Chapter 4

Donglin Academy

Influence: Very strong

School of Thought: Confucianism

Academy Characteristics: According to various records, the statue of Mencius in Donglin Academy has often shown signs of spiritual presence, and the revered book, the Analects, also protects the area. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the scholars studying here have a higher chance of experiencing "flashes of inspiration," and under the subtle influence of the spiritual energy of the Analects, their comprehension will also improve.

***

Legalist Academy (named for the idea of ruling the world by law)

Influence: Very strong in the Western Rong Kingdom, moderate in other countries.

School of Thought: Legalism

Academy Characteristics: According to various records, the academy houses a rare book, the Han Feizi, which influences the surroundings, and there are even rumors of Shang Yang's spirit appearing. Scholars studying here are subtly influenced by the spiritual energy of the Han Feizi, often gaining enhanced dignity, making them more likely to be supported by their subordinates when they enter government service, and improving the security of the regions they govern.

Scholars from this academy have a higher chance of becoming famous ministers in the Ministry of Punishments and as military supervisors.

***

Feigong Academy

Influence: Very strong

School of Thought: Mohism

Academy Characteristics: The academy emphasizes that talking is less effective than touching the heart, and touching the heart is less effective than taking action, known for its mechanical arts.

The academy houses a rare book, the Mozi, and a divine object, the Lu Ban Ruler. According to investigations, the rare book Mozi can improve the mood of the scholars (the higher the mood, the easier it is to remain calm and quickly enter a state of focus), and the divine object, the Lu Ban Ruler, can enhance the scholars' talent for innovation.

Note: Although the major academies maintain a neutral political stance to retain their supreme status in various countries, the fact that the Southern Zheng seems to have secretly set up a workshop near the Feigong Academy suggests that the Lu Ban Ruler may also have a special effect of increasing manufacturing success rates.

***

Wude Academy

Influence: Very strong in the Central Tang Kingdom, average in other countries.

School of Thought: Yin-Yang School

Academy Characteristics: The environment is beautifully feng shui, and the construction considered the principle of the five elements generating each other. It is said that the indoor disciples are taught qi cultivation techniques, such as the Tianyi Decision, and upon reaching the highest level, they can achieve harmony with heaven and earth. Because the academy is said to be a blessed land, the scholars' fortunes are also improved to varying degrees.

Apart from the Dongshan Sheep, the most famous scholar from this academy is Hu Ganlin, the third-place winner in the Dongxia imperial examination. He was originally ranked 18th in the final exam, but because the country had been suffering from a long drought, the emperor, seeking good luck, promoted him to third place. The chief examiner still had objections, but at that moment, a heavy rain fell, and Hu Ganlin's promotion to third place was confirmed.

Note: The Wude Academy began constructing a statue of the sage Zou Yan three years ago, and the current effects are unknown.

***

Hezong/Consortium Academy

Influence: Strong

School of Thought: Diplomat School

Academy Characteristics: Places great emphasis on oratory skills. The Consortium Academy has a painting, "Piercing the Thigh and Hanging the Beam," as its treasure and a statue of Zhang Yi. Scholars studying here are often particularly diligent and have excellent oratory skills.

Legend has it that the academy houses a book by Guiguzi, but this is unconfirmed.

***

Zhige Academy

Influence: Extremely strong

School of Thought: Military School

Academy Characteristics: Selects scholars very strictly, not only requiring academic excellence but also physical fitness. The rare book, the Art of War by Sun Tzu, housed in the academy, can make the scholars physically strong and enhance their martial abilities.

Note: Even scholars from this academy who do not join the military often make significant contributions in military affairs, and the likelihood of bandits and mountain bandits appearing in their jurisdictions is lower.

***

Shangshan Academy

Influence: Extremely strong

School of Thought: Taoism

Academy Characteristics: Emphasizes learning, practicing, and cultivating through people, and governing without action. The rare book, the Tao Te Ching, can protect the land for a hundred miles, preventing epidemics, and Taoist yin-yang cultivators are spread throughout the world.

Note: Taoist academies are the most numerous, each with its own focus. For example, scholars from the Longhu Academy often excel in rainmaking and water management, scholars from the Maoshan Academy are skilled in dealing with evil spirits and feng shui, and scholars from the Quanzhen Academy are proficient in swordsmanship and are both literate and martial.

***

After Lin Fengjin listed all these academies, he realized that he had only completed half of his work. He couldn't help but yawn widely. The materials available for his research were about to run out. He stood up, stretched, and strolled to the window. Suddenly, he looked up and was startled:

"What a huge moon!"

At that moment, the full moon was high in the sky, shining brightly like a large ice disk. Because of this, it seemed to Lin Fengjin that it occupied half of the night sky. Usually, the moon gives a beautiful impression, but as Lin Fengjin looked at it for a while, he couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of eerie evil, as if it were a giant evil eye in the darkness.

In fact, the beautiful impression of the moon, especially the full moon, mostly comes from the poetry and literature of scholars and the Mid-Autumn Festival, which symbolizes family reunion.

However, few people think about the fact that on New Year's Eve, which is also a time for family reunion, people gather to boost their courage and set off firecrackers to scare away a monster called "Xi." Why is it considered auspicious and beautiful for the whole family to gather on the 15th day of the eighth month?

Behind the vast historical memory, there is actually a bloody legend!

In ancient times, when people lived in clans, there was a great danger every full moon night! Especially in August, the threat was the greatest, and the entire clan had to gather to resist the疯狂的危险和威胁！

随着时间的流逝，那种可怕的危险逐渐消失，人们也忘记了曾经的危险，但在八月十五这一天团聚的习俗却流传了下来……

此时的林封谨望着这一轮圆月，心中忍不住生出了一股无法形容的狂躁与悸动，不过他也只是觉得有些奇怪而已。

外面的宴会正进行得如火如荼，作为主角的他，也必须出去应酬一番，肯定免不了要被灌一些酒。过了一会儿，酒意上涌，他准备回到卧室休息，但在离席之前，无意中听到了席上一些老人的对话：

“今天晚上的月亮好大好圆啊……”

“哎，是啊，听老人说，那一年妖星降临的时候，夜空当中就是这么皎洁的月亮，然后妖星就和月亮争辉！”

“老何说得对，我还记得……”

这几句话林封谨还没有在意，回到卧室倒头就睡，迷迷糊糊中只觉得浑身燥热，索性将内袍也脱了裸了上身，但还是觉得越发难耐，便在迷糊中踉跄着起床想要喝水。

而林封谨将整整一壶凉茶喝完以后，依然没能如愿解渴，喉咙里面依然像是在烧一样，索性赤裸着上半身走了出来想要打些井拔凉水畅饮一肚子，没想到一走到外面没有遮蔽被月光照着的地方，顿时就觉得浑身上下都渐渐的舒畅了起来。

“咦，这是怎么回事？”林封谨忍不住有些愕然，不过他也就将自己当成是酒醉以后上了头，现在慢慢清醒了而已。

可是林封谨却不知道，若是站在远处往这边看过来的话便可以发觉，那皎洁的月光照耀在他的身体上面以后，居然从他的体内的万千毛孔当中会隐隐约约的冒出淡到几乎难以辨识的紫色烟气。

那烟气若雾若霭，虽然在林封谨的身体周围很薄很淡一层，却是聚而不散，慢慢地飘升到了他的头顶上方，在越高的地方越是显得浓缩清晰！

在通讯不便的此时，为了传递军警信号，烽火台便会点燃干透了的狼粪，再撒上硫磺粉末，冒出的黄色烟雾凝而不散，哪怕是大风吹拂也不改变其形状，直入苍穹当中，因此被称为烽火狼烟。

而此时林封谨头顶出现的烟气，在漂浮到十余丈高之后，就凝聚得更是犹若实质，更是仿佛介于有形无质之间，在皎洁月光照耀下，更是仿佛要直冲天穹，令人震撼！不过普通人却是没有办法看到。

在很多的野史和轶闻当中，月圆之夜都会出现蟒蛇吐丹，老狐吞珠，用月华修炼的传闻，不过仔细的想一想的话其实又未必符合情理：

要知道，修炼这种事情其实是违反自然规律的，说得直白一点，就根本是逆天行事。

而月圆之夜就算是将“类似圆”的十四，十六凑上，每个月也就只有三天，一年理论上来说，也才是三十六天。可是实际上真正会有圆月现身的夜晚要受到很多条件的制约：下雨是肯定不会有月亮的，多云也未必会有圆月现身，必须白天是个好晴天，那么才可能出现圆月之夜。

这样来说的话，一年的圆月之夜顶多也就只有二十天不到。

对于要想逆天行事修炼的这些生物来说，一年就只需要拿出二十个夜晚来修炼………说实话，要逆天行事，修成正果那可真是太容易，太木有难度了吧！

因此，与其说它们是在圆月之夜吸取月华进行修炼，其实严格的说起来，却是在淬炼。

修炼其实是在每天进行的，而圆月夜的月光，就像是锻锤之于钢铁，是用来去芜存菁它们修炼出来的内丹当中的杂质的。

也就是说，月光实际上对于炼气者/妖怪来说，并非是补药之类的东西，炼气士/妖怪也只敢将自己修炼出来的内丹暴露在月光下，而且时间不能太久就得将内丹吸入温养一番，更不敢将月光纳入到自己体内的修炼轨道当中去了。

***

唔，说一下更新，本周因为刚刚上传，只有一更，下周一冲榜起，每日两更，一更3000字。和上本书一样，每周在周推榜上有加更，答谢盟主有加更，感谢大家的支持！

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However, as time passed, that terrible danger gradually faded away, and people forgot the past danger, but the custom of gathering on the 15th day of the eighth month has been passed down...

At this moment, as Lin Fengjin gazed at the full moon, he couldn't help but feel an indescribable restlessness and agitation, but he only found it a bit strange.

The banquet outside was in full swing, and as the main guest, he had to go out and socialize, inevitably drinking some alcohol. After a while, the alcohol started to take effect, and he prepared to return to his bedroom to rest. However, before leaving, he inadvertently overheard a conversation between some of the elders at the table:

"The moon tonight is so big and round..."

"Indeed, I heard from the elders that when the evil star descended, the night sky was just as bright and clear, and then the evil star vied with the moon for brilliance!"

"Old He is right, I remember..."

Lin Fengjin didn't pay much attention to these words and went back to his bedroom, falling asleep immediately. In a daze, he felt a burning heat all over his body, so he took off his inner robe and exposed his upper body, but still felt increasingly uncomfortable. In a daze, he staggered out of bed to get a drink of water.

After drinking an entire pot of cold tea, he still couldn't quench his thirst, and his throat still felt like it was on fire. He decided to go outside to draw some well water to drink, but as soon as he stepped into the moonlit area, he suddenly felt a gradual sense of relief all over his body.

"Huh, what's going on?" Lin Fengjin was somewhat surprised, but he assumed it was just the alcohol wearing off and he was slowly regaining his senses.

However, Lin Fengjin didn't know that if someone were to look from a distance, they would see that the bright moonlight shining on his body caused a faint, almost indiscernible purple mist to rise from his pores.

The mist, like a light fog, was very thin and faint around his body but did not disperse. It slowly rose to the top of his head, becoming more concentrated and clear the higher it went!

In the old days, to transmit military signals, beacon towers would ignite dry wolf dung and sprinkle sulfur powder, producing a yellow smoke that would not disperse even in strong winds, rising straight into the sky, known as the beacon smoke.

Similarly, the mist above Lin Fengjin's head, after floating up to about ten zhang (about 30 meters), became even more substantial, almost tangible, and under the bright moonlight, it seemed to rise straight into the sky, creating a stunning sight! However, ordinary people could not see it.

In many historical anecdotes and legends, it is said that on full moon nights, pythons would emit pearls, old foxes would swallow pearls, and creatures would use the moon's energy to cultivate. However, upon closer examination, this might not be entirely reasonable:

Cultivation, in essence, goes against natural laws. To put it bluntly, it is a defiance of heaven.

Even if we consider the "near full" 14th and 16th days, there are only three days each month, totaling 36 days a year theoretically. However, the actual number of nights with a full moon is limited by various conditions: it won't appear if it rains, and it might not be full if it's cloudy. It only appears if the day is clear, so the number of full moon nights in a year is at most about 20.

For creatures that defy heaven to cultivate, needing only 20 nights a year to cultivate... to be honest, it would be too easy and too simple to achieve enlightenment!

Therefore, rather than absorbing the moon's energy to cultivate, they are actually refining their inner energy.

Cultivation happens every day, but the moonlight on full moon nights acts like a hammer on steel, purifying and refining the inner energy they have cultivated.

In other words, the moonlight is not a nourishing substance for cultivators or monsters. Cultivators and monsters only dare to expose their inner energy to the moonlight for a short time, then withdraw it to nurture it, and they certainly do not dare to incorporate the moonlight into their cultivation process.

***

By the way, about the updates: This week, due to the initial upload, there is only one update. Starting next Monday, there will be two updates per day, each 3000 words. Like the previous book, there will be additional updates for the weekly recommendation list and to thank the patrons. Thank you for your support!

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