Master of Strange Dao

Yu Ziqing looked at the list in his hand, which was densely populated with a long row of numbers.

He didn't know how Yang managed to do it.

The library at Langya Institute, even if he hadn't been there, Yu Ziqing could guess, its collection would start at no less than millions of books.

Even if not read in detail, just glancing them over would require time measured in centuries.

Yang wasn't some ancient relic. How many years had he lived, yet he had already roughly browsed through them?

Honestly, if it weren't Yang, Yu Ziqing would think this was an exaggerated boast.

Yu Ziqing shook the list in his hand.

"To be honest, since you don't dare to find an acquaintance to investigate, how am I supposed to? I can't even enter Langya Institute."

Besides, with the current situation at Langya Institute, Yu Ziqing didn't dare to go.

Not only did he not dare to go, he didn't even dare to trust anyone inside Langya Institute.

It wasn't difficult to make friends with a scholar from Langya Institute.

Then asking them to find a few books in the Mysterious Pavilion and Ren Pavilion wouldn't be difficult.

After all, the books in these two places were free for anyone in Langya Institute to browse and borrow.

The challenge lay in how not to let others in Langya Institute know.

Was there anyone keeping an eye on who read and borrowed those books?

Each book had a number, which was advantageous in many ways.

However, it was also inconvenient, with clear records of who borrowed which book.

If some books were sealed with the Silence Divine Spell, even if they seemed unimportant on the surface, they were sensitive on a deeper level.

Even if he found someone to help look and search in the library, Yu Ziqing didn't want to harm them for no reason.

Well, someone willing to help him, he didn't want to harm them, so the list wasn't entirely useless.

Not everyone in Langya Institute was a good sort.

Like Dean Wu, Yu Ziqing wasn't clear on the specific situation, but he understood that regarding the previous matters, he was certainly not without blame.

Either he hadn't left any evidence, or for other reasons, he couldn't be directly implicated.

As the dean, if there wasn't concrete proof against him, he certainly wouldn't face major trouble.

But Yu Ziqing guessed there wouldn't be any solid evidence.

If he had really instructed the An Family to do those things, he wouldn't explicitly say it.

For instance, "This thing is very dangerous, you mustn't take it outside," said with different tones, could convey the opposite meaning.

Saying "don't" on the surface but actually hinting "do it," does such an example need to be given?

A leader, a boss, a superior, on sensitive matters which might backfire, wouldn't give direct orders; that would leave them exposed.

Anyone who reached such a position would understand what to do once hearing those words.

Those who didn't understand the hint wouldn't receive one.

Yu Ziqing stroked his chin, pondering whether to provoke Dean Wu and similarly test the waters.

"Yang, can I ask you something, do you know Dean Wu from Langya Institute?"

"Yes, why?"

"What's his name?"

"I don't know. Most deans at Langya Institute don't have full names."

"They all hide their names?" Yu Ziqing looked puzzled.

He still didn't know what Yang's former name was, speculating all this time if it was a tradition at Langya Institute?

"Not exactly. In Langya Institute, Dao Cultivators without Entering Dao only have a first name.

After Entering Dao, or becoming a dean, they receive a surname for convenient addressing.

The time they truly have both a first and last name is after establishing their Dao, when their name is set.

Naming oneself after one's Dao has always been a tradition at Langya Institute."

Yang saw Yu Ziqing's knitted brows and the look urging him to continue, so he did.

"You know how Entering Dao works for cultivators; it basically starts with Qi Refinement or Refining God.

But establishing one's Dao is different. Each Dao Cultivator has their own Dao, and reaching this point means they've truly begun their own path.

It's similar to in other cultivators reaching the Seventh Tier and below, though it's not exactly the same, think of it that way."

Yu Ziqing nodded in understanding, knowing the difference between a cultivator and a great cultivator.

In terms of Dao Cultivators, it was the difference between ordinary and great Dao Cultivators; he understood the essence.

He had initially thought Dao Cultivation was just gaining experience leading to Qi Refinement or Refining God techniques.

Now he realized he had misunderstood.

Dao Cultivators were consistently Dao Cultivators.

No wonder they could remain independent; they weren't forcibly separated.

Like him, although his path was consistently through the Hungry Ghost Dao, outwardly it appeared as Refining God.

"Oh, I'm not a Dao Cultivator. That path isn't for me; I don't have the conditions, so I'll just understand as much as I can.

I wanted to ask, are you familiar with Dean Wu?"

"Not very. Langya Institute is massive, and everyone is busy.

Dao Cultivators who haven't entered Dao have limited lifespans, relying on Spiritual Medicine for longevity; their limited time isn't sufficient even for personal cultivation, nor for trivial matters.

Only after entering Dao does time become abundant, allowing them to pursue many things they previously wouldn't.

However, although I'm not familiar with Dean Wu personally, I know he excels in matters related to Magical Treasures, formations, and runes."