Chapter 80

After returning from Wanquan City, life returned to its normal routine. The students, like wound-up clocks, went through their daily cycle of attending classes, finishing classes, and practicing, in a monotonous and mechanical repetition.

The results of the major exam were announced on the third day.

As expected, Tang Jie secured the top position.

Sometimes, Tang Jie would wonder if this top spot was truly his own achievement or if Xie Fengtang had helped him cheat.

But these things didn't matter anymore.

What mattered was that on the day the top position was announced, Xiyue Academy declared a significant event: As a reward for being the top student in this major exam, Tang Jie would be granted the right to enter the ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion.

The news caused a stir in the academy.

Although everyone knew that the top student in this major exam would receive an additional grand prize besides a bottle of longevity elixir, no one expected the prize to be so grand.

The ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion, the Ziyu Heart Method, and the Shengxiao Sword Canon!

The two core secret techniques of the Xiyue Sect were now open to Tang Jie.

For a moment, there was a flurry of discussion, and Tang Jie once again found himself at the center of attention. People began to call him lucky, and after the nickname "Reckless Tang Jie," he gained another title: "Fated Tang Jie."

In the Qixia Realm, there was no concept of a "chosen one" or "blessed by fate." The Heavenly Dao did not favor anyone, and people did not support the idea of fate, as it would deny the efforts of others and attribute everything to the heavens.

If so, what would be the point of hard practice?

But this did not stop people from using this as a reason to give some lucky individuals a special aura.

Of course, in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, the situation was entirely different.

The attention from Xiyue Academy and the opening of the ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion all indicated a change in Tang Jie's status. With this change came increased pressure on Gu Changqing.

He received a secret letter from the Tian Shen Palace.

The letter read: "If it can be confirmed that Tang Jie is indeed Tang Jie, spare no effort to kidnap this person."

The phrase "spare no effort" naturally meant being willing to formally declare war on the Xiyue Sect.

Unfortunately, Gu Changqing bitterly smiled: I just can't confirm this!

If he could confirm it, he would have long sent out all his best men to snatch Tang Jie from the academy, rather than being so constrained now.

So far, he had at least a dozen suspects, and the only thing that set Tang Jie apart from them was the discovery of a search trace. To confirm that he was Tang Jie based on this alone was too childish.

He could only wait for the people from Anyang to arrive, hoping they wouldn't disappoint him this time.

Unfortunately, Anyang was far away, and it would take at least four to five months for a round trip.

He had a vague feeling that even if they came, it might not be useful. If he were Tang Jie, he would not have left such an obvious and important loophole.

Ignoring the anxious Gu Changqing, Tang Jie was now at the happiest crossroads of his life.

The ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion!

Tang Jie stood at the center of the top floor, facing a human-shaped statue, which was none other than the founder of the Xiyue Sect, Shuiyue Tianzun.

He was seated cross-legged, his left hand on his chest, holding a piece of purple jade, and his right hand on his knee, gripping a short sword.

In front of the statue was a cushion for kneeling and bowing, and nothing else.

This, then, was the ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion?

Tang Jie was somewhat speechless.

Despite having imagined the ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion countless times, its simplicity, plainness, and even rudeness still surprised him.

There were no books to be seen, only the statue sitting solemnly, exuding a dignified and awe-inspiring aura.

"Yes, this is the ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion."

Behind him, Xie Fengtang said.

Pointing to the statue in front, Xie Fengtang said, "Have you not yet paid respects to the founder?"

Tang Jie hurriedly stepped forward, knelt before the statue, and respectfully bowed three times.

These three bows represented his entry into the sect and, from that day on, Tang Jie was officially a disciple of the Xiyue Sect, though he would continue to study at the academy.

Seeing Tang Jie's respectful and serious attitude, Xie Fengtang nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Pay attention. The founder holds in his hands the engraved copies of the Ziyu Heart Method and the Shengxiao Sword Canon!"

Tang Jie looked at the jade and the sword, thinking that the heart method was recorded on the jade and the sword, which explained why they were called the Ziyu Heart Method and the Shengxiao Sword Canon.

"The heart method is about cultivation realms, and the sword canon is about combat. You are just a beginner, so you can only choose one. If you have the opportunity to contribute to the sect in the future, you can obtain the other. Now, make your choice."

Tang Jie looked at the jade and then at the sword canon, and asked, "Headmaster, the heart method is the foundation. If I wait until I reach the Transcendent stage to cultivate the Ziyu Heart Method, will I miss the foundation?"

Xie Fengtang smiled and said, "The Ziyu Heart Method is not just a foundation method but also the founder's lifetime insights into the Dao. It is about the cultivation of realms, and while it includes cultivation techniques and methods for breaking through stages, it is more about understanding the Dao. It is never too late to cultivate it. In the past, when the Xiyue Sect was not as glorious, many powerful immortals came to seek a glimpse of the Ziyu Heart Method, hoping to gain a foundation for understanding the Dao."

"I see." Tang Jie nodded and replied, "In that case, I will choose the Shengxiao Sword Canon!"

"The Shengxiao Sword Canon... are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure!"

"Good!" Xie Fengtang pointed at the golden short sword in the statue's hand, and a golden light suddenly shot out from the sword, transforming into a sword beam that shot into the air.

The pavilion was instantly filled with light, and countless images appeared.

Then, various figures materialized in the light, wielding knives, swords, spears, staffs, axes, hammers, fists, and flails, performing a myriad of techniques and transformations. Various light and brilliance intertwined, and countless heart method texts appeared faintly behind each figure, with red lines representing the flow of qi, overlapping and intertwining, creating a dazzling spectacle.

Tang Jie exclaimed, "This isn't just sword techniques!?"

Xie Fengtang smiled and said, "Who said the Shengxiao Sword Canon is only about sword techniques? If the Ziyu Heart Method is the culmination of the founder's lifetime insights, then at least eighty percent of the Shengxiao Sword Canon is unrelated to the founder and is instead a collection of immortal techniques created by our descendants, compiled and perfected over time."

It turned out that the Shengxiao Sword Canon was a compilation of the wisdom of the Xiyue Sect's ancestors.

Immortal techniques were not always better the older they were.

Times always progressed, and later generations, standing on the shoulders of their predecessors, could create more and better techniques. Therefore, at least in terms of techniques, the new was stronger than the old. The ancient beings were terrifying because they had lived for a long time and had enough time to cultivate. Additionally, it was said that when the world was first created, the Heavenly Dao was evident, making it easier to understand the Dao.

Afterward, the Heavenly Dao became obscure, the path of Dao became difficult, and cultivation gradually declined, leading to the emergence of immortal and spirit cultivators.

The Shengxiao Sword Canon, a compilation of the Xiyue Sect's ancestral techniques, naturally contained only the best techniques.

However, among so many techniques, Tang Jie could only truly learn one or two.

Xie Fengtang said, "This time, there are 1,342 suitable techniques, each with its own unique qualities. Focus your mind and choose the ones you want to learn. Do not try to remember too many, as that will only分散 your energy."

The transmission of techniques also depends on one's affinity.

If you have the ability, memory, and insight, you can learn several techniques. If you lack the ability, you can only learn one. If you try to learn too many, you might not learn any at all.

"You have only one hour. Within this hour, how much you can understand is up to you. Remember, this is your only chance. The next time you want to enter the ninth floor of Tianyi Pavilion, you will need to make a significant contribution."

With that, Xie Fengtang smiled and left, leaving Tang Jie to understand on his own.

His last words were full of deeper meaning.

Normally, the transmission of techniques would take three hours, which was just enough for everyone to choose and understand one or two powerful techniques.

But Tang Jie had only one hour, and no matter which technique he chose, it would not be enough time, and it would likely be just enough to be insufficient.

To gain more time for understanding, one would need to make a significant contribution, which was a long-standing rule of the sect, not an additional requirement.

In this sense, for Xiyue Sect disciples to obtain immortal techniques, it was not difficult if they could make enough contributions.

But with Tang Jie's current abilities, apart from handing over the military manual, he had no way to complete the required contributions.

In a subtle way, Xie Fengtang was actually forcing Tang Jie to hand over something—though he did not know what exactly.

Thus, Tang Jie could not complain—this was an additional reward from the major exam. For such a favor, one could only be grateful, even if it was just one minute.

The treasure was far away, but the heart method was close. How to choose was up to Tang Jie.

However, everything was uncertain, and Xie Fengtang did not expect that after he left, Tang Jie murmured:

"One hour... is enough."

In the next moment, he took out the array diagram from his body.

Before coming, he knew that even if Xiyue Academy allowed him to enter Tianyi Pavilion, they would likely use some tricks, so he had to be prepared.

Xiyue Academy did not prohibit disciples from using paper and pens to record, as the flow of qi in the body could not be drawn in time, and it was more effective to understand and remember based on one's knowledge. Therefore, Xie Fengtang did not think to search him.

This was a transmission of techniques, not a prison.

But Xiyue Academy did not expect that Tang Jie understood array formations.

Understanding array formations was one thing, but the problem was that no one knew Tang Jie had an array diagram, which solved the problem of taking it away.

This changed everything.

One hour was enough for Tang Jie to complete what he wanted to do.

In the next moment, he took out a black ink pen.

This ink pen was made from the feather of the white pill.

When he first obtained the feather, he had also been puzzled about how to use it.

If he followed the method for the fish scales, he would need to catch a batch of cranes.

There were cranes on Qingyun Mountain, but they were the mounts