The Greatness and Nobility of Humanity

Hearing the Ruler's words, Li Qi gave a student's salute, bowed, then crossed the gate and entered the Imperial Academy.

Inside the Imperial Academy, everything was as it had always been, with nothing much changed, save for a few more subjects and a few fewer.

Such additions and reductions had long been everyday matters.

Qiu Zhi walked over to Li Qi's side and proceeded alongside him.

Li Qi said, "Though Chang'an has seen no flames of war, battle reports are displayed at terminals everywhere. The atmosphere is clearly still tense. Yet here in the Imperial Academy, things remain as they were. Most students are free of worry, and... so are the teachers. They did not even seem concerned upon seeing me."

As steady as ever, Qiu Zhi replied in an even voice, "No matter how fiercely the outside world fights, a school should retain the appearance of a school. If even small children cannot know peace, then the time of destruction has already come."

"I have always admired the Human Path's breadth of spirit. The teachers of the Imperial Academy knew many years ago that I would become an enemy of the Human Path, yet they still allowed me to study here, even teaching me all they knew without begrudging their knowledge." As Li Qi walked along the school path, he looked around at the scenery and offered his praise.

Yet Li Qi also knew that the geniuses the Human Path sent to Wushen Mountain likely received the same treatment.

The Imperial Academy's scenery remained as it had been: broad, lofty buildings, immortal towers erected within, wooden couches arranged throughout, fragrant sandalwood carved into flying wind gods, flower balustrades, tiled and timbered steps, and all manner of grotto-heavens displayed inside.

Beyond the buildings lay waterside pavilions and gardens. Slender bamboo