Chapter 250: First Lesson of the Sword Control System

Ever since he successfully established his foundation with the Immortal Longevity Sutra, Chen Mobai had dedicated part of his energy to the Pure Yang Scroll. After all, the cultivation methods in the Tianhe Realm did not have as detailed a stratification of the Foundation Establishment stage as those of the Immortal Sect.

If he wanted to break through from the early to mid-Foundation Establishment stage, based on the experience in the Tianhe Realm, it would, on average, take about twenty years. There was no hope for a quick breakthrough with the Immortal Longevity Sutra, and during his foundation establishment, he had taken a Foundation Establishment Pill, leaving residual pill toxins in his body. Therefore, after establishing his foundation, Chen Mobai spent most of his time studying how to improve the Pure Yang Scroll.

With the comprehensive understanding gained from the Foundation Establishment stage, the mere Pure Yang Qi Refining chapter was naturally comprehended and mastered with ease. However, because he had not yet achieved the Three Yang Body, even though he was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he had never attempted to take the step into Foundation Establishment.

Now, after returning from Danxia City, Chen Mobai felt that both his cultivation and spiritual energy were complete, and he could take that step. Upon returning to Wuqi Dao Academy, he had Che Yucheng sign off for him to redeem the Pure Yang Foundation Establishment chapter and relevant cultivation insights from the library.

Although Che Yucheng signed it, he also made a very tempting suggestion. "You've already established your foundation anyway. As long as it's not a large-scale frontier expansion war, military service won't fall on you, and you'll have ample time for cultivation. Given that, why not try to establish your foundation through 'Hearing the Dao'?"

Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment!

The original method of Foundation Establishment involved ancient cultivators, without Foundation Establishment Pills or various auxiliary spiritual items, listening to the rhythms of nature, resonating with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and bringing their divine sense close to the pulse of the Dao, thereby forging a perfect foundation.

It is said that this method of Foundation Establishment yields unexpected benefits. As for what these benefits are, the Tianhe Realm naturally has no records. However, the Immortal Sect has a considerable amount of information. Some, during the Foundation Establishment process, elevated an ordinary spell to nearly the third tier. Others gained a special authority bestowed by heaven and earth, allowing them to enter and exit any watery place, making their water escape technique unparalleled. Even more remarkably, some awakened powerful ancestral bloodlines, making their bodies immune to water and fire, and invulnerable; after their cultivation reached the Golden Core stage, they could even manifest three heads and six arms, possessing immense divine powers.

In short, Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment definitely brings benefits. However, whether the benefits are great or small depends on the cultivator's luck, but even the most ordinary benefit, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, is a powerful means that can be utilized up to the Core Formation stage.

Other Qi Refining cultivators, unless they possess a Heavenly Spirit Root, generally wouldn't force themselves to pursue Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment, as they would rarely succeed. But Chen Mobai was different; he had the prerequisites. Anyway, he had already decided to use the Two Phases Art to increase his chances of forming a Golden Core, so the Immortal Longevity Sutra definitely needed to be cultivated to the perfected Foundation Establishment stage. Now that the pill toxins had been cleared by Kong Feichen's medicine, he could continue improving.

While primarily focusing on advancing the Immortal Longevity Sutra's realm, he would also cultivate the Pure Yang Scroll, to see if he could seize an opportunity one day to achieve Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment. This was Che Yucheng's suggestion, and Chen Mobai found it very reasonable after hearing it. Whether the Pure Yang Scroll established a foundation or not, it wouldn't affect his standing in the Divine Wood Sect. His persona, after all, was that of a sword dao genius.

Nevertheless, Chen Mobai still spent two days reading through the entire Foundation Establishment chapter of the Pure Yang Scroll, to ensure he had a clear understanding.

After the start of the new semester, forty-seven students from the Sword Control Department, led by their instructor, arrived at the training ground. Among these forty-seven, nineteen were newly enrolled students this year, while the rest were returning students who had signed up to earn credits. However, since none of them had taken Sword Control courses before, they were all uniformly placed in the first year to conserve educational resources.

“Hello, new students of the Sword Control Department, I am Zuo Gong.” A middle-aged man with a square face and slightly short stature stood at the front of the training ground, with three other people beside him. This man was none other than Zuo Gong Zhenren, the head of the Sword Control Department and a Golden Core sword cultivator. He spoke calmly to the forty-seven new students.

“Because I am quite busy, your seniors will teach the first and second-year courses in my stead.”“For the third to sixth years, my assistant, Wu Shizheng, who is also an associate professor at the academy, will teach.”“If they cannot answer any of your questions, you are welcome to come to my office and ask me directly.”

Chen Mobai was slightly surprised after hearing this, not expecting the Sword Control Department's classes to be structured this way. In the Puppet Department, Che Yucheng taught all ten years, from first to tenth. However, the entire Puppet Department, across all ten years, probably only had about a hundred students, and after the seventh year, most of the learning was self-study based. Thus, Che Yucheng could easily manage teaching on his own.

The Sword Control Department was different; it was one of the top three major departments in Wuqi Dao Academy. After all, influenced by TV shows since childhood, protagonists who rode swords and ascended as immortals were always incredibly cool. Everyone wanted to be cool, so even if they didn't initially enroll in the Sword Control Department, later, when they wanted to accumulate credits and had completed all the simple elective courses, many would choose to study in the Sword Control Department for two years. If they truly had talent for sword cultivation, they would continue their advanced studies, or even skip grades directly. Precisely because there were so many such people, Zuo Gong Zhenren couldn't teach everyone from beginning to end like Che Yucheng could, so he came up with this method. Moreover, older students could also use the opportunity to teach, reviewing old knowledge and gaining new insights, truly understanding what they had only previously grasped, and making it their own.

Coincidentally, the person Zuo Gong Zhenren appointed to teach the first-year class this year was none other than Zhai Jianbai, from Chen Mobai's own year. The top sword cultivator of the 5012 graduating class!

“I will observe the first class.” After Zuo Gong Zhenren finished speaking, he walked to the concrete steps at the edge of the training ground with his hands behind his back and sat down.

“Little Zhai, don't be nervous. Just follow your lesson plan.” Wu Shizheng, the associate head of the Sword Control Department and Zuo Gong Zhenren's assistant, smiled and patted Zhai Jianbai's shoulder. His gaze lingered on Chen Mobai in the crowd for a moment before he smiled again, took a bottle of water, and went to sit beside Zuo Gong.

Zhai Jianbai had a long face, and due to years of sword practice, his demeanor was somewhat aloof. He was very confident in himself, and didn't possess the nervousness Wu Shizheng had mentioned.

“New students, upon enrollment, I need to understand each of your foundations in the Way of the Sword. Please take a standard practice flying sword, and demonstrate your most proficient sword technique before me so I can evaluate it.” Zhai Jianbai proceeded smoothly, following his lesson plan. One by one, eager students stepped forward, following the order on the list, coming before Zhai Jianbai, and demonstrated their painstakingly cultivated sword arts.

When it was Chen Mobai's turn, he held the standard practice flying sword, his expression very hesitant. “What's wrong? Don't you know any sword techniques? Then just perform the sword-dancing calisthenics from elementary school.” Zhai Jianbai thought Chen Mobai had been solely focused on Foundation Establishment and hadn't practiced sword arts, so he offered what he considered a very good suggestion.

“That's not it, but do I really have to demonstrate my most proficient sword technique?” Chen Mobai shook his head and confirmed again.

Zhai Jianbai frowned. What was wrong with this person? With such a hesitant personality, how did he even establish his foundation? “Hurry up, there are many students waiting behind you.”

“Alright then, could you stand a bit further away?” Chen Mobai's words made Zhai Jianbai's face show displeasure. However, remembering that this person in front of him had already established his foundation and might indeed unleash a formidable sword qi, he still took two steps back. But Chen Mobai still looked at him, not performing any sword technique.

“Now what?”“Not far enough!”“That's enough. No matter how powerful your sword qi is, it's absolutely impossible for it to harm me.” Zhai Jianbai finally grew impatient, his voice rising. He waved his hand, signaling Chen Mobai not to waste any more time. He knew Chen Mobai was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but showing off had its limits.

“Alright then, I'll try to control my power a bit.” Chen Mobai had always been a good student, so hearing his teacher say this, he could only nod in agreement. Holding the standard practice flying sword, while both the students behind him and the teacher in front of him wore indifferent expressions, he unleashed a dazzling deep purple sword light.

“Why have you come over? Aren't you going to support your disciple?” Zuo Gong saw Wu Shizheng sitting beside him, and asked pointedly.

“Although Little Zhai is only at the Qi Refining stage, he has already mastered 'Sword Qi Like a Rainbow,' so he can be regarded as a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator.”“While that Chen Mobai has already established his foundation, in terms of actual combat ability, he might not necessarily be Little Zhai's match.”“Furthermore, the first class is merely to let the students understand the cultivation stages of sword cultivators, and to measure their sword dao talent on the spot. With Little Zhai's realm of 'Sword Qi Like a Rainbow,' he's perfectly capable of holding the fort.”

No sooner had Wu Shizheng finished speaking, and was about to unscrew his water bottle and take a few sips, than a deep purple sword light entered his vision, instantly breaking his composure, and he abruptly stood up. My disciple has mastered 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light'! Wait a minute, didn't he just barely comprehend 'Sword Qi Like a Rainbow' after a failed Foundation Establishment attempt this holiday?

Wu Shizheng looked closely, and only then realized that the one holding the practice flying sword and unleashing the deep purple sword light was not his disciple Zhai Jianbai, but that Chen Mobai. What's going on? What is this person doing here? To study in the first year? Is that even necessary? Your level is more than enough to be directly admitted to Zuo Gong Zhenren's seventh-year class; I can't even teach you.

While Wu Shizheng was utterly confused, Zuo Gong Zhenren, who had been sitting, suddenly had his eyes light up, and vanished from his spot. The head of the Sword Control Department extended a finger, and lightly touched the purple fire sword light that Chen Mobai had unleashed with the standard practice flying sword.

With a hiss! Chen Mobai only felt a numbness in his wrist, and the sword light he had unleashed had uncontrollably transformed into a wisp of purple flame, which was now pinched between Zuo Gong Zhenren's two fingers. Like a small flaming snake, it twisted and struggled continuously, but could not break free.

“Not bad, it is sword light.” After Zuo Gong Zhenren confirmed that what Chen Mobai had unleashed was indeed sword light, a phenomenon exclusive to the fourth realm of sword cultivation, he couldn't help but sternly frown, criticizing Chen Mobai with a displeased expression. “You've already mastered sword light, is there any need to waste time here in the first year? Are you here to show off?”

Zhai Jianbai immediately explained from the side. He had been utterly stunned the moment Chen Mobai unleashed the purple fire sword light. In that instant, he finally understood the gap between ordinary people and true geniuses! Compared to this true 'genius' before him, his so-called sword dao genius status felt utterly ordinary. Although Zhai Jianbai had a somewhat aloof personality, he particularly admired powerful individuals. After personally experiencing the power of the purple fire sword light, he immediately regarded Chen Mobai as a role model he should strive to emulate. Therefore, upon hearing Zuo Gong's words, he immediately spoke up to explain for him.

“You, young man, tell me yourself, why are you attending classes here in the first year? With your Foundation Establishment realm, just showing up for the year-end exam would be enough, and you wouldn't miss out on those three credits.” As soon as Zuo Gong Zhenren spoke, the other forty-seven new students realized that this senior was actually a true Foundation Establishment cultivator. Many of the younger students' eyes immediately burned brightly, some with admiration, and some who, believing they too could establish their foundation by their fifth year, maintained calm expressions but couldn't hide the envy in their eyes.

“It's like this, Teacher Zuo, although I have attained the realm of 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light,' my foundation in the Way of the Sword is actually like a castle in the air, lacking solid ground. Therefore, I had no choice but to attend classes to reinforce my fundamentals.” Chen Mobai knew that sword cultivators were notoriously ill-tempered, and Zuo Gong often challenged the principal and Che Yucheng. He immediately explained his situation.

“Oh? 'Attained'? Could it be that you, young man, achieved Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment and spontaneously gained the realm of 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light'?” Zuo Gong, with an astonished expression, conjectured an answer. This wasn't without precedent, just like Old Ancestor Yuanyang, who comprehended the realm of 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light' during his Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment. However, Old Ancestor Yuanyang had this opportunity because he had already mastered 'Sword Qi Like a Rainbow' before establishing his foundation, and then, seizing the chance of Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment, he achieved 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light' in one go.

Chen Mobai hesitated for a moment, then nodded. After all, the Grand Dao Tree directly bestowing the realm of 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light' was something better left unsaid if possible. He had originally prepared a similar explanation, so since Zuo Gong brought it up, he simply admitted it. Yes, I achieved Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment and obtained 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light'!

After listening, Zuo Gong spoke with a very sour tone. “Why didn't the heavens have eyes when I was establishing my foundation?!” The opportunities from Dao Comprehension Foundation Establishment are diverse and strange. Although it was very unusual for a cultivator to directly attain the realm of 'Sword Rainbow Dispersing Light' without ever having cultivated a sword art, no one present paid attention to such a minor detail.

“Don't delay too long below the seventh year; ideally, you should advance to my class within this year.” After understanding Chen Mobai's predicament, Zuo Gong didn't press the matter further. After leaving that remark, he concluded his observation for the day.

Originally, he was quite satisfied with Zhai Jianbai, his grand-disciple, thinking that if Zhai Jianbai successfully established his foundation in the future, he might be allowed to view the treasured 'Immortal Sect Sword Art' projection of Wuqi Dao Academy. But now, after seeing Chen Mobai, he knew that this opportunity would definitely not go to Zhai Jianbai. How could such a promising talent end up being taken in by that figurine maker?