Chapter 1789: The Five Elites of the Wen Dao Academy
Zhu Santong had chosen his next life, and the old woman, the lady, and the young girl each stepped forward in turn to select their own reincarnations. Qin Fengqing treated them extremely well, allowing them to freely choose their race and family background without showing any impatience.
Old Man Dongyang observed carefully, and only after confirming that Qin Mu had not played any tricks did he relax. He then stepped forward to choose his own family background for his next life.
After the five had made their selections, they began to dissolve their own cultivation and Dao attainments.
For Dao achievers to dissolve their Dao was naturally no small matter, and these five were no ordinary Dao achievers—each of them could be considered a titan of the prehistoric universe!
When their Dao fruits scattered, their Dao trees collapsed, their physical bodies decomposed, and their primordial spirits dispersed, transforming into the great Dao of heaven and earth as well as spiritual energy and spiritual power, the spiritual energy and spiritual power in the sky of the Yuan Realm suddenly became intensely concentrated. They gathered into clouds, the clouds coalesced into seas, and the cloud seas continued to expand and rise.
Soon, dazzling stars appeared in the sky, shining brilliantly. The stars rose higher, and the number of stars grew greater and greater!
By nightfall, several rivers of stars had appeared in the Yuan Realm’s sky, spanning north, south, east, and west, making every night in the Yuan Realm as bright as a full moon.
Even a torrential downpour formed from spiritual power and spiritual energy fell from the sky. This rainstorm lasted for several years, yet people found it strange that the rainwater never touched the ground—it would dissipate halfway through the air!
The entire Yuan Realm became like a paradise of grotto-heavens and blessed lands. Every divine mountain could be called a sacred ground, every tree and plant could be considered a spiritual herb, and every river exuded an overwhelming aura of spiritual energy!
After the battle in which the Heavenly Court had attacked the Yuan Realm, the Yuan Realm’s vitality had suffered greatly and had not yet recovered. But the dissolution of the five Dao achievers caused the Yuan Realm to surpass even its former state!
“Fellow Daoists,” Qin Mu said, bowing to the souls of Dongyang, Zhu Santong, and the others floating before him. “Please enter the cycle of reincarnation and complete your rebirth.”
The five souls returned the bow and said, “Thank you, Seventh Young Master, for giving us a chance to start anew!” With that, the five souls flew toward the Six Paths of Reincarnation Wheel.
The Six Paths of Reincarnation Wheel operated on its own, and the five souls quickly disappeared into the cycle of reincarnation, leaving no trace behind.
Qin Fengqing looked up at the river of stars formed by the gathered spiritual energy in the sky and clicked his tongue in amazement. Suddenly, he said, “Bad little brother, these five people’s Dao attainments are truly formidable. It would be a pity if they cannot awaken their past-life memories. If they are reborn into a poor background with mediocre talent, they might end up as ordinary people.”
Qin Mu replied, “As long as they learn the Dao of reincarnation, they can still recover their past-life memories. Didn’t Lan Yutian recover the memories of the Imperial Heavenly Lord?”
“Lan Fatty’s intelligence and comprehension aren’t something everyone possesses.”
Qin Fengqing shook his head and said, “How many people in the world can achieve what he has?”
“The Yan Kang Reform is precisely about turning the impossible into the possible.”
Qin Mu smiled and said, “Three hundred years ago, who in Yan Kang could cultivate to the divine realm? Now, the divine realm is no longer out of reach for cultivators. Two hundred years ago, who in Yan Kang could cultivate to the Jade Capital or the Empyrean? Now, the Imperial Throne realm is no longer rare in Yan Kang, and the Ancestral Court Dao realm system is better than the Heavenly Court system. A hundred years ago, who in Yan Kang dared to hope to become a Dao achiever? Now, there are over a dozen individuals who have the potential to become Dao achievers.”
He patted Qin Fengqing on the shoulder and said with a smile, “Brother, times have changed. If they still carried the memories of their past lives, it would not be a good thing for them. They would still follow the old systems and cultivate based on their past experiences, unable to integrate into the Yan Kang Reform. Even if they achieved Dao again, they would be no different from their past selves. I need their wisdom to take the Yan Kang Reform even further. Brother, times have changed.”
He perked up and said, “In this era, the pace is getting faster and faster! Even you and I, if we don’t change with the times, will eventually be eliminated by the times! But rather than waiting to be eliminated, it’s better to walk at the forefront of the times and lead the way forward!”
His words were highly infectious, but Qin Fengqing remained completely unmoved.
Qin Fengqing had long been accustomed to his younger brother’s impassioned speeches, but he could still take Qin Mu’s words to heart.
“The Nether Heavenly Lord is not far from achieving Dao. Once he achieves Dao, he will come to take your place, allowing you to free yourself.”
Qin Mu turned and walked away, saying, “I will wait for you in the Ancestral Court. By then, I will need your combat power to share my burden, and I also need you to achieve Dao in the Ancestral Court!”
Qin Fengqing watched him walk away until he disappeared, then spun around and slowly sank into the Nether Realm.
Dongyang, Zhu Santong, and the others were born one after another. Dongyang and the young girl were reincarnated into the human race, while the old woman and the lady felt that demigods had more potential, so they chose to become descendants of demigods.
As for Zhu Santong, he became a pig demon among the demon race, born into a prominent family.
Back when Qin Mu had received the blessing of the Heavenly Emperor Taichu, he had thrown that blessing to a black wild boar in the mountains. After receiving the Heavenly Emperor’s blessing, the black boar immediately gained intelligence. Sensing that something was amiss, it fled overnight with its entire family.
Gradually, it transformed into a demon, learned to cultivate, and came into contact with Yan Kang’s cultivators. In Yan Kang, the status of the demon race was not inferior to that of the human race. At the top, the demon fox Hu Ling’er held a high position in the court, controlling Yan Kang’s financial power, while at the middle level, various demon gods were spread across the southern regions.
This black boar demon had now become one of the leaders of the demon race, with a large family and great influence, known as the Black Mountain Great Lord.
This Black Mountain Great Lord was Zhu Santong’s father in this life.
Zhu Santong was clever and intelligent from a young age, earning the high regard of the Black Mountain Great Lord. The Black Mountain Great Lord knew that he had risen to prominence thanks to the inexplicable blessing of the Heavenly Emperor, and that his own talent and comprehension were not good, which was why few of his descendants were intelligent.
Since Zhu Santong was exceptionally clever, the Black Mountain Great Lord invested heavily in him, spending money to send him to the best elementary school and even buying a house in the Lower Capital so he could study there.
Zhu Santong did not disappoint his expectations. His achievements grew higher and higher, and later, during the Grand Academy entrance exam, he successfully entered the Grand Academy.
The Black Mountain Great Lord was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He held a grand banquet at Black Mountain, inviting all the demon gods to celebrate for three days and three nights.
After entering the Grand Academy, Zhu Santong displayed extraordinary talent. Before he even graduated, the Grand Academician Gu Linuan recommended him to pursue advanced studies at the Wen Dao Academy.
The Wen Dao Academy was no ordinary place—it was the most sacred and solemn sanctuary in all the myriad realms. Cultivators and gods from all realms who possessed outstanding talent considered it an honor to enter the Wen Dao Academy.
When the Black Mountain Great Lord heard this news, he thought his ancestors’ graves must have emitted auspicious smoke, but unfortunately, his family had no ancestral graves.
However, the Wen Dao Academy had many talented individuals. After entering, Zhu Santong was still considered an outstanding talent, but there were also many who were on par with him.
The dean of the Wen Dao Academy, Su Muzhe, and the other high-ranking officials initially did not notice him. It was only later, when Zhu Santong came into contact with the Dao of reincarnation within the academy, that his talent and comprehension gradually improved. He began to produce many novel ideas and insightful perspectives, which finally caught the attention of Su Muzhe, Si Youyou, and others.
Si Youyou summoned this young demon and questioned him. Zhu Santong said, “I don’t know how I became smarter. Ever since I started cultivating the Dao of reincarnation and studying its mysteries, strange thoughts and images have been popping into my mind from time to time.”
Si Youyou exchanged a glance with Su Muzhe and dismissed him. Si Youyou said, “This is a sign of cultivating the Dao of reincarnation—the memories of a past life are about to awaken. This person has a past life. But his insights are exquisite and unique, so his past life must be extraordinary. Could he be a reincarnation of a remnant of the Heavenly Court? That doesn’t seem right either. Even the Ten Heavenly Lords might not have his breadth of vision and insight.”
Su Muzhe said, “We need to invite the Earth Lord to investigate his background.”
Qin Fengqing descended and, upon hearing them talk about Zhu Santong, explained his origins.
Si Youyou and Su Muzhe widened their eyes and exclaimed, “Is that so? Why didn’t you say so earlier? What if he awakens his past life and goes on a rampage? What then?”
“How could it be so easy to awaken?”
Qin Fengqing said dismissively, “The Dao of reincarnation is the hardest to cultivate. For him to awaken, he would need to cultivate to the twenty-eighth level of the Dao realm. But the twenty-eighth level of the Dao realm for reincarnation—the Empress Dowager barely reached that level while she was alive. Give Zhu Santong three thousand years, and he might just barely reach the twenty-eighth level.”
The two breathed a sigh of relief. Si Youyou suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, “What about the other four? The five prehistoric Dao achievers have been reincarnated. We only know about Zhu Santong. We need to know about the other four as well.”
Qin Fengqing searched for a while and said, “Jun Xieyu is already studying under the Flower Heavenly Lord. She is the old woman among the five Dao achievers. The one called Yaya, the Dao achiever, is now at the Shang Cang Academy, taught by Mu Yingxue, and her name is Tu Yulou. There is also a middle-aged woman who was reincarnated into the demigod race, now named Yi Qiqi. She recently took the Little Jade Capital exam and entered the Little Jade Capital. The one with the best talent is Dongyang. Let me check…”
After a moment, Qin Fengqing’s expression turned strange, and he was silent for a long time.
Si Youyou quickly asked, and Qin Fengqing stammered, “Dongyang is working odd jobs at a supervisory factory in the Western Mountains…”
Si Youyou and Su Muzhe were speechless for a long time.
Qin Fengqing quickly explained, “His family was originally wealthy, but after he was born, their fortunes declined, and they became destitute. He only attended school for two years before dropping out. Now he’s thirty years old, making a living in a small county town by doing odd jobs. Because he has no skills, he changes factories every ten days or half a month. No woman has taken a liking to him, so he’s still alone.”
Si Youyou glared at him fiercely and said, “Find Dongyang and bring him to the Wen Dao Academy!”
She had raised Qin Mu, so he had always been afraid of her. Qin Fengqing was also afraid of her by extension. He hurriedly searched and said, “I’ll send him to you, Granny, in a couple of days!” With that, he didn’t even bother to spin around and quickly sank into the Nether Realm.
A few days later, a burly, simple-looking Dongyang was brought to the Wen Dao Academy. He looked around, somewhat at a loss.
A group of strangers surrounded him, examining him from head to toe, even touching him. They all shook their heads and said, “He has already missed the optimal period for cultivation. There’s no saving him.”
Si Youyou shooed the academicians away and examined Dongyang herself. She frowned and sighed, saying, “Maybe there’s still hope… Go fetch the Medicine Master!”
From the moment the man known as the Medicine Master arrived, Dongyang’s hardships began. He was soaked in medicinal baths every day, his body covered with silver needles, making his life miserable. Dongyang tried to escape several times but was caught and brought back. He secretly lamented, wondering what crime he had committed to endure such torture.
A young man named Zhu Santong often visited the Medicine Master’s courtyard. Over time, they became familiar with each other and gradually became good friends.
Later, Dongyang no longer had to soak in medicinal baths, but he still had to consume many spiritual pills every day.
Si Youyou arranged for him to attend elementary school. Dongyang felt very ashamed sitting among a group of ten-year-old children.
At first, he learned everything very slowly. The elementary school students around him changed batch after batch, and he was still studying in elementary school at the age of fifty.
Another twenty years passed. Dongyang, now white-haired, was still sitting in elementary school, becoming a peculiar sight there.
However, after he turned seventy, it was as if he had suddenly become enlightened. He learned everything very quickly. Within a few years, he entered university, and a few years later, Si Youyou sent him to the Grand Academy.
Zhu Santong had already become a famous demon god in the region, and he marveled at this turn of events.
A few more years passed. When Dongyang was eighty years old, he finally entered the Wen Dao Academy. Si Youyou personally taught him cultivation. Studying alongside him were the scholar Jun Xieyu, a disciple of Hua Xuanxiu; Yi Qiqi from the Little Jade Capital; and Tu Yulou from the Shang Cang Academy.
As for Zhu Santong, he had already left the Wen Dao Academy to campaign against the remnants of the Heavenly Court. He would only return once every few decades, and when he did, he would find Dongyang to drink and talk about his adventures.
Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, three thousand years had gone by. One day, the Shang Lord returned from the Ancestral Court to visit these five old acquaintances.
The five had long heard of the Shang Lord’s reputation. They felt both awe and admiration. Suddenly, Zhu Santong’s mind roared, and he blurted out, “I remember! Seventh Young Master, you bastard! Didn’t you say the Shang Lord had been reincarnated?”