The Time of Change

"Hmph!"

A light grunt, accompanied by the hum of a blade, echoed in the training room.

Ever since he'd dismantled the wardrobe last time, Su Yu dared not practice at home while training the more powerful Thunder Origin Blade. He worried he might tear down the house, or split the floorboards, and get beaten up by the downstairs old man with his fists the size of a cooking pot.

The uniform, standard military saber moved with incredible speed, cutting through the air with a whistling sound.

Su Yu panted slightly, sheathed his blade, and frowned.

Difficult!

The Profound tier martial skill was still a bit too early for him, too difficult.

Even the first strike, "Thunder Strike," under normal circumstances, required the linkage of nine acupoints for a single, unified strike.

"I've learned the stance, but the key is the primal energy!"

Su Yu summarized. He had learned the stance for the Thunder Strike, which wasn't difficult in itself.

The crucial part was linking the acupoints, unleashing primal energy, concentrating the force, and imbuing the primal energy onto the blade, striking with lightning speed to kill the enemy!

After all, he had only opened eight acupoints and could only utilize the primal energy within his own body, not external primal energy.

"I still can't concentrate the primal energy rapidly into a single point and inject it into the blade."

Su Yu frowned. It had been three days.

He had been practicing this strike for three days. While not excessively long, even after watching the Thunder Origin Blade manual several times each day, he still couldn't grasp the method of concentrating primal energy.

This meant he hadn't even begun to learn it!

To be considered initiated, one had to at least be able to inject primal energy into the blade.

The rest involved proficiency and speed, completing the primal energy injection instantly.

After three days, he hadn't even completed the initiation, let alone figured out how to accelerate or instantly inject primal energy.

"Do I really need to reach the ninth level of Kaiyuan?"

Su Yu sighed. He wished he could cultivate to the ninth level of Kaiyuan first, but the problem was that he had also used his vital blood to cultivate once in these three days, and found that the effect was significantly diminished. Opening the last acupoint was progressing very slowly.

At this rate, it would likely take at least another month.

It had taken him 20 days to reach the eighth level of Kaiyuan, so a month for the ninth level would be considered good.

Furthermore, it required a considerable amount of vital blood. Su Yu only had two drops of Iron Winged Bird vital blood left, and he needed to save one in case of emergencies.

"Linking eight acupoints, how can I control the primal energy to flow where I want to inject it?"

The primal energy was somewhat disobedient; it wouldn't just move wherever you wanted it to.

Su Yu stopped practicing the blade technique and sat down to the side, drinking some water, and began to ponder.

"The skill, 'Tear,' from the Iron Winged Bird clan that was unlocked in the illustration book, involved gathering primal energy in the palm, making the palm incredibly sharp and tearing through all enemy defenses."

"But that was operated by the illustration book, not something I controlled myself."

"Now, injecting primal energy into the blade, the principle is the same. The illustration book used the power of vital blood, not external primal energy. This is consistent with the principle of the primal energy I store myself..."

Su Yu felt a pang of pain. He seemed to have a rough idea of how to quickly initiate the Thunder Origin Blade.

He would continue to use vital blood to unlock the Tear skill and observe how the primal energy gathered and circulated.

He knew his own body best. No matter how clearly Liu Wenyan's Willpower Script displayed it, it wouldn't be as intuitive as trying it himself.

"It's going to cost money again!"

One drop of blood cost 30,000. Was it worth it just to try once, to observe?

For many people, it would definitely be worth it.

For Su Yu, he didn't actually mind spending money; he wasn't stingy, but he was genuinely not well-off at the moment.

"Forget it, I'll use one drop! If I can ambush and kill a Qianjun later, I'll earn back the merit points. Plus, I'll master the Thunder Origin Blade. Overall, it's a profitable deal."

Since he had last unlocked martial skills at the academy, Su Yu hadn't used this item again.

Last time he was at the fourth level of Kaiyuan, now he was at the eighth.

Su Yu no longer hesitated. He quickly took out a bottle from his pocket. He always carried vital blood with him, just in case of unexpected events.

Once he made a decision, Su Yu was no longer indecisive.

He quickly swallowed a drop of vital blood. This time, he didn't activate the Essence Gathering Art but instead activated the Tear skill.

This time, compared to the last, Su Yu's objective was much clearer.

His perception was also much more direct.

A surge of power appeared out of nowhere within his body. This was the power converted from vital blood, similar to primal energy, but closer to the essence of human power.

This power also circulated around his acupoints and began to condense rapidly. Su Yu's right hand soon began to swell.

Su Yu didn't unleash the power but instead quietly experienced the sensation.

He could endure the swelling and pain in his arm.

He was experiencing the feeling of primal energy converging into a single point and sensing the mysteries of primal energy circulation.

One minute, two minutes...

Su Yu didn't erupt for a long time, and his right hand was already noticeably swollen.

His physical body wasn't strong enough for the explosive power of Qianjun Seventh Level. The condensed essence blood was powerful, and he felt like his arm might burst.

Su Yu had been observing and experimenting on himself, which was something many Civilization Masters did.

If Liu Wenyan and Bai Feng saw this, saw Su Yu letting his arm swell to its limit without changing his expression, they would probably curse him while also praising him. Su Yu's spirit of inquiry already had the mindset of a Civilization Master.

Inquiry...

There was too much unknown in the myriad worlds. Countless brilliant civilizations converged. Although humanity was strong, it couldn't dominate all realms. Only by seeking knowledge from above and below, by exploring and pursuing without reservation, could humanity rise faster.

Countless Civilization Masters acted as pioneers, trying new cultivation methods, improving the methods of the myriad races, consuming different heavenly treasures, forcibly transforming their physical bodies to adapt to the cultivation techniques and secret manuals of different races... Many Civilization Masters died in their research labs generation after generation.

However, their achievements were extraordinary. Humanity rose rapidly after the Anping calendar, becoming strong, which was greatly related to the Civilization Masters.

The Inquiry Realm was the holy land of Civilization Masters.

It was called Inquiry because it explored the unknown.

Today, Su Yu didn't know about this place, nor did he think too much about it. He just wanted to understand how to get started with the Thunder Origin Blade.

However, a fighter at Kaiyuan Eighth Level was using energy far beyond his capacity to operate a martial skill, all for the sake of observing the secret of qi circulation. This was the spirit of inquiry, though it was also the recklessness of the ignorant who feared nothing.

Five minutes later, the power receded.

At this point, Su Yu's right hand was unrecognizable, swollen like a pig's trotters.

Su Yu gritted his teeth. The pain was undeniable, but it couldn't mask his joy. He felt like he had grasped something.

"I was careless."

"Qi convergence not only requires the coordination of acupoints but also the cooperation of the physical body itself, including meridians, muscles, and so on."

"I've always considered acupoints as the foundation, but actually... it's a mistake!"

"The foundation of acupoints is still to serve the strengthening of the physical body."

"Acupoints are the engine, but not the only one."

At this moment, Su Yu had a profound realization.

Acupoints were the things that absorbed qi, like a car's engine. Qi was the fuel, but the body was the car itself – the wheels, the steering wheel.

He only knew how to burn fuel but didn't know how to control the direction. This had nothing to do with acupoints; it was mainly due to the poor coordination of his physical body.

"I wasn't a good driver. All the hardware exists. The inability to gather qi and inject it into the blade is because I, the driver, don't know how to drive..."

Su Yu understood, feeling an exhilarating sense of release that made him forget the pain in his right hand.

His teachers had actually said these things.

But without personal experience, theoretical knowledge was just empty talk.

How many hours would it take to fill a swimming pool with water after draining and refilling it? Even if you calculated it a hundred times, it wouldn't be as memorable as trying it yourself.

Of course, this was under the premise that you had a swimming pool and weren't afraid of getting beaten.

These random thoughts flashed by. Su Yu was eager to try the Thunder Origin Blade again, but only then did he feel the pain in his arm.

"I can't today. I'll try again tomorrow. Anyway, I've already grasped the introductory method. The rest is just practice."

Su Yu was delighted, not just because he had mastered the method, but because he had unlocked another function of the illustration book.

On the surface, the book could only absorb qi and unleash martial skills.

But he had developed the function of unleashing martial skills, the secret of qi circulation.

It even included the secrets of some acupoints that the Iron Winged Bird race might use when unleashing their skills.

"This is the Iron Winged Bird, and their physical bodies are too different from humans, so it's not very obvious. What about the cultivation techniques of gods and demons?"

"Then wouldn't I be able to... see more things?"

Su Yu went home to read, waiting for the next day's practice.

It was already June 8th.

There were 17 days left until the assessment for the higher academies.

At the same time.

Daxia Civilization Academy.

In a vast hall, Wan Tiansheng had convened a meeting of the academy's high-ranking officials. Wan Tiansheng slowly said, "Prefect Xia is in seclusion, and Marquis Xia is temporarily acting as Prefect! You should all know what happened at the morning ceremony... I suggest Marquis Xia withdraw his troops. On the Battlefields of the Heavens, the Dragon Martial Guard will immediately withdraw back to Great Xia Prefecture."

As soon as he finished speaking, an elder in his eighties stood up and rebuked, "Wan Tiansheng, you and Marquis Xia are colluding and acting in concert! The Great Xia Prefecture has been conquering the heavens for many years, and there has never been a case of retreating in the face of the enemy!

"You are traitors to humanity, traitors to the Great Xia Prefecture, and should be executed according to the law!"

Wan Tiansheng was not angry. He calmly replied, "If we follow your words, then the people of Great Zhou Prefecture and Great Ming Prefecture are all traitors! Forgetting war leads to danger, and being eager for war leads to destruction!"

"How can they be lumped together!"

The old man reprimanded, "Fond of fighting? If humanity doesn't fight, the Human Realm will be the next Battlefields of the Heavens! If Great Xia Prefecture doesn't fight, Great Zhou Prefecture doesn't fight, and all prefectures cease fighting, how can the Human Realm survive?"

"Wan Tiansheng, you are a sinner!"

Wan Tiansheng scanned the crowd below. Many people showed indignation. His suggestion at the grand ceremony to retreat and let the Tianyi Divine Race buy their lives with resources had already displeased many.

Wan Tiansheng sighed inwardly but was accustomed to it.

"Fondness for war leads to destruction!"

Many people said this, but how many truly understood it?

Was Great Xia Prefecture strong?

Very strong!

But Great Xia Prefecture had been fighting year after year, its expenses exceeding its income. Each battle yielded very little, and it was impossible to sustain the war effort through its spoils.

Great Xia Prefecture had to support the Dragon Martial Guard, the Demon Suppression Army, the Great Xia Prefecture Army, and countless pensions... In the entire Great Xia Prefecture, everyone considered dying in battle an honor!

But when they died... they lost their lives, while Great Xia Prefecture lost money.

So much money!

In these years, nearly a million people had died in battle. This was just Great Xia Prefecture alone. Xia Longwu was a man who cherished his soldiers, and the compensation for the fallen was extremely generous, with each person receiving hundreds of thousands of Anping Coins, not to mention various other benefits.

As a result, everyone in Great Xia Prefecture became fearless of death.

Many elders, in order to secure a future for their descendants, fought ferociously on the battlefield, completely unafraid of death.

But did these people truly understand that Great Xia Prefecture was already depleting the foundation left by King Daxia's era?

Xia Longwu had been in office for so many years, and he had already exhausted the family's past reserves!

Wan Tiansheng's mind flashed with many thoughts, and soon, he regained his composure. "A sinner? Whether I, Wan Tiansheng, am a sinner, you all have no right to judge me! Moreover... I was merely making a suggestion; this is Marquis Xia's order."

"Marquis Xia..."

The elderly man's expression changed, and then he began to curse loudly, "He's a pig! What else can he do besides making money?"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Wan Tiansheng interrupted, "Elder Yun, don't speak in riddles..."

"I'm not speaking in riddles; I'm speaking directly!"

The old man angrily said, "Even if he were standing in front of me, I would point at his nose and curse him!"

"The Xia Family Merchant Guild monopolizes all the cultivation resources in Great Xia Prefecture, isn't that enough profit? Does he, that pig Xia, still want to keep making more? If he keeps making money on the Battlefields of the Heavens, he should be beheaded and offered to the heavens!"

The originally solemn meeting suddenly took a strange turn.

Below, a young man spoke, "Academy Head, since Marquis Xia is in charge of Great Xia Prefecture, he won't skim our salaries and bonuses, will he?"

"Academy Head, why don't you suggest to Marquis Xia that he stop selling things at such high prices? Things are much cheaper in Great Ming Prefecture."

"Academy Head, how long will Marquis Xia temporarily serve as the Prefecture Head? A few years ago, when the Prefecture Head went to the Battlefields of the Heavens, Marquis Xia also took over temporarily, and the result was... even using the restroom at the academy required payment. That's too much!"

"..."

Everyone's attention had shifted to Marquis Xia.

Wan Tiansheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was a good thing. Marquis Xia... was naturally there to take the blame.

Of course, Marquis Xia wasn't as incompetent as these people said.

Great Xia Prefecture's expenses exceeded its income, and Xia Longwu ignored it, only focusing on cultivation and battles. Without Marquis Xia making money, the treasury would have been empty five years ago.

In Wan Tiansheng's opinion, Marquis Xia was more suitable to be the Prefecture Head than Xia Longwu.

Great Xia Prefecture's ability to stand firm was largely due to Marquis Xia's contributions, although outsiders naturally couldn't understand these matters.

They only knew that Marquis Xia was a scoundrel.

If his father hadn't been King Daxia, he would have been ambushed and killed in a back alley long ago.

Ignoring these people, Wan Tiansheng gave a perfunctory response and quickly said, "Since Marquis Xia is temporarily serving as the Prefecture Head, everyone will have a difficult year. Marquis Xia spoke with me earlier; the treasury is out of money, and we need to cut expenses!"

"Therefore, we will recruit 500 fewer students for the new intake this year."

"Additionally, some departments within the academy... will be stripped away."

"And a crucial point: those over 50 who have not manifested their will and are no longer serving as instructors in the academy will no longer receive academy subsidies from now on."

The last sentence, upon being spoken, instantly ignited the entire venue!

"Unacceptable!"

"How can this be!"

"Academy Head, you are betraying the entire academy!" an elder roared, "In Daxia Civilization Academy, there are over 20,000 students over 50 who have not manifested their will. Only about five hundred of them serve as instructors. What about the remaining 20,000 whose subsidies are canceled? How will they live?"

A cold glint appeared in Wan Tiansheng's eyes. It was bloated and unbearable!

Daxia Civilization Academy's strength had greatly improved over the past 50 years, with countless strong individuals.

However, it had to be said that internal problems had also begun to emerge, with many issues.

A group of senior students who haven't manifested yet are already draining the academy.

He knew this proposal would be met with opposition. Tens of thousands of people, with an annual subsidy of over 100,000 each, would mean billions in expenses just for subsidies!

Of course, these senior students were deeply connected to the academy.

Some of their descendants were at the academy, and some of their classmates and teachers were there. If the subsidies were canceled, it would inevitably cause an earthquake.

But cutting expenses was necessary.

He couldn't tolerate it any longer. When Xia Longwu was around, his plan couldn't get through because Xia Longwu felt these people had contributed a lot to the Great Xia Prefecture and shouldn't be disheartened.

But not disheartening them... trouble would eventually arise.

If one Daxia Civilization Academy was like this, the entire Great Xia Prefecture, with just these expenses, was an astronomical figure!

No matter how much Marquis Xia could rake in money, he couldn't fill the deficit.

The growing pains were inevitable. Even if they didn't understand today, hopefully, they would understand in the future.

As stakeholders, Wan Tiansheng was not swayed by their words. Though his voice was calm, it drowned out everyone else's. He said lightly, "This is a decree from the Great Xia Prefecture. If you are dissatisfied, go argue with Marquis Xia!"

"In addition, research funding will be cut by 30%! Some useless research can be directly abandoned. The Audit Department must take responsibility and not approve every research project that costs a lot of money with no results!"

"What about the research on the Fire Pig tribe... how many years have they been researching it? Millions, if not tens of millions, of cannon fodder from the Battlefields of the Heavens have been killed. What else is there to research?"

Wan Tiansheng berated, "Nonsense! With this energy, can't you research something else?"

"Also, if you're doing research, focus on research! Don't think about those other messy things!"

After speaking, Wan Tiansheng, without waiting for everyone to retort, dropped another bombshell. "I've thought about it and discussed it with Marquis Xia. The Myriad Races Training Institute... will reopen!"

This statement completely overshadowed all other news.

At this moment, even some of the powerful individuals who had remained silent spoke coldly, "Myriad Races Training Institute? Academy Head, this plan was rejected years ago! The Prefecture Lord personally went to the Battlefields of the Heavens and annihilated several races back then. If we restart it now, do you really think the Prefecture Lord won't come out of seclusion?"

Wan Tiansheng calmly replied, "Everyone, if we don't accept the myriad races, won't the Ten Thousand Races Cult have spies within the academy?"

"That's different!"

Someone coldly retorted, "The Ten Thousand Races Cult is the Ten Thousand Races Cult, not the myriad races themselves! What's the point of accepting the myriad races?"

"To make money."

Wan Tiansheng stated directly, "Instead of letting them send spies from the Ten Thousand Races Cult, it's better to directly accept them. First, they'll be under our watch, with people keeping an eye on them.

Second, we can charge high tuition fees.

Third, it's not just money, but also a large amount of resources, and even some top-secret cultivation techniques. If they want to enter the Daxia Civilization Academy, they'll have to pay a hefty price.

This way, their support for the Ten Thousand Races Cult will lessen, and their resources will be diverted into our hands.

Fourth, it shows our sincerity. As long as they are not firmly hostile, we can form alliances!

Our Human Race is a top-ten strong race among the myriad races of the heavens. We are not to be trifled with by just anyone. Cooperation might be more beneficial than hostility!"

Wan Tiansheng continued, "It's not just us; the God Race and Demon Race also have similar measures. They are also buying over smaller races. They even open some less important secret realms and sacred lands for smaller races, cultivating them to become stronger, and letting them become the vanguard against the Human Race in battles!"

"There are even powerhouses from smaller races in the God and Demon armies. In every battle, it's always the Human Race that dies, while the God and Demon races might have members of smaller races dying. Their own strength is not damaged at all."

"Since the myriad races can plant spies in the Human Race and cultivate the Ten Thousand Races Cult, we actually have opportunities too. For example, with these myriad race students who enroll, we can buy them over, brainwash them, or use coercion and temptation... there are always ways to win them over!"

"Perhaps in a few years, these people can become the vanguard for our Human Race's counterattack!"

Wan Tiansheng said solemnly, "I admit there are drawbacks, and quite a few. But, everyone, think about it: is it more disadvantageous than advantageous, or more advantageous than disadvantageous! As long as supervision is in place, it's actually better than before. At least we no longer have to worry that the person next to you is a member of the Ten Thousand Races Cult!"

"When the people of the myriad races come personally, the number of Ten Thousand Races Cult members will greatly decrease. This way, the past situation won't happen again, where we spend a lot of resources only to cultivate strong individuals for the Ten Thousand Races Cult!"

"..."

Wan Tiansheng had been in charge of the academy for so many years, and he still had many supporters. Everyone began to discuss.

In a corner, Bai Feng yawned, feeling a bit bored.

This matter had nothing to do with him, and it wasn't his turn to voice his opinion. As a mere assistant researcher, he had no say here.

As he was feeling bored, Liu Hong next to him chuckled, "Bai Feng, with the reduction in student numbers this year, won't your reserved students be eliminated? Also, your senior martial uncle seems to be in the group whose subsidies are being cut..."

Bai Feng looked at him as if he were an idiot. "My senior martial uncle has manifested, don't you know? Sorry, he's not in the group being cut."

"Manifested?"

Liu Hong genuinely didn't know. This wasn't a significant matter for the Civilization Academy. Manifesting was just the first level of Soaring.

Liu Hong didn't continue on that topic and said with a smile, "Research funding has been cut, and the academy is undergoing reforms. The assessments for people like us will likely become stricter..."

"Just say what you want to say directly. I'm too lazy to guess; it's too tiring."

Liu Hong took a deep breath. "My research at Elder Hong's institute is open to you. I'll inject funds, and we can research together. I can even provide some resources that you don't have, and we can share the results! Bai Feng, if we keep fighting, the end result will only be a lose-lose situation for both of us!"

Liu Hong said earnestly, "Elder Hong's institute hasn't reported any results for many years. If this continues, as long as someone pushes for it, it will be shut down!"

"Get lost!"

Bai Feng said impolitely, then thought for a moment. "Actually, it's not impossible..."

Liu Hong was overjoyed!

"First, bring me a few corpses of Divine and Demon experts from the Shanhai Realm, and then we can talk properly."

Bai Feng said earnestly, "Really. Since you want to join us, you have to contribute some resources. After all, we've been researching for so many years and are close to a breakthrough."

"I..."

Liu Hong cursed inwardly, Does he think I'm an idiot?

Bai Feng sneered, If not you, then who?

Bai Feng ignored him and glanced at Wan Tiansheng above. He mused inwardly, The academy is probably facing some turmoil recently. I wonder if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

The Academy Head is in seclusion, and Marquis Xia is temporarily acting as the Academy Head... This feels like a sign of major changes.

"Could there be trouble?"

Bai Feng sighed inwardly, I hope things go smoothly. And that kid Su Yu... I wonder how his cultivation is progressing lately.