"Greetings, fellow students."
Fan Li and Sage Ruler Han Yue were searching for seats when a Confucian scholar blocked their path.
This man had an unsightly appearance, especially with several dark moles beside his right eye, making him even uglier.
Yet his attire was of fine quality - from head to toe, his garments were no less luxurious than those of the sons of Chu's most prestigious clans.
Fan Li never judged people by looks alone, but today he found this man's inner self even uglier than his outward appearance.
Why was that?
Zhu Ziyang had taken the initiative to greet them, but did so in a rather rude way by obstructing their path. With his narrowed eyes, he kept scanning up and down Han Yue's body throughout the exchange, yet he hardly even glanced at Fan Li.
The Luming Academy not only examined scholarly knowledge when admitting students, but their conduct as well.
Fan Li inwardly wondered how this ugly man had passed the academy's scrutiny of character. To have gained admittance yet behave so arrogantly - did he perhaps have some formidable backer?
As the thought crossed his mind, Fan Li nearly burst into laughter.
Was he not the greatest force in Chu himself? Moreover, an evil force at that?
"I am Zhu Ziyang, delighted to make your acquaintance, fellow students." The man smiled broadly, but his gaze remained fixed on Han Yue.
"And just how delighted are you?" Han Yue frowned in return.
She did not understand. Why was this weak Qi Condensation cultivator blocking her path with Fan Li?
"Ah?"
"How delighted? This...uh..." Zhu Ziyang was suddenly at a loss for words. He had only come to hit on Han Yue, never expecting the icy beauty to deflate him so deftly.
The observing scholars burst into raucous laughter.
Clearly, Zhu Ziyang did not have a great reputation at the academy. The others could not help but delight in his embarrassment.
But Zhu Ziyang would not give up so easily. With his Golden Core realm cultivation, he was considered one of the top cultivators among these young scholars.
He had recently taken a renowned master as his teacher and could practically have his way at the Luming Academy.
Zhu Ziyang looked Fan Li and Han Yue up and down. 'This brat is truly pathetic, only at the third level of Foundation Building. He must be a new student at the academy.
Strange, has the academy accepted new students recently? But I've never seen such a beautiful woman before, far lovelier than the concubines back home. I must have the master take her into my chambers today!'
Thinking of his new master, Zhu could not help feeling smug. That man had reached the first level of Unity - how many great Confucian scholars like that were there in all the world?
He also noticed he could not discern Han Yue's cultivation level, but did not find it too strange, assuming she simply had some spirit treasure concealing her aura.
"You there..." Zhu glanced disdainfully at Fan Li. "Why don't you find a seat for yourself, junior? I'll accompany this lady student to the lecture."
Junior? Hadn't he just called Fan Li a fellow student moments ago?
Fan Li scratched his nose, struggling not to laugh out loud. If this ugly fool wanted to keep Han Yue company instead of him, he was more than happy to oblige.
"Sage Ruler Han...Miss Han, shall we part ways?" Fan Li tested cautiously.
In the cultivation world, strength was paramount. There was no doubt that the strongest person present was Han Yue. Though Fan Li conducted himself with refined elegance, he still needed the lady's assent.
"You dare?!" Han Yue did not speak, but the sidelong glance she shot Fan Li made her meaning crystal clear.
"Heh heh." Fan Li could only shake his head helplessly at Zhu Ziyang. "Brother, best give it up. There's a sword hanging over the character for 'color.'"
What he really wanted to say was: There's a Frost Sword of the heavenly ranks hanging over it. But Zhu simply would not take the well-intentioned hint.
'This brat, could he actually have some family background? Otherwise, how could he be accompanying such a beauty? But he's only at the third level of Foundation Building, so he must be the young master of some minor household in Peng City. Before my master, even the highest ministers must stand down! What right does this brat have to vie for a woman with me?'
With these thoughts, Zhu Ziyang simply ignored Fan Li. He smiled at Han Yue instead. "You may not know this, fellow student, but today's lecturer is the renowned Master Yichuan.
Master Yichuan is profoundly learned in the Confucian classics and of deep attainments in cultivation.
Not long ago, he successfully broke through to the first level of Unity, joining the ranks of the greatest Confucian scholars under heaven...heh heh, your humble one also happens to be Master Yichuan's first direct disciple."
As he spoke, an expression of pride crept over Zhu Ziyang's face.
Looking across the entire academy, there were countless self-cultivating scholars. But how many could claim to be personally accepted into discipleship by a great master, as he was?
Zhu eagerly awaited Han Yue's reaction but instead saw her yawning deeply. She wasn't even impressed in the slightest? She actually looked bored?
Fan Li glanced between Han Yue and Zhu Ziyang, feeling he was likely the only one capable of understanding both of their mindsets.
"So Confucian cultivators are that weak?" Han Yue turned to ask Fan Li. "The first level of Unity deserves to be called a great scholar under heaven? That's far inferior to Sage Ruler Jin De, is it not?"
Sage Ruler Jin De, the foremost female Confucian cultivator in the world.
Han Yue surpassed Jin De - how could she look up to someone of mere Unity First Realm like Master Yichuan?
"Fellow student, ignorance is not your fault, but you mustn't speak such nonsense!" Zhu Ziyang raged upon hearing this.
He had yet to realize who Han Yue meant by 'Jin De.' But he had heard her clearly dismiss Master Yichuan's Unity First Realm attainment as undeserving of being called a 'great scholar under heaven!'
Fan Li was also growing weary of this. Zhu Ziyang had wasted too much of their time already. Yet Han Yue looked at him with innocent curiosity, waiting for him to clarify the misunderstanding.
With a helpless sigh, Fan Li explained, "Confucian cultivation is different from other paths."
"How is it different?" Han Yue pressed.
"It is divided into two aspects - the scholarly study and the cultivation of inner energy. The scholarly aspect involves the accumulation of knowledge, virtue, and profound thought. The cultivation aspect refers to one's level of attainment in Confucian inner energy."
Hearing Fan Li's explanation, Han Yue still looked bewildered. She had never really taken an interest in Confucian studies. Otherwise, she would have sought instruction from Sage Ruler Jin De long ago. As long as she could chat with Fan Li, the specific topic did not matter much.
Seeing her continued puzzlement, Fan Li could only elaborate further. "Accumulating profound scholarship, thought, and conduct greatly benefits one's progress in Confucian inner energy.
The more expansively learned, philosophically profound, and upright in conduct a Confucian cultivator is, the fewer roadblocks and bottlenecks they will encounter in advancing to higher energy realms.
Conversely, if a Confucian cultivator neglects study, contemplation, and self-discipline in speech and action, no matter how diligently they cultivate their inner energy, their accomplishments will be limited."
Fan Li pondered for a moment before giving his conclusion: "At most, they will reach the Golden Core Realm and progress no further."
Wow!
A resounding clamor filled the hall!
Though Fan Li had not spoken loudly, everyone present heard his words clearly. All of them were cultivators of Confucian inner energy. Though they had never encountered such a perspective before, they found it eerily resonant with their own circumstances!
Those whose realms had long stagnated tended to be the ones who devoted little time to scholarly pursuits. Meanwhile, the talented youths of higher attainment never slackened in their study of the classics.
Only Zhu Ziyang's face flushed a burning red. Though he had reached Golden Core Realm, he was the eldest present. And over the past two years, his cultivation had indeed ground to a standstill.
"You're full of shit! A mere third level of Foundation Building - how dare you pontificate about Confucian cultivation?!"