Chapter Forty-Six: Cultivator Identification Cards

Hearing that brief, curt shout, Lei Xiang bared his small tiger-like teeth in a grin; he knew Du Gu Yixiao had arrived.

"Collect!" The lotus disk rapidly shrank to its original size, and Lei Xiang hurriedly stowed it away in his storage pouch. With a wave of his hand, he retrieved Ma Tao's storage pouch as well, then turned around.

A flash of white light heralded Du Gu Yixiao's appearance, clad in white robes. His expression was stone-faced as he glanced at Lei Xiang, then squinted at the three-meter-deep pit, saying nothing.

In Lei Xiang's heart, however, emotion surged like a flood. This was brotherhood—true affection revealed in times of peril. Du Gu Yixiao, though merely a Qi Refining cultivator, had braved danger to rescue Lei Xiang. How could he not be moved?

"Brother, I'll remember this favor."

Du Gu Yixiao's granite-like face showed no trace of excitement. "No need," he replied.

Lei Xiang was familiar with Du Gu Yixiao's sparing words and understood the questions lingering in his mind, so he took the initiative to explain. "Ma Tao always played the fool, but in reality, he was the highest leader of the Blood Fiend Alliance within our academy. He practiced the Whale Absorption Technique, draining many cultivators dry, and forcibly advanced to a false core stage. By a stroke of luck, I destroyed him. That pit was made by one of my enormous magical artifacts."

Du Gu Yixiao’s eyes, habitually narrowed, now flashed with a glimmer of light. "False core? Killed by chance? Things can't be that easy. Just how strong is this Lei Xiang? Could he help me escape those people?"

A burst of applause interrupted Du Gu Yixiao's thoughts. A shriveled, short old man stepped out from behind the library, walking toward them.

"The gatekeeper?" Lei Xiang exclaimed in surprise. This was the old man who guarded the library—could he be...

The old man smiled. "Lei Xiang, you guessed right. I am the one Senior Linghu Chong arranged to meet you. All the intelligence you passed along was delivered by me. I misjudged Ma Tao—upon returning to the academy, he suddenly made his move. With his false core, only the Headmaster could stop him. Alas."

Lei Xiang asked, "He practiced the Whale Absorption Technique and drained so many cultivators—did the Headmaster not see? Why didn't he intervene?"

The old man gave a bitter smile. "The Headmaster went to receive an important guest and was absent from the academy. I had just left to send a message to Senior Linghu Chong and only just returned."

As he spoke, distant lights flashed—a trio of silver beams shot toward them. The old man startled, hand reaching for his storage pouch, while Lei Xiang's face broke into a meaningful smile.

The silver radiance condensed, revealing three elders, all at the initial core formation stage. One was Linghu Chong, the other two were strangers to Lei Xiang. The kindly elder approached Lei Xiang, sizing him up with a nod of approval. "Excellent, just as I thought—Lei Xiang, you are a hero in youth. I am Sima Hongji."

Sima Hongji? The Headmaster of Hongji Academy. Lei Xiang greeted him with a lazy smile, "Headmaster."

Linghu Chong stepped forward to greet Lei Xiang. "This operation is a complete success. Old Liu, how many Hongji Academy cultivators survived?"

Old Liu quickly bowed. "Three hundred and sixty-seven, all safely evacuated. The rest were drained by Ma Tao."

Lei Xiang added, "And another one hundred ninety-two, currently led by Senior Brother Liu, hidden outside the academy gates."

Sima Hongji laughed heartily. "Linghu, you sly fox, planted spies inside my academy! Still, destroying Ma Tao, one of the Blood Fiend's eighteen elite killers, wasn't a loss."

Old Liu asked, "What are the eighteen elite killers?"

Linghu Chong explained, "The Blood Fiend Alliance is shrouded in mystery, its members scattered throughout Eastern Yue's sects. Only the eighteen elite killers are the highest in cultivation, serving as the Alliance's core force."

"Since you’re at Hongji Academy, let me play host. Let’s discuss matters inside." With a sweeping gesture, Sima Hongji’s hands extended and suddenly grabbed forward, opening a portal amidst the ruins Lei Xiang had wrought.

The group filed in, soon discovering a hidden chamber. Linghu Chong quietly instructed Old Liu, "You and Du Gu Yixiao go settle the group outside. We have matters to discuss with Lei Xiang."

Only four remained in the tranquil secret room; the other elder, unknown to Lei Xiang, was not introduced. Lei Xiang’s strong composure kept him absolutely calm—he knew their business must be of extraordinary importance.

Sima Hongji spoke first. "Lei Xiang, you achieved foundation establishment at sixteen—first in Eastern Yue. I admire you greatly, and you saved Hongji Academy this time. I wish to entrust the entire academy to you, and my daughter Yan’er as well."

Sima Hongji’s words brimmed with sincerity, yet the other two elders curled their lips in disdain, saying nothing.

Lei Xiang noticed this subtle change, thought for a moment, then grinned, showing his tiger-like teeth. "Thank you, Senior Sima, for your kindness. I’m carefree by nature and dislike restraint. My heart is set on the Dao; I cannot take a post at Hongji Academy."

"Young man, don’t be so quick to refuse. Lei Xiang, consider it—the offer is quite tempting."

But Lei Xiang shook his head firmly. Linghu Chong interjected, "Sima, he’s already declined. Why persist? Let’s discuss our business."

Sima Hongji’s beard quivered in annoyance. "Your matter is so troublesome—likely hopeless."

Linghu Chong ignored him, turning to Lei Xiang with a smile. "You completed your mission, so you’ll be rewarded with a cultivator’s identity token. We’ll perform the activation ceremony soon. For now, our topic remains the Blood Fiend Alliance."

Lei Xiang gave a sardonic smile. "You still want me to deal with the Blood Fiend Alliance. Honestly, they deserve eradication, but with my current strength, it’s like striking a stone with an egg."

"Not you, but the entire Eastern Yue. If you agree, you can command all available resources," the previously silent elder suddenly interjected.

Lei Xiang studied the elder—broad forehead, serene eyes, robust shoulders held square, his spine straight as an arrow.

After his assessment, Lei Xiang smiled, showing his tiger-like teeth. "Whether you're a prince or a duke, I’m not interested. Apologies."

"Ha! Good, good. Lei Xiang, I support you," Sima Hongji laughed like a child, feeling balanced; what he could not obtain, neither could the others.

Linghu Chong cried out, "Lei Xiang, this concerns national interests! How can you let personal preference override the country’s safety?"

At that moment, the elder’s gentle gaze betrayed a hint of appreciation. He gestured to Linghu Chong, maintaining a smile for Lei Xiang. "Young man, don’t underestimate yourself. Your cultivation may not suffice against the Blood Fiend Alliance, but your mind is more than capable. That is why I’ve chosen you."

Lei Xiang blinked. "You’re not just a prince, are you?"

Linghu Chong hurried forward. "Reckless! This is the Imperial Uncle of Eastern Yue, second only to the King."

Lei Xiang was a bit surprised; he hadn’t expected his affairs to warrant the Imperial Uncle’s personal involvement. He clasped his hands, neither humble nor arrogant. "Imperial Uncle!"

The Imperial Uncle of Eastern Yue waved kindly. "Lei Xiang, you needn’t answer right away. Consider it. For now, I’ll personally initiate your cultivator identity token application."

Mention of the identity token made Lei Xiang solemn. He knew this was a significant moment—perhaps the most important of his life, possibly shaping his future.

A cultivator’s identity token is the sole symbol of a cultivator’s status. Only those who have achieved foundation establishment are eligible. It serves as a passport between states and nations when traveling, but Lei Xiang had no idea how to apply for one. Fortunately, the Imperial Uncle patiently explained the procedure.

The applicant cannot apply for themselves; only cultivators who have maintained foundation establishment for ten years or more can apply on another’s behalf. Upon approval, registration is completed with the relevant departments, and monthly spirit stone rewards are issued.

The process involves the recommending cultivator using their own identity token to summon the divine sense of a wandering immortal or a high-level elder, who tests the applicant’s abilities. Identity tokens are classified by color—purple, blue, red, green, black, with purple being the highest. Most tokens are lifelong, though upgrades are exceedingly rare—one in a million.

The Imperial Uncle waved his hand, sending out two storage pouches. A number of rhombic spirit stones and formation flags arranged themselves on the ground, forming a small formation, and he signaled Lei Xiang to enter.

Lei Xiang sat cross-legged within. The Imperial Uncle performed an incantation, and the formation hummed to life. He tapped his own temple, producing a pea-sized green light that hovered above his head.

"This is my cultivator identity token. Green represents second rank. It began the size of a mung bean; upon achieving core formation, it automatically enlarged. Now, I will invite an immortal to test you. No matter what happens, remain calm, hold your center, let no stray thoughts disturb you..."

To Lei Xiang's surprise, the identity token was a tiny bean, able to be absorbed into the body. He quickly calmed himself, focusing his mind.

Several green incantations streamed forth, and the Imperial Uncle’s identity token emitted a halo of green light, enveloping him. His figure grew indistinct, eventually completely shrouded in dark green mist.

Suddenly, the mist surged upward, and a colossal phantom, over ten meters tall, appeared. Its features were unclear; it seemed to raise a hand, and a dazzling white beam shot onto Lei Xiang within the formation.

The white light poured in endlessly; Lei Xiang felt no particular reaction, but the giant phantom trembled violently.

"Hmm!" The giant gave a soft exclamation, continuing to pour spiritual energy in, testing Lei Xiang’s meridians. An hour passed; the giant’s image faded, quivering as if under unbearable strain.

All at once, the giant withdrew the white light, then shakily held out both hands and formed a strange seal. A thunderous crash sounded in the chamber, and a pale blue lightning bolt stabbed into Lei Xiang’s temple.

The giant phantom convulsed and then dissolved, the green mist swirling into a vortex, absorbed by the person below, revealing the pale-faced Imperial Uncle of Eastern Yue.

"Imperial Uncle, are you alright?" Linghu Chong called anxiously. The Imperial Uncle opened his tightly shut eyes, forced a bitter smile, and just as he began to speak, a mouthful of blood burst forth. "Cough, I'm fine. But this Lei Xiang is truly extraordinary—the summoned immortal’s divine sense could not withstand his spiritual power. He has received a blue token, two ranks above mine. In the future, he will surely... cough."

The formation was dismissed; Lei Xiang did not rush to exit, but circulated his energy and examined himself. He found no abnormalities, only a blue bean in his mind—the cultivator identity token bestowed by the strike of blue lightning.

Lei Xiang gave a wry smile. "I really am fated to lightning. My identity token came via lightning, the black python’s inner core through lightning, and even my crossing into this world seemed tied to blue lightning... Wait, back then, before crossing, the blue cell phone signal—could it have foreshadowed this identity token?"

The Imperial Uncle’s voice sounded, "Lei Xiang, your blue token is now in your mind. It will record all your actions before core formation—your virtues and vices, good and evil, all will be reflected in the token. If you are fortunate enough to ascend one day, this will be one of the main criteria for assessment."

Ah! Lei Xiang was truly astonished. He had read countless books in his previous life, but never heard of ascension being tied to an identity token, let alone distinguishing good from evil—what kind of world was this?

The Imperial Uncle feebly waved his hand. "Go and consider my proposal. Eliminating the Blood Fiend Alliance would be a great service to Eastern Yue, and would be recorded in your token. I’ve expended immense energy in this ritual—it may take years to recover. You may leave now. Give me your answer in three days."