Volume One: First Steps on the Path Chapter Forty-Nine: Yin Jia

As the woman’s voice fell, the whole classroom instantly erupted like a boiling pot. The room, which had been quiet before, became noisy the moment she arrived. Some were discussing the sudden appearance of the woman before them, while others were speculating about how the upcoming lesson would proceed—there was chatter about all sorts of things.

Seeing this, the woman at the door was in no hurry to interrupt their conversation. She stepped into the classroom, as if listening to what was being discussed. After a short while, she finally spoke again, “Alright, if you have any questions, save them for later. For now, let me introduce myself.”

At her words, everyone in the classroom immediately fell silent, straightening their posture and sitting solemnly on their meditation mats.

The woman gave a subtle nod, clearly satisfied with their behavior, then smiled and said, “You don’t need to be so restrained. Relax a little—our school is different from other places. You can be yourselves here.”

With these words, the students visibly relaxed and began to study the woman carefully, Ye Junze among them. He lifted his gaze to the woman standing at the front. She was tall and striking, her beauty enhanced by the gentle smile on her face, which inspired a sense of warmth and ease.

While the students observed her, the woman continued, “My name is Yin Jia. You may address me however you like—Teacher Yin, or Teacher Jia.” At this, she added playfully, “But of course, I’d much prefer if you all called me ‘Sister’.”

The students, who had still been a little tense, couldn’t help but laugh at her last remark, and the atmosphere eased even further.

Yin Jia, seeing the energy in the room become lively, also smiled and went on, “Well, now that you all know me, let’s skip the small talk. I know you’ve all been looking forward to this for a long time. Let’s start our first official lesson. This will be an important beginning on your path of cultivation. I hope you’ll remember this class in the days ahead; if you ever find yourself stuck in your practice, you might find unexpected guidance in what you learn today.”

The students listened thoughtfully, committing her words to memory.

Seeing everyone sitting on their mats, attentive and earnest, Yin Jia smiled subtly and gave a small nod before testing the waters: “I imagine you’ve all practiced the basic cultivation method of our Dao school, the Xuantian Dao Canon?”

The students nodded in unison, replying, “Yes.”

“Good. Now, how many of you have already managed to circulate a minor celestial cycle?” As if aware of their concerns, Yin Jia continued gently, “I only want to understand where everyone stands. Don’t worry if you haven’t succeeded yet—just making it here to Anze proves you have talent. You’ve only just begun, and it takes time.”

Her words eased the nerves of those who had not yet succeeded, their anxiety dissipating under her reassurance.

At this, the students who had managed to circulate a minor celestial cycle raised their hands proudly—it was a significant accomplishment for them. Seeing some take the lead, others followed suit, unwilling to be outdone. Ye Junze, who had intended to keep a low profile, saw so many hands in the air that he felt safe enough to raise his own, though only high enough to be seen, not boldly above his head as some did.

Soon, the classroom was filled with raised hands, with just a few students not participating.

Yin Jia quickly took note of those who had raised their hands and said, “Alright, you may put your hands down now. I have a good sense of the group.”

Once everyone had lowered their hands, she continued, “I noticed that some of you looked a bit discouraged. Didn’t I say before? Everyone is different. Failing now doesn’t mean you’ll always fail. Given time, you’ll get there. Perhaps today’s lesson will inspire you, and you’ll succeed after you go back and try again. The path of cultivation is never perfectly smooth. Stay true to yourself and don’t let a temporary setback bring you down.”

After her encouragement, those who had appeared dejected seemed to brighten. Maybe her words had taken root in their hearts, for their eyes now shone with renewed resolve, as if determined to succeed.

Sensing this subtle transformation, Yin Jia’s expression softened with satisfaction. She said no more and prepared to begin the main part of the lesson.

“Alright. From what I’ve observed, I now have a general understanding of everyone’s situation. Let’s move on to today’s main event.”

At her words, the anticipation and excitement in the room became impossible to hide. Everyone sat up straight, ears pricked, afraid to miss a single detail. Finally, the moment had come—even Ye Junze felt a growing sense of expectation. For him, a cultivation class like this was something entirely new and thrilling.

And as Yin Jia began her lecture, the lesson officially began.