Watching the eager anticipation in her classmates’ eyes, Li Yunxian didn’t bother to defend herself.
There was no need.
Weren’t they just itching for a beating by going to Zhifa?
If they didn’t know how to provoke anyone, then just like Wen Wu before, they could challenge everyone on the Lei Tai Ranking for a round of beatings. Sooner or later, someone would hit back.
And if Zhifa’s students were still too mild-mannered, no matter—Li Yunxian didn’t mind at all.
She’d simply borrow Zhifa’s arena and personally give these classmates of hers, who came looking to be beaten, exactly what they wanted.
Simple~
As captain, Li Yunxian’s mind swiftly reviewed several plans and alternatives before shifting her attention to the three teachers who would accompany them to Zhifa.
Last time, when Wen Wu went, three Nascent Soul stage cultivators accompanied them. This time, from Tiantong, it was two Nascent Soul stage and one Spirit Severing stage cultivator.
That Spirit Severing one…
Li Yunxian sent a voice transmission straight over.
“Why are you going to Zhifa too?” Li Yunxian asked in astonishment.
Su Wenjing’s face remained impassive, showing no trace of emotion, but the reply he gave Li Yunxian was anything but calm.
He let out a cold chuckle: “That’s what I should be asking you.”
Every year, Su Wenjing participated in some academy task.
Last year, he’d taken on a patrolling assignment, partnered with Duan Qiu, in charge of eliminating foreign races in places like Yuehai Province.
This year, Su Wenjing took on the exchange conference task.
Having heard what Li Tianying and Li Yunxian said—and sensing that the jade token he’d given Li Yunxian had changed hands—Su Wenjing decided to ask Li Yunxian about it.
But before he could get a word in, Li Yunxian cut him off.
Li Yunxian understood the meaning behind Su Wenjing’s words, gave a noncommittal “Oh,” and only after ten days finally replied to his earlier question.
“Fu Ling gave me an entry scroll for the Immortal Falls,” Li Yunxian said directly, then asked Su Wenjing, “Can the Immortal Falls withstand my training inside?”
This question…
Su Wenjing was silent for several seconds before countering, “What did you do to the Heavenly Ladder?”
“I accidentally stomped out the spirit of the Heavenly Ladder,” Li Yunxian replied simply, then declared her disclaimer to Su Wenjing.
“If you don’t say anything and something unexpected happens, that’s not on me.”
Su Wenjing: …
What did she mean by ‘stomped out the spirit of the Heavenly Ladder’?
Su Wenjing now understood what it meant: the fewer the words, the bigger the problem.
He stared wordlessly at Li Yunxian for a long while before finally answering, “The core sacred grounds of the Four Great Academies, in theory, can withstand cultivators of every level, from Qi Condensation up to the Tribulation Crossing stage.”
When Li Yunxian entered the Blood Pool, there were zones for higher cultivation stages beyond the Qi Condensation area.
***
On the Heavenly Ladder, there had also been teachers ahead of her.
The academy was responsible for more than just the students’ learning—teachers’ cultivation was also vital.
Or rather, the essence of the academy was to ensure that many high-level cultivators could continue to train, while letting them mentor the next generation along the way.
To retain these cultivators, the academy naturally needed to offer artifacts capable of furthering the cultivation of these high-level teachers.
Hence, the Blood Pool, the Heavenly Ladder, the Immortal Falls, and the Zhangu.
Hearing this, Li Yunxian asked in confusion, “Why only ‘in theory’?”
Su Wenjing replied, “Because at most, only those of the Great Ascension stage have ever tested it.”
“The Four Great Academies haven’t even existed for a thousand years.”
“By then, there were already no Tribulation Crossing cultivators left in the world.”
Li Yunxian was surprised, “You didn’t try?”
Su Wenjing was silent for a long time, his mind drifting back to many, many things from ages past, before letting out a long sigh: “If you break something, someone will clean up your mess.”
For example, Li Tiansuo, who would drop everything and rush Li Yunxian back.
“If I break something, there’s no one left who can clean up after me.” There was a note of wistfulness in Su Wenjing’s voice.
Li Yunxian blinked, unmoved by his words. After listening, she cut straight to the point, “Looks like you’ve broken your fair share of things in the past, too.”
Su Wenjing:
“You think you’ve broken fewer things?” Su Wenjing retorted, annoyed.
Li Yunxian replied righteously, “I never denied it!”
Su Wenjing was momentarily at a loss, the corner of his mouth twitching, “Well, I never denied it either!”
He’d long since told Li Yunxian that he was the one who dismantled the spiritual foundation of the entire Divine Continent!
On stage, the teacher explaining the precautions to the students noticed Su Wenjing’s changing expression beside him.
A blank stare.
Did… did he say something wrong while listing the precautions?
“Professor Su? Do you have anything to add?” he asked Su Wenjing, very tactfully.
In Su Wenjing’s ear, Li Yunxian’s soft laughter echoed.
Realizing that he hadn’t been managing his expressions, Su Wenjing:
After a subtle pause, Su Wenjing picked up where the other teacher left off, answering calmly, “Nothing to add. Let’s set out.”
With that, Su Wenjing raised his hand.
Unlike when Li Tianying led the group, there was no abrupt shift in their surroundings. Instead, a space of white—almost fluffy—light instantly enveloped everyone.
In the blink of an eye, the white space dissipated.
What greeted Li Yunxian’s eyes was a scene reminiscent of yellow earth cave dwellings.
A completely unfamiliar place.
They had arrived at Zhifa.
With so many people suddenly appearing in the reception area, the Zhifa staff were momentarily on guard, but upon recognizing Su Wenjing, they immediately understood who the visitors were.
Ah, it was the exchange group from Tiantong.
Zhifa’s staff handled the registration with practiced ease.
Next, just as in Wen Wu’s visit, a teacher led the students around to tour and familiarize themselves with Zhifa.
But what surprised Li Yunxian was that the one guiding them was actually Su Wenjing.
“Aren’t you part of the academy’s upper echelons?” Li Yunxian asked.
“I am,” Su Wenjing said. “That’s why I get the job that only requires wandering around.”
Li Yunxian:
What?!
What a sly, cunning fox of a veteran!
Seeing Li Yunxian rendered speechless, Su Wenjing’s mood was excellent. His voice grew noticeably gentler as he gave the group a concise introduction to the different areas of Zhifa.
Li Yunxian followed along, confirming that the three academies she’d visited so far all had similar internal layouts, differing mainly in their environments.
Zhifa’s environment was built around the five elements.
The reception area where they arrived was earth-based, looking like yellow earth caves. The dormitory area was wood-based, lush and verdant just like Tiantong, filling people with tranquility.
The Lei Tai area was fire-based, as if flames were burning across a desert…
But what Li Yunxian cared most about was the Immortal Falls.
Located at the very center of Zhifa, it was the point where all five elements converged.
The five elemental auras gathered at the center, clashing and merging in equal measure.
Generation and counteraction.
In the end, these auras condensed into a waterfall-like stream of energy, plunging straight down in the convergence zone.
This was the so-called Immortal Falls.
If the Blood Pool was a divine tool forged by artifact-crafting, and the Heavenly Ladder was an innate spiritual treasure favored by Heaven and Earth, then the Immortal Falls could only be described as a legendary natural wonder.
Just standing outside its gates, Li Yunxian could feel the spiritual power within her resonating with the energy inside the Immortal Falls.
There was a strong urge to go in.
Li Yunxian restrained herself.
She glanced back at her classmates.
Hmm, no rush, no rush.
She had to deal with her own classmates first.
Noticing Li Yunxian’s strange look at him, Ying Qian and the others: “…?”