Xu Qingfeng handed her a thick freshman handbook and said with a smile, "Junior Sister Shen, welcome to officially join Vientiane Academy. Take a good rest. Early tomorrow morning, I'll take you to get your class schedule and be assigned to a class." Having said that, Xu Qingfeng waved his hand and turned around gracefully, disappearing into the crowd in the academy.
Shen Cuiyu picked up the uniform and rubbed her fingertips across the soft fabric. A strange sense of belonging slowly spread in her heart.
The life in Vientiane Academy officially kicked off amidst the hustle - bustle of the mortal world and the etherealness of the celestial realm.
After simply tidying up her room, Shen Cuiyu took out the freshman handbook and started to read it. Combining it with some information she had seen in the general - knowledge talisman, she finally understood the rules of Vientiane Academy.
The usual academic system of Vientiane Academy is four years. However, there are also some unpopular majors, such as witchcraft and voodoo. Since there are few learners and scarce learning materials, a large amount of accumulation is needed, so the study period is one year longer, that is, five years.
Vientiane Academy adopts a credit and points system. Credits are related to graduation, while points correspond to the four levels of "Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow" for the disciples.
As freshmen of Vientiane Academy, they need to earn a certain number of credits to graduate successfully. Credits are obtained through courses, which are generally divided into three categories: large - scale courses, compulsory main courses, and elective minor courses.
The so - called large - scale courses refer to the basic introductory courses of the five metaphysical arts: mountain, medicine, fate, physiognomy, and divination. As the foundation of cultivation, all students of the same grade, regardless of their factions, must study these five courses. Each course is worth five credits, and a total of one hundred credits need to be earned in four years.
In addition, students also need to choose a main cultivation technique - this is the foundation for their future survival. Once chosen, it cannot be easily changed, so the choice must be made with great caution.
The main courses are available every year. As the grade rises, the precision and difficulty increase year by year. Each year's main course is worth twenty credits, so in four years, it amounts to eighty credits.
Shen Cuiyu glanced briefly at the catalog of the main courses and without hesitation circled the course "Soul - Summoning and Spirit - Communicating".
The remaining are a wide variety of elective minor courses, ranging from pill identification to strange formations, from the ghost genealogy to the netherworld laws. It can be said to cover everything.
Each student needs to choose two elective courses every year. In four years, that's eight courses. Passing one elective course can earn ten credits, totaling eighty credits.
Shen Cuiyu calculated that to graduate successfully from Vientiane Academy, one needs to earn a full two hundred and sixty credits!
She tossed the thick freshman handbook aside and flopped straight back onto the couch behind her, lying there in a relaxed "big" shape.
The starry sky outside the window was shining brightly, as if it had been shining for all eternity. Shen Cuiyu murmured with emotion that it was really easy to get into Vientiane Academy but hard to get out. It seemed that her graduation path was still a long one...
..........
Early the next morning, Shen Cuiyu put on the disciple's uniform that symbolized her identity. She coiled her hair into a simple and neat single - spiral bun and admired herself in the bronze mirror.
It had to be said that the tailors in the academy had good taste. This set of clothes was both imposing and convenient for movement. After putting it on, she actually looked a bit ethereal.
Xu Qingfeng came on time and led Shen Cuiyu to the classroom.
A warm jade nameplate was handed to her. The name "Shen Cuiyu" was neatly engraved on the plate, and there was a small "Yellow" mark in the lower - right corner, representing the lowest level among the four levels of Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow.
Xu Qingfeng said, "This is your identity card. Remember to carry it with you at all times. You'll need it to enter and leave the academy, the cafeteria, and borrow books in the future."
It was exactly the time for class. There were few people on the small path in the academy. Soon, the two of them arrived at the lecture hall.
Before they even entered the door, they heard a steady old man's voice drawling:
"Therefore, the spirits in the world can be generally divided into two types: living spirits and dead spirits. Living spirits are those whose lifespan has not yet ended. Even if their souls leave their bodies accidentally, they can still return. Dead spirits are those whose lifespan has ended and whose physical bodies have decayed. They no longer belong to the mortal world. However, dead spirits can be further divided into good spirits and evil spirits. Good spirits are usually those who die a natural death. They have no strong obsessions. After wandering for a few days, they will enter the underworld and reincarnate. Evil spirits, on the other hand, rely on a grudge to linger stubbornly in the mortal world, causing trouble..."
The warm autumn sun shone through the window, casting mottled shadows on the ground. The faint sweet fragrance of osmanthus mixed with the smell of books lingered in the air.
On the podium, an old gentleman in a long gown with white hair and beard was holding a book and lecturing with his eyes half - closed, enjoying himself.
Below the podium, there were seventy or eighty students sitting in a disorderly manner, showing all kinds of postures.
Some covered their faces with books and were dozing off; some propped their chins and were daydreaming; there were even some bold ones who, hiding behind the mountain of books and sundries on their left, were whispering to their neighbors, exchanging the latest gossip...
The old gentleman's voice was so soothing that it made people sleepy. But he would walk around the classroom every few sentences.
Wherever he passed, the students would feel nervous under his gaze and sit up a bit straighter. But as soon as he walked away, the students behind would slump back again, letting the drowsiness take over.
"Smack!"
The ruler made of pear wood suddenly hit the podium, scaring all the students below!
"Where did I just stop?"
"Um..."
The classroom was silent for a moment. All the students lowered their heads, looking as if they didn't care about anything outside.
"Humph!" The old gentleman scanned the classroom dissatisfiedly and sneered, "I'll call out whoever doesn't look up!"
As soon as he said this, dozens of heads shot up like sunflowers, their eyes staring at him brightly!
The old gentleman: ...
"You are really the worst class I've ever taught!" The old gentleman was so angry that his beard was shaking, "Look at your senior brothers and sisters. When have they ever been so slack..."
"Hey, here we go again. The lines haven't changed at all." In a corner below the podium, a student smiled and explained to the curious looks around him, "Don't believe it! The teacher uses the same set of lines every year! I'm not talented. I failed the exam last year and am here for a retake!"
Just as the old gentleman was about to flare up, a series of brisk but polite knocks on the door interrupted him. All the students in the classroom turned to look.
There stood a graceful young girl in a brand - new disciple's uniform outside the door. The morning light outlined Shen Cuiyu's soft facial features. She had bright eyes and white teeth, standing there gracefully.
For a moment, whispers filled the classroom.
"Good morning, teacher." Facing all the inquisitive looks, Shen Cuiyu bowed formally as a disciple, her voice clear and melodious.
Xu Qingfeng stepped forward and whispered a few words to the old gentleman. The old gentleman nodded and said to Shen Cuiyu,
"Since you're a new student, introduce yourself to everyone."
Shen Cuiyu walked to the front of the classroom smoothly. Her voice was not loud but very clear:
"My name is Shen Cuiyu. I'm seventeen years old. I'm at the Yellow level and my main course is Soul - Summoning and Spirit - Communicating."