The Legend of Futian Chapter 2 - Three Years Had Passed in Collection Plane

Qin Yi glared at Ye Futian with intensity. His playful grin pulled her thoughts back to the Academy Entry Talent Inspection three years prior. At just twelve years old, Ye Futian had stood before the Academy's masters with a natural, proud smile that set him apart from the trembling nerves of his peers.

That initial test had ranked his talent at the highest tier, indicating an extraordinary perception of Spirit and Qi. He was a natural-born martial arts prodigy.

However, three years later, his perception remained unchanged—but so did his cultivation plane. He had stayed lazy and casual, frequently skipping his lectures. Yet, despite his lack of progress, his eyes retained their clarity and brilliance.

“What if you fail?” Qin Yi challenged.

“Then it is your call,” Ye Futian replied.

“Please, do not put Mr. Yu Sheng’s future in jeopardy.” Qin Yi shifted her gaze to the stoic youth positioned behind Ye Futian.

Yu Sheng possessed a peak-level perception of the metal element. Currently at the eighth Awakened Plane, the Metamorph Plane, he had already surpassed Qin Yi, who occupied the seventh Awakened Plane, the Mystery. His potential was too great to be hindered by someone else's whims.

“Sure,” Ye Futian agreed. But was such a thing even possible?

Returning to the podium, Qin Yi scanned the room with her beautiful eyes. “The Fall Quarter Examination is only one month away. Use this time effectively. If you fail to perform, you will have to wait until next spring to compete against a new wave of students. Specifically you, Ling Xiao; you are at the sixth Awakened Plane, the Invincible. And Feng Qingxue, you have lingered at the fifth Awakened Plane, the Juggernaut, for far too long. I expect progress from you both by the Spring Quarter Examination.”

The initial stage of Cultivation was Awakening, subdivided into nine distinct planes: Collection, Enhancement, Venation, Adamance, Juggernaut, Invincible, Mystery, Metamorphosis, and Unmaker.

To earn the status of an official student at Qingzhou Academy, one had to attain the seventh Awakened Plane, the Mystery, before turning eighteen, and demonstrate their ability during the Spring Quarter Examination.

“I will, Ms. Qin,” Ling Xiao said with a nod. Feng Qingxue clenched her fist, her resolve to reach her target hardening.

“You are dismissed,” Qin Yi said softly. As she exited, the boys in the room watched her graceful figure leave. Once she was out of sight, their gazes turned hostile toward Ye Futian—the brat who, in their minds, had just insulted their Goddess.

“Ye Futian, turn around,” a frosty voice commanded, drawing the attention of the class. It was Feng Qingxue, seated directly behind him.

Though only fifteen, her beauty was already evident through her delicate features and striking eyes. She radiated a youthful purity and charm. As she stood, her legs looked slender and elegant.

“How could you do this?” Feng Qingxue demanded, her eyes burning with irritation.

Realizing the situation, Ye Futian chuckled. “You are jealous, aren’t you?”

Feng Qingxue was momentarily stunned into silence. Eventually, she managed to ask, “How will you explain this to your father?”

“Explain what?” Ye Futian blinked. He then recalled his father mentioning that Feng Qingxue would make an excellent mother due to her wide hips. His gaze drifted toward her curves.

“Stop thinking of weird stuff. We are still young; it’s not time to be talking about having kids yet.”

The classroom fell into a stunned silence at Ye Futian’s words. The other boys were livid. They viewed him as utterly shameless. He had been flirting with Ms. Qin Yi moments ago, and now he was speaking lewdly to the young and beautiful Feng Qingxue. What was wrong with him?

Feng Qingxue froze in place. She suddenly remembered a crude joke Ye Futian’s father had made to her own father about the two of them having children. Her face flushed deep red, convinced this rogue was mocking her on purpose.

“I meant what will you do if you are expelled after the Fall Quarter Examination? How will you tell your dad?” Feng Qingxue’s chest heaved with heavy breaths. She was baffled by his train of thought. She clearly didn't believe he could pass the exam while only at the first Awakened Plane.

“I will pass,” Ye Futian stated, looking at her while shaking his head slightly.

“You've been stuck at the first Awakened Plane for three years, and you still have this much confidence? Honestly, Ye Futian, please spell the word ‘shame’ for me,” another cold voice interjected. It was Ling Xiao, who sat behind Feng Qingxue.

Having reached the sixth Awakened Plane, the Invincible, Ling Xiao was a gifted wind-element mage. He was considered a standout in the Academy's fifteen-year-old class and was expected to become an official cultivator by next spring.

He didn't even look at Ye Futian as he spoke, his eyes fixed on Feng Qingxue instead. “Ye Futian, you are the bottom of this class, yet you speak nonsense to a talent like Feng Qingxue. Your arrogance is baseless. It’s true what they say: ‘he who knows not, fears not.’”

Ling Xiao’s words echoed the sentiments of the entire class. They all looked at Ye Futian, convinced he was the most thick-skinned person among them.

Yu Sheng moved to stand by Ye Futian’s side. His silent presence emitted a powerful aura that immediately forced the others to look at him with respect.

“Brother Yu,” Feng Qingxue whispered.

“Hi,” Yu Sheng nodded curtly, his eyes narrowing as he stared down Ling Xiao.

“‘He who knows not, fears not?’” Ye Futian didn't seem bothered by the insult. He had endured enough mockery over the last three years to become numb to it. It was a common tactic for people to belittle others to look better, especially in front of a pretty girl.

“You think you are the expert, don’t you?” Ye Futian remarked.

“Regarding cultivation? That isn't even a question, especially compared to a loser like you.” Ling Xiao was certain of his superiority, given Ye Futian’s three-year stagnation and poor attendance.

“Fine. Then explain how a warrior beats a dual-element fire and metal mage?” Ye Futian asked suddenly.

Ling Xiao paused for a moment before answering mockingly, “Are you joking? Even a single-element mage would crush a warrior unless that mage was stupid enough to let the warrior get into melee range. In a duel, that’s the only path to victory, let alone against a dual-element mage.”

A mage’s spells allowed for long-range destruction, providing a massive tactical advantage over a warrior.

“You're an idiot. A warrior wins when his plane is higher,” Ye Futian said sarcastically. Ling Xiao’s expression darkened. The class wondered how Ye Futian could be so shameless to ask such a trick question.

“You asked about a battle between classes without mentioning a difference in planes. Does that question even matter?” Ling Xiao retorted.

“On the same plane, then? What if the warrior possessed increased strength and enhanced agility?” Ye Futian pressed. The students began to see his logic. A warrior with boosted strength was built for blitzing, and enhanced agility would allow them to close the distance instantly.

“Please, we are talking about a fire and metal mage. They would have fire shields and metal-reinforced armor. Even in close quarters, the mage wouldn't lose,” Ling Xiao sneered.

“And if that warrior used rampage cleavage? That is a specific armor-breaking skill. With the force of Strength-concentration, metal armor is nothing but paper,” Ye Futian countered. “And as for the mage’s attacks, you know they can be avoided.”

Ling Xiao’s face grew more somber. A Strength-concentration warrior with high agility could indeed dodge a mage’s spells. Ye Futian was making a valid point.

“This is just theoretical strategy. Drop it.” Ling Xiao refused to concede the argument.

“Exactly, how could a mage lose to a warrior?” someone chimed in.

“You just parrot what you read in books, acting like you know everything while calling others ignorant. Fine, answer this: How do cultivators differ in their development at the first Awakened Plane, the Collection?” Ye Futian asked.

“A cultivator senses the Spiritual Qi of the heavens and earth and gathers it at this plane. A mage has a higher affinity for a specific element, meaning the power they collect is more refined. So, for specific elemental collection, there is a difference. But for general cultivation, the difference is negligible. Every mage differs in the Collection Plane based on their element,” Ling Xiao answered slowly, trying to cover every base.

“Idiot.” Ye Futian gave Ling Xiao a look of pure disdain before turning to walk away.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Ling Xiao barked at his back. “Acting like you have the final word because you can't answer? Loser!”

“Ye Futian is such a prick,” the students whispered.

Suddenly, a vivid light erupted from Ye Futian’s back. A cloud of Qi surged, surrounding him like a radiant rainbow. The students watched in stunned silence, their mouths hanging open.

Ye Futian was proving a point. Even at the Collection Plane, there were tiers of quality; some, like him, were simply superior.

Ling Xiao looked disturbed. The glow from Ye Futian was so intense that it was hard to believe he was only at the first Awakened Plane. Was it possible?

Yu Sheng followed as Ye Futian departed. Even after they were gone, the class remained in a daze.

“I have to admit, that prick is something else at the Collection Plane.”

“So what? He’s been stuck there for three years. Of course there's a difference. If we stayed on the first plane that long, we’d look the same.”

“True. He’s been a failure for three years. Where does he get the nerve to be so arrogant?”

“And the way he spoke to Ms. Qin and Feng Qingxue? What a scumbag.”

“Don't let it get to you, Ling Xiao. No matter how much he talks, you’d crush him in a second if he ever fought you,” someone comforted. Others nodded in agreement.

Ling Xiao hesitated, but his confidence eventually returned. The others were right; a low-level failure like Ye Futian shouldn't rattle him.

“Feng Qingxue, that boy is a lost cause. I know you’ve been friends since childhood, but you need to distance yourself,” Murong Qing said. As Feng Qingxue’s friend, she wanted her to stay away from Ye Futian. She had always despised him, believing he was a show-off with zero actual skill.

“He really went too far, didn't he?” Feng Qingxue seemed genuinely upset.

Noticing her friend’s distraction, Murong Qing grew serious. “Wake up. You’re about to become an official cultivator. You need to think about your future. Just being seen with him will damage your reputation, yet you don't seem to care. Think about how people will view you later. Is a guy like him really worth it?”

Feng Qingxue frowned, unable to find the words. She hadn't considered the long-term consequences.

“It’s time to grow up. Stay away from him for good,” Murong Qing insisted.