Chapter 376: Qi Gathering Pavilion

"I just want to go inside."

Solomon tried to step past them, but the guards forcefully shoved him back by the shoulder. "Only officially registered disciples of this specific pavilion are allowed to enter the grounds. We do not see a Qi Gathering badge on your uniform."

"Why don’t you just call Yue out here and ask her yourself?" Solomon suggested, keeping his temper in check.

"The Pavilion Master does not just come running down to the gates because a random novice demands it!" the guard yelled, growing even angrier.

[Mezz_3863: the disrespect is crazy.]

[Ron_Selby: Solo Man’s patience is running thin.]

[sgtcwby: just show them the stars bro.]

Solomon frowned. His knuckles twitched. He was fully prepared to throw hands and beat his way inside despite his earlier attempts to remain peaceful. But then, he remembered the proof of his achievements.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the two official Academy Stars he had earned from Yue upon completing her tasks in the Eastern Realms.

He held the two glowing, intricate silver badges up for the guards to see.

The guards stared at the stars. They immediately looked at each other, their faces turning completely pale. They hastily uncrossed their staffs, took two steps backward, and offered deep, incredibly nervous bows, welcoming him inside.

Solomon scoffed, a devious smirk stretching across his face. "Should I tell Yue how you guys just treated her VIP guest?"

[1Fizzy: AHAHAHA THE THREAT!]

[GoonLord: DO IT! GET THEM FIRED!]

[LazyCat: the guards are sweating buckets right now.]

[M00N: Solo Man holding their careers hostage.]

[Grapers: the petty revenge is so good.]

The guards began sweating profusely, stuttering frantic apologies and looking absolutely terrified of the impending administrative backlash.

Solomon sighed, his smirk fading. ’The security around here is probably just tight because of the recent evil sect infiltrations,’ he reasoned inwardly. ’Maybe I should praise them for actually doing their jobs instead of trying to get them fired.’

"Relax, I am just messing with you. Keep up the good work," Solomon said, waving a hand dismissively as he stepped through the gates.

He walked into the pavilion grounds and immediately realized how drastically different this sector was from the Sword Pavilion. It was incredibly elegant and breathtakingly beautiful.

Instead of dusty dirt rings and weapon racks, the area was filled with lush meditation gardens, trickling waterfalls, and vibrant lotus ponds. The air smelled sweet and fresh, completely devoid of the metallic tang of sweat and steel.

Unlike the Sword Pavilion, where the constant clacking of wooden practice swords and the shouting of instructors echoed all day, this pavilion was enveloped in absolute, serene silence. Disciples sat cross-legged on polished wooden decks or meditated peacefully beneath the shade of ancient willow trees, absorbing the dense spiritual energy flowing through the mountain.

[Eric_Shepherd: this place looks like a paradise.]

[Frendscham: the aesthetic is top tier.]

[Name_Not_Listed: such a peaceful vibe compared to the sword guys.]

[zoomtech: I would definitely fall asleep here.]

Solomon took a deep breath of the fragrant air, fully prepared to finally master his internal energy.

The Qi Gathering Pavilion was incredibly rich and dense with spiritual energy. Every single space was utilized properly and served a specific, meditative purpose.

There were even small, ethereal spirit beasts such as glowing butterflies and tiny, translucent birds of different colors, fluttering around the lotus ponds and bamboo groves.

Solomon wandered down a stone path. ’I am probably going to get lost if I try to explore this place without a guide,’ he thought, glancing around the sprawling gardens.

Just then, a junior instructor who was giving a meditation lesson to a group of first-year students spotted Solomon strolling around, casually glancing at the architecture and touching the decorative spirit stones.

The instructor immediately broke away from his class, marched up to Solomon, and called him out before he even reached the end of the path. "What do you think you are doing here?!"

[1Fizzy: bro cannot catch a break.]

[sgtcwby: someone is always yelling at him.]

[Mezz_3863: Solo Man attracts aggression.]

Solomon turned around slowly. ’Is everyone in this pavilion like this? Did Yue give her staff way too much freedom to act like jerks?’

The instructor noticed the dark fabric of Solomon’s uniform. "Why is a second-year student wandering around the novice gardens? The second-year sector is over on that side of the mountain," the instructor stated, pointing a finger toward a distant, elevated peak. "You need to leave this area immediately."

Solomon crossed his arms. "Is this how everyone in this pavilion normally talks, or is this just your charming personality? Because if this is the standard way you guys communicate here, I also have a specific ’language’ that most people tend to understand very quickly."

The instructor’s eyes drifted to the greatsword strapped to Solomon’s back. "Are you even a registered disciple of this pavilion? Why are you carrying a barbaric sword into a Qi cultivation zone?"

"For the same reason you are currently running your mouth," Solomon responded smoothly.

[GoonLord: AHAHAHA GET HIM!]

[James_hayes: Solo Man choosing violence!]

1

[M00N: the clapback is real.]

[Nick: bro has zero patience today.]

The instructor was instantly offended. He reached into his robes, pulled out three glowing yellow paper talismans, and aggressively tossed them directly at Solomon’s face.

Solomon didn’t even flinch. He simply raised his hand, snatched the leading talisman out of the air, and casually ripped the enchanted paper in half before the spell could even activate.

Immediately, Solomon lunged forward. He closed the distance in a fraction of a second, grabbed the shocked instructor by the collar of his robes, and pulled his right fist back to deliver a punch to the face.

But before his knuckles could shatter the instructor’s nose, a completely different, glowing blue talisman fluttered between them. The paper charm absorbed the entire impact of Solomon’s punch, flaring brightly before burning away into harmless ash.

[Zoomtech: WHOA!]

[Ron_Selby: blocked!]

[Blood Knight: A hidden master intervenes.]

[Brerell: The instructor got some plot armor.]