BUTTERFLIES (Arc 2&3; The Undefeatable Class 192)

Chapter 86: Returning to the Academy

  The cold wind pushed against my unbound hair, through the window of the house-like object fastened around Roy's back. I'd just finished driving cycles of true essence through my meridians, with the United Heavens Cultivation Technique.

  I stood up, suddenly, and looked outside. We were finally approaching Arerat City.

  Seven days ago, that night when I'd left the Dragon-clawed Hartebeest's cave, Queen and I had returned to its stable where the master keepers of the horses there showed me to a guest-room. It was there that I'd spent the night. The next morning, I set out with my new pet whom I now call "Harty" for my return journey. Of course, I hadn't forgotten to leave behind my promise of revisiting Queen in the nearest future.

  As can be imagined, the journey back was much faster with an Ethereal Ascension realm beast. Harty was a terrific runner, and thus I lost counts of how many times the back of my head kissed the desert sands, or how many times my buttocks struck the hard grounds of mountainous terrains.

  Today, I declare that none could teach one how best to ride a beast, better than a beast itself. With Harty, I learnt to trot, jump, swerve, etc., etc., when riding a beast. Had I not been a cultivator, I probably would have been arriving the Arerat City in two parts— literally.

  Although I'd spent a good number of hours practicing beast riding, I also did not — even for a single day — neglect my cultivation. Whenever I needed to do the latter, I would stow Harty away in the recluse ring, and cultivate on Roy's back.

  Throughout the past few days, I realised that a lot had changed in my body, inside out.

  Externally, my facial beauty had improved. I'd grown a metre taller than I previously was. And, of course — cough cough — girls with their backside as flat as the Tower of Cultivation would contemplate suicide after seeing me.

  Internally, as I'd earlier noticed, my dantian had broadened. What's more, there was a barely visible vortex that draws in waves and waves of spiritual energy whenever I cultivated, making it faster for me to recuperate used energy. Whoever said I needed two years to make a breakthrough to Ethereal Ascension realm? I'm sure to achieve that within a year!

  "To the academy," I told Roy, before leaving the window to sit down.

  The Arerat City, so far, was the only city I'd seen without need for a city wall and city gates. It was like there was perfect peace and security. As long as one could successfully cross the mountainous regions and deserts, and finally arrive there, then that was it.

  However, to think of it, the Arerat City do have city gates and walls; but only at the largest and best school in the Acorn Valley Kingdom: Junior Academy of the Gifted.

  Anyways, who in his right senses would make a ruckus in this city? The experts in the JAC alone was something to be frightened of. The auras from the teachers was enough to kill ordinary Gifted people without cultivation bases. Imagine if these teachers eventually get into a real battle. Just take Teacher Haggz, for instance. Although I cannot tell his cultivation base, his aura itself is indecipherable, giving one the feeling of staring into a bottomless pit.

  Shaking my head in awe, I pushed all these miscellaneous thoughts off, to the back of my head. Roy was already soaring over the heads of the inhabitants of this city. We passed over lots of glittering trees reflecting with grandeur, the dispersed golden rays from the setting sun. Roy was flying at top speed and, very soon, the mighty gates of the JAC began to come within sight. I could finally catch a breather. I exhaled the cold air with a wide smile. My heart was shouting, "Home sweet home!" The weather in this city, when compared to Jade City and Blazing Sun City, was perfect.

  Roy landed before the awesomazing gates, because the school's tradition did not permit flying over its gates, no matter one's position.

  There was a stone-faced guard by the gate, and he was different from the one I'd met there, three weeks ago, when I'd left the academy.

  "Halt!" he called out in a deep voice. I observed him and the first thing I noticed was his cultivation base; Ethereal Ascension realm. His face was devoid of emotions, his shoulders were broad, and he was head and shoulder taller than me. For his face... there really was nothing to comment on, than to say it was box-like. He was cladded in an armour carrying the academy's insignia, holding a spear in his left hand.

  Without saying a single word, I came down from Roy's back, smiling widely.

  I could've sworn to see a glint of surprise in his eyes for a split-second, when he noticed I wasn't intimidated by his aura — if only he knew the pressure of the aura I'd faced a week plus ago, he'd not have even bothered to show off.

  "State your business or scram!" he roared at me.

  Maintaining my calm still, I flicked my wrist and presented my Student Token.

  The guard didn't see this coming, and his eyes widened involuntarily as he rushed to collect the Student Token, meticulously, the way one would hold a big egg. He infused his true essence for validity check.

  "I-it can-can't be that you're St-stephanie?" he stuttered after returning my Student Token in disbelief.

  "You know me?" I asked, taken off guard. I could remember sealing the part about my name, just now.

  The man suddenly broke into a sweat. Forcing out an awkward smile, he said: "Please forgive me for not earlier recognising you!"

  "Huhn?" I was befuddled. Just a second ago, this man was all bone faced, and now he's acting all nicely. Maybe his Gift is Chameleon Face Changing, if anything of the sort exists.

  He continued smiling. "Are you in Class 192?"

  "Yup," I answered with a nod.

  "Then it _is_ you. Please come with me. The principals of the academy have all been awaiting your return," he said, this time taking my hand without my consent.

  Just as I wanted to interject, he added, "Brace yourself, we're running."

  "Huhn?!" My eyes opened wider than I'd have liked it to.

  Before I knew it, my face was battered by the wind, as my legs moved terribly quickly to match up to the foolish guard's pace. If not that this man was dashing into the academy, I'd have thought he was a kidnapper! 'How brazen... my legs!'

  'How does he expect me, a mere Meditation realm cultivator, to match up with him who's in the Ethereal Ascension realm?!'

  Soon, my legs were suspended, and I found myself hurled over his shoulder. He was muttering something about slowing him down.

  'Are ye flying cow mad?! I'm a freaking girl!'

  Oh... if wishes were horses, I'd have made this man ride to the end of the world and be extinguished into manure. Wasn't he acting all respect a moment ago? What were all these about?! Aren't Ethereal Ascension realm cultivators scary?

  With the speed this person was running with, I couldn't even tell what part of the academy he was running towards. The academy walls were large and vast, so there were lots of places I'd yet to venture.