Chapter 7: The Blue-Clad Maiden

If it were the previous Mei Xue, he would never have considered participating in an entrance examination of this level. He possessed neither exceptional talent nor the full support of any family, and he could not even meet the basic entry threshold for the examination

Therefore, in order to effectively explore the mountains and seas, he must first enhance his combat abilities. Being a junior alchemist is clearly insufficient; he must attend a higher academy to learn and comprehend more powerful celestial techniques

If it were not for the floating effect of the clouds summoned by the Cloud Mist Technique, he would likely have been captured by those large monkeys, and the consequences would undoubtedly be unimaginable

This lesson taught Mei Xue that even if he possesses the Classic of Mountains and Seas and has mastered top-tier auxiliary celestial techniques such as the Cloud and Mist Art, there are still places he cannot go. A mere Tian Tai Mountain swamp nearly cost him his life, and the perilous locations he must visit to complete the Classic of Mountains and Seas are bound to be fraught with danger, with little hope of survival.

Over the course of this month, he has nearly traversed the entire Tiantai Mountain, meticulously recording its terrain, products, and scenic spots. Upon completing all of this, he realized that the "Shan Hai Jing" in his mind seemed to have gained something extra; upon closer inspection, it was indeed the map and records of Tiantai Mountain, signifying that his efforts had been quite effective

Although we are now in an era of peace, and there have been no major wars in the mountains and seas since the Battle of the Rise of the Great Xia over a decade ago, even in the most peaceful of times, the depths of those celestial mountains remain forbidden grounds for ordinary people. The prohibition against trespassers is not a joke; even a small mountain like Tiantai Mountain has such restricted areas, which are places he cannot enter.

For the vast majority of those with ordinary talents in the field of magic, graduating from a junior college marks the end of their academic journey

Northern Xuanwu Academy, a sect primarily focused on divination and calculation, is the place of inheritance for the innate and acquired Eight Trigrams, astrology, and water mirror techniques, making it the most mysterious of the four major academies

Therefore, considering his current advantages, as a pharmacist possessing top-tier supportive celestial techniques such as the Cloud Mist Technique, the best place for him is...

Firstly, traversing the mountains is currently known to be the most effective way to supplement the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Since it is named after mountains and seas, the various seas will also be a necessary destination in the future. This signifies that the unknown risks are even more unpredictable. Compared to the majority of explored mountains, no one knows how many dangers lie within the boundless seas.

A month later, Mei Xue returned from the depths of Tiantai Mountain in a disheveled state, her long robe tattered and her body wrapped in spirit-patterned bandages. She returned to the seaside market in a condition a hundred times more miserable than when she had experienced her last heartbreak.

On the Yin Mountain, the most powerful mountain range is dominated by the Huangquan Immortal Gate, which intimidates the world with the path of the Yellow Springs and the Netherworld

However, he is not the same person he was a month ago; he is no longer the ordinary pharmacist who could do nothing.

Bang! Another apple has fallen down

Having understood this point, Mei Xue sat under a fruit tree laden with red apples and began to seriously plan her future

The weather is fine, the fragrance of apples is delightful, the fragrance of apples is delightful

The Eastern Azure Dragon Academy is a sect primarily focused on pharmacists and auxiliary professions, but it also possesses powerful combat factions that master the power of azure thunder and the Azure Dragon combat techniques

The Western White Tiger and the Academy of Books, the origin of sword cultivation, is dominated by the White Tiger who is known for his mastery of killing. It is reputed to be the mainstream academy of sword cultivators, claiming to break through myriad laws with a single sword, and it is said that a thousand sword cultivation schools are inherited within its walls

As a pharmacist of the Flame Clan, he is more certain than anyone else that, being able to manipulate clouds and mist, he has already surpassed countless geniuses. While those geniuses are still practicing intermediate celestial techniques, he has already mastered a top-tier supportive celestial technique

I should first go to the Qinglong Academy to learn advanced celestial techniques, specifically those focused on combat

It appears that completing the "Shan Hai Jing" is more difficult than imagined; without sufficient strength, this task is fundamentally impossible to accomplish

"I was too careless, I didn't expect there to be a group of macaques there," Mei Xue recalled with lingering fear the greatest crisis of her reckless behavior—the troop of macaques living deep in the swamp

Top-tier celestial techniques, even those of the supportive type, are at a level unimaginable to so-called geniuses, and even the elites who have graduated from the four major academies may not possess such a level of ability

On the Huangshan Mountain, where the art of immortality flourishes, there exists the Tianlin Sect established by the prominent Huang family, renowned for its powerful close-combat techniques. Additionally, there is the Baiyun Qi Refining Sect, which excels in the mastery of magical arts.

However, what puzzled him was that there was not a single person around; this was not a century-old tree. A small apple tree, just a few meters high, could be seen from top to bottom at a glance, yet there was not even half a person in sight

The Cloud and Mist Technique is indeed a top-tier auxiliary immortal art, but it does not enhance his combat power in any way. He remains the same apothecary who does not know a single sword technique, and possessing the Classic of Mountains and Seas did not elevate him overnight to a great practitioner, allowing him to traverse the seas and go anywhere he wishes.

Southern Vermilion Bird Academy, an institution established by shamans and the demon race, is the academy with the highest number of practitioners of demon lineage among the many immortal sects. It is said that the sacred beast, the Vermilion Bird, is still alive.

These macaques are incredibly strong, agile in their movements, and fond of brewing monkey wine, making them one of the rare specialties of the barren Tiantai Mountain. However, Mei Xue did not expect that merely observing the habits of this group of macaques from the side would provoke them, leading to her being chased for three days and nights before she managed to escape by using the fog technique to cross a river.

By the way, Qinglong Academy

Hundreds of meters away, a charming young girl dressed in blue swayed her tail, biting into a freshly picked apple while humming a tune

The fragrance of fresh apples, smash the fool, smash the fool

There are not many other thoughts, just the choices he made after acquiring the Classic of Mountains and Seas, akin to his earlier decision to sever his romantic ties and enter the Buddhist path

However, the near-death experience of being chased by a group of monkeys also reminded Mei Xue that he currently does not possess the strength to overlook the mountains and roam freely. If he cannot safely explore even a secure mountain like Tiantai Mountain, then the legendary forbidden lands of the immortal mountains are simply beyond his consideration

To seek freedom and ease, it is unfeasible without sufficient combat power

However, despite the four major colleges opening their doors wide and not considering the students' backgrounds or ethnicities, the entrance examinations are exceptionally rigorous, to the extent that it could be said that selecting one out of ten thousand is an understatement

So, where can he quickly enhance his combat abilities, at least to withstand the attacks of beasts in the mountains and seas, and to calmly depict the landscapes of various mountains and seas, completing the "Shan Hai Jing" in his hands step by step?

Even in this prosperous era of celestial magic, the recruitment quotas of each academy have never been fully met. In the annual examination, countless individuals regarded as geniuses have wept bitterly, their dreams shattered.

Seeing is believing, hearing is truth. Since he has become the possessor of this generation's Classic of Mountains and Seas, he will strive to complete this book that possesses incredible power

Those skilled in offensive celestial techniques will participate in hunting teams to capture various rare spirit beasts for profit, while those proficient in defensive celestial techniques will join escort teams. Those adept in supportive celestial techniques generally pursue careers as pharmacists, painters, or sculptors.

However, the Classic of Mountains and Seas did not grant him such power; that mysterious little dragon, after imparting to him the celestial art of manipulating clouds and mist, fell into a deep slumber and was never heard from again. The wisdom sword also did not display any supernatural abilities, unable even to cut through a small tree. Mei Xue truly could not think of any immediate way to enhance her combat strength.

Traveling through the seas and mountains, this is the best way Mei Xue thought of to supplement the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and it is essential to see and document it personally, without relying on existing records in books

For example, the Small Thunder Sound Temple on Western Spirit Mountain is a mountain gate that only accepts disciples of the Buddhist sect, and it is also the place where Master Huiguo intended to take Mei Xue.

One must enhance one's own abilities; otherwise, completing the Classic of Mountains and Seas would be an impossible task

Ultimately, he is merely a pharmacist, and he has only just passed the preliminary examination, barely grasping one or two basic alchemical techniques as a junior pharmacist. With his current status, securing a lifetime of basic needs is not a problem, but aspiring for further advancement is nothing but a delusion.

Only those gifted in the art of magic, supported by their families, will seek to attend higher academies or mountain gates for further study in order to advance their skills

However, not all immortal sects are like this; there are also those that are open to all, regardless of racial background, such as the four immortal law academies that occupy the four regions

Those who can confidently take the entrance exams for the four prestigious academies are undoubtedly individuals brimming with self-assurance, and many of them are even top talents among their peers. The fact that these exams can eliminate ninety-nine percent of such geniuses is sufficient to demonstrate the level of difficulty of the entrance examinations for the four academies

The sky is clear and bright, smash the fool, smash the fool

This is the gift from the Classic of Mountains and Seas to him, a great fortune bestowed upon him by the seemingly unreliable little dragon. With such top-tier celestial skills, why should he not have confidence in himself? Why should he not participate in the entrance examination of the four prestigious academies, which appears unattainable to ordinary people

Bang! While Mei Xue was deep in thought, a bright red apple struck him on the head, causing his neck to tilt and a sudden inspiration to flash in his mind

Bang! Bang! Bang! Red apples fell one after another, forcing Mei Xue to lift her head and see who was so intent on making trouble for her

Unable to find the murderer, Mei Xue ultimately attributed the falling apple to the incredible phenomena of nature, and under the apple tree, she clarified the path she should take moving forward

Because he possesses the Classic of Mountains and Seas, he has acquired the art of cloud and mist magic

Among the mountains and seas, there exist various sects and academies, each with its own entrance requirements

These four academies are the most renowned immortal cultivation institutions amidst the vast mountains and seas, a place of practice that countless practitioners of immortal arts strive to enter at all costs