Learning to Read in the Lecture Hall

"Thank you for telling me, Uncle," Xu Chunniang said with a grateful smile.

The portly old man waved his hand. "Since you've joined the Carefree Sect, you don't need to call me Uncle. I entered the Dao before you and have lived a few more years. My surname is Zhao, so just call me Senior Brother Zhao. This information isn't worth much; everyone in the outer sect knows it after a few years."

Although Steward Zhao claimed the information was trivial, Xu Chunniang still remembered his kindness. As a newcomer, she knew nothing, and it was rare for someone to offer her guidance.

After taking a Grain Abstinence Pill, Xu Chunniang put away her token and the white jade bottle. She asked with some curiosity, "Senior Brother Zhao, does the Dining Hall have food from the mortal world?"

Steward Zhao shook his head. "Eating too much of the mortal world's grains and cereals can actually hinder our cultivation, so we don't have it here."

"However, once your cultivation improves and you hunt demonic beasts, you can bring them here for processing. Cultivators can eat those, and eating them can even enhance your cultivation."

Learning that there was no mortal food, Xu Chunniang felt a bit disappointed but also that it was to be expected.

Indeed, the food of immortals was different. This was the world of immortals, and she had to adapt. As for the demonic beasts Steward Zhao mentioned, she felt they were still too far off for her.

After thanking Steward Zhao again, Xu Chunniang left the Dining Hall and headed towards the Lecture Hall.

The Lecture Hall wasn't far from the Dining Hall. Xu Chunniang arrived after a fifteen-minute walk.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Lecture Hall, she saw a lively crowd of children gathered around.

Upon closer inspection, she recognized many of them; they were the same people who had traveled with her on the flying boat.

There were also many unfamiliar faces, all wearing the uniform outer sect attire of the Carefree Sect.

Seeing this, Xu Chunniang quickly walked forward and blended into the crowd.

A thin man emerged from the hall and said sternly, "Quiet down!"

Although his voice wasn't loud, it reached everyone's ears, and the disciples fell silent.

The thin man nodded with satisfaction. "Those who can read can go directly to the second floor to attend Uncle-Master Foundation Establishment's classes. New disciples can attend classes for free for the first three years. After three years, if you wish to continue attending, you will need to pay Spirit Stones. One Spirit Stone will grant you a month of classes.

When Uncle-Master Foundation Establishment lectures, you all need to behave. If you anger an inner sect uncle-master, I won't be able to save you."

Seeing everyone nod obediently, he continued unhurriedly, "I am the outer sect steward of the Lecture Hall. You can ask me any questions related to the Lecture Hall. My surname is Cui, and you can call me Senior Brother Cui."

"Senior Brother Cui, what if we can't read?" someone immediately asked.

Senior Brother Cui glanced at the person. "If you can't read, you can learn calligraphy on the first floor. Additionally, there are some introductory courses on common knowledge in the cultivation world on the first floor. You'll understand after attending a few classes.

The first floor of the Lecture Hall is permanently open to outer sect disciples for free. However, if you take several years to learn even the basics on the first floor, I advise you to pack your bags and leave early to avoid wasting the sect's resources!"

Everyone's expression turned serious. They had finally arrived in the world of immortals and didn't want to be kicked out!

Hearing that she could learn to read and attend classes on the first floor, Xu Chunniang also secretly took note.

Senior Brother Cui pointed to a large black stone by the entrance. "When you come to attend classes, you just need to place your token on this stone to register. It will automatically display your name and remaining learning time."

As he spoke, Senior Brother Cui placed his token on it. In a short while, two lines of text appeared on the black stone.

Those who could read softly read aloud, "Cui Li, remaining learning time... three years!"

Senior Brother Cui nodded. "During the three years I serve as the steward of the Lecture Hall, I can attend classes here for free. This is one of the benefits of being a steward.

Alright, stop crowding here and come in. I advise you, even if you can already read, it's best to finish the common knowledge classes on the first floor before going to the second floor, lest you say something foolish and violate cultivation taboos.

The east side is for calligraphy classes, and the west side is for common knowledge classes. If you come from a cultivation family, you don't need to learn these common things."

After speaking, Cui Li retrieved his token and calmly ascended to the second floor.

Following his instructions, the new disciples eagerly took out their tokens, placed them on the stone to register, and entered the main lecture hall.

Most of them stayed on the first floor, heading to their respective classrooms as directed by Senior Brother Cui. Only a handful of people from cultivation families proudly walked towards the second floor.

Xu Chunniang noticed that Qi Haozhi, whom she had met earlier, had gone directly to the second floor.

She was secretly surprised. He was from a cultivation family, so the young girl accompanying him must have an even more extraordinary background.

Xu Chunniang was at the back of the line. After everyone else had entered, she carefully took out her black token and, imitating them, placed it on the stone. Soon, two lines of text appeared on the stone, indicating successful registration.

After putting away her token, she felt an indescribable emotion. From today onwards, she would begin learning to read!

In Xu Family Village, only the village chief knew how to read, and those were the most basic characters in the immortal world.

Xu Chunniang walked to the east courtyard and saw people entering the classrooms one after another. Each classroom was separate and could only accommodate one disciple at a time.

Once a disciple entered a classroom, the light outside the classroom would turn on, indicating that it was occupied.

Xu Chunniang understood and found an unoccupied classroom, opened the door, and walked in.

Inside the classroom, a small room contained a table and chair. There was paper and a brush on the table, as well as a metal sphere. As the classroom door closed, the metal sphere emitted a red light and slowly ascended!

Even though she had witnessed many immortal techniques in the past few days, Xu Chunniang was still startled and took several steps back.

A voice devoid of emotion emanated from the metal sphere.

"I am an automaton specifically designed to teach new disciples. We will now begin introductory lessons. You can adjust the learning progress by rotating the button."

As its voice fell, something even more magical happened. A simple rune appeared above the metal sphere. To the right of the Chinese character, there was a vast blue sky.

At the same time, the metal sphere's voice sounded again.

"Tian, means sky. It can also be used to record time. The rising and setting of the sun mark a day, and a day has twelve shichen (traditional Chinese hours)."

As the metal sphere explained, the image above also began to change.

In the originally blue sky, a golden sun rose and set, then the sky darkened, and the moon slowly rose and then set.

Xu Chunniang's eyes brightened. So that simpler rune was the character "Heaven"!

With the metal sphere's explanations and diagrams, those complex and difficult-to-understand runes were no longer hard to grasp.

Xu Chunniang steadied herself, sat down on the chair, and under the metal sphere's guidance, picked up her brush to begin learning.

The same scene was playing out in almost every lecture room. With the metal sphere's explanations and fun, engaging visuals, the new disciples found learning characters to be incredibly easy and were studying with great eagerness.

Soon, these disciples had grasped the patterns.

When this metal sphere, named "automaton," lectured, it typically taught for one hour, then rested for half an hour. This was to help the new disciples remember the newly learned characters and also to allow them to rest and adjust if they felt tired.

If they wished to start or end early, they could rotate the buttons on the automaton to choose to temporarily start or adjust the progress.

In Xu Chunniang's lecture room, the metal sphere had just finished an hour of teaching. However, she lightly twisted a button with her finger, and the little automaton, which had just begun its rest, was forced back into service.