When Earth Awakened, I Became a Sword Saintess

Chapter 74 : Department Division

74: Department Division

The next day, Yuyin and Little Yuan followed the notice and went to the multi-purpose hall by the southeast side of Yuehu Lake, the tiered audio-visual hall.

The Lingdu Source Martial Academy was enormous, covering over thirty square kilometers and backed by Yushan Mountain.

The Yushan mountain range, spanning several dozen square kilometers, was divided into three sections: one part belonged to the Lingdu Source Martial Academy, another was a military district, and the last was the most exclusive villa district in Lingdu’s outer suburbs.

Yuyin and Little Yuan walked halfway around the lake before reaching the tiered audio-visual hall in the multi-purpose building. The hall could seat five hundred people, and all the new students were present.

Today, the new students were informed that the first step in their cultivation journey at the academy was:

Department Division.

"The Lingdu Source Martial Academy has eight major departments: Swordsman, Strongman, Long Weapon, Daoist Arts, Ling Dance, Five Elements, Medic, and Artisan." Chen Qian'ning, dressed in a navy-blue professional suit that exuded a mature feminine charm, explained from the podium at one corner of the large screen.

"In a moment, we will play the introductory materials for each of these eight departments. Your Lingdu Source Martial Academy app on your phones also has detailed information. The purpose is to determine the specific direction of your future cultivation based on each of your individual characteristics, strengths, and aspirations. Be warned: all this information, including the content on the app, is strictly forbidden from being disclosed to the outside world. If any breach is discovered, the penalty will be immediate expulsion, with further consequences to be pursued. Is that understood?"

Chen Qian'ning flicked her teaching stick, and it felt as if it had struck every student. It was the pressure and intimidation of a powerful individual.

Yuyin and Little Yuan sat together. The lights dimmed, and the large screen, like in a cinema, began to play the introductory PowerPoint for each department in turn.

Yuyin had had no idea that they would be divided into departments after entering the academy. Usually, universities had you choose your major before applying, but the department division and teaching system of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy were top secret. Besides, ordinary people would find it hard to understand the meaning of these departments, so naturally, they weren’t announced in advance.

Chen Qian'ning, full of pride and spirit, explained, "First is the Swordsman Department. This can be said to be one of our academy’s signature departments. As the name suggests, it is the great path of cultivation and combat centered around the sword."

The first slide of the Swordsman Department’s presentation showed a handsome man and a beautiful woman in ancient-style, Daoist couple’s robes, standing shoulder to shoulder with long swords on their backs. Behind them was an ethereal landscape of mountains and rivers, creating a scene with the air of an immortal couple.

One had to say the promotional image was very evocative, and many students were instantly captivated.

"However, don’t get your hopes up too high. The Swordsman Department has extremely high standards for Primordial Energy, martial skill, and state of mind. The sword is the king of all weapons, balanced in offense and defense, with versatile applications. And the swordsmen of our Lingdu Source Martial Academy must not only be proficient in martial arts but also master body techniques, mystical arts, and skills like Qimen Dunjia. It is a very powerful and comprehensive main combat cultivation path. Accordingly, the difficulty of cultivation is also extremely high. If you don’t have sufficient aptitude, perseverance, and determination, do not rashly choose this department, or you will only hinder your own progress." Chen Qian'ning said sternly.[ TN: Qimen Dunjia: The art of hiding oneself and acting through secret, auspicious paths. ]

"Not only can you choose, but the various departments will also conduct a two-way selection based on your strengths and situation."

Most of the students were very excited and began whispering amongst themselves. It was clear that a significant number of them wanted to become an "immortal couple."

"The Swordsman Department?" Yuyin thought to herself. She used a sword, and her aptitude was certainly sufficient. "This seems like a good choice."

"Aw… It’s a shame I don’t practice with a sword." Little Yuan said, a little disappointed.

"Oh, by the way, the training in the Swordsman Department is also very strict, because the head of the Swordsman Department is a position I hold concurrently." Chen Qian'ning said with a hint of confidence.

These words might have scared off some of the new students, but there were also quite a few male and female students who liked this type of female teacher, and they were now even more eager to join the Swordsman Department.

Next, the Strongman Department was introduced.

The promotional image featured a burly, stout man. Unlike the Western men with sharply defined muscles, this man had a broad back and a powerful bear-like waist, a robust physique, and a large beer belly, giving him the imposing air of an ancient Eastern strongman.

Not many female students wanted to sign up for this department.

The Long Weapon Department, as the name suggested, was for users of long weapons like spears, halberds, and long staffs, which favored skill but also required a certain amount of strength. The promotional image depicted a handsome general in silver armor holding a spear, quite in the style of Zhao Zilong.

The Daoist Arts Department also featured an immortal couple, but they were more elegant and graceful. The man held a horsetail whisk, and the woman played a flute.

Chen Qian'ning said the Daoist Arts Department could be seen as a more magic-oriented version of the Swordsman Department, also requiring the cultivation of excellent martial skills.

The Ling Dance Department was a specialty of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy. The image showed a flying Apsara dancer in a thin, flowing feather dress. The top of the dress was a blue-gold, Luoshan-style tube top that exposed her navel, making her look like a sexy fairy.

"The Ling Dance Department only accepts beautiful female students and has strict physical requirements. It is a support profession for the four main combat departments, but its own combat strength is not necessarily weak, leaning towards mystical arts and techniques." Chen Qian'ning introduced.

The Medic Department, as the name implied, was the path of cultivating ancient medical arts, gathering herbs, and refining medicines. It had nothing to do with modern medicine, nor was it equivalent to alchemy.

The Five Elements Department, involving Qimen Dunjia, the arts of Yin and Yang, and alchemical methods, was, in reality, an extremely profitable department to cultivate well. However, Chen Qian'ning also admitted that the Five Elements Department of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy was not as good as those of the Tiandu Source Martial Academy and the other top sects.

The Artisan Department, famed for its miraculously skillful craftsmanship, depicted an ancient craftsman with thick eyebrows and large eyes holding an axe. This department was capable of anything, from forging magical artifacts and weapons to being in charge of constructing various special buildings and mechanisms needed for cultivation. They were the skilled craftsmen of the cultivation world, but this artisan crafting was quite different from artifact refinement.

After the introduction of the eight departments was finished, Chen Qian'ning said, "You have two days to decide. Once you have made up your mind, you can apply for that department on the app. We will review and notify you of the result within three days. Those who are not accepted will be assigned to the most suitable department by the teachers based on your situation."

"Additionally, in the first semester, each person has one opportunity per month to apply for a transfer. It can be approved with the Department Head’s permission. If, after your actual experience, you feel you want to change your path, it is possible within the first semester of your first year. After that, no more changes will be allowed."

"That’s all for the introduction today. Go back, think it over carefully, and then apply. Class dismissed." Chen Qian'ning said crisply. With that, she turned and left, her round, slender legs, wrapped in a tight short skirt, striding away as her high heels tapped a "da, da" rhythm on the stage. She seemed to be in a hurry; perhaps she had a date that evening.

"Sister Yuyin, which department are you planning to apply for?" On the way back from class, Little Yuan asked as she and Yuyin walked together by the lake.

Of the eight departments, there wasn’t much for Yuyin to consider.

"The Swordsman Department." Yuyin said.

"Mmm, it really does seem to suit you, Sister… But I haven’t decided yet…" Little Yuan pouted, looking down.

"There’s no rush. You have two days, you can think it over slowly." Yuyin said with a smile.

That evening, in their dorm room, Yuyin directly applied using the app. It was very quick.

But what was even quicker was that less than a minute after she had applied, a message popped up on the app, displaying, "Your application has been approved."

"Huh? Instant approval?" Yuyin was a bit surprised. She tapped to check and saw that the approver was Chen Qian'ning.