Rise of The Demon General

"All right, we can go now," Lao Zen said.

"Tutor Lao, you will be escorting us yourself?" Zhuan San asked.

"Yes. You all hold the highest average score compared to past entrance exams. It is only fair that I show you my recognition by bringing you myself to your new dwellings."

Lao Zen might be saying that, but they did not doubt that it had more to do with one of them creating an unbeatable record during the exam.

"Come!" Lao Zen said and glided forward. The ten followed behind.

Lao Zen gliding with his feet a few inches off the ground. His pace was at first the speed of a slow run, but it slowly increased. The others kept up by running.

When Lao Zen's speed increased to the point where they couldn't keep up with a simple run, everyone started to use their movement art. Amon used his shadowless sprint.

"Tutor Lao, isn't the trial over already?" Zhuan San said. His movement art caused the air to rotate behind him every time he stepped. It was like an invisible force was pushing him forward.

"Haha. Trials never end, student Zhuan," Lao Zen replied. "This is the first thing you learn as a student of this royal academy. Your every day here will be a trial. Your life will be a trial. Never stop pushing forward and always be ready for the next challenge that comes, mostly when you least expect it."

Lao Zen's body became even faster. "Those that cannot keep up, you can sleep on the ground for tonight!"

Everyone increased their speed as well. It was night already now, it was easy to lose sight of Lao Zen. Hence, they tried to stay as close as possible.

Out of the ten, Yan Long's movement art was the fastest. He was leading at the head. He looked back and showed everyone a condescending expression, which irked everyone up, except Amon.

"Kid, don't you look down on us!" Wu Di uttered. His running paused for a tick. Suddenly an explosive sound was heard. The ground he was stepping on broke apart. His body shot forward with great speed.

He almost crashed into Yan Long due to his sudden burst of speed. Yan Long jumped to the side out of alarm. Wu Di shot past him.

"Asshole! You almost crashed into me!" Yan Long shouted in anger.

"Hahaha, I am the first now!" Wu Di laughed.

Yan Long, who was furious, was about to attack Wu Di for what he did. But Lao Zen's voice stopped him, "No fighting, please. Not now. I will not wait if you stop to fight. You will have to find the way on your own."

Grumbling, Yan Long resumed his run.

Luckily, Lao Zen didn't increase his speed anymore. If he did, none amongst the ten would be able to keep up. It seemed the old tutor simply wanted to see everyone's movement art. He turned back and gave the ten an approving look.

"I'm going to tell you a bit about the layout of this royal academy as we travel," Lao Zen said. "The land in this royal academy is mostly divided into four sections. The first is the main section, where most activities are happening. Teaching and learning are there, as well as administrative buildings, and it is also where the tutors live. The other three parts are places for students. They are divided into Freshman, junior, and senior sections."

"You will of course stay in the freshman section," Lao Zen told them. "The term you study in this academy is fifteen years. The royal academy performs its entrance exam every five years. When you join, a batch of students joining fifteen years ago graduate. So, there are three generations of students at any one time within this royal academy. The junior section is inhabited by students who joined this academy five years ago, and the senior is for students who joined this academy ten years ago. After five years, you will enter the junior section. While the ones in the senior section will graduate and go out to make their marks upon this world."

"What about our accommodation here?" Sima Fang asked.

"Every section has its own private lodging for the top ten students," Lao Zen answered. "But of course, before you enter the junior section, there will be a test to determine if you are still worth it as the top ten. So, don't think your positions are fixed already. This lodging is only yours for the next five years. After that, you will have to fight for private lodging again."

"Bring it on!" Wu Di uttered.

"Hmph! Like you have any chance," Yan Long mocked.

"My rank is higher than you, you twat," Wu Di mocked back.

Yan Long's face was red from the insult. He was about to give in to his emotion and attack when Lao Zen's voice was heard again, "Young master Yan. Scuffles are allowed as long as there is no death or permanent injury. But I don't have the time to watch you tussle, so we will leave you here if you do."

Yan Long aborted his intention after listening to Lao Zen's words. He instead said to Wu Di, "Hmph! I'm younger than you, my potential is better. Let's see whose rank will be higher after five years."

"I can't wait for it, twat," Wu Di replied, which caused Yan Long's face to go red again.

Amon's thought was more on Lao Zen. He wondered what was Lao Zen's cultivation level. A martial realm cultivator could sense the cultivation of those below him, but to be able to detect fluctuation of energy from one person was another matter. Amon had a battle instinct that allowed him to have this kind of detection, but he understood the people in this world didn't, at least until now. Lao Zen reacted the moment Yan Long's energy went turbulent, which indicated that he knew Yan Long was about to perform an assault.

They continued their journey. Zhuan San tried to open some conversations in the group, saying that it was so everyone could know each other better. But no one wanted to say anything to let others know them better. Everyone thought that the fewer others knew about them, the less they could use it against them.

Zhuan San could only smile wryly and did casual conversation instead. The only ones responding to him were Wu Di, Sima Fang, Tuang Yin, and Wu Lang. The others were mostly quiet.

Pai Wang ran beside Amon and whispered, "Pai Kuan told me you will be our ally. I am Pai Wang from the White Cloud sect."

Amon turned to him. So, this was one of the other candidates the White Cloud Sect sent aside from Yang Li.

"I will make contact with my seniors in this academy. From my understanding, there are several factions within this place. They were made up of an alliance of several clans and sects. Once I got in touch with them, we will go there and follow their instructions."

"Not interested," Amon replied.

"What?! Pai Kuan said…"

"I told Pai Kuan I am an ally, not a subordinate. You can go and join your faction if you want. I will do things my way."

Pai Wang had a complicated expression upon the statement. He then said, "You know you will be vulnerable if you are alone, don't you?"

"That's my problem," Amon replied.

"Hmph, suit yourself. Don't come begging to me when you are in trouble," Pai Wang said and moved away.

After some time, they finally came to their destination. It was a small mountain within the academy. On the mountain, there were ten houses positioned at different heights and of different sizes. All the houses had courtyards. The lowest one at the foot of the mountain had the smallest size. While the largest one sat on the mountain's top. On its flat summit was a house that looked to be one acre in size.

Amon thought the mountain looked too unnatural. It looked more like a large rock that was sculpted into an intended shape. For this world to have someone that could sculpt a mountain like this, Amon felt excited. He couldn't wait to reach such a level.

Lao Zen stopped at the foot of this mountain. The ten youths also stopped.

Seeing the setup of the houses, everyone understood without being told. Wu Lang came to the smallest house where Lao Zen was standing beside its entrance.

"This house is mine?" He asked.

"For the next five years," Lao Zen confirmed. Then to everyone, he announced. "You all know your ranks. Lin Mo has the one on the summit. Please know that there is a barrier formation around each house. The barrier has been set to only allow the appropriate person to enter. If you try to enter a house that doesn't belong to you without permission, you will be assaulted by the formation. An alarm will also sound to notify everyone nearby and every security office around the academy. So don't try to intrude into other students' houses."

"Now, go in and have your rest. Tomorrow morning a guide will come to bring you to the main section where you will have your first class. Please note that we will only send a guide once. So memorize the way, you will have to find your own way to class on the second day."

"All right, I will leave you to your rest." With those words, Lao Zen floated up and disappeared into the night sky.

There was a pathway leading to each of the houses up on the mountain. Everyone followed the pathway and started ascending. Amon took the longest time because his house was the furthest on top.