Chapter 136: Sleepwalking
Before the Grand Academy Hall, over a thousand scholars, along with the officials of the Imperial Academy, the Imperial Library, and the Chancellor of the Academy, all stood dumbfounded, their gazes fixed on the source of the laughter.
One scholar asked blankly, "What did he manage to cultivate?"
Another scholar beside him also looked bewildered: "It sounded like he said 'Primordial Qi Thread'... I must have misheard!"
The officials of the Imperial Academy, the Imperial Library, and the Chancellor of the Academy all wore awkward expressions, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
The Chancellor Bashan let out a wry laugh. "An interesting little fellow. The Primordial Qi Thread is the foundation of all sword techniques. If he hasn't even cultivated a Primordial Qi Thread, how did he become a scholar of our Grand Academy? Which examiner did he bribe to get in?"
"Chancellor Bashan, you haven't been at the Grand Academy recently, so you don't know about him."
An Imperial Academy official chuckled. "That brat is named Qin Mu. He's a castaway from the Great Ruins. He defeated the Daoist Lingyun and was personally appointed as a Grand Academy scholar by the Emperor. With the Emperor's appointment, who would dare to keep him out?"
"A castaway from the Great Ruins defeated Lingyun, and the Emperor personally appointed him?"
Chancellor Bashan looked at the Daoist Lingyun and sneered, "Lingyun, did you throw the match? Did the Emperor also take a bribe?"
The Daoist Lingyun was both ashamed and furious. At the time, Qin Mu had beaten him out of the Pure Yang Hall, emptied both of his sword cases, and made a complete fool of him in front of the Emperor, civil and military officials, and these colleagues and scholars. And this was called throwing the match?
Was there such a way to take bribes and throw a match?
Wasn't the price a bit too high?
But after all, Bashan was a Chancellor, second only to the Grand Chancellor. He couldn't be easily offended. So Lingyun simply kept his face stern and said nothing, to avoid getting himself into trouble. After all, this Chancellor Bashan was notorious in the Grand Academy for his loud voice and his blunt, merciless speech. Most of the rumors and all sorts of messy gossip in the academy were spread by him. Behind his back, he was called "Bashan the Big Mouth."
If you argued with him, by the next day, even the chickens in the coop would know about your embarrassing affairs.
Not far away, Fu Yuanqing felt a surge of joy in his heart: "So that's my junior disciple from the same sect! He looks a bit foolish. The master is also rather incompetent, finding such a simpleton. He looks easy to bully!"
"After seven or eight years of hard training, I've finally cultivated the Primordial Qi Thread!"
Qin Mu was overjoyed, unable to contain his excitement as he looked at the thread of Primordial Qi before him. Now he no longer had to use that ridiculously thick "Primordial Qi Thread." Now his Primordial Qi Thread could be very fine.
Between his fingers and palm, the Primordial Qi Thread flowed gently, as fine as a hair, perfectly formed.
If one looked closely, they could see that Qin Mu's Primordial Qi Thread was different from others.
This thread was actually composed of countless extremely fine sword energies linked together. Each sword was constantly changing, constantly revolving, yet the Primordial Qi Thread operated with incredible flexibility, showing no sign that it even had a structure.
"I wonder how far my Primordial Qi Thread can extend?"
Qin Mu looked around, wanting to test how far his Primordial Qi Thread could reach. Suddenly, his gaze swept past the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang, and he was slightly startled.
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang was looking at his hand, his gaze falling on the Primordial Qi Thread flowing between his fingers. He seemed to sense Qin Mu's gaze and slightly raised his eyes. Their eyes met.
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang revealed a smile and said softly, "Quite interesting..."
Qin Mu withdrew his gaze and abandoned his idea. There were too many people here; it wasn't the place for an experiment.
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang waited for a while longer, then spoke, "Alright. Now I will teach you the second basic sword form, the Wandering Sword Form. The sword is unrestricted in its flight through the air, and its form is also unrestricted. Therefore, the sword can wander, like a dragon swimming, like a snake slithering, like a fish gliding, like a phoenix soaring through the sky, like an immortal or a god treading the void. Why must one be bound by the basic sword techniques of the predecessors?"
Qin Mu's spirits were lifted. The second basic sword technique created by the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang was once again refreshing and eye-opening, as if a door had been pushed open, revealing an even broader world.
"I made the right choice coming to the Grand Academy. The founder had great foresight," he thought to himself.
At the mountain gate, Danyangzi looked up. He saw layers of palaces on the jade peak, deep and imposing. The trees and grass on the mountain were lush, dyed a jade color by the Nine Dragon Qi. Occasionally, a word or two from the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang's lecture was carried down by the wind, giving him a feeling of sudden enlightenment.
"Junior Uncle Danyangzi."
Linxuan Daozhi also vaguely heard the voice coming from the mountain. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Is the person lecturing on the mountain the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang? I only heard a sentence or two from him, and I benefited greatly. I actually think he..."
Danyangzi smiled. "Speak your mind freely."
Linxuan Daozhi gathered his courage and said, "Although I haven't heard all of his instructions to the scholars, his swordsmanship has indeed reached an inconceivable level. The techniques passed down by our Daoist sect, despite their profound foundation and encompassing nature, his insights surpass our sect. Your disciple believes that perhaps the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang truly wants to promote the development of Dao techniques and divine abilities. If that's the case, why must we block the gate?"
Danyangzi smiled. "Daozhi, besides listening to what a person says, you must also observe their actions. That is the way of dealing with the world. No one denies the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang's talent. In his early years, when he met the Dao Lord, the Dao Lord also predicted that he was a genius who appears once every five hundred years, destined to become a sage. This shows how highly the Dao Lord regarded him. But what if, instead of becoming a sage, he turns to evil?"
Linxuan Daozhi was puzzled.
Danyangzi sneered. "With his power, he could fully promote divine techniques and Dao methods. But his ambition is to subdue all the major sects, leaving them no way out. That's the first point. The second is that the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang actually uses the doctrines of the Demon Sect! The Demon Sect is a false path, using the name of a sage to practice the demonic way. The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang associating with the Demon Sect makes him an enemy of the righteous path!"
Linxuan Daozhi was inwardly awed. "Right and evil cannot coexist. If he associates with the demonic path, the more talented he is, the greater the threat!"
Danyangzi nodded. "His establishment of primary schools, secondary schools, and the Grand Academy does have its benefits, but it also has drawbacks. You were taught by the Dao Lord from a young age, and he has guided you all the way until now. Can the teachers and officials of the Imperial Preceptor's primary schools, secondary schools, and Grand Academy match the skill and insight of the Dao Lord? The Imperial Preceptor's opening of these schools seems to give many people the opportunity to cultivate and become experts, but it also cuts off the path for geniuses. This is the fundamental reason our Daoist sect opposes him."
His expression was grave. "Dao techniques and divine abilities are driven by geniuses, geniuses like the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang. Most people spend their entire lives mediocre, only knowing how to learn and use, accomplishing nothing, and not knowing how to explore and innovate. The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang has cut off the path for geniuses, and the harm is far-reaching! By promoting these primary schools, secondary schools, and the Grand Academy, for a time, everyone appears to be an expert, all very capable. But at the same time, everyone is mediocre, like making mooncakes, all stamped from the same mold. Who can teach a figure like a Daozhi? Sects exist for a reason. If he fails to realize this, our Daoist sect will fight him to the death."
Linxuan Daozhi assented, his heart burning with fighting spirit.
Danyangzi smiled. "You can be hostile towards the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang, but don't be hostile towards his Dao techniques and divine abilities, lest you narrow your own horizons."
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang's lecture lasted for a full two days, without rest or sleep. Many couldn't hold on, dozing off. Some simply fell asleep in front of the Grand Academy Hall, while others went down to rest.
Qin Mu and a few other scholars with deep cultivation bases were still energetic, listening attentively. However, he was at the Five Luminaries Realm, while the others were divine ability practitioners at the Six Harmonies or Seven Stars Realm.
The third basic sword form the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang taught was called the Drill, and it was also extremely peculiar.
When used with a single sword, the sword tip spun rapidly, excelling at breaking through defensive techniques like the Vajra Body. When used with multiple swords, it was even more terrifying. Many swords formed a huge drilling sword form, unstoppable!
In two days, he only taught these three sword forms. After that, he didn't teach any more. Instead, he let the Grand Academy scholars ask questions, and he answered them. After the Q&A session, the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang stood up and said to the Young Founder with a smile, "I'll leave these scholars half a day to sleep, rest, and eat. After that, I'll trouble the Grand Chancellor to handle the rest."
The Young Founder smiled. "Imperial Preceptor, your talent is unparalleled. Did you discover any talents this time?"
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang nodded. "One or two have grasped my sword techniques. The Grand Chancellor should be able to tell. By the way, are you really going to resign from your post and leave?"
The Young Founder nodded. "My time is short. There's no need to cling to power any longer."
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang sighed with emotion. "When have you ever coveted power? If you wanted to be an official, I would even give you my position as Imperial Preceptor! But you just weren't willing. You are half my teacher. If you leave, I will be very sad. I will have one less Dao-companion."
The Young Founder smiled. "There is no banquet that doesn't end. You are born and enter the feast; you die and the feast disperses. It's time for us to part ways."
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang looked up at the sky and murmured, "Are there really immortals in the sky? If you were to become an immortal in the sky, and could look down upon this era we have created, how wonderful that would be..."
He shook his head, boarded the tower ship, and the ship slowly sailed away from the Grand Academy.
The cooks from the kitchen pushed carts to the front of the Grand Academy Hall, allowing each scholar to sit on the ground and eat there. Then, the Young Founder gave the order, commanding the scholars to return to their quarters to rest for half a day, waking when the bell tolled.
Qin Mu and the others returned to the scholars' dormitories. When they passed 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 little fox who was already asleep, and then began to pace slowly, activating the Tyrant Body Three-Dan Art. His speed gradually increased, and he fell into a half-asleep, half-awake state of cultivation.
Not long after, Shen Wanyun saw Qin Mu whooshing past his door. He quickly chased after him, only to see Qin Mu with his eyes half-open, half-closed, running wildly all over the mountain. He was stunned. "Sleepwalking?"