Seeking Truth with a Sword

After Li Ang had made up for the classes he'd missed, the delegations from various countries had also completed the process of meeting with the Emperor. They would officially visit the Academic Palace in ten days.

At the general student assembly, the Mountain Master briefly discussed relevant matters.

For example, foreign students would not have specific classes. Each would be given a seven-day class schedule from the Academic Palace. Based on their own circumstances, they would choose the classes they wanted to attend for the next seven days and then submit their choices to the Academic Palace.

The vast majority of foreign students were local elites who could speak the Chang'an official language, so there would generally be no language barrier.

Foreign students would not stay in dormitories. They would come to the Academic Palace during the day for classes and return to Chang'an City at night to stay in accommodations arranged by the Honglu Temple.

Teachers from the foreign delegations would also offer temporary courses at the Academic Palace, such as Taihao Mountain's theology, philosophy, literature, and Divine Arts. Students who wanted to participate could sign up voluntarily.

Divine Arts...

Yang Yu, who was beside him, exclaimed in amazement, "Taihao Mountain is willing to teach that?"

"It's just teaching. Without devout faith, one simply cannot learn it. And those with fervent beliefs are already considered one of our own in the Daoist community, so it's a win-win no matter what," Li Ang said casually.

The Cultivation Path is divided into five types: Talismanic Magic, Sword Thought Body, and so on. This is content from the first-year textbooks.

In reality, however, besides these, there are other cultivation systems.

For instance, the Divine Arts of Taihao Mountain—executing Magic through devout faith in Haotian.

The witchcraft of the Barbaric Wizards—leveraging the power of supernatural beings and ancestral spirits to release recipes.

The Chakra Technique from Tianzhu, as well as the Zen Meditation Technique it influenced.

As for the Demon Sect, its countless bizarre Cultivation Methods have effects and side effects as obvious and numerous as the stars in the sky.

While reading through the archives, Li Ang had also come across a strange Cultivation Technique known as the "Great Sorrow Technique," which could only be practiced by those with poor talent and extremely unfavorable Life Charts.

Once practice began, the Cultivator would be beset by misfortunes, lose all wealth, see their family scattered, and suffer from various diseases.

Everything desired always turned out contrary to one's wishes, people would leave one by one, even drinking cold water would get stuck in their teeth, and every fart would be a letdown.

Correspondingly, this led to a faster pace of Cultivation—the more miserable and unlucky one became, the quicker their progress.

It was rumored that this Cultivation Technique existed during the Two Jin Period. It was only passed down for a few generations before being destroyed by its desperately sorrowful last inheritor, who also erected a stele to warn future generations.

"...The academic exchange will continue until May of next year. During this period, many events will be held, such as debates, Military Attacks, ball games, and so on.

Only students of the Rain Listening Realm and High-level Cloud Patrol Realm can participate in some of these events.

Each event will reward academic credits, which will be recorded in individual scores. The top ten scorers will receive rewards provided by their respective institutes."

The Mountain Master continued calmly, "The highest scorer will also have the opportunity to go to Taihao Mountain Zhanquan to further their studies."

Zhanquan...

The surrounding students immediately became restless. Li Ang's gaze sharpened. It was said that deep within Taihao Mountain, there was a spring called Zhanquan, containing wisdom and mysteries unimaginable to mortals—a sacred site of Taihao Mountain.

Only the Haotian Sect Leader and the four Cardinals had the right to enter it. Some who had made outstanding contributions to the world and were conferred as Saints by the Daoist community could also be invited to Zhanquan.

For example, a certain ruler in the history of West Jing who ceded a large tract of land to the Daoist community; the Sword Immortal, Li Taibai, before he went mad.

Among currently living Cultivators, it seems only Jianquan Monk from Tiantai Mountain had been invited to Zhanquan. About thirty years ago, he successfully prevented a demonic mutation in the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains, protecting millions of common people in the southern part of Yu Country and the northern part of Zhou Kingdom. For this, he was revered as an honored guest by Taihao Mountain.

The square filled with endless discussion. That was Zhanquan, a place only a Saint could be invited to visit! Throughout history, not many had been bestowed such an honor.

"Legend has it that Zhanquan was formed by a Haotian Divine Miracle, and the concentration of Spiritual Energy there far surpasses any place in the Mortal World," Yang Yu whispered excitedly. "Merely being there can cleanse one's body and soul and enhance one's Cultivation Talent. Even those without cultivation talent can embark on the Cultivation Path, and Cultivators stuck at a certain realm can also break through their bottlenecks!"

Is that so.

Li Ang neither confirmed nor denied his words. Zhanquan must have its peculiarities, but it certainly isn't as magical as Yang Yu imagines. Otherwise, Taihao Mountain could just summon a hundred Cultivators who are High-Order Cloud Patrol Realm and unable to break through, throw them into Zhanquan, and within minutes catalyze the emergence of a hundred Candle Cloud Cultivators, easily conquering all nations. There would be no need to appoint national rulers or collect wealth through them, directly allowing the Cardinal Priests and Priests to rule over all people. Zhanquan either has restrictions or some sort of side effect.

Li Ang had Mo Si, which had already compensated for his deficiency in Cultivation Talent. Furthermore, Taihao Mountain, with its long history, was no less knowledgeable about Mutated Objects than the Academic Palace. Interacting with them might carry the risk of exposing Mo Si.

Li Ang's interest in the so-called Zhanquan was lacking, but he still intended to obtain the academic credits and other rewards from participating in the activities.

"I hope everyone actively signs up and participates to bring glory to yourselves and to the Academic Palace."

Sacrificial Officer Chen Danqiu stood up and said lightly, "Do not betray the expectations of the common people, your parents, your mentors, and the court."

His gaze swept over all the students in the square, as if to say: the champion must be from the Academic Palace. Whoever dares to lose to people from Zhou Kingdom, Jing Country people, or the Turkic People on our own doorstep will bear the consequences.

"Meeting adjourned." The Mountain Master gestured with his hand, ending the regular assembly.

Students scattered, excitedly discussing the upcoming competitions.

Li Wei wondered aloud, "The chance to go to Zhanquan is provided by Taihao Mountain. What prize will our Academic Palace offer? Divine Weapons? Armor? Or Forbidden Books?"

Yang Yu curled his lip. "The Academic Palace can't lose face. So, even if its prize can't match the advancement gained from going to Zhanquan, it shouldn't fall far short."

"Tsk, why did they choose this year for the academic exchange? Couldn't they have waited a few more years?"

Li Wei shook his head in complaint. "Some competitions also have thresholds for the Rain Listening Realm and Cloud Patrol Realm. Aren't we just relegated to watching from the sidelines? That's unfair."

"As if you could beat your peers from Taihao Mountain even without thresholds," Yang Yu quipped. "On average, they started laying their cultivation foundations at age four or five. Their formal Cultivation began years earlier than ours, and they receive the support and resources of various countries, making them even more affluent. I reckon only the outstanding senior students in higher grades can compete with them. As for us, let's focus on something practical, like how to earn a few more academic credits. I suggest we negotiate with our foreign friends. See if they're willing to 'accidentally' fall into Chuiyun Lake and then be 'rescued' by me, earning a round of credits for bravery. After some time, we can switch roles and help each other out."

Li Wei scoffed, "You might as well tie the foreign friends to a water wheel, repeatedly dropping them into and pulling them out of the water to farm credits like crazy."