Seeking Truth with a Sword

Bian Chenpei smiled. "I've read in books that the Academic Palace, through its comprehensive study of ancient records and diverse teachings, recognizes other ranks beyond the basic Telekinesis Master. These so-called ranks are essentially the differences in how Telekinesis Masters control Telekinesis."

Xi Yangyu glanced at him and said coldly, "A Wind Manipulator can control fierce winds with Telekinesis. Like this."

He raised his palm, and a howling hurricane instantly whipped up around them. Dust filled the air and fallen leaves swirled backward, forcing the students to squint and retreat.

Li Ang released his Telekinesis, enveloping himself and Qiu Feng to block the incoming dust.

He could clearly see that the dust around Bian Chenpei remained firmly in place, not stirred by the wind. However, Bian Chenpei's own face suddenly changed color as his hands flew to his throat, as if he were choking.

Is Xi Yangyu... directly using Telekinesis to expel the air in that area?

Li Ang was astonished, gaining yet another new understanding of the capabilities of a Candle Cloud Realm Telekinesis Master.

Unable to breathe, Bian Chenpei's face rapidly turned red. He raised his palms and pushed forward with all his might, propelling himself backward. However, he came to an abrupt halt mid-air, his limbs as if bound by invisible chains, unable to move, remaining rigid.

"A Puppet Master controls another's body with Telekinesis or manipulates Mechanical Puppets," Xi Yangyu's calm voice carried through the hurricane to every student's ears.

He stepped forward, his form blurring into a long afterimage as he instantly arrived in front of Bian Chenpei.

"A Strong Thought Master abandons the external Cultivation of Telekinesis, using all their Telekinesis to enhance their own physique, achieving strength comparable to Martial Artists of the same realm."

Xi Yangyu narrated methodically, his palm extended. It suddenly accelerated and struck Bian Chenpei on the forehead.

BANG!

Bian Chenpei was sent flying backward, snapping several trees before crashing into a tangled mess of shrubbery.

Xi Yangyu retracted his hand without a glance in Bian Chenpei's direction. He turned to all the students and said indifferently, "In addition to these, the Telekinesis Master Path also includes Shadow Dancers, who fully strengthen their ability to conceal themselves, specializing in assassination; Zen's unique Suffering Truth Vajra, who comprehend and transcend suffering and hatred, embodying a flawless mind and body. The path of Mind Study is long and arduous. Even a prodigious talent cannot learn it all, so do not be greedy or advance recklessly..."

While he was speaking, several students in Taihao Mountain uniforms had already rushed to the shrubbery and helped Bian Chenpei up. He appeared dazed, with no obvious external injuries, except for a bright red handprint on his face—one that looked like it wouldn't fade anytime soon.

Seeing Bian Chenpei in this state, one of the Taihao Mountain Disciples, his face resentful, asked Xi Yangyu in a deep voice, "Chenpei merely asked a couple of questions. Why did you, Master, use your strength to bully someone weaker?"

"Oh?"

Xi Yangyu said indifferently, "I only used Telekinesis at his level—High Order Rain Listening Realm. Not an iota more. How can you call that bullying the weak? At most, during the demonstration, I momentarily misjudged my strength and struck a little too hard."

Xi Yangyu repeated Bian Chenpei's words exactly, causing the Taihao Mountain students' faces to flush red with indignation, unsure how to retort.

When a Candle Cloud Realm Cultivator decided to be shameless, there was truly nothing anyone could do.

DANG DANG DANG—

The Haotian Bell rang. Xi Yangyu tossed out, "Class dismissed," and left with Gu Deming.

The students began to disperse, and Li Ang's gaze lingered briefly on Bian Chenpei.

High Order Rain Listening Realm, just one step shy of advancing to the Cloud Patrol Realm. As expected of Taihao Mountain, I suppose.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Mr. Xi actually dared to strike someone from Taihao Mountain. He didn't give them any face at all." Yang Yu's eyes sparkled with a gossipy glint. "This really isn't like his usual style."

"Senior Gu is his student. He probably did it to protect his own," another student commented.

Li Ang pulled his schedule from his pocket. The next class was a long-awaited Body Study lesson, held at the Martial Arts Arena.

To accommodate the academic exchange, the Academic Palace's Martial Arts Arena had been temporarily expanded. The grass covering the ground was no longer grown from ordinary grass seed but was specially cultivated Fake Thrifty Grass. This grass had a vigorous root system and sturdy creeping stems; it could spread and regenerate quickly after being damaged, making it very suitable for planting in the Martial Arts Arena as it was quite resistant to wear and tear.

This class was jointly taught by the Body Study Division Master Xue Che and Martial Artists from other nations.

"Like all other Dao Paths, Martial Arts also continuously evolves and develops."

Xue Che, usually casual in demeanor, was much more serious now due to the presence of foreign guests. He stood on the martial arts platform. "The two main components of Martial Arts are Body Refinement and weaponry. Body Refinement is easy to understand—it's forging the body to strengthen the physique. Weapons, on the other hand, are extensions of a Martial Artist's body."

He pointed to a nearby weapons rack, which displayed a dazzling array of arms.

"In your Military Studies class, you should have learned that long weapons—due to their greater attack range, ease of training, and the ability to repeatedly strike an approaching enemy without fear of error—gradually replaced swords and sabers on the battlefield," Xue Che said. "But a Body Refining Martial Artist is different from ordinary soldiers. A Martial Arts Grandmaster clad in Heavy Armor can ignore flying arrows and common weaponry on the battlefield. Only a Martial Artist of the same realm, or several—even dozens—of Martial Artists from the realm below, would have any confidence in surrounding and killing one. This means that the weapons used by Body Refining Martial Artists are no longer confined to long weapons; instead, they have returned to freely choosing the armament most suitable for themselves and their environment."

Xue Che drew a Short Spear and a shield from the weapons rack and began sparring with a golden-haired, blue-eyed Sword Master. Both combatants refrained from using strength beyond the Postnatal Martial Artist realm, purely demonstrating Military Attack skills. Every move aimed at the opponent's vital points; each offense and block concealed feints, predictions, and counter-predictions, dazzling the onlookers.

The golden-haired, blue-eyed foreign Sword Master switched weapons several times—from a Cross Longsword, to a Stabbing Sword, then sword and shield, and finally to a giant sword and a Heavy Sword—but still couldn't break through Xue Che's spear defense. Eventually, he shook his head with a smile, conceded defeat, and made way for someone else.

The Martial Artists then demonstrated a succession of weapons: thin swords, Soft Swords, long spears, Tangs, Maces, horse lances, Horse-slaying Sabers, Broadswords, scimitars, Chain Hammers, and more, while Xue Che also kept switching his weapons.

The Martial Artists present for teaching included Zhou Kingdom's Forbidden Army Instructor, the West Jing Royal Martial Master, a Taihao Mountain Judge, and a member of the Turkic Khan's Guard, among others. It could be said this was the most prestigious Martial Arts exchange in the world.

Both sides became so earnest and engaged that they ultimately forgot the students were watching below. This continued until Xue Che, accidentally using a bit too much force, shattered a Stone Tablet. Only then did he snap back to reality and awkwardly wave at the Zhou Kingdom's Forbidden Army Instructor opposite him. "Brother Luo, let's spar again next time. We're still in the middle of class, after all."

"Alright."

Instructor Luo withdrew his Longsword somewhat reluctantly. Opportunities to spar with Martial Artists of the same realm were rare, especially foreign ones with whom he hadn't often dueled.

"Well then," Xue Che coughed, his gaze sweeping over the Academic Palace Disciples below. "According to the class schedule, I'll pick a few students to come up for a demonstration. Pei Jing, you're first."