Chapter 1064: The Imperial Academy

"You want to study at the Imperial Academy?"

Inside the study of Prince Ning's Mansion, Prince Ning, who had been reading an arcane codex, looked at Li Qing in surprise.

"Yes, I have previously obtained some scriptures and notes from the Profound Nether Realm, but unfortunately, I do not understand the Profound Nether Realm's script, so I have never been able to glimpse the mysteries within," Li Qing said truthfully. He wasn't worried that Prince Ning would covet the notes he had obtained from the Heavenlight Secret Realm.

Even if the other party truly wanted them, he wouldn't mind offering them to Prince Ning. After all, he already owed him a favor, and if he could repay it this way, he would feel much lighter.

Upon hearing this, Prince Ning slowly put down the ancient arcane codex in his hand and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he finally spoke, "It's not that I can't recommend you to study at the Imperial Academy, but this is truly improper."

"There are few masters in the entire Imperial Academy who could defeat you. If you go in to study, who would become your teacher?"

As soon as these words came out, Li Qing showed an awkward expression. He had never considered these issues.

The students of the Imperial Academy were indeed from the younger generation, and most of their cultivation was only at the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stages. Reaching the Divine Transformation stage was the level at which one could graduate.

The masters teaching at the Imperial Academy generally had cultivation levels no higher than the Void Refinement realm, and there were even some old scholars at the Divine Transformation stage.

Prince Ning pondered for a moment before speaking. "How about this, I'll write you a letter of recommendation to become a master at the Imperial Academy."

"With your dao cultivation, teaching those Core Formation and Nascent Soul students should be no problem. If you're proficient in a particular cultivation art, it would be even better. You could enter the academy directly without me needing to pull any strings."

Li Qing's eyes lit up at these words. He quickly replied, "I happen to know a bit about artifact refinement. I wonder if the Imperial Academy is short of a master to teach that art?"

"Oh? That's quite a coincidence. The Imperial Academy has long been in need of an artifact refinement master. But what's your level of skill? If you only know the basics, I'm afraid that won't be enough," Prince Ning said, raising an eyebrow.

To this, Li Qing replied with absolute confidence, "The killing sword I used in the palace competition was forged by my own hand!"

Prince Ning naturally had a very deep impression of the golden slaughter sword Li Qing had wielded before. Even he was tempted by that peerless sword.

He never expected that such an amazingly exquisite sword was actually refined by Li Qing himself.

That was an earth-grade spiritual treasure, after all. Without a doubt, with such artifact refinement skills, there would be no problem for him to even become the Dean of Artifact Refinement in the Imperial Academy.

"In that case, this prince will write a letter of recommendation for you," Prince Ning said while picking up a talisman brush from the table.

He began writing furiously on a piece of letter paper, and at the same time, he didn't forget to say, "There are two deans in the Imperial Academy. One of them is master Ying, who is in charge of the entire Formation Academy."

"The other is Dean Chen, whose cultivation is unfathomably deep. Even this prince must address him as honored teacher when we meet."

"However, Dean Chen has always disliked the Royal Family interfering in the Imperial Academy's affairs, so this recommendation letter of mine may not be of much use. In the end, it should still depend on how your own artifact refinement skills are."

"If you successfully join the Imperial Academy as an artifact refinement master, you will have permission to enter the Book Mountain Tower and read the classic texts related to the Profound Nether Realm."

With that, Prince Ning set down his talisman brush, carefully reviewed his handwriting and wording, and finally nodded in satisfaction.

He then took up a jade seal and pressed it firmly onto the paper.

As a flash of spiritual light flared, a blood-red character "Ning" appeared on the recommendation letter.

Li Qing bowed deeply, clasping his hands. "Thank you, Senior Prince Ning!"

I've just incurred another debt of gratitude, Li Qing sighed inwardly.

"No need for thanks. You may stay at my mansion for a couple of days. I will send someone to deliver the letter to the Imperial Academy and inform you when news arrives."

Three days later, Li Qing set out with all his belongings.

The Imperial Academy was located south of Yujing City, sprawling across a vast area. It contained more than one spiritual vein, and its complex terrain was nearly as large as several small walled cities.

The cultivators who could study at the Imperial Academy were all the cream of the crop among the younger generation of the Great Yu Kingdom.

These young cultivators first had to make a name for themselves in their respective Prefectural Cities, then become top figures in their Prefectural Academies. Only then could they earn a recommendation quota from the academy.

The number of recommendation quotas for each Prefectural Academy varied, allocated based on past performance, the number of students in the academy, and other factors.

Finally, the recommended cultivators would undergo a multi-faceted trial. Only those who passed could enter the Imperial Academy to study and cultivate, while those who failed were eliminated.

Late autumn had passed, and the Imperial Academy had been open for some time. Even for Prince Ning, recommending a student to enter at this stage would be troublesome. Therefore, he directly recommended Li Qing to serve as a master within the academy.

After flying through the air for about a day, Li Qing finally arrived at the southern part of Yujing City.

At the edge of his vision, a magnificent and boundless academy gate appeared.

The Imperial Academy!

Even from such a distance, Li Qing could feel an incredibly majestic aura, a testament to the academy's long-accumulated heritage.

Gazing at the gold-inlaid plaque, Li Qing murmured to himself, "So this is the academy that gathers the most talented young generation of the entire Great Yu Kingdom. It is truly magnificent."

Li Qing rose into the air once more and flew toward the Imperial Academy.

Crossing the main gate, the first sight that met his eyes was not a grand building, but a vast, endless wilderness.

This wilderness did not appear desolate, for it was dotted with spirit herb fields protected by restrictions, each cultivating a variety of rare and precious spirit herbs.

After traversing this immense expanse and crossing a rugged mountain range, Li Qing finally arrived at the inner court of the Imperial Academy.

The first thing that caught his eye was the Nine-Layer Heaven-Reaching Tower. Flanking the tower were rows of book pavilions, unfolding in an orderly fashion.

Before Li Qing could examine them more closely, a cold voice rang out:

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Li Qing looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man in armor walking toward him. His cultivation was unremarkable, only at the mid nascent soul realm, and he appeared to be a student of the academy.