Chapter 72: First Steps into University - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

### Chapter 72: First Steps into University As the representative of Mount Qingcheng, "Master Luo" made her appearance, other remarkably graceful individuals gradually led their disciples onto the scene. The platform at the edge of the cliff was abuzz with constant excitement. The crowd erupted in exclamations, reminiscent of the dynamic energy of a bar's entertainment squad. In the midst of it all, subtle circles formed around a chubby young boy at the center, drawn by his non-stop commentary on these celestial masters. Meanwhile, the group behind Luo Cong An slowly grew in number over time. More disciples from different peaks of Mount Qingcheng joined in, although they followed their senior brothers and sisters, as Luo Cong An was the sole Peak Lord present. Truth be told, Luo Cong An could have opted out of this event, even declined the position of a swordsmanship instructor, and stayed secluded up in Mount Qingcheng, with none daring to challenge her decision. Yet, as Chen An had appraised her, as long as her other consciousness remained dormant and she was not in a manic state, she was quite approachable. It was well-known across Mount Qingcheng that she was gentle and kind by nature, so when the Sect Leader approached her, it was unsurprising that she agreed without resistance. Finally, as the last group donned in radiant yellow robes descended the cliff, a clear, melodious chime arose. The noise on the platform abruptly ceased. That chubby boy quietly glanced over, a barely noticeable cold glint flickered in his eyes. Softly, he remarked, "The people from Dragon and Tiger Mountain have arrived." Once everyone had gathered, a solemn-looking middle-aged man stepped forward. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept across the assembly before he introduced himself. "My surname is Yan, and I am your first Principal..." After a long string of formal words. Three men in business suits stood behind Principal Yan. They each held a list, reading names aloud in turn for their respective sections. Those whose names were called stepped forward to receive their unique identity badges. These badges granted them unrestricted access to all areas except those explicitly prohibited by Dragon and Tiger Mountain. On the reverse side of the badge was their dormitory room number and a map for directions. The first batch of selected students totaled 343. All were under the age of twenty, promising talents awaiting development. Principal Yan, hands clasped behind his back, surveyed the eager faces of the young boys and girls below with satisfaction, nodding approvingly. ... Chen An received his badge and turned to the girl standing beside him. "I'm heading over first." Lin Jing Qiu wore a robe similar to Luo Cong An's today; although simple, it still drew many sidelong glances. Already, small groups of boys were eyeing each other, eagerly plotting their approach to strike up a conversation. Upon hearing Chen An, she waved her badge affirmatively. "See you tomorrow." Lin Jing Qiu smiled. Luo Cong An shifted her gaze, meeting Chen An's eyes, and nodded slightly. Dragon and Tiger Mountain is divided into the front and back mountains. The back mountain is strictly off-limits to students. In the mid-section of the front mountain, new houses have been constructed, some with plaques identifying them as classrooms, others used as dormitories. According to the Principal, today is for finding one's own dormitory, resting, and familiarizing oneself with the environment. Tomorrow morning marks the official freshman opening ceremony, where the unprecedented university's teaching methods and rules will be explained. The mountain air was refreshingly crisp. Following the directions on his badge, Chen An walked for roughly ten minutes before reaching a courtyard. A sign labeled "Yi Four" was hung at the entrance, marking Chen An's assigned dormitory. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. The courtyard was small, hosting only a single room beyond a small open space. Four beds were arranged inside, indicating it was a four-person room. Chen An had sauntered over while admiring the scenery, so by the time he arrived, his three other roommates were already present. They were seated on their beds, engaged in lively conversation. Spotting Chen An entering, a burly-looking boy near the door brightened. Grinning, he exclaimed, "Well, speak of the devil; our Yi Four room is now complete." The other two also turned their gaze toward him. They all internally marveled, silently remarking on the handsomeness of their last arriving roommate. "Wait a minute!" The tall, slim boy on the top bunk furrowed his brow, suddenly leaped down with a revelation. After scrutinizing Chen An closely, he exclaimed, "Aren't you the disciple that was following behind Master Luo earlier? You left quite an impression!" Although Luo Cong An's appearance was brief, her outstanding aura and appearance quickly spread like wildfire among the new students. The legend of "Master Luo" was rapidly passed around. Seeing Chen An nod in confirmation, the three of them immediately looked at him with fervor. They suddenly gathered around Chen An, surrounding him. The tall, lanky boy who first called out his identity was visibly excited, "Man, you're like my elder brother now. Those of you from prestigious mountains or sects, you surely know way more than us ordinary folks, right? You must look out for your little brother in the future!" Chen An shook his head, "I'm not a disciple of Mount Qingcheng, just happened to know her and came along for the ride." The trio paused at his words but remained enthusiastic. After all, even if he wasn't a disciple of Mount Qingcheng, following Master Luo around indicated some special aptitude. Whether it was personal skill or influential background, regardless, he was indeed a promising person worth befriending. Through their subsequent conversation, Chen An learned about their backgrounds. The tall, slender boy, named Sun Zhen Jiang, hailed from the capital, but was not some affluent city offspring, knowing little about the sudden opportunity at hand. The burly boy, Shao Ren, came from a northern small town and was even more bewildered than Sun Zhen Jiang about the whole situation. Then there was the last boy, Xie Wen Qing, who was slightly dark-skinned and shorter, claiming roots from a Taoist temple in Nanyang, displaying more familiarity with the Spirit Qi revival. They all looked to Chen An with hopeful anticipation, eager to gain some early insight about this university. However, they were bound for disappointment, as Chen An remained clueless to most inquiries. Perhaps Lin Jing Qiu had explained it to him before, but Chen An was never inclined to remember these things. Gradually, their initial fervor waned. As evening approached, Shao Ren suggested they all go for dinner, mentioning he had already scoped out the cafeteria location earlier in the day. He also mentioned he heard that their meals were specially prepared, rich in Spirit Qi, to aid their future cultivation. Chen An politely declined the invitation. Because he intended to visit Luo Cong An. *(End of Chapter)*