"We are willing! Of course we are willing!"
Facing the invitation, Chang Qing and Chang E spoke with excitement. The conditions the Qingyuan Academy offered were almost identical to the treatment of first-tier genius disciples. More importantly, the academy would announce their achievements!
This was crucial! It meant that the Qingyuan Academy was now their protector!
In other places, such a public announcement of achievement would surely attract envy, hostility, and the greed of enemies. But the Qingyuan Academy was different! This super institution, built single-handedly by Daoist Bee, had become the dream school for countless people. Anyone who became a first-tier disciple of the academy received special protection. As long as they didn't violate the academy's rules, almost no one would dare to make a move against them. Instead, they would receive numerous investments and benefits.
When the Qingyuan Academy was first established, some old factions of the original sect had colluded with external forces of the Azure Heaven Domain, attempting to ruin the academy's reputation. Unfortunately for them, not only did they fail to kill any disciples, but they were also wiped out in one fell swoop. They were uprooted, their leaders were publicly executed, and an entire Golden Core family along with many old disciples of the sect were implicated.
After that incident, everyone who had attempted to place themselves above the rules abandoned such thoughts. Daoist Bee suppressed the entire domain; who dared to disobey? As long as Daoist Bee was there, the academy's rules were iron laws. No one would dare touch a disciple recognized by the academy, especially one with significant merit!
Under these circumstances, the siblings had gained both fame and fortune. The people from the family that had once destroyed theirs would never dare set foot in the Azure Heaven Domain to harm them!
This was the Qingyuan Academy! Who wouldn't want to join such an institution?
This time, they had truly ascended to the heavens! With the academy's resources and channels, the issue of their physical recovery would no longer be a problem!
"Congratulations to you both!" The senior sister from the academy who delivered the news looked on with eyes full of envy.
"We also thank you for your hard work, Senior Sister. We will need your guidance in the future!"
Everything after that was simple. Internal administrative issues were handled by the academy; the siblings just had to pack their bags and move in. Even the issue of their spirit field could be handled by the academy on their behalf; such matters were trivial.
The siblings packed their belongings at the fastest speed, preparing to head to the academy. Chang E's health issues needed to be addressed as soon as possible. However, before they left, they first went to Old Man Zhou's peak.
As the siblings entered Old Man Zhou's courtyard and saw him drinking on his lounge chair, they both fell to their knees with a thud.
"Oh! What are you two doing?" Old Man Zhou was startled, his enjoyment of the wine interrupted. He hurried forward to help them up.
To his surprise, the siblings' kneeling was firm and resolute.
"Senior Zhou, please accept our bow. If it weren't for you, we might not have lived to see this day..."
Old Man Zhou looked at them. A few years had seemingly worn away their youthful innocence. The boy and girl had grown up; Chang E, in particular, was blossoming into a graceful young maiden. Before he knew it, they had grown so much!
Old Man Zhou suddenly realized that after entering the Foundation Establishment stage, his perception of time had blurred. Three to five years wasn't a long time, but it was enough for a child to grow up!
"It's nothing, it's nothing! Get up and speak!" he said helplessly.
But the siblings insisted on kowtowing three times before standing. They then slowly explained the purpose of their visit.
"Senior Zhou, because the spirit trees we nurtured are exceptionally outstanding, we have been given heavy responsibilities by the Qingyuan Academy. we're about to leave to take up our posts..."
"The reason I chose to rent a spirit field back then was that I possessed a special talent for planting spirit trees."
"We came today first to bring you the good news, and second to ask what we can do for you. As long as I, Chang Qing, can do it, I will give my life to fulfill Senior's request."
Facing Chang Qing's determined gaze, Old Man Zhou finally understood. So that's what this was about! The boy was certainly thoughtful!
But when Old Man Zhou thought of the master behind the Qingyuan Academy, he felt a sense of helplessness. These siblings were indeed excellent, but compared to that monster behind the academy, they were currently worlds apart! It wasn't that they weren't good; it was just that a certain someone was far too ridiculous.
However, Old Man Zhou didn't dampen their spirits. Instead, he encouraged them. "I'm doing quite well right now. I don't need help for the time being. This opportunity at the academy is a once-in-a-lifetime chance; make the most of it and strive for extraordinary achievements in the future!"
"Yes! We will not fail Senior Zhou's expectations!"
"When I have time, I will often come back to visit you!" Chang Qing added. Then, taking Chang E with him, he left and set off for the academy.
As Old Man Zhou watched them leave, a sense of enlightenment rose in his heart, and strands of unique spiritual insight began to manifest around him. Through this third child he had rescued, Old Man Zhou had actually entered an incredibly rare state of sudden epiphany.
Meanwhile, as various spirit trees possessing spirituality were continuously delivered to Qi Ping, the smile on his face never faded. Such a vast number of high-quality spirit trees would have been unimaginable even to the creator of the Treant Warden profession. How could there be so many trees with such high spirituality?
If all of these were nurtured into Treant Warriors, it would be enough to go on a rampage in an average world. Even in the cultivation world, this was a terrifying force.
But Qi Ping cared most about that Azure Lightning Bamboo with Immortal-grade potential! In a world like this, only a spirit tree of that rank could significantly impact his future! The secrets hidden in the cultivation world were too many, and the existences lurking in the shadows were beyond perception. The key to breaking through his limits that Qi Ping could currently conceive was this unprecedented Immortal-grade spirit tree nurturing plan!
'The first spirit tree with Immortal-grade potential has appeared. Let me see what makes it so special!' Excitement burned in Qi Ping's eyes.