Chapter 46

In the octagonal pavilion by Xiaoming Lake, Tang Jie wiped away a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth: "I'm fine, I just tried to feel the ancient battle earlier and was hit by the Dao intent on this stele, getting injured. I really didn't expect that after a thousand years, the Dao intent of the Heavenly Dao Stele would still be so sharp."

Wei Tianchong looked at him somewhat disbelievingly: "What did you say about the Heavenly Dao Wheel? Could it be that you enlightened to the Dao just from that?"

Tang Jie laughed heartily: "Enlightenment, enlightenment, that means you have to understand something to be called enlightenment. Does it look like I've understood anything, young master?"

Wei Tianchong scratched his head: "That's true, I haven't seen any changes in you. Besides, in the cultivation world, techniques, methods, abilities, and Dao, since Dao is the highest realm, it should naturally be a step-by-step process. How can one enter the Dao path without cultivating the immortal arts first?"

He wasn't wrong in saying that. Dao isn't something that can be enlightened to just by thinking. Without the corresponding strength, trying to understand the Dao is like a primary school student reading international news; they can understand each word, but not the deeper meaning.

But he didn't know that Tang Jie wasn't enlightening to the Dao but observing it.

The Heavenly Dao is unpredictable, and mortals cannot see it. Only by encountering a rare opportunity can one glimpse the operation of the Heavenly Dao Wheel.

If enlightenment to the Dao is like reading and recognizing characters, then observing the Dao is like entering the door. Only by first observing the Dao can one further enlighten to it, and entering the door itself has no conditions.

Tang Jie inadvertently glimpsed the operation of the Heavenly Dao. Although it was just a fleeting glance, the boundless and vast meaning left a deep impression on him. At that moment, he at least knew what the Heavenly Dao was, forming the most direct impression of it. This impression cannot be described or imagined by a single Heavenly Dao Wheel; it is a deep feeling embedded in his body and mind, something that can only be understood but not expressed, and even if spoken, it wouldn't be clear!

With this feeling, when the time comes and the opportunity arises, it will be the moment of his enlightenment.

Although he himself doesn't yet know what use this will be to him, he knows that this is most likely a strange encounter, one that has touched the edge of the immortal path.

Unfortunately, when he tried to look at the Heavenly Dao Stele again, he no longer had the same breathtaking feeling. He knew the opportunity was only once, and once it passed, it was gone, leaving him feeling regretful.

"But speaking of which, how do you know all this?" Fortunately, Wei Tianchong changed the topic at this moment.

Tang Jie had been waiting for this question. Hearing Wei Tianchong ask, he smiled and said: "After reading many books, I naturally understood."

As he spoke, he waved the book in his hand.

Wei Tianchong saw clearly that Tang Jie was holding a copy of "Disciple Regulations," and he shook his head: "What's so interesting about this?"

Tang Jie replied: "Young master, you misunderstand. This isn't an ordinary 'Disciple Regulations,' but the 'Disciple Regulations' of the Xiyue Academy. It lists all the rules one must follow after entering the academy. I specially asked Madam to have the eldest young master send it to me a few days ago."

"My mother bought books for you?" Wei Tianchong was very curious: "Aren't these things you learn when you enter the academy? Why go to such lengths to buy them? Or did you ask my brother to buy them for you?"

"Knowing the rules prevents overstepping them, young master. Don't underestimate the rules of the Xiyue Academy; they are very important. Although there aren't many rules, each one needs to be understood. It looks like only a thousand words, but each word must be read carefully and thought about repeatedly. In these days, I have read each rule hundreds of times and can recite them fluently. If I wait until I enter the academy to learn them, I won't have time to study them like this."

"Why is that?" This time, Shimeng was also confused. They were just some academy rules; why take them so seriously?

Tang Jie smiled and sat down on the long bench in the corner of the pavilion, looking at Xiaoming Lake: "Young master, do you know that every new student entering the academy receives 100 points. These 100 points are the basis for our future performance in the academy. If we make a mistake, the immortal masters will deduct points based on our performance. Once the 100 points are deducted, we will be immediately expelled from the academy, even if we are a world-renowned genius or have reached the ninth level of the Jade Gate, there will be no exception. So, entering the academy doesn't mean you can rest easy. If you do poorly and are expelled, the quota will be wasted. Young master, do you think these rules are important?"

Wei Tianchong was startled: "No one has ever told me this. How did you know?"

"I also learned it from the 'Disciple Regulations.'"

"But if you only learned it later, why did you think to read the 'Disciple Regulations'?" Wei Tianchong was puzzled; the cause and effect didn't make sense.

Tang Jie answered: "Even without the 100-point rule, I would still take the rules of the Xiyue Academy seriously! When you go to a new place, not understanding the rules is not acceptable. It's like being a servant in your household; we must understand the rules to do our jobs well, right?"

Hearing this, Wei Tianchong laughed somewhat embarrassedly: "I'm not unaware of this, but I heard that the cultivation world is cruel, a place of the strong preying on the weak, where everyone fights for dominance, and the one with the strongest fist is the boss. So, rules don't matter."

Tang Jie laughed heartily, thinking to himself that the cultivation world is indeed a place of the strong preying on the weak. Do you think tying me to a tree and whipping me isn't the strong preying on the weak? Is Shimeng's death not the strong preying on the weak? Does it have to be a loud declaration of 'those who defy me will perish' to be the strong preying on the weak?

But he could only say: "The cultivation world is indeed a place of fierce competition, where mutual slaughter is common. But it depends on the time and situation. There are two types of fierce competition. One is the chaos of the world, where everything is ruled by brute force, and all you see is slaughter. That is truly the rule of the strong. The other is the order of the world, where the essence is cruel, but it doesn't show on the surface. On the surface, everyone is polite."

At this point, Tang Jie smiled: "In the current Qixia World, the six major sects govern the world, creating a time of great order. In this time of great order, no matter how cruel the core, there must be a facade of warmth. Even when killing, they will say, 'I am sending you on your way,' to be polite. So, the idea that the strong preying on the weak and the rule of the strong is real, but it ultimately flows in the dark. Perhaps only the small sects hold it as a principle, bringing it to the surface, but in the Xiyue Sect, it is absolutely not allowed."

"Why do the small sects hold it as a principle, while the Xiyue Sect absolutely forbids it?"

"Because the Xiyue Sect is the ruling party... yes, the ruling party. For the ruling party, rules are the basic means of governing the world. Without rules, they cannot govern. Only those in opposition... those without power and influence, will always think of overthrowing the rules, because for them, only by overthrowing the rules is there a chance. So, the major sects are conservative, and the small sects are progressive, not without reason. Of course, what this progress will look like is another matter, as long as it's different from the original sect. The major sects emphasize rules, while the small sects naturally emphasize the strong preying on the weak, with the victor being the king. If the major sects emphasize the strong preying on the weak, then the small sects will likely emphasize humanism and governance. To overthrow the government, one must overthrow the ideology. Only when the ideology changes will the direction of the fist change... no matter what era or world, this will never change." Tang Jie said calmly.

"As for the Xiyue Sect, they stand at the pinnacle of Wenxin, set their own laws, and govern the world from afar. Violating their rules is touching the interests of the Xiyue Sect, offending their authority, and challenging their status. So, the Xiyue Sect values geniuses, but they value rules even more. If young master thinks that just having outstanding talent is enough to ignore the academy's rules, that would be a big mistake. Many geniuses have been expelled from the Xiyue Academy for being too arrogant and ignoring the rules."

At this point, Tang Jie smiled: "By the way, in the Xiyue Academy, there is a rule that if you don't arrive on time at the start of the semester, you lose 10 points for each day you are late. If you are ten days late... hehe, you'll be sent back to where you came from, and no one can intercede for you!"

Wei Tianchong's face changed, finally understanding why Tang Jie was telling him this.

If he were to be late for several days due to sightseeing and be expelled before even entering the academy, his mother would likely beat him to death when she found out he was the first student to be expelled this year!

Thinking of this, Wei Tianchong felt a chill run down his spine.

He scratched his head and said: "Alright, I understand. From now on, we'll travel quickly. I won't be late."

"Young master is reasonable." Tang Jie replied with a smile.

Wei Tianchong said resentfully: "So, according to you, as long as my points aren't deducted, I can become a Xiyue disciple?"

Tang Jie still shook his head: "The Xiyue Academy admits 1,500 students each year, but do you know how many actually enter the Xiyue Sect?"

"... A thousand?"

Tang Jie shook his head.

"Then five hundred?"

Tang Jie still shook his head.

"Would it be only a hundred?" Wei Tianchong was already disheartened.

Out of 1,500, only 100 could enter the sect, which was a probability of one in fifteen, which was too small.

Tang Jie smiled lightly: "Ten."

"Ah?" Wei Tianchong and Shimeng's jaws dropped.

Tang Jie added: "At most ten, and it's better to have fewer than more