaze to Madame Cho. "You say he consumed some kind of divine herb?"
"So he claims," Cho Yanshi replied evenly. "The Lunar Goddess granted him and his companions access to the inheritances. I do not understand her reasons."
Tang Zhen sucked his teeth and leaned back in his chair. "What a mess."
Yao Lingzi cleared her throat, bringing the discussion back to firmer ground. "Regardless, Headmaster, rules were broken. Missing this many days of class as a first-year is unacceptable."
Some sense of order returned. Tang Zhen nodded. "Indeed. Matters beyond our understanding can wait until we are capable of understanding them. For now, we proceed as normal."
Nagira and Cho Yanshi exchanged a brief glance.
"It is detention, then?" Yao Lingzi asked, already rising to her feet.
"Yes. Detention, and mandatory self-study. Nagira, you will provide him with the material he missed?"
Nagira inclined his head. "Of course."
With nothing more to add, the meeting ended. As staff responsible for first-years, Yao Lingzi and Nagira departed together, heading toward the first-year district.
Their destination was clear.
Jin Huang.
The garden outside Jin Huang's dorm was unusually lively that afternoon.
Jin Huang sat on a low stone bench, legs stretched out comfortably, a handful of snacks in one hand and confidence in the other. Qin Shuyue stood nearby, arms crossed but clearly listening, while Shen Wuyou leaned against a tree, expression relaxed.
Hei Shisan, grinning shamelessly, occupied the edge of the bench like he belonged there and not in the fifth-year district... or in the detention center.
"I'm telling you," Jin Huang said between bites, waving his hand grandly, "at this rate, I'm on track to become the most amazing student this academy has ever seen."
Shen Wuyou chuckled. "You've been back for less than a day."
"Exactly," Jin Huang replied proudly. "And already my legend is growing."
Qin Shuyue rolled her eyes. "You're uncharacteristically confident."
Hei Shisan scoffed. "This is how a man should be! Jin Huang is becoming his truest self!"
That precise moment was when a shadow fell across the garden.
Jin Huang looked up just in time to see Nagira standing there, hands behind his back, expression unreadable. Beside him was Yao Lingzi, her gaze sharp and distinctly unimpressed, the sight of her causing the small group to freeze.
"Ah," Jin Huang said slowly. "Teacher. Dean. What a coincidence."
He gulped and then made a grand bow while ushering them both in Shen Wuyou's direction, "He's over there."
"Jin Huang," Yao Lingzi said flatly. "Stand up."
He obeyed, brushing crumbs from his robes. "Is this about my excellent performance?"
"It is about your complete lack of attendance," she replied, stern-faced.
Nagira's eyes shifted, settling briefly on Hei Shisan. "And you."
Hei Shisan froze, averting his eyes and laughing nervously, while also trying to slouch and make himself appear small. "Me? I'm just a widdle freshman."
Nagira calmly said, "Shut up, Shisan. You were given a grace period to catch up, now let's go."
Hei Shisan opened his mouth, then closed it. "In my defense, I didn't escape. I just... temporarily relocated."
Yao Lingzi turned and began walking. "Both of you. Follow. Now."
Jin Huang blinked, his gaze finding Hei Shisan who was already walking toward them.
"You heard her," Nagira said, eying Jin Huang.
With resigned sighs- and one dramatic groan- they followed and were drawn up into the air by Yao Lingzi.
The detention center lay in a separate district of the academy, far from the liveliness of the student quarters. The building itself was bleak and heavy, its stone walls stained dark with age. Barred windows lined the upper floors, and the air around it carried a stubborn, defiant atmosphere, as though countless students before them had refused to repent.
Inside, it was quiet.
Nagira stopped when they were still outside and turned to Jin Huang. "Your jade slip."
Jin Huang hesitated for a moment, then handed it over.
Nagira pressed his own jade slip against it, spiritual light flickering softly between the two. Information flowed across, dense and orderly—the lectures, manuals, and assignments Jin Huang had missed during his absence.
"There," Nagira said, returning it. "You will study all of this. Thoroughly."
Jin Huang glanced at the jade slip, then smiled faintly. "Understood."
Hei Shisan muttered, "I knew sitting in that garden was a bad idea."
The barred doors closed behind them with a dull, final sound.
Hei Shisan stretched his arms the moment Nagira and Yao Lingzi disappeared down the corridor, the tension draining out of him almost instantly.
"Well," he said cheerfully, "welcome to detention."
Jin Huang looked around.
The main hall was long and narrow, stone floors worn smooth by time and pacing feet. Iron lamps hung from the ceiling, casting a dull yellow light that did nothing to make the place feel warmer. Doors lined both sides, each marked with faint inscriptions and the occasional dent that looked suspiciously deliberate.
"This place has character," Jin Huang said.
"That's one word for it," Hei Shisan replied. "Come on. I'll give you the tour before we settle in."
They started down the hall.
Hei Shisan pointed at the first door on the left. "That's a focus isolation room. Usually for alchemists who like experimenting during lectures. The walls absorb sound, light, and most explosions."
"Most?" Jin Huang asked.
"Academy says nothing's perfect."
A loud thump echoed from behind another door, followed by muffled shouting.
"Oh, that's the brute discipline room," Hei Shisan said casually. "Body cultivators who won't stop brawling. They get bored, so the staff lets them punch reinforced walls. Builds character. And knuckles."
They passed a smaller door with a glowing seal on it.
"That one's for illusion specialists," Hei Shisan continued. "They kept scaring the guards, so now they scare themselves instead."
Jin Huang nodded slowly. "How... thoughtful."
A pair of disciplinary staff members stood near the corner. One was tall and thin, arms crossed, glaring at everyone who passed. The other leaned against the wall, lazily chewing on something.
Hei Shisan raised a hand. "Yo."
The thin one clicked his tongue. "Bout time you got hauled back here, Number Thirteen."
"I only briefly escaped," Hei Shisan said.
He leaned closer to Jin Huang. "That guy with the attitude? That's Twinkle."
Jin Huang looked at the man, who was still glaring. "Why do you call him that?"
"Beats me," Hei Shisan said. "I wasn't there when Number Twelve started it, and I value my life too much to ask."
Twinkle's eye twitched. The other staff member waved. "Hey, Shisan. New roommate?"
"Fresh first-year," Hei Shisan said proudly. "and my successor: Number Fourteen."
"Oh brother," the man said exasperatedly.
They moved on.
Further down, they passed a room filled with low chanting. Hei Shisan lowered his voice. "Meditation detention. For those monk-types that won't stop enlightening themselves in public spaces."
Another room was silent, sealed tight with multiple formations.
"That one's for talisman experts," Hei Shisan said. "They tried to rewrite the building once."
Jin Huang paused. "Once?"
"Allegedly."
At the far end of the corridor, Hei Shisan stopped before a large door. Unlike the others, it had no bars- just a heavy slab of reinforced stone, wide enough to fit two normal doors.
He grinned and pushed it open.
Inside was a spacious room, easily several times larger than the others they had passed. There were shelves stacked with books, cushions arranged neatly along one wall, a large table, and even a small training area marked with scuffed floor patterns. There was also a portion of the wall that looked... relatively new.
Jin Huang blinked. "This is detention?"
Hei Shisan stepped inside proudly. "My detention. Took years of hard work and repeated offenses to earn this."
"You upgraded your cell?"
"Room," Hei Shisan corrected. "And yes."
Jin Huang laughed and dropped down near the table. "I think I'll survive."
Hei Shisan flopped onto a cushion. "Good. First rule of detention- don't take it seriously."
Jin Huang glanced at his jade slip, feeling the weight of the transferred lessons. Outside, the academy carried on as usual.
Inside the detention center, a different kind of education was about to begin.