Chapter 480: Sword from the Mouth (Part 2)
Chen Changsheng understood somewhat and said with some uncertainty, "The third sword is indeed a bit difficult. According to Su Li, he himself never mastered it, but the first two swords..."
He wanted to say that he hadn't found them particularly difficult when he learned them, but looking at Tang Thirty-Six's expression, he struggled to swallow the rest of his words. Tang Thirty-Six sneered and said, "The second sword was clearly created by Su Li specifically for your meridian problem. How are we supposed to learn it? As for the first sword, the calculation ability it requires is too strong. Do you think everyone can do that?"
Chen Changsheng thought to himself that the girl's calculation ability was far stronger than his own.
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him very seriously and asked, "Chen Changsheng... do you really not know that you're a genius?"
Chen Changsheng thought it over. His memory was pretty good, and as for calculation ability, it had probably been greatly strengthened when he viewed the steles in the Mausoleum of Books. But as for being a genius... he shook his head.
Tang Thirty-Six said, "Back then at the Heavenly Dao Academy when I first saw you, what did I say?"
Chen Changsheng said, "You said I was a genius."
Tang Thirty-Six reached out and patted his shoulder, saying, "Trust me, I never misjudge people."
Chen Changsheng thought about it and didn't know how to respond.
Tang Thirty-Six said, "By the way, you need to teach me the National Education True Sword and the Mountain-Toppling Staff."
Chen Changsheng asked in confusion, "You wouldn't even look at the complete manual of the Li Mountain Sword Style, so why learn this?"
"I'm a student of the National Education Academy, so of course I should learn the National Education Academy's sword techniques. Why would I learn the Li Mountain Sword Style?" Tang Thirty-Six looked at him like he was an idiot, having long forgotten that he had just praised him as a genius. "Besides, since I'm going to be the Academy Supervisor, if I don't know these two sword techniques, word getting out would make me a laughingstock."
The National Education True Sword was a basic sword technique that every strong member of the National Education Academy had to master back in the day. Its power was not weak, but it had few sword moves.
As for the Mountain-Toppling Staff, it wasn't actually a sword technique but a staff technique used by the National Education Academy's disciplinary instructors to punish disobedient students.
Yes, Chen Changsheng would be the dean of the new National Education Academy, and Tang Thirty-Six would become its first Academy Supervisor. The logistics director of the new National Education Academy was Xuan Yuan Po. Zhe Xiu was still recovering from his injuries, but his duties had also been arranged in advance. He would be responsible for teaching National Education Academy students how to fight and how to survive in the demon domain's snowy plains. Of course, the National Education Academy also had a very honorable position reserved for Luo Luo—Lifetime Honorary Vice Dean—and the new academy regulations clearly stated that from now on, the National Education Academy would no longer establish the position of Vice Dean.
...
...
One day in midsummer, the Hundred Flowers Lane was packed with people, and colorful flags fluttered within it.
After twenty years, the National Education Academy had finally officially reopened.
For many old-timers in the National Religion, this was a grand event. Countless old priests in the Li Palace had tears wetting their chests.
For the Pontifical Council, this was the greatest legacy left by the late Pope and his greatest wish. All the priests and staff, amid their joy, also felt a faint sadness.
For the imperial clan, this was their voice finally reaching the continent after years of silence. Although Chen Changsheng and Tang Thirty-Six certainly didn't think of it that way, this didn't stop Prince Chen Liu from coming to observe the ceremony, completely forgetting how many eyes were watching him and the danger that the Saintess might soon find out, as he touched the green tree with deep emotion.
For the hundred new students of the National Education Academy, this was a brand new beginning in their lives and their greatest opportunity.
For the Tianhai family and the new faction of the National Religion, this was a somewhat dangerous signal.
But for Mo Yu, this... was a joke.
"You being the dean is one thing, since it was His Holiness the Pope's sole decision. Luo Luo being a vice dean is also fine, since it's just an empty title. But that guy Tang Tang, who can't even control himself, becoming the Academy Supervisor? Don't you think the most likely outcome is that he'll lead the students into a drunken stupor and then skip class every day? That bear as the logistics director? Aren't you worried that the chefs at Cheng Hu Restaurant, for the sake of money, will make huge pots of food that he'll eat all by himself?"
Mo Yu looked at Chen Changsheng, laughing so hard she was shaking. "The funniest is Zhe Xiu. Teaching students survival? He'll bury them in snowdrifts, and if they can't get out within seven days, they fail. Hey, tell me, how many coffins have you prepared?"
This was in Chen Changsheng's room in the small building. He sat across from her, looking somewhat tired, mainly because there had been too many things to do today, though her unrestrained mockery also played a part.
Mo Yu had come to the National Education Academy today to watch the excitement and see the joke. She hadn't made an official appearance, only quietly appearing in his room after everything was over. But for some reason, she had clearly dressed up carefully before coming, looking more refined and beautiful than usual, radiant and charming.
"From the dean to the Academy Supervisor, none of the people in charge of the National Education Academy now are over twenty... Are you playing house?"
Mo Yu laughed even more happily, the golden flower tucked in her black hair trembling even more.
"Isn't this because you forced us into it?" Chen Changsheng didn't want to listen to her mockery anymore and instead asked, "Why are you dressed so formally today? Is there business at court?"
Mo Yu was slightly startled, thinking to herself that she usually dressed like this. What was so unusual?
Suddenly, she remembered that aside from their first meeting in the Night Palace, most of her subsequent meetings with Chen Changsheng had been at night, and often she had come over wanting to sleep in his bed or was already asleep in it. At those times, she naturally wouldn't be in full makeup and fine clothes. She would come after washing up, with her face bare. It must have looked very different from now.
Thinking of these things, she felt a bit embarrassed. Then, remembering how last time he had told her to wash herself clean before getting into his bed, she felt a bit annoyed. She glared at him hatefully, then drifted out the window like the wind and disappeared into the forest.
Chen Changsheng thought in confusion that Tang Thirty-Six was right—women were indeed the hardest beings to understand in the world. He clearly hadn't said anything, so why had she suddenly gotten upset?
He hadn't lied to Mo Yu. The main reason the National Education Academy had suddenly decided to recruit new students was the immense pressure from the Tianhai family and the new faction of the National Religion. Too many people wanted to challenge the National Education Academy. But that day at the academy's gate, Bie Tianxin's accusation of their malicious intentions and Tang Thirty-Six's subsequent promise had spread widely. So many people, including those hundred new students, were very curious about what the National Education Academy would do next.
The next morning, the duels that had been suspended for several days resumed. The citizens of the capital, who had rested for several days, spread the news, bringing their families young and old. The National Education Academy's gate once again became bustling.
Chen Changsheng had drawn up the duel roster the night before and given one-on-one guidance to the new students who would be fighting. His mental energy had been greatly depleted, so he didn't appear this time but rested inside the academy.
Tang Thirty-Six led more than thirty new students, standing before the National Education Academy's gate. Setting aside everything else, just looking at the uniform academy uniforms on the new students made them seem spirited and full of momentum.
At this moment, the first person to challenge the National Education Academy had already stepped into the arena. He cupped his hands and said, "Please enlighten me."
This person came from an affiliated academy of the Li Palace and had already cultivated to the lower level of Penetrating Obscurity.
He was very curious about who the National Education Academy would send to deal with him. Of course, he knew he was no match for Chen Changsheng and the others, but judging by the current setup, it was clear the National Education Academy would send new students. However, none of the new students standing behind Tang Thirty-Six seemed to have achieved Penetrating Obscurity. How could they possibly fight?
Tang Thirty-Six couldn't care less about what this person or the crowd outside was thinking. Looking at the roster in his hand, he said, "Chen Fugui, step forward."
As soon as his voice fell, a new student squeezed out from behind his classmates. This new student was not old, but his build was extremely sturdy and strong, looking like a smaller version of Xuan Yuan Po.
Without any hesitation, Tang Thirty-Six pointed at the challenger from the Li Palace's affiliated academy and said to him, "Can you beat him?"
The new student named Chen Fugui vigorously patted his chest and said, "I'll only know after I try."
"Bold." Tang Thirty-Six seemed appreciative, but there was no excitement on his face. He said cleanly, "Then go fight."
"Alright!" The new student named Chen Fugui let out a loud roar and leaped down from the stone steps, charging at the challenger from the Li Palace's affiliated academy like a tiger descending a mountain.
The man was startled by this momentum, thinking, could this be a hidden expert from the National Education Academy? His mind wavered slightly. As he looked at the new student's tiger-like charge, he suddenly thought of that Princess Luo Luo in the National Education Academy, and then of the White Emperor's most fearsome divine ability. His divine sense became slightly disordered, and he felt this resembled a legendary technique. Subconsciously, a hint of fear arose in him.
In battle, the most important thing was to keep one's spirit calm and steady. With his mind now disturbed, his energy naturally became chaotic, and his movements slowed by a third. The new student's fist, as big as a sand bowl, was already smashing toward his face. Worried that this punch might conceal some powerful technique, he didn't dare to receive it head-on and retreated hastily. But in his haste, he failed to completely escape the range of the new student's fist wind. The side of his face was grazed, stinging with a burning pain.
This burning pain finally snapped him fully awake.
He was shocked to discover that although this new student's fist technique seemed wild and violent, it clearly only had the form, completely lacking the essence. Moreover, the fluctuation of true essence in those sand-bowl-sized fists was pitifully weak! This was just an ordinary student at the Initial Illumination stage, and he had treated him like a formidable enemy, nearly suffering a loss! The challenger from the Li Palace's affiliated academy was consumed by rage, furious at his own stupidity and the other's bluff. With a loud shout, he swung his sword.
"Stop."
At that moment, a voice rang out. It was very calm but very powerful, as if something very important—at least infinitely more important than this duel—was happening.
The sword of the challenger from the Li Palace's affiliated academy instinctively stopped mid-swing, and he looked toward the source of the voice.
...