System's Super Sect-Chapter 485 - 483. Jealousy is the original sin

Bright Mirror Lake.

Celestial Academy, since the demise of the Mitian Sect, has witnessed unprecedented progress, elevating its century-old reputation and status at Bright Mirror Lake significantly. Now at Bright Mirror Lake, the dream destination for cultivators with talent is almost always Celestial Academy. However, within Celestial Academy, regardless of your talent, if you’re below the Profound Realm, you can only cultivate in the Outer Courtyard. Only by stepping into the Profound Realm can you enter the Inner Courtyard.

Hence, the ratio of Inner Courtyard to Outer Courtyard is 1 to 1000.

However, Shi Hua is an exception. Her sudden emergence directly made her a direct disciple of the academy’s principal, causing the entire Celestial Academy to be shocked. She broke the rule of not entering the Inner Courtyard unless in the Profound Realm and became the only person at Celestial Academy who can freely enter the Treasure Repository—it’s known that since its establishment a thousand years ago, even Inner Courtyard disciples can only reach the third floor; the higher fourth, fifth, and sixth floors have always been reserved for stewards, elders, and sect leaders.

Of course, Shi Hua’s authority is not limited to this.

At the moment, on the inner courtyard plaza, over a thousand people gather in front of two erected stone tablets, each trying to press forward to the stone tablets, all aiming to see if their name is on them. If one can find their name on these stone tablets, they can enter the Purification Pool, which opens only once a year, so naturally, everyone wants in, though the quota is always determined by the elders.

"I’m in!"

Suddenly, a shout bursts forth from the front of the crowd as a young man sees his name appear on the stone tablet, his mouth breaking into a wide grin.

Of course, what follows is envy, jealousy, and resentment from his friends nearby.

"This guy just reached the Profound Realm, and now he can enter the Purification Pool. This trip, surely he can enter Minor Success with the Purity Body. Why do elders see him as potential material?"

"Get lost, don’t block me."

"I entered the Profound Realm at 24, the Purification Pool has to let me in." That person replied proudly.

But what followed was the crowd pushing and jostling him aside as the remaining individuals gathered around the stone tablet to look.

Time slowly passed, some rejoiced, some felt sorrow.

Those who rejoiced did so because they gained a spot in the Purification Pool, and those in sorrow naturally didn’t.

At this moment, five or six aloof-looking young talents happened to pass by at the back of the crowd, amongst them a sword-browed young man holding a long sword glanced at Shi Hua, "Shi Hua, aren’t you going to take a look?"

These five were all disciples of academy elders, holding esteemed status, with power levels that varied but were still stronger than most in the Inner Courtyard. They all knew Shi Hua was well-liked by the principal, so they were willing to befriend her. However, no one understood how a woman with a ruined face and poor talent could gain such importance from the principal.

Shi Hua shook her head and kept walking forward, "Brother Zhuo Xing is joking, I’m only in the Body Refining Realm."

"True, you’re just in body refinement, it really isn’t possible to enter the Purification Pool. The Purification Pool yearly is open to only 50 people, while the Inner Courtyard has over a thousand disciples. But rest assured, Shi Hua junior sister, once you enter the Profound Realm, Celestial Academy will definitely give you a spot." Zhuo Xing murmured as he slowly turned his head back, following the others in continuing to walk forward, "Ah, I wonder when I’ll be able to enter the Purification Pool."

"Brother Zhuo Xing hasn’t been in yet?" Shi Hua was a bit puzzled.

Zhuo Xing is the disciple of the fifth elder.

Shouldn’t he have entered long ago?

Zhuo Xing shook his head, which elicited a chuckle from a young woman with dark eyebrows and red lips next to him, who then said, "Junior sister Shi Hua, the Purification Pool isn’t something that can be entered through connections. Generally speaking, after a year of cultivation inside, an Entry Level Purity Body will certainly reach Minor Success. If you were already at Minor Success, there’s a good chance it will shorten the time needed for you to reach Great Success. If previously it took ten years to attain Great Success, then after emerging from the Purification Pool, it might become five years. You can imagine the rarity and value of the quota... Though we, as elder disciples, receive more resources daily, it doesn’t include the Purification Pool, in fact, among the five of us, only Yu Fei brother has been inside."

"Ah!"

Shi Hua was a bit surprised.

This young woman is a disciple of the second elder.

And Yu Fei too.

However, Yu Fei is on a deeper level, being a direct disciple.

"Let’s go."

Zhuo Xing whispered, urging everyone to move quickly.

But at that very moment, a voice suddenly exploded among the crowd of over a thousand, "Shi Hua! Why is she there?"

"No, she’s only at the ninth level of body refinement, why can she enter the Purification Pool as well?"

"This is unfair."

"Using the Purification Pool for body refinement takes our quota, the principal is simply too biased."

...

These words entered the ears of Zhuo Xing and the others, eliciting a helpless smile from the five.

"It seems I was being naive." Zhuo Xing smiled awkwardly, a flash of jealousy shooting from his eyes, though it quickly vanished.

In fact, not just him, the others were a bit envious too.

Even in the Profound Realm, one might never enter the Purification Pool, yet Shi Hua in the body refinement realm was able to, and at the ninth level.

Since she entered at the ninth level, wouldn’t that mean she could enter every year?

Shi Hua stood there, momentarily at a loss, not knowing what to say, and as the crowd of over a thousand gradually turned their gaze upon her, eyes full of envy and resentment swept past her, deepening her sorrow.

She thought after her parents’ deaths, she had grown strong inside.

But today, she truly felt lost.

Why are these people looking at her with resentment?

...

Cloud Sea City.

Since Zui Sheng’s death, Tuo Ying has stayed at Cloud Sea City because it’s a convenient location to reach Bright Mirror Lake or Zimo Lake, places she believes the Immortal Sect must be one of the Three Lakes.

That evening, the door to her room at the inn was knocked on, and Yang Xibi’s voice came from outside, "Divine Lady, I’ve returned."

"Do you have news?"

Tuo Ying did not invite Yang Xibi inside but coldly inquired, as if there was no news, she wouldn’t want Yang Xibi entering.

Yang Xibi hurriedly replied, "Regarding the Immortal Sect, we’ve already uncovered around eighty to ninety percent of the information you seek. It’s all right here with me, please have a look."

"Come in." Tuo Ying responded.

Yang Xibi quickly pushed the door open, saying nothing as he strode forward to present the item in his hand before Tuo Ying, then spoke, "I’ve thoroughly investigated the sect leader of the Immortal Sect. He’s nothing but an 18 or 19-year-old young lad. Additionally, I discovered another matter, Elder Yang Bi’s death is undoubtedly linked to the Immortal Sect. It seems highly likely the sect leader of the Immortal Sect orchestrated it behind the scenes."