During the campaign against the Xia, Jian Jie fought on the eastern front. However, adhering to the principle of not placing all eggs in one basket, he remained with Commander Xie Huai An’s main force, while General Yan Po independently led troops on the Yi Country side.

This was akin to how Lin Xian did not remain with Ouyang Yong. Such small nations could not afford the risk of their pillars and heavenly prides falling together in battle.

Facing the Wu An Hou, who had carved a path through the eastern battlefield, Jian Jie’s address of “this humble general” was indeed fitting, though they had not fought side by side.

Even if Jiang Wang did not give face to Jian Jie, he had to give face to Yan Po. And even if he didn’t give face to Yan Po, he had to give face to those two jars of Lu Ming wine.

Hearing this, Jiang Wang merely chuckled, “Henceforth, we are all fellow students, mutual learning is paramount. Both of you, would you kindly lead this newcomer and show me where I am to reside?”

Yan Fu, Li Long Chuan, and others had already entered the Academy several days prior and had attended some classes. Zhong Xuan Sheng had only finished settling matters related to the victory camp yesterday, and then this morning, the Bo Wang Hou summoned him to his manor. By some unknown means, he entered the Academy with Zhong Xuan Zun.

Jiang Wang deliberately waited for Lian Que to rush from Nan Yao City, thus delaying his arrival. Seeing the area occupied by the Ji Xia Academy, it far exceeded its depiction on the map. The area Jiang Wang had traversed thus far was no less than that of a city domain, and he was still far from its end.

Ming Xin She was a cluster of buildings nestled amidst Xing Luo’s green mountains and flowing waters. The houses were all simple and generous wooden sheds, their style remarkably unified.

Without specifying the living conditions, Jiang Wang and Lian Que casually selected two adjacent rooms and settled in.

The wooden houses stood beside a winding stream. Clear water struck white stones, creating a leisurely sound.

Lin Xian and Jian Jie did not insist on holding onto Jiang Wang, conveying their friendly intentions before departing. As soon as Jiang Wang had chosen his room, they each went to class. After all, they were the heavenly prides of their respective nations; they understood what was fundamental in their hearts.

Though they claimed to be waiting for Jiang Wang, they would not delay their own cultivation. In the moments before receiving Jiang Wang, Lin Xian was still practicing his saber technique.

Jiang Wang and Lian Que had just entered the Academy, so class would naturally wait until the following day.

Ordinarily, they were each busy, rarely having time to sit and chat idly.

“Since your life tablet returned, my cultivation during this period has been very smooth.”

By the stream, the two men sat facing each other. Between them was an exquisite small brazier, upon which sat a pot of wine. As the flames danced, Lian Que said with a laugh, “I reckon I’m about to break open the fifth mansion, and I have a premonition I can harvest a divine ability seed!”

Initially, in the Tian Fu Secret Realm, Lian Que did not successfully enter the Tong Tian Tower. He was the only person in that Tian Fu Secret Realm who did not lock a divine ability seed yet survived.

Speaking of which, he had been the one to first push open the Gate of Heaven and Earth before Jiang Wang, reaching the Teng Long realm. At first, he had been eager to let Jiang Wang experience his Teng Long Iron Fist. Now, Jiang Wang had already reached the Shen Lin realm, while he was still polishing his Inner Mansion realm.

And from the first Inner Mansion to the fourth, he had not acquired a single divine ability.

Yet, he was never discouraged, silently, step by step, moving forward, wholeheartedly polishing the Dao techniques of each mansion, focusing on his research into forging techniques. He knew deeply that not everyone possessed Jiang Wang’s talent. Otherwise, how could they be called “heavenly prides,” how could they be called “unparalleled”?

He also knew that besides talent and opportunity, even fewer people could exert themselves like Jiang Wang. While forging, he was intoxicated, like a demon, pouring his entire being into refinement. Jiang Wang, on the other hand, was always cultivating, disciplined to the point of almost self-abuse.

In the mundane world, entangled by myriad affairs, who could maintain such consistency, day and night?

Being among heavenly prides, witnessing their solitary ride through the dust, it was all too easy to feel dejected. But Lian Que was very calm. On his own path of life, he had never stopped. His own life’s goals were also being realized step by step.

When he first came to know Jiang Wang, he was still an impatient character, even bordering on violent. He would defend righteousness to the death, if necessary.

After being deeply wounded by a Lian family elder and deciding to shoulder the future of the Lian family, he had become much steadier overnight.

Jiang Wang was also very happy for him: “I’ve never doubted your ability. However, after you obtain a divine ability, your chance of reaching Shen Lin is greater! You must not rush, you want to acquire the divine ability in the most perfect state, thereby gaining a more suitable outcome.”

“I will certainly remember Martial An Hou’s advice!” Lian Que laughed heartily, then added, “Before, many of my forging ideas were hindered by my cultivation and couldn’t be realized. After I reach Shen Lin, I will help you refine Long Xiang Si again.”

Inside the Shen Long wooden sheath, Long Xiang Si let out a faint cry.

“Hahaha.” Jiang Wang laughed, “See, it doesn’t agree.”

For a forging master like Lian Que, Long Xiang Si was also very close.

Lian Que sighed, “Fame and weapons are held by people. World-renowned weapons, at the moment they leave the furnace, are merely dead objects. Only in the hands of their wielder, nurtured day and night, breaking through obstacles, can they gradually grow. Having drunk the blood of the strong and gained worldwide fame, it indeed has no need for further refinement. Today, your fame is known throughout the world, and this Long Xiang Si should also have its place on the list of famous weapons!”

Due to well-known reasons, the credibility of each country’s list of famous weapons was very questionable. But that did not stop people from relishing them, from diligently seeking them.

So-called “fame,” so-called “weapons,” who could avoid such vulgarity?

Jiang Wang said, “Speaking of the life tablet matter, it was also during the taming of the Huo Shui that I learned, through your life tablet, that the Great Yan Lian family once had such a glorious history. The Emperor sealing me with the Chi Piao, I believe, was also to entrust you with high hopes.”

“The Yan Country has been gone for who knows how many years, where does the Great Yan Lian family come from? The current Lian family is small and weak, even if there is some responsibility, we cannot bear it.” Lian Que stated very clearly, “After I finish my studies this time, I will go to Chi Tan and see.”

Jiang Wang looked at him, sighing, “You truly have the bearing of a clan master now.”

Lian Que laughed heartily, “Your manner of commenting on the world’s characters is also truly like that of a Hou Ye!”

The two of them chatted idly like this, listening to the clear water striking the stones, the birds calling in the moist mountains, slowly finishing a pot of wine. What leisure.

The Ji Xia Academy had more than one study hall. Zhong Xuan Sheng, who entered in the morning, did not reside in Ming Xin She. Li Long Chuan and the others resided further away. Jiang Wang was also happy to cultivate in peace.

Until the following day, still at Mao time, Jiang Wang leisurely stepped out of his door. A servant puppet guarding the door timely handed him a finger map. Which mister was teaching today, what class was being taught, and where each lecture was located, all were clearly marked. Following the instructions would suffice.

Compared to the elaborate finger map used on the battlefield, this was obviously a simplified version, but it was sufficient for use within the Ji Xia Academy.

And the so-called “servant puppet” was, in fact, a puppet corpse.

There were no servants within the Ji Xia Academy; all chores were completed by puppets.

When discussing the technique of mechanical puppet corpses, the Mo family was naturally unparalleled in the world. However, the world’s powers would not give up exploring. Just like the Rong Chong Floor Cart, which shone brightly on the Qi Xia battlefield, it was a product meticulously designed by a great craftsman of the Qi Country.

Within this Ji Xia Academy, there were many cultivators proficient in puppet corpse techniques, and the servant puppets were all very lifelike, showing great skill.

Lian Que had already rushed to the class an hour earlier.

And the class Jiang Wang was attending today was being lectured by a cultivator surnamed Qin from a Dao family, located at Gui Tai.

Following the finger map, he walked through the vast Ji Xia Academy. Jiang Wang felt more and more that this was not merely an academy, nor just a palace complex. Pavilions, towers, mountains, clouds, fog, flowers, birds, wind, and moon—this mountain looked far, that mountain looked distant, simply like a vast world.

He walked along a plank road, passed through a water pavilion, and stepped onto a green mountain. Gui Tai was located high up, with nine hundred levels of stone steps.

The sunrise illuminated the jade buildings, and wandering clouds encircled the heavenly ladder. Stepping onto the floating heavenly steps, he walked upwards, always ascending to the depths of the clouds, finally arriving at an ancient stone platform.

This platform was suspended in the high sky, connected to the ground only by the floating stone steps. The entire stone platform was an enormous Eight Trigrams. Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui—the Eight Trigrams symbols were displayed on upright stone tablets. On each stone tablet, some Daoist scriptures were engraved.

The stone tablets surrounded the central Yin Yang fish, which served as the lecture square. A lecture platform was suspended alone at the Qian position. On the platform were a meditation mat and a single stone table. Opposite the lecture platform was the area where students sat and listened, with several rows of meditation mats neatly arranged.

At this moment, brilliant light from the clouds above shone down, bathing the stone platform completely in gold. Those upright scripture stone tablets seemed to narrate history.

This scene was, of course, magnificent, but what surprised Jiang Wang more was…

There were too many people.

Even more familiar faces.

Zhong Xuan Sheng, Li Long Chuan, Yan Fu, Bao Zhong Qing, Wen Lian Mu, Xie Bao Shu, Lin Jie, Lin Mei, Li Shu Wen, Gu Yan…

Among the group who entered the Ji Xia Academy, more than half were here!

The students of Ji Xia Academy were divided into two types. One type, like Zhong Xuan Sheng and the others, entered and cultivated because they were rewarded for their merit. They only needed to enjoy cultivation, without any conditions.

Another type were those who had been cultivated by the Ji Xia Academy since they were young. After their cultivation was successful, they had to unconditionally serve the Qi court. They were mostly orphans, and the years of service after studying generally started at thirty years, mostly going to technical institutes, tool workshops, beast-control workshops, and so on. It was not uncommon for them to directly join the army.

Exactly how many of these students there were was a national secret, and no accurate number had ever been leaked.

But generally, not too many people would come to Gui Tai to attend class. Because this was a relatively advanced class, and the teacher lecturing was in the Shen Lin realm.

And at first glance, Jiang Wang saw nearly thirty people here, filling the center of the stone platform. The front row was completely full. All he could see were eager faces thirsting for knowledge.

Was this Mister Qin so powerful? His lecture was actually so popular!

He walked between the stone tablets, into the square of the Yin Yang fish.

Seeing Jiang Wang, Zhong Xuan Sheng immediately winked: “Brother Wang has good taste!”

Lin Jie, sitting in the middle of the fourth row, had already stood up and waved his hand vigorously: “Brother Jiang, sit here! I’ve saved a good spot for you!”

Lin Mei, not far away, had lifted half her buttocks before sitting back down.

“Thank you, thank you!” Jiang Wang said his thanks with a smile, while pointing towards Zhong Xuan Sheng’s side: “I’ll squeeze in with my friend.”

Zhong Xuan Sheng had already started making strange noises, bending his finger and knocking on the ground beside him.

Knock, knock.

“Are you blind? Still not making a spot for Martial An Hou?”

He was knocking on the ground in front of Yan Fu.

Young Master Yan wasted no words, merely taking out a bag of yuan stones and placing it on the ground.

“Good!” Zhong Xuan Sheng snatched up the bag of yuan stones and stood up very flexibly, clearing a seat for Jiang Wang. At the same time, he naturally squeezed towards the back: “Come, brothers, squeeze in a bit.”

He didn’t care if he knew the people or not. He didn’t care if they could squeeze in or not.

Li Long Chuan sputtered continuously: “You’re a descendant of a famous family, how can you bow and scrape like this for a few yuan stones today? Where is your dignity? Where is your honor?” He turned his head to look at Yan Fu: “Where are the yuan stones?! I can also give up this seat, wise brother Yan!”

Jiang Wang walked inside, somewhat amused.

Zhong Xuan Sheng had originally occupied two meditation mats. He himself seemed to be squeezing in, but Jiang Wang sat down very comfortably, even having room to stretch his limbs.

“Why are you all suddenly interested in Dao learning?” Jiang Wang asked strangely, “I’ve never seen any of you like this before?”

“You don’t understand.” Zhong Xuan Sheng, whose fat body was squeezing others who dared not speak, leaned in and interjected: “This class is too great!”

Li Long Chuan also said: “That Dao technique is truly brilliant.”

Jiang Wang was more and more confused.

It was wise brother Yan who was relatively normal, saying lightly, “I like that feeling of ‘although ups and downs are uncertain, it is natural’. It is not sudden, not redundant, yet very spectacular.”

“Brother Yan’s words are quite insightful!” The young Martial An Hou thought for a moment and gave such an evaluation.

Dao learning was a prominent subject that no cultivator in the current world could bypass. The Dao Gate was the source of the extraordinary, and Dao cultivation was the beginning of cultivation. The endless prosperity of the extraordinary world, the thousands of families and ten thousand streams, all began from the Dao Gate.

For Jiang Wang, he had once seriously pursued it, and now, he would certainly understand it well. Therefore, his first class in the Ji Xia Academy was a class on Dao learning.

Tap, tap, tap.

Clear footsteps sounded, ascending the stone steps once more. A tall beauty with a frosty demeanor walked onto the stone platform, into the inner circle of stone tablets, instantly capturing all gazes.

Her graceful body seemed to condense frost, her beautiful eyes seemed to hold snow. When she walked over, it was as if she stepped on your very breath.

Li Long Chuan, Yan Fu, Jiang Wang, Zhong Xuan Sheng, all subconsciously stood up.

“Sister,” Li Long Chuan said, “Sit here.”

Li Feng Yao’s frosty eyes lifted slightly. Without a word, she walked inward, an invisible aura naturally clearing a path. For this woman, your heart desperately wanted to approach, but your body would instinctively retreat. She was too beautiful and too cold.

She walked closer and glanced at Jiang Wang. The dignified, newly promoted Martial An Hou of the Great Qi Empire, who had the bold nature to stretch his limbs even while attending class in the academy, hastily moved to the left, making room for a meditation mat between them.

For some unknown reason, although his cultivation now clearly surpassed hers, he was still like the first time he had met her, very nervous.

He wasn’t the only one who was nervous.

After Li Feng Yao sat down, this group of fox friends and dog friends from Lin Zi City also sat down, one after another. Only, each of them had lost their bold spirit.

“Today I adjusted my breath a bit late, almost didn’t get a seat,” Li Feng Yao said flatly. “You’re all quite active in this class.”

Zhong Xuan Sheng’s large, fat body squeezed directly towards the back.

Yan Fu’s clothes were somehow wrinkled badly. He frowned, lowered his head, and smoothed them out over and over.

Li Long Chuan said with forced bravery, “The Dao Gate is the source of the extraordinary; we must understand it more.”

Li Feng Yao did not comment. She tilted her head and glanced at Jiang Wang: “What about you?”

There seemed to be a plum blossom fragrance wafting in, yet it also seemed to be just an illusion.

Jiang Wang said calmly, “The opportunity to enter Ying Xia Academy is not easy to come by. I want to understand a bit about all the prominent teachings of the various families.”

“Oh, so that’s it.” Li Feng Yao nodded, then said nothing more.

She simply sat on the meditation mat between Jiang Wang and Yan Fu. The entire crowd of students on the Yin Yang fish platform inexplicably sat up straight. Everyone became very serious.

Sitting beside her, Jiang Wang could faintly feel Li Feng Yao’s aura. Only now did he discover that she was already approaching the Shen Er Ming realm. Compared to Zhong Xuan Sheng and the others, she was several steps faster. As expected of Sister Feng Yao, as expected of the woman who had beaten Li Long Chuan since they were young.

He was thinking some things he shouldn’t, but it wasn’t long before another woman walked out from behind the stone tablets…

She walked onto the lecture platform.

Dressed in a snow-white Daoist robe, she was a person of absolute beauty. The loose Daoist robe could not conceal her charming figure. A wooden hairpin pinned her hair, but it could not bind her free and easy character.

The instant Jiang Wang raised his eyes, he immediately understood—

What was meant by “although ups and downs are uncertain, it is natural.” What was meant by “not sudden, not redundant, yet very spectacular.”