Qinglan Town, a small town quietly existing on the edge of Canglan Realm, has always been peaceful and tranquil. The town's buildings are mostly built of bluestone and wood, scattered among the rolling hills. A clear stream meanders through the town, and willows sway by the stream, with branches dancing in the breeze. Usually, it is a bit leisurely and comfortable. But today, this tranquility was completely broken. An unprecedented beast tide, like a surging black tide, is madly sweeping towards the town.

  Duan Litang, a boy who just turned fifteen, was standing at the entrance of the town, holding a slightly worn wooden stick in his hand. He was tall and straight, and his eyes under his sword-like eyebrows showed a determination that was rare among his peers. The long hard life made his face more mature. His clothes were patched, but clean and tidy, and his black hair was tied behind his head, fluttering gently in the wind.

  "Ah--" A deafening roar came from the herd, and a sturdy second-level red flame leopard suddenly jumped out of the herd. The red flame leopard's fur was as red as burning flames, and its eyes flashed with bloodthirsty light. Its huge claws scratched deep marks on the ground, and dust flew wherever it went. Its appearance made the already chaotic herd even more restless, and the other monsters made way for it. It was obviously the leader of this group of monsters.

  Duan Litang's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and his hand holding the stick trembled slightly. It was not the first time for him to face a monster, but such a powerful second-level red flame leopard was an unprecedented challenge. But he could not retreat. Behind him was the town where he had lived for fifteen years, his only home, and the old temple priest lying in the dilapidated temple with a serious illness.

  The Red Flame Leopard leaped high, like a red lightning, and pounced towards Duan Litang. It opened its bloody mouth, its sharp fangs flashing cold light, and a fishy wind blew in his face, almost knocking Duan Litang over. Duan Litang took a deep breath, dodged to the side, and the Red Flame Leopard pounced on nothing, falling heavily to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

  "Don't panic, we must protect the town." Duan Litang encouraged himself secretly in his heart. He waved the wooden stick and rushed towards the red flame leopard. The wooden stick hit the red flame leopard's head fiercely with a whistling sound. The red flame leopard easily dodged the attack, and with a wave of its claws, it scratched a long bloody mark on Duan Litang's arm. Blood gushed out instantly, dripping down his arm, and splashing small blood flowers on the ground.

  "Hiss——" Duan Litang took a breath of cold air, but the pain stimulated a certain power in his body. He felt a heat in his chest, and the blood-colored pendant he had been wearing on his chest suddenly emitted a dazzling blood-colored light, which spread to his whole body like a thread. At the same time, a pair of blood-colored wings slowly emerged behind him, with runes flashing on the wings, exuding a mysterious and powerful aura.

  The Red Flame Leopard seemed to sense the danger, and a trace of fear flashed across its originally fierce eyes. It kept wandering around Duan Litang, looking for an opportunity to attack, but it never dared to rush forward. Duan Litang looked at the light wings behind him, and his heart was filled with surprise and shock, but at this moment he had no time to think about it, he had to use this power to repel the monster.

  He waved his wings of light, and rushed towards the Red Flame Leopard like a ghost. The strong wind brought by the wings of light blew the dust and sand around. The Red Flame Leopard roared and pounced on Duan Litang again, but this time, Duan Litang easily dodged its attack and hit the Red Flame Leopard's back with the wooden stick in his hand. The Red Flame Leopard screamed in pain and rolled on the ground for several rounds.

  "Hmph, let's see if you still dare to be so arrogant." Duan Litang panted, his eyes full of fighting spirit. He rushed towards the Red Flame Leopard again, this time, his attack was more fierce, and every time he swung his light wings, it brought a powerful force, making the Red Flame Leopard exhausted.

  In the fierce battle, Duan Litang gradually mastered the power of the light wings, and his attacks became more handy. The body of the Red Flame Leopard was already covered with scars, blood dyed its hair red, and its eyes were full of despair and fear. Finally, Duan Litang found the right time, and swung the light wings fiercely. A blood-colored light slashed through the body of the Red Flame Leopard like a sharp blade. The Red Flame Leopard let out a final scream, fell to the ground, and died.

  With the death of the Red Flame Leopard, the beasts seemed to have lost their command and began to become chaotic. They fled everywhere and collided with each other, and the originally orderly attack collapsed in an instant. Duan Litang looked at the scattered beasts, and his tense nerves finally relaxed. He folded his light wings, collapsed to the ground, and gasped for breath.

  "Litang, Litang." A weak voice came from a distance. Duan Litang raised his head with difficulty, and saw the old temple keeper staggering towards him. The old temple keeper was hunched over, with white hair and wrinkles on his face. He was wearing a washed-out monk's robe. His steps were weak, as if he would fall down at any time, but his eyes were filled with anxiety and concern.

  "Old temple keeper, why did you come out? You are not well yet." Duan Litang struggled to get up and greeted the old temple keeper.

  The old temple keeper walked up to Duan Litang, looked at him covered in blood, his eyes full of distress: "Child, you are injured." He stretched out his hand tremblingly and gently wiped the dust and blood off Duan Litang's face.

  "I'm fine, old temple keeper. Thanks to this pendant, I was able to repel the red flame leopard and protect the town." Duan Litang said, taking out the blood-red pendant from his chest.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  The old temple keeper looked at the pendant with a complicated look in his eyes: "Child, this pendant. is related to your life experience. In fact, I have been hiding something from you."

  Duan Litang was shocked. He had always known that his life story was a mystery, but the old temple keeper had never mentioned it in detail. He asked anxiously, "Old temple keeper, please tell me, who am I?"

  The old temple keeper coughed a few times, took out half a jade slip with the words "Lingxian" engraved on it, and handed it to Duan Litang: "Child, this is what your parents left for you. They are of extraordinary status. When they entrusted you to me, they only said that if one day you awaken special powers, you should take this jade slip to Lingxian Academy, where you will find the answer to your life experience."

  Duan Litang took the jade slip and examined it carefully, his heart filled with doubts and expectations: "Lingxian Academy? What is that place?"

  The old temple keeper was about to speak when his face suddenly turned extremely pale and a mouthful of blood spurted out of his mouth. "Old temple keeper!" Duan Litang hurriedly supported the old temple keeper, his eyes full of anxiety.

  The old temple keeper used up his last bit of strength, looking at Duan Litang, his eyes full of love: "Child, you must go to Lingxian Academy. Find out your life experience." After saying that, his hands slowly dropped, and the gradually dissipating afterimage of the blood-red light wings behind Duan Litang was reflected in his pupils, and he closed his eyes forever.

  "Old temple keeper!" Duan Litang cried out in grief, tears welling up in his eyes. He hugged the old temple keeper's body tightly, his heart filled with grief and anger. At this moment, he lost his only relative in the world, and he became more determined to go to Lingxian Academy to explore his life experience.

  Just as Duan Litang was immersed in grief, a crisp bell sound suddenly came from the sky. He looked up and saw a gorgeous Lingxian boat slowly flying over. The Lingxian boat was made of beautiful jade and emitted a soft glow under the sunlight. The boat was carved with exquisite patterns and a string of wind chimes hung on the bow, which made pleasant sounds as the Lingxian boat flew.

  The Lingxian boat stopped above Duan Litang, the hatch slowly opened, and a woman in a wide-sleeved fairy dress walked out of the boat. The woman had a beautiful face and skin as white as snow, like a fairy descending from the earth. Her long hair was as soft as black satin, casually draped behind her, and she wore an exquisite jade pendant in her hair. The jade pendant and the pendant on Duan Litang's chest trembled slightly at the same time, as if echoing something.

  The woman's gaze fell on Duan Litang, with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "Are you the young man who fought off the Red Flame Leopard?" Her voice was crisp and pleasant, like a clear spring in the mountains.

  Duan Litang looked at the woman in front of him, feeling a little flustered: "Yes. yes."

  The woman nodded slightly, with a hint of appreciation in her eyes: "Not bad, you are so young and yet you can repel the second-order red flame leopard. You are very powerful. I am Su Xueli from Lingxian Academy. Tomorrow at noon, at the foot of Lingxian Peak, if you bring this half jade slip, you can take part in the entrance test of Lingxian Academy." After saying that, she turned around and returned to the Lingxian Boat. The Lingxian Boat slowly rose into the air and flew towards the distance.

  Duan Litang looked at the direction where Ling Xianzhou left, holding the jade slip tightly in his hand, with mixed feelings in his heart. The death of the old temple keeper, the mystery of his life, and the invitation from Lingxian Academy, all made him feel confused and bewildered. But he knew that his life was about to usher in a huge change, and this change might start from Lingxian Academy tomorrow. He took a deep breath, carried the body of the old temple keeper on his back, and slowly walked towards the ruined temple. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on his body, casting a long shadow, as if telling the extraordinary journey he was about to embark on.

  Back at the ruined temple, Duan Litang held a simple funeral for the old temple keeper. He buried the old temple keeper on the hillside behind the ruined temple, where he could overlook the entire Qinglan Town. He placed the old temple keeper's favorite wine in front of the tomb, lit a few incense sticks, and prayed silently. "Old temple keeper, don't worry, I will definitely go to Lingxian Academy to find out my life experience, and I will become stronger and protect Qinglan Town." Duan Litang said softly, with a determined light in his eyes.

  At night, Duan Litang lay on the straw mat in the dilapidated temple, but he couldn't fall asleep. He held the jade slip tightly in his hand, and the figure of the old temple keeper, the ferocity of the red flame leopard, and the beauty and mystery of Su Xueli kept appearing in his mind. He knew that from tomorrow, he would leave the place where he had lived for fifteen years and go to a completely unfamiliar world. He was a little nervous, but also a little excited. The moonlight shone on his face through the roof of the dilapidated temple. He looked at the bright moonlight and secretly vowed in his heart that he must make a name for himself in Lingxian Academy.

  When the first ray of sunlight shone on Qinglan Town, Duan Litang got up. He simply packed his luggage, taking only some necessary items and the relics of the old temple keeper. He came to the old temple keeper's tomb again and bowed deeply: "Old temple keeper, I'm leaving, wait for me to come back." Then, he turned and walked towards Lingxian Peak. Along the way, he recalled every bit of his life with the old temple keeper. Those ordinary and warm days have now become the most precious memories in his heart. He knows that the road ahead is full of unknowns and challenges, but he is not afraid, because he has answers to pursue and things to protect.

  Finally, before the hour of noon, Duan Litang arrived at the foot of Lingxian Peak. Many young men and women who came to take the entrance test had gathered here. They were all in high spirits, their eyes full of expectation. Duan Litang stood in the crowd, looking a little out of place. His plain clothes formed a sharp contrast with the gorgeously dressed young men and women around him. But he didn't care. He looked at Lingxian Peak firmly, with only one belief in his heart: to enter Lingxian Academy and explore his life experience.

  "It seems you are on time." A familiar voice came from behind. Duan Litang turned around and saw Su Xueli looking at him with a smile. She changed her outfit today, wearing a light blue dress with a white ribbon tied around her waist, which made her look more fresh and refined. Beside her, there were several disciples from Lingxian Academy, and they all looked at Duan Litang with curious eyes.

  "Miss Su." Duan Litang said respectfully.

  Su Xueli nodded slightly: "Come with me, the test is about to begin." After that, she led Duan Litang and other young men and women who participated in the test and walked towards Lingxian Peak. Duan Litang took a deep breath and followed the team, feeling nervous and excited. He knew that he was about to step into a brand new world, and this world might completely change his life. The door of Lingxian Academy slowly opened, and Duan Litang raised his foot and took the first step into this mysterious academy.