Mirror Dream Tree

He cannot proceed with his personal research yet due to a lack of materials and equipment, so he intends to focus on his research into enabling the half-yao to cultivate the spiritual way.

But for that, he would need volunteers, and the best should be half-yao below the spirit realm.

And is unable to advance to the spirit realm.

Because of their weak bloodline passed down to them.

They should also be young, around 16 years of age, as mental energy after 18, if not broken through the Spirit Core realm, its activity slows down and increases the difficulty in breaking through the Spirit Core realm.

After 30 years age of it becomes nearly impossible.

So, the best age of volunteers for his experiment should be around 16.

If successful, the government would no longer need to waste manpower monitoring the half-yao, and the half-yao could finally contribute to the war effort.

The next morning, as they ate breakfast, Kanoru's sister asked if he would accompany them to the academy since they'd heard he would begin teaching that day.

Merin shook his head. He still didn't want to link Kanoru's name too closely with his family and risk drawing more danger upon them.

During breakfast, Merin asks his brother and sister about the academy.

And learned that Yanli is also in the academy.

Half-Yao with powerful bloodlines are selected to study in the academy.

So, the academy can keep an eye on them as they have a powerful bloodline; they cannot be offended and also cannot be completely trusted.

After breakfast, Merin returned to his room, sat down to meditate, and released his clone — a bird-shaped projection of natural energy.

For teaching, this was enough. There was no reason for Merin's true body to be present.

With a flap of its wings, the clone took flight toward the academy.

The bird soared above the city and observed the city with numerous lakes dotted in the city, with crystal clear water and small parks surrounding them.

Towers of the spirit master overlook the city, and Merin feels a huge amount of natural energy in all of them.

The spirit master's tower each one is a war fortress and also the world's best research lab.

And in a few weeks, he would have one.

Merin then finds the academy and glides down into an empty alley near the academy. There, it transformed into Kanoru's human form and walked calmly onto the grounds.

Because of his youthful appearance, most assumed he was simply another student.

When he reached the administrator's desk and said he wanted to speak with the academy head, the woman glanced up and replied curtly, "Student, tell me what's wrong — the academy head is busy."

Merin didn't argue. Instead, he let his Spiritual Master aura flow forth. The pressure made the woman sink into her chair, her eyes wide with shock.

"Now," Merin said quietly, "can you show me where the academy head is?"

"Y-yes, Master," she stammered, quickly rising and leading him through the halls to a door.

"The academy head is inside."

Merin knocked.

"Come in," a voice called.

Merin stepped inside and saw Illusion Master Haruto seated at the desk.

"Kanoru," Haruto said with a smile. "I've been expecting you."

Merin inclined his head. "If I'd known you were the academy head, Haruto, I wouldn't have sent my clone instead."

Haruto waved a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter, I am also a clone."

Merin had already noticed.

They moved on to discuss the war, and Merin learned that the Spiritual Council had devised a method for the half-yao to cultivate the spiritual way.

However, it required draining the beast's blood from their bodies.

That blood was already intertwined with their human essence, and separating it was extremely dangerous.

Even if successful, the process could leave them permanently damaged — their bodies weakened and their capacity to absorb spirituality ruined.

The richer the beast's blood, the greater the risk of death.

That was why the council had abandoned the plan and entrusted the task to Merin — someone with proven skill at merging paths, like when he combined the samurai way into the spiritual one.

Samurai cultivators were now dwindling as they struggled to grow stronger; without Merin's path, there were no more true masters of the way left.

Haruto then asked, "When will you hold your first class?"

Merin was present here only through his clone, so time was no issue. "You can decide," he replied.

"Then noon," Haruto decided. "An hour-long introductory class on the transformation subject for students and teachers alike."

Merin nodded in agreement.

"By the way," Merin added, "have you chosen the water rule to support your illusion rule?"

Haruto nodded.

"You'll never become an ancestor," Merin said calmly. "You could have chosen the wind rule."

The water ancestor is one of the oldest, born of the sea people, the first life in this world, and their ally.

Even if they're not as unified as the wood ancestor, they'd be almost impossible to kill.

Haruto chuckled. "And did you forget about the Sound Master? She already holds the wind rule. If the wind ancestor is killed, she would ascend to that throne, and none could defeat her. Besides, water fits my illusions far better."

Merin nodded thoughtfully.

Haruto went on, "Your situation is similar to mine. The vitality rule you grasp aligns with water, blood and wood."

Merin agreed. Still, he felt no discouragement. Finding a way to become an ancestor without relying on an ancestral crystal was his true goal.

After they spoke a while longer, Haruto called a woman into the room to escort Merin to his new office.

Merin sat down at his desk and began gathering his thoughts for the upcoming class.

He thought back to how, before, he had only taught experienced spiritualists who could grasp a concept with ease.

But these new students were still apprentices and would need practical instruction tailored to their level.

He realised they hadn't yet mastered their bodies or cultivated enough mana to attempt the first stage of his transformation technique.

With a few hours left before class, Merin decided to create a simple Level-1 spell from his Dragon Transformation technique.

He focused on the claws, simplifying the Dragon Claw into a beginner-friendly spell he named the Lizard Claw Technique.

He decided to offer the spell for free, with students who learned it in three days earning a place in his class at no cost.

Those who took a week would pay 20% of the class fee, fifteen days would pay 50%, and a full month would pay the full price.

And if they failed even then, Merin prepared a path for them too.

He would spend the next month releasing four additional beginner spells — Lizard Legs, Lizard Tail, Lizard Body, and Lizard Head.

Students who mastered all five spells and merged them into a single Lizard Man Transformation would also earn a free spot in his class.

That way, every student had a fair chance, regardless of raw talent or difficult circumstances.

Finally satisfied with his plan, Merin rose just as a knock came at the door.

When he answered, the same woman appeared and guided him to his new classroom.

While Merin walked toward the classroom, Bai Yanli had just finished one of her classes and was stepping into the hall with her friends as their teacher dismissed them early.

As they walked, they noticed students and teachers hurrying in one direction and decided to follow, curious about the commotion.

They soon learned that the Dragon Master had become a teacher at their academy and was about to hold his first class.

Bai Yanli took a deep breath as she recalled yesterday's family discussion, which centred on whether Kanoru would honour their marriage contract now that their kingdom no longer existed.

The contract was only paper at this point, with the Owani Kingdom having vanished and her family's status much diminished.

And the threat of the Rimefang Beast Clan joining the enemy would only worsen their situation and might even lead to them being captured.

To prevent that, her family told her to make contact with Kanoru as soon as she could.

She had planned to reach him by speaking to Kuro and Nora, but now that an opportunity had appeared, she quickened her pace toward the auditorium where he would hold his first class.

Inside the auditorium, she found a seat and watched as the room gradually filled with students and teachers.

Her friends sat around her.

She hears fellow students discussing the Dragon Master and the transformation technique.

They don't know the real name of the Dragon Master, so they are discussing which family on the western continent is the Dragon Master.

She smiles, thinking they don't know the Dragon Master is from this region, not the western continent.

She hears that the transformation technique was created originally by someone from the Western continent.

And that someone is a woman.

The person says," The dragon master extended the transformation technique. Before, it was only two stages, but now it is a four-stage technique."

Yanli turns her attention to the front of the room as Kanoru steps inside the room.