Chapter 693: Yingtian Academy

"Let's go! We should leave the Sea of Ten Thousand Ghosts first and find a place to refine the Profound Nether Black Lotus Flame. Once I've forged my vital magic treasure, we can go gather the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree."

The Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree is located deep within the Sea of Ten Thousand Ghosts and is extremely dangerous. Wang Changsheng plans to forge his vital magic treasure before attempting to gather it. He can already forge magic treasures, but his smithing skill isn't very high. Now, with this Profound Nether Black Lotus Flame, he's confident he can forge the Mountain Sea Pearl, which is a set of magic treasures.

"What if someone else picks the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree?" Ye Lin asked with some concern. If Cheng Zhenyu could discover the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree, so could others.

"Then it just means my luck isn't good enough. The Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree is deep in the Sea of Ten Thousand Ghosts. With a vital magic treasure in hand, I'll have a much better chance." Wang Changsheng currently doesn't dare to easily use the Spirit Slaying Palm or the True Kui Water Thunder, fearing he might encounter people from Sun Moon Palace. Having a vital magic treasure would give him greater confidence.

"That's true. Let's head back then!" Leaving the cave, Wang Changsheng put away the formation flags, and he and Ye Lin flew back the way they came.

Two months later, they appeared on a bustling street. This was Xuanying City, which borders the Sea of Ten Thousand Ghosts. They found an inn and settled in.

Wang Changsheng shook his sleeve, and the Nine Dragon Cauldron flew out, landing on the ground with a violent tremor. He cast a spell into the Nine Dragon Cauldron, and its lid flew open, releasing a black lotus. Wang Changsheng opened his mouth, and a stream of blue Dan Fire flew out, transforming into a palm-sized blue firebird that swooped towards the black lotus. The black lotus spun rapidly and flew towards the door. A large golden glow illuminated the area, blocking the black lotus's path. Seizing the opportunity, the blue firebird pounced on the black lotus and pecked off a small petal.

With a muffled "puff," the black lotus transformed into a black fire python and lunged at the blue firebird. The blue firebird was clearly no match for the black fire python. Wang Changsheng flicked his finger, and two thick blue lightning bolts shot out, accurately striking the black fire python. The black fire python let out a strange hiss, its face contorted in pain. Wang Changsheng continuously unleashed blue lightning bolts, striking the black fire python's body. The black fire python's body was dispersed several times, but quickly reformed. Each time it was dispersed, its size shrank a little. The blue firebird seized the opportunity; whenever the black fire python's body was dispersed, the blue firebird would pounce, pecking away some of the black flames, and its own size gradually grew.

Three days later, a black firebird the size of a watermelon hovered in front of Wang Changsheng, emitting astonishing heat. Wang Changsheng beckoned, and the black firebird flew back into his hand, transforming into a ball of black flame that enveloped his fist.

He shook his sleeve, and a large pile of smithing materials appeared on the ground. The Mountain Sea Pearl is a set of magic treasures, but he could forge one first for immediate use. These were materials collected by a Nascent Soul cultivator, so the magic treasure forged from them would be far superior to ordinary magic treasures. The Mountain Sea Pearl is forged from earth-attribute and water-attribute materials. The two most important materials are Dusk Spirit Crystal and Primordial Heavy Water. Dusk Spirit Crystal is a top-grade earth-attribute material, and Primordial Heavy Water is a top-grade water-attribute material. There are also many other rare materials, so the resulting Mountain Sea Pearl's power is sure to be considerable.

Wang Changsheng picked up a deep yellow crystal and tossed it into mid-air. Black flames flew from his palm, enveloping the yellow crystal. Before long, the yellow crystal began to show signs of melting...

Meanwhile, in the Central Plains, the Great Yan Dynasty.

The Great Yan Dynasty comprises one hundred and eight provinces and boasts a vast territory. In Qufu Commandery, Luzhou Province. Mount Huang is one of the five great spirit mountains in Qufu Commandery. The famous Yingtian Academy is located at the summit of Mount Huang, with numerous pavilions and palaces built from the halfway point up to the peak.

In the early morning, as the sun began to rise, a stone staircase stretched from the foot of the mountain to the summit. Hundreds of young men and women were climbing the stone staircase. The youngest were five years old, the oldest over eighty, both male and female. Some wore simple coarse cloth clothes, while others wore luxurious brocade robes.

"Yingtian Academy is recruiting disciples. I wonder how many will be able to enter the academy to study," a tall, thin young man in a green robe said with a smile, his tone tinged with envy. Every ten to eight years, Yingtian Academy recruits disciples, regardless of age or background, teaching without discrimination. To enter Yingtian Academy, one must pass an assessment. The assessment sounds simple: climb from the foot of the mountain to the summit. However, not many people pass.

"I don't know about others, but Brother Tianwen has a very high chance of entering the academy to study. Even my father praised his poem 'Farewell,' saying you have limitless prospects," a short, stout young man in a yellow robe said with a smile.

A fair-faced scholar in a blue robe, Wang Tianwen, smiled calmly and humbly replied, "Brother Ziyun, you flatter me. My knowledge is shallow; I don't deserve such praise. Your esteemed father is a renowned Confucian scholar in Quyang County; to receive a word of praise from him fills me with awe and trepidation. I still have much to learn from your father!"

Wang Tianwen is indeed the scholar in blue.

The Central Plains cultivation world has five great dynasties. The Great Yan Dynasty is the oldest lineage, and Confucius originated from the Great Yan Dynasty. Confucius was undoubtedly the greatest Confucian scholar; the concept of teaching without discrimination was proposed by him. Time has passed, and Confucius has vanished into the river of history, but his disciples are spread throughout the five great dynasties. Mentioning Confucius fills all Confucian cultivators with reverence.

The Confucian faction in the Central Plains cultivation world is very strong. Seven out of ten cultivators practice Confucian cultivation methods. Confucian cultivators emphasize engagement with the world and promote righteous governance. Unlike other places, cultivators and mortals in the Central Plains cultivation world live intermingled. Taking the Great Yan Dynasty as an example: the imperial Zhou clan is the most powerful cultivation force, holding supreme authority, followed by the royal clans. Towns are managed by Qi Condensation stage cultivation forces, counties by Foundation Establishment stage cultivation forces, commanderies by Core Formation stage cultivation forces, and provinces by Core Formation stage forces. The imperial clan governs all one hundred and eight provinces, forming a tightly organized system.

The Great Yan Dynasty has a saying: "One Emperor, Seven Kings." The Emperor belongs to the imperial Zhou clan, while the Kings are of different surnames. All seven royal clans possess Nascent Soul cultivators, which is vastly different from the Eastern Barrens. In the Eastern Barrens, the emperor is a puppet; the so-called emperor and royal clans are mere puppets supported by cultivators. However, in the Central Plains cultivation world, the emperor and royal clans are cultivators themselves, wielding supreme authority.

The Great Yan Dynasty—no, it should be said that all five great dynasties—are culturally prosperous, and scholars hold a high status. Officials, even if they are mortals, can command cultivators. Some officials are cultivators themselves, and they take it as their responsibility to benefit the common people. Such a situation would be impossible in the Eastern Barrens.

Therefore, whether peddlers or wealthy merchants, all take pride in being literate, and they send their children to study. Today is the day Yingtian Academy recruits disciples, and many have come to take the assessment. Passing the assessment allows one to study at Yingtian Academy. Yingtian Academy was founded by Prince Ruyang. It has produced many great Confucian scholars, and seventy percent of Luzhou's officials come from Yingtian Academy. Countless people desperately wish to study at Yingtian Academy, especially those from the lower strata of society, who yearn for their children to change their fate and revive their families through education. Yingtian Academy is both a scholarly institution and a cultivation force. Wang Tianwen's main reason for wanting to join Yingtian Academy is to find the subsequent cultivation method for the *Vast Aura Scripture*, or failing that, to switch to a high-level Confucian cultivation method.