The Third and Fourth Panels: Creative Media Exhibition

Sang Sang gazed at the silvery flower before her, its petals layered like a cherry blossom, and made no move to catch it with her hands. Instead, she locked the space around the flower, condensing starlight energy to craft a spatial container on the spot, and infused it with temporal stasis. After all, a genuine “Void Silver Blossom” possessed the ability to traverse space, and a mere spatial container might not suffice to hold it.

Many others collected the flowers in similar ways, especially the candidates in her formation. Though everyone exclaimed in admiration, their hands were busy employing various methods to prevent the blossoms from touching their bodies directly. Sang Sang noticed that several nearby had also minimized their domains, forming protective membranes around themselves.

Once the Holy Lady of Blossoms had bestowed her blessings, she departed gracefully atop a drifting bouquet. Sang Sang wondered if it was her imagination, but when the Holy Lady glanced back, there seemed to be disappointment in her eyes.

With the ceremony concluded, Sang Sang exchanged a greeting with Chiba, politely declined an invitation to stroll through the city, and slipped away before others could approach her. She reunited with Sena, and Little Gold flew into her arms.

“Sang Sang, you were amazing! You must be the top candidate. Why didn’t you use those beginner skills you’ve learned?”

Careful not to crush him, Sang Sang gave Little Gold a gentle kiss. Seeing him cover his forehead in embarrassment, she laughed and placed him on her shoulder. “Those are other people’s signature skills, too distinctive, and I’m not yet proficient with them.”

Sena applauded. “Congratulations on passing the first round of the selection.”

Aslan nodded. “Your combat awareness is impressive.”

Sang Sang produced a transparent crystal; within the spherical starlight crystal lay a “Void Silver Blossom.” She rotated the crystal in her hand, quietly dissolving the temporal stasis within. “Teacher, besides a short-range teleportation, what else can this flower do?”

“Once ignited, its fragrance aids in sensing the laws of space,” Sena answered, regarding the “Void Silver Blossom” with a hint of mockery and a slight curl of her lips. “But this one has been cultivated through countless generations; its effects are negligible, merely intended to give people a bit of confidence. You don’t need its help. Destroy it. Sometimes, what we can’t see doesn’t mean others haven’t tampered with it.”

“Alright,” Sang Sang replied, using spatial annihilation to fragment the flower and banish it, along with its dissipating starlight energy, into the void. She then asked, “What is the faith medium of the Holy Lady of Blossoms?”

“It’s blended incense,” Sena explained. “She’s skilled at extracting fragrances from fresh flowers. Her blended incense is popular as a cultivation aid. Some blends, colorless and odorless with ambiguous effects, are even sold on the black market. In the future, if you come into contact with her or anything related to her, merely blocking your sense of smell isn’t enough. It’s best to keep your domain minimized, as you did today. Boya will cover common faith mediums in your practical theory classes; incense blends are among them, part of the alchemy department.”

“I understand,” Sang Sang nodded. “I’ll avoid contact with her as much as possible.”

Though Sang Sang had resolved to avoid the Holy Lady of Blossoms, the latter seemed eager to meet her. No sooner had Sang Sang returned to the Sapling District’s mulberry tree house than Black Butterfly reported a flood of gifts and invitations. Aside from Bishop Anthony’s reward of three free uses of the Time Tower, most gifts were rule candies, and some even included rule crystals personally condensed by experts of the mysterious rank and above. As for invitations, there were offers from the entertainment industry for guest appearances, the student council of the Divine Academy, the Mutual Aid Society for Lesser Civilizations, the World Painting Club, the Saint Candidates’ Social Gathering, and an invitation from the Holy Lady of Craftsmanship.

Sang Sang counted each gift, estimating their worth, and thought of the Divine Academy’s secondhand market on the starnet, feeling her financial burdens suddenly eased. Even the arrival of the Celestial Emperor and his party tomorrow would pose no issue. She sifted through the invitations one by one, finally picking up the Holy Lady of Craftsmanship’s invitation. According to Sena’s briefing, her faith medium was medicinal cuisine, and she had collaborated frequently with the Holy Lady of Blossoms.

“…The Craftsmanship Showcase is very popular among divine officials. Each event gathers over a thousand young, talented officials, each with the potential to become a high-ranking official. Thus, titled saints and candidates often attend to recruit promising subordinates. This time, all candidates ranked in the top hundred in physical arts have received invitations. Officially, it’s an opportunity for candidates to gain exposure, but in truth, it’s meant to persuade some to seek alternative paths early; those who fail the selection can still join a senior as a subordinate, sparing themselves another round of the divine official exam.”

Sang Sang’s interests diverged from the norm. When Sena finished, she asked, “Is there a department for medicinal cuisine at the Divine Academy?”

Sena paused before answering, “Yes.”

“Oh,” Sang Sang nodded. Since Tom had healing abilities and loved to cook, she planned to ask him if he wanted to study medicinal cuisine.

Sena considered for a moment. “You’re asking for that cooking companion of yours?”

“Exactly.” Sang Sang suddenly recalled something. “Grandpa Anthony mentioned providing free basic education. Does that mean enrolling people in the Divine Academy?”

Sena sighed. “Of course not. The Divine Academy is for the universe’s interstellar geniuses. Clergy family members have dedicated educational bases. Of course, exceptional talents can be recommended and specially admitted to the Divine Academy. Since your companions have all undergone fifteenfold refinement and possess soul talents, the Academy would gladly accept them, especially the Celestial Emperor—wherever he wishes to go, no one would refuse him.”

Upon hearing that Tom could attend the Divine Academy, Sang Sang felt assured she’d never lack medicinal cuisine again, and walked with a spring in her step to Boya’s class.

“Knight Division…” Sena wanted to say more, but seeing Sang Sang walk away, hurried after her. “Wait, about the Craftsmanship Showcase?”

Sang Sang considered. “Just reply that I’m a native from the wilds and have too much to learn to catch up with everyone, so I don’t have time for social events.”

“You can skip the Craftsmanship Showcase, but there’s also a small creative faith medium exhibition,” Sena explained, seeing Sang Sang about to refuse again. “By tradition, from the selection onwards, every round requires candidates to produce a creative faith medium—an alternative contest of strength. Even if you don’t attend in person, you must submit a physical arts-related artwork for exhibition.”

“When does it begin?” Sang Sang stopped and asked, “Is it only physical arts-related? No other requirements?”

“You can submit any time this month, though earlier is better. The exhibition lasts until the next spiritual arts test,” Sena replied. “As long as it relates to physical arts, it’s acceptable. The emphasis is on creativity—new and novel ideas are best. In the past, some used the opportunity for playful mischief.”

“Ah, creativity, mischief…” Sang Sang murmured, deep in thought.

Boya first congratulated Sang Sang for passing the physical arts test and rewarded her with a jar of colorful candy balls—one hundred in all, each with a unique flavor and rule. Then Boya asked, “Do you have any ideas for your entry in the creative exhibition?”

Sang Sang toyed with the pen in her hand. “I’m still thinking. Do you have any suggestions, Teacher?”

Boya cradled a hefty tome with a cover made from World Tree bark. “Think for yourself. Your current classroom assignment is this. If you encounter difficulties during creation, you may ask for guidance.”

Inspiration doesn’t always come on demand, and there was no rush for her exhibition piece. Sang Sang openly daydreamed in class, studying runes on the side.