Chapter 4 Choosing the Path

Jim Chris was nervous as he dialed the number of the Wellesley Law Enforcement Department. He wondered what to say: that he was brought there by the turtle shell, kidnapped, or lost? However, just as he was about to make the call, something shocking happened. To his surprise, his cell phone had no signal, and the call couldn't be made.

Jim Chris was confused, as even at the bottom of the sea, there should be a signal due to the immortal gate's coverage. He recalled a formation master's claim that even in the war to open up the world, immortal monks could communicate with each other from anywhere.

Jim Chris looked around, trying to figure out where he was. He thought through all the knowledge in his mind and even searched the water palace, touching non-dangerous places and knocking on bricks. However, he couldn't find any clues about how to leave.

Feeling helpless, Jim Chris sat on the ground in the front hall, ready to accept his fate and meditate. But then, a silver light suddenly appeared on his phone's screen, catching his attention. He discovered a new software icon that he had never downloaded: a small dark green turtle with the software name "Turtle Treasure" below it.

Jim Chris was suspicious and subconsciously moved his finger to uninstall the software. He didn't want any unknown software on his phone. Jim Chris tried to uninstall the mysterious "Turtle Treasure" software, but a red message popped up saying "Cannot uninstall."

He was about to shut down and restart his phone when he had an idea-could this software be related to the turtle shell? He opened the software, and it launched smoothly, revealing a simple homepage with three function buttons: [Teleport], [Return to City], and [Agent]. Jim Chris was surprised and happy but also uneasy.

He closed and reopened the software to confirm it was real. After taking a deep breath, Jim Chris clicked the [Return to City] button. A message appeared on the screen, warning him that the process would take eight seconds and that he shouldn't be disturbed during that time.

Suddenly, a silver light enveloped him, and he felt himself being pulled through the void. When the silver light faded, Jim Chris found himself back in his room, touching the turtle shell. He quickly pulled his hand back and fell onto his bed, grabbing a small sword hanging on the wall.

The sword was a childhood keepsake, shiny but only 30 centimeters long. Jim Chris stared at the turtle shell, unsure what to do with it. After two minutes of silence, he heard the sound of the front door opening downstairs. His mom was back home.

He recognized the familiar sounds of the door and his mom's mumbling voice. His mom seemed to be talking to herself, wondering why Jim Chris still preferred practicing in his room instead of the training room at the entrance of the spiritual vein. Jim Chris hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to go downstairs.

Jim Chris carefully sheathed the children's version of the Demon-Subduing Sword and landed in front of the tortoise shell, examining it closely. The next day, Jim Chris went downstairs, ate breakfast amidst his mother's nagging, and then rushed to catch the bus.

After morning self-study, an old man named Chad Thompson walked into the classroom. The students stood up and greeted him. Chad Thompson began the lesson, explaining the solidification of defensive spell situations.

The Wellesley teaching materials divide the content into four main subjects: Magic Pills, Weapon Array, Arts, and Formation. These subjects are further subdivided into dozens of courses and majors. Senior high school students must choose one subject as their main focus to lay the foundation for their future study direction.

This choice is crucial, as it affects admission to top academies. In addition to basic scores and cultivation levels, academies also conduct their own assessments. Jim Chris and his classmates chose Arts as their main subject. Jim Chris's reason for choosing Arts was its cost-effectiveness, as the other subjects required significant resources and good deeds to practice and improve.

The technical subjects, like Arts, are straightforward and simple, requiring only practice to master. Moreover, Arts offers a promising advanced route: becoming a Talisman Master, a lucrative profession among the hundreds of arts in immortal cultivation. Jim Chris has always aspired to become a Talisman Master. With his family background-his mother works in a talisman paper production factory-he has learned from her and gained some experience.

This foundation will help him get started more quickly and focus on practice. Jim Chris's mother had taught him the basics of talisman paper production, and he had even helped her with some of the simpler tasks. He had also learned about the different types of talismans, their uses, and how to create them.

The old man, Chad Thompson, is a well-known cultivator in Phenix City. He had good aptitude and true spiritual roots with three attributes when he was young, slightly better than Jim Chris's. Although his college entrance exam grades were average, he worked hard for twenty years at Yale University and eventually passed the immortality assessment.

However, Chad Thompson's success came too late. He had spent most of his youth struggling to make ends meet, and by the time he achieved immortality, he was already an old man. Despite his success, Chad Thompson couldn't help but feel a sense of regret and longing for the opportunities he had missed in his youth.

Jim Chris, on the other hand, was determined to make the most of his opportunities. He was young, talented, and driven, and he was determined to become a successful Talisman Master. With his family background, natural talent, and hard work, Jim Chris was confident that he could achieve his goals and make a name for himself in the world of immortal cultivation.

As Jim Chris and his classmates delved deeper into the world of Arts, they began to realize the true extent of their chosen profession. They learned about the different types of talismans, their uses, and how to create them. They also learned about the various techniques and materials used in talisman paper production, and how to apply them in their own practice.

Jim Chris was fascinated by the complexity and depth of the Arts, and he spent every spare moment practicing and studying. He was determined to become the best Talisman Master he could be, and he was willing to put in the hard work and dedication required to achieve his goals.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, Jim Chris and his classmates made steady progress in their studies. They learned new techniques, practiced new skills, and gained a deeper understanding of the Arts. Jim Chris was particularly talented, and he quickly became one of the top students in his class.

Despite his success, Jim Chris never forgot his humble beginnings. He remained humble and kind, always willing to lend a helping hand to his classmates. He was a true leader, and his peers looked up to him with admiration and respect.

As Jim Chris looked to the future, he knew that he had a long and challenging road ahead of him. But he was ready for whatever lay in store, armed with his natural talent, hard work, and determination. He was confident that he would become a successful Talisman Master, and he was excited to see where his journey would take him.