In front of the Grand Hall of the Imperial Academy, more than a thousand scholars, along with officials from the Imperial College, the Imperial Library, and the Chief Librarian, all stood in stunned silence, their gazes fixed upon the source of the laughter.
One scholar asked in a daze, "What did he refine?"
Another scholar beside him was equally bewildered. "He said something about a qi thread... I might have misheard!"
Those officials from the Imperial College, the Imperial Library, and the Chief Librarian also wore expressions of awkward embarrassment, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Chief Librarian Bashan burst out laughing. "An interesting little fellow. A qi thread is the foundation of all sword techniques. How did he become a scholar of my Grand Academy without even refining a qi thread? Which examiner did he bribe to get in?"
"Chief Librarian Bashan, you haven't been at the Grand Academy recently and don't know about him."
One of the Imperial College officials smiled. "That brat's name is Qin Mu. He's an outcast from the Great Ruins. He defeated Daoist Lingyun and was personally appointed as a scholar by the Emperor. Who would dare refuse the Emperor's appointment?"
"The outcast from the Great Ruins defeated Lingyun, and the Emperor personally appointed him?"
Chief Librarian Bashan looked at Daoist Lingyun and sneered, "Lingyun, did you go easy on him? Did the Emperor take bribes too?"
Daoist Lingyun felt both ashamed and furious. He had been struck by Qin Mu out of the Pure Yang Hall, leaving two sword cases empty, making a complete fool of himself in front of the Emperor, the civil and military ministers, and all his colleagues and students. And that was called going easy on him?
Was there such a thing as taking bribes and going easy?
The price seemed a bit too high, didn't it?
However, Bashan was still the Chief Librarian, second only to the Grand Librarian, and he couldn't easily offend him. He could only keep his face expressionless and remain silent to avoid getting into trouble. After all, this Chief Librarian Bashan was notorious in the Grand Academy for his loud voice and his habit of speaking without any tact. Rumors and all sorts of messy news in the Grand Academy were basically spread by him, which was why people secretly called him "Big Mouth Bashan."
If you argued with him, by the next day, even the chickens in the coop would know about your embarrassing affair.
Nearby, Fu Yuanqing felt a burst of pleasant surprise in his heart: "That's my little junior brother who shares the same master! He looks so silly. Master really is incompetent, finding such a dim-witted goose—you can tell at a glance he's easy to bully!"
"After seven or eight years of bitter cultivation, I've finally refined a qi thread!"
Qin Mu was overjoyed, unable to hide the excitement in his heart as he looked at the qi thread before him. He no longer had to use the extremely thick "qi thread"—now his qi thread could be delicate and refined.
Between his fingers and palms, the qi thread flowed gently, as fine as a strand of hair, and was truly perfect.
If one looked closely, one could see that Qin Mu's qi thread was different from others.
This qi thread was actually composed of countless extremely fine sword energies connected together. Each sword was constantly changing and rotating, yet the qi thread moved with incredible flexibility, giving no hint that it even had a structure.
"I wonder how far my qi thread can extend?"
Qin Mu looked around, wanting to test how far his qi thread could stretch. Suddenly, his gaze swept over the State Preceptor of Yankang, and he paused slightly.
The State Preceptor of Yankang was watching his hand, his gaze fixed on the qi thread flowing between Qin Mu's fingers. He seemed to sense Qin Mu's gaze and slightly raised his eyes, their gazes meeting.
The State Preceptor of Yankang smiled and said softly, "Quite interesting..."
Qin Mu withdrew his gaze, abandoning his idea. There were too many people here for him to experiment.
The State Preceptor of Yankang waited a while longer and then spoke: "Very well. Now I will teach you the second basic sword form, the Wandering Sword Form. A sword flies through the air without restriction, and its form is also unrestricted. Therefore, a sword can wander—like a dragon wandering, like a snake slithering, like a fish swimming, like a phoenix soaring through the sky, like an immortal treading upon the void. Why should one be confined by the basic sword techniques of the past?"
Qin Mu's spirit was greatly stirred. The second basic sword form created by the State Preceptor of Yankang was once again refreshing and eye-opening, as if a door had been opened to reveal a broader world.
"I was right to come to the Grand Academy. The Ancestor had foresight," he thought to himself.
At the mountain gate, Dan Yangzi looked up and saw the countless palaces atop the Jade Peak, deep and imposing, with lush vegetation on the mountain, dyed jade-green by the dragon energy of the nine dragons. Occasionally, the voice of the State Preceptor of Yankang drifted down from the mountain on the wind, and when he caught a phrase or two, he felt a sudden sense of clarity.
"Uncle-Master Dan Yangzi."
Lin Xuan, the Daoist Disciple, also faintly heard the voice from the mountain. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Is the one lecturing on the mountain the State Preceptor of Yankang? I can only hear a sentence or two of his, but I benefit greatly. I actually think he..."
Dan Yangzi smiled. "Feel free to speak."
Lin Xuan gathered his courage. "Although I haven't finished listening to his guidance for the students, his sword techniques have truly reached an incredible level. Although the techniques passed down in our Daoist sect are profound and all-encompassing, his insights surpass those of our Daoist sect. In my opinion, the State Preceptor of Yankang may truly want to promote the development of Daoist techniques and divine powers. If that's the case, why should we block his path?"
Dan Yangzi smiled. "Daoist Disciple, besides listening to his words, you must also observe his actions. That is the way of the world. No one denies the talent of the State Preceptor of Yankang. In his early years, when he met the Daoist Master, the Daoist Master also expected him to be a genius seen only once in five hundred years, destined to become a saint in the future. That shows how highly the Daoist Master evaluated him. But what if he doesn't become a saint, and instead does evil?"
Lin Xuan looked confused.
Dan Yangzi sneered. "With his power, he could completely promote divine techniques and Daoist methods, but he has the ambition of a wolf and wants to subjugate all the major sects, not giving them a way to survive. That's the first point. The second point is that the State Preceptor of Yankang actually uses the teachings of the Heavenly Demon Cult! The Heavenly Demon Cult is a false Dao, using the name of saints to practice demonic arts. The State Preceptor of Yankang associating with the Heavenly Demon Cult makes him an enemy of the true Dao!"
Lin Xuan's heart tightened with solemnity. "Good and evil cannot coexist. The more talented he is while associating with the demonic path, the greater the threat!"
Dan Yangzi nodded. "He opened elementary schools, middle schools, and the Grand Academy, which indeed have their benefits, but there are also drawbacks. You have been taught by the Daoist Master since childhood and have been taught until now. Can the teachers and Imperial College officials at the State Preceptor of Yankang's elementary schools, middle schools, and Grand Academy match the Daoist Master's abilities and insights? The State Preceptor of Yankang opening elementary schools, middle schools, and the Grand Academy seems to give many people the opportunity to cultivate and become experts, but it also cuts off the path of geniuses. This is the fundamental reason why our Daoist sect opposes him."
His expression became solemn. "Daoist techniques and divine powers are driven by geniuses. Like the State Preceptor of Yankang, most people are mediocre their entire lives, only knowing how to learn and apply, accomplishing nothing, and not knowing how to pioneer and progress. The State Preceptor of Yankang has cut off the path of geniuses, bringing far-reaching disaster! He promotes these elementary schools, middle schools, and the Grand Academy, and for a time, it seems like everyone is an expert, all very impressive, but everyone is also mediocre, like making mooncakes from the same mold. Who can teach a talent like a Daoist Disciple? Sects exist for a reason. If he doesn't realize this, our Daoist sect swears to be his enemy to the death."
Lin Xuan nodded, and the will to fight burned fiercely in his heart.
Dan Yangzi smiled. "You can be hostile to the State Preceptor of Yankang, but don't be hostile to his Daoist techniques and divine powers, lest you narrow your horizons."
This time, the State Preceptor of Yankang lectured for two full days, without sleep or rest. Many people couldn't keep up and dozed off. Some simply fell asleep in front of the Grand Hall, while others went down to rest.
Qin Mu and a few scholars with deep cultivation remained energetic, listening attentively. However, he was only at the Five Star realm, while they were divine practitioners at the Six Harmonies and Seven Stars realms.
The third basic sword form taught by the State Preceptor of Yankang was called the Drilling Form, which was also extremely peculiar.
When using a single sword, the sword tip spun rapidly, excelling at breaking through all defensive techniques like the Diamond Body. When using multiple swords, it was even more terrifying—many swords formed a massive drilling sword form, unstoppable and indestructible!
In two days, he only taught these three sword forms. After that, he did not teach anymore, but allowed the scholars of the Grand Academy to ask questions, and he would answer them. After the questions were answered, the State Preceptor of Yankang stood up and smiled at the Young Ancestor. "I've given these scholars half a day to sleep, rest, and eat. After that, I'll leave the rest to the Grand Librarian to handle."
The Young Ancestor smiled. "The Preceptor's talent is unparalleled. Did you discover any talents this time?"
The State Preceptor of Yankang nodded. "Only one or two who can grasp my sword techniques. The Grand Librarian should be able to see that. By the way, are you really going to resign from your post?"
The Young Ancestor nodded. "My life is coming to an end. There's no need to cling to power any longer."
The State Preceptor of Yankang sighed with emotion. "When have you ever clung to power? If you wanted to hold office, I would even give you my position as State Preceptor! It's just that you weren't willing. You were half my teacher. If you leave, I'll be very saddened. My fellow Daoist will be one fewer."
The Young Ancestor smiled. "There is no feast that never ends. One is born into a feast, and dies to leave it. It's time for you and me to part ways."
The State Preceptor of Yankang looked up at the sky and murmured, "Are there really immortals in the heavens? If only you could become an immortal in the heavens and watch the era we've created together, how wonderful that would be..."
He shook his head, boarded the towered boat, and the vessel slowly sailed away from the Grand Academy.
The cooks from the kitchen pushed their carts to the front of the Grand Hall, having each scholar sit on the ground to eat. Then, on the Young Ancestor's command, all the scholars were ordered to return to their quarters to rest for half a day, to wake when the bell rang.
Qin Mu and the others returned to the scholars' quarters. Passing by Shen Wanyun's residence, they saw that Shen Wanyun was still awake, diligently practicing.
"Senior Brother Shen is worth learning from..."
Qin Mu was greatly encouraged. He returned to his residence, put down the sleeping little fox, and then walked slowly, activating the Overlord Body's Three Origin Technique. His speed gradually increased as he fell into a half-asleep, half-awake state of cultivation.
Not long after, Shen Wanyun saw Qin Mu whizzing past his door and hurriedly chased after him. He saw Qin Mu with his eyes half-closed, running wildly all over the mountain, and couldn't help but be stunned. "Sleepwalking?"