Chapter 55

The next day, after his literature class, Tang Jie arrived at the Chao Yang Peak. Sure enough, he saw the Kudao Ren already waiting on the scripture stone, with a group of disciples gathered in front of him, clearly all having questions during their cultivation.

Wei Tianchong and Shimen did not come, choosing instead to continue cultivating in their own rooms. They had encountered the same situation as Tang Jie yesterday and were now working hard to adapt to the qi sensation.

Due to the strict rules of the Xiyue Academy, the disciples were all very obedient, each one lining up to wait for their turn to ask questions.

A student asked, "Master, last night when I practiced the Divine Gate Qi Control Technique, my qi suddenly dissipated when I reached the Qingling stage. I wonder why this happened?"

Kudao Ren replied, "Qingling regulates qi and calms the mind. When qi flows to this position, it should follow its natural course. The Divine Gate Qi Control Technique emphasizes control. You must have over-controlled it, causing the qi to dissipate. To overcome this, you can either let it flow naturally or forcefully control it. Choose one of these methods, and the effects will vary. Follow what aligns with your state of mind."

"I understand, Master."

The student stepped back, and another student stepped forward to ask a question.

Tang Jie listened attentively. The Grand Circulation seemed to be a simple process of absorbing spiritual energy, but it contained many profound principles of the human body. Each line and each acupoint had its own reason for existence. The changes in qi, whether following its natural course or being forcefully controlled, were closely related to its essence.

Therefore, to truly grasp the Grand Circulation, one must understand the functions, principles, and meanings of different parts of the human body.

The Xiyue Academy did have specialized courses on these topics, which were taught during the day's literature and science classes. However, most students did not pay much attention at the time and only realized their importance when they encountered problems.

Kudao Ren had a good temperament. If it were the masters from the literature and science classes, they might have directly scolded, "Didn't we already explain this in class? If you didn't pay attention, then go and reflect on it!"

Over the centuries, the Xiyue Academy had developed a mature system, with each step having deep significance.

What was particularly commendable was that they did not advocate the modern cramming style of education but rather integrated learning into practice, allowing students to discover problems during their cultivation. It wouldn't be long before the students realized the importance of the literature and science classes.

However, for Tang Jie, the problems in literature and science were never an issue. He truly understood the principles and quickly grasped the significance of the meridians and acupoints in his cultivation path, though he was still unclear about the effects of their changes.

Of course, if he knew everything, he could create his own cultivation techniques.

After the disciples in front of him finished asking their questions, it was finally Tang Jie's turn.

Tang Jie stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Master, I would like to ask how one can know when the body is no longer able to bear the strain of cultivation and should stop?"

Hearing this question, Kudao Ren smiled and said, "Nothing should be rushed. Cultivation is fraught with dangers. Each mistake can have an impact on the body, but most of the time, the body will recover on its own. I understand your intention to push yourself to quickly familiarize and improve yourself, but finding the limit is very difficult, as everyone's constitution is different. Generally, if the qi flow goes wrong, the meridians will be affected, and you should take a short rest. However, some people with strong constitutions can continue to advance. But if the blood and qi become agitated and the spiritual qi becomes chaotic, you must stop immediately!"

"I understand, Master!" Tang Jie bowed and stepped back.

Kudao Ren suddenly said, "If you want to accelerate your cultivation at the cost of your body, I suggest you learn the Inner Breath Technique. This technique uses spiritual energy to detect injuries in the body and is a necessary skill for many disciples during their cultivation. It is very simple to learn, just a minor spell that can be used once you can control the flow of spiritual qi. However, I do not recommend this approach. The path is long. The Inner Breath Technique can only detect injuries, not heal them. By the time you discover a problem, the injury has already occurred, so be careful!"

"Thank you, Master, I will be careful!"

Tang Jie stepped back, and another student stepped forward to ask a question. Tang Jie did not rush to leave but continued to listen to the various questions, occasionally discussing cultivation with other students. Kudao Ren was indeed very understanding, allowing students to talk privately as long as they did not discuss specific cultivation techniques. They were just not allowed to speak too loudly to avoid disturbing others.

While listening, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear, "Are you willing to damage your body to accelerate your progress, Tang Jie? Do you think the top ten disciples only look at cultivation levels?"

Turning around, he saw a handsome young man holding a folding fan. Though not as refined as a jade, he was still quite handsome, but the arrogance on his face was somewhat off-putting.

Tang Jie was not surprised that the young man knew his name. His loud shout at the academy gate and the incident on the boat with Li Yu had already made him known to many students.

"May I ask who you are?" Tang Jie turned and asked.

The young man did not answer, but someone nearby said, "You haven't heard of Young Master You Shaofeng from the Yangling Jun family? Truly ignorant!"

The speaker was likely a servant student standing next to the young man. Tang Jie did not even look at him, just turned his head and thought for a moment, "I haven't heard of him."

You Shaofeng had expected at least a polite response, but Tang Jie's straightforward answer made him so angry that he closed his fan and pointed at Tang Jie, "You!"

Tang Jie muttered to himself, "Just a mortal. Why should I have heard of him? Do we cultivators need to care about the status of mortals? That's strange."

You Shaofeng was so angry that his whole body trembled. If not for the strict rules of the academy, he might have already attacked.

He could only snort and say, "A servant student dares to be so arrogant, claiming to want to enter the top ten after just five transformations. I wonder how you will die in the future!"

Before Tang Jie could respond, another voice said, "Oh, Young Master You, your words are too harsh. This is an academy, not a battlefield. Why are you talking about life and death? We cultivators do not kill over a few words."

Looking over, Tang Jie saw two more people approaching, a man and a woman.

The man held a book, "The Way of Human Relations," while the woman wore a purple silk dress, with the academy's white student robe only covering the bottom part. She held a willow branch and was casually waving it, looking quite pleasant.

The one who spoke was the woman with the willow branch.

Seeing these two, You Shaofeng's expression changed, "Shu Mingyang, Liu Hongyan, what are you two here for?"

Shu Mingyang!

Liu Hongyan!

Hearing these names, Tang Jie raised an eyebrow.

It had been three days since the new students entered the academy. From initial strangers, they gradually got to know each other, and some people's reputations began to spread.

Like Tang Jie, who was now known as "Mad Scholar Tang Jie" due to his loud shout at the academy gate.

Shu Mingyang and Liu Hongyan were also two well-known figures among the new students.

Shu Mingyang lived up to his name, with a strong scholarly air. He sought to govern the world and followed the path of human relations. He rarely spoke and often read "The Way of Human Relations," but no one dared to underestimate him.

Because he was at the eighth transformation of the Jade Gate!

In this batch of students, there was one at the ninth transformation, four at the eighth, nine at the seventh, and twenty-four at the sixth. Shu Mingyang was one of the four at the eighth transformation.

Therefore, he was not a noble's son or a servant student but a prodigy admitted to the academy on a special basis. Even in the Xiyue Academy, everyone treated him with respect.

As for Liu Hongyan, she was at the sixth transformation, not of the highest quality, and could not be admitted on a special basis. However, she completed the Demon Path with great determination, earning her a place in the academy.

The Demon Path was a special opportunity provided by the Xiyue Academy for those with great determination from the common people. The path was dangerous, with demons and beasts, and only the top three were selected, regardless of how far they had come.

Tang Jie did not take this path, not because he was afraid, but because there were not many who could take it. The Heavenly Palace might send people to monitor, and he might be captured before he even started, so he could not go.

Liu Hongyan's ability to stand out on the Demon Path not only showed her great determination but also her formidable combat skills. Without some martial arts, it would have been impossible. Therefore, she was also quite famous among the new students.

Both of them had entered the Xiyue Academy on their own, so it was not surprising that they were together and not afraid of You Shaofeng.

At this moment, Shu Mingyang did not even look up from his book, but Liu Hongyan smiled, "Look at what Young Master You said. Can't we come to Chao Yang Peak? It's just that your tone was a bit too harsh, so I said a few words. How did I offend you? If you don't like it, I can apologize, can't I?"

Her smile was charming, but her eyes were sharp, showing no sign of apologizing.

You Shaofeng snorted, "My tone may be harsh, but it's nothing compared to this Mad Scholar Tang Jie, who claims to want to enter the top ten."

At this point, Shu Mingyang spoke, "Ambition is not madness. We cultivators, who follow the path of human relations to reach the heavenly path, should have lofty goals. If you don't dare to strive for the top ten, why bother cultivating? What's so bad about being at the fifth transformation? This potential is not necessarily inferior. In the Qixia Realm, there are those who have reached the Purple Mansion at the fifth transformation."

"But they are rare!" You Shaofeng said fiercely.

"But they do exist, and even Immortal Platforms exist." Shu Mingyang said this and then fell silent.

You Shaofeng was blocked by these two and could not say a word. He could only stomp his foot in anger and leave, not forgetting to glare at Tang Jie as he went.

Tang Jie ignored him, and Shu Mingyang and Liu Hongyan came over.

Shu Mingyang, who rarely spoke, let Liu Hongyan say, "It seems that Tang Jie's loud shout at the academy gate has brought him a lot of trouble."

"Not surprising," Tang Jie replied casually. "I'm just a small servant student, and if I don't get hated for my bold words at the academy gate, that would be strange... though I don't know why they hate me."

Liu Hongyan laughed, covering her mouth, "You know that people will hate you, but you don't know why? That's rare."

"There's nothing rare about it. If you become famous, trouble will inevitably follow. There's no one who is famous and not criticized. Some people have narrow minds and will inexplicably dislike you. There are even those who can twist black into white, and the more you do well, the more they hate you... if you ask them why, they can't give a proper reason. Often, it's just that they can't stand you, and they will attack and defame you like mad dogs, as if you had killed their whole family."

"Very well said. I was wondering how Mad Scholar Tang Jie was so bold, but now I see that he is a keen observer of human nature." Liu Hongyan smiled, her eyes twinkling with curiosity and admiration.

Tang Jie said casually, "Compared to Liu Hongyan on the Demon Path and Shu Mingyang at the eighth transformation, I am far behind."

The three of them chatted casually, listening to Kudao Ren's answers, and gradually formed a friendship.

——

After the class ended and everyone returned, Tang Jie went to the market to buy the Inner Breath Technique. This technique was a common one, just a minor spell for detecting the body's condition, so it could be bought directly from the market without needing to go through the academy.

Therefore, it was recorded in a book, not inscribed on a stone wall or transmitted mentally like the more advanced techniques.

Tang Jie spent three spirit coins to buy the Inner Breath Technique and returned to Tao Ran Residence. He saw Yi Yi playing in the garden, and next to her, several small seedlings had sprouted from the ground.

"This is..." Tang Jie was initially surprised, then realized these were the spirit grain seeds he had planted yesterday.

Spirit grains grow by absorbing spiritual energy, and it usually takes several years to mature. Even in a place rich in spiritual energy, it takes at least a year. How could they have sprouted in just one night?

Tang Jie was first surprised, then realized something and looked at Yi Yi, "Did you do this?"

When Yi Yi saw Tang Jie return, she flew into his arms, like a baby looking for milk, and then looked up at him, nodding seriously, "Yes, it was fun! They all sprouted as soon as they saw me!"

They sprouted as soon as they saw you?

Tang Jie was speechless at Yi Yi's way of thinking.

Well, at least you can use the word "sprouted" now.

Not expecting a proper answer from Yi Yi, Tang Jie personally checked the sprouted seedlings and found that not all the spirit grains had sprouted, only a small part.

But this small part all belonged to one variety: Emei Dai.

Emei Dai is a type of spirit grain, with a beautiful name but average properties. It is of the wood element and can provide some extra help to those cultivating wood-type energy after consumption.

Tang Jie had bought several types of seeds to test their effects, and Emei Dai was just one of them. It sprouted quickly under Yi Yi's influence, while the others were unaffected. Could this be related to the attributes? Was it the same element or the five elements?

Even among the Emei Dai, the growth was different. Some had just sprouted, while others had grown to an inch.

Tang Jie carefully asked Yi Yi, and from her unclear answers, he finally determined that the best-grown area... Yi Yi had urinated there.

Tang Jie understood. Yi Yi, being a spirit entity and the essence of plants, had a significant growth-promoting effect on plants with similar or related attributes, but it required regular watering.

Understanding this, Tang Jie felt a bit disappointed.

This meant he could not use Yi Yi as a golden finger to accelerate plant growth. At most, she could help a small number of spirit grains sprout.

Well, getting some early harvest is still good. Tang Jie decided to let Yi Yi live in the courtyard from now on.

A thought suddenly flashed in his mind, and he got up and left.

Returning to the market, Tang Jie bought some fish fry. Back at Tao Ran Residence, he dug a trench in the garden, connecting it to a nearby stream, and placed the fish fry in a small pit. He then took out the golden scales given by Li Yu and placed them in the water.

After obtaining the fish scales, he had studied them repeatedly but could not understand their purpose. Now, influenced by Yi Yi, he found a clue.